Religion in My Life - 1122 Words

Religion is everywhere, even if we don’t notice it. Some common elements of religion include group activities, morals, actions, and rituals. It may not seem like it, but those factors in religion are involved in our everyday life, including mine. After learning more about religion, I am starting to realize how much it actually affects me daily. When it comes to group activities, I tend to get involved in them at school. Every now and then one of my professors assign me into a group in order to do a project or presentation. The same goes for sports. If I’m ever playing soccer, I am put into a team so I can participate in a game. When it comes to people in a religion, they tend to participate in some group activities as well. This†¦show more content†¦The reason I make promises to people is usually because they have once helped me in an extraordinary way, and making a promise to them is a way to show my gratitude. The more helpful someone is to me, the larger the promise I am willing to make. Another thing I do every now and then is pray. I always pray for one of two reasons, either I want something, or I am thanking God. These are rare moments, mostly because I’m not very religious. When it comes to asking God for something it is never for petty reasons. I pray usually out of fear. When it gets to a point in my life where something has frightened me to a point where I need immediate help, I turn to God. Maybe once every three months, I have a panic attack that I cannot control. These panic attacks cause me a lot of pain and so I pray to God to make the pain cease. After that I usually calm down, but I don’t always pray for myself. I also pray for my family when they are in need of assistance, whether it’s for finances or maybe a serious injury. For example, I remember when my older sister went to the hospital because her appendix erupted, I immediately prayed for her safety. Every time my prayers are heard I always tha nk God for aiding me in my time of need. Now for rituals, I feel like almost everything I do is part of my daily ritual. I, for the most part, have a daily routine.Show MoreRelatedGod And Religion Shaped My Life2218 Words   |  9 Pagesunderstand how God and religion have shaped my life, you would need to understand a little bit more about me and my past. My parents divorced when I was two and my mom remarried by the time I was 3, my ex-step dad’s family went to a local Christian Church and for the most part I really enjoyed their services, we went every Sunday, participated in other Church activities and attended Church camp in the summers and as a family we worshiped the Lord, and as a family, we lived our life through the Lord. HoweverRead MoreHow Religion Has Changed My Life And The Lives Of My Family Members2174 Words   |  9 PagesReligion has always played an integral role in my life and the lives of my family members. Growing up the son of a dad who was born into the Roman Catholic Church and a mom who converted to Catholicism at the age of 22 meant that I was schooled in the traditions and theology of the Catholic catechism from a very young age. My mom, who quite possibly possesses the most conviction and faith of any Catholic person I have ever met, only converted after she met my dad. They wanted to get married and startRead MoreReligion Is Not As Straight Forward As Many People1169 Words   |  5 PagesFrom my studying of religion, I have come to understand that religion itself is not as straight forward as many people, including myself, tend to believe it is. Religion has such complexity that it is extremely difficult to define it in just a few words. This difficulty of finding a clear definition of what religion is seen when limitations are drawn about what religion involves and other activities such as a worship of chocolate then becomes a religion due to the fact that it could possible holdRead MoreWorld Religion1511 Words   |  7 PagesWorld Religions Field Trip Paper 4 May 2014 Different People’s Way of Life Many individuals abide or live life along a set of guidelines or follow a certain religion and that conveys their way of life. Religions have many values, beliefs, and aspirations among them. Worldwide many religions are practiced daily although some may be practiced more than others on a daily basis. I have learned about many aspects, values, and what the motive to practicing a certain religion may give to life. ToRead MoreOur Belief Systems And Values966 Words   |  4 PagesLife is full of mysteries. From childhood, people became curious of things that surround them. Humans experience pain and pleasure through the senses. However the environment plays a major cause of everyone’s behaviors. When people grow older, they become curious. They start asking questions such as; where did we come from and why we are here? To help us understand these questions better, we should first find who we are. For this reason, it is essential to define our belief system and identify ourRead MoreEssay on Give Me that Old Time Atheist Religion1266 Words   |  6 PagesGive Me that Old Time Atheist Religion Recently, Ive noticed that some of my friends have become concerned about me because Im an atheist. This is odd, because Ive never made any secret of that fact, although I dont go around preaching it to anyone who will listen. Ever since I realized that I no longer agreed with any of the religious viewpoints which I was brought up with, I have explained my opinions, as clearly as I can, to those who were interested, curious, or who challenged by beliefsRead MoreJehovah Witness : Their Distinctive Beliefs846 Words   |  4 Pages Jehovah Witness’: Their Distinctive Beliefs Religion is a topic that many people are interested in learning about. It brings many questions, and there are many unknowns that we don’t know about. People question as to where do certain beliefs come from and where certain religions were developed. Religion is a choice in every person s life. It is like having your own freedom. Having freedom gives every individual the choice to worship and pray to whomever they consider to be their one and onlyRead More What is Religion Essay1321 Words   |  6 Pages World Religion What is Religion? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;According to the American College Dictionary, religion is a noun defined as the quest for the values of the ideal life. This definition is vast and general, allowing for a variety of interpretations by people from all cultures. There is no single path to follow in order to lead an ideal life, only personal beliefs and experiences. Religion is non-finite so there is no way of determining a boundary (Smart, 5). In my quest for a trueRead MoreReligion Beliefs And Religious Beliefs868 Words   |  4 PagesReligion beliefs There are a lot of beliefs and religious thoughts that everyone believes in according to their religion. So, the world includes a lot of religions such as Catholic, Islam, Judaism, Taoism, Buddha but the most popular two religions are Islam and Catholic. Religion is a basic thing in a person life. Anyone in the world should follow what his family is following with religion, like my family they are Muslim, So, I should follow what my family is following but I have a friend hisRead MoreReligion Is The Root Of Personal Beliefs And Morals Of Oneself961 Words   |  4 Pagesimportant aspects of a culture has to be religion. It is the root of personal beliefs and morals of oneself, but when stuck in a situation of choosing whether to believe or not to believe, everything changes. I caused a big cultural change within myself when I first questioned my religion, decided whether to believe or not to believe, and how I determined my association with my religion. Since I grew up in a Mexican family, my life heavily revolves around religion. My mom is a strong believer of Roman

Analysis Of Drenched In Light By Zora Neala Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston and Jamaica Kincaid, both black women writers, give advice to their potential readers. Each writer comes from a different background and time period, yet both writers offer advice for every woman who reads their stories. The stories â€Å"Drenched in Light† by Hurston and â€Å"Girl† by Kincaid provides advice for the woman who needs to understand how to behave and protect her reputation. The reason for this article is to think about mother/daughter connections in Jamaica Kincaid’s â€Å"girl† Zora Neale Hurston’s â€Å"drenched In Light,† and Alice Walker’s â€Å"everyday use† through a Womanist hypothetical focal point with respect to personality, portrayals in the public arena, and reason. Zora Neal Hurston’s famous story â€Å"Drenched in†¦show more content†¦In Zora Neale Hurston’s â€Å"drenched in Light,† Alice Walker’s â€Å"everyday use,† and Jamaica Kincai d’s â€Å"Girl,† each of the three moms are managing issues with respect to their little girls’ personalities. For instance, Grandma Potts dislikes her granddaughter, Isis striking trademark attributes, which are womanist, thus she is exceptionally strict on her granddaughter. This is particularly evident when Grandma Potts says that she will beat her granddaughter for setting out to shave her bristles from her jaw while she was resting. Similarly, in Jamaica Kincaid’s Girl, the mother is so stressed over her little girl’s character that she gives a long address to the little girl while continually alluding to her as a prostitute with a specific end goal to keep away from her girl being marked in that capacity in the public eye. Moreover, in Alice Walker’s â€Å"Everyday Use,† the mother likewise tries to stretch the significance of personality to her girls by showing that their way of life should be showed off prideful by utilizing t he knit on a regular premise. Throughout time mother/daughter relationships have been tattered as woman’s liberation has taken place. Many mothers have the â€Å"old fashioned† opinion about what a woman should be. The short story â€Å"Girl†, by Jamaica Kincaid, is a prime example of this relationship. The theme in â€Å"Girl† strongly suggests that a woman should be domestic and there is a certain way that she

