Eva Smiths death Essay Example

Eva Smiths death Essay Example Eva Smiths death Essay Eva Smiths death Essay By now the audience probably thinks that Mr Birling is the one guilty of Eva Smiths death, but in no time at all the Inspector is interrogating Sheila. This continues until every member of the family has been questioned. This creates suspense making the audience feel engrossed in the play, wondering at each stage, who is going to be involved next, and how. Priestley has actually reserved his biggest surprise for the last lines of the play. After the Inspector departure the tension of the play drops and we think the play is over. However, in the final denouement, there is a phone call announcing that a police Inspector is on his way to ask some questions about a girl who has just died in the infirmary. This is as disturbing as it is surprising and ensures that the audience will leave the auditorium in a state of real shock The Inspector is a very mysterious character, as we do not know much about him. The word Inspector suggests someone who looks closely at things, and this is his role in the events of the play. The name Goole sounds like ghoul someone with a morbid interest in death, a spirit that is said to take fresh life from corpses, and it is certainly arguable that the Inspectors existence is a result of Eva Smiths death. I think that Priestley has deliberately called the Inspector Goole to create an esoteric image and make the audience feel tense when they listen to the Inspector on stage. The audience feels fascinated by the Inspectors massiveness and purposefulness as he remains solid and unbroken while each character breaks down, and there is nothing the others can say to distract him from his purpose. An example of this is when the Inspector says:  (Sternly to the three of them.) And Ill be obliged if you let us get on without any further interruptions. The audience enjoy the play even more when the Inspector is shown as a greater character than Mr Birling. This is because we are disgusted by Mr Birlings ego and arrogance; and by seeing him being overpowered by the Inspector is quite hilarious. Priestley has created the Inspectors character like this so that the audience favours him and we take his side. He does not forgive what the Birlings have done, but when they freely admit their faults he allows them to see that they can find forgiveness through future good behaviour. His approach has been perhaps too abrasive, and he is clearly someone for whom social conventions count for nothing when weighed against the desire for truth and justice. Priestley has written a typical play that has a villain and a hero. Most of the audience would definitely like the hero, in this case the Inspector, whereas they would be against the villains, the members of the Birling family. The play is set in Edwardian times where society was strictly divided into social classes and over two-thirds of the nations wealth was in the hands of less than one percent of the population. Below the very rich were the middle classes. For example the doctors and merchants, shop workers and clerks. After this came the craftsmen and skilled workers. At the very bottom of the social ladder was the largest class of all the ordinary workers and the poor, many of whom lived below the poverty level. The men of industry treated the workers very badly and they were paid a pittance. This caused workers to become better organised and strikes were becoming more frequent as they demanded better conditions and higher pay. Priestley was writing the play for a middle class audience and was trying to speak up for the working class by showing how the Birlings and Gerald Croft were all involved in making a young working class girls life a misery. Priestley wants to show us that we have a responsibility to others to act fairly and without prejudice and that we do not live in isolation. He shows that our actions affect others when the Inspector says:  millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives and what we think and say and do. We have to confront our mistakes and learn from them. Through the Inspector acting as our conscience we are made aware that there are those in higher positions in society who have power yet abuse it. They take advantage of those weaker than themselves. Eva Smith was a working class girl trying to make a living. Through those in power she was used terribly, then when she was no longer of any use she was got rid of. JB Priestley wanted to show that this would continue to happen if society does not learn from these mistakes made. The audience feels sympathy towards Eva Smith and is curious to see if the Birlings have learnt from their mistake. Priestley has shown us how middle class people act in society and the way in which they regard lower citizens. He hopes we will realise how the younger generations are the ones who can change the society in which we live. He shows this when Mr and Mrs Birling learn nothing from their mistakes whereas Eric and Sheila do. The Inspector brings the play to a close, summarising Priestleys message when he says We dont live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other exactly the opposite to what we are told to believe by Mr Birling, that everybody should look after themselves. Priestley conveys his message well, showing us how the situation can be changed and who to depend on to change it.  I think the success and popularity of An Inspector Calls accounted for by the fact that it is very entertaining as there is a mixture of suspense and mystery but is also a play that conveys a moral message. This makes the play appeal to a widest possible audience especially the middlebrow.

Silicon Facts (Atomic Number 14 or Si)

Silicon Facts (Atomic Number 14 or Si) Silicon is a metalloid element with atomic number 14 and element symbol Si. In pure form, it is a brittle, hard solid with a blue-gray metallic luster. It is best known for its importance as a semiconductor. Fast Facts: Silicon Element Name: SiliconElement Symbol: SiAtomic Number: 14Appearance: Crystalline metallic solidGroup: Group 14 (Carbon Group)Period: Period 3Category: MetalloidDiscovery: Jà ¶ns Jacob Berzelius (1823) Silicon  Basic Facts Atomic Number: 14 Symbol: Si Atomic Weight: 28.0855 Discovery: Jons Jacob Berzelius 1824 (Sweden) Electron Configuration: [Ne]3s23p2 Word Origin: Latin: silicis, silex: flint Properties: The melting point of silicon is 1410 °C, boiling point is 2355 °C, specific gravity is 2.33 (25 °C), with a valence of 4. Crystalline silicon has a metallic grayish color. Silicon is relatively inert, but it is attacked by dilute alkali and by halogens. Silicon transmits over 95% of all infrared wavelengths (1.3-6.7 mm). Uses: Silicon is one of the most widely used elements. Silicon is important to plant and animal life. Diatoms extract silica from water to build their cell walls. Silica is found in plant ashes and in the human skeleton. Silicon is an important ingredient in steel. Silicon carbide is an important abrasive and is used in lasers to produce coherent light at 456.0 nm. Silicon doped with gallium, arsenic, boron, etc. is used to produce transistors, solar cells, rectifiers, and other important solid-state electronic devices. Silicone is a class of useful compounds made from silicon. Silicones range from liquids to hard solids and have many useful properties, including use as adhesives, sealants, and insulators. Sand and clay are used to make building materials. Silica is used to make glass, which has many useful mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal properties. Sources: Silicon makes up 25.7% of the earths crust, by weight, making it the second most abundant element (exceeded by oxygen). Silicon is found in the sun and stars. It is a principal component of the class of meteorites known as aerolites. Silicon is also a component of tektites, a natural glass of uncertain origin. Silicon is not found free in nature. It commonly occurs as the oxide and silicates, including sand, quartz, amethyst, agate, flint, jasper, opal, and citrine. Silicate minerals include granite, hornblende, feldspar, mica, clay, and asbestos. Preparation: Silicon may be prepared by heating silica and carbon in an electric furnace, using carbon electrodes. Amorphous silicon may be prepared as a brown powder, which can then be melted or vaporized. The Czochralski process is used to produce single crystals of silicon for solid-state and semiconductor devices. Hyperpure silicon may be prepared by a vacuum float zone process and by thermal decompositions of ultra-pure trichlorosilane in an atmosphere of hydrogen. Element Classification: Semimetallic Isotopes: There are known isotopes of silicon ranging from Si-22 to Si-44. There are three stable isotopes: Al-28, Al-29, Al-30. Silicon Physical Data Density (g/cc): 2.33Melting Point (K): 1683Boiling Point (K): 2628Appearance: Amorphous form is brown powder; crystalline form has a grayAtomic Radius (pm): 132Atomic Volume (cc/mol): 12.1Covalent Radius (pm): 111Ionic Radius: 42 (4e) 271 (-4e)Specific Heat (20 °C J/g mol): 0.703Fusion Heat (kJ/mol): 50.6Evaporation Heat (kJ/mol): 383Debye Temperature (K): 625.00Pauling Negativity Number: 1.90First Ionizing Energy (kJ/mol): 786.0Oxidation States: 4, -4Lattice Structure: DiagonalLattice Constant (Ã…): 5.430CAS Registry Number: 7440-21-3 Pure silicon has a shiny, metallic luster. Martin Konopka / EyeEm, Getty Images Silicon Trivia Silicon is the eighth most abundant element in the universe.Silicon crystals for electronics must have a purity of one billion atoms for every non-silicon atom (99.9999999% pure).The most common form of silicon in the Earths crust is silicon dioxide in the form of sand or quartz.Silicon, like water, expands as it changes from liquid to solid.Silicon oxide crystals in the form of quartz are piezoelectric. The resonance frequency of quartz is used in many precision timepieces. Sources Cutter, Elizabeth G. (1978). Plant Anatomy. Part 1 Cells and Tissues (2nd ed.). London: Edward Arnold. ISBN 0-7131-2639-6.Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-08-037941-9.Voronkov, M. G. (2007). Silicon era. Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry. 80 (12): 2190. doi:10.1134/S1070427207120397Weast, Robert (1984). CRC, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. Boca Raton, Florida: Chemical Rubber Company Publishing. pp. E110. ISBN 0-8493-0464-4.Zulehner, Werner; Neuer, Bernd; Rau, Gerhard, Silicon, Ullmanns Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, doi:10.1002/14356007.a23_721

Chapter summaries 1 page each chapter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Chapter summaries 1 page each chapter - Essay Example by scholars, it has not be written for scholars.1 The chapter seeks to inform a wider audience on how to go about interpreting the Old Testament and this chapter is especially set for students, pastors, and the general public regardless of their level of education. A correct understanding of any written or spoken information depends on the context. If such statements are taken out of the context, this deprives the information its true meaning, and leads to misinformation.2 The meaning of the passages depends on the context of the message and the paragraph. The meaning of such a passage would thus depend on the grammatical form of the word, and the role of the word or phrase in relation to the sentence. This is what amounts to an immediate context. The scripture is best understood by considering the literary form, which is a middle level context. In addition is the distant context that is also referred to as the theological context. The latter requires consideration of the canon of the scripture to understand. There is a need to consider the genre as a critical step in interpretation. The literary form of the Old Testament has been ignored by many, and this has led to lack of a holistic understanding of the context among the general audience. The bible in both the new and the Old Testament use different forms of communication, which include stories, music and homiletics. These forms of communication have to be analyzed according to their own genre. Owing to the overreliance of story forms in writing the Bible, the narrative becomes the ideal essence in Bible revelation, and this makes narratives to be the essential part for all bible interpreters.3 The literary forms becomes essential in understanding the Bible, as the Bible is entirely written in literary form. Therefore, the correct interpretation of narratives would largely depends on the appreciation of the plot as it entirely describe the beginning, the middle and the end of both the single and complex

