Justify the Importance of the Safe School Collaborative Process Essay

Justify the Importance of the Safe School Collaborative Process Considering the Social Cognition of School-age Children - Essay Example School, society and organizations should form collaboration for this purpose because the lives of school-age children revolve around the school and the society. According to Winer and Ray (1994), partners who are coming into collaboration usually have in mind services they want to integrate so as to achieve some long-term goals together. Therefore, they must overcome various layers of resistance to policies, attitudes and relationships within and across institutions, throughout the community and among consumers. This means they have to develop a process of change that will enable them overcome any resistance. These partners have to device a process of working together and this process should be flexible enough to accommodate or allow adjustments to new circumstances. After agreeing to collaborate, the first and most important thing that has to be done by the collaborative is the creation of the process itself. This involves the development of important guidelines that will serve as the framework on how the parties involved will work together throughout the project. For collaboration to succeed, there needs to be a full support of the management. At times, collaborative can find themselves repeating milestones and stages because new people have become involved or because the group has clarified its intent and purpose another level (Winer and Ray, 1994). For successful collaboration, tactical planning and strategic planning are very crucial. Strategic planning entails visualizing something and then coming up with a way of making it actualize. Therefore, strategic planning is a tool that gives direction of actions and builds systems that will lead to the achievement of the desired outcome or goals (Kono, 1994).On the other hand, the purpose of tactical planning is to link the strategic plan or the long-term business plan of the collaboration to operations. It provides a motivational and intellectual framework for

Counselling, Caring and the Ambulance Service Essay Example for Free

Counselling, Caring and the Ambulance Service Essay Introduction In order to discus counselling and its meaning both generally, and in my workplace, it is necessary to come up with a definition. The dictionary describes it in terms of advice but this interpretation is a traditional one and carries an immediate implication of inequality for those involved. It is a narrow interpretation of the concept when compared to modern attitudes, which usually include a psychological aspect. Nevertheless, the traditional view still bears three of the fundamentals of counselling. These are: * That it involves at least two people, thus constitutes a relationship. * That there is agreement about the nature of the interaction, i.e. it is cooperative. * The aim is to help those involved. According to Stephen Murgatroyd (1990, P.5) counselling is not the sole prerogative of professional counsellors. It is a process that is widely used in within a community, which can take many forms. I have found this particularly true in my own profession. As a Paramedic within the NHS for ten years I have used techniques, which I now recognise as essentials of counselling practice, but have never considered myself a counsellor. Rather a professional who can learn much from the subject. In my workplace I find frequent examples of the more traditional model of counselling, as described by Murgatroyd (1990 P.7) as prescriptive or directive but also of other the facilitative or developmental forms, which seek to encourage patient centred self-actualisation. These I will seek to analyse. I hope to draw out some of the problems involved and discuss ways in which to improve. Counselling, Caring and the Ambulance Service Once upon a time ambulance staff had a clear job specification, or at least their managers liked to believe so. Crews were told their mission was to preserve life and transport to hospital with the minimum of deterioration in the patients well-being. In reality things are not that simple and ambulance staff deal with a myriad of human responses and emotions every day. In the past many of my colleagues thought of counselling as a nebulous concept, which had no place at the cutting age of ambulance work. More attention was paid to physical trauma than emotional. With hindsight we can see that the best ambulance staff were those that used the skills that we now identify and welcome, in a natural and confident way. Usually they were also those that had plenty of experience. Just as my job covers a range of human conditions, so counselling and guidance demands a range of approaches to those being counselled. In my job these can be patients, their friends, relatives, bystanders or other professionals. Also though, it includes my colleagues. I have discussed briefly the nature of counselling, now I would like to examine it in more detail. Nelson-Jones (1983) talks of a distinction between skills and specialism or counselling relationships, whereby counselling is the primary activity, and helping relationships in which counselling skills form part of the helpers relationship with another person. Clearly the latter applies to my own job as well as many others. Our primary role is not that of counsellors but we use some of those skills so as to be effective practitioners. Davis Fallowfield examine four models of psychological theory that have had a major impact on counselling. These are: * Behavioural * Cognitive Behavioural * Person Centred * Psychodynamic Each of these allows us a better understanding of the processes of helping by affording us a different view of the human psyche. In my work I can recognise elements of all the models in patients and colleagues. Rogers, (Person Centred), gives insight into the importance of the conditions necessary to create an effective relationship. Based on humanistic philosophy he espouses the belief that all people have the capacity to achieve self-actualisation, if the basic conditions can be created. Freud, (Psychodynamic) demonstrates the importance of the relationship, the unconscious processes which arise from them and the insight into them in dealing with problems The behaviourist theories espoused by Pavlov, Skinner, Ellis and others, deal with the nature of behaviours learned and observable, and how maladaptive thought processes can be unlearned by the use of cognitive processes. A fifth model, that of Gerard Egan, integrates many of the ideas of the former to create an eclectic model that I believe has particular relevance to my workplace. In The Skilled Helper (1994) Egan incorporates some of Rogers and Maslow`s humanistic ideas in a pragmatic way, to outline some of the counselling skills that we use so much as teachers or carers. As Egans model is concerned with problems other than just psychological it provides a more relevant ethical base for those in teaching or healthcare and has been increasingly embraced by those professions in recent years.(Burnard 1990 P.27) Egan mirrors modern healthcare by treating the patient in an holistic way. He proposes a need for empathy, respect, genuiness and mutual respect. All of these are very necessary to accomplished ambulance staff. The Three-Stage Model Egan uses a three-stage model to outline the helping process. The first stage concentrates on the social skills that I find so important to my job, setting the scene and allowing a warm relationship to flourish through showing genuine empathy. Skills such as body language active listening and attention giving are prerequisites. Communication is established and advanced. Stage two moves the process forward by drawing out themes to allow the subject a new perspective. The subject is gently challenged so as to recognise themes, feelings and experiences. . Building on the previous stages, the third seeks to encourage a creative ambience. Problem solving drawing on points raised, maybe seeking solutions and encouraging the subject to establish a plan of action. The establishment of communication is common to the whole process. This is a massively important. The process may also move backwards or forwards. It is not intended to be prescriptive but rather to draw out the empathetic human qualities that can help. I can recall so many instances where Egans ideas have been used in my workplace that it is hard to select examples. We are often called upon to assess our patients well being in a very short time. Once we have established that avenues of communication are possible, i.e that the patient is able to communicate in a rational way, we embark on a dialogue that seeks to put them at ease, allow them insight and hopefully afford them a feeling that they have some measure of control over the situation. Power thus becomes an important issue. In Davis Fallowfield (P.15) the patient/practitioner relationship is discussed. They state that one of the most common problems encountered is the need for medical staff to take on the role of expert in order to reach conclusive goals. Very often this leads to neglect of the patient as a whole. Sanders (1994) identifies two qualities that he describes as non-counselling. One of them, he describes as being distant and expert. Sometimes, in a medical emergency, this is a necessary quality but creates feelings of guilt. I have often left relatives at the scene of a cardiac arrest at home whilst taking the role of expert and wondered at the emotional carnage that we have just encountered as we speed towards hospital with their loved one. Many times I know that we have not even begun to address their needs. It is certainly easier not to shoulder that sort of emotional involvement, as mentioned by Burnard (P.148), when he talks of the possibility of burnout. But sometimes assuming the role of expert can be used as an excuse to avoid emotional involvement. I believe that in my workplace this is a very common problem and have many times taken issue with colleagues who have deliberately refused to move away from the expert mode and address the patient as a whole person. In one such incident a young female patient was brought by chair into the AE department by a crew. Wheeled into the centre of the busy department she sat hunched, clearly embarrassed, and hiding her face. One of the crew held a large collection of empty pill packets, making it obvious to those who could see that the patient had overdosed. Overdoses are a very common emergency and can bring out negative attitudes from all medical workers. Whilst the patient remained on public view the ambulance man walked up to the nursing station and ritualistically poured the packets onto the desk in an obviously condescending way. The patient began to cry quietly. The behaviour of this colleague incensed me. He had ritualistically humiliated his patient presumably because of his intolerance and judgmentalism and a refusal to see the patient as anything but a manipulator. I believe that the ability to extract necessary information and perform tasks in an empathetic way is not only achievable using Egans techniques, but also vital to patient well-being. During my time in the ambulance service time I have passed through stages that have been identified by Maynard Furlong (1998) as distinct points in development, from early idealism to realism and occasional disenchantment. I have found that after several years a degree of cynicism is a common occupational hazard and is probably to be expected. Staff have to come to terms with what is achievable within the constraints of the job and workplace stress is common. Very often in my workplace I witness a range of abilities in communication. Simple techniques such as positioning, eye contact and general body language can be taught but I am convinced that without a genuine love for ones fellow man these techniques are not convincing. The humanistic approach that I have discussed is not always easy. It is easy to dismiss, especially when staff are tired and demoralised. Judgmental attitudes are commonplace and to some extent inevitable. The ability to rise above these and retain an open mind is something that can be massively affected by peer pressure in a working situation where crews work in twos. Usually one crewmember is senior and the dynamic of the relationship is affected by experience, sex, strength, (psychological and physical), age etc. This can often create an imbalance of power, between crewmates. This particularly affects less experienced younger staff in a workplace where experience is such a valuable commodity. Sometimes staff suffer because of their role as unofficial counsellors. Burnard (1990) talks of the potentially painful relationship between the parties. I believe that prolonged exposure can lead to problems and in my workplace this had lead to the formation of a structure designed to aid the problem. Five years ago the ambulance service started an in-house Staff Support Scheme network, in order to create a pathway to help to reduce the impact of psychological problems. It was thought that staff who had been trained to identify some of the symptoms of psychological or emotional problems were in an excellent position to guide the subject to help in the form of professional counselling. Whilst I wholeheartedly supported the concept and became a member, I had doubts about some of conditions attached, particularly about the principles of confidentiality and supervision. We were trained in debriefing techniques (not as counsellors) by a very experienced professional counsellor. However the trust felt bound to encourage us to disclose not only health safety and legal confidences, but also those that may contravene trust rules. This I felt was unethical and impractical. They also had no formal supervision structure in place and no mechanism for further development. All these factors left the idea profoundly flawed. I continue to serve as a staff support member but refuse to create reports on individuals or to pass on confidences. This is a position that is supported by Nelson-Jones (P.143) who maintains that breaking confidences is a serious breech of ethics. Counselling and helping work colleagues outside the classroom can be a much more intimate affair. Crews routinely spend twelve hours in each others company, often on standby or on station, alone, un-chaperoned and unsupervised. Thus if there are emotional needs and issues the workplace can become extremely intense. Staff obviously have issues themselves, quite apart from the problems they may face with patients and support can be close at hand. But the operational ambulance environment can also become a minefield of ethical limits and the process of helping can be impaired as well as enhanced. Burnard (P.139) discusses the problems of transference and countertransference. In the above-mentioned situation where an inappropriate relationship develops he suggests the transfer of the client to a more senior counsellor. Although the obvious solution, this is not always possible and it is obvious that problems will continue to occur. Development The back of an ambulance is no respecter of class and ambulance work can be a great leveller. As a developing teacher of ambulance staff I am in the privileged position of teaching those who I believe are routinely placed in a position of power and privilege that can be used or abused. I believe a major part of my teaching role is to encourage the use of the humanistic approach, and to encourage students to reflect on their own attitudes and judgements in order to allow them to better use the skills described by Egan and the key aspects required as described by Carl Rogers in Kischenbaum Henderson, (1989). The humanistic approach is already practised in my workplace and has been by the more experienced staff for years. Even though they did not attach labels to their skills they were using the humanistic approach espoused by Egan, Rogers and others. In the emergency care setting they have honed these skills to bring benefit to their patients as quickly as possible. It remains a joy to watch I see my future role as that of a champion for the humanistic approach, by my actions and my teaching methods. As more demands continue to be heaped on staff this may become more difficult. We are in danger of becoming more concerned with the product than the process. Bibliography Murgatroyd. S (1985) Counselling and Helping. Haworth Press Nelson-Jones.R (1997) Practical Counselling and Helping Skills. Cassell Davis.H and Fallowfield.L (1993) Counselling and Communication in Health Care Wiley Sons Burnard.P (1990) Counselling Skills For Health Professionals Chapman Hall Borck.L and Fawcet. S (1982) Learning Counselling and Problem Solving Skills. Haworth Press Kirchenbaum Henderson (1989) The Carl Rogers Dialogues (From Course Handout)