Leadership Research Findings - Practice - and Skills

Question: Discuss about the Leadership Research Findings, Practice, and Skills. Answer: Introduction Leadership is an important factor to make an organization successful. It maximizes the efficiency of an organization and helps it to achieve the organizational goals. A good leader has the potential to influence and drive the team efforts towards the accomplishment of goals, thus, directing the organization in a way that makes it more consistent and rational (Bryman, 2013). Leaders are invaluable when it comes to formulating new strategic plans, communicating with, and motivating employees to enhance dedications towards the organizational goals. Leadership styles: Autocratic form of leadership Bureaucratic form of leadership Laissez-faire leadership style Democratic form of leadership Leadership is an ability to get others to follow willingly. Now, different leadership styles are required for different situations and the leader must have the knowledge regarding the various forms of leaderships. A leader must know what particular leadership style to demonstrate in a particular situation (Bhatti et al., 2012). Background of chosen case study: In Saudi Arabia, there is a growing awareness among the Saudi businesses that the essential ingredient of a successful business is well-trained trainers. This has resulted in a customized Accelerated Leadership program that is organized for Saudi leaders to build and enhance their leadership skills. Most of the construction companies in Saudi Arabia have been facing protests from the workers over unpaid wages. The protestors argued that they owed more than six months worth of unpaid wages. According to recent news report, a number of workers damaged the companys property and attacked the administrative staffs. As per the recent media reports, South and South-East Asian migrant workers employed by the construction company, United Seemac, have not been paid for 20 months. More than 500 workers are unable to seek alternate employment or leave the country because the company has not only refused to issue exit visas but has also refused to renew their work permits. The company has offered repatriation to the workers subject to the condition that they can leave the country but with unpaid dues. The management ignored the needs of the workers; it failed to take necessary steps to provide the workers with appropriate remedies from the dire consequences faced by them and their families. Even resorting to the legal system was of no help as it failed to yield any remedy for the workers. As per the facts and circumstances, it is understood that the construction company/companies follows the autocratic leadership style. It is the classical leadership style where the manager retains the decision-making authority and the staffs neither are consulted nor are permitted to give any input (De et al., 2015). They are supposed to obey orders without any explanations. This leadership approach is not suitable to circumstances where staffs become resentful; where there is absenteeism and work stoppage. The financial crisis the construction companies are going through, at present, must be dealt with good leadership skill (Carmeli Reiter, 2013). In the present scenario, the leaders instead of trying to resolve the problem, the management made it worse. Now, different situations demand for different type of leadership (DuBrin, 2015). To be an effective leader, a person must adapt his or her style to the demand of the situation. The leadership style apt for such situation is the Democratic Leadership style. It involves participation of the staffs in the decision making process and is most effective at times when a complex problem requires lot of inputs to solve. The crisis that the company is facing can only be dealt with if the management and the staffs work on it together and for that, it is pertinent that problems that affect the staff are solved. According to the CEO of Renault, France, the top management level should not force organizational structure, it must come from the bottom level. Democratic form of leadership entails the following: competence, fairness, honesty, creativity, courage and intelligence. Leadership challenges faced by an Organization As per the issue identified, being a leader is in itself a challenge. The challenges faced by a leader in the organization are of three kinds- internal; external and challenges that arise from leadership itself (Haslam et al., 2014). External challenges: In the mentioned organization, various issues like lack of funds, social, economic and political forces have had an adverse effect on the company. If the leader is unable, to handle such constant crisis with an air of calm, the team themselves stress out and the work of the group suffers. The company must take initiative to resolve the issues affecting the workers. Internal challenges: The companys insecurity, impatience, lack of confidence, intolerance is some of the traits that is acting as hindrances to leadership. To accept the present traits and overcome them is an instance of good leadership. Challenges arising from leadership itself: Leadership is mainly difficult during unstable or changing situations. A leader not only motivates the employees but also acts as a mentor, model, fixer of broken things, etc. but the leaders have failed to display the same. The passion and dedication portrayed by leaders motivates people to remain focus during a time of crisis and encourages them to perform at a high level (Northouse, 2015). As the construction company United Seemca followed the autocratic form of leadership it has failed to resolve issues and failed to motivate the staffs as a result of which the company had to face work stoppage. In such a situation the leaders must remain calm and compose and adopt the democratic style of leadership. It is apt for the particular situation. The company faced problems like fund-deficit and is criticized by the public, structural changes and it is the responsibility of the leader to find solutions to such problems and to keep the team stable during such difficult times. In any organization, when the leadership is effective it can be felt throughout the organization (Pamfilie, Petcu Draghici, 2012). The management of the given organization may also adopt the ethical approach of leadership, as it is an essential element of effective management and success of an organization. It involves building good relationships with the employees based on integrity, honesty, justice, equity that is the key to sustainable success of the organization. Conclusion Leadership is considered the most essential element in an effective management of an organization. It is pertinent that leaders of the given organization must maintain an open and appealing relationship with the staffs in order to achieve the organizational goals of the organization. The company must pay at least a part of their outstanding payments to the workers. This will help the workers regain their trust in the company. The leaders of the company must emphasize upon creating an environment that helps the employees to excel. In other words, the key factor for making an organization successful is effective leadership. In order to achieve organizational goal, the leader must exhibit his or her leadership skills to secure high performance of the employees. The leaders in the organization are facing many challenges and their abilities are tested. A competent leader will adapt his or her style to the demands of the different situations. The management of the organization must demonst rate dedication and enthusiasm, outline the common goals of an organization, and inspire the employees to perform better and accomplish the set goals. Reference list Bhatti, N., Maitlo, G. M., Shaikh, N., Hashmi, M. A., Shaikh, F. M. (2012). The impact of autocratic and democratic leadership style on job satisfaction.International Business Research,5(2), 192. Bryman, A. (Ed.). (2013).Leadership and organizations. Routledge. Carmeli, A., Gelbard, R., Reiter?Palmon, R. (2013). Leadership, creative problem?solving capacity, and creative performance: The importance of knowledge sharing.Human Resource Management,52(1), 95-121. De Hoogh, A. H., Greer, L. L., Den Hartog, D. N. (2015). Diabolical dictators or capable commanders? An investigation of the differential effects of autocratic leadership on team performance.The Leadership Quarterly,26(5), 687-701. DuBrin, A. J. (2015).Leadership: Research findings, practice, and skills. Nelson Education. Haslam, S. A., van Knippenberg, D., Platow, M. J., Ellemers, N. (Eds.). (2014).Social identity at work: Developing theory for organizational practice. Psychology Press. Northouse, P. G. (2015).Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage publications. Pamfilie, R., Petcu, A. J., Draghici, M. (2012). The importance of leadership in driving a strategic Lean Six Sigma management.Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences,58, 187-196.