Is Excessive Food Waste an Environmental Concern Essay

Is Excessive Food Waste an Environmental Concern - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that according to a report by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (APA), remarkably few citizens know that excessive food waste is an environmental hazard. Excessive food refers to wasteful practices by consumers and during production. Most people argue that since food is biodegradable, it does not pose a threat to the environment. However, a report published by EPA revealed that when food rots, it produces a greenhouse gas known as methane. Amazingly, methane is twenty times more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide. On the other hand, the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) argues that if only five percent of Americans’ food scraps were recovered, it would be enough to feed four million people for a day. USDA reported that close to 26 million tons of wasted food get thrown away in garbage annually. In fact, in 2010, food approximated to 34 million tons went to waste. In addition, food waste formed the single largest component of municipal solid waste reaching incinerators and landfills. EPA notes that the U.S government spends close to one billion dollars just to dispose of all its wasted food. This is exceedingly astonishing. The excess money spent on the management of wasted food can be used to run vital government departments. Experts from the University of Arizona believe that the country’s environmental impact can be reduced by 25 percent if Americans can reduce their food wastage by a half. This appears to be true because the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) indicated on 10th January 2012 that one-third of the food produced for human consumption globally, goes to waste every year. FAO reported that consumers and retailers in the U.S waste close to 40 percent of edible food annually. The data from FAO is also astonishing and calls for immediate actions. From the data reported earlier, it is clear that excessive food waste is becoming a serious environmental hazard. Consider ing the report produced by FAO, the U.S is just a representative of many nations whose citizens waste tons of food annually. The most alarming bit is that methane, the gas produced from food rot, traps heat in the atmosphere 23 times more than the widely known carbon dioxide. Since global warming affects the whole earth, stakeholders should consider passing international regulations that regulate the quantity of wasted food a country produces, in order to curb methane overproduction.

Devise a Marketing Strategy to present to the Marketing Director Essay Example for Free

