Letters from a skeptic

How to Study for the SSAT 8 Top Prep Tips

How to Study for the SSAT 8 Top Prep Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you're interested in attending an independent school, you may have heard the termSSAT being batted around and may now be wondering how to studyfor the test. In this article, we'll briefly cover the basics of what the SSAT is and does,listthe best studymaterials to use, and offerkeySSAT prep strategies and tips. SSAT Prep Basics Before we diveinto how to study for the SSAT, let's make sure we're clear on some basic characteristics of thetest itself. What Is the SSAT? The SSAT, or Secondary School Admission Test, is a standardized test required by a number of independent schools worldwide as a part of any hopeful student's application. It's offered at three levels: Elementary, for students currently enrolled in Grades 3 or 4 Middle, for students currently enrolled in Grades 5 through 7 Upper, for students currently enrolled in Grades 8 through What Does the SSAT Test? The SSAT measures verbal, quantitative, and reading skills, all the while emphasizing critical thinking and problem solving. The quantitative sectiontests things likebasic operations, basic fractions, and ordering numbers (for the elementary-level students) and algebra, geometry, and data analysis (for the upper-level students). The verbal section consists of responding to synonym and analogy questions at an appropriatelevel for the student's age. The reading section is focused on answering comprehension and analysis questions related to short passages from a variety of genres. The test is almost entirely multiple-choice, withthe exception ofone15-25 minute free- response writing exercise. Younger students will be asked to write a short story, while older students will have the choice of constructing an essay if they prefer. The SSAT is designed to measures skills rather than achievement; in other words, it's not intended to rely on your mastery of specific material. This is supposed to help keep the test fair across all different backgrounds from which a student might originate. By its own admission, the test can't measure the other factorsthat make you a great student, like determination and creativity. That's why the test is only part of any application. It takes a golden combination of qualities to get admitted to a selective school. How Is the SSAT Scored? The SSAT is norm-referenced, meaning your final score is based on how well you do compared to other test takers. You will receive a scaled score and a percentile ranking. The scaled score's range will depend on the student's grade level: For Elementary, the range is 300-600 per section, or 1200-1800. For Middle, the range is 440-710 per section, or 1320-2130. For Upper, the range is 500-800 per section, or 1500-2400. The percentile ranking is always on a scale of 1-99, and it representsyour performanceas comparedto students of the same grade who tested on the SSAT for the first time within the past three years in the US or Canada. While the test is designed to be of "middle difficulty,"this is a very competitive group of students against which you're being scored- these are the select students applyingto the finest independent schools. BestSSAT StudyMaterial Before we get into how to study for the SSAT, let's talk about where to find theprep materials you need. The Official SSAT Guide The Official Guide is free to download for the Elementary Level and can easily be ordered for the Middle or Upper Level. The Official Guide is an essential component of preparing for the SSAT; it provides exposure to and an explanation of the format and content of the test. It answers a number of the essential questions you may have about the SSAT, including more in-depth information about its purpose and use, a detailed explanation of the scoring, and tips for how to prepare. It also includes official practice test problems, and, for Middle and Upper Level students, complete practice tests. SSAT Practice Tests Though these may be drawn from the Official Guide, I'm considering them a separate element here- same source, different resource. Use practice tests to familiarize yourself with the format, instructions, time constraints, and content. They're a great opportunity to practice as well as to ease the uncertainty you are likely to feel when facing a test of unknown characteristics. Practice tests also provide the perfect opportunity to assess your own strengths and weaknesses. From there, you can ask a teacher or parent for help on the specific areas where you struggle. Other SSAT PrepResources Once you've determined your weaknesses, you shouldscour the internet and the world of printfor extra study resourcesin those areas. Always check a source's legitimacy before you commit to using it; see who published it, what audience it's intended for, and, if possible, what kinds of results it's gotten. Also don't underestimate your teachers' valuable knowledge when it comes to finding workbooks and other practice problems; asking a teacher or librarian for help is a great place to start. Finally, you may want to consider findingsomeone to help you with your studying, whether that's a tutor or just a friend who can cheerlead you along the way. Again, don't be afraid to ask adults for help; teachers, librarians, and parents know a lot. As with most skills (like playing the violin), practice makes perfect. How to Study for the SSAT: 5 Steps Let's go though the prep process step-by-step. #1:Take an Official Practice Test You should start prepping at least three months before you plan to take the SSAT. The first step is to take a practice test and then analyze your performance: what are your strengths and weaknesses, and what growth will you need to see in order to reach your goal? Quantify where you are and where you want to be. Note your performance in each of the three scored content areas. #2: Study Regularly Having a regular study scheduleis vital to raisingyour score, since you need to put in real time and effort to improve Are you way behind your goal- say, more than 200 points? Think about scheduling at least an hour or two a weekfor Elementary students or up to three or fourhours a weekfor Upper students. Are youlooking to make a more moderate score increase of 100 - 200 points? You'll still want to study regularly, but can cut down to an hour or less per week for Elementary-level or roughly two hours per week for Upper-level. Are you right about where you need to be in your score? You don't need to put in quite the same level of sustained SSAT prep, but I still recommend taking one or two more practice teststo keep your scores stable (or even improve them!). #3: Focus on Your Weaknesses In your prep, focus in on the topicsthat were hardest for you, but don't forget to dust the ones you've mastered off pretty routinely, too. For the quantitative section, pay close attention in your math class; especially review/practice the topics that are slated to come up on the test, according to the Official Guide. For the verbal section, make a game of playing with synonyms and analogies in everyday life. Get your friends and family in on it, too, if you can! For the reading section, the best thing you can do is actively engage with reading on a daily basis. Draw from multiple genres, and force yourself to answer questions (your own or someone else's) about the text you've read. For all sections, complete practice problems as often as you can. Answering questions: one of the best ways to practice. #4: Take Another Practice Test- In Fact, Take a Few Take a practice test every three weeks or so- more often if you are uncomfortable with the test and want a greater improvement, less often if you feel at ease testing and are near your goal score. Use these practice tests as a time to increase your familiarity with the format and feel of the test. Also perform a check-in to see how your trouble areas are progressing. Ask where your focus needs to be at this point in time. #5: Slow Down About a Week Before the Test Give yourself plenty of time to relax; cut down on your study time, and get plenty of rest. Stop studying altogether a day or two before the test. You need to start storing up sleep for the big day! Everyone needs to relax sometimes! 3 More SSAT Prep Tips Here you'll find some additional helpful how-to's. Take the SSAT More Than Once If taking an actual SSAT as a sort of practice run is possible for you and your family, it's the best way to get a feel for the experience of the test. Figure out early on when you want to take this practice trial and when you want to take the real thing. Know the Format Inside and Out For example, Middle and Upper Level students will be up against a guessing penalty and will lose points for wrong answers, so they should only guess if they can eliminate choices. Elementary Level students do not have a guessing penalty and should fill in a bubble for every question. Also, Middle and Upper Level students will be asked to complete an unscored experimental section, which Elementary Level students will not. Don't Stress Too Much About the Test It's an important test and should be taken seriously, but excessive stress won't help anything. Keep the test in perspective; it won't make or break your life. When I was younger, I thought my gradesin elementary and middle school would help me get into the right program in high school, my grades there would get me into the right college, and attending the right college would set me up for a life of success. It doesn't work that way in real life. Yes, your grades and test scores look good on applications, but no school has the magical power to make you successful if you're admitted- or unsuccessful if you're not. Life is full of unexpected choices and alternateoptions, and colleges don't really care about the first report card you ever got. Remember: it's going to be OK. Conclusion Studying the SSAT is really a matter of knowing the format of the test and alternating between practice tests and good old-fashioned content review. It's a good idea to take at least a few practice tests before the real thing- it may even be bright to take an official SSAT for practice. As with any standardized test, remember that it represents just one part of you, and don't let it hang over you like a dark cloud. If you've been paying attention in school, you already know most of this material. Studying is still essential, but remember that the test has no power to define you. What's Next? Once you've got the SSAT out of the way, there may be other tests you want to study for. If you need to take the SAT, check out our guide to getting a perfect score on that particular exam. You may also appreciate our top five tips on how to study for the SAT. If you're not quite sure why the SAT might be so important, read about its importance in the process of college admissions. 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:

Exam Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Exam - Case Study Example From this belief, they are able to cope with their social identity as perceived by other people. On the other hand, people with discreditable stigma assume that they stigma is not known and cannot be directly identified (Shana & Collete 63). They are able to protect their stigma from their normal social identity. This allows them to decrease their stigma. The self-fulfilling prophecy enable people with different behavior create their preferred societal perception. Enacting the prophecy and responding to societal influence enables people with different behavior to increase a normal society perception on them (Leflot, Onghena & Colpin 390) People with physical disabilities are able to see that they are different and not normal as compared to other people. Cox et.al is of the assumption that this perception develops a negative self-concept (430). The individual view themselves as less effective and social fit. Learning process as directly linked with the abilities of a person to child to fit in a specific environment. For instance, a child with autism may be placed in a different classroom environment from normal children (Keller 98). In addition, a person from a poor background may not be enrolled in educational institutions that provide top quality learning experiences. A self-advocacy framework may improve the abilities of people with disabilities to become significant members of the society. Through the framework, people with disabilities should be provided with self-knowledge abilities, knowledge of rights, communication and leadership skills (Marsh & Martin 60). This skills increase the effectiveness of people with disabilities to take part in professional practices. Fatness should not be perceived as a disability. In an argument by Keller being overweight cannot be perceived as a disability since it may be caused by a lifestyle that can be avoided (56). In addition, most cases of disabilities like autism require special medical attention and

Classical hollywood cinema- Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Classical hollywood cinema- - Essay Example Richard Maltby (2003, p.16) argued that â€Å"[a]nswers to questions about what Hollywood is for must be sought not only in its movies but also in the social, cultural and institutional contexts that surround it.† This essay focuses on one film from the classical Hollywood period, Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men (1957) to answer what classical Hollywood is. 12 Angry Men shows what Hollywood is, a medium for demonstrating real social issues about politics and race and striving to resolve them through the classic narrative structure and classic codes of Hollywood cinema that satisfy American aesthetic tastes and economic demands. Before proceeding to the arguments of this essay, a short overview of the film’s Hollywood context is provided. Hollywood history can be seen as being divided into two historical periods, the period of Old and New Hollywood (Schatz 1996, p.5). Auteur theory asserts that Old Hollywood pertains to films that directors make for their own tastes a nd needs, while New Hollywood criticises the studio system, the â€Å"dehumanizing, formulaic, profit-hungry machinery of Hollywood's studio-factories† (Schatz 1996, p.5). Hollywood, nevertheless, continues to be studio-driven through the studios’ provision of resources and networks to directors. Schatz (1996, p.12) asserts that Hollywood is for depicting real struggles for power to make decisions and to implement them in films, not collaboration. Hollywood history shows struggles for authority and influence, power struggles that affect jurors in 12 Angry Men too. Classical Hollywood cinema follows a certain classic narrative structure that has a realist narrative that is present in 12 Angry Men (1957), especially the manifestation of the politics of the time, including struggles for power and justice. The realist perspective of 12 Angry Men (1957) comes from its alignment with its historical political context. The main conflict in the film involves a teenager from a m inority group in a low-income neighbourhood, which provides a space for exploring the politics of people regarding these disadvantaged sectors. The initial voting of the jurors suggest that majority of these characters do not reflect the true essence of what the criminal justice system should be- a system composed of rational individuals who will do everything it takes to deliberate the case and come up with a solid conviction. The beginning of the film shows the camera shot tilting upward to the roof of the court, demonstrating the ascendancy of justice that is blind to physical and other kinds of differences among people. Eleven of the jurors, however, demonstrate varying kinds of biases and indifference that question the essence of their democratic justice system. Juror#3 (Lee J. Cobb), for instance, is highly prejudiced against all teenagers and people from the slum. He assumes that because the boy is poor and a minority, he is most likely to commit crimes (12 Angry Men 1957). H is bias indicates that even when the jury system is designed to uphold fairness for all, the jury is not always fair at all, and in this case, their lack of fairness can result to one kid’s death. The film does more than reveal the weaknesses of the jury system however, but says something about larger social issues. Cunningham (1986, p.112) believed that the film does not only criticise the jury system, but also the â€Å"American democratic process itself.† The initial attitudes of most of the jurors in the film counter what people may