Pulling the Wool an Example of the Topic Psychology Essays by

Pulling the Wool by Expert Prof.Ashley | 02 Dec 2016 Abstract Need essay sample on "Pulling the Wool" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed The sharp contrast between William Smiths Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery and Frederick Douglasss Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave leads to important conclusions about the vast differences in perception between those who owned and those who were owned in the period of American slavery. Smiths work implores his fellow White landowners to practice what he sees as a just treatment of African slaves. However, his contempt for abolitionists and belief that Northerners are off the mark in understanding the state of slavery in the South show his belief that the institution itself is appropriate, even God-driven, and that only a minority of slave owners may require correction. Moreover, what drives Smiths philosophythe very religion from which Douglass saw the greatest brutality spring forthcauses him to assert and reassert the necessity of slavery for both White landowner and African slave. One cannot help but be struck by the stark contrast Smiths work shows to the real-life experiences of the ex-slave Frederick Douglass as he recounts a life in which all of Smiths proposals are brutally and routinely disregarded. Pulling the Wool: Slavery in the Opposing Eyes of Frederick Douglass and William Smith William Smiths Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery and Frederick Douglasss Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave offer a stark contrast between the two mens views on American slavery. Smith, a White proponent of slavery, outlines what he believes to be a proper and just relationship between master and slave, and disparages those slave owners who do not follow the tenets of this relationship. However, he never hesitates in stating his full support for the institution itself. Douglass, who bears the burden of slavery firsthand, reveals to the reader a world vastly different from the fat, sleek, and cheerful, and long-lived (Smith, 1856, p. 291) slaves of some of Smiths observances. His own journey from slavery to freedom affords the reader a view into a brilliant mind in contrast to what Smith (1856) believes can only be the equivalent of minors, imbeciles, and uncivilized persons (p. 282). It is Douglasss account of his awakening, from a young slave ignorant of the reasons for his bondage to a learned man of inalienable self-respect, which topples the entire premise of Smiths philosophy. Smith believes the teachings of the Christian Bible dictate the proper relationship between master and servant. Smith (1856) also details what he sees as a moral imperative on the part of White landowners to have guardianship (p. 277) over Gods poor, committed to [the benevolent White master] (p. 309), believing that they must control and protect them for their profit as well as work them for [the slave and slave owners] mutual profit. (309). In Smiths estimation, slavery is proper and just because he assumes White intellectual and moral superiority over the African slave. He never confuses his call for benevolent treatment of slaves with the idea that the institution itself may be unjust. Smith lays out what he believes are the rights of slaves according to both Christian doctrine and the law of men in his society. He pides the duties of the master into 3 main categories: the duty of masters to their slaves considered as their money, their duty to their slaves considered as social beings, and their duty to their slaves considered as religious beings (Smith, 1856, p. 283). In the first part, concerning slaves considered as masters money, Smith includes all of the physical needs of the slave. Working conditions, food, clothing and bedding, sleep and rest, housing, and free time are all detailed according to what Smith sees as ideal treatment. Woven into the framework of these requirements is a Christian code that reminds the master that he, too, will have a master in heaven. (p. 277). Smith begins by discussing the rights of the slave in regard to labor. Interestingly, Smith (1856) first focuses on what he calls a known idleness (p. 284) among slaves and warns slave owners to be dutiful in making their slaves accountable for their labor. He weaves a pattern that not only offers a sense of Christian duty on the part of the slave owner, but of the slave as well. It is Smiths insistence upon the righteousness of slavery as a Christian imperative that continues to inform and guide his philosophy. Likewise, in all of the other physical comforts he asks the slave owner to provide the slave, he asks the slave owner to give unto your servant that which is just and equal, knowing that ye also have a master in heaven (Smith, 1856, pp. 278-279). While Smith admonishes those he believes violate the Christian mandate, he shows some confidence that there is not a crisis in the treatment of slaves. In condemnation of the attitudes of Northern abolitionists, he says that A most f anatical spirit is abroad in the land on the subject of domestic slavery. The inhumanity of masters at the South is greatly exaggerated (Smith, 1856, p. 278). He goes on to compare the treatment of Southern slaves as equivalent to that of hired help in the North. Smith seems on one hand to implore the White master to better the circumstances of his slaves in order to save his very soul from damnation, while on the other to denounce the efforts of the Northern advocates of freedom. He truly believes in a system of slavery wherein the slave is completely satisfied with his lot in life, and the landowner finds himself a benevolent overseer who will profit in life and in heaven. The other two sections of Smiths call to righteous treatment of slaves follow a vein similar to the first. He repeatedly denounces those masters who violate his ideal image of slavery while insisting on the justness and necessity of the institution itself. While Smiths ideal slavery leads the reader to envision sunny pastures with young Black slave children frolicking and elders laughing and singing merrily, Douglasss account of real slave life offers a startling contrast. All of the Christian mandates of Smiths slavery are turned asunder, and, in fact, it is the very observance of the religion which causes some of the harshest abuses to occur. Born a slave on a Maryland plantation, Douglass witnesses repeated acts of brutality upon the adult slaves in his company. The rumored son of the master, Douglass is given some favor in his early years, although he is never fed or clothed enough. Held up to Smiths view of slavery, Douglasss constant hunger and discomfort seem all the more intolerable. If one compares the specifics, Smiths work calls for slaves to be offered a variety of the plantations food, cooked well and prepared ahead of time so that slaves may enjoy good nutrition and take two-hour lunches to properly digest their meal. Douglasss reality, a measly monthly supply of pork or fish and corn meal doled out uncooked, makes Smiths (1856) vision of the early roasting ear, the ripe fruit, the melons, the potatoes, the fat stock(pp. 297-298) seem like paradise for a slave. In contrast, Douglass, in chapter 3, describes a large and plentiful garden that slaves were routinely whipped for stealing from. Later, living with another master, Edward Covey, Douglass and his fellow slaves are afforded 5 minutes to eat before returning to the field to work until midnight. Douglasss account of his years in bondage read like a response to Smith at every turn. Douglass recounts continual starvation and discomfort, a world wherein his only clothing as a child was a linen shirt. While Smith talks of coats, hats, and shoes, Douglass speaks of children from 7 to ten years old running naked in winter for lack of clothing. While Smith discusses the necessity for comfortable beds and encourages the master to set up separate quarters to encourage fidelity and morality among slaves he believes are less geared toward fidelity than Whites, Douglass speaks with disgust of unrelated groups of people huddled together on dirt floors sharing a blanket in winter. Douglasss journey lands him in completely different circumstances when he is taken to live in Baltimore with family members of his master, and he shows a different side of slave life in the city. However, perhaps the greatest indictment against Smiths Christian ideal comes when the mistress of the house changes her demeanor from warm, humane, and welcoming to harsh and cruel under the fatal poison of irresponsible power (Douglass, 1845, p 18). Douglass (1845) notes that the cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage (p. 18). Douglass shows how, no matter what steps one may take to set a proper course for slavery, to offer the best of worlds for all involved, the premise cannot but collapse under the weight of its injustice. Setting a proper course for slavery is suddenly seen as being as impossible as setting a proper and just course for murder or betrayal. In Douglasss experience, the inhumanity of slavery leads to dead souls performing hideous acts upon their subjects. There is no room for benevolent treatment in a reality based on the subjugation and demoralization of others. Perhaps the most striking difference between the two mens view comes in the story of Douglasss outcast grandmother. He describes how, after raising generations of a plantation owners family as well as her own, she is left alone in the woods in a hovel to fend for herself, far from the care of her extended family. Smith asks the reader why it should be difficult to afford the elderly the soothing hand of relatives in his or her final days, and he implores the master to see that the older slaves are given the respect and care they have a right to. There is a grave sadness in the story of Douglasss grandmother who, treated like chattel, is offered no such comfort. If Douglasss account leaves the reader with anything, it is the impression that religion and the benefit of being on the fortunate side of a brutal reality have pulled the wool over Smiths eyes. It is hard to imagine that Smiths reflections are a mere cover for his undying support for slavery; he truly seems to believe that Christian charity, manifest destiny, and the rights of everyone involved can merge to form an ideal state of slavery. It is his undying belief in the inferiority of the African slave that ultimately makes him comfortable with the situation. One sees, however, that it is no secret to even the least experienced master that if you teach [a slave] how to read, there would be no keeping him (Douglass, 1845, p. 20). That one fear aloneeducating the slavewould not be a fear if the slave were truly the inferior creature described in Smiths accounts. And Douglass, who eventually does just what the White master fears, provides evidence that there can exist no happy bondage, Christian or other, among human beings. References Douglass, Frederick (1845). Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Boston: The Antislavery Office. Smith, William A. (1856). Lectures on the Philosophy and Practice of Slavery. Nashville: Stevenson and Evans.