Devise a Marketing Strategy to present to the Marketing Director Essay In this case study, I have been given a number of roles and my task is to consider and provide appropriate answers in the relevant business context where you apply learning from my course of study so far and my own work experiences. Question 1 I am the supervisor in the marketing department and I believe that there is scope for gaining more sales in the standardised sector of the market because of quality differences between my product and those of larger competitors. Devise a Marketing Strategy to present to the Marketing Director designed to achieve this objective Corporate Objectives The Furniture Company, based in a small town in Lancashire, develops, manufactures and markets quality furniture. The firm has a very good reputation throughout the entire region for all its products. The Furniture Companys Supervisor of the Marketing Department is at present pursuing a strategy to grow its market share in the standardised section of the market because of quality differences between their product and those of larger companies. Marketing Audit Internal Product High quality standardised products targeted at C1/C2 segments. Considered to be higher quality than those of larger competitors. The firm has a very good reputation for quality products. Pricing -Currently sold to up market retail outlets and on all sales are there is a very high profit margin on a relatively low turnover. Prices are higher than for similar type products in the large retail outlets due to economies of scale in purchasing. Place Customers mainly consist C1/C2 for the standardised furniture. Potential customers visit the companys display showroom, fully manned by an accounts clerk, a salesperson, both of whom are full-time and two part-time salespersons at weekend. Promotion Very little advertising is done. Current advertising is mainly done via local press, and via direct mail all aimed locally. Advertising spend tends to be about 3% of revenue, with higher marketing spend within peak months. External Social Since consumer trends are always changing, as are several of the products. With the traditional furniture, trends have small effect on sales. Economic Figures to be confirmed. There is a spend of over à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½750,000 within East Lancashire in the furniture market. The predicted growth for next year is 2% due to current consumer spend (interest rate currently stands at XX, and inflation 2.6%). Competitive The Furniture Company faces many competitors, on its retail side are many, and on local scale there are approximately 10 similar sized companies, although, the firm has a very good reputation throughout the entire region for all its products. Customer Audit Standardised products are aimed at C1/C2 segments. The competitions products were viewed as inferior to those of The Furniture Company, due to highly skilled craftsmanship. SWOT Analysis Strengths * Availability, either via local showroom, situated just off motorway or via retail outlet * Access, Full showroom with manned staff * Established, very good reputation throughout the region * Established up market retail outlet supplier * Higher quality than those of larger competitors * Innovation, constantly designing new furniture for changing market Weaknesses * Prices are slightly higher than for similar type products Opportunities * Market Development * Selling to mid-market retail outlets Nationwide * Expanding product into Europe worldwide Threats * Prices are higher than for similar type products in the large retail outlets * Unable to keep up with supplier demand Marketing Objectives and Strategies Market Development Ansoffs Matrix is a well-known Marketing Tool for deciding upon strategies for growth. First published in the Harvard Business Review (1957) in an article called Strategies for Diversification (see below example). Market Penetration By marketing our existing products to our existing customers, thus increasing revenue, by promoting the product, repositioning the brand. The aim is to encourage people to switch from other furniture manufacturers. Market Development Marketing the product in a new market/target audience. By introducing the product into a new region and also exporting the product. Market Extension/Product Development Selling the existing standard furniture into new markets, nationwide and worldwide, as the product already has a strong marketing competence. Diversification Not required Example of The Ansoff Matrix Product Life Cycle (see diagram below) Launch/Introduction The product is introduced into new markets and heavily promoted to create awareness. High costs. Due to success in the current markets, risk is fairly low. Growth Higher volume of sales enables The Furniture Company to benefit from economies of scale. Products become more profitable as sales rise and costs fall. Advertising spend is still high and focuses on building upon a brand name, ready for the maturity and decline stage to introduce new furniture after the brand has been established. Maturity Sales grow at a decreasing rate and then stabilise. Brand awareness is crucial in continuing success. The company retains its share of the market by capturing sales from weaker rivals by ensuring consistently quality furniture. Decline At this point there is a downturn in the market for this particular product. Sales and profit decline. New products are introduced or consumer tastes have changed. Product can be removed from the market at this stage and replaced by new furniture or profits can be improved by reducing marketing spend and cost cutting. Elimination/Withdrawal (or extension) When faced with decline in sales, the company will need to decide whether the decline is Temporary, Terminal and Irreversible or Capable of being reversed by an adjustment in the marketing mix Extension To rejuvenate the product to prolong its life by changing the product, the brand, the way it is promoted or the distribution channel. Question 2 As supervisor in the marketing department one of my roles is to devise expansion strategies as question 1. I believe, however, that the high quality hand crafted furniture could sell to a national and ultimately international market especially if at some future point the U.K. joins the single currency. At present these products sell to a regional market and I have already put this idea to the Marketing Director and received a positive response to the extent that he wants you to do a presentation to the full board of Directors on this idea Devise a promotional campaign to be presented to the Board that would reach a national market for the higher quality products. Marketing is defined as the management process responsible for identifying, anticipating and satisfying the requirements of customer profitably. Product Introduce the standardised range and also high quality furniture into mid-market and up-market retail outlets nationwide. The standardised range is higher quality than those of competitors. The handcrafted furniture provides high quality furniture aimed at the higher end of the market. Price Cost for the standardised product is slightly higher than its competitors. This can stand being higher due being higher quality than the products of competitors. Place The standardised products and the high quality furniture both sell currently to larger retail outlets and also to individual order. Introduction of the furniture into a national market and also international market. Promotion Offer trials to nationwide retail outlets, both mid-market and up-market with the relevant products, with trial offers. Pay for advertising spend to promote the product within the area via local media, and also promote product and brand via in-store advertising and display stands. Brand awareness is very important at this stage. The Promotional Plan * Description of products available * A description of target audience * Identification of the price * Information on where the product will be sold * Methods to be used o Posters placed at locations in store and places frequented by your target audience o Press Release Informing of the product to be selling locally o Local Newspaper Advertising Advertising within locality using established media within the area promoting brand and product o Radio Advertising Informing of product and brand launch, aimed at prime time listening, selecting stations geared to 35+ and homeowner audience. Question 3 I am employed as the supervisor in the Personnel Department and am responsible for the overseeing of the day-to-day tasks of the department. I am currently studying for the Institute of Personnel Management qualification and have become more familiar with the concept of human resources. Present a paper to the Personnel director outlining the benefits of introducing a HRM approach to the management of people and in particular how this would improve both productivity and motivation. Motivation (Definition) a set of processes concerned with the force that energises behaviour and directs it towards attaining some goal. A strategic, coherent and comprehensive approach to the management and development of the organisations human resources in which every aspect of that approach is wholly integrated with the overall management of the organisation. HRM is essentially an ideology, quote M. Armstrong, taken from Handbook of Human Resource Management, Kogan Page, 1999. Human resources management activities relate to employees pay, welfare, conditions of employment and training. HRM is based on four principles * Employees must be seen as valued assets in which to invest. It is human capability and commitment, which, in the final analysis, distinguishes successful organisations from the rest, Storey. * HRM is of strategic importance and, therefore, needs to be considered by top management in the formulation of the corporate plan. * Commitment not compliance. The key levers (the development of human resources; evaluation of performance and the rewarding of it) are to be used to seek not merely compliance but commitment. In other words, employees should not be forced to work grudgingly, but by obtaining their wholehearted commitment * Strategic implications of HRM. HRM is therefore, seen to have long-term implications and be integral to the core performance of the business. It must be the intimate concern of the line managers. Line managers have the responsibility of managing their staff. The role of personnel function is to enable the line managers to fulfil their HRM responsibilities effectively. Soft and Hard Approach to HRM The soft approach can be closer than the traditional personnel approach. Soft HRM is an integrated strategic function that is concerned with nurturing people because they are human beings whose feelings should be considered and, developing this valuable resource is the best way to achieve results. The Hard approach is based on the belief that human resources are the key assets, with emphasis placed on * Getting more out of people * Using them in a more productive way The aims of HRM are the same whether hard or soft and as follows * Enable management to achieve organisational objectives via its workforce * Enable people to utilise their full potential * Foster commitment * Integrate human resources policies with business plans * Establish an environment to unleash the creativity and energy of the workforce * Encourage flexibility in the interests of an organisation that is able to adapt to the environment and achieve excellence The main areas of management activity associated with the HRM philosophy * Organisation, design and effectiveness especially in relation to teamwork, communications, customer service and change management * Resources providing human resources required by means of recruitment, retention and training programmes. * Performance management improving performance by means of appraisal * Reward management for example, linking pay to performance * Motivation redesigning jobs and devising rewards to motivate employees * Commitment The integration of the needs of the individual with those of the organisation * Employee Relations Policies and procedures to encourage cooperation to the mutual benefit to all * Flexibility by means of mulitskilling redesigning jobs and new patterns of work * Quality as a way of life * Culture management influencing behaviour and thereby attitudes by means of resourcing, performance management and reward strategies Leadership and Motivation In the HRM school, Leadership should be democratic rather than authoritarian, managers should consult employees on matters that affect them, important in gaining respect of both the manager and the company, motivation rewards of social and psychological, not just financial. Motivation is defined as in influence that cases people (employees) to want to behave in a certain way, and combined with ability can result in performance. The motivated worker will be keen to work, take pride in their work, will not display negative attitude towards the company, display high level of commitment and get satisfaction out of work, benefiting the organisation with higher productivity levels, lower labour turnover, lower absenteeism, improve quality with less waste, greater willingness to accept change, willingness to contribute ideas and take on additional responsibility, allowing the company to overall reap the benefits of even greater financial gain. In production department, for example, possible financial reward could be brought into place looking at Hertzbergs Hygiene factors of Pay and Benefits, Working Conditions, Company Policy, Status, Job Security, Supervision, Office and Personal Lift all set to motivate Achievement, Recognition, Job Interest, Responsibility and ultimately Advancement. HRM could look at setting up motivating factors with the sales department by setting targets based on achieving sales to new retailers nationwide with additional financial gain based on and over achieving rewards. The key concepts to adapting a HRM approach to the company would provide the following Competition advantage Aspects of the company that give it an advantage over its rivals Human Resource Management A strategic, coherent and comprehensive approach to the management and development of the companys human resources Personnel Management Management/administration of recruitment, welfare and training of the employees McGregors Theory x and Y (1960) McGregors Theory X and Y (1960) about managerial behaviour had a profound effect on management thinking and practice. His Theory Y principles featured in management training courses for a decade or more. They influenced the design and implementation of personnel policies and practices. The legacy today permeates the axioms of participative and total quality management and the continued practice of staff appraisal. McGregor defined assumptions that he felt underpinned the practices and stances of managers in relation to employees. These were evident from their conversations and actions. Two sets of propositions were dubbed Theory X and Y. He was saying that what managers said or showed in their behaviour revealed their theories-in-use. Their predisposition led managers to pursue particular kinds of policies and relationships with employees. McGregors Theory Y was interpreted and promoted as a one-best-way, i.e. Y is the best. Managers or aspects of their behaviour became labelled as Theory X, the bad stereotype and Theory Y the good. McGregor ideas were much informed by Maslows need satisfaction model of motivation. Needs provide the driving force motivating behaviour and general orientation. Maslows ideas suggested that worker dissatisfaction with work was due to poor job design, managerial behaviour and too few opportunities for job satisfaction. On the basis of these ideas about drives Maslow suggested a classification of needs related to the development of the person lower level needs giving way developmentally to higher order needs. Thus a hierarchy is suggested although not claimed by Maslow. Example of Maslows Hieratchy Benefits If we introduced a HRM approach to the company ultimately employees at all levels will feel motivated and productive as quoted by carrot stick philosophy acceptance, and produce the most productivity. Employees will feel more worthy with a much easier line of communication with everyone feeling a valuable part of the organisation. The company needs to introduce a leadership mentality rather than management leadership and nurturer a new leadership approach. At present the organisations communications systems are mostly paper and telephone based Present a discussion document to the Personnel director explaining the concept of this electronic office, including explanation of the relevant technologies and their potential benefits You should also point out any potential drawbacks from this innovation and conclude with an evaluation of whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks or vice versa While predictions of the paperless office have yet to be fully realised, modern business now relies on a vast array of electronic equipment to function efficiently and effectively. The concept of a paperless office is to ensure productivity improvement and to use time more efficiently. At present most of the organisations communications are paper and telephone based. Initially, by utilising e-mail (electronic mail, which is the main use of the internet) the following advantages are gained by replacing paper telephone communication * Speed of movement and data * Paperless office * Accessible via any modem line * Delivery is faster than snail mail (post, especially useful when dealing overseas) * It overcomes the problems of timezones. The recipient does not have to be there to receive it * Like fax, it is possible to send messages to more than one person * E-mail addresses are portable * It enables users to exchange information with people * The cost is not dependent on the distance travelled * It is cheaper than fax or telephone * Cuts out general chat on the telephone * Less formal than a letter * The message will remain in the recipients e-mail account until it is collected * Can be sent with document or picture attachment * E-mails can be stored until recipient discards information Installing computerised systems with each department will also benefit from enabling all staff to access shared data from different departments computerised filing systems, e.g. access into word documents, spread sheets and other programme files. With transportable laptops, the office can be taken anywhere and even used worldwide, to assist in presentations and retrieving documents on a more global scale. Document Management System Another new form of the Electronic Office is the Document Management System offering solutions from the standalone scanner to a whole enterprise solution. E-Business solution companies analyse and advise on new business solutions. The Document Management System is a small step in the way forward for the paperless office, the benefits of incorporating the system is * Reduce office staff non-productivity rapidly locating folders and documents * Retain corporate knowledge and know where it is * Access paper documents within your business application * Scan your cabinets full of documents to secure them in case of Fire, Flood, Burglary or damage * Enable multiple people access to the same document or folder * Safely secure your documents for archival * Reduce boxes of stored paper * Automatically recognise forms and characters on incoming documents and locate them based on their content * Fax and receive documents directly from your desktop * Establish document privacy Electronic Office Manager It is a Human Resources and Process Management System that focuses on the internal operations of your business. The EOM provides businesses with a computerised Office Manager, with everything defined as a procedure, checklist or form. Job Descriptions become daily to do lists. To help manage time with automated reminders covering everything from training events to holiday management. EOM also provides Electronic Human Resource and Training Departments with employee files, applicant databases, and pre-written and editable employee handbooks and job descriptions. It also includes a system for creating and scheduling training. EOM even helps with financial forecasting and business planning features and point-to-point web navigation and link management. Operative Procedures, HRM, Business Development, Scheduling and Education Training are all available via EOM programme. Electronic Drawbacks Training and monitoring of training will be required at each stage to ensure competence and understanding of new system. With regular meetings required, and management of the change in system. Staff may be dissatisfied with the paperless office, and reluctant to the change. System failure. Without the adequate after support service and/or training there could be potential problems with system errors, which may result in non-productivity if staff rely on PCs when there is a breakdown. A recent example pf a paperless office is one department of Glasgow Borough Council, who recently had a computerised system developed solely for the use. Originally, each site manager called into an office each morning to collect information on various sites requiring repair assessment visits (approx 20 throughout the day) followed by a visiting to each site and manual completion of an in-depth form, and followed by manually inputting information on the computer for someone else then to call out to complete the repair work. The Borough Council have now developed a computerised system to enable them to receive the site information via electronic organiser, input the repair requirements, and return information upon completion for repairs to be carried out. Not only did this save much time on paperwork, but also time is more effectively managed by receiving full details of jobs throughout the day, which may be in areas the site manager is already working in. BIBLIOGRAPHY Jewell Bruce R, An Integrated Approach to Business Studies, Longman, [2000] ISBN 0582 40542 4 Ansoffs Matrix, www.marketingteacher.com/lessons/lesson_ansoff.html [accessed 31/05/02] How do I market My Inventions, http://www.montanaedu/wwwcxai [accessed 20/05/02] The Electronic Office, www.walters.co.uk/brochure/elecoffice1.htm [accessed 06/06/02] Imaging and Document Management Solutions, www.cabinetng.net/paperlessoffice.htm [accessed 05/06/02]

Hitlers Foreign Policy :: essays research papers fc

Assignment: Give an account of Hitler’s foreign policy, using the following headings: (A) Defiance of the Versailles Treaty (B) Relations with Italy (C) Territorial Expansion Defiance of the Versailles Treaty After the First World War, Germany signed a peace treaty with France and Britain. Among the 440 Articles were: * Germany lost Posen, the Polish Corridor and part of Upper Silesia to Poland. * Germany lost the Sudetenland to Czechoslovakia * Germany lost Eupen and Malmedy to Belgium * Germany lost North Schleswig to Denmark * Germany lost Alsace Lorraine to France * Germany lost all its overseas colonies * Saarland was under LN control and after 15 years the people could vote if they wanted to belong to Germany or France * The Rhineland was to be demilitarised * The army was reduced to 100,000 * Germany could have no submarines, no airforce and no heavy artillery * Germany had to pay major Reparations. In percentages: Germany lost 10% of its land, 100% of its colonies, 12.5% of its population 16% of its coal fields and 50% of its iron and steel industry. The main terms of the Versailles treaty Hitler (like most Germans) hated the Versailles Treaty and he didn’t want to follow the rules made by it. In fact, step by step he broke the laws. The first step he took was to increase the German army. Germany was only allowed to have an army of 100,000 men, no airforce, no tanks and no submarines. But in an interview with the Daily Mail on March 9, 1935, Goering revealed that there was a German airforce. One weak later Germany also announced that it had an army of 500,000 men. France and England didn’t even object to this. In 1936 Germany signed a treaty with England saying that Germany was allowed a navy one third the size of the British navy. Germany was rearming fast. It wasn’t hard thanks to the good economic growth. But the rearmament was so expensive that in 1936 it was clear that Germany was soon to go into an economic crisis if nothing was done. There wasn’t a better time to test the Versailles Treaty because the international situation was very fortunate to Hitler. Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia proved that the League of Nation (LN) was worthless. It also focussed Anglo-French diplomacy on Italy. After some years, Italy became weak because of the economic sanctions from Britain and France and the public opinion in France and Britain was still very anti-war.