Amendments :: essays research papers

Amendment I (1791) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Amendment II (1791) A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Amendment III (1791) No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law. Amendment IV (1791) The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. Amendment V (1791) No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. Amendment VI (1791) In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. Amendment VII (1791) In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Do You Think You Can Have A Great Leader Missing Either Trust Or Humility? Essay

One cannot have a great leader missing either trust or humility since the force of leadership nowadays is toward considering the leader as a developer, not a controller, of followers. The leadership assignment is developmental and integrative. The confront is to shape followers into an amalgamated, impartial whole competent of unrelenting supportive action. I find this assignment as substantial, that is, structural, or one can see it in the emotional or social contracts leaders and followers construct. A forever present, however frequently ignored, feature in the group and organizational relations is trust. If not followers consider assurance in the leader’s evenhandedness and trustworthiness, they will not carry on to go behind. (Martin, 1998) Leadership machinery can only function when trust among members in association is elevated. Trust can appreciably modify individual and organizational efficiency. It is trust more than authority or chain of command that in truth makes an organization work successfully. Trust is a decisive definitional constituent in defining contemporary leadership or customs that maintain effective leadership. Certainly, it is a vital component in all human relations. Every day living needs us to trust those around us. Organizations also need associates to trust each other in order to work, let single-handedly achieve superiority. (Sinner, 2005) Trust is precondition to any effort by the leader to change the organization’s culture. Vision setting and propagation relies on trust in the leader. Performing vision based plans needs trust. Trust is the prominent factor in finding efficiency in many relations. (Dees, 2004) Trust creates interpersonal recognition and honesty of expression easy. Mistrust suggests interpersonal denial and arouses suspicious behavior. Trusting behavior adds to one’s susceptibility to another in manners and in conditions in which the danger is greater than the possible outcome to the trusting person. References Dees H. Richard, (2004), Trust and Toleration. Routledge. New York. Martin M. Mirta, (1998), Trust Leadership. Journal of Leadership Studies. Volume: 5. Issue: 3. Sinner R. Von, (2005), Trust and Convivencia: Contributions to a Hermeneutics of Trust in Communal Interaction. The Ecumenical Review. Volume: 57. Issue: 3.

Case Management Overview Essay

The case worker has many different roles and responsibilities that are part of their jobs. Being able to support all of their roles no matter of what population or problem there is the case worker needs to be able to deal with it, this is an important part of a case worker responsibly. The case worker can use different tools and methods to help support their clients. Roles and Responsibilities of a Case Worker There are many roles that case workers have. Some may think that the case workers are only there to find services for a client, but there is more to their jobs and responsibilities. Some of the roles that case workers have are caregivers, teachers, advocate, outreach worker, mobilizer, community planner and a behavior changer. Case workers have responsibilities that go with each role. For the caregiver role the case workers role is one that supports a client and is concerned about their wellbeing the caregiver is also part of the planning process. The teacher role, this role is a support to the client helps the client gain, develop and increase knowledge in emotional behavior or intellect. Advocate role for a care worker a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular service or resource that will help the client in their plan. Outreach worker is another responsibility that a case worker has, an outreach worker will reach out to people that are having problems, and help them find services that may need. The role of the mobilizer is to get specific service that are not yet in the area, that service does not have a presents in that particular area that the clients need support. A case worker may work on getting certain support with help from others. Another is a Community Planner; this role helps the clients as well as the community. The responsibility is to work with community based boards, committees, to ensure that a community development  supports the community and the people in it. The last role is behavior changer, is to encourage their clients to change their negative behaviors for more positive behavior. Behavior changers provide support for their clients and provides them with the needed tools to change their behaviors, so they are more positive. There are many roles and responsibilities that case workers have, all of their roles support their clients in many ways. Theoretical Models â€Å"Ecological model to develop a broad understanding of each individual client who comes before them. This model sometimes referred to as person-in-situation or person-in-environment model looks at the individual client in the client’s context†. (Summers, 2012). Within this modal there are three levels that, Micro, Meso, and Marco levels. Micro level, where the focus is on the client’s personality, motivation, affect, and other personal attributes Meso level, where the focus is on the context immediately surrounding the client (family, church group, close friends, and work group) Macro level, where the focus is on the larger society’s characteristics and the way the client experiences these or the way these are brought to bear on the client’s situation (institutions and organizations such as the political system, social stratification, the educational system, and the economy). (Summers, 2012) Being able to use these levels will help identify the problems that the client is having. The Micro level, is more personal, the Meso focus on the surroundings of the client and the Marco focus on the larger group around the client. Being able to figure out the problem and where it is coming from and affecting will help the overall help the client. When looking at all the problem behaviors that come up, one that we can look at it Life transitions. This situation in someone’s life can affect many things. Breaking it down it done into the levels can help support the client and figure out how to help. The Mico level, getting to understand the life transition and the client, the Meso level, looking at the close relationships that the client is having is any of these relationships supporting or interfering with the client’s behavior and last the Macro level looking at the community and the bigger picture of where the client is at. Looking at all of these areas will help support the client’s behavior problems. Special Populations When a case worker is thinking about Special Population they have a good understanding of what that is really saying. Special population is a term used to express a disadvantaged group.[where?] In health professions, special populations include those with disabilities, minors, and the elderly. Special populations often require accommodations for physical, mental or emotional differences. Their bodies may respond in a different manner to treatment or medication. For example, the small liver in a child means that he or she can’t take typical adult doses of medication. The same goes for an elderly person, whose decreased liver function similarly affects the processing of medication. (â€Å"Wikipedia†, 2014). As a case worker you have to be prepared to have a good understand of things that may come up. There may be certain issues that may come up when working with a client that is part of a special population. One issue is does their special population and or problem fall within the Human Service field, or do you as a case worker need to help them find other services. Other issues are there and mental, emotional or physical development problems that could change the services that are out there to support the situation they are in. Also there can be problems with understanding what is needed and getting them support in there are, which them may cause transportation issues. As a case worker, being prepared to handle things that special population deal with, abuse and neglect for an example. When working as a case worker there are many roles and responsibilities that are taken on as part of a case workers job. Having a good idea how to support their needs and help to figure out how to help is important and to make sure that as a case worker you understand them as a person is also needed. As a case worker there will be many different types of people that you woke with Special Population being one of the group, and may be one of the most challenging. But, remembering that as a case worker there is a job to be done, it is not always done the same way, and remembering that is very important. References Mehr, J. J., & Kanwischer, R. (2011). Human Services. Concepts and Intervention Strategies (11th ed.). : Pearson Education. Summers, N. (2012). Fundamentals of Case Management Practice. Skills for the Human Services (4th ed.). : Cengage Learning. Wikipedia. (2014). Retrieved from http://n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_populations