Im with the Band

Im with the Band With todays competitive market, I think many authors are failing to make an income because they havent decided what kind of author they are. Knowing what level youre willing to work, how much time you have, and your goals determine your success. Like rock bands, authors need to know where they stand: Garage bands For as long as I can remember, musicians have been trying to break into the industry. They start out as garage bands, to which I liken a writer who writes to publish. Someone who likes to share their work with their few followers of friends and family. They are content here or they wish to grow. But this is the type of writer who doesnt work their business as an author. They do it more for fun. Cover artists This group of musicians has established a following and has proven talented enough to be booked Local bands This group writes their own music, they practice on a regular basis, and are serious about their music, but many of them still hold a day job. A local band that plays its own songs stands out and builds a following. They may record their own music and submit to various venues or record labels, hoping to really break in to the music industry. And you know what? Some of them eventually do. They work hard, get better, get discovered, and get their big break. In the publishing world, this is that indie press that takes a chance on an unknown author. They front the cost, help publicize the book, and encourage their author to study and improve their craft. Or that self-published author who knows how to work their business. Some of these authors work hard to build their brand through marketing. Some may even get to quit their day jobs. Superstar The superstar is the musician who has proven their worth, can sell out shows, and produce new and relevant music on a continual basis. They treat their music career like a job, not relying on inspiration to motivate their record release or song writing, and they are constantly improving their skills. Theyve made it! An author reaching superstar status doesnt have to be equated with J.K. Rowling or Stephen King. To me, superstar status is when people beyond your scope of friends and family are buying your books, and when that day job moves farther in the background or becomes non-existent. They work hard and know that they have a show to put on regardless of whether or not they feel like being creative. Think of it this way: You may invest a year or two writing, editing, and publishing your book. Thats two years salary, and you should expect to make $20-$50K, right, depending on what you currently do for work, of course. So, my question is: Are you worth it? Is your manuscript polished enough to be worth that sort of an investment? Is your story original enough to gain a fan base? Are you working your book career as if it were a business to earn that salary? These are questions every author should ask; and if the answer is no, then its time to start taking those steps to perfect your craft in order to answer, YES!

As Well As Does Not Mean And

As Well As Does Not Mean And â€Å"As Well As† Does Not Mean â€Å"And† â€Å"As Well As† Does Not Mean â€Å"And† By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Will you please comment on the use of â€Å"as well as† as used below: â€Å"Deng Xiaoping made a significant contribution with his theoretical courage of Marxism,  matter-of-fact attitude, rich experience, as well as his foresight and sagacity.† â€Å"As well as† doesn’t seem to me to be equivalent to â€Å"and.† According to Merriam-Webster, â€Å"as well as† is equivalent to and: as well as conjunction: and in addition, and. According to The Chicago Manual of Style, however, it is not: Note that the phrase as well as is not equivalent to and. WRONG: The team fielded one Mazda, two Corvettes, three Bugattis, as well as a battered Plymouth Belvedere. RIGHT: The team fielded one Mazda, two Corvettes, and three Bugattis, as well as a battered Plymouth Belvedere.- 6.18 The phrase â€Å"as well as† and the single word and are not equivalents because and joins two elements of equal importance, but â€Å"as well as† places more emphasis on one of the elements. Compare: My dog and cat bring me things to throw. My cat and dog bring me things to throw. My cat, as well as my dog, brings me things to throw. In the first two sentences, no distinction is made between cat and dog. In the third sentence, an unequal emphasis is placed upon cat, suggesting that there is something notable about the action as it applies to the cat. This use of â€Å"as well as† is similar to the correlative â€Å"not onlybut also,† but the emphasis falls on the element that precedes â€Å"as well as.† Note: When â€Å"as well as† is mistakenly perceived to mean and, problems of agreement arise. Chicago addresses this in Paragraph 5.133: [The intervening â€Å"as well as†] seems to create a compound subject, and [a] modifying prepositional phrase may itself contain one or more plural objects. If the singular verb sounds awkward in such a sentence, it may be better to use the conjunction and instead: WRONG: The bride as well as her bridesmaids were dressed in mauve. RIGHT: The bride as well as her bridesmaids was dressed in mauve. BETTER: The bride and her bridesmaids were dressed in mauve. If no contrasting emphasis is intended, and is the better choice. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Yiddish Handbook: 40 Words You Should KnowThat vs. WhichUses of the Past Participle

The Nature of Human Conflicts Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Nature of Human Conflicts - Coursework Example People hold different beliefs about their environment, sometimes this brings about conflict if at all laws put across do not acknowledge ones interests. From this people tend to believe that laws are only made for the interest of that in power and not for the interest of the whole society (Kalinich, 2000, p. 35). Conflicts can also emanate from our genetic composition. These involves our reasoning and mental capacity. Every individual has a unique genes passed from one generation to another. The ability of ones understanding of the law depends on his brain capacity whether he is of sound mind or not (Kalinich, 2000, p. 38). There are different managerial typologies that are used to describe police administrators approach to conflict resolution one being scientific management. Here the police come up with a defined method of handling different criminal charges; in addition to that the judicial criminal system tries to come up with ways in which the police can carry out their duties without disruption to ensure efficiency (Kalinich, 2000, p. 102). The second managerial approach is process approach. These are different processes take place in a criminal justice agency to ensure resolution of conflicts. The police ensure discipline at all cost. Work is divided on line of specialization and directions are offered from authority in place. Another managerial typology focuses on human needs. It is important to notice that every individual ha s different needs. The most important ones are basic needs also known as physiological needs. These needs are well described by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs (Kalinich, 2000, p.

Race and Educational Inequalities in the United States of America Essay

Race and Educational Inequalities in the United States of America - Essay Example This essay stresses that educators, teachers and men as well as women of conscience living within communities have also made a substantial effort to diminish inequalities in education, improve access and also to enhance the quality of education within the country. After a great struggle for the achievement of equality in education and for the reform of the school system, it can be argued that by and large the government does try to provide schools in which it is possible for children to acquire a decent education. Spending by the government on education in the United States of America is the highest in all OECD countries. This paper makes a conclusion that substantial effort has been made to adequately provide for education in the country, it can only be inferred that some other social phenomenon is interfering with the processes associated with educating children and presenting the gaps that are obvious in educational statistics. Although teachers can try to impart quality education in schools, it becomes very difficult for them to correct the problems that children may be facing outside of school, because the resources are limited and classes can be large. A child does not get educated in school only and is also educated at home. Although, a government can try to assist with improving the poverty situation and perhaps try to correct problems that are encountered in tough neighborhoods, it is difficult for a government to change the culture that is made available to a child at home and to change racial culture, unless the problems are severe.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Essay Example for Free

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet Essay Lord Capulet is partially at fault because he told Juliet to take her time and find someone she loves to get married. As well as Friar Laurence because he made hasty decisions about marrying behind the backs of their parents. Romeo and Juliet because they went behind everyone’s back at such a young age to marry one another. In the tragic love story Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespeare, Friar Laurence, Romeo, Juliet, and Lord Capulet are all at fault for Romeo and Juliet killing themselves because the use of hasty decisions. Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father, was making hasty decisions by trying to over whelm all the sadness from Tybalt’s death with the ‘good’ news of Juliet’s wedding with Paris. He tells Juliet that she is going to marry Paris that Thursday and it will be a big celebration. Only a day later he changes the date from that Thursday to a day before, Wednesday. Capulet was not the only one to make hasty decisions, Friar Laurence did as well. He was the one that agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet behind their families back. In the intro to scene six it says â€Å"†¦the two confess their loves for each other and prepare to get married by the friar†. Friar Laurence also gave Juliet the potion that would make her seem like she was dead for â€Å"two and forty hours†. Romeo and Juliet were also to blame for their deaths though. They are the ones who made the hasty decision to marry behind their parents’ backs. They were only thirteen and about sixteen as well. If Romeo had been there to talk to Juliet he would have known what was going on and he wouldn’t have killed himself because he would have known that Juliet was still alive. If Romeo didn’t kill himself neither would have Juliet. So, there were many people to blame in the deaths of the very tragic yet romantic Romeo and Juliet; Lord Capulet, Friar Laurence, and of course, themselves Romeo and Juliet.