Discussion on public magnet and charter schools

Nowadays an instruction is non a privilege for affluent people merely as it was some decennaries ago and in in-between ages. Every kid and every individual has an chance to have a certain degree of instruction for free. Many types of school are available today. Let us discourse three of them – public school, magnet school and charter school. What are differences between them? Public Schools To specify differences between the types of schools is impossible without the clear apprehension of the chief thought of every school. First of all, allow us analyze what is public school. It could be assorted types of educational establishments depending on the state. Largely, public schools is an educational establishment that is funded and run by the authorities ( normally it is funded through the revenue enhancements ) . Nevertheless, some public schools are run by different organisations and they are independent from the authorities ; we can see them private establishments. We can see that public schools are a consequence of the thought that authorities of a state has a duty for the degree of instruction of its citizens. Most of public schools charge a little stuff fee and they are free to go to. There are many assorted schooling theoretical accounts changing from state to state. Nevertheless, the most popular theoretical account of public instruction attentions about kids throu ghout childhood and in to the late teens. Some states besides provide an chance to acquire higher instruction for free. This chance is for those pupils who are citizens of a state. Besides some states provide a sort of partially authorities subsidise university plans. Talking about the United States, we can see that the authorities of the state operates figure of province colleges, although pupils are expected to pay different fee ( for illustration, tuition one ) . On the other manus, there are some fiscal assistance plans and authorities loan available for the citizens of the United States. In other states, like the United Kingdom, public schools are largely in private funded and bear down a high tuition fees ; these schools set a high admittance criterions. In such types of public schools tuition includes board and room. Most of the pupils live at the school during a term. These types of public schools have an impressive academic history and besides a long permanent tradition of household attending through over a coevals. In those states where public instruction is required and common, schooling is compulsory to a certain grade degree or age. If a individual wants to go a public school instructor, the certain grade from an commissioned university is required and good public standing every bit good. Government is maintaining checks on the public instruction system with the aid of system broad standardised trials. These trials are a sort of indicant of the degree of some basic accomplishments like simple mathematics and literacy. To sum up the thought of public school, allow us underscore the chief characteristics of it. This type of instruction includes kindergarten to 12-th class ( K – 12 ) ; besides public school refer to primary and secondary instruction ( besides it refers to the station secondary every bit good and advanced instruction, like for illustration proficient schools, university and colleges that are overseen and funded by authorities alternatively of private entities ) . State public instruction is inclusive in the intervention of pupils. Often it is operated and organized to became a calculated theoretical account of that civil community in which it s traveling to map. It could be provided to a group of pupils in a schoolroom in a cardinal school and it may be provided in – place as good ( it employs oversing instructor or sing instructors ) . State public instruction could be besides provided as shopping mall infinite ( non – school and non – place scenes ) . The chief characteristic of the province public instruction is that it is available to all people. Largely, it is mandatory for kids up to a certain age to go to a province public school ; nevertheless, the option of go toing a private school is unfastened for many people every bit good. In instance that a child attends private public school, such type of schools by and large defray its costs ( by bear downing parents tuition fee ) and operates independently of the province ( Suitts, 2008 ) . As we mentioned above, province public schools are funded by revenue enhancements largely. It means that en those people who are non go toing schools ( or their kids and their dependants are non go toing province public school ) aid to guarantee that citizens of a province are educated plenty. It is of import to advert that the term â€Å" public instruction † is non a equivalent word for the term â€Å" publically funded instruction † when it is applied to province schools. What does it means? For illustration, authorities could do a public policy determination to hold certain fiscal resources that are distributed in support ( or/and it could make up one's mind to hold some control over ) the proviso of private instruction. Voucher system and grants – in – assistance of the private schools give an illustration of publically funded private instruction. On the other manus, a province school ( including that schools that are run by a school territory ) could to a great extent trust on private support ( like private contributions or high fees ) ; this school would still be considered a province public school by virtuousness of governmental control and ownership. Normally, the province public instruction includes at that place following points: Standards and proving that are provided by authorities ; Compulsory pupils ‘ attending until a certain criterion of accomplishment or until the certain age ; Certification of course of study and instructors ; the enfranchisement could be provided by either instructors ‘ organisation or by authorities. In some states churches or private associations could run a school harmonizing to their principals ; they are free to make it until they comply with a certain demands of a province. In instance if the particular demands are non in understanding, a school receives a province support ( the particular demands could run into for illustration in the country of the school course of study ) . Then a school could be treated for accreditation intent and financially as a portion of the province public educational system, nevertheless they make a determination about school policy and hiring ( for illustration, non engaging atheists ) which authorities could non take itself. Many specializers assert the province public instruction to be necessary because it is demand of those people who are capable of making basic mathematics, composing and reading in the modern society. Some other people like libertarians, Teach that instruction is better to go forth for private sector. There is another group of people that are remaining for the alternate signifiers of instruction, like non – schooling. They argue that the same cognition and accomplishment is possible to accomplish without subjective pupils to province – tally compulsory schooling. How the province public schools are organized? As we mentioned earlier, they are provided by local authorities ; instruction, support and course of study and other policies as good are set through school boards that are locally elected by legal power over school territories. What are school territories? They are particular – purpose territories that are authorized by a proviso of province jurisprudence. In other words, province authorities has a right ( and utilize the right ) to supply a minimal criterions relation to all chief activities of secondary and primary schools and authorise and fund to ordain local school revenue enhancements every bit good to back up the province public schools ( this support is provided chiefly through existent belongings revenue enhancements ) . The federal authorities could financess material AIDSs to school and provinces that meet minimal federal criterions. Decisions about the school accreditation are made by voluntary regional associations. Ordinary, a province public school is divided in to a three phases: Elementary school ( kindergarten to fifth or sixth class ) ; In-between school ( junior high or â€Å" intermediate † school ) ; High school ( 9th or twelfths classs ) . In the in-between school is largely common the undermentioned format: the simple school contains the kindergarten through the 6th class, the in-between school contains seventh through 8th classs. Furthermore, some simple schools could be divided in to two more degrees: Primary school ( frequently it is K -2 ) ; Intermediate. Frequently these two schools are based in the separate edifices. One more emerging popular construct is the K – 8th format. In this format pupils could go to two schools merely for all their K – 12 instruction. In the K – 8 format all primary classs are houses that are situated in one subdivision of a school ( this state of affairs is more common for charter schools ) ; however, traditionally junior high school aged students are based in another subdivision of a school. Presently, some really little schools territories ( normally in rural countries ) sill maintain a K – 12 system harmonizing to which all students are housed in a individual school. In the United States, different establishments f the higher instruction that are subsidized and operated by the American province authorities is besides considered to be â€Å" public † . Nevertheless, public universities charge tuition ( unlike the public secondary school ) ; nevertheless these fees are normally much cheaper that the same fees that are charged by the private universities, for â€Å" in – province † pupils peculiarly. State universities, community colleges, and province colleges are the illustrations of public establishment of the higher instruction. The figure of the province universities is considered to be the best establishments of the higher instruction in the United States. However, they are frequently surpassed by some private colleges and universities in ranking. Among these private constitutions are those that are highly selective in the pupils they are accepting and they are expensive as good. The advantage of the public schools is obvious ( in principal, if non in pattern ever ) . In a state where the population is educated the degree of different accomplishments in the work force is meant to be increased and better public argument. Educated citizens are expected to be more likely to do thought out determinations and see the hereafter of their state. Charter Schools Now allow us research the charter schools and in which manner they are different from the province public schools. In the United States charter schools are secondary or chiefly schools that receive public money, furthermore, the can have private contributions like other schools ) . They are non a topic of some regulations, legislative acts and ordinances and this is the chief differences from the province public schools. Alternatively of it the charter schools have some types of answerability for the bring forthing of the certain consequences. The consequences are set Forth in every school ‘s charter. This type of schools is unfastened and could be attended by pick. Normally, charter schools are alternate to other public schools, however, they are besides portion of the public educational system ; charter schools are non allowed to bear down tuition. In that charter schools where the registration is over subscribed, the admittance is often allocated by the admittance that is lo ttery based. Some charter schools suggest a sort of the course of study that is specialized in a one certain field ( for illustration, the course of study could be specialized in mathematics, humanistic disciplines or linguistic communications, etc. ) it is one of the efforts to supply more efficient and better general instruction than nearby public schools. It is one more difference between public schools and charter schools. The following distinctive feature of charter schools is following: some of them are founded by parents, instructors or other militants who are restricted by the traditional public educational system. There are besides province – authorised charters that are frequently established by universities, non – net income groups and some authorities entities ( schools are non charged by local school territories ) . Furthermore, sometimes school territories permit corporations to pull off ironss of charter schools. Charter schools themselves are non – net income yet ; in this manner public schools could be managed by a for – net income corporation. It is non altering the position of a school. Talking about the construction and character of charter schools, we can advert that there are two chief principals that are steering the type of schools: Charter schools operate as independent public schools declining from figure of the procedural demands of the territory populace schools. It does non intend nevertheless that a school could be exempt from the same educational criterions that are set by the territory or authorities. The liberty could be necessary for making a certain school civilization ; the civilization should maximise pupils ‘ motives by stressing subject, academic asperity, relationships with caring grownups and high outlooks. Confirming pupils require the liberty to make a good balanced school civilization to fulfill the demands of the pupils. Particularly it is of import for those minority pupils in urban school territories, where the public presentation is affected by some societal phenomena stereotype menace, non – dominant cultural capital, â€Å" moving white † , and â€Å" a codification of a street † . The charter schools are accountable for the accomplishments of their pupils. The construction and regulations of the charter schools is differ from province to province and depend on the province authorizing. Any charter school once it received a charter, a public presentation contract that is defined statutory and inside informations the school ‘s mission, ends, plans, ways of step success, pupils served and methods of appraisal, is authorized to map. Most of the charter schools are granted for three to five old ages, however, the length of clip for every of charters are granted varies. This type of schools is accountably held to their patron ( province educational bureau, a local school board, university or other entity ) . It helps to adhere to the charter contract and to bring forth the positive academic consequences. It is obvious that the answerability is one of the gratings statements for the charter schools ; on the other manus, here is some grounds that is gathered by the United States Department of Education. This grounds claims that charter schools are practically non held to the high criterions of answerability in comparison with the traditional public schools. This statement could be refuted with the aid of analyzing the figure of those traditional public schools which were closed because of the hapless public presentation of their pupils on the trials at the terminal of a class or stop – of – class trials. Normally this sort of schools is allowed to remain unfastened on the status of the restructuring and new leading ( or frequently with no alterations at all ) . The advocates of the charter schools are asseverating that the schools do non hold an chance to frequently restructure ; they are merely closed down if their pupils show a hapless public presentation on the apprais als. The United States Department of Education ‘s findings agrees with the statements of NEA ( National Educational Association ) , although their inability to keep some other of import factors, the restrictions of different surveies does non give us an chance to be certain if the traditional public schools are better than charter schools or non. We can merely specify all those differences that we already mentioned above. Magnet Schools The last type of schools that we are traveling to analyze is magnet school. It is a public school that has a specialised course of study or class. The term â€Å" magnet † refers to the manner of how the schools draw pupils from across the common boundaries that are defined by governments ( school boards ) as the school zones that feed into some certain schools. We can run into magnet schools at the in-between school degree, simple school degree and at the high school degree every bit good. In the conditions of the decentralized instruction, some magnet schools are established by the school territory ; they are draw from the territory merely. Other magnet schools are set up by province authorities ; they could be draw from the multiply territories. There are besides some magnet plans within comprehensive schools ( several schools within one school ) . The bulk of the magnet schools are academically selective. There are two types of the magnet schools that are built on a base of the elect sporting plans and on the agricultural concern ( like animate being genteelness and agriculture ) . Some magnet schools provide the competitory entryway procedure ; they require interview, hearing or the entryway scrutiny. Other magnet schools use the lottery system or accept all pupils who apply ; besides they could unite some elements of lottery and competitory entryway. Most of the schools are concentrating on a peculiar country of the survey or on the certain subject ; other could hold a more general focal point. The focal point could be made on faculty members ( technology, mathematics, natural scientific discipline, societal scientific disciplines, and humanistic disciplines, executing of all right humanistic disciplines ) or they may concentrate on the vocational, agricultural, proficient instruction. Decision Here are some chief types of schools that are common in the state. Sum uping the differences between the public school, the magnet school and the charter school we can reason that they are about the support and authorising largely. Public schools are normally focused on a pretty broad country of surveies while magnetic and charter schools are seeking to hold a narrow focal point. However, we appreciate the broad pick of educational constitutions that are assisting our citizens to be good educated and to acquire more accomplishments and cognition.

