Abortion †It Is More Than a Choice

Abortion – It Is More Than a Choice Free Online Research Papers Abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. This definition doesn’t sound to bad does it? But in all reality abortion is killing a human being and there is no way it can fight back. Most people would say that an embryo or a fetus isn’t a human being, but it is. People hind behind the facts and try and say that abortion is a procedure and that they aren’t killing a person because it isn’t fully grown yet. In all reality the fact is that it is a human and by having an abortion you are murdering your own flesh and blood. How does that sound, killing your own kid just because it may not have of been planned or that you were rapped. There are other ways to get rid of the child like giving it up for adoption but a lot of people don’t think about the child that they are killing they are only thinking about themselves. When you think of abortion what do you think? Are you wondering why the person is aborting there child or do you even think or care that they are at all. Well, let’s examine why a person would have to have an abortion in the first place. Is there really a good reason for having an abortion? Some people say that the kid was unexpected and that they will not be able to care for the child, the response to this is why don’t they just have the kid and then give it up for adoption? It isn’t the child’s fault that you aren’t ready to have kids so why punish them? Other people say that the child is a result of being rapped and that having the kid and seeing it will remind them to much of the horrible event. To this you could say the same response why not just give it up for adoption? When you look at abortion are you even caring about what the child has to offer or are you only thinking about how it is going to affect you? When you think about it abortion is a selfish way to just get out of having to deal with having a child or figure out what to do with the kid. Abortion isn’t a way to get out of having the responsibility of dealing with the pregnancy. It is just a cheap escape with dealing with it. Have some guts and think about what you are doing before you do something as drastic as killing your child. Abortion is also very emotional for a lot of the people who have to go through it or are forced to go through it. You shouldn’t make some one go through something as big as an abortion because if it isn’t your body then it isn’t for you to decide. Abortion is a big step for people but some people just use it as an escape. Like when parents make there kids get an abortion because they think it is for there best good. In all reality when that person grows up it can be a very emotional thing for them and it can actually make a big problem for them in there life. Abortion is a big problem in this time period with people thinking that it is a way to get out of dealing with your problems. When you think about how many problems that abortion can create it isn’t worth it to do. Abortion isn’t worth the entire heart ache because of something that you feel needs taken care of right now. People do drastic things, but if they would just take the time and actually examine what the heck you are doing then they might not have to go through with it. Research Papers on Abortion - It Is More Than a ChoicePersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCapital PunishmentEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenGenetic EngineeringInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Relationship between Media Coverage and Social andThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationThe Spring and Autumn