Covert Control in Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres Essay -- Smiley Thous

Covert Control in A Thousand Acres Though there are instances of overt control and destruction performed by the patriarchy upon both women and nature, the most pervasive forms the Apollonian controlling impulse takes, are covert. What Ginny says about Larry, also goes for the system of which he is the ultimate signifier: "I feel like there's treacherous undercurrents all the time. I think I'm standing on solid ground, but then I discover that there's something moving underneath it, shifting from place to place."(104). The most striking example of this, is of course the secret of the incest. But throughout the novel, there is an interplay of social imperatives and individual expression, a power struggle of discourses. This struggle is hidden under a shiny hard surface maintained by patriarchal control, as when Jess left for Canada to avoid the draft and "slipped into the category of the unmentionable" (6), or in Ty's own desires having to be "camouflaged with smiles and hopes and patience" until he becomes his own mask; "casting no shadow, radiating no heat" (306). As signified by the motif of the tiles, and its many metaphoric implications, the community that Ginny lives in, especially her family, is ruled by a network of masks concealing the real motivations of people. For Ginny, this is even internalized into her understanding of her own body as layered with meaning: I seemed, on the surface, to be continually talking to myself, giving myself instructions or admonishments, asking myself what I really wanted, making comparisons, busily working my rational faculties over every aspect of Jess and my feelings for him as if there were actually something to decide. Beneath this voice, flowing more sweetly, was t... ... semiotic, even that has been contaminated by the poison of Apollonian control. This covert control -in farming, capitalism, and discourse- is part and parcel of the land and its people, and it always has been: "You [Ty, but by implication everybody in this system] see this grand history, but I see blows. I see taking what you want because you want it, then making something up that justifies what you did. I see getting others to pay the price, then covering up and forgetting what the price was. Do I think Daddy came up with beating and fucking us on his own?[...] No. I think he had lessons, and those lesons were part of the package, along with the land and the lust to run things exactly the way he wanted to no matter what, poisoning the water and destroying the topsoil and buying bigger and bigger machinery..." (342-343) Destroying the poison jar may be futile. Covert Control in Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres Essay -- Smiley Thous Covert Control in A Thousand Acres Though there are instances of overt control and destruction performed by the patriarchy upon both women and nature, the most pervasive forms the Apollonian controlling impulse takes, are covert. What Ginny says about Larry, also goes for the system of which he is the ultimate signifier: "I feel like there's treacherous undercurrents all the time. I think I'm standing on solid ground, but then I discover that there's something moving underneath it, shifting from place to place."(104). The most striking example of this, is of course the secret of the incest. But throughout the novel, there is an interplay of social imperatives and individual expression, a power struggle of discourses. This struggle is hidden under a shiny hard surface maintained by patriarchal control, as when Jess left for Canada to avoid the draft and "slipped into the category of the unmentionable" (6), or in Ty's own desires having to be "camouflaged with smiles and hopes and patience" until he becomes his own mask; "casting no shadow, radiating no heat" (306). As signified by the motif of the tiles, and its many metaphoric implications, the community that Ginny lives in, especially her family, is ruled by a network of masks concealing the real motivations of people. For Ginny, this is even internalized into her understanding of her own body as layered with meaning: I seemed, on the surface, to be continually talking to myself, giving myself instructions or admonishments, asking myself what I really wanted, making comparisons, busily working my rational faculties over every aspect of Jess and my feelings for him as if there were actually something to decide. Beneath this voice, flowing more sweetly, was t... ... semiotic, even that has been contaminated by the poison of Apollonian control. This covert control -in farming, capitalism, and discourse- is part and parcel of the land and its people, and it always has been: "You [Ty, but by implication everybody in this system] see this grand history, but I see blows. I see taking what you want because you want it, then making something up that justifies what you did. I see getting others to pay the price, then covering up and forgetting what the price was. Do I think Daddy came up with beating and fucking us on his own?[...] No. I think he had lessons, and those lesons were part of the package, along with the land and the lust to run things exactly the way he wanted to no matter what, poisoning the water and destroying the topsoil and buying bigger and bigger machinery..." (342-343) Destroying the poison jar may be futile.

Discussing ‘Phonics They Use: Words for Reading and Writing’ Essay

Learning ‘phonics’ for reading and writing improves a science class, indeed. Cunningham’s book shows vivacity and optimism; free from obscure and often pretentious language marked by circumlocutions and long words. As an analysis, the author determines the significance of a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic value of letters, letter groups, and especially syllables, particularly for the high school science class. However, there are circumstances in which a high school science teacher becomes annoyed and aggravated; since, he/she handles science class, it is no longer his/her job to teach the pronunciation(s) of every science and/or technological terminologies/terms, which should be undergone during an English class. Thus, it is a waste of time. Part five of the book (Coaching, Assessment, Research, and Jargon) brings with methodological conceptions, assessment and theory for teaching students one-on-one. Examples concern â€Å"beginning reading strategies† (p. 173), â€Å"sight word, decoding, and spelling behaviors† (p. 177), and a marking system for any 100-word reading assessment (p. 175). The Theory and the Research—The Why Underlying the How (chapter 14) shows an assessment on phonics (a method of teaching beginners to read and pronounce words by learning the phonetic value of letters). As an analysis of the entire view, it is necessary for a high school science teacher to use such an educational tool and take the required test of phonics jargon. Hence, using phonics is an aid not only for a high school science teacher but also for the whole class, indeed. Cited Works Cunningham, Patricia. â€Å"Phonics They Use: Words for Reading and Writing. † Fourth Edition. New Jersey: Published by Allyn & Bacon, 2004. 224p.