HOW FREE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES HELP YOUR WRITING

HOW FREE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES HELP YOUR WRITING The federal government sponsors top-notch websites free for the searching. But why search the federal government websites instead of just googling your question? The answer lies in quality. These websites contain trusted sources and the top experts in their fields.   Of course, non-fiction writers should be acquainted with them, but they can also aid the fiction writer who has a question/problem. Once you choose a website, the searching process is guided so you don’t have to be a subject expert yourself to use them. A sampling of these free subject databases and examples appears below. Multidisciplinary:   http://usa.gov   A primary source for access to U.S. government documents. It is a â€Å"portal† which searches all agency documents at once in a unified way. As an example of how a fiction writer would use usa.gov, maybe Hope Clark’s Carolina Slade would need to know about the disease that killed Jesse Rawlings’ hogs. Just search â€Å"domesticated hogs diseases South Carolina† for a possible answer. As an added bonus, the portal lists U.S. government grants. Just enter â€Å"grants writers† and your state name. Criminal Justice: National Criminal Justice Reference Service https://www.ncjrs.gov/app/abstractdb/abstractdbsearch.aspxNCJRS services and resources are available to anyone interested in crime, victim assistance, and public safety including policymakers, practitioners, researchers, educators, community leaders, and the general public. Authors of murder mysteries can find source material here, for example, the murder rate in Detroit or any major city. Education: ERIC eric.ed.gov/ERIC is the world’s largest collection of education literature, containing more than 1 million records of journal articles, research, reports, curriculum and teaching guides, conference papers, books, and more and more full text. It covers preschool through higher education. An example of its use might be to find the relationship of an autistic child with his classmates for a character study. Medicine: There are two excellent medical databases MedlinePlus nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/and PUBMED ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ MedlinePlus is the National Institutes of Healths website for patients and their families and friends. It brings the layperson information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues. MedlinePlus offers reliable, up-to-date health information. It helps you learn about the latest treatments, look up information on a drug or supplement, find out the meanings of words, or view medical videos or illustrations. You can also get links to the latest medical research on your topic or find out about clinical trials on a disease or condition. This source is especially good for drug side effects and overdose information, again for those murder mysteries. Find the lethal dose of a drug for a fictitious poisoning. It contains medical encyclopedias for diseases your characters may suffer. More technical than MedlinePlus, PubMed comprises more than 21 million   records for

police brutality essays

police brutality essays Police brutality is a problem in our country today. There are many instances where the police have gone too far in dealing with criminals. There are many things that people are doing to stop police brutality. More and more bad cops are being caught in their wrong doings. There are many cases that go unseen. The police are good at keeping things quiet. They have a code of honor that says that police do not tell on each other. The Johnny Gammage case was a recent case in the news. One of the only reasons that this case made the news is because Gammage is the cousin of Pittsburgh Steeler Ray Seals. The outcome of this case angered many people. On October twelfth, 1995, Johnny Gammage the 31-year-old black male was pulled over. Gammage committed no crime. After an altercation with the police he was brutally beaten. Over the course of seven minutes he was beaten and suffocated by five police officers. An autopsy showed that Gammage was suffocated by pressure applied to his neck and chest when the officers were trying to restrain him. On November third, 1995 a six-member coroner's jury recommended that criminal homicide charges be filed against the police officers. District Attorney Bob Colville said that he would only charge three out of the five officers involved in the beating. He charged Lt. Milton Mulholland and Patrolman John Vojtas with 3rd degree murder, official oppression, and involuntary manslaughter. He charged Patrolman Michael G. Albert with involuntary manslaughter. Allegheny county judge James R. McGregor ordered the three officers to stand trial for the misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter. This is the lowest form of homicide. He dropped the third degree murder and official oppression charges against Mulholland and Vojtas. During the trial a witness said that he witnessed a fight that lead to Gammage's death. He contradicted the story told by the police and said t...