Standard Based Grading Measures Student Skills

Standard Based Grading Measures Student Skills What does an A on a test or quiz mean to a student? Mastery of skill or mastery of information or content?   Does an F grade mean a student understands none of the material or less than 60% of the material? How is grading used as feedback for academic performance? Currently, in most middle and high schools (grades 7-12), students receive letter grades or numerical grades in subject areas based on points or percentages. These letter or numerical grades are tied to credits for graduation based on Carnegie units, or the number of  hours of contact time with an instructor.   But what does 75% grade on a math assessment tell a student about his or her specific strengths or weaknesses? What  does a B- grade on a literary analysis essay inform a student about how he or she meets skills sets in organization, content, or conventions of writing?   In contrast to letters or percentages, many elementary and intermediate schools have adopted a standards-based grading system, one that uses a 1-to-4 scale. This 1-4 scale breaks down academic subjects into specific skills needed for a content area.   While these elementary and intermediate schools use standards-based grading may vary in their report card terminology, the most common four-part scale denotes a students level of achievement with descriptors such as: Excels or above grade level (4)Proficient or at grade level (3)Approaching proficiency or approaching grade level (2)Well below proficiency or below grade level (1) A standards-based grading system may be called  competency-based,  mastery-based,  outcome-based,  performance-based, or proficiency-based. Regardless of the name used, this form of a grading system is  aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts and Literacy and in Math, which was established in 2009 and adopted by 42 out of 50 states. Since this adoption, several states have withdrawn from using CCSS in favor of developing their own academic standards. These CCSS standards for literacy and for math were organized in a framework that details specific skills for each grade level in grades K-12. These standards serve as guides for administrators and teachers to develop and implement the curriculum. Each skill in the CCSS has a separate standard, with skill progressions tied to grade levels. Despite the word standard in the CCSS, standards-based grading at the upper-grade levels, grades 7-12, has not been universally adopted. Instead, there is ongoing traditional grading at this level, and most middle and high school use letter grades or percentages based on 100 points. Here is the traditional grade conversion chart: Letter Grade Percentile Standard GPA A+ 97-100 4.0 A 93-96 4.0 A- 90-92 3.7 B+ 87-89 3.3 B 83-86 3.0 B- 80-82 2.7 C+ 77-79 2.3 C 73-76 2.0 C- 70-72 1.7 D+ 67-69 1.3 D 65-66 1.0 F Below 65 0.0 The skill sets outlined in the CCSS for literacy and math can be easily converted  to four point scales, just as they are at the K-6 grade levels. For example, the first reading standard for grade 9-10 states that a student should be able to: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Under a traditional grading system with letter grades (A-to-F) or percentages, a score on this reading standard may be difficult to interpret. Advocates of standard based grading will ask, for example, what a score of B or 88% tells a student. This letter grade or percentage is less informative about a student’s skill performance and/or subject mastery.  Instead, they argue, a standards-based system would singularly assess a students skill to cite textual evidence for any content area: English, social studies, science, etc. Under a standards-based assessment system, students could be assessed on their skill to cite using a 1-to-4 scale that featured the following descriptors:   Score 4: excels in citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential OR needs no support;Score 3:  proficient at  citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential  OR needs minimal support;Score 2:  approaching proficiency at citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential OR needs moderate support;Score 1:  below proficiency at citing  strong and thorough textual evidence -explicit and inferential OR needs extensive support and/or reteaching. Assessing students on a 1-4 scale  on a particular skill  can provide clear and specific feedback to a student. A standard by standard assessment separates and detail the skills, perhaps on a rubric.  This is less confusing or overwhelming to a student when compared to a combined skills percentage score on 100 point scale. A conversion chart that compares  a traditional grading of an assessment to standards-based graded assessment would look like the following: Letter Grade Standards-Based grade Percentage grade Standard GPA A to A+ Mastery 93-100 4.0 A- to B Proficient 90-83 3.0 to 3.7 C to B- Approaching proficiency 73-82 2.0-2.7 D to C- Below Proficiency 65-72 1.0-1.7 F Below Proficiency Below 65 0.0 Standards-based grading  also allows teachers, students,  and parents to see a grade report that lists overall levels of proficiency on separate skills instead of composite or combined skill scores. With this information, students are better informed in their individual strengths and in their weaknesses as  a standards-based score highlights the skill set(s) or content that need(s) improvement and allows them to target areas for improvement. Furthermore, students would not need to re-do all of a test or assignment if they have demonstrated mastery in some areas. An advocate for standards-based grading is educator and researcher Ken OConnor. In  his chapter,  The Last Frontier: Tackling the Grading Dilemma, in Ahead of the Curve: The Power of Assessment to Transform Teaching and Learning, he notes: Traditional grading practices have promoted the idea of uniformity. The way we are fair is we expect all students do to the same thing in the same amount of time in the same way. We need to move†¦ to the idea that fairness is not uniformity. Fairness is equity of opportunity (p128). OConnor argues that standards-based grading allows for grading differentiation because it  is flexible and can be adjusted up and down as students confront new skills and content. Moreover, no matter where students are in a quarter or semester, a standard based grading system provides students, parents, or other stakeholders an assessment of student understanding in real time. That kind of student understanding may  take place during conferences, such as the ones Jeanetta Jones Miller explained in her article   A Better Grading System: Standards-Based, Student-Centered Assessment in the September 2013 edition of the English Journal. In her description of how standard based grading informs her instruction, Miller writes that it’s important to set up appointments to confer with each student about progress toward mastery of course standards. During the conference, each student receives individual feedback on his or her performance in meeting one or more standards in a content area:   The evaluation conference provides an opportunity for the teacher to make it clear that the student’s strengths and areas for growth are understood and the teacher is proud of the student’s efforts to master the standards that are most challenging. Another benefit to standardized based grading is the separation  of student work habits that are often combined in a grade. At the secondary level, a point penalty for late papers missed homework, and/or uncooperative collaborative behavior is sometimes included in a grade. While these unfortunate social behaviors will not stop with the use of standards-based grading, they may be isolated and given as separate scores  into another category. Of course, deadlines are important, but factoring in behaviors such as turning an assignment in on time or not has the effect of watering down an overall grade. To counter such behaviors, it may be possible to have a student turn in an assignment that still meets a mastery standard but does not meet a set deadline. For example, an essay assignment may still achieve a 4 or exemplary score on skills or content, but the academic behavior skill in turning in a late paper may receive a 1 or below proficiency score. Separating behavior from skills also has the effect of preventing students from receiving the kind of credit that simply completing work and meeting deadlines has had in distorting measures of academic skill.   There are, however, many educators, teachers and administrators alike, who do not see advantages to adopting a standards-based grading system at the secondary level. Their arguments against standards-based grading primarily reflect concerns at the instructional level. They stress that the  transition to a standards-based grading system, even if the school is from one of the 42 states using the CCSS, will require teachers to spend immeasurable amounts of time on extra planning, preparation, and training. In addition, any statewide initiative to move to standards-based learning may be difficult to fund and manage. These concerns may be a reason enough not to adopt standards-based grading. Classroom time can also be a concern for teachers when  students do not reach proficiency on a skill. These students will need reteaching and reassessment placing another demand on curriculum pacing guides. While this reteaching and reassessment by skill does create  additional work for classroom teachers, however, advocates for  standards-based grading note that this process may help teachers to refine their instruction. Rather than add to continuing student confusion or misunderstanding, reteaching may improve later understanding. Perhaps the strongest objection to standards-based grading is based on the concern that standards-based grading might put high school students at a disadvantage when applying to college. Many stakeholders -parents, students teachers, guidance counselors, school administrators-believe that college admissions officers will only evaluate students based on their letter grades or GPA, and that GPA must be in numerical form. Ken OConnor disputes that concern suggesting that secondary schools are in the position to issue both traditional letter or numerical grades and standards-based grades at the same time. â€Å"I think it’s unrealistic in most places to suggest that (GPA or letter grades) are going to go away at the high school level,† O’Connor agrees, but the basis for determining these might be different. He proposes that schools might base their letter-grade system on the percentage of grade-level standards a student meets in that particular subject and that schools can set their own standards based on GPA correlation.   Renowned author and education consultant Jay McTighe  agrees with OConnor, â€Å"You can have letter grades and standards-based grading as long as you clearly define what those (letter-grade) levels mean.† Other concerns are that standards-based grading can mean the loss of class ranking or honor rolls and academic honors. But OConnor points out that high schools and universities confer degrees with highest honors, high honors, and honors and that ranking students to the hundredth of a decimal may not be the best way to prove academic superiority. Several New England states will be at the forefront of this restructuring of grading systems. An article in  The  New England Journal of Higher Education Titled directly addressed the question of college admissions with standard based grading transcripts. The states of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire have all passed legislation to implement proficiency or standards-based grading in their secondary schools.   In support of this initiative, a study in Maine titled Implementation of a Proficiency-Based Diploma System: Early Experiences in Maine  Ã‚  (2014) by Erika K. Stump and David L. Silvernail used a  two-phase, qualitative approach in their research and found: ...that benefits [of proficiency grading] include improved student engagement, greater attention to development of robust interventions systems and more deliberate collective and collaborative professional work. Maine schools are expected to establish a proficiency-based diploma system by 2018. The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) and the New England Secondary School Consortium (NESSC) met in 2016 with admissions leaders from highly selective New England colleges and universities and discussion was the subject of an article How Selective Colleges and Universities Evaluate Proficiency-Based High School Transcripts (April 2016) by Erika  Blauth and Sarah Hadjian. The discussion revealed that college admissions officers are less concerned with grade percentages  and more concerned that grades must always be based on clearly specified learning criteria.   They also noted that: Overwhelmingly, these admissions leaders indicate that students with proficiency-based transcripts will not be disadvantaged in the highly selective admissions process. Moreover, according to some admissions leaders, features of the proficiency-based transcript model shared with the group provide important information for institutions seeking not just high-performing academics, but engaged, lifelong learners. A review of the information on standards-based grading at the secondary level shows that implementation will require careful planning, dedication, and follow through for all stakeholders. The benefits for students, however, could be worth the considerable effort.

How to address the pain points Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

How to address the pain points - Essay Example This therefore means that they never worked in reference to the mission of the Company. This misunderstanding therefore led to the poor performance. Working when as a team raises the team spirit thereby leading to the increase in productivity (Eugene 2000). Another better way of improving the productivity of the team is by the delegation of duties appropriately in the team. The leaders are then appointed from the members. Through this, there will be an improved effective way of communication within the team. Poor communication is a major cause of business failure. it is therefore important to highlight that through roper communication, the team will always be punctual to whichever job they are called upon to do. Communication is a very crucial factor in any business institution; it also enhances readiness for the members. This in the long run is for the better of the Company in regards to productivity (Eugene 2000).. Another important way for the improvement of the company’s productivity is by making arrangements in advance, proper accounting and record keeping. A company that has well kept records makes finds it easier in doing counter checking on the progress of its progress (Eugene 2000). It is therefore important for the IncredibleApps Company to develop better ways of communicating with the employees. Proper planning is too ideal for the company as well as effective supervision of the workers by the

Ethical Line in Journalism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ethical Line in Journalism - Assignment Example Hubert could have instinctively gone to a journalistic mode lives, taking pictures of the wreck. Â  By the fact that the story involved elements of good ethics in journalism, it was an appropriate piece for editors. Although the photojournalist failed to capture the main event at the scene, he chooses to try and help the stranger. It was a heroic deed by the people involved which was worth broadcasting. Â  The journalist involvement, in this case, helped shift the media focus from the accident itself to the moral and ethical aspects of journalism. The choice not to shoot photographs immediately tell of a journalist who is more concerned with the welfare of the needy as opposed to him doing his core duties. Â  Redbook crossed an ethical line in journalism the time they selected to put Aniston on the front page using a manipulated stock photo. They did not obtain permission from her. The magazine chose to use an edited photo crossing an ethical line once again. They deceived readers who believe the picture was real when in reality it was not. In contrast, Hubert chose not be intrusive and revealing but to be helpful to a perishing woman. Â  Herbert's thinking is in line with Garry's steps. He chooses not to make the moment of the suffering women public, and alternatively, he decided to help. For him photographing the women could have sent them into more trauma. He remained as least obtrusive as possible, taking pictures only after the saving the women. Additionally, he chose to act with compassion, and he was sensitive to their need for help. Â  The craft in the photo is good. It is telling the story of pain, a woman in agony. People are helping her. Someone is offering some water, and a hand is holding her by the shoulder. It shows that the agony is over for the woman, and people are trying to calm and comfort her. Â  