The needs of future generations are being met by the current policies Essay - 1

The needs of future generations are being met by the current policies of sustainable development - Essay Example According to the research of Waas, Verbruggen and Wright (2010, p. 631) the concept of sustainability comprises of the initiation of development measures which â€Å"†¦contribute in meeting the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs†. The need for developing sustainable solutions to be implemented across the Arabian Peninsula is most urgent essentially because of legitimate environmental concerns regarding the incidence of air pollution in the region. The primary causes of air pollution specifically in Arabian economies which rely upon the production of oil can be attributed to 1) an increase in population 2) a rise in industrial activity and 3) the extensive use of private vehicles for commute (Ettouney and Saqer, 2012). The discussion and analysis which has been conducted in this paper explicates upon the incidence of air pollution in the urban or metropolitan centers of Gulf States including Umm Alhyman, Riyadh , Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah. Moreover, the research also proposes a framework for promoting sustainable solutions to combat this issue and advises the respective governments of the Arab States to enforce effective policies to address this crucial issue. The incidence in air pollution measures in Kuwait has been a critical topic of assessment for researchers which aim to establish the extent of the damage which has been caused by related and significant determinants. Moreover, the scope of the examination is also focused upon identifying effective tools and models which can be adapted and executed to identify fundamental trends (University of Queensland, 1993). The research of Ettouney, Abdul Wahab and Elkilani (2009) follows this pattern by launching three comparable yet distinct models to report findings on the level of air pollution in Kuwait and its subsequent health and ecological

Investigation in Acoustics of Wine Glasses

Investigation in Acoustics of Wine Glasses Introduction Resonance is extremely important in engineering and structural design. It directly relates to the way buildings, bridges and other structures sway with disturbance. In the case of wine glasses used in the Glass Harmonica invented in 1761 by Benjamin Franklin, varying the amount of water contained within the glass will vary the resonant frequency of the glass.[1] The purpose of the task is to investigate how frequency varies as height of water increases in a range of wine glass diameters before making recommendations regarding the ideal height and diameter for a given frequency. Collection of data is not a simple task as the height of water must be measured under great scrutiny and the wave produced needs to be constant in order to accurately record frequency. However, alterations have been made to the design of the experimental setup and will account for error through these avenues. For example, volume of water will be increased in increments and the heights measured as increasing volume is easier than increasing height. Once the collection and processing of data has been completed, recommendations can be made about the use, manufacture and efficiency of the Glass Harmonica. Essentially, the aim of the investigation is to scrutinize the Glass Harmonica and make recommendations about other structures through extrapolation. Background Theory A.P. French’s Formula While the Glass Harmonica is not the most commonly played instruments, the physics behind the way it works has been investigated a number of times. A journal paper describing the resonance on wineglasses was written by the late A.P. French, a Ph. D. and former President of the American Association of Physics Teachers.[2] In the paper, French derived a general formula for how the frequency of a singing wineglass could vary with the volume of water in the glass.[3] While French’s general formula was derived to describe the behaviour of ideal cylindrical glasses, it was found that any type of glass would approximately fit the formula. The formula is shown below: Resonant Frequency The main factor at play in the experimental investigation is resonant frequency. According to The Physics Classroom, â€Å"resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate with greater amplitude at some frequencies than at others.†[4] The system’s resonant frequency is the frequency where the system demonstrates its relative maximum amplitude, that is, the system exhibits greatest oscillation.[5] Figure 1 illustrates the resonant frequency of a general system. When its rim is rubbed by a moistened finger, the glass emits its resonant frequency. This is due to the crystals in the glass vibrating together which leads to one clear tone. As water is added to the glass, its resonant frequency changes. Resonance is important on a bigger scale than just the use of the Glass Harmonica. It relates to the way structures and other man-made objects oscillate in the outside world. For example, the Takoma Narrows Suspension Bridge in Washington collapsed due to wind that was gusting at the exact resonant frequency of the bridge.[6] Furthermore, acoustic resonance is important for instrument builders, as many instruments use resonators, for example, strings on a guitar, the length of a tube and the tension on a drum membrane. ‘Slip-Stick Effect’ The slip-stick phenomenon is defined as â€Å"the spontaneous jerking motion that can occur while two objects are sliding over each other.†[7] The friction between two surfaces leads to a ‘stick’ effect. The ‘stick’ effect is due to the applied force not being great enough to overcome the friction. However, as the force applied becomes greater, one of the surfaces begins to ‘slip’. When the surface ‘slips’, the force applied increases the second surface’s velocity. As the velocity increases, the frictional force increases too, until the frictional force is greater than that of the force applied, leading to another ‘stick’. The process continues and is named the ‘slip-stick effect’. The constant frictional jerking of the finger on the rim of the wine glass causes vibrations within the wall of the glass, leading to the oscillation of the glass and essentially, the tone produced. How does the glass vibrate? The glass begins to vibrate in a very special way when affected by the slip-stick phenomenon. When a moistened finger rubs along the glass, the rim begins oscillating into an elliptical shape due to its relatively elastic nature. Figure 2 portrays an exaggeration of the deformation of the rim of the glass. The rim’s shape oscillates between the two elliptical shapes shown several hundred times per second, producing an audible tone. Hypothesis In context of the investigation to be undertaken, it is hypothesised that as height of water increases in each of the three glasses, the frequency produced by each of the glasses will fall. The glass that can contain the greatest volume of water will reduce the least over the course of the experiment. Additionally, both other glasses will have a greater rate of frequency decrease. Under test conditions, it is predicted that as the glasses get fuller, the frequency reduction will become greater as the stem of the glass supports the glass, hindering it from vibrating as much. Correlation Using French’s formula, a linear relationship can be established between the frequency produced and the height of water: The value has been substituted into the equation as is built up of a number of constants representing the density of liquid, density of glass and glass thickness. Thus, plotting the following as and should present a linear relationship: Graphing the above equation should present a value as gradient. Ideal Graphs Ideally, the graphs should be as depicted below: The graph on the left depicts the reduction in frequency as height of water increases. The frequency slowly decreases in the first part before rapidly diminishing as height increases. The graph on the right has been manipulated using the raw data into a straight-line graph. Its gradient is the value. Method Clear the area and prepare the test glass and all other equipment used in experimentation. Place test glass flush on the desk before adopting silence in the room. Moisten index finger and begin softly rubbing the rim of the glass. Continue rubbing the rim of the glass until a standing wave appears. Begin recording sound in the room for a period of 10 seconds. If the standing wave is lost before the end of 10 seconds, stop the recording, delete the recording and repeat the procedure. If the standing wave continues, stop the recording at 10 seconds and stop rubbing the rim of the glass. Open the ANALYSE drop-down menu and select PLOT SPECTRUM. Trace along the graph until the peak is reached and record the frequency of the peak. Close the spectrum and delete the recording. Repeat 3 times. Measure out 20ml of water in a surgical syringe and add this liquid to the glass. Repeat the method outlined above. The setup of the experiment is pictured below: Results The results of the experiment are tabulated below: Raw Data Analysis Frequency Reduction (Hz) Glass 1 Glass 2 Glass 3 Linear Relationship Graphs Glass 1 Glass 2 Glass 3 ‘-Value’ for Different Glasses Error Analysis There are three forms of error in this experiment: Straight line error Measurement error Expected error Straight Line Error Measurement Error Measurement error can be calculated using the smallest division of every piece of equipment used to measure values. These are presented below: Vernier: 0.01mm Audacity’s Frequency Spectrum: 0.5 Hz Syringe: Negligible as the volume increments are not factored into the French’s formula Substituting various values into a rearranged version of French’s formula will find the various amounts of measurement error in each trial. The calculations are available below: Formula Glass 1 Therefore, measurement error is 0.52 Hz Glass 2 Therefore, measurement error is 0.52 Hz Glass 3 Therefore, measurement error is 0.52 Hz Expected Error Expected error can be found by substituting the value for various glasses into the manipulated formula used for the measurement error. The result of graphing this is the expected frequency decrease curve. The graphs are presented below: Glass 1 Glass 2 Glass 3 Average Difference Throughout the Duration of the Experiment Maximum Difference Discussion Interpretation of Results According to the results, the previously formulated hypothesis was proven correct. This is true since the frequency produced by each of the glasses fell as the height of water in each of the three glasses increased. Furthermore, Glass 2, which has the greatest capacity, also followed suit as it had the least frequency reduction. Moreover, stem of the glass acted as an excellent support for each of the glasses, ensuring that the raw graphed data followed a similar pattern to that expected. Another noteworthy trend was that the taller glass with the smallest capacity and radius had the greatest reduction in frequency. On the other hand, the shortest glass has the most stable and predictable decrease. Following French’s formula, justification can be made as to why the values didn’t increase as height of glass increased. The values of each of the glasses is made up of the following: Where the only variable factors between glasses are , radius of the glass and , thickness of the glass at water level. Thus, as increases, as with Glass 2, the value increases too. Naturally, as decreases, as with Glass 3, the value increases. Glass 3 had a higher value than Glass 1 simply due to the thin nature of the glass. Furthermore, Glass 2 had the highest value due to its large radius and almost spherical shape. While it was not a part of this experimental investigation at all, it must be noted that the glass with the greatest value produced the loudest sound, that is, the wave with the greatest amplitude. An interesting observation can be made through linking the nature of the glass, the value and the amplitude of the sound wave produced. As the glass becomes thinner and rounder, the value increases, which in turn, leads to a louder sound being produced. While the results obtained from the experiment are as were hypothesized, the outcome for the overall investigation is not as straightforward. The varied frequency decrease in the three glasses indicates which would be the most efficient in a Glass Harmonica with limited glasses. The dissimilarity also shows which glass would be able to play a specific small range more precisely than others. There are distinct advantages/disadvantages regarding high/low frequency reduction. The main advantage of the greater variation in frequency is that one can play a whole range of notes with only a few of the same type of glass. Additionally, the primary disadvantage of a great frequency decrease is that subtle changes in frequency cannot be easily made. A method of eliminating this disadvantage is simply using glasses that have a slower frequency reduction, such as Glass 2. However, this has its own advantages and disadvantages. The key advantage is that more specific notes in a small range can be played. Nevertheless, a disadvantage of this is that a large number of glasses need to be used, to play each specific note. In the real world, when a Glass Harmonica is used, a whole range of glasses are used due to the fact that more precise notes can be played in a while range of frequencies. This is what makes these instruments so expensive. Usually, the higher notes are played using thinner glasses and lower, deeper notes are played using rounder, wider glasses. Comparison with Expected Results The results obtained from conducting the experimental investigation are slightly deviant from those expected. It was expected that the values of the various glasses would be ordered the same way as the retention of frequency, and in the following order, from greatest to smallest frequency retention: The results obtained are divergent from these and follow the pattern as shown below: However, when comparing the data collected to the expected data, there is a trend on all the graphs as they all begin almost exactly on par with the expected results. Glass 3 had the greatest amount of difference from the expected graph. On average, every frequency measured was 32.25 Hz above or below the value it should have been at. In addition, Glass 2 began on par wuth the expected curve before reducing frequency slightly slower than expected. Nevertheless, the graphs were most consistent in both the beginning and end of each glass. As visible on the all three of the â€Å"difference in frequency† graphs, the true data began and ended almost exactly equal to the expected values. While results obtained were fairly accurate, the maximum difference between the expected values and true data in the three glasses was 68.04 Hz. Mistakes, Uncertainties, Errors While the investigation undertaken does not blatantly show evidence of any significant mistakes/errors, there are certainly a number of anomalies. For example, Glass 3 had a greater value than Glass 1 even though it has a minute radius. The values of the various glasses differ by only a small amount and the reduction of frequency differ by a fairly large amount. Both these must be duly noted. When analysing the raw data, there is a distinct anomalistic middle of all 3 of them. This is a clear indication of a large error caused by either measuring incorrectly each glass was further tested or simple inconsistencies in the peaks of Audacity’s frequency spectrum. Regardless, this error in all 3 experiments caused a deviance from the trendline. Unfortunately, it was not possible to avoid the influence of this error as values had to be calculated using those sections of data. There are a number of errors, caused by the method, which could have influenced the results. Firstly, when measuring the values of height of water and height of glass through the Vernier, there existed a chance of parallax error as the readings may be slightly deviant from the true values. Secondly, increasing volume of water instead of height of water for ease of measurement may not have had the correct effect and it may have been easier to simply measure heights in standard increments. Lastly, the standing wave may have broken at points, leading to the peaks of the frequency spectrum having an effect on the validity of the results, for example, the raw data and it’s difference to the expected data wou

Its Just a Game :: Essays Papers

It's Just a Game Often you don’t realize how much something means to you until it’s gone. Maybe it’s your first baseball hat, the Boston Red Sox one with the rip in back and the faded lettering, that you finally out grew. Or Grandpa Joe, he read you the comics every Saturday as you sat on his lap, who grew too old and passed on. Sure it was your favorite hat and of course you loved your grandpa, but for some reason in order to fully capture their importance, you first had to lose them. It’s a little depressing to think in this way. It might even make you want to avoid forming a close relationship with Grandpa Joe, so that once he’s gone you don’t have to deal with the sudden realization of how much he really meant to you. But, if you really think about it, having your favorite baseball hat while it still fits and having your grandpa around probably outweighed the feelings of loss once they were gone. But the idea that realization sometimes comes after a loss is very true. While your grandpa was still alive you devoted your time to just enjoying his company, but now that he has passed you spend your time remembering the good times you had. This is a reasonable and natural thing to do and it’s also the reason why you had never thought about how much you loved your grandfather until you can no longer sit on his lap and read the comics. You were just too busy having a good time with him to ever think about. So, what if you had the chance to give your grandpa the gift of immortality but you would never truly realize how much you really loved him  ­ would you do it? Maybe the baseball hat is a better example since it doesn’t involve human life. Would you want to have that hat forever but never really know how much it meant to you? Well, I tried to apply this to a situation in my life, and I really couldn’t decide  ­ I needed a combination of both. My most powerful experience with this â€Å"realization phenomenon† came after my final high school basketball

Narrative Essay

When joining the armed forces, you never quite know what will happen or what to expect next. It can be an amazing or a gruesome journey, but it depends on how you want it to be. At the beginning the journey might seems scary and intimidating, but as time goes on, you soon get use to the lifestyle and learn a great deal from the experience. Before I joined in November 2008, I was going through a marital problem, I was weak, intimidating, and I have no one or where to turn to. I applied for job in so many places with no luck, due to me moving to the States three years before applying for the jobs, giving birth, and also I was a staying home mom going to school. But as time went by I couldn’t take it any longer, so I decided looking in to joining the military. When I joined, I wanted to be independent, strong, care for my daughter, and to learn something new without being intimidated by anyone in anyway. I actually entered the Basic Combat training on the 15th of November 2008, when the plane dropped us at the South Carolina air port and, the bus took us from there to Fort Jackson. The bus finally pulled up outside the in-processing building in Fort Jackson South Carolina by 12:30am. All I could think about was my little girl, how she was sleeping, what was she thinking about when I left, did she cried herself to sleep, can I stay without my daughter for a day, and what in God’s name I just got myself into. We were all tired and sleepy, some of us looked like we have been deprived of sleep for a week, but we all came there for a reason. As the bus driver open the door a male drill sergeant stepped into the buss, and started screaming and yelling at us to get off the bus. I never saw people who have been sleeping and look so tired to move that fast, but everyone was scrambling all over each other looking for an exit, because no one want to be the first to get chewed up. As we stepped out of the bus, we formed two lines, one with the girls and one with the boys. As we stood there, I was scared, nervous; my heart was pounding so fast, because I have never been in that position before in my life. I felt like my neck tense up, which made my head feels like it was about to fall of my body, but I was telling myself that I can do this, and reminding myself of the reason why I was here. We were out there for thirty minutes before they put us in a room, and sat us down according to our numbers, and were we came from. We were given a book called the smart book, which mean it has to be with us all day, and learn what the book says. It was intense: we had to learn so many things throughout our stay in Basic Training. We got our pt uniform (Physical Training gear) that early morning, and we went to sleep by 2:15am. It was a scary and crazy experience. I slept but we had to wake up about 6am, because we have to go through so many in-processing. I was so tired, my eyes were puffy, and hurt, my ankles hurt, but I have to toughen it up. We had to get tested for diseases, eye testing, and a number of other things. All those time, I thought about my little girl a lot, I cried every day, because I have never been separated from child since I gave birth to her, and that was the first time I have ever been away from her. I wondered what she was doing, how she feared, if she was eating the way she was supposed to, how much she missed me, even though I was only gone for 6 days, I felt so alone without my daughter. We had to wake up very early in the morning by 0040, stood in parade rest, in the cold for 4 hours with just pt pant, long shirt, and jacket. That did not help with the cold, because it was so cold, that my fingers were frozen, I could not felt it moving. We have no phone privilege during the reception, because we were being baby sit by the drill sergeant most of the time, and when I said being baby sit, I mean being smoked, pushed up, sit up, floor rocate, you name it, but you can’t let them see crying, because when they, you will be sorry for shedding a tears. All this time we were at a place called reception which was for 4 days, but we spent 6days, where all the loose ends with our paper work were done. The actual physical training was done at a different place in Fort Jackson. The sergeants were still very tough on us. About a month into the training I found myself used to the routine, even though the journey was tough, I endured everything. I hated pt, because we ran a lot, and my ankle hurt, but I kept pushing myself. My pt sucks at the beginning, but my sergeant won’t let me fail, because she was always on me, making sure that, I do not fail. I failed my first pt, second pt, third pt, but I passed at the end, with a good percentage. Before we knew we were making friends, looking out for each other, laughing together, and getting ready to graduate to go to AIT. Which is Advance Individual Training? But there were some ladies who cannot stand each other; there were time of argument, gossiping, jealousness, but we all live under the same roof and trained together. I endure the most horrifying road match, training, being smoked by my drill sergeant, and the long pt. Most times, I broke down and cried, because I thought that was a punishment, but looking back today, it was a training that was mean to save my life and others too. I become a very strong and independent woman, whom no one can intimidate no matter. I can stand up for myself in any situation, and I don’t let anyone take advantage of me.

buy custom The Spanish American War essay

buy custom The Spanish American War essay The Spanish American War began just like many other wars in the sense that opposing forces were competing for dominance or independence on different grounds. The Spanish American War began officially on the 25th of April 1898 and came to an end on the 10th of December 1898 (Graves, 2000). The main issue behind the war was that Cuban revolutionary groups that had been firmly established wanted independence from Spain. It is arguably true that Spain had dominated most of the west since it was the first European nation that set its eyes on the western part of the world. This is to say that Spain was the first European nation to sail westwards across the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, Spain had taken bigger part of the west, extending its territories from Virginia (the United States of America) to South America (Brazil, Alaska, and California) and to the southernmost tip of the South American mainland (Tierra del Fuego) (Library of Congress, 2011). This dominance of Spain made the Cuban revo lutionary groups demand their independence. Since there was no agreement over this demand, the United States supported the rebels, thus, prompting a war between the United States and Spain. Commence of the War A war against Spain began on February 18th after a battle ship Maine exploded at Havana, one of Cubas main harbours. This prompted president McKinley to declare war against Spain after local newspapers blamed Spain over this event (Hendrickson, 2003). The American media led to a lot of public pressure, whereby many American citizens demanded action against Spain. Therefore, the American authorities had no option but to declare the war that had different consequences. In this regard, the sinking of the United States ship in Havana is truly one of the main catalysts of the war. Military aggressiveness is one of the most viable ways to provoke another country into war because it is the main way a country can illustrate its dominance over the other. Yellow Journalism The pressure piled upon the United States government was actively supported by journalists who were determined to use visual evidence on how the situation developed between the two countries after the sinking of the battle ship. This effect of journalism is commonly known as yellow journalism. According to Dolan (15), journalists usually choose to use circumstantial evidence to tell their stories with an aim of maximizing on their sales. In this regard, two journalists, Joseph Pulitzer and William Hearst, were at the centre stage of yellow journalism that led to the American Spanish war. Dolan (21) posits that the two men were extraordinarily influential through their journalism career, making the work of the president of that time terribly difficult. Both Hearst and Pulitzer used their New York journal, and the New York world newspapers respectively to win the mind of many readers using non-researched publications, a fat tactic that was able to convince many Americans that the Spani sh American war was necessary and called for. Unfortunately, this method could be fallacious because it is not research based. For instance, yellow journalism at that time relied on the Cuban patriots for information (23). This eans thatfacts, as presented by the journalist, could not be accurate, hence, pushing the government into a war that was not necessary. However, the yellow journalism effect was successful since the war was started. On the other hand, the facts could be correct since the Spanish rule was dictatorial, especially in Cuba and in other colonies. The effect of yellow journalism also provoked America into war. Before the war begun, President William McKinley was keen to use negotiation as a means to secure the much-needed independence. This portrayed him as a nonaggressive president who would make enough efforts to avoid war. Hendrickson (8) asserts that the most conspicuous step that the president took in this attempt was sending his personal representative Stewart Woodford to Spain in 1887. Although this was in an attempt to give dialogue a chance, it was thwarted by the so-called De Lome letter. Enrique Dupuy de Lome, the Spanish minister to the United States, had written the infamous letter. According to the minister, American politicians preferred an aggressive policy towards Spain. However, this assertion was contrary to McKinleys preference. Therefore, the minister wrote the letter expressing his reservations that the president could fall for the politicians' views and disadvantage Spain. This letter leaked to William R adolph Hearst who published it in February 1898, leading to recalling of the Spanish minister to the United States (8). This letter provoked many Americans who were outraged by the ministers comments, hence, pushing their government to take military actions against Spain. This culminated into a full-blown war. The Cuban junta played a singularly critical role in ensuring that the letter was published to the public. According to Trask (2011), Cuban junta first received the letter. They forwarded it to Radolph for straight away publication. In addition, the juntas were tremendously helpful to the military activities. This is because they provided leadership skills to the military groupings that were fighting the Spanish. Similarly, the junta provided funds in support of the preparations for war. Barnes (66) reveals that the Cuban junta was the political wing of the Cuban revolutionary party that established in 1895 in New York under Thomas Estrada Palmas, a Cuban dictator. This group was established to seek support from Americans against the Spanish. Major Battles The Spanish American War presented a number of fierce battles that led to the defeat of the Spanish. The Battle of Manila Bay was one of these battles. It occurred on May 1, 1898, when Spanish fleet that was near a place called Cavite was destroyed by American forces under the command of George Dewey. This battle is purported to be one sided since the United States emerged superbly victorious. The battle was particularly decisive since it frustrated Spanish naval efforts as its ships were destroyed. The battle left many Spanish soldiers dead and only two Americans dying indirectly (Dolan, 38). This battle destroyed most, if not all, Spanish naval power, thus, enabling America to protect its pacific coast. In addition, Spanish forces in Cuba could not be reinforced, hence, weakeningg them. In May 1898, American soldiers launched another battle at Santiago, blocking the harbour and preventing the Spanish from using it for supplies. George Dewey used this strategy to weaken the Spanish army even further. The Spanish army was based in Santiago under the leadership of Pascual Cervera, meaning that the capture of the harbour was detrimental to the Spanish. Invasion of the eastern shore in 1898 via Santiago was facilitated by a coordinated effort between General William Shafter and Theodore Roosevelt who was commanding his cavalry (rough riders) that was the first volunteer into the battle. The Spanish forces in Santiago surrendered as American forces took over Puerto Rico (Graves, 2000). San Juan was under the United States control when the Spanish attempted to take over. However, the battle saw the Spanish troops fail to capture it while the American continued controlling the blockade. Again, the Spanish lost heavily in the battle of San Juan, which took place on the 22nd of June, 1898. After the battle of Santiago at Santiago de Cuba, the Spanish army was weakened largely. When Cervera discovered this, he tried to escape westwards on July 3rd, 1898 (Trask, 2011). However, his ships were attacked by the United States, leaving them burning and in terrible conditions to continue with the war. This led to the ultimate surrender on July 17, thus, marking the end of the war. The Peace Treaty Following the defeat of the Spanish by the United States, the Spanish and American diplomats met in Paris, France, to negotiate a peace treaty. According to Graves (41), the treaty was signed on December 10, 1898. By then, the United States were controlling many overseas colonies, following the subsequent elimination of the Spanish. These colonies included the islands of Puerto Rico, Guam, and Philippines. In this event, the treaty, signed in France, allowed the United States to buy the Philippines from Spain for 40 million dollars. On the other hand, Cuba gained its independence from the Spanish. This is clear evidence that the pioneers of the war alongside the United States benefited in different ways. The urge by Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot top had the United States have a significant influence on other parts of the world, especially Asia.This was because the United States owned the mentioned islands fully. This position meant that the United States could build its economy from the additional natural resources it was controlling, just as it was with any other colonial authority. The Spanish American war is one of the most outstanding military events in the history of the United States. This is, perhaps, because Americans had indisputably emerged stronger than the Spaniards, who had a strong presence in the west. Therefore, the United States occupied an influential position in the world, implying that it could influence more issues that are global. The war events prooved the United States army was stronger and military wiser. This became evident after the Spaniards were defeated in virtually all key battles. This is probably the main reason why the peace treaty was signed in Paris, France, in December, 1898. Buy custom The Spanish American War essay

Cross-Cultural Film Analysis Gattaca Essay Example

Cross Cross-Cultural Film Analysis Gattaca Paper Cross-Cultural Film Analysis Gattaca Paper ‘GATTACA’ Film Summary Vincent is destined to be a second class citizen, conceived naturally, rather than in a laboratory. He is born into a world which discriminates against genetics, rather than religion, race or gender. In order to gain access into the Gattaca Corporation and reach his dream of going to Titan he takes on the identity of Jerome Morrow, a person with ideal genes but crippled from an accident. He uses Jerome’s hair, blood, urine and skin to pass all tests and is set to reach his lifelong desire when the mission director is murdered. He inadvertently loses one of his own eyelashes at the scene and becomes the main suspect in the case. The killer is determined to be another of Gattaca’s directors who is initially overlooked because his DNA profile indicates that violence is not in his nature. In the end Vincent takes off on his mission to Titan. Discussion Culture Shock due to contact with unfamiliar cultures (Stephen Bochner, 2003) Culture shock is something that Vincent experiences as he makes the transition from a culture comprising of second class citizens to a culture of superiority as he takes on the identity of the genetically superior Jerome. The first stage of culture shock is the honeymoon period (Bochner, 2003). Vincent experiences this before he meets Jerome for the first time and thoughts of fulfilling his life-long dream are active. He then goes through a period of fear and denial where he is not confident and actually refuses to go ahead with the plan. He is talked around by the real Jerome, who needs the money to pay for his alcohol addiction, and prepares himself to lie and cheat just to succeed. Situations similar to this are played out in organisations regularly where people are prepared to lie, cheat and steal to gain success, typically financial success; and management must deal with effectively. As time goes on Vincent gradually adjusts to the new expectations of within the Gattaca Corporation. A cross-cultural obstacle that needed to be overcome was the difficulty that Vincent has in accepting himself as Jerome which is essential if he is to succeed within Gattaca and not give up his cover. This is overcome by the real Jerome referring to Vincent as Jerome when they spoke. One thing that this framework does not discuss is the idea of never fully coming to grips with the new culture. The question I pose is: Can a person entirely take on a new culture or does their childhood culture remain with them for life? The film shows that people cannot fully accept a new culture and when forced upon them they show resistance. An example of this is when Vincent becomes aggressive towards one of the murder detectives in fear of being proven as the murderer. The implications of cultural shock for organisations can be seen when an employee is sent on sojourn, typically overseas, and needs to cope in an unfamiliar culture. Management could overcome some of these issues by educating the employee about the foreign culture and some expectations prior to leaving. Software of the Mind (Hofstede, 2005) Culture as mental programming: At the beginning of the film, during his childhood, Vincent’s patterns of thinking, feeling and acting are established in his mind. He learns to accept himself as inferior to his genetically ‘perfect’ brother Anton. When he finds a way of living his dream and must take on a new identity (Jerome) he finds it difficult to unlearn this mental programming. However, a person’s behaviour is only partially predetermined by their mental programming (Hofstede, 2005, p. 3), and this is seen as Vincent deviates from his culture and creatively takes on the identity of Jerome. Hofstede describes culture as being derived from exposure to the world rather than from one’s genes. Hofstede discusses the possibility of intelligence being attributed to genetics and suggests that on the basis of ethnic groups it is difficult to come to a conclusion. In the film it is clear that within Gattaca there is wide acceptance that yes a person’s genes do determine their intelligence. Vincent’s interview for entry into Gattaca entails solely a genetic test and not a physical or mental assessment. Manifestation of cultural differences: In the film we see the divergence of two very strong cultures. One belongs to the genetically gifted; and the other to the ‘degenerates’. The ways these cultures have divided themselves is explained well by Hofstede’s depiction of the ‘skins of an onion’ (Hofstede, 2005, p. 6). The heroes in the film (the genetically gifted) are highly valued and show model behaviour to inferiors or naturally conceived people. Depicted as the more capable members of society the heroes display symbols which carry specific meaning such as formal hair styles and very professional, clean clothing. The heroes display rituals such as the day on the treadmill where they assert themselves superfluous to reaching a desired end as assessors are solely interested in genetic make-up rather than fitness. Contrary to Hofstede’s view that values are acquired early in our lives we see Vincent’s values change significantly in the film. These values are a strong determinant of culture and as Vincent takes on the identity of Jerome he moves into the hero status of society, or as Hofstede describes it, from abnormal to normal (Hofstede, 2005). His move from second class status to hero status is a good example of how culture reproduces itself. His role models become the members of the Gattaca Corporation and he sees an opportunity to fulfil his aim in life. It appears that the hero’s culture is growing as more and more parents are opting for gene selection of their babies. Stereotyping The culture within the Gattaca Corporation shows clearly the human tendency to stereotype. Assessors discriminate against new applicants with undesirable genetics rather than testing each person individually to determine their capabilities. Genetics gives them a preconceived opinion of how people will perform and people are rejected or accepted accordingly. A specific example of stereotyping in the film is when the actual murderer of the mission director is excluded as a suspect because of his genetics. This would suggest that the idea of selection of people with ideal genetics and reliance on this for behaviour of people may be major a cause of stereotyping, not just a result of it. The implications that this has for managers of organisations are that they need to be aware of their stereotypes and ensure that this doesn’t affect their decisions or cause them to discriminate unnecessarily when dealing with people. References Bochner, S. (2003). Culture shock due to contact with unfamiliar cultures. Found in W. J. Lonner, D. L. Dinnel, S. A. Hayes, D. N. Sattler (Eds. ), Online Readings in Psychology and Culture (Unit 8, Chapter 7), Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington USA. Accessed 1st September 2008, from ac. wwu. edu/~culture/Bochner. htm Francesco, A. M. and Gold, B. A. (2005), International Organizational Behaviour: Text, Cases, and Exercises, 2nd Ed, Pearson Prentice Hall, pp. 17-45 Hofstede, G. and Hofstede, G. J. 2005, Culture and Organisations: Software of the Mind, 2nd Ed, McGraw-Hill P. L. Duffy Resource Centre, 2006, Gattaca, Trinity College WA, Accessed 31st August 2008, from trinity. wa. edu. au/plduffyrc/subjects/english/media/gattaca. htm

Techno-Optimism is pervasive Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Techno-Optimism is pervasive - Essay Example Techno – optimism is universal despite presence of numerous and serious shortcomings as well as consequences of past technologies. For instance, the introduction of computers has been instrumental in transforming the world and easing various computer related processes thereby, increasing production and improving human life. However, the 1956 project by IBM to design the world’s supercomputer IBM 7030 was a big failure (ITs biggest project failures, 2015, p 1). The computer also known as Stretch, could handle half million instructions every second, and was thus regarded as the fastest. This technology was a failure since it could only reach 30- 40 times faster than the system it was intended to replace. Therefore, Stretch could not meet its intended target of being 100 times faster than the target system. Due to the failure, IBM was forced to lower the value of Stretch from the initially planned value of $ 13.5million to $7.8million (ITs biggest project failures, 2015, p 1). This selling price was below total production cost thus, forcing the company to halt production of Stretch with only nine having been built. Despite the failure, society is still optimistic with the invention and believes that additional or more advanced technology will in future offer satisfactory solutions. For instance, one of the Stretch team members; Fran Allen acknowledged that the entire process led to development of various technologies which, have assisted in shaping of the computer building industry (ITs biggest project failures, 2015, p 1). However, this is in disregard to the production loses incurred as well as the time and energy used in the entire process. Therefore, I believe that the idea of technology advancement is a noble notion which, is critical in shaping and making life relatively easier and stress free on earth. However, being too much optimistic is dangerous since it comes with severe consequences and shortcomings. These include

Career plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Career plan - Research Paper Example Becoming a teacher requires candidates to complete bachelor’s degrees in the field they want to serve as a high school teacher. For example, if a person wants to teach computer science at high school or university level, he/she needs to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology in order to be eligible for teaching. Moreover, some states also require additional certification to allow candidates for teaching, for instance, California and Florida require people to complete teacher-training programs, get certifications, and pass competency tests to become eligible for teaching. In California, a candidate needs to complete his/her bachelor’s degree first, undergo a teacher-training program, and complete English language development courses to get a preliminary credential (Kelly). In the United States, the working hours for the high school teachers usually lie between 36 to 40 hours per week on average. However, teachers also have to do some work at home, which may include checking students’ work, preparing assignments for students, grading assignments, and preparing lectures for the next day. Although such an amount of workload seems to be difficult to manage, but it keeps a person enthusiastic and fresh as far as I have observed. Moreover, teachers get more leaves as compared to other professionals because of summer holidays at schools and semester holidays in colleges and universities. In the United States, the pay scale for high school teachers is very attractive. A high school teacher usually receives around $55000 per year, which is considered a good salary in the United States (â€Å"Salary Wizard† n.p.). Considering such salary and the professional duties of high school teachers, I would say that teaching should be the most preferred professional choice not only for me but for many other people too. Some of the main job responsibilities of a high school teacher include preparing lectures and tests, maintaining class