Effects of Social Networking Sites Essay

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND Technology – driven school reform has overcome education, and advocates hail the huge number of advantages to reap. It comes with promises to push us into the future and cause dramatic improvement in student proficiency and worldwide understanding. Our computer- driven society demands that students develop the ability to operate in a technological environment, acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to be productive. In addition, so much of our planet rapidly is becoming connected via the Internet so that social protocol has become an intrinsic part of technology- based curriculum. But increasing reports connecting psychologically addictive characteristics to internet use, along with speculation of its negative influence on social functioning, have brought to question the enduring effects of its reform. Read more:  Negative Impact of Social Media on Students Educational systems around the world are under increasing pressure to use the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to teach students the knowledge and skills they need in the 21st – century (UNESCO, 2002). Thus the key concern driving the policy and community interest in the pedagogical integration of ICT is the premise that ICT is important for beginning changes to classroom teaching and learning so as to foster the development of students’ 21st – century skills. Specifically, these skills include the capability to become lifelong learners with a context of collaborative inquiry and the ability to work and learn from experts and peers in a connected global community (Law, Pelgrum & Plomp, 2008). Social computer use is widespread and growing. Current estimates indicate that 149 million people are social worldwide, and that number is increasing at the rate of 12% a month (Suler, 2008). Integrating the Internet into classroom activities allows teachers to move beyond classroom walls. Far from being an â€Å"add on† or a burden to carry into instruction, this technology provides support for teachers as they move into new roles as facilitators of learning (Cooper, 1995). Since the present society is fast changing especially in the realm of computer technology, educators are beginning to wonder about the influence of the Internet on the ICT capabilities and physiological well – being of youths. Investigation is especially timely due to the widespread establishment of Internet shops along the school environment. Background of the Study The Internet provides some of the most effective means of communication. Emails and instant messages have made social communication possible. Social network and blogging websites and social discussion forums have proved being popular platforms of expression. People in different parts of the world can collaborate over the Internet. It was the development of the Internet that made social education and distance learning possible. Professionals working in physically distant locations can collaborate their efforts (OAK, 2008). With the advent of the Internet, the debate over the effects of new media reemerged. While some envisioned a â€Å"virtual community,† which lower the costs of collective action and expand individuals’ social networks (Delli Carpini, 2000; Rheingold, 2000), others worried about new addiction, which would reduce social ties and draw users into cycle of depression and loneliness (Nie and Erbring, 2000) . A decade after the popularization of the internet, neither scenario has emerged. Instead, research reflects a medium that has some positive influence on users’ social ties, but where only certain Internet uses positive influence on users’ social ties, but where only certain Internet uses to social capital (Zhao, 2006). Underscoring the dramatic increase over time, the percentage of internet users who search on a typical day grew 69% from January 2002 to May 2008. During the same six-year time period, the use of email on a typical day rose from 52% to 60%, for a growth rate of just 15% ( Heisler, 2008) With the increasing information, there is a debate among psychologists as to the prevalence of a psychological disorder associated with social use. Labeled by some as â€Å"Internet Addiction Disorder† (Goldberg, 1997), studies suggest the existence of addictive behavior patterns among heavy internet users (Greenfield, 1999). Based on criteria that psychologists often use in defining the types of addiction, social surveys estimate that the incidence of addictive patterns of behavior among heavy Internet users’ ranges from 6 % (Greenfield, 1999). Children’s exposure to electronic media, such as television, video games, the Internet, and music has increased enormously in recent decades. More than 100 studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between exposure to violence on television and aggressive behavior in children (Kidsdata.org,2006). Identified symptoms of the disorder include : (a) using the computer to pleasure, gratification, or relief from stress; (b) feeling irritable and out of control or depressed when not using it; (c) spending increasing amounts of time and money on hardware, software, magazines, and computer – related activities; and (d) neglecting work school, or family obligations (Gawel, 1998) Neilsen (2008) stated that â€Å"Today’s youth don’t know — or don’t remember — a time when they weren’t going online, so their adoption of online video has been seamless.† The video consumption in the workplace increases usage metrics among adults, the ‘at home’ data show how kids and teens are driving usage and claiming their territory. The Web provides another platform for their interest in TV shows, toys, movies and music, and offers an interactive element that children especially enjoy. Among the top sites for the younger demographic we see are publishers that are integrating video into games, music and other content to drive engagement with this multi-media generation.† Likewise Bugeja (2008) said that â€Å"students might misuse technology, and about how Facebook and MySpace are all simply about revenue generation for their respective companies.† Educational pedagogy has swung over the years between focusing on individual-centered learning, group learning, and peer-to-peer learning. If you take a peer-to-peer learning approach, you are inherently valuing the social networks that youth have and maintain, or else you are encouraging them to build one. These networks are mediated and reinforced through SNSs. If there is pedagogical value to encouraging peers to have strong social networks, then there is pedagogical value in supporting their sociable practices on SNSs. (Boyd,2008) When it comes to socializing with friends, youth prefer in-person (unregulated) encounters. They turn to Social Network Sites when they cannot get together with their friends en masse or when they cannot get together without shriveling adults. By and large, there are few free spaces where youth can gather with their friends en masse and, even then, inevitably a chunk of parents refuse to let them, thereby destroying cluster effects. So, of course, they turn to Social Network Sites. School is one of the few times when they can get together with their friends and they use every unscheduled moment to socialize – passing time, when the teacher’s back is turned, during lunch, bathroom breaks, etc. They are desperately craving an opportunity to connect with their friends; not surprisingly, their use of anything that enables socialization while at school is deeply desired. This is why they text during classes. They go onto SNSs during the day to write to friends who have diffe rent schedules or to write to the whole group if a portion of them are on a different lunch. Given how regulated youth are, any open space where socializing is possible will be taken up by socializing; it is often the only place they can see their friends. This is not something that the schools can fix, but they also should not be surprised when group time turns into gossip time (Boyd, 2008). By mid-2005, MySpace was a popular destination for high school students throughout the United States but teenagers from other countries were on a variety of other social network sites. Friendster had lost its grip on 20/30-something urbanites but it had become popular amongst teenagers in Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Social network sites like Orkut and Hi5, which were initially popular among adults in Brazil and India, began attracting the attention of younger audiences in those countries (Boyd & Danah, 2007). Social network sites, such as the wildly popular, are rapidly becoming a problem for schools in Sapang Palay , City of San Jose Del Monte. It has been observed that even during schools days, students from Sapang Palay National High School are staying in computer shops. Based on the interviews conducted by the researcher recently to the fourth year students, they reasoned out that they were staying in internet shops because they wanted to browse and post comments on their social network sites. According to them, they felt fulfilled if they regularly viewed their social network site account. This study will be an eye opener for the education opportunities and possibilities with social network sites. This research will greatly benefit in one way or another the following: The Department of Education, as an agency that draws and sets the education program for the secondary level, may use results of this study reference for the curriculum makers in the creation of acceptable guidelines in proper use of social network sites . School Administration will serve as springboard for an action plan for computer laboratory teachers and personnel on the use of internet and issues with social networking sites in their code of conduct. A policy may be formulated that will educate parents on the negative and positive effects of exposure to social network sites on students’ achievements in Information Communication Technology subject and behavior. Information Communication Technology (ICT) teachers will become aware of what students are accessing and why they are using the web for research or socializing. This study will increase awareness among students on the dangers in social networking sites. Parents, who must be primarily concerned with their children’s behavior, must be involved in their child’s networking lifestyle. Parents need to inform children of the potential dangers of social networking sites and how they can protect them. Students who are the most important concern of this study, who use social networking sites, are made aware of the potential dangers relative to social networking sites, and gain to knowledge and abilities to use social networking sites as tool in learning Information Communication Technology skills other than time wasting. This would also enjoin the students to utilize and take advantage of the skills and learning experiences that maybe acquired in browsing social network sites to develop their Information Communication Technology skills to the fullest with appropriate behavior. The study would contribute added relevant facts and issues in formulating, implementing and evaluating the curriculum and instruction so as to include Educational Technology in the Mast er of Arts in Industrial Education Program. This may be lead to the development of teacher leaders with strong commitment to the philosophical foundations of technology. Statement of the Problem This study attempted to investigate whether exposure to social network sites communication was related to the achievement in Information Communication Technology subject and behavior in terms of study habits, socialization, and home responsibilities of selected fourth year high school students at Sapang Palay National High School Specifically, this study sought to answer the following questions. 1. What are the social network sites browsed by fourth year high school students? 2. What is the frequency of students’ exposure to social network sites? 3. What is the level of respondents’ browsing skills on social network sites? 4. What is the level of achievement in Information Communication Technology subject? 5. How do respondents perceive their behavior in terms of 5.1 study habits; 5.2 socialization; and 5.3 home responsibility? 6. Is there any significant relationship between social network sites exposure and students’ achievement in Information Communication Technology subject and behavior? 7. Does sex affect the relationship of the social network sites exposure to achievement in Information Communication subject and behavior in terms of 7. 1study habits 7.2socialization and home 7.3responsibilities Scope of the Study The research study was conducted to determine the exposure of communication by fourth year high school students, the level of achievements in Information Communication Technology subject and their behavior. It also sought whether significant relationship could be seen between social network sites exposure and students’ achievement in Information Communication Technology subject and behavior. It also aimed to determine whether the sex of students could make significant difference in affecting achievement in Information Communication Technology subject and behavior. The techniques of gathering data were questionnaire and interviews. Involved in this study were 200 fourth year students at Sapang Palay National High School during school year 2013-2014, City Division of San Jose Del Monte. Around fifty percent of the total numbers of students who are taking up Information Communication Technology subject were included in this study. They were classified according to their sex.