Child Development Punishment and Deterrence Essay Example for Free

Child Development Punishment and Deterrence Essay When discuss children and issues that we have with them we to be sensitive and have a sympathetic ear meaning we have to listen before we disciple them. We will discuss how to use techniques and solutions that can prevent our children from committing mistakes that can be fatal. With children now they have pretty much gotten away with disrespecting no just adults and the parent but themselves as well. So we find ways to discipline them by taking away video game and leisure time but that sometimes does work why, is because we have spent so much time buying things to occupy their time due to our absence and lack of discipline when the time is appropriate. Now the child has gotten away with so much while he or she is little they tend to be more bold with words and more disrespectful and then we have had it and want them out or we want help from others if you ask me it’s no one else’s business it should stay in the family. This is because if this gets out about your child misbehaving it can go both ways, it can help you ask far reaching out for help because others have the same problems and can’t find a solution so the group can work together and find ways to fix the problem. Or you can take your child to Dr. Phil which to me is embarrassing because you actually have to expose this problem to the world about a child! You can’t raise your or control your household where you pay bills, and provide a roof with food and water available at any time â€Å"DISRESPECTFUL†. We tend to use the old ways of punishment like belts and extension cords etc. But you can’t do that anymore we have counseling, psychiatrists, and the law! I say the law because now if you hit a child and he or she calls the police you’re going to jail and will be frowned upon and possibly humiliated. The belt method in my opinion should be used from ages 2-10 I know it sound harsh but I rather punish my child now than see them in a grave later because of lack of acknowledgement of what right and what’s wrong this could be a life and death situation. Here is an example remember the â€Å"Menendez Brothers† Lyle and Erik Menendez shoot their parents, Jose and Kitty, to death in the den of the familys Beverly Hills, California, home. They then drove up to Mulholland Drive, where they dumped their shotguns before continuing to a local movie theater to buy tickets as an alibi. When the pair returned home, Lyle called 911 and cried, Somebody killed my parents! The Menendez murders became a national sensation when the new television network, Court TV, broadcast the trial in 1993. Although the Menendez brothers were not immediately suspected, Erik couldnt take the guilt and confessed his involvement to his psychotherapist, Dr. L. Jerome Oziel. Ignoring his own ethical responsibilities, Dr. Oziel taped the sessions with his new patient in an apparent attempt to impress his mistress. But the woman ended up going to the police with her information and, in March 1990, Lyle, 22, and Erik, 19, were arrested. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-menendez-brothers-murder-their-parents Now we can debate why did these children do this? Is it because of lack of punishment maybe the kids were spoiled and had nothing to challenge them and decided to make names for them by creating a violent episode, or maybe they we sick psychologically what do you think? More than 20% of the inmates in the cook county jail range from ages 16-30. This is very true because crime for these individuals have risen due to the fact of single home parenting while results in most cases kids joining gangs and being embraced by the streets. I have a clue but I can’t really tell you why these crimes are so high it’s like they have little no regards for the law. But we have to teach them when they are young and encourage them to do better and live a long life and show them why crime doesn’t pay versus telling them. No as far as deterrence this is a problem and I’m going to tell you of my experience being a soldier put in that position. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana it was so tragic that for everyone to see around the world was involved in the recovery efforts. I volunteered to go down and do whatever so I served as a second hand but only in uniform. But when my unit got called up to go down there we had a mission to patrol the streets and put up road blocks and issue a curfew. This was not good we had stopped a few people and I could see the terror in their eyes because they had men in uniform that had US Army insignia with M-16’s like we were at war. We were supposed to be helping others not putting more resistance on them as far as taking away there last bit of freedom but we had no choice because the police were corrupt and had fled the state so we were now the lawmen as well as the rescuers. Here we are with these large vehicles rolling down the street 5-10 HUMVEE’s in a row with all this gear, this made people more afraid that safe they didn’t know what to do. But the point is that if we launch our on people against each other its’ like genocide what would happen if you had relative that were known for trouble in Kentucky and you are deployed down there and have to confront one of them in an effort to clean up and make peace this is difficult do you arrest them, talk to them, engage them your own blood? Military should be the last and final resort. I just believe the FBI and its task force should be deployed in a summer and take over the streets because they carry stiffer penalties when you commit crimes of violent nature such as murder and possession of firearms etc. References (http://www.nicic.gov/) http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-menendez-brothers-murder-their-parents

Telecommunications and Networking Report :: Telecommunications Technology Essays

Telecommunications and Networking Report 1.â€Å"Free Web Services Challenge AOL’s Dominance† - Internet business analysts generally are not yet convinced of the viability of the free web service business model for bring profitable. None-the-less, most agree that the free access will probably take a significant chunk of AOL’s market share before running out of investor’s money. 2.â€Å"Visitalk.com Builds White Pages for Web Phone Calls† - Visitalk.com has unveiled plans to simplify the routing of phone calls over the Internet. They will provide a directory service which will provide subscribers with a unique 12 digit Internet phone number. The directory will capture user’s current IP address and update their database, serving as a switchboard for Internet phone calls which are routed over IP. This solves a major problem with the fact that IP addresses change for users as they move from computer to computer. 3.â€Å"Cisco to But Software Maker for $325 Million† – Cisco Systems agreed to acquire WebLine Communications, a software maker producing e-mail routing and collaborating software. WebLine is to be assimilated into Cisco’s Applications Technology Group. This was Cisco’s 12th acquisition this year. 4.â€Å"Firm Agrees to Purchase Cable-Modem Technology† – Intel agreed to purchase the cable modem technology of Stanford Telecommunications, Inc. The deal puts Intel face to face in the marketplace with Broadcom Corp., which currently holds the majority market share for cable modem chips. 5.â€Å"Qualcomm Pact Targets Wireless Network Products† – Lucent Technologies signed a development agreement with Qualcomm to product wireless networking equipment. Qualcomm will give its CDMA technology, including chips and software to Lucent. Lucent plans to have trial systems utilizing the technology in place next year. 6.â€Å"MCI Worldcom, Sprint Ponder Merger† – The world’s second and third largest long-distance carriers are in talks are in talks over a possible merger. The deal would give MCI it’s only nationwide wireless network. An obvious stumbling block over such a large telcom merger would be close scrutiny by regulators. It is also expected that regional Bell companies may soon have permission to compete in the long distance market as well. 7.â€Å"Earthlink and MindSpring to Merge, Forming No. 2 Internet Access Firm† – This deal makes the new Internet Provider second only to AOL. The combined company will have 3 million subscribers, still a far cry from AOL’s 18 million, but none-the-less a viable competitor. 8. â€Å"Teledesic ‘Sky Internet’ May Start Sooner† – Teledesic chief Craig McCaw is attempting to raise funds for his planned ‘Sky Internet.