All the College Ranking Lists You Should Read

All the College Ranking Lists You Should Read SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips People love ranking lists. It seems that the majority of articles posted on social media and television shows on basic cable are ranking something, from the prettiest celebrities to the best songs of the 1980's. The fascination with college ranking lists has been around for over 30 years since the U.S. News World Report debuted its list in 1983. There are quite a few college ranking lists out there, but which ones are the best ones? Which ones should you look at? Honestly, all overall college ranking lists are flawed, and you should spend more time researching and visiting colleges than obsessing over college rankings to determine which college you should attend. However, in this article I will detail the pros and cons of different college ranking lists and of college ranking lists in general. You can obtain some worthwhile information from these lists, so you shouldn't completely dismiss them. The Benefits of Using College Ranking Lists From looking at college ranking lists, you can discover colleges you may not have been familiar with that could be a good fit for you. By looking at these lists, you may find a school that matches what you're looking for in a college. College ranking lists provide extensive data in one place for you to compare schools. In one list, you can see statistics for different colleges like average class size, high school GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and cost. Also, these lists give you a rough idea of the reputations of different colleges. While these lists are subjective, they do tend to reflect how colleges are regarded in the academic and professional worlds. There is probably little difference between a #1 and a #5 school in terms of reputation, but the #1 school in a list is going to have a better reputation than #100. Finally, these lists can give you an idea of what you need to do to make yourself competitive for admission to a specific college. These ranking lists often give you the average GPA, standardized test scores, and the percentage of students who graduate in the top 10% and 25% in their high school classes. From these numbers, you can determine what you should accomplish to make yourself a qualified applicant. Your numbers should compare favorably to those of the average student at a particular collegeif you want to give yourself a realistic shot at gaining admission. Why You Should Avoid Basing Your College Decisions on the Rankings Some of the criteria these lists use to compile their rankings are highly subjective and are based on survey responses. "Quality of life" and "academics" can be major factors for rankings and both are often based on opinions from surveys. The primary problem with these survey results is that they don't seem to be representative; they suffer from voluntary response bias and nonresponse bias. For example, Princeton Review ranks colleges in 62 categories. Often, a college alerts the student body that the Princeton Review surveys are available online and then students choose to complete the surveys. Those students who volunteer to take the surveys are likely to not be representative of the student population as a whole. Typically, those who would volunteer have stronger opinions than those of the average student. Similarly, U.S. News World Report determines the academic quality of an institution based on survey responses from top academics and administrators from other colleges and from high school counselors. Are those who choose to respond to the surveys necessarily representative of all college representatives and high school counselors? Some top academics and knowledgeable high school counselors who are sent surveys choose not to submit responses. Additionally, some colleges, like Reed College, may have their rankings affected because they choose not to submit information because they do not want to participate in college ranking lists. Students can get too focused on the rankings instead of figuring out which school is the best fit for them. There's probably not much difference in the quality of education at a #5 school vs. a #10 school. The #10 school may be a much better fit for a student who could excel academically at both. Furthermore, colleges are motivated and influenced by the rankings. Colleges understand that these rankings are popular and influential. They'll spend money on things the lists consider important or aggressively recruit students who have little chance of gaining admission just to raise their selectivity rating to increase their rank. Finally, and perhaps most disturbingly, schools cheat to improve their rankings. Colleges have lied (and probably do lie) when reporting their numbers to college ranking lists to get a better rank. Colleges have cheated to improve their rank. How Should Reputation Factor Into Your College Decision? As much as some of us like to discount the importance of reputation, it can play a significant role. Colleges that are ranked more highly often have more motivated and academically gifted students, and colleges that do well in the rankings tend to have influential alumni and professional connections that can have a positive impact on your future. Similarly, graduates from well-ranked schools are often favored when they apply to professional or graduate schools. Keep in mind that your work ethic and aptitude will have a far greater influence on your future success than the college you attend. You can be highly successful regardless of the college you go to; however, going to a highly ranked school will offer you undeniable advantages. Now, let's take a look at some of the better and more well-known lists. U.S. News World Report The U.S. News college rankings are viewed as the gold standard of college ranking lists. Its list is the most well-known and referenced. Here is a basic overview of how U.S. News determines its rankings: A total weight of 30% is given to factors related to student retention and graduation rates. It gives a 22.5% weight to a school's academic reputation based on survey responses from peer institutions and high school counselors. The remaining 47.5% is devoted to objective statistics about the school including measures of selectivity, faculty information, financial resources, and alumni giving. Pros U.S. News separates colleges into four categories for its rankings: National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities, and Regional Colleges. The categories allow for more direct comparisons and prevent ranking a large public college with 40,000 undergraduate students against a small liberal arts college with less than 1,000. Because U.S. News surveys top academics and college administrators to determine academic reputation, the rankings do provide a general idea of how well regarded a school is in academia. U.S. News rankings heavily emphasize student retention rates and graduation rates. Both are important factors to consider when choosing a college. They provide some clues about the quality of the support services and the student satisfaction level at different colleges Finally, because the U.S. News rankings are the most prestigious of all the ranking lists, they are the most influential and help shape public opinion. The top-ranked schools in U.S. News are generally considered to be the best schools by employers, academics, and admissions committees. Graduation rate is an important factor in the rankings. Cons Not all colleges are ranked in the U.S. News rankings. For the latest rankings, 148 colleges are listed as "unranked" within the four categories of schools. Schools are unranked because they lack regional accreditation, fewer than 200 students are enrolled, they don't use the SAT or ACT in admissions decisions, or they didn't get enough responses on the U.S. News peer assessment survey. Therefore, if you're interested in a very small school or a college that doesn't use standardized tests in admissions decisions, this rankings list won't be very helpful for you. Also, in the U.S. News rankings, there is little emphasis on quality of life. The most important criteria for the U.S. News rankings are the surveys regarding academic quality and the rates for student retention and graduation. This rankings list is less helpful than others in indicating how much students enjoy their experience at a particular college. While I previously mentioned some of the problems with relying on survey responses in U.S. News to determine academic reputation, there is an additional major problem. Many of those who respond to the surveys may not even be qualified to assess the academics at different colleges. The typical respondent grades about half of the colleges in his or her category. There are 262 National Universities. Are respondents knowledgeable enough to evaluate the academic programs of over 100 colleges, or are they simply relying on reputations generated from earlier rankings? Prominent writer Malcolm Gladwell addresses this point in a New Yorker article: (W)henU.S. Newsasks a university president to perform the impossible task of assessing the relative merits of dozens of institutions he knows nothing about, he relies on the only source of detailed information at his disposal that assesses the relative merits of dozens of institutions he knows nothing about:U.S. News...The U.S. News ratings are a self-fulfilling prophecy. Furthermore, the criteria used in U.S. News rankings seem to favor private colleges almost by default while disadvantaging public schools. Private schools often score higher in selectivity because public schools are more focused on being accessible to qualified in-state applicants. Similarly, because private colleges tend to have significantly lower student populations, they can offer smaller classes and their student-faculty ratio is lower. However, public colleges can offer advantages that are not measured nor reflected in the rankings. Public colleges can have larger and more diverse student bodies, more academic programs and majors, and more extracurricular activities. Finally, U.S. News rankings don't directly consider the salaries of graduates nor the likelihood of getting the job you want after graduating. Many people go to college specifically to prepare for a certain career or to get a well-paying job after they graduate. U.S. News rankings may not be as beneficial in helping you to decide which college is most likely to help you reach your professional goals. U.S. News doesn't consider the salaries of graduates. Forbes The Forbes college rankings list is newer and less prestigious than the U.S. News list, but the Forbes list is still very popular and Forbes is considered to be a reputable publication. Forbes emphasizes student outcomes from colleges to determine its rankings. Rankings are heavily dependent on post-graduation success, freshman retention rates, and graduation rates. Here is a general breakdown of the factors that determine the Forbes rankings: A weight of 25% is given to Student Satisfaction, which is determined from student evaluations from RateMyProfessors.com (7.5%), freshman retention rates (12.5%), predicted freshman retention rates compared to actual rates (2.5%), and a school satisfaction survey conducted by Forbes via Facebook (2.5%). A full 32.5% of the rankings is based on post-graduate success, which is determined from alumni salary statistics gathered from Payscale.com (10%) and rewarding the alma maters of those who are on the Center for College Affordability and Productivity's America's Leaders List (22.5%). America's Leaders List is composed of people who are at the top of their fields, including Nobel and Pulitzer winners, Guggenheim and MacArthur fellows, those elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and winners of an Academy Award, Emmy, Tony, or Grammy. A weight of 25% is given to student debt, which is determined by average federal student loan debt (10%), student loan default rates (12.5%), and predicted vs. actual federal student loan debt (2.5%). Graduation rate counts for 7.5% of the rankings. Graduation rate is divided into the four-year graduation rate (5%) and the predicted vs. actual four-year graduation rate (2.5%). Finally, academic success makes up the final 10% of the rankings. Academic success is based on students who receive prestigious academic awards like the Rhodes Scholarship (7.5%) and alumni who get PhDs (2.5%). Pros "Student Satisfaction" is an important component of the rankings.The Forbes listmay be more beneficial than the U.S. News list in determining the quality of life at different colleges. Because you'll probably be spending at least four years at the college you attend, you want to not only choose a school that will educate you well and prepare you for your future, but also you want to be happy during those years. You want to enjoy your living environment, your peers, and the time you spend outside of class. By emphasizing post-graduate success, the Forbes list may give you a better indication of the impact of a specific college on your attaining your future professional goals. Finally, the emphasis on student debt in the Forbes rankings separates it from most of the other college ranking lists. By measuring the average federal student loan debt and the student loan default rate, the Forbes list may give you an idea of the affordability of a school, the generosity of a school's financial aid, and whether students are capable of paying back their loans after they graduate. Cons Unlike U.S. News, Forbes does not separate colleges into categories. There is no distinction between the different types of colleges in the Forbes rankings. It's extremely difficult to effectively compare schools that vary tremendously in size, degree options, and research capabilities. Because some of these colleges are so different from one another, it's impossible to determine which school is "better" for everyone. For example, how can you rank Penn State University, which has over 40,000 undergraduates and more than 160 majors against Wesleyan College, which has fewer than 700 undergraduate students and only 31 majors? Additionally, the Forbes list can favor schools that have wealthy student bodies. A college's student debt grade may not reflect the generosity of the school's financial aid or whether students get high-paying jobs after they graduate. Students from affluent families are less likely to have to take out loans and are more likely to be able to pay back loans. Therefore, schools that have more wealthy students are likely to do well in the "student debt" component of the rankings. There is still only a small emphasis paid to the actual student experience. The student satisfaction survey given to students is only a very small component of the rankings. Additionally, information from Rank My Professors is hardly a reliable source to determine how happy students are with their classes at a particular school. Teacher evaluations from Rank My Professors are not representative because they suffer from nonresponse bias. Most students don't use that website. Furthermore,Forbes rankings provide little information about what life is like on campus. Finally, Forbes has a very narrow definition of success. "Student Success" is based on the salary of alumni and whether students obtain prestigious positions and awards. Schools with pre-professional programs in potentially high-paying fields like accounting and business may get a bump in the rankings. That doesn't mean much to you if you're not interested in pursuing accounting or business. Similarly, colleges who have more alumni who go into less lucrative fields like teaching or non-profit work may score poorly in "Student Success." However, that is no indication that a college isn't good or that its alumni aren't successful. Niche Niche is a website that has been around since 2002. It provides rankings and reviews for neighborhoods, cities, and schools. The Niche college rankings are less well-known than those of U.S. News and Forbes. However, the Niche college rankings list does provide some information and advantages that the other ranking lists don't have. Niche rankings are based on the overall experience at traditional 4-year colleges and universities. How does Niche determine the "overall experience" at a school? The academics grade counts for 35% of a school's ranking. The academics grade is based on objective statistics like acceptance rate, SAT/ACT scores, research expenditures, 6-year graduation rate, professor salary index, admissions yield, freshman retention rate, freshman National Merit Scholars, and faculty awards. Additionally, Niche incorporates survey responses from students regarding the quality of academics at their college and statistics and survey responses about diversity on campus to determine the academics grade. Then, 12% of the rankings are based on student survey responses about the overall experience at the college they currently or recently attended. Additional factors that influence the rankings are statistics and student survey responses based on campus quality (8%), loan default rate (6%), athletics (5%), average net price (5%), diversity (5%), local area (5%), endowment per full-time student (4%), "guys and girls" (4%), health and safety (4%), party scene (4%), and private gifts/grants per full-time student (3%). Niche grades colleges' party scenes. Pros Niche relies on many more factors to determine its rankings. The rankings are based on more than 50 statistics and survey responses on 20 topics from almost 300,000 current students and alumni. Niche tries to incorporate every factor that could possibly influence the college experience, from the acceptance rate to the attractiveness of guys and girls on campus. It seems to be a more well-rounded ranking list instead of just using factors that it deems important. Also, the Niche rankings place a much higher emphasis on factors that are related to quality of life. Student survey responses about the quality of the overall experience at the college count for 12% of the rankings. Additionally, Niche gives scores for "campus quality," "athletics," and "party scene." Besides overall college rankings, Niche also provides college rankings in 54 different categories. Some of those ranking lists include "best campus food," "best academics," "best party schools," and "safest campus." You can focus on the ranking lists in categories that are important to you instead of just looking at the overall rankings that may utilize criteria that don't matter to you. Another positive of the Niche rankings is that they incorporate average net price. Net price is the average cost of a school after financial aid for students receiving grants or scholarship aid. Unlike metrics such as average amount of federal loans and loan default rate, net price doesn't favor schools with more wealthy students. Finally, Niche is one of the few ranking lists that factors in diversity in its rankings. Diversity doesn't just refer to the ethnic and racial breakdown of the student body. Niche uses "diversity" to mean that a school "fosters a community that accepts and promotes a diversity of viewpoints, backgrounds, religious beliefs, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic statuses." Also, a diverse school has a significant percentage of international students and students that represent every geographic region of the United States, and the faculty is diverse in terms of gender and ethnicity. Cons Niche is not as well-known asU.S. News or Forbes. Because its rankings are not as prestigious or referenced, they have much less of an impact on the reputations of different colleges. Additionally, because Niche uses many more factors in its rankings, it's likely to use criteria that don't matter to you in a college. You may not be very concerned about a school's party scene, the athletics, or how the girls rank. Those are all factors in the Niche rankings. Final Thoughts Use college ranking lists to determine the reputations of different colleges. The ranking lists do tend to reflect and shape public opinion. While the exact ranking of a school will vary from list to list, the colleges that are consistently ranked highly do offer advantages while you're in college and after you graduate. Browse college ranking lists to discover new colleges that may be a good fit for you. You may not be familiar with Amherst College, Bowdoin College, or Pomona College, but Forbes ranks all three of them within their top 20 colleges. There are literally thousands of colleges, and ranking lists can introduce you to excellent schools that may match what you're looking for in a college. Instead of just looking at overall college ranking lists, pay attention to lists that focus on criteria that matter to you. You can look at lists from Niche that rank schools based on "best technology" or "best food" if you care about those things. Overall college rankings vary from list to list because there are so many factors that go into the college experience, and there is no exact science to determine if one school is better than another. U.S. News ranks the University of Chicago as the #3 National University while Forbes ranks it as the #18 college. Don't get too caught up in the specific ranking of a school. Each list focuses on the criteria that it deems important. When you're looking at a college rankings list, you should also be familiar with how the rankings are determined. Finally, college rankings should only be one small tool you use to help determine your college decision. More important than a college's ranking is figuring out whether or not the school is a good fit for you. Does it have the extracurricular activities you want to pursue? Does the school excel in the academic areas that most interest you? Are there appropriate support services that will allow you to be successful? How's the social climate? Make sure you know how to choose a college. What's Next? Instead of solely relying on ranking lists, use the best college search websites to help you find the right college for you. Also, learn more about the differences between public and private colleges. If you need to improve your grades to help get into the college of your choice, check out this post on how to raise your GPA in high school. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Organizational Design, Growth and Challenges Research Paper