Middle-Range Theory Continues to Guide Nursing Practice

Middle Range Theory Continues to Guide Nursing Practice Lisa M. Sanford Maryville University Middle Range Theory Continues to Guide Nursing Practice Nursing theory has three distinct categories to describe the level of abstraction: Grand, Middle-Range, and Situation-Specific (Meleis, 2012, p. 33). Hugh McKenna (1997) defined these three categories, stating: Grand theory is highly abstract and is broad in scope. Middle-range theory is more focused and is normally the end product of a research study.Narrow-range theory is even more specific and while also being based on research findings, it guides specific actions in the achievement of desirable goals (p. 17). When thinking about nursing theory, one might ask: What is the purpose of theory? Is it even relevant to current nursing practice? The best response to answer these questions I have found is from Meleis (2012): The primary uses of theory are to provide insights about nursing practice situations and to guide research. Through int eraction with practice, theory is shaped and guidelines for practice evolve.Research validates, refutes, and/or modifies theory as well as generates new theory. Theory then guides practice (p. 35). This explanation of theory by Meleis identifies nursing as a profession. Without theory to shape and guide nursing practice and research, nursing would not evolve and would remain stagnant. Additionally, without theory could nurses really claim that we are a profession? I think not. I believe that theory is necessary for the identity of nursing as a profession verses a vocation.The nursing profession as a whole has had issues with identity for various reasons. I believe this to be true in part due to the numerous educational ways of entering the profession. I cannot think of any other field where one could earn either a diploma, two-year associate’s degree or a four-year baccalaureate degree as a starting point into a profession. The educational debate still continues, however, in recent years more emphasis is being made to have the baccalaureate nurse the entry level of the nursing profession.Evidence from research has suggested that the baccalaureate-prepared nurse is associated with a five percent lower mortality rates in both the likelihood of patients dying within 30 days of admission and the odds of failure to rescue in hospitalized clients (Aiken, Clarke, Cheung, Sloane, & Silber, 2003, p. 1617). This research study was conducted because nursing is a profession. Would research in nursing even exist if there were no theory? All in all, taken to its end, the loss of theory could mean the demise of nursing as a profession.When reflecting on current trends of clinical practice, I feel that middle-range theories are more applicable. Middle-range theories are broad enough to incorporate in everyday clinical practice for the average floor nurse without being too narrow in scope as the situation-specific theories. Additionally, middle-range theories are less a bstract than grand theories and are easier to relate to and put into practice (Liehr & Smith, 1999, p. 85). One example of applying middle-range nursing theory into practice is patient education. Patient education is a major focus of the clients I serve post transplant.It is imperative that a newly transplanted client understand his/her medications that are such an integral part of their new life in order to maintain the transplanted organ. â€Å"Caring through Relation and Dialogue: A Middle-Range Theory for Patient Education is derived from the two disciplines of nursing and education† (Sanford, 2000, p. 8). According to Sanford (2000), A middle-range theory addressing the phenomenon of patient education through caring can add clarity and direction to this area of concern for nursing, and it can provide an opportunity to link theory, practice, and research (p. ). Caring and dialogue are described in this theory as follows: Dialogue is a process of naming our world. It is a process that opens the possibility for participants to pose problems, to critically reflect, and to perceive solutions not previously realized. This process occurs within a caring relation where the carer and the cared-for exhibit receptivity and engage in â€Å"reflection, invitation, assessment, revision, and further exploration† (p. 9). Another example of the applicability of middle-range theory is the theory of care transitions.A hot topic in today’s times involves hospital acquired conditions (HACs) and readmission rates. Medicare expenditures are estimated at $15 billion annually due to readmissions (Averill, et al. , 2009, p. 1). As a result, policymakers have implemented the The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which eliminates any increase in hospital payments due to the occurrence of HACs. Furthermore, it is viewed that high readmission rates are a reflection of poor quality, and ospital payments for readmissions were recommended in the FY2010 budget from the O bama Administration to reduce payments for readmissions as one way of controlling Medicare expenditures (Averill, et al. , 2009, p. 1). As a staff nurse, I am all aware of the importance of HACs and the importance of diligent documentation. For example, when a client is admitted a thorough assessment is completed. Wounds and skin breakdown are crucial to document upon an admission or a transferred client to our division.If the documentation of skin assessment is not completed correctly, then the â€Å"blame† is placed on our unit for an ulceration if it was not charted within 24 hours of admission. What are the causes or issues that surround care transitions? Increasingly fragmented care is one reason associated with hospital readmission rates. Issues include communication breakdowns related to plans of care, unclear expectations, uncertainty about illness trajectories, lack of continuity in medical follow-up, and incomplete or inaccurate understanding of medication regimens (Geary & Schumacher, 2012, p. 237).In my practice of nursing, the utilization of inpatient care management for clients begins upon admission in preparation for discharge. A multidisciplinary approach of the transplant team includes the doctors, inpatient nurses, social workers, dieticians, case coordinators, post-transplant coordinators, and transplant pharmacists working together to coordinate and ensure continuity of care upon discharge. According to Geary & Schumacher (2012), â€Å"Through the transition process, agents act and interact within relationship with each other, causing emergence of new behaviors and outcomes.Just as important, through supportive dialogue and discussion, sensemaking is enabled for everyone involved in the transition, effectively reenvisioning multiple understandings of the situation and changing outcomes for the better† (p. 246). Middle-range nursing theories can be viewed as a cookbook for nursing. There are many recipies in the middle-range th eories which can be utilized by the average hospital-based nurse in a variety of ways. In any given 12-hour shift of a nurse, there are several theories which can be applied to specific situations.I have unknowingly used nursing theory in my practice over the years. This course has brought to my attention the diverse ways in which I have used middle-range nursing theories and has given me a better understanding of how nursing theory is applied to current clinical nursing practice. It is my opinion that middle-range nursing theories will continue to guide nursing practice throughout the 21st Century. References Aiken, L. H. , Clarke, S. P. , Cheung, R. B. , Sloane, D. M. , & Silber, J. H. (2003).Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 290(12), 1617-1623. Averill, R. F. , McCullough, E. C. , Hughes, J. S. , Goldfield, N. I. , Vertrees, J. , & Fuller, R. L. (2009, Summer). Redisigning the Medicare Inpatient PPS to Reduce Payments to Hospitals with High Readmission Rates. Health Care Financing Review, 30(4), 1-15. Geary, C. R. , & Schumacher, K. L. (2012). Care Transitions: Integrating Transition Theory and Complexity Science Concepts.Advances in Nursing Science, 35(3), 236-248. Liehr, P. , & Smith, M. J. (1999). Middle Range Theory: Spinning Research and Practice to Create Knowledge forthe New Millennium. Advances in Nursing Science, 21(4) 81-91. McKenn, H. (1997). Nursing Theories and Models. New York: Routledge. Meleis, A. I. (2012). Theoretical Nursing Development and Progress (5th ed. ). Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. Sanford, R. (2000, March). Caring through Relation and Dialogue: A Nursing Perspective for Patient Education. Advances in Nursing Science, 22(3), 1-15.

Beazer Homes USA Inc Business Analysis Essay

Beazer Homes USA Inc Business Analysis Essay Beazer Homes USA Inc Business Analysis Essay Beazer Homes USA Inc Business Analysis Essay Financial statements analysis involves evaluation of an organization’s previous financial performance and determination of future performance based on information that has been obtained. Analyzing a firm’s financial performance does not only require the capability of an analyzer to sense and judge, but also requires application of analytical techniques. Analyzing Financial Statements: Beazer Homes USA INC The organization’s financial data and information are used by various stakeholders as well as those individuals who want to invest in the organization in one way or the other. Some of these stakeholders include creditors, investors, suppliers, employees, the government, competitors, and proprietors of the organization. Creditors require firm’s financial information in order to determine if the organization is or is not in a stable financial position to repay credit extended to it. Investors require the firm’s financial information in order to decide whether or not to invest in the organization. The information enables them to determine the firm’s ability to make profit with invested finances. In turn, competitors use the firm’s financial information to compare its performance with the other firm and improve areas in which it has lagged behind. Owners or proprietors of an organization use its financial statements to know how their business is perform ing compared to previous years as well as determining its financial position, which enables them to make decisions about the company. Lastly, the government has to get firm’s financial statements to calculate how much it is going to charge as tax depending on the firm’s returns. This paper analyzes Beazer Home USA Inc., a Fortune 500 American homebuilding organization founded in 1985 and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm builds and sells single family as well as multiple family homes in over twenty states of the US. It offers homes for entry levels, moving up, as well as retirement-oriented buyers. The company sells its products under its unique brand of Beazer Homes. Moreover, under the application of a commissioned new home, it engages qualified sales counselors as well as individual brokers. Determination of ratios of a company has emerged as one of the most significant ways of analyzing financial information. This paper provides a clear picture of the company’s financial performance and the information obtained will be necessary in comparing the data of the company with its previous data and with other companies in the same industry. Ratios Calculation and Evaluation Current ratio is determined by the process of division of current assets of a business by its current liabilities: Current ratio = current assets/current liabilities It determines whether or not an organization has sufficient cash in order to meet its current liabilities over the following fiscal year of its operations. The ratio obtained is considered as a test of liquidity for the firm. It determines if the organization has enough cash to meet its short-term liabilities with current assets it has. On the one hand, short-term creditors would rather go for a high current ratio than a low credit ratio since it draws down their general risk. On the other hand, they may prefer a higher current ratio because they are more concerned about growth of the firm by using its assets. A current ratio has twice the current assets as current liabilities are acceptable by most investors although the ratio may vary from one investor to another. A high current ratio indicates that the organization is holding high capital in the form of current assets. With Beazer Homes USA Inc., current assets increased from $5.12 million to $10.7 million, which shows that the liquidity state improved in 2016 (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2017). Quick ratio = current assets inventory/ current liabilities The high quick ratio proves that the organization has the ability to recover its short-term debts from its liquid assets. Most importantly, there is a huge distinction between current and quick ratios due to the fact that the company has enormous inventory. Also, it can be seen in the balance sheet that the company has increased its highly liquid investments that can be easily turned into cash. Cash ratio generally looks at the ability to cover liabilities more than other liquidity ratios. This is because it does not include inventories or accounts receivables in the equation. The cash ratio remained constant for the years 2016 and 2017. Long-Term Solvency /Financial Leverage Ratios Total debt ratio = total assets-total equity/total assets Total debt is the amount of long-term interest bearing liabilities, which an organization performs on its balance sheet. It includes bonds that have been sold out to the public, capital leases, or even notes sold to banks. The advantage of debt is that it can assist an organization in increasing its earnings although the burden of interest and principle payments will ultimately prevent the company from excessive borrowing. Debt equity ratio = total debt/total equity Debt to equity ratio is calculated by a process of division of the total debt of an organization by its equity. If the debt exceeds equity of an organization, then creditors have a bigger stake in the company than stakeholders. Debt to equity generally offers more insight about the composition of both equity and debt as well as their influence on the valuation of the organization. The debt/ equity for Beazer Inc. was 7.02. Such a small debt to equity ratio shows that the firm is not taking full advantage of its financial leverage. However, a high debt to equity ratio may indicate that a company has been borrowing too much to finance its growth. This may make the firm experience a burden of additional interest expense. The ratio measures how the organization is leveraging borrowing compared to the capital invested by investors. Equity multiplier = total assets/total equity     ($1,986,789 $240,550/$1,986,789 = 87.9%) Times interest earned ratio = EBIT/Interest Cash coverage ratio=EBIT+DEPRECIATION/interest Debt Ratios 2017 2018 Total Debt Ratio 86.8% 87.9% Debt/ Equity Ratio 72.9% 65.9% Equity Multiplier 7.55 8.26 Times Interest Earned 50.2 30 Cash Coverage Ratio 0 0 The above ratios measure the extent to which the firm is financed by debt and whether the firm is in a position to meet its interest payments. Debt to total assets ratio suggests that the firm had more debt financing in 2017 than before, but it is not a considerable amount of change compared to the previous year. Debt/equity ratio has increased from 87.9% to 86.8%. Debt financing is extremely high and will possibly increase the EPS and therefore will reduce the dividend per share, assuming that it will keep on increasing. Equity multiplier is stable by 0.71, which means that the company has 0.71 in assets for every 1$ in shareholder equity. Times interest earned decreased from 50.2 to 30, which suggests more risk for creditors since they fear that they cannot get their interest. Also, it will be very difficult for the firm to borrow additional funds. Cash coverage ratio cannot be determined because the firm does not show depreciation in the balance sheet. Asset Utilization/Turnover Ratios These ratios are to show how quickly the firm converts its current assets into cash. A/R turnover and days sales in receivables show that the firm is efficient in collecting its receivables and it gives a very short credit period to customers. It also indicates that the organization is too strict in its credit policy and takes only favorable trends. Total asset turnover faces an increase from 0.51 to 0.65, which could be caused by efficiency of controlling assets or the firm’s proper utilization of its assets to generate sales. Lastly, capacity intensity suggests that there is inefficiency in deployment of its assets although expenses are still very low. Profitability Ratios Profit margin measures the overall work of an organization and shows the company’s ability to withstand competition and resist adverse conditions like rising costs, decrease in sales, and decrease in prices, or even management distress. The profit margin shows investors how well the company carries out its entire pricing strategies and how effective the organization is in controlling its costs. Generally, profit margin tells the amount of money the organization makes from total sales or revenue. It can offer a good insight into firms in the same industry and assist in learning trends of an organization from year to year. Beazer Homes USA Inc. shows a profit margin of -1.0%, which is 37.11% lower than the average in the industrial goods sector. Return on assets, ROA, shows how effective the management of an organization is in creating income by using all available assets. It is an important ratio that assists in evaluating performance of various departments of an organization and comprehending management performance over a period of time. Return on equity (ROE) = net income/ total equity Return on equity tells organization’s stockholders how well their investment is being used or invested. It is a vital ratio when analyzing the organization’s profitability or management effectiveness given the capital invested by investors. Return on equity shows how well an organization uses investment to create income. In most industries, ROE between 10 and 30 percent is considered as desirable to offer dividends to its investors and have money for the growth of the organization in future. When using return on equity, investors should be keen because ROE can be high if an organization is heavily leveraged. From the calculation for Beazer Homes USA Inc., the return on equity is -6.28%, 25.5% lower than that of the industry. Profit margin ratio illustrates the amount of profit realized for every single dollar of the company’s sales. A low ratio may suggest that expenses as a percentage of sales are high or that the firm cannot sell enough to cover them. Net income has drastically dropped from -14.45% to -2.63% due to high expenses of the company. Net loss was $145,326 million and decreased by $33,868 million in 2016 (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2016). Return on assets ratio measures the amount of profit generated for every dollar invested in assets. This ratio showed a drastic decrease in 2016. The ratio is made by a combination of profit margin and total asset turnover. It is clear that the drop in the ratio is due to the lower profit margin and total assets turnover. A low ratio is unfavorable and a deeper analysis should be done to increase the profit margin. Return on Equity shows profit generated by the firm for every dollar invested by shareholders, as well as the management performance. Management is looking for a higher ratio, but unfortunately 46% decrease was seen in 2017. Return on equity is composed of three major constituents, including: Profit margin (operational efficiency), which indicates a huge drop. Total assets turnover (utilization of assets), which decreased as well. Capital structure, the use of debt financing, i.e. leverage. It is clear that there was a dramatic drop in profit margin and decrease in the total asset turnover indicates that the management is ineffective. Moreover, it suggests that the company is not effective in using its assets to generate sales. Comprehensive Report Most importantly, many organizations are aimed at maintaining their current ratio as 1 in order to ensure that their current assets can cover their current liabilities. On the one hand, current ratio that is greater than 1, as in the case of Beazer Homes USA Inc. at 8, cushions the organization against future contingencies that might arise in the short term. On the other hand, the current ratio of this organization is way too high. This implies that the company is using its resources inefficiently and that the resources are concentrated in the working capital of the company, which could be put in other revenue generating activities. All in all, this company is better than those, which maintain a much lower current ratio since they tend to risk their companies. That is due to the fact that liquidity matters should be accounted for in every company. Quick ratio, as noted before, is an indicator of the organization’s solvency and should be analyzed over regular periods of time, just like current ratio. Quick ratio of Beazer Homes is still high despite the fact that it has been reduced in the current year compared to the previous year. This implies that this company is investing too much with available working capital of the firm, which could be invested somewhere else and still generate more profit than it is currently generating. This company should consider investing cash in other new ventures or if there are no other available and more profitable ventures, it should then return excess funds to shareholders as profit or use them to cover borrowed finances. In any case, the fact that Beazer Homes USA Inc.’s quick ratio is high makes the company better than others in the industry, which have very low quick ratio, implying that such companies take great risks by not balancing the buffer of liquid resources. Moreover, the debt to equity ratio of Beazer Homes USA Inc. is 0.65. This implies that the organization uses debt financing equal to 65% of equity. This is a reduction when compared to the previous year when it used 75% of debt financing. In both cases, the debt to equity ratio is relatively high. Such high debt to equity ratio increases chances of the company’s default in repayment, which may result in liquidation. This may be dangerous to all stakeholders of this organization, especially investors and lenders, since it increases the risk associated with their investment. This in turn may force them to demand a higher rate of return to cover additional risks. Such increases in required rate of return by lenders and investors will consequently increase the cost of capital for Beazer Homes USA Inc. However, the high ratio of debt to equity for this company could imply a positive concept as well. This is so since debt is sometimes a cheaper source of finance when compared with e quity due to tax savings associated with the latter. Therefore, the company can maintain the ratio at a high level, but not at an extremely high one because very high ratio may cancel the benefit that is associated with this concept. This is because high ratio will be met by investors’ and lenders’ high rate of returns due to the risk associated with such high levels of debt. It is therefore crucial for this company to measure the debt to equity ratio and maintain it at a reasonable level. Net profit margin ratio: As discussed earlier, profit margin ratio indicates the proportion of revenue that turns into profit. In this case, the Beazer Homes USA Inc. had a profit margin of -2.63% in 2017. This was an improvement compared to 2016 when the margin was -14%. The fact that this figure is negative indicates that the company actually suffered losses. This ratio is a crucial and fundamental key performance indicator of the organization’s profitability. The decrease in the net profit margin ratio from -14% to -2% is a significant change that probably contributed to increased sales coupled with efforts of the company to reduce the rate of expenses involved in buying and constructing homes. The low profit margin of 2016 could be explained by existence of a competitive environment in this industry, which consequently influenced such factors as selling price, cost structure, and cost of factors of production and inflation. The company might have done a research and come u p with ways of reducing the cost of production as well as that of sale in 2017, hence explaining improvement in profit margin. The total revenue increased by 28% from 2016 to 2017, which indicates that the company is making more sales by selling houses, but with more expenses. The company experienced a very high drop in profitability and ended up with high cost and expenses that resulted in losses in previous years. Home construction and sales expenses increased by 20%, which raised expenses. The cost of revenue increased from $1,005,677 to $1,287,577 (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2017). From the analysis it is evident that Beazer Homes USA Inc. is still performing well compared to previous years because there is a significant reduction in losses in 2017 compared to 2016. The loss amounted to $145,326 to $33,868 in 2016 and 2017 respectively (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 2014). In case the company can decrease the cost of building homes and get cheaper land, it will eventually stop making losses, which will significantly boost its profits. Beazer experienced a large amount of expenses although the revenue shows further growth compared to the previous year, which is a good sign. However, the main sources of loss included home and land sale expenses, depreciation, and amortization. Furthermore, it is evident that it is hard to predict whether these expenses could result in profit because the cost of expenses was increasing faster than the revenue that the company should have maintained or increased steadily. This company needs a clear plan in order to reduce its expenses. As it can be seen from the analysis, main causes of these losses were related to operational costs. Fixed costs did not contribute immensely to high expenses. With a proper and well-controlled business plan, the company will be in a position to make profits and increase earnings for its investors since the market for its products, homes, is in demand and the company is competing relatively well in this market. This paper has discussed financial analysis of Beazer Homes USA Inc. The financial statements have shown a consistent increase in total revenue over three years. However, the firm is still in a phase of low or no profits, which is explained by high expenses, especially the cost of home construction and cost of buying land. The paper has explored liquidity ratios for this company. It has looked at the current ratio, which measures whether or not an organization has enough cash to meet its current liabilities over the next fiscal year. The ratio obtained for this company is very high, 8 times, and this is a positive indication although it also shows that the company is not efficient in using its available working capital. The quick ratio at 2.54 proves that the organization has the ability to meet its short-term liabilities from its liquid assets. The same concerns its cash ratio, which generally looks at the ability to cover liabilities in more depth than other liquidity ratios, altho ugh it remained constant for two years. The paper has also analyzed profitability ratios of the company. Profit margin has been among them and it indicates that there is a great improvement from -14% to -2% despite the fact that the company is still making losses. Return on assets showed a significant drop to 1% from 7% and the return on equity had a 46% decrease in 2016. Asset utilization or turnover ratio shows how quickly the firm converts its current assets into cash. The total asset utilization is low at 0.5 times although it is an improvement from the previous year’s 0.65%. Lastly, the paper has discussed the financial leverage ratio, which measures the extent to which the firm is financed by debt and whether the firm is in a position to meet its interest payments. This company was financed at the level of 86% and 87% in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

How GPA Conversion Works, With Charts

How GPA Conversion Works, With Charts SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Because final class grades are usually given either as letters (A-, B+, etc.) or as percentiles (87, 92, and so on), you might be a little stuck onhow to convert them into the decimals used to calculate GPA. No worries - this article is here to help! Keep reading to see how to translate all your grades into GPA-ready numbers. What Is a GPA? GPA stands for "grade point average" and it is exactly that: an average of all the final class grades that you received during your high school career.The GPA scale converts the letter and percentile grades your school gives youinto a decimaltypically ranging from 0.0 to 4.0, and then uses those decimals to calculate one summary number. Your GPA is one of the most important pieces of your college application. It allows colleges to very quickly assess your intelligence, skills, work ethic, and willingness to challenge yourself. At the same time, it’s a way for them to see how you stack up againstother people who graduated from your school, and all of the other applicants. Think about it: for an admissions officer, it's easy to have one handy numberthat compares you with other applicants at a glance. It's way harder to have to round up eachof your grades, then compare them with each of the other person's grades, and so on and so forth for thousands and thousands of applicants. Sisyphus thinks about going through applicants one grade at a time and is all, "Uh, no thanks, I'll stick with the giant boulder." How Are Letters and Percentiles Converted Into GPA Scale? Different schools use different systems to convert your grades into your GPA. Sometimes, they take the difficulty level of your classes into account, and sometimes all classes are treated the same. Sure, they're both pumpkins - but a weighted comparison would be helpful. Unweighted GPA Conversion Most schoolsuse anunweighted GPA. This means that all of your final grades get equal treatment, sogrades earned in honors/AP courses get the same numerical value as grades earned in standard/college prep courses. In other words, if Matangets an A in AP Calculus and Camille gets an A in standard level Chemistry, they will both convert these A’s to 4.0. Here is the typical conversion scale for an unweighted GPA: Letter Grade Percentile 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 Weighted GPA Conversion Some schools also calculate a weighted GPA. This grade point average takes into account how challenging each course actually is. So,final class grades in Honors-level courses have .5 added to them, while final grades in AP/IB courses have 1 added to them. For this reason, weighted GPA scales usually range from 0.0 to 5.0. In our previous example, since Matan's Acame from an AP class, it would convert to 5.0. Meanwhile Camille’s A, which came from a standard class, would become 4.0. The typical weighted GPA conversion scale looks