Advantages of Medical Isolation and Quarantine Essay

Advantages of Medical Isolation and Quarantine Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to many health experts, medical isolation and quarantine does very little in curbing the spread of contagious diseases (Kliff). Although isolation and quarantine tend to have some similarities, they are very different. According to studies, whereas isolation involves the seclusion of people infected with contagious diseases, quarantine is the seclusion of people who are not sick but have been exposed to a contagious disease (â€Å"Diffen†). Although isolation and quarantine are different, they have one main objective, which is to prevent further spreading of contagious diseases in a society. Isolation and quarantine comes alongside a number of advantages. For instance, in addition to minimizing the spread of contagious diseases, placing people under medical isolation and quarantine also assists in neutralizing deadly diseases such as Ebola. By providing a detailed analysis of both isolation and quarantine, the study intend s to provide an argument on their advantages. Neutralizing Contagious Diseases   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Placing people under medical isolation or quarantine is quite beneficial to any society. This is because through medical isolation and quarantine, a nation is able to neutralize any contagious disease, hence, preventing it from becoming spreading any further. When sick people have been placed under medical isolation, chances of further spreading of the disease are minimized compared to if they were treated in public places. In order to make the isolation process successful, it is vital that these patients be secluded from the public. According to Stambaugh (5), the quarantine process is normally conducted in five phases. For instance, after the decision to quarantine has been reached, the next phase is to locate a quarantine area and ensuring that the quarantine process is maintained. Locating a quarantine area normally depends on the number of people that require quarantine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After successfully maintaining the quarantine, the next phases are demobilization and recovery (Stambaugh 5). Apart from hospitals, isolation can also be done in special healthcare facilities or in the patient’s homes. The case is however different for quarantine, this is because, unlike in isolation, people exposed to contagious diseases are placed in quarantines, which can either be located in designated emergency facilities as well as specialized hospitals. This is normally in a move to prevent these people from making any contacts with the public until the incubation period of the diseases elapses. Proper Medical Attention   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Placing people under medical isolation and quarantine also enables medical practitioners to offer appropriate medical attention to patients. The recent Ebola outbreak in West Africa is one example of how medical isolation and quarantine can minimize further spreading of the disease. If it were not for medical isolation and quarantine processes, the disease would have spread throughout Africa as well as other continents. According to Resnikoff, all the people who tested positive for the Ebola virus were placed under isolation, which was in a move to offer them proper medical attention in addition to minimizing further spreading of the disease.The large number of deaths reported due to the Ebola outbreak prompted many nations to set up quarantine facilities in order to attend to all citizens coming from the Ebola stricken nations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Citizens coming from Ebola stricken nations were normally placed in quarantine for a period of twenty-one days, which is usually the incubation period of the Ebola virus. It was only after the twenty-one days that citizens were allowed to see their families, that is if they had tested negative for the Ebola virus. If they tested positive for the virus, they were then moved from quarantine to isolation where they were to were to under special treatment and monitoring. Minimizing of Medical Expenses   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Apart from neutralizing the disease as well as offering proper medical attention, another advantage of medical isolation and quarantine is that it minimizes excessive medical expenditures (â€Å"NCSL†). When there is an outbreak of a contagious disease, many people are likely to be infected. This implies that a nation is likely to spend a lot of money on purchasing medication drugs as well as hiring international medical practitioners to aid in controlling the disease. In order to avoid these expenses, it is normally essential that nations embrace the medical isolation as well as quarantine programs in a move to minimize their expenses. According to my opinion, the main reason why West Africa was greatly affected by the Ebola outbreak was because they were not quick in establishing isolation and quarantine centers, hence, allowing the disease to spread rapidly. Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Medical isolation is the process where sick people are secluded from the public in a move to prevent further spreading of a disease. Although quarantine is similar to isolation, people secluded through quarantine are not sick but were exposed to a contagious disease. Medical isolation and quarantine have a number of advantages to a society. For instance, through isolation and quarantine, a nation is in a position to curb the spreading of a contagious disease. Apart from curbing the spread of diseases, when people are placed under medical isolation and quarantine, this enables medical practitioners to offer proper medication since it will be easy to monitor any changes once they occur. Additionally, medical isolation and quarantine also reduce medical expenses of a nation. This is because once a disease has been neutralized in the isolation and quarantine centers, a nation will only spend little amount of money to treat the infected. References Diffen.Isolationvs.Quarantine.2014.Web2015. Kliff, Sarah. â€Å"3 reasons public health experts think Ebola quarantines are a  terrible  idea.† VOX. 2014. Web. 2015. < http://www.vox.com/2014/10/28/7079147/three-reasons-public-health-experts-think-ebola-quarantines-are-a> NCSL. State Quarantine and Isolation Statutes. 2014. Web. 2015. http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-quarantine-and-isolation-statutes.aspx Resnikoff, Ned. â€Å"Ebola quarantine policy sparks controversy in medical community.† MSNBC. 2014. Web. 2015. < http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/doctors-question-ebola-quarantine-policy> Stambaugh, Hollis. Quarantine Facilities for Arriving Air Travelers: Identification of Planning Needs and Costs. 2008. Print. Source document

Energy Drinks Essay

The strategically relevant components for the global and U. S. beverage industry macro-environment are market growth rate, market size, segmentation and scope of rivalry. Economic characteristics of alternative beverage segment differ from other beverage categories in several ways. The market size for alternative beverage was $40. 2 billion globally and $17 billion in the United States, while the market size for other beverages was $ 1,548. 3 and $28. 9 billion globally. Market growth rate for alternative beverages between 2005 and 2009 was 9. 8 percent while for other beverages it was 2. 6 percent. Question two The competition in the alternative beverage market was strong. Pepsi and Coca-Cola were competing for the top spot in the production and distribution of their beverages. The strongest competitive force was bargaining power and leverage of buyers. Most stores were negotiating for lower prices since they bought the beverages in large quantities. Since Pepsi and Coke had an established brand, their alternative beverages found automatic shelf space in most stores and wholesale clubs. The weakest of the five competitive forces was the bargaining power and leverage of suppliers. The reason is that the packaging from different suppliers was similar, thus it was easy to substitute the packaging from most suppliers, and thus they had weak bargaining power. The competitive force that seems to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness is competition from substitutes. This is why there were many substitutes to alternative beverages that were sold at lower prices. The competitive force with the greatest effect on profitability of new entrants is a threat of entry. Question three The market for energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin-enhanced drinks is changing in several ways. There is innovation of products with the rise of drinks containing additional nutrients and introduction of energy shots. Furthermore, the industry is also considering consolidation options in an attempt of reducing distribution costs, for example Coca-Cola distributed Hansen’s Monster energy drink. The drivers of change are changes in the long-term growth rate, industry consolidation and introduction of new innovative products into the industry. The forces individually or collectively may not cause big changes in the attractiveness of the industry. The reason for that is there is no evidence that the big companies of alternative beverages will practice unhealthy and aggressive competition for market dominance. Question Four My strategic group map of energy drinks, sports drink and vitamin enhanced beverage industry is categorized by considering the scope of geographic distribution of producers and brand portfolio. Pepsi and Coca-Cola are positioned favorably since they compete internationally and have a strong brand portfolio. Hansen Natural is a dominant brand company since Monster energy drink accounts for 90 percent of its sales. The success of this company is mainly contributed by strong supply chain due to its partnership with Coca-Cola and Anheurser-Busch distributions. Rockstar Inc is also successful in this map since it has a strong distribution chain offered by Pepsi. However, Dream Water and Living Essentials are positioned poorly in this map since their distributions are only regionally located and they only offer a single brand. Question five Several key success factors determine the success of alternative beverage producers. One of these factors is the brand image. Producers with a strong brand image created by extensive advertisement campaigns and endorsement from celebrity athletes enjoyed big sales. Furthermore, products with strong supply chain and distribution network, for example Coca-Cola and Pepsi, had bigger market share. Companies with good innovative skills due to extensive research and product development had more sales since they developed new categories such as energy shots. Companies with huge sales volume enjoyed economies of scale and thus they were able to cover their sales and distribution costs. Question six Coca-Cola should adopt several recommendations to improve its competitiveness in the alternative beverage industry. It should consider increasing its sales in Europe and Asia by conducting extensive market campaigns in these regions. Moreover, it should consider increasing its innovation efforts in order to regain its market share in energy drinks. Another recommendation is considering 5-Hour energy in an attempt of increasing its overall brand portfolio. Pepsi should consider adopting image building campaigns brands such as Amp and Double Shot since their overall market share in Europe has been declining. The company should also consider developing its own energy shot brand in order to diversify its brand portfolio; It would be a good idea to consider introducing energy shots to Europe, Middle East and Austria, since these markets are feasible. Red Bull GmbH should increase its innovation efforts in an attempt to increase its market share in Europe and United States. It should also improve its performance in the new energy shots it introduced in the market.