Organizational Design, Growth and Challenges - Research Paper Example This is an acronym used to depict the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of an organization. The four components are separate yet integrated; in this regard, the best way to carry out SWOT analysis entails identifying the strengths and weaknesses of any organization prior to tackling the opportunities and strengths. This paper analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Wal-Mart Stores. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is a renowned American multinational retailer corporation operating chains of large discount warehouse and departmental stores. It is currently the biggest private employer in the world with slightly over 2 Million employees. Wal-Mart was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton. It was incorporated in 1969 and began to publicly trade in the New York Stock Exchange in 1972. Wal-Mart’s headquarters is based in Bentonville, Arkansas, USA. It has eminently expanded over the years. Currently, Wal-Mart runs 8,416 stores located in 15 different countries. With the view of understanding the entire environment of Wal-Mart, it is important to critically analyze its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (Oldham, 1980). As evidenced by its incredible success, Wal-Mart has abundance of strength. For instance, Wal-Mart offers a wide variety of merchandise at very competitive prices. Due to their large purchases they receive exorbitant discounts from their suppliers, which is passed down to the customers. Strength of Wal-Mart is in fact that they manufacture their own brands and supply goods from local suppliers to retailers. Wal-Mart’s large size and high purchasing power is also strength on its own. It has an incredible team of executives who form its leadership. This has equipped Wal-Mart with a management of high caliber. The company spends its resources carefully with the aim of maximizing their margins (Burton, 2012). With regards to weaknesses, Wal-Mart, being a large multinational company, has a large pool of employ ees. Managing all these employees is never an easy task. It, therefore, poses a major challenge to Wal-Mart’s management. Quality of goods sold is another major concern. Owing to its low prices, customers sometimes question the quality of goods. Customer satisfaction is, therefore, not guaranteed. As with opportunities, Wal-Mart has been able to expand into other countries and has formed partnerships with other companies. However, there are still some markets that are yet to be reached by Wal-Mart. Another opportunity is that of taking over some overseas companies, such as ASDA in the United Kingdom. With the escalated trend of internet shopping, Wal-Mart has the opportunity to develop strategies that will enhance home delivery of goods whose orders are placed via the internet. Another opportunity is that of creating convenience stores. This could enable Wal-Mart to overcome local restrictions, as well as travel costs. The most prevalent threat facing Wal-Mart is competition. Local, as well as international competition, has posed a major threat to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has been vulnerable to attacks regarding ethical issues as well. In this purview, they have been accused in providing low pay and poor working conditions to its workers. Environmental issues also threaten Wal-Mart’s success. Company/Organization Name: Wal-Mart Stores STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Large market share Discounts by suppliers Price leader Large variety of

Electronic Communication in the Service and HRM Sectors Research Paper

Electronic Communication in the Service and HRM Sectors - Research Paper Example It is claimed further on that HRM is focused on an individual and the positive effects of electronic communication improve organization’s performance. Nevertheless, both face-to-face communication and electronic communication depend on trust, reliability and openness.  Introduction Electronic communication has rushed into the business world. A new era of communication has borne its fruits. Currently, any organization introduces different forms of electronic communication to foster business success. Therefore, e-mails and IMs, social networks and online conferences discussed further are positioned as modern solutions for business challenges. E-communication is a helpful and effective tool enabling people to share their ideas and thoughts instantaneously. E-mail in business is an effective tool of sharing one’s ideas, receiving instantaneous messages, and fostering business: â€Å"Organizations can use electronic  mail for product development, training, giving, and re ceiving work assignments, testing, personnel administration, problem solving, posting notices, marketing, and sending personal communication. Many organizations believe e-mail gives them a competitive advantage, because it is fast, inexpensive, readily available, and not dependent on receiver availability† (Nantz & Drexel 1995, p. 45). This type of electronic communications is especially important for human resource managers, which use it for new employees’ searching or communicating with the employees of the organization. Business letters are delivered quickly and the sustainability of information sent in these messages is relevant to current issues of any business field. A special role electronic communication plays for HRM. E-mail communication can play both a positive and a negative role for a sender. Thus, an individual shoula be careful what and how you e-mail. In any case, whatever he/she writes or sends by means of the Internet can be shown to other people, cr iticized, or misinterpreted. Cyberspace is cruel, and the material sent should be properly considered and grammatically and ethically correct. No vague, intricate, or intimidating messages should occur on the web (Hartman, Lewis & Powell, 2002). Otherwise, a business email turns into a messy and a casual note. Thus, one should set clear goals and proofread messages, because e-mails are means of effective business communication. HRM managers should be focused on appropriate usage by the employees of electronic communication both at work and at home. Very often, an employee can post intimidating messages about his employer and this type of behavior should be appropriately controlled by human resource managers. Challenges and Opportunities of Online Communication in HRM The modern business world is full of opportunities. Both technological innovations and Internet development foster online communication. Modern organizations implement different forms of online communication in their daily practices and try to solve the problems of communication barriers among employers and employees. There is a need to communicate online in compliance with etiquette norms. Business messages should be grammatically correct, concise and relevant (Flynn, 2004). Vague or long letters should be deleted and rewritten, because it distracts attention of the receiver. IMs are used to receive more instantaneous answers, while

Dance and Human Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Dance and Human Development - Essay Example Literature is filled with studies of human development which revolved around various disciplines. Human development refers to how an individual develops from infancy to childhood, to adolescence and adulthood; development has a broad connotation. Infants use movement to express themselves and even have their own sense of their surroundings. Charles Darwin studied the theory of evolution by studying how his own child played and reacted to the world, how creativity connected with development. Creativity is first expressed in infancy and as the baby grows. Piaget (cited in Gardner, 1990, p. 2) indicated that infants express themselves through the sensorimotor system, which involves the use of sense organs and motor system; toddlers begin to understand the various symbol systems and the workings of the physical world; young children begin to reason out and argue on logic or morality; and adolescents begin to reason in a ‘formal-operational’ attitude (Gardner, 1990, p. 2). A play is an important creative expression of a child. The world of make-believe shapes the child’s emotional, psychological and mental abilities in dealing with the world around him/her. A play has some neurological implication on a child – it enhances brain growth (Kennedy, 2008, p. 16). This proposal aims to provide an analysis of the relevance of the arts to human development and play. The study will discuss aspects of dance, its history and healing power and its role in the development of human personality, and how it affects the psychological, mental, physical and social well being. The methodology will consist of a review of the literature. Sources will come from books, online or physical library, journals and other valuable sources of information on human development and dance.