Entrepreneurial Ability Essay Example

Entrepreneurial Ability Essay Example Entrepreneurial Ability Paper Entrepreneurial Ability Paper This question has been the focus of significant research and debate that is entrepreneurial ability inherent in all of us? Does it require some external shock to awaken it? Can we identify the traits and can they be taught? Shine (2010) In his book discusses how your genes influence your work interests, work values, decision making, risk taking, management style, approach to leadership, creativity, entrepreneurship and work performance. Shames conclusions were primarily based n the findings of studies of the twins, which has long been the favored method of separating hereditary traits from environmental Influences. Sensation seeking, for example, Is a personality trait believed to be related with entrepreneurship. Shine and his colleagues studied over 3000 twins In U. K. And found between 37 and 42 percent of the variance In tendency of people to engage In entrepreneurship Is accounted for by genetic factors. Twine 31 and 46 percent of this variance was edited by psychological traits of sensation seeking (Anomalous, Shine, Checkers and Specter, 2008, p 16). These findings are not entirely surprising or new. Both popular beliefs and scientific evidences suggest biology plays a role what we become eventually. So are these studies show we are only the product of nature? Dana (2001 ) argues that the Centenarians entrepreneur who creates an innovation is more likely to be born, whilst the Cankering entrepreneur who simply identifies an opportunity can be taught. A common denominator between these two broader lactations of entrepreneurs is that the innovation, whether created or identified, is exploited for profit. As a consequence training has to be tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs. A survey identifying the training and development methods most adapted to Quebec entrepreneurs showed the need for both lecture and participation (77%) and favored trade associations working with educational institutions (57%) (Grainier et al. , 1985). Bill Bolton and John Thompson says, It is however believed that educational programs for entrepreneurs have their place in Ron/made ratio but still environment is an important parameter. Let me conclude with the statement of Bill Bolton and John Thompson We are particularly concerned that such a standard text should be recommended that those who score 25 out of 103 in its Entrepreneur Quotient questionnaire should be advised You still have a chance. Go for it Bolton, B. And Thompson, J. (2004), Entrepreneurs, Elsevier Buttonholer-Henchman, Oxford UK. Dana, D. 2001), Conflict Resolution, McGraw Hill Professional, 2001. Anomalous, N. , Shine, S. Checkers, L. Specter, T. (2008), The Influence of Sensation Seeking In the Heritability of Entrepreneurship, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal 2 7-21. Shine, S. (2010), Born Entrepreneurs Born Leaders, Oxford University Press, awaken it? Can we identify the traits and can they be taught? Shine (2010) in his book separating hereditary traits fr om environmental influences. Sensation seeking, for example, is a personality trait believed to be related with entrepreneurship. Shine and his colleagues studied over 3000 twins in U. K. And found between 37 and 42 recent of the variance in tendency of people to engage in entrepreneurship is mediated by psychological traits of sensation seeking.