How to Use the Ball Game as an Icebreaker for Groups

How to Use the Ball Game as an Icebreaker for Groups An icebreaker game, activity, or exercise is a great way to kick off a class, workshop, meeting, or group gathering. Icebreakers can: Serve as introductions for strangersFacilitate conversationEncourage group interactionBuild trustEnergize group membersEncourage teamworkBuild team skills Icebreaker games are most effective in groups of three or more people. To give you an example of how an icebreaker works, were going to take a look at a classic icebreaker game that can be used for both small and large groups. This icebreaker game is traditionally known as the Ball Game.   How to Play the Classic Ball Game The classic version of the Ball Game is designed to be used as an icebreaker for a group of strangers who have never met each other. This icebreaker game is perfect for a new class, workshop, study group, or project meeting.   Ask all of the participants to stand in a circle. Make sure they are not too far apart or too close together. Give one person a small ball (tennis balls work well) and ask them to throw it to someone else in the circle. The person who catches it says their name and throws it to another person who does the same. As the ball moves around the circle, everyone in the group gets to learn one another’s name. Ball Game Adaptation for People Who Are Acquainted With Each Other The classic version of the Ball Game doesnt work very well if everyone in the group knows each others names. However, the game can be adapted for people who are acquainted with each other but still dont know each other very well. For example, members of various departments within an organization might know each others names, but since they dont work closely together on a daily basis, they might not know very much about each other. The Ball Game can help people get to know each other better. It also works well as a team-building icebreaker.   As with the original version of the game, you should ask group members to stand in a circle and take turns tossing a ball to each other. When someone catches the ball, they will state something about themselves. To make this game easier, you could establish a topic for the answers. For example, you could establish that the person catching the ball has to state their favorite color before tossing the ball to the next person, who will also call out their favorite color.   Some other sample topics for this game include: Say one thing you like about your jobDescribe yourself in one wordName your favorite bookIdentify your biggest strengthIdentify your biggest weakness Ball Game Tips Be sure that you remind participants to throw the ball gently so that nobody gets hurt.Make this icebreaker game more fun by timing the exercise and seeing how fast the participants can get the ball around the circle.Try to select a topic that fits the participants and the goal of the icebreaker.