The Rococo Style of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Rococo Style of Art - Essay Example Pope uses satire in his literature to express a certain perspective. He reveals the ludicrousness and unsuitable behavior that the 18th century people of England had towards fashion. The woman Belinda symbolizes the kind of women busy indulging and competing for fashion, which can be slightly term as an act of stupidity. The satire is edifying and aloof. He does not directly attack a particular person but points out the moral infidelity in the society. The society in context is the 18th century aristocratic era of the rise in the fashion industry. Although he also tackles other relevant topics whereby he continues the use of his satirical prose (Levey 45-70). An illustration is the case of the judge where he criticizes him for making rushed rulings in a ridiculous manner. The Rape of the Lock incorporates the masterful traits of a laudable blockbuster, nevertheless is used sarcastically to an apparently trivial narcissistic exclusive squabble. It eventually achieves a fanciful ridicu le epic by combining the petty and unchanging. This piece of literature presents a humorous and light tone. This consequentially elucidates the eccentric kind of the poem’s vital quarrel. The atrocities done by Baron like â€Å"raping† or stealing and the memorable hair style of Belinda are some of the issues of conflict. â€Å"The meeting points the sacred hair dissever from the fair head, forever and forever! Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, and screams of horror rend the affrighted skies†.

Culture Versus Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Culture Versus Environment - Essay Example Rituals designed to appease a multitude of gods thought to control various aspects of the environment were replaced by monotheism and atheism. Favorable environments enabled the discovery of new technologies and freed mankind from having to concentrate on survival. This resulted in greater supplies of food and other resources enabling the growth of larger and less homogeneous settlements with productivity further increased by specialized division of labor. Thus while environment did not directly affect cultural values, it created a milieu where that portion of mankind who could benefit from more favorable environments not only had a greater sense of their ability to control their own environment but also a sense of empowerment where they felt they could and should impose their culture on those less empowered and presumed inferior. Diamond’s Theory and the Spanish ConquistadoresNot only did Diamond theorize there must be the suitable environment for technology improvements to o ccur, he also contended the surrounding environment must be able to facilitate the exchange of technological improvements so that there is the widespread advancement of civilization. He argued Europe/Asia are oriented on an east/west axis meaning the adjoining continents are very wide on the same latitude (east/west) Therefore they have similar vegetation and climate so that the innovation of agriculture and animal domestication could easily spread from the Middle East along this corridor with little adaptation required east.

The Rococo Style of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Rococo Style of Art - Essay Example Pope uses satire in his literature to express a certain perspective. He reveals the ludicrousness and unsuitable behavior that the 18th century people of England had towards fashion. The woman Belinda symbolizes the kind of women busy indulging and competing for fashion, which can be slightly term as an act of stupidity. The satire is edifying and aloof. He does not directly attack a particular person but points out the moral infidelity in the society. The society in context is the 18th century aristocratic era of the rise in the fashion industry. Although he also tackles other relevant topics whereby he continues the use of his satirical prose (Levey 45-70). An illustration is the case of the judge where he criticizes him for making rushed rulings in a ridiculous manner. The Rape of the Lock incorporates the masterful traits of a laudable blockbuster, nevertheless is used sarcastically to an apparently trivial narcissistic exclusive squabble. It eventually achieves a fanciful ridicu le epic by combining the petty and unchanging. This piece of literature presents a humorous and light tone. This consequentially elucidates the eccentric kind of the poem’s vital quarrel. The atrocities done by Baron like â€Å"raping† or stealing and the memorable hair style of Belinda are some of the issues of conflict. â€Å"The meeting points the sacred hair dissever from the fair head, forever and forever! Then flashed the living lightning from her eyes, and screams of horror rend the affrighted skies†.

DB 4 Management and Leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

DB 4 Management and Leadership - Research Paper Example In the case of an internet retailer that involves a lot of inventive technology, and organizational flexibility, I would draw on the mission of the organization, as this would allow me work with what to expect in the future, and what the employees must strive to portray in the long run. Working on the mission statement allows the organization function outside the existing boundaries, and instill more creativity among the employees. I will also be very positive and inspiring to my employees, as this is the only way that the cycle of goals, objectives and strategies will be complete (Cawsey, Deszca & Ingols, 2011: 121). Working with the sub-units in the retail organization would allow me devise a change process. Cawsey, Deszca & Ingols (2011: 121) argue that working with sub-sections allows for generation of emotional vigor, commitment, and clear direction of the ideal future of the internet retailer. Since an entry and consistency in the internet retail market requires that the change agents- leaders- dream big, I will endeavor to come up with exciting, concise and challenging visions. In this case, I will have energized and mobilized employees to undertake initiatives that will lead to the internet retailer one of the best shops in existence (Cawsey, Deszca & Ingols, 2011: 121). My mission statement will be, ‘†¦by offering quality services, we motivate and encourage our employees to continually offer the best to our clients...’ With this, I will have created a dream on the ideal future of the organization; thus, dictate the same shape of ideas to the attainment of the organization’s aims and objectives. Vision, therefore, is the basis of a stronger, better and a unique organization (Cawsey, Deszca & Ingols, 2011: 121).A change leader must always come up with a vision and a team that will be useful in the implementation of the

CAGB Report Essay Example for Free

CAGB Report Essay Introduction   Good morning. Today we will be discussing the topic of membership into the Chicory Association of Great Britain (CAGB). It has come to the attention of Sunshine PR that everyone serving on the CAGB committee has a farming background. Thus, each of you should realize that anyone desiring to join the CAGB must be given simple, yet detailed information. With that being said, Sunshine PR perceives membership into the CAGB as an opportunity for farmers to expand into large retail chains in the local area. Right now, these retail chains are dependent upon imported exotic vegetables. Yet, Sunshine PR has realized that local independent farmers can provide fresh vegetables that are home-grown to these businesses. Therefore, the company would like to brief you on the benefits of independent farmers acquiring membership you’re your establishment. While there is a budget of only â„“50,000 for a national PR campaign, Sunshine PR feels the money can be stretched. One way of doing so is to get local celebrities, rock stars, supermodels, and other professionals that are highly esteemed in the public’s eye to donate their time and efforts for this cause. Thus, the purpose of this presentation is to detail a PR campaign for the CAGB to acquire members who can provide fresh, home-grown vegetables to local UK retailers.   Outline   First, we begin with a brief outline of what will be addressed throughout this presentation. Sunshine PR will look at the Situation, Step-by-Step approach, Objectives, Message Strategies, Target Strategies, Implementation, and Evaluation. These items will be defined as this presentation continues. Sunshine PR will also discuss the various Stakeholders available. Therefore, this presentation will answer the following questions: Project management Where are we now? Where do we want to be? What are we doing to get there? Who do we need to talk to? How will we know we’ve arrived? Practicalities. This means the physical constraints, the facts, and the feasibility of this project. Approvals.   Therefore, we can now begin. Project management   Sunshine PR has been given this opportunity to run a PR campaign for CAGB. Our company is very thankful for this opportunity. Sunshine PR has been in business for many years. As a result, we have helped a variety of clients from a diverse background. However, Sunshine PR would like to benefit CAGB by helping the association raise awareness in regards to the importance of chicory in this area. Sunshine PR understands that the budget is only â„“50,000. Yet, we believe this amount is durable to get the point across. Therefore, the Situation being looked at is one in which local farmers need the opportunity to sell home-grown vegetables to local markets. By doing so, money remains at home versus the current situation of local retailers importing vegetables and thus, spending money elsewhere. Where are we now?   By money being spent elsewhere, our economy is losing opportunities to expand. Therefore, the CAGB needs to raise awareness about the benefits of local independent farmers becoming a CAGB member. Yet, membership should come with the understanding that ‘chicory is a bushy perennial herb with blue or lavender flowers’. It can be used in salads, as a coffee substitute, as a sweetener. Chicory can also be put in yogurt. [Picture of chicory taken from Microsoft clipart]   Thus, the opportunities for making profits in providing chicory to local retailers are endless. Consequently, Sunshine PR has come up with membership packages suitable for experienced, upcoming, and future independent British farmers that the CAGB can offer its members. These packages come in six levels of membership, similar to those packages found at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations website. These memberships include the following: Member MCAGB. This package offers several possibilities into full membership with the CAGB. Associate ACAGB. This package is open to those farmers with at least 3 years of farming experience or a CAGB approved qualification. Affiliate. This package is open to those farmers with lesser than 3 years of farming experience or those who are working in a related industry. Student. This package is open to those studying a CAGB approved qualification. Affiliate Studying. This package is open to those studying a farming qualification that is not CAGB approved. Fellow FCAGB. This package is awarded to those farmers who have made an outstanding contribution to the United Kingdom.   This brings us to the Step-by-Step approach. It answers the next question. Where do we want to be? With this PR campaign, the CAGB wants to be in the driver’s seat. This means that all farmers joining the CAGB will come on-board with the idea in mind of returning profits back to the local community. In order for this step to be successful we need to: Inform Address Evaluate Implement In order for the CAGB to get anywhere, it must first (a) Inform the general public of what the association is all about. Thus, the CAGB will be making the general public aware that the association plans to help local farmers deliver fresh, home-grown vegetables (in particular, chicory) to local retailers. In this approach, some of the local celebrities can be seen in a commercial drinking a cup of coffee that is made from home-grown chicory.   Next, CAGB needs to (b) Address. In this step, the general public should be made aware of all the jobs being lost by local retailers importing vegetables. By putting even one farmer out of business, that means plenty of local residents (who work on these farms) being put out of work. Not only that, it extracts from the distribution channels in which the vegetables can be delivered. For example, local distributors do not have to go overseas to pick the vegetables up. Also, the chances of the money being made from the sell and/or purchase of local products actually being spent locally increases.   Third, the CAGB should (c) Evaluate. In this step, an Evaluation of all the costs to the CAGB, its members, and the retailers should be examined. Costs to the CAGB have already been predetermined as â„“50,000 to run the PR campaign. However, the CAGB should note that hidden costs may exist as well. Hidden costs are those costs associated with something going wrong or an unpredictable event occurring. This means it is possible for costs to exceed â„“50,000. As a result, Sunshine PR will leave between â„“5,000 to â„“10,000 to account for potential costs beyond our control in the Miscellaneous Section of the budget. Thus, Market Research will play a key role in the implementation of this PR campaign. In order to find out who is interested in buying fresh vegetables, we need to probably pay consumers to take surveys. Not only that, we can find out what types of vegetables local retail chains want to sell by interviewing them. Information about Market Research possibilities can be found at the Communication Research website.   Fourth, after the full details of the budget have been decided (and Market Research has been analyzed), our company must get with the CAGB to discuss how to (d) Implement. In this stage, we must decide who will be a part of this campaign, all the types of media to use, who the target audience will be, when the project will begin, and how much to charge the farmers who decide to join one of the various levels of memberships. Of course, all of these things can be decided upon the acceptance of this proposal from Sunshine PR by the CAGB committee. Consequently, we can go to the next question. What are we doing to get there?   In order to get to the point where our local farmers are servicing the local retailers with fresh vegetables, the CAGB must first make the local farmers aware of its organization. Some of the ways to accomplish this goal include: Establishing public relations as a critical component of [CAGB] organizational success; Empowering current and future public relations professionals who represent a broad spectrum of diversity†¦ Building a community of leaders to serve the profession [CAGB members] and the Society [United Kingdom]; and Enhancing universal understanding [in particular, the United Kingdom areas] of, and appreciation for, the power and value of public relations, while adhering to the highest standards of ethics and excellence. As a result, some Objectives are needed. These objectives help us to understand the next question. Who do we need to talk to? The CAGB needs to talk to farmers. In addition to farmers, the CAGB needs to talk with local retailers, the general public, the media, banks, and so forth. Therefore, one of the main objectives is to determine who all the Stakeholders (as those just mentioned) are. As a result, the Stakeholders need to be broken down into manageable components. [Picture of farmer extracted from Microsoft Clipart] Thus, Sunshine PR has listed the Stakeholders into five parts: Public. The public includes the media and local community. Overseas. In the overseas part, we need to find out who the local retailers are importing to and then determine how we can undercut the prices the local retailers are paying for imported vegetables. Financial. In this section, we need to decide how the farmers who join the CAGB will be helped from a financial standpoint. Maybe set up partnerships with local banks for those farmers who become CAGB members is a good start. Government. Here, we want to inform our government of what is going on. Perhaps the government wants to get involved because by business staying at home, more money becomes available for taxation purposes as well. Commercial. In this section, we want to decide who the suppliers of the products will be, the wholesalers that exist, and the retailers available for this opportunity. No medium should be left unturned. Internal. In this section, we need to get CAGB members on board, management needs to be kept current on what is going on, and if any unions exist for the farmers, then we need to make sure the independent contracts are signed between the farmer and the local retailer so all details of what is to occur are known. In this manner, no surprises that will incur extra costs can result from a retailer telling a farmer they did not deliver all that was expected or from a farmer telling a retailer that they cheated them out of some money. This brings us to the next question. How will we know we’ve arrived? Well, we will know this from our Message Strategies and Targeting Strategies. First, we need to have two Message Strategies: (a) One is to understand that by local farmers selling chicory to local retailers, the partnerships will lead to more jobs and a better economy in the UK and (b) The other is to know that the PR campaign will raise total awareness of the fact that the CAGB will help independent farmers acquire business with local retail chains providing that the farmers choose to become a CAGB member.   Moreover, the PR campaign will help the general public to understand what the CAGB is and who the CAGB can help. In this aspect, the Targeting Strategy includes (a) Consumers—in this case the Consumers are the general public, the Suppliers are the farmers, and the Distributors are the local retail chains. In addition, (b) the Targeting Strategy includes the Media. Who is the media? Well, the media includes local television stations, newspapers, radio stations, billboards, and other methods of advertisements. Therefore, the Consumers should know that the products sold at local food retail chains will be fresh and home grown. Furthermore, the Media should know that the CAGB is trying to help farmers stay in business, local retail chains sell fresh products, and consumers eat fresh and healthy goods that come from home-grown vegetables. In a matter of speaking, this means CAGB will be helping those at home help themselves.   Significantly, CAGB can align its Strategies with Target Public Relations’ Objectives as presented by PRCA.   Target’s PR programme for SMEs had a number of defined objectives:   To sustain media coverage and Powergen’s reputation for ‘energy expertise’ amongst SMEs throughout the year—including during the summer period, when warm, sunny days mean the issue of energy consumption at work is of much less interest to both journalism and SMEs.   To build a relationship between Powergen and SMEs, capitalizing on the fact that no other energy supplier is talking directly to them.   To broaden the perception of energy to include ‘personal energy’ and positivity in line with Powergen’s overall brand objectives, led by the irreverent ‘Bob’ advertisements starring comedian Simon Day.   This brings us to possible practicalities or constraints. As a result, we need to discuss them. Practicalities.   One of the main constraints is how to regain the business that has already been lost to companies exporting vegetables to the United Kingdom. Within this constraint is the fact that comments often influence decisions. Therefore, what we say throughout this PR campaign will be under a microscope. In simple terms, this means we will be quoted. This issue was discussed in an article presented at the Institute for Public Relations  (IPR) website. In the article, Paine discussed,   In the media and in most news groups, the vast majority of what is said about a particular organization is neutral. But the unfettered and unfiltered nature of the blogosphere [media] brings more opinions and frequently more negative opinions. Remember to step back as far as you can and remain objective. Think like your target audience. Just because someone leaked a piece of information or got a name wrong is not reason to respond or get involved in a discussion. Yet, as mentioned earlier in this presentation, â„“50,000 is not much. Therefore, limited funding is another practicality. Still, a third practicality is getting independent farmers to realize that CAGB membership is important to them achieving a sustainable competitive future. However, it is important to know that this PR campaign may not be enough. Overbury wrote, ‘For many PR agencies and departments, the place they will look for that expertise and new media familiarity will be those just joining the profession’. Thus, we come to understand that it is possible to acquire new CAGB members and therefore, help them sell chicory to local retail chains. Approvals.   We need to implement the objectives and strategies discussed in this presentation for two reasons: (1) Job vacancies and (2) To connect. First, we can open up more jobs by helping farmers sell locally. This, in turn, betters the community. Second, we can connect people-to-people by helping them to develop relationships with one another. In this manner, culture does not get lost as it sometimes does when international companies come in with their goods and services. Also, it should be noted that email can be one of the main methods (social media) of both corresponding and obtaining approval as determined by PR Studies.   Also, it should be mentioned that the UK economy will face global turmoil and high oil prices in the upcoming year. Therefore, our economy is in for a bumpy ride, as pointed out by Giles. Remarkably, we can use this to our advantage to get local retail chains to contract with local farmers who are members of the CAGB. Not only that, the fact that oil prices have increased means that it is getting difficult to keep up with the currency exchange. As a result, inflation is possible, as The Economist discussed.   Therefore, getting Approvals for implementation of the items mentioned in this CAGB Report are very achievable.   Consequently, let me suggest that the campaign begin by us purchasing a list of consumers’ email addresses and sending out a bulk, but relevant email  detailing what we are trying to accomplish. We can then ask the consumers to answer the survey and send the email back to us for a free cup of coffee or something along those lines.   Conclusion   So, now this presentation comes to concludes. Please keep in mind that the main issues to be addressed in the PR campaign concerns us making the general public aware that they can purchase fresh vegetables if the local farmers are given the opportunity to sell to the local retail chains. Thus, the main goal is to get the independent local farmers to become members of the CAGB so that they can have the opportunity to sell their chicory and other vegetables to local retail chains. Remarkably, this will help the UK reduce the heavy reliance on imported exotic vegetables. As a result, by local farmers selling to local retail chains, the local economy will be able to create a sustainable competitive economy. Thus, in order for us to achieve a better future, let us narrow the bridge the gap between our consumers, our local farmers (suppliers), and our local retail chains (distributors). Thank you. Microsoft PowerPoint ¹. Public Relations: Theory Practice: Week 3 PR Campaign Planning, slds. 1-19. 2007. retrieved 27 November 2007, PRTAPWK03_-Planning_Models Microsoft PowerPoint ². Public Relations: Theory Practice: Week 4 Stakeholding Media Relations Consultancy practice, slds. 1-18. 2007. retrieved 27 November 2007, PRTAPWK03_-Planning_Models   Wikipedia, Chicory, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, 2007, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicory Wikipedia, Chicory. Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), Membership grades, CIPR, 2007, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://www.cipr.co.uk/membership/index.htm   CIPR, Membership grades. CommunicationResearch.org. Market Research, 2007, retrieved 27, November 2007, http://www.communicationresearch.org/search/ Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Mission, PRSA, 2007, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://www.prsa.org/aboutUs/strategicPlanning.html?WT.ac=ABOUT_StratPlanningTopNav Microsoft PowerPoint ². Slide 17. Target Public Relations, Campaign: ‘Britain’s Most Energetic Boss’ B2B campaign, PRCA, September 2004-February 2005, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://www.prca.org.uk/assets/pdf/boss.pdf Target Public Relations, Objectives, p. 2. K.S. Paine, How to measure Social Media Relations, Institute for Public Relations, April 2007, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://www.instituteforpr.org/files/uploads/How_to_Measure_Blogs.pdf Paine, p. 7.   K Overbury, Behind the Spin: What happens when the â€Å"new media† isn’t new enough?, PublicSphere, 27 June 2006, pp. 1-2, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://publicsphere.typepad.com/behindthespin/2006/06/what_happens_wh.thml PR Studies, Only connect, 21 November 2007, retrieved 27 November 2007, http://prstudies.typepad.com/weblog/ C Giles, UK—Economy Trade: Warning given of ‘bumpy ride’ for economy, The Financial Times, 28 November 2007, retrieved 28 November 2007, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/48855d02-9d3e-11dc-af03-0000779fd2ac.html The Economist, Finance Economics: Countdown to lift-off, The Economist Newspaper Limited 2007, 2007, retrieved 28 November 2007, http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10191717   M Varley, Relevance is â€Å"king† of DM, Centaur Communications Ltd, 27 November 2007, retrieved 28 November 2007, http://www.mad.co.uk/Logon/

RNA World Theory: Summary and Analysis

RNA World Theory: Summary and Analysis This essay will explore the principles of the RNA world theory and supports and criticisms for it. It will look at the properties of RNA which make this theory viable and it will also look briefly at alternate competing theories. RNA, which stands for ribonucleic acid, is a polymeric molecule made up of one or more nucleotides. Each nucleotide is made up of a base: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, a ribose sugar, and a phosphate which can then form chains. Like DNA, RNA has four main structures: primary, which is the basic polypeptide chain. The Secondary structure is a twisted form of the chain into usually an alpha helix and beta sheet. The tertiary structure is a further folded shape and is often unique. This structure determines the function of the protein. Finally the quaternary is the joining together of multiple tertiary subunits to form one large subunit. The discovery of ribozymes supported the RNA World Hypothesis. This is the theory that earlier life forms may have relied solely on RNA to catalyse chemical reactions and store genetic information. This hypothesis was proposed by Carl Woese, Francis Crick and Leslie Orgel in the 1960s, this was decades before the discovery of ribozymes but soon after the double-helical structure of DNA was determined. According to the RNA World Hypothesis, life later evolved to use DNA and proteins due to RNAs instability relative to DNA and its poorer catalytic properties. Gradually, ribozymes became increasingly phased out. A ribozyme, ribonucleic acid enzyme, is an RNA molecule that is capable of performing specific biochemical reactions, similar to the action of protein enzymes. The structure of RNA nucleotides is very similar to that of DNA nucleotides, with the main difference being that the ribose sugar backbone in RNA has a hydroxyl group that DNA does not. Another minor difference is that DNA uses the base thymine in place of uracil. Despite great structural similarities, DNA and RNA play very different roles from one another in modern cells. RNA plays a central role in the pathway from DNA to proteins, known as the Central Dogma of molecular biology. An organisms genetic information is encoded as a linear sequence of bases in the cells DNA. During transcription, an RNA copy of a segment of DNA, messenger RNA (mRNA), is made. This strand of RNA can then be read by a ribosome to form a protein. Another major difference between DNA and RNA is that DNA is usually found in a double-stranded form in cells, while RNA is typically found in a single-stranded form. The lack of a paired strand allows RNA to fold into complex, three-dimensional structures. RNA folding is typically mediated by the same type of base-base interactions that are found in DNA, with the difference being that bonds are formed within a single strand in the case of RNA, rather than between two strands, in the case of DNA. The strongest evidence for the RNA World Hypothesis is the fact that the ribosome, a large molecular complex that assembles proteins, is a ribozyme. Although the ribosome is made up of both RNA and protein components, structural and biochemical analyses revealed that the mechanisms for translation is catalysed by RNA, not proteins. This suggests that the use of RNA by early life forms to carry out chemical reactions may have preceded the use of proteins. John Sutherland and his colleagues from the University of Manchester performed and experiment that greatly supports the RNA world hypothesis. He and his team created a ribonucleotide, which is a major part of RNA, from simple chemicals. These chemicals are those though to be present on the early earth, or primordial soup. Donna Blackmond, a chemist at Imperial College London, stated that this is extremely strong evidence for the RNA world. We dont know if these chemical steps reflect what actually happened, but before this work there were large doubts that it could happen at all. Critics of these ideas suggest that other organic molecules, rather than nucleic acids, were the first self-replicating chemicals capable of storing genetic information. According to this idea, these simple hereditary systems were later replaced by nucleic acids during the course of evolution. Electric Spark Generation of amino acids and sugars from the atmosphere. The  Miller-Urey supports this theory. The experiment in 1952 was one  that simulated the conditions thought at the time to be present on the  early Earth, and tested for the occurrence of  the chemical origins of life. Miller took molecules which were believed to represent the major components of the early Earths atmosphere and put them into a closed system. The gases they used were methane (CH4), ammonia (NH3), hydrogen (H2), and water (H2O). Next, he ran a continuous electric current through the system, to simulate lightning storms believed to be common on the early earth. Miller observed that as much as 10-15% of the carbon was now in the form of organic compounds. Two percent of the carbon had formed some of the amino acids which are used to make proteins. Millers experiment showed that organic compounds such as amino acids, which are essential to cellular life, could be made easily under the condi tions that scientists believed to be present on the early earth. Community Clay The first molecules of life might have met on clay, according to an idea elaborated by organic chemist Alexander Graham Cairns-Smith at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. These surfaces might not only have concentrated these organic compounds together, but also helped organize them into patterns much like our genes do now. Chilly Start As the sun was about a third less luminous than it is now. This layer of ice, possibly hundreds of feet thick, might have protected fragile organic compounds in the water below from ultraviolet light and destruction from cosmic impacts. The cold might have also helped these molecules to survive longer, allowing key reactions to happen. Simple Beginnings Instead of developing from complex molecules such as RNA, life might have begun with smaller molecules interacting with each other in cycles of reactions. These might have been contained in simple capsules akin to cell membranes, and over time more complex molecules that performed these reactions better than the smaller ones could have evolved. Panspermia Rocks regularly get blasted off Mars by cosmic impacts, and a number of Martian meteorites have been found on Earth that some researchers have controversially suggested brought microbes over here, potentially making us all Martians originally. Other scientists have even suggested that life might have hitchhiked on comets from other star systems. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that RNA is spontaneously being created and capable of forming pre-cellular life today. While some artificial ribozymes have been created in the laboratory (reviewed in Chen, et al., 2007), there are still significant holes in reproducing an RNA world to support the hypothesis. The ribozymes created artificially lack the abilities to sufficiently process themselves, and there is no evidence of them producing large quantities of advantageous nucleotide sequences. Moreover, no system has ever created cellular life. There is even significant debate among scientists over the conditions and constituents of a prebiotic Earth model.

AIDS :: Free AIDS Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Nearly 90 percent of Russia’s HIV infections occur among addicts sharing dirty needles† (Klesius, p.35). This percentage from a National Geographic magazine would differ heavily from that of the United States. The Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation reported that through the year 2002 in the state of Colorado that only 9% of aids cases in the state were due to injection drug use and 25% on the national level. (Kaiser Family Foundation) In the United States, Men who have sex with men would more closely share Russia’s dirty needle problem for being the number 1 cause for AIDS transmission with 46% in the U.S. and 69% in the state of Colorado. These figures here in the states prove to coincide with the majority of Americans view on who they think is the stereotypical person infected with AIDS, gay males.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I took the liberty of asking random Americans who they thought was stereotypical person in America infected with AIDS. The results didn’t vary from my understanding of previous viewpoints. 18 out of 20 of these random Americans told me that they considered the stereotypical infected person with AIDS would be a gay male. I then asked them if this changed their viewpoints on the AIDS epidemic and its seriousness. 8 out the 20 told me that they didn’t worry about it because they believed it to only be a problem for gays here in America and those who live in Africa, not themselves. Now, I have to say that this is a pretty close minded view shared by a large number of Americans, if this percentage of my poll were to represent the whole United States. I do note that Gay males have the highest percentage of those who have the disease here in America, but should that be a reason for not caring about this epidemic?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Yet AIDS is still a serious problem because of the high fatality rates, the costs of treating the disease, and the difficulty of eliminating such HIV/AIDS risk factors as unprotected sex and injecting drug use†(132). This statement wouldn’t be so bad if it were describing a virus with only a small population. Unfortunately this statement is describing one with a large population. The Centers for Disease Control (C.D.C.) and the White House have statistics of the AIDS epidemic here in the states and the rest of the world. None of which are miniscule by any means.