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly

How to Start a College Essay Perfectly SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’ve been sitting in front of a blank screen, unsure of exactly how to start a personal statement for college, then believe me- I feel your pain. A great college essay introduction is key to making your essay stand out, so there’s a lot of pressure to get it right. Luckily, being able to craft the perfect beginning for your admissions essay is just like many other writing skills- something you can get better at with practice and by learning from examples. In this article, I’ll walk you through exactly how to start a college essay. We'll cover what makes a great personal statement introduction and how the first part of your essay should be structured. We'll also look at several great examples of essay beginnings and explain why they work, how they work, and what you can learn from them. What Is the College Essay Introduction For? Before we talk about how to start a college essay, let's discuss the role of the introduction. Just as your college essay is your chance to introduce yourself to the admissions office of your target college, your essay's beginning is your chance to introduce your writing. Wait, Back Up- Why Do Colleges Want Personal Statements? In general, college essays make it easier to get to know the parts of you not in your transcript- these include your personality, outlook on life, passions, and experiences. You're not writing for yourself but for a very specific kind of reader. Picture it: your audience is an admissions officer who has read thousands and thousands of essays. This person is disposed to be friendly and curious, but if she hasn’t already seen it all she's probably seen a good portion of it. Your essay's job is to entertain and impress this person, and to make you memorable so you don't merely blend into the sea of other personal statements. Like all attempts at charm, you must be slightly bold and out of the ordinary- but you must also stay away from crossing the line into offensiveness or bad taste. What Role Does the Introduction Play in a College Essay? The personal statement introduction is basically the wriggly worm that baits the hook to catch your reader. It's vital to grab attention from the get-go- the more awake and eager your audience is, the more likely it is that what you say will really land. How do you go about crafting an introduction that successfully hooks your reader? Let’s talk about how to structure the beginning of your college essay. Teenagers hard at work on their college applications. How to Structure a Personal Statement Introduction To see how the introduction fits into an essay, let's look at the big structural picture first and then zoom in. College Essay Structure Overview Even though they’re called essays, personal statements are really more like a mix of a short story and a philosophy or psychology class that's all about you. Usually, how this translates is that you start with a really good (and very short) story about something arresting, unusual, or important that happened to you. This is not to say that the story has to be about something important or unusual in the grand scheme of things- it just has to be a moment that stands out to you as defining in some way, or an explanation of why you are the way you are. You then pivot to an explanation of why this story is an accurate illustration of one of your core qualities, values, or beliefs. The story typically comes in the first half of the essay, and the insightful explanation comes second - but, of course, all rules were made to be broken, and some great essays flip this more traditional order. College Essay Introduction Components Now, let’s zero in on the first part of the college essay. What are the ingredients of a great personal statement introduction? I'll list them here and then dissect them one by one in the next section: A killer first sentence: This hook grabs your readers' attention and whets their appetite for your story. A vivid, detailed story that illustrates your eventual insight: To make up for how short your story will be, you must insert effective sensory information to immerse the reader. An insightful pivot toward the greater point you're making in your essay: This vital piece of the essay connects the short story part to the part where you explain what the experience has taught you about yourself, how you've matured, and how it has ultimately shaped you as a person. You've got your reader's attention when you see its furry ears extended †¦ No, wait. Squirrel. You've got your squirrel's attention. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: How to Write a College Essay Introduction Here’s a weird secret that’s true for most written work: just because it'll end up at the beginning doesn’t mean you have to write it first. For example, in this case, you can’t know what your killer first sentence will be until you’ve figured out the following details: The story you want to tell The point you want that story to make The trait/maturity level/background about you that your essay will reveal So my suggestion is to work in reverse order! Writing your essay will be much easier if you can figure out the entirety of it first and then go back and work out exactly how it should start. This means that before you can craft your ideal first sentence, the way the short story experience of your life will play out on the page, and the perfect pivoting moment that transitions from your story to your insight, you must work out a general idea about which life event you will share and what you expect that life event to demonstrate to the reader about you and the kind of person you are. If you're having trouble coming up with a topic, check out our guide on brainstorming college essay ideas. It might also be helpful to read our guides to specific application essays, such as picking your best Common App prompt and writing a perfect University of California personal statement. In the next sections of this article, I'll talk about how to work backwards on the introduction, moving from bigger to smaller elements: starting with the first section of the essay in general and then honing your pivot sentence and your first sentence. Don't get too excited about working in reverse- not all activities are safe to do backwards. (Jackie/Flickr) How to Write the First Section of Your College Essay In a 500-word essay, this section will take up about the first half of the essay and will mostly consist of a brief story that illuminates a key experience, an important character trait, a moment of transition or transformation, or a step toward maturity. Once you've figured out your topic and zeroed in on the experience you want to highlight in the beginning of your essay, here are 2 great approaches to making it into a story: Talking it out, storyteller style (while recording yourself): Imagine that you're sitting with a group of people at a campfire, or that you're stuck on a long flight sitting next to someone you want to befriend. Now tell that story. What does someone who doesn’t know you need to know in order for the story to make sense? What details do you need to provide to put them in the story with you? What background information do they need in order to understand the stakes or importance of the story? Record yourself telling your story to friends and then chatting about it: What do they need clarified? What questions do they have? Which parts of your story didn’t make sense or follow logically for them? Do they want to know more, or less? Is part of your story interesting to them but not interesting to you? Is a piece of your story secretly boring, even though you think it’s interesting? Later, as you listen to the recorded story to try to get a sense of how to write it, you can also get a sense of the tone with which you want to tell your story. Are you being funny as you talk? Sad? Trying to shock, surprise, or astound your audience? The way you most naturally tell your story is the way you should write it. After you've done this storyteller exercise, write down the salient points of what you learned. What is the story your essay will tell? What is the point about your life, point of view, or personality it will make? What tone will you tell it with? Sketch out a detailed outline so that you can start filling in the pieces as we work through how to write the introductory sections. Baron Munchausen didn't know whether to tell his story sad that his horse had been cut in half, or delighted by knowing what would happen if half a horse drank from a fountain. How to Write the First Sentence of Your College Essay In general, your essay's first sentence should be either a mini-cliffhanger that sets up a situation the reader would like to see resolved, or really lush scene-setting that situates your audience in a place and time they can readily visualize. The former builds expectations and evokes curiosity, and the latter stimulates the imagination and creates a connection with the author. In both cases, you hit your goal of greater reader engagement. Now, I’m going to show you how these principles work for all types of first sentences, whether in college essays or in famous works of fiction. First Sentence Idea 1: Line of Quoted Direct Speech "Mum, I'm gay." (Ahmad Ashraf '17 for Connecticut College) The experience of coming out is raw and emotional, and the issue of LGBTQ rights is an important facet of modern life. This three-word sentence immediately sums up an enormous background of the personal and political. "You can handle it, Matt," said Mr. Wolf, my fourth-grade band teacher, as he lifted the heavy tuba and put it into my arms. (Matt Coppo ’07 for Hamilton College) This sentence conjures up a funny image- we can immediately picture the larger adult standing next to a little kid holding a giant tuba. It also does a little play on words: "handle it" can refer to both the literal tuba Matt is being asked to hold and the figurative stress of playing the instrument. First Sentence Idea 2: Punchy Short Sentence With One Grabby Detail I live alone- I always have since elementary school. (Kevin Zevallos '16 for Connecticut College) This opener definitely makes us want to know more. Why was he alone? Where were the protective grown-ups who surround most kids? How on earth could a little kid of 8-10 years old survive on his own? I have old hands. (First line from a student in Stanford’s class of 2012) There’s nothing but questions here. What are "old" hands? Are they old-looking? Arthritic? How has having these hands affected the author? There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. (Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre) There’s immediately a feeling of disappointment and the stifled desire for action here. Who wanted to go for a walk? And why was this person being prevented from going? First Sentence Idea 3: Lyrical, Adjective-Rich Description of a Setting We met for lunch at El Burrito Mexicano, a tiny Mexican lunch counter under the Red Line "El" tracks. (Ted Mullin ’06 for Carleton College) Look at how much specificity this sentence packs in less than 20 words. Each noun and adjective is chosen for its ability to convey yet another detail. "Tiny" instead of "small" gives readers a sense of being uncomfortably close to other people and sitting at tables that don't quite have enough room for the plates. "Counter" instead of "restaurant" lets us immediately picture this work surface, the server standing behind it, and the general atmosphere. "Under the tracks" is a location deeply associated with being run down, borderline seedy, and maybe even dangerous. Maybe it's because I live in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, where Brett Favre draws more of a crowd on Sunday than any religious service, cheese is a staple food, it's sub-zero during global warming, current "fashions" come three years after they've hit it big with the rest of the world, and where all children by the age of ten can use a 12-gauge like it's their job. (Riley Smith '12 for Hamilton College) This sentence manages to hit every stereotype about Wisconsin held by outsiders- football, cheese, polar winters, backwardness, and guns- and this piling on gives us a good sense of place while also creating enough hyperbole to be funny. At the same time, the sentence raises the tantalizing question: maybe what is because of Wisconsin? High, high above the North Pole, on the first day of 1969, two professors of English Literature approached each other at a combined velocity of 1200 miles per hour. (David Lodge, Changing Places) This sentence is structured in the highly specific style of a math problem, which makes it funny. However, at the heart of this sentence lies a mystery that grabs the reader's interest: why on earth would these two people be doing this? First Sentence Idea 4: Counterintuitive Statement To avoid falling into generalities with this one, make sure you're really creating an argument or debate with your counterintuitive sentence. If no one would argue with what you've said, then you aren't making an argument. ("The world is a wonderful place" and "Life is worth living" don't make the cut.) If string theory is really true, then the entire world is made up of strings, and I cannot tie a single one. (Joanna ’18 for Johns Hopkins University) There’s a great switch here from the sub-microscopic strings that make up string theory to the actual physical strings you can tie in real life. This sentence hints that the rest of the essay will continue playing with linked, albeit not typically connected, concepts. All children, except one, grow up. (J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan) In just six words, this sentence upends everything we think we know about what happens to human beings. First Sentence Idea 5: The End- Making the Rest of the Essay a Flashback I’ve recently come to the realization that community service just isn’t for me. (Kyla ’19 for Johns Hopkins University) This seems pretty bold- aren’t we supposed to be super into community service? Is this person about to declare herself to be totally selfish and uncaring about the less fortunate? We want to know the story that would lead someone to this kind of conclusion. Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendà ­a was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. (Gabriel Garcà ­a Mrquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude) So many amazing details here. Why is the Colonel being executed? What does "discovering" ice entail? How does he go from ice-discoverer to military commander of some sort to someone condemned to capital punishment? First Sentence Idea 6: Direct Question to the Reader To work well, your question should be especially specific, come out of left field, or pose a surprising hypothetical. How does an agnostic Jew living in the Diaspora connect to Israel? (Essay #3 from Carleton College’s sample essays) This is a thorny opening, raising questions about the difference between being an ethnic Jew and practicing the religion of Judaism, and the obligations of Jews who live outside of Israel to those who live in Israel and vice versa. There's a lot of meat to this question, setting up a philosophically interesting, politically important, and personally meaningful essay. While traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe? (First line from a student in Stanford’s class of 2012) There’s a dreamy and sci-fi element to this first sentence, as it tries to find the sublime ("the universe") inside the prosaic ("daily path of life"). First Sentence Idea 7: Lesson You Learned From the Story You’re Telling One way to think about how to do this kind of opening sentence well is to model it on the morals that ended each Aesop's fable. The lesson you learned should be slightly surprising (not necessarily intuitive) and something that someone else might disagree with. Perhaps it wasn't wise to chew and swallow a handful of sand the day I was given my first sandbox, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. (Meagan Spooner ’07 for Hamilton College) The best part of this hilarious sentence is that even in retrospect, eating a handful of sand is only possibly an unwise idea- a qualifier achieved through that great "perhaps." So does that mean it was wise in at least some way to eat the sand? The reader wants to know more. All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina) This immediately sets readers to mentally flip through every unhappy family they’ve ever known to double-check the narrator’s assertion. Did he draw the right conclusion here? How did he come to this realization? The implication that he will tell us all about some dysfunctional drama also has a rubbernecking draw. Now go! And let your first sentences soar like the Wright Brothers' first airplane! How to Write a Pivot Sentence in Your College Essay This is the place in your essay where you go from small to big- from the life experience you describe in detail to the bigger point this experience illustrates about your world and yourself. Typically, the pivot sentence will come at the end of your introductory section, about halfway through the essay. I say sentence, but this section could be more than one sentence (though ideally no longer than two or three). So how do you make the turn? Usually you indicate in your pivot sentence itself that you are moving from one part of the essay to another. This is called signposting, and it's a great way to keep readers updated on where they are in the flow of the essay and your argument. Here are three ways to do this, with real-life examples from college essays published by colleges. Pivot Idea 1: Expand the Time Frame In this pivot, you gesture out from the specific experience you describe to the overarching realization you had during it. Think of helper phrases such as "that was the moment I realized" and "never again would I." Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I’d been in this type of situation before. In fact, I’d been born into this type of situation. (Stephen '19 for Johns Hopkins University) This is a pretty great pivot, neatly connecting the story Stephen's been telling (about having to break into a car on a volunteering trip) and his general reliance on his own resourcefulness and ability to roll with whatever life throws at him. It's a double bonus that he accomplishes the pivot with a play on the word "click," which here means both the literal clicking of the car door latch and the figurative clicking his brain does. Note also how the pivot crystallizes the moment of epiphany through the word "suddenly," which implies instant insight. But in that moment I realized that the self-deprecating jokes were there for a reason. When attempting to climb the mountain of comedic success, I didn't just fall and then continue on my journey, but I fell so many times that I befriended the ground and realized that the middle of the metaphorical mountain made for a better campsite. Not because I had let my failures get the best of me, but because I had learned to make the best of my failures. (Rachel Schwartzbaum '19 for Connecticut College) This pivot similarly focuses on a "that moment" of illuminated clarity. In this case, it broadens Rachel's experience of stage fright before her standup comedy sets to the way she has more generally not allowed failures to stop her progress- and has instead been able to use them as learning experiences. Not only does she describe her humor as "self-deprecating," but she also demonstrates what she means with that great "befriended the ground" line. It was on this first educational assignment that I realized how much could be accomplished through an animal education program- more, in some cases, than the aggregate efforts of all of the rehabilitators. I found that I had been naive in my assumption that most people knew as much about wildlife as I did, and that they shared my respect for animals. (J.P. Maloney '07 for Hamilton College) This is another classically constructed pivot, as J.P. segues from his negative expectations about using a rehabilitated wild owl as an educational animal to his understanding of how much this kind of education could contribute to forming future environmentalists and nature lovers. The widening of scope happens at once as we go from a highly specific "first educational assignment" to the more general realization that "much" could be accomplished through these kinds of programs. Pivot Idea 2: Link the Described Experience With Others In this pivot, you draw a parallel between the life event that you've been describing in your very short story and other events that were similar in some significant way. Helpful phrases include "now I see how x is really just one of the many x’s I have faced," "in a way, x is a good example of the x-like situations I see daily," and "and from then on every time I ..." This state of discovery is something I strive for on a daily basis. My goal is to make all the ideas in my mind fit together like the gears of a Swiss watch. Whether it's learning a new concept in linear algebra, talking to someone about a programming problem, or simply zoning out while I read, there is always some part of my day that pushes me towards this place of cohesion: an idea that binds together some set of the unsolved mysteries in my mind. (Aubrey Anderson '19 for Tufts University) After cataloging and detailing the many interesting thoughts that flow through her brain in a specific hour, Aubrey uses the pivot to explain that this is what every waking hour is like for her "on a daily basis." She loves learning different things and finds a variety of fields fascinating. And her pivot lets us know that her example is a demonstration of how her mind works generally. This was the first time I’ve been to New Mexico since he died. Our return brought so much back for me. I remembered all the times we’d visited when I was younger, certain events highlighted by the things we did: Dad haggling with the jewelry sellers, his minute examination of pots at a trading post, the affection he had for chilies. I was scared that my love for the place would be tainted by his death, diminished without him there as my guide. That fear was part of what kept my mother and me away for so long. Once there, though, I was relieved to realize that Albuquerque still brings me closer to my father. (Essay #1 from Carleton College’s sample essays) In this pivot, one very painful experience of visiting a place filled with sorrowful memories is used as a way to think about "all the other times" the author had been to New Mexico. The previously described trip after the father's death pivots into a sense of the continuity of memory. Even though he is no longer there to "guide," the author's love for the place itself remains. Pivot Idea 3: Extract and Underline a Trait or Value In this type of pivot, you use the experience you've described to demonstrate its importance in developing or zooming in on one key attribute. Here are some ways to think about making this transition: "I could not have done it without characteristic y, which has helped me through many other difficult moments," or "this is how I came to appreciate the importance of value z, both in myself and in those around me." My true reward of having Stanley is that he opened the door to the world of botany. I would never have invested so much time learning about the molecular structure or chemical balance of plants if not for taking care of him. (Michaela '19 for Johns Hopkins University) In this tongue-in-cheek essay in which Michaela writes about Stanley, a beloved cactus, as if "he" has human qualities and is her child, the pivot explains what makes this plant so meaningful to its owner. Without having to "take care of him," Michaela "would never have invested so much time learning" about plant biology. She has a deep affinity for the natural sciences and attributes her interest at least partly to her cactus. By leaving me free to make mistakes and chase wild dreams, my father was always able to help ground me back in reality. Personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments are all values that are etched into my mind, just as they are within my father’s. (Olivia Rabbitt '16 for Connecticut College) In Olivia's essay about her father's role in her life, the pivot discusses his importance by explaining his deep impact on her values. Olivia has spent the story part of her essay describing her father's background and their relationship. Now, she is free to show how without his influence, she would not be so strongly committed to "personal responsibilities, priorities and commitments." Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. A great pivot is like great parkour- sharp, fast, and coming on a slightly unexpected curve. (Peter Waterman/Flickr) College Essay Introduction Examples We've collected many examples of college essays published by colleges and offered a breakdown of how several of them are put together. Now, let's check out a couple of examples of actual college essay beginnings to show you how and why they work. Sample Intro 1 A blue seventh place athletic ribbon hangs from my mantel. Every day, as I walk into my living room, the award mockingly congratulates me as I smile. Ironically, the blue seventh place ribbon resembles the first place ribbon in color; so, if I just cover up the tip of the seven, I may convince myself that I championed the fourth heat. But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place. Two years ago, I joined the no-cut swim team. That winter, my coach unexpectedly assigned me to swim the 500 freestyle. After stressing for hours about swimming 20 laps in a competition, I mounted the blocks, took my mark, and swam. Around lap 14, I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. "I must be winning!" I thought to myself. However, as I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans, I looked up at the score board. I had finished my race in last place. In fact, I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes. (From "The Unathletic Department" by Meghan ’17 for Johns Hopkins University) Why Intro Sample 1 Works Here are some of the main reasons that this essay's introduction is super effective. #1: It's Got a Great First Sentence The sentence is short but still does some scene setting with the descriptive "blue" and the location "from my mantel." It introduces a funny element with "seventh place"- why would that bad of a showing even get a ribbon? It dangles information just out of reach, making the reader want to know more: what was this an award for? Why does this definitively non-winning ribbon hang in such a prominent place of pride? #2: It Has Lots of Detail In the intro, we get physical actions: "cover up the tip," "mounted the blocks," "looked around at the other lanes," "lifted my arms up," and "stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes." We also get words conveying emotion: "mockingly congratulates me as I smile," "unexpectedly assigned," and "stressing for hours." Finally, we get descriptive specificity in the precise word choice: "from my mantel" and "my living room" instead of simply "in my house," and "lap 14" instead of "toward the end of the race." #3: It Explains the Stakes Even though everyone can imagine the lap pool, not everyone knows exactly what the "500 freestyle" race is. Meghan elegantly explains the difficulty by describing herself freaking out over "swimming 20 laps in a competition," which helps us to picture the swimmer going back and forth many times. #4: It Has Great Storytelling We basically get a sports commentary play-by-play here. Even though we already know the conclusion- Meghan came in 7th- she still builds suspense by narrating the race from her point of view as she was swimming it. She's nervous for a while, and then she starts the race. Close to the end, she starts to think everything is going well ("I looked around at the other lanes and did not see anyone. 'I must be winning!' I thought to myself."). Everything builds to an expected moment of great triumph ("I finally completed my race and lifted my arms up in victory to the eager applause of the fans") but ends in total defeat ("I had finished my race in last place"). Not only that, but the mildly clichà ©d sports hype is hilariously undercut by reality ("I left the pool two minutes after the second-to-last competitor, who now stood with her friends, wearing all her clothes"). #5: It Uses a Pivot Sentence This essay uses the time expansion method of pivoting: "But, I never dare to wipe away the memory of my seventh place swim; I need that daily reminder of my imperfection. I need that seventh place." Coming last in the race was something that happened once, but the award is now an everyday experience of humility. The rest of the essay explores what it means for Meghan to constantly see this reminder of failure and to transform it into a sense of acceptance of her imperfections. Notice also that in this essay, the pivot comes before the main story, helping us "hear" the narrative in the way she wants us to. Sample Intro 2 "Biogeochemical. It’s a word, I promise!" There are shrieks and shouts in protest and support. Unacceptable insults are thrown, degrees and qualifications are questioned, I think even a piece of my grandmother’s famously flakey parantha whizzes past my ear. Everyone is too lazy to take out a dictionary (or even their phones) to look it up, so we just hash it out. And then, I am crowned the victor, a true success in the Merchant household. But it is fleeting, as the small, glossy, plastic tiles, perfectly connected to form my winning word, are snatched out from under me and thrown in a pile with all the disgraced, "unwinning" tiles as we mix for our next game of Bananagrams. It’s a similar donnybrook, this time ending with my father arguing that it is okay to use "Rambo" as a word (it totally is not). Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life: from silly games like Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite "word game," to stunted communication between opposing grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language; from trying to understand the cheesemonger behind the counter with a deep southern drawl (I just want some Camembert!), to shaping a script to make people laugh. Words are moving and changing; they have influence and substance. From an Essay by Shaan Merchant ‘19 for Tufts University Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Why Intro Sample 2 Works Let's take a look at what qualities make this essay's introduction particularly memorable. #1: It's Got a Great First Sentence With the first sentence, we are immediately thrust into the middle of the action- into an exciting part of an argument about whether "biogeochemical" is really a word. We're also immediately challenged. Is this a word? Have I ever heard it before? Does a scientific neologism count as a word? #2: It Shows Rather Than Tells Since the whole essay is going to be about words, it makes sense for Shaan to demonstrate his comfort with all different kinds of language: Complex, elevated vocabulary, such as "biogeochemical" and "donnybrook" Foreign words, such as "parantha" and "Camembert" Colorful descriptive words, such as "shrieks and shouts," "famously flakey, "whizzes past," and "hash it out" "Fake" words, such as "unwinning" and "Rambo" What’s great is that Shaan is able to seamlessly mix the different tones and registers these words imply, going from cerebral to funny and back again. #3: It Uses a Pivot Sentence This essay uses the value-extraction style of pivot: "Words and communicating have always been of tremendous importance in my life." After we see an experience linking Shaan’s clear love of his family with an interest in word games, he clarifies that this is exactly what the essay will be about- using a very straightforward pivoting sentence. #4: It Piles On Examples to Avoid Vagueness The danger of this kind of pivot sentence is slipping into vague, uninformative statements, such as "I love words." To avoid making a generalization the tells us nothing, the essay builds a list of examples of times when Shaan saw the way that words connect people: games ("Bananagrams and our road-trip favorite ‘word game,’"), his mixed-language family ("grandparents, each speaking a different Indian language"), encounters with strangers ("from trying to understand the cheesemonger"), and finally the more active experience of performing ("shaping a script to make people laugh"). But the essay stops short of giving so many examples that the reader drowns. I'd say three to five examples is a good range- as long as they're all different kinds of the same thing. Several keys offer a good chance of unlocking a door; a giant pile of keys is its own unsolvable maze. The Bottom Line: How to Start a College Essay The college essay introduction should hook your reader and make her want to know more and read more. Good personal statement introductions will contain the following features: A killer first line A detailed description of an experience from your life A pivot to the bigger picture, in which you explain why and how this experience has shaped you, your point of view, and/or your values. You don’t have to write the introduction first, and you certainly don’t have to write your first sentence first. Instead, start by developing your story by telling it out loud to a friend. You can then work on your first sentence and your pivot. The first sentence should either be short, punchy, and carry some ambiguity or questions, or be a detailed and beautiful description setting an easily pictured scene. The pivot, on the other hand, should answer the question, "How does the story you’ve told connect to a larger truth or insight about you?" What’s Next? Wondering what to make of the Common Application essay prompts? We have the complete list of this year’s Common App prompts with explanations of what each is asking as well as a guide to picking the Common App prompt that’s perfect for you. Thinking of applying to the University of California system? Check out our detailed guide on how to approach their essay prompts and craft your ideal UC essay. If you’re in the middle of the essay-writing process, you’ll want to see our suggestions on what essay pitfalls to avoid. Working on the rest of your college application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying. 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