How to Pay for College Without Parents Help

How to Pay for College Without Parents' Help SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Paying for school is daunting enough when you have the financial support of your family. But for students whose parents can’t or won’t contribute to expenses, figuring out how to pay for college on your own becomes a whole different challenge. In this guide, I'll lay out everything you need to consider about how to pay forcollege without parents and all the steps you need to take. Table of Contents Fair warning: we're going to be talking abouta lotof stuff in this article. So here's a table of contents for you to use as a quick reference: Paying for College On Your Own: Why it Matters What Does College Even Cost? Minimizing Your College Costs: Instructions for Any Cost-Conscious Student Steps to Take if Your Parents Won't Pay What You Should Do if You're an Independent Student Closing the Gap: How to Cover Your Remaining Costs Creative Ways to Fund Your Education Example Scenarios What's Next? Paying for College on Your Own: Why It Matters The most significant sources of student financial aid are need-based. This means that family financial need is the main criterion taken into account when determining aid eligibility. Your finances are not considered separately from your family’s finances when aid sources determine financial need. This is the case even if your parents can't or won't help you pay for college. So why is it such a big deal if you can't count on your family to contribute to expenses? First, it's assumed that your parents are your family’s primary earners. As a student, you likely earn little to no money. If financial need were only based on a student applicant’s finances, everyone would be eligible for financial aid (spoiler art: not everyone is eligible for need-based financial aid). You’re considered a dependent of your parents, which means they’re the ones primarily responsible for funding your education. This is the case even if your parents don’t claim you as a dependent when they do your taxes. This is also true even if you can show that you’re self-sufficient and don’t depend on your parents for financial support, or if your parents are divorced. If families across the country could pay less for college by claiming that their kids are financially independent, financial aid sources would be overwhelmed. The conclusion here? Federal and school-based financial need arebased on your family’s overall finances. If your parents don’t submit their financial information for consideration, you won’t be eligible for most forms of aid. If they do submit their financial info and they’re low-need, you won’t be eligible for most forms of aid. You’d think that aid sources would have different aid eligibility criteria for students whose parents don’t want to pay for school, but this isn’t the case. If your parents refuse topay, the federal and institutional funding sources will likely wash their hands of the problem. This is a frustrating and unfair situation for any student to be in. You may feel you’re at a disadvantage here- and to be honest, you are. But whatever the reason that your parents won’t be contributing to your college education, there are steps you can take to maximize your aid eligibility. It won’t necessarily be as easy as paying for college with familial support, but it’s definitely not impossible. One of the best parts of going to college is the sense of freedom and independence that comes with adulthood. You have options and autonomy here as a young adult- so let’s get started figuring outhow to pay for college without parents. What Does College Even Cost? For the 2018-2019academic year, the average annual cost of tuition and fees was: $35,676at private colleges $9,716for state residents at public colleges $21,629for non-state residents at public colleges The cost of tuition and fees is usually the first expense that comes to mind when peoplethink about paying for college. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to the picture than just tuition costs- there are hidden or implicit expenses associated with spending a year at college. Here are some of the biggest hidden costs you might encounter based on average amounts from 2018-2019: Room and board:averages $12,680at private 4-year colleges, $,140at public 4-year colleges College textbooks:about $1,240 Travel costs:vary widely based where you are and where you're going. For example, if you're going to anurban college, you might be able to take public transportation anywhere you want to go. But if you go to school across the country, you'll probably have to buy plane tickets to travel home over holidays or summer break. Lab fees and supplies:about $50 per class if they're not already rolled into fees Personal expenses:about $2,000,but this cost will fluctuate drastically based on a) the cost of living of your area, b) your budgeting skills, and c) your standard of living. Lumping together all of these expenses (especially if you can estimate travel costs and personal expenses) will give you a school’s real sticker price- also known as the Cost of Attendance, or CoA. It’s pretty easy to get an estimate of a school’s CoA- just google â€Å"[school name] cost of attendance.† To get a more detailed explanation of all these expenses, including tips and strategies for reducing costs, check our guide to what college will really cost you. Just a quick glance at these numbers will tell you that college is probably too expensive for you to cover on your own. What’s more important than sticker price, however, is your â€Å"net price† at a particular school:it’s what you pay after all financial aid is taken into account. This is what you actually oweout of pocketfor a year of college. Want to estimate your net price at almost any college? Just google â€Å"[school name] net price calculator.† Many schools have a tool built into their websites that will give you an estimate of how much you’ll pay out of pocket. These calculators take financial need and sometimes merit-based factors into account. Sometimes, though, the net price is still daunting, especially if you’ll be tackling it on your own. The rest of the post will be focusing on minimizing this net price, starting with smart college application strategies. Minimizing Your College Costs: Instructions for Any Cost-Conscious Student What do you do if you don't have access to a ton of resources? You try to minimize your costs from the start. If you’re applying to schools with price in mind, your strategy should focus on lowest net price, not necessarily lowest sticker price. Naturally, the best way to decrease your costs is to apply to schools that will offer you low netprices. Once you’ve been accepted to schools, you’ll receive official financial aid packages. You can then determine which packages you’re most comfortable with. Here are the types of schools that will give you the best deals. Top Private Schools A lot of well-ranked schools (including Ivy League universities and top liberal arts colleges) have especially generous financial policies. The bulk of financial aid at these schools tends to be need-based, not merit-based, so you may not get much aid if you come from a wealthy background. Notably, the Cost of Attendance (or sticker price) for these schools will likely be higher than those ofpublic schools. You might be wondering what constitutes a "wealthy" background according to these schools. Thevery top schools- think Harvard, Princeton, Yale- sometimes give aid to families who make $150,000 and up. For families who are wealthier than that, Harvard asks them to contribute no more than 10% of total income. The bottom line is that these competitive schools can even afford to help out families who are relatively well-off. This means that even if your parents don’t pay for school, you could still be eligible for generous aid based on your family’s financial situation. Schools That Offer Generous Merit-Based Aid If you’re a high-achieving student but don’t think you’ll qualify for much need-based aid based on your family’s finances, you should look into schools that offer generous merit scholarships. Schools with generous merit-based aid programs often offer scholarships to attract competitive students. If you have a particular talent (e.g. if you're an athlete or musician), or if you have high grades and test scores, you could be offered some pretty large scholarships. If you're interested in a particular school, just google "[school name] scholarships" to see what sort of aid they offer. You can also start bychecking our list of schools with the best financial aid. Public Schools Public colleges and universitiescan be reasonably priced for in-state studentsbut very expensive for out-of-state students. They also offer much less generous financial aid packages than some of the top private schools, although they may offer more merit-based aid to attract competitive applicants. if you’re interested in attending a public university and won’t be getting assistance from your parents, you should definitely apply to a wide range of in-state schools. Steps to Take If Your Parents Won't Pay Here's where we start getting intothe nitty-gritty steps ofpaying for your education. After strategically applying to schools, the most effective way to cover your college expenses is to apply for as much financial aid as possible. Even if your parents don’t want to contribute financially to your college education, there are ways that they can help make financial aid available to you. The bottom line is that more financial aidmeans a lower net price. Like I mentioned earlier, the main sources of financial aid are federal and institutional (i.e. aid from your school). You can still qualify for aid from these sources if your parents won't be paying for any part of your school expenses, but you’ll need your parents’ help in applying. Assuming you’re already using the college application strategies that I’ve discussed above, here are the steps you should take in order to maximize your aid eligibility: Step 1: Submit a FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid This is the only application you'll need to submit to qualify for federal aid. Many schools also use the FAFSA to award their own aid. In order to qualify forthings like the Pell Grant, Perkins loan, or Direct Subsidized loan, you'll need to submit your parents' financial information even if they won't be contributing. For detailed instructions on submitting this application, check out our guide to applying for financial aid or ourguide to the FAFSA. Step 2: Apply for Scholarships You can receive funding for schools through private organizations that offer grants or scholarships. If your family is low-need, apply for merit-based awards;if your family is high-need, you can apply for both merit- and need-based awards. There are so many scholarship programs out there- national, local, big, small. You should do your own scholarship search by looking for awards that are tailored to your interests, background, location, and ethnicity. Start off by checking out our guides to top scholarships for high school juniors and seniors. Once you have a plan for submitting a FAFSA and applying for scholarships, you'll need to talk with your parent or guardians about getting the information you need from them. It's important to start an open dialogue about financial aid with your parents. How to Talk to Your Parents About Applying for Financial Aid If your parents can’t or won’t pay for college expenses, they may be wary about filling out a FAFSA or giving out financial information for need-based scholarships. It's important toassure them that submitting a complete FAFSA with their financial information does not obligate them to help you pay for college. The FAFSA has nothing to do with your bills or college expenses...it’s simply an aid application. Bottom line: if they refuse to help you with your FAFSA, they’re not protecting themselves. They’re just impeding you from qualifying for financial aid. What if, though, they're just overwhelmed by the process of completing and submitting a FAFSA? If this is the case, you can let them know that the FAFSA only takes 2-3 hours to complete. You could even do it on your own if you have your family's financial information handy: Social Security Numbers for you and your parents Alien Registration Numbers (if you or your parents aren't US citizens) Recent federal tax returns, W-2s, and other records or income for both you and your parents Any records of untaxed income The sooner you submit your FAFSA, the better, so don't put off having these discussions with your parents or guardians! What You Should Do If You're an Independent Student If you're classified as independent, you'll be doing things a little differently. If you’re still in high school, chances are that you are a dependent student, and everything I’ve written so far will apply to you. In other words, your family’s finances will be an important factor in determining how much aid you’re eligible for. But not all students who attend college will be considered dependents, and as such, they won’t need to submit their parents’ financial info for consideration when they fill out their FAFSA. Independent students don’t have to pay for college on their own. Parents canhelp if they’d like, but both colleges and the FDOE award aid under the assumption that independents will be paying their own way. This will work to your advantage when it comes to aid eligibility, particularly if your parents are relatively wealthy. If your family’s finances aren’t considered when schools and the federal government determine aid eligibility, you'll likely receive more need-based aid. Who Qualifies as an Independent? You may be considered independent if: You’ll be 24 or older by 12/31 of the school year for which you’re applying for aid You’ll be in school for a post-grad degree You’re married or separated (but not divorced) You have children who receive more than half of their financial support from you You have dependents (besides children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their financial support from you You were a ward/dependent of the court, in foster care, or both your parents were deceased at any point after you turned 13 You’re an emancipated minor or in a legal guardianship as determined by a court You’re an unaccompanied youth who is homeless, or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless You’re currently serving on active duty in the US armed forces for purposes other than training You’re a veteran of the US armed forces The FAFSA asks all necessary questions to determine independent/dependent student status, so just answer the prompts honestly when you fill out the application. What If You Don’t Meet the Above Criteria? If you don’t qualify as an independent student but strongly feel that your parents’ financial information shouldn’t be considered when you submit your FAFSA, you should look into a dependency override. A dependency overrideis when financial aid administrators change a student’s status from dependent to independent so that they aren’t required to submit parents’ financial info for consideration on the FAFSA. As a result, the student will likely qualify for much more need-based aid. Dependency overrides are very rare, though. 896rxwhat you think may count as an â€Å"unusual situation† may be discounted by federal financial aid administrators. Here are some situations that will not qualify for dependency overrides: Parents simply refuse to pay for any college expenses Parents are unwilling to provide any information on the FAFSA for verification Parents don’t claim you as a dependent for income tax purposes You (the student) demonstrate total financial self-sufficiency Here are some situations that MAY qualify for dependency overrides: An abusive family environment (e.g. sexual, physical, or mental abuse or other forms of domestic violence) Abandonment by parents Incarceration or institutionalization of both parents Parents lack the physical or mental capacity to raise a child Parents' whereabouts are unknown, or parents can’t be located Parents hospitalized for an extended period An unsuitable household (e.g. you’re removed from the household and placed in foster care) Your spouse dies, or you get divorced If any of these situations apply to you, you may need to present evidence or documentation to support your circumstances. Dependency overrides are decided on a case-by-case basis- if you think you might apply for one, you should read more about the process. Closing the Gap: How to Cover Your Remaining Costs You're almost at the finish line. At this point, you should have an idea of whether you're(1) high-need or low-need and (2) dependent or independent. You should also have an idea of the types of schools you'll apply to- for example, top private schools, in-state public schools, schools with generous merit aid, or some combination. After you submit your college applications, you’ll receive financial aid packages from schools with all the federal aid and school-based aid you’re eligible for, including grants, scholarships, and some federal loan options. You’ll decide what forms of aid you want to accept, and which ones you’d prefer not to take. Here, I'll briefly discuss the types of aid you may receive, and which types are better than other. Grants and Scholarships: These equate tofree money. You should acceptthis aid if it’s available to you. Loans: Loans are amounts of money that you have to pay back after you graduate, plus interest charges. Some loans are much better than others, meaning you'll end up paying less money in the long run. Federal loans are generally good options because they often have lower interest rates. There are a lot of important considerations if you're thinking about taking out loans, so it's important to educate yourself! Read more about federal loans like the Perkins, Direct Subsidized, and Direct Unsubsidized. You should also learn more about how to apply for student loans andreducingthe amount of student debt that you have to take on. Financial aid packages often build in a parental contribution based on family’s finances. If your parents won’t be contributing this amount, it becomes your responsibility...and they aren’t obligated to pay it. If you want to be able to register for classes and actually attend college, this amount needs to be covered. If grants and scholarships don’t cover all your college costs, it’ll be up to you to decide how much student debt you're comfortable with to close that gap. In the next section, I'll talk more about how to use student loans to cover your college expenses. Using Student Loans to Pay for School The average U.S. college graduate has about$37,000 in student debt after graduation. If you’re paying for college without the help of your parents, you may end up with more than the average amount of student debt, especially if you are responsible for paying the â€Å"parental contribution.† Student loans aren’t inherently bad, and you’re not a failure if you graduate with student debt (most people graduate with some loan debt). If you’re smart about the types of loans you take out, your debt should be pretty manageable over the long run. "Good" Loans Most federal loans are â€Å"good." They have low-interest rates compared to private loans and come with a built-in grace period (a period after you graduate where you don’t have to make payments). The best types of loans are subsidized, which means they don't accrue interestwhile you’re not making payments, so you owe less in the long run. They also may be forgivable if you enter certain public service careers, so they end up functioning as a grant. "Bad" Loans Private loans usually have less favorable terms than federal loans. For example, they won't be subsidized, and they'll likely come with higher interest rates. Typically, private loans are the last resort in covering any remaining balance that you owe for school. Private loans may be difficult for you to get on your own. Most require a cosigner, another person to sign the loan who takes responsibility for the amount borrowed. If you take out a private loan, then you'll probably need a parent or another family member (with good credit) to cosign. No Loans If you want to try to avoid debt, check out our guide on paying for college without taking on student loans. Without financial help from family members, however, it might be unrealistic in certain situations to try to pay for college without loans. Itmay be possible, though, for students who qualify for a lot of need-based aid. Creative Ways toPay for College Without Parents These ideas may not be revolutionary, but they'll get you thinking outside the box. We have talked a lot so far about the challenges of paying for college on your own, in addition to theways you can minimize your costs. In this section, I'll go over some more creative ways to come up with funds for college after you've looked into the normal financial aid and loan options. Scholarships I've briefly touched on scholarships a bit earlier in this post as a way to come up with funds.There are two main types of scholarships: Need-based: Good options for high-achieving, low-income students Merit-based: Good options for high-achieving students regardless of income Now, scholarships are never a sure bet, but they can cover a good chunk of your expenses if you areproactive about submitting applications and you do your own research about local or targeted scholarships. To get started, check out our scholarship guides on the top awards for high school juniors and seniors. Student Jobs If you get a student job while you're in college, you can potentially put moneytowards your bills for tuition, room, and board. You could also use your incometo cover yourdaily personal expenses. This isn't a great option for everyone, however. If you'reworking so much that your schoolwork starts to suffer, it defeats the purpose of getting a student job. If you canbalance a student job with your academic responsibilities so that you have money to put towards your bills, working might be a good call. Read more about whether it's a good idea to get a job as a student. You know what's even better than getting a job during the semester? Getting a paid internship during winterbreak or summer vacation. In this case, you get professional experience anda chance to put money towards school. It's a win-win! High School Savings If you’re currently in high school and anticipate that you’ll be on your own for college, you might want to consider getting a job now. This isn’t right for everyone (for the reasons I listed above), but if you have the time and the initiative, it could help you build up a nest egg before you head off to college. To get started, read more about the best jobs for teens. Family Support Sometimes support can come from unexpected places. If you're reading this article, your parents probably won't be contributing much to your college expenses. Butdo you have grandparents, aunts, or uncles who may be willing to help you out with college costs? If you feel comfortable bringing this up with family members, it may be a good move to seek financial help from people other than your parents.If you feel uncomfortable asking for funds outright, consider asking to borrow money and then paying it back with student job or post-graduation earnings. You can also ask for funds for college costsfor holidays and birthdays. Example Scenarios You've learned a lot, but now you have to put all this information to the test. This stuff may be confusing to understand at first, so in this section I'll present some example scenarios to demonstrate the concepts we've discussed how to pay for college on your own. These are real-world scenarios, using real schools, to give you a realistic idea of howcollege expenses play out in different situations. Scenario#1: Student From a Low-Income Family As youalready know, students from low-income families may be eligible for quite a few need-based aid programs, especially if they're relatively high-achieving. Student A Information State Residency: California Family Size: 5 Family Income: $50,000/year Academic Status: Strong 3.5 GPA, 1800 combined SAT score Student ACollege Applications Student A wants to tackle her college expenses by cutting costs and seeking out as much funding as possible. She applies to several schools, including an in-state public school (UC Irvine) and an out-of-state private school (Davidson College). Here's what her expenses would look like at UC Irvine and Davidson, based on both schools' financial aid calculators (remember, she has to have her parents fill out a FAFSA in order to be eligible for federal loans): School UC Irvine Davidson Total Cost of Attendance $32,102 $62,894 Estimated Grant Eligibility $22,031 $58,794 Estimated Net Price (Cost of Attendance minus Grants) $10,071 $4,100 Estimated Federal Loan Eligibility $5,500 $4,100 Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs (Net Price minus Federal Loan Eligibility) $4,571 $0 Based on her estimated out-of-pocket costs, she thinks that Davidson College will be the more financially prudent choice. Still, she wants to work to minimize her federal student loan amount ($4,100). Here are steps she can take to help cover expenses: Get a student job.Student A would prefer not to work during the semester because she plans on being involved in many extracurricular activities. She can still work during summer and winter breaks, though. If she works full time for 10 weeks, bringing home $/hr, she could make $4,400 her freshman year. Amount Earned: $4,400 Apply for outside scholarships.If Student A receives outside scholarship money in addition to earning her own income, she could potentiallybring in more money than she'd spend her freshman year. I bet you didn't think it was possible to make money going to college!She starts by checking out our guide to scholarships for high school seniors. No scholarship is a sure thing, but applying to as many scholarships as possible (even small ones) will increase her chances of earning some money. Let's say that Student A wins a relatively small, $500 scholarship Amount Earned:$500 Student A decides she's able to make Davidson work. Here's a quick breakdown of how she's able to cover her estimated out-of-pocket costs: Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs $4,100 Federal Loans - $0 (she chooses not to take loans) Scholarship Winnings - $500 Student Job Earnings - $4,400 Remaining Balance + $800 Amazingly, Student A walks away with $800 extra dollars her freshman year, even though she doesn't receive any financial support from her family. The vast majority of her expenses arecovered with need-based financial aid. This wouldn't have happened, however, if she didn't get into a school with a great financial aid program.It goes to show that one of the best things you can do toensure college affordability isto come to your college apps with a strong academic record. Scenario #2: Student from a RelativelyHigh-Income Family Students from high-income families may not qualify for much need-based financial aid (even if they're paying for college on their own), but that doesn't mean they can't get funding from other sources, especially if they have solid grades and test scores. Student B Information State Residency: AZ FamilySize: 4 Family Income: $100,000/year Academic Status: About average 3.0 GPA, 1500 combined SAT score Student B College Applications Like Student A, Student B wants to minimize his costs because he knows he'll be responsible for all college expenses. Heapplies to several schools, including an in-state public school (Arizona State University) and an out-of-state private school (Lesley University). Here's what his expenses would look like atArizona State University and Lesley, based on both schools' financial aid calculators: School ASU Lesley Total Cost of Attendance $27,260 $43,600 Estimated Grants from School $3,000 $8,000 Estimated Net Price (Cost of Attendance minus Grants) $24,260 $35,600 Estimated Federal Loan Eligibility $5,500 $5,500 Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs (Net Price minus Federal Loan Eligibility) $18,760 $28,700 Based on expected out-of-pocket costs, he thinks ASU will be the less expensive choice. Still, he doesn't think he can come up with $18,760 per year (on top of the $5,500 in annual federal loans) while he's a full-time student. Here are the steps he can take to reduce his costs: Live at home. If he attends an in-state public school, and the school's close enough to his parents' home, he could save a pretty good chunk of change. At ASU, the cost of room and board comes to $10,400. If Student B lives (and eats) at home rent-free, he could deduct that amount from his out-of-pocket costs. He might end uppaying for some or all of his meals, and he might incur extra travel expenses to get to and from school. This could decrease the amount he actually saves. Maximum Amount Saved: $10,400 Apply for outside scholarships.Student B receives a $3,000 grant from ASU, but he knows that applying for outside scholarships could help get him more funding. He starts by checking out our guide to scholarships for high school seniors. It's free to apply for most legitimate scholarships programs, so he wouldn't lose any money bysubmitting applications. Maximum Amount Saved:Indefinite Let's say Student B is able to live at home for free but doesn't win any scholarships. He saves $10,400 of his original estimated out-of-pocket cost, $18,760. He still has to come up with $8,360 to fund his freshman year. Here are the steps he can take to cover his remaining cost: Get a student job. If Student B works an average of 8 hours a week over the course of the year and brings home $10/hr, he could make $4,160 his freshman year. This is a pretty conservative estimate since he could work full-time over the summer or on breaks. Amount Earned: $4,160 Take out private loans. After subtracting his job earnings from his costs, Student B still has to come up with $4,200 to cover his expenses for his freshman year. He decides to take out this amount in private student loans. He knows he'll have to pay this back after he graduates. Amount Earned: $4,200 Student B decides he's able to make ASU work. Here's a quick breakdown of how he's able to cover his Estimated Out-of-Pocket costs: Estimated Out-of-Pocket Costs $24,260 Federal Loans - $5,500 Living at Home Savings - $10,400 Scholarship Winnings - $0 Student Job Earnings - $4,160 Private Student Loans - $4,200 Remaining Balance $0 Now that you've seen how these cost-cutting and money saving tips work in action, you can go ahead and apply these concepts to your own college and financial aid applications. The above scenarios won't apply to everybody, but the thought processes demonstrated above definitely do. What's Next? If you're eager for more information, there are a ton of things you can learn about to help prepare yourself for upcoming bills and expenses. You might start by brushing up on federal financial aid, and programs like the Pell Grant and Perkins loans are key. The FAFSA is an important part of the federal aid process. If you're looking for a broader overview of concepts, you could read our guide to applying for financial aid. While you're at it, check out a list of colleges with the best financial aid programs. 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:

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 27

Reflection - Essay Example She was objectified and deemed only good for her physical features. A trend that has been a vice in all generations. Our music nowadays is full of explicit content. Songs describing women in a graphic and vile manner has filled our airwaves. What is even more distressiing is that women seem to enjoy this negative attention thus encouraging the men. Sara Baartman same as most Khoi-San women was well rounded with large buttocks, large breasts and an elongated labia. One can understand that the typical African woman in those days was a sight to behold but beauty should be admired and not ridiculed. We are all fearfilly and wonderfully made and in the image of God. His work should not be the subject of mockery and ridicule but we should simply marvel at it and be in complete awe. It is important to ask ourselves why men rarely are the subject of such acts of exploitation and abuse. Sara Baartman was born in South Africa and even while there she lived as a slave to a Dutch farmer in Cape Town. Sara was then promised great wealth if she moved to England Africa was by then referred to as the black continent mostly because its inhabitants were black. Even while she was living in her motherland she was still being subjected to racial discrimination as she worked as a slave, a role mainly played by Africans who were seen as the inferior race. It was unheard of that a white would be a black man’s slave. While in Europe, racial discrimination was at its peak at the time and Sara felt its full brunt. To the Europeans she was simply a weird specimen that was to be observed to staisfy their curiosity. No one amongst them ever made an attempt to learn about the Hottentot Venus a a person. Did she have a sense of humour? Was she temperamental? Was she intelligent? Very few attempts if any were made to learn more about her innerself. The curiosity was on her extraordinary physical features. But you have to wonder, because the

Paper critic for program evaluation Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Critic for program evaluation - Research Paper Example Jemmott III, PhD; Loretta S. Jemmott, PhD, RN; Ann O’Leary, PhD; Zolani Ngwane, PhD;Larry D. Icard, PhD; Scarlett L. Bellamy, ScD; Shasta F. Jones, PhD; J. Richard Landis, PhD;G. Anita Heeren, MD, PhD; Joanne C. Tyler, DSc; Monde B. Makiwane, PhD, tries to give a clear perceptive of what are factors behind this worrying trend in South Africa. This paper will critically analyze the article in various ways such as the methodologies used, settings, aims and objectives, theoretical and empirical perspectives and much more. Background Setting- the study focused on the primary schools in a large, black township and rural settlement found near Cape Province. The setting of the study seems to focus mainly on the rural and poor families. But the reality is that HIV is a pandemic affecting every member of the society-either directly or indirectly-despite or his/her economic or social status. In this regard, there is some biasness as far as the setting of the study is concerned. Particip ants- random sampling method was used to select nine of 17 matched pairs of schools. The selected students were mainly in their sixth grade. However, the researcher had the consent of the parents or guardians before interviewing the students. This is a rather good move as far as the study is concerned. ... Stakeholders-stakeholders are different types of people who have direct or indirect interest on the outcome of the study results. Stakeholders regularly hold competing and occasionally combative perceptions on the appropriateness of the study. The interests of the stakeholders are affected by the outcome of the result. There is no clear identification of the concerned parties throughout the study. This is because of unclear definition of the significance of the study. Program theory The results of the study represent a theory based, contextually appropriate methods for HIV/AIDS reduction among the South African adolescents. The meta-analyses indicates that results from the school level were almost similar to the results obtained from individual level, although slightly more significant statistically. While logic models and program theory are frequently used interchangeably, the more accurate definition of a logic model is the graphical theory. The importance of logic models in this t ype of study cannot be ignored. This is because logic models are used as tools to plan, develop, manage, communicate and evaluate program or study. The logic models are effectively used in this study. For example, tables 1, 2, 3 and 4 give description of logic models as used in the study. Table 1 shows the number of students used in the study. 558 girls and 449 boys participated in the study. Linking this to the logic model, then Table represents the input section of the model. Table 2 presents descriptive statistics for sexual behaviors through intrusion condition and assessment period. This is the activity section of logic model. Table 3 is a representation of the estimated intervention effects during the follow-up period, intra-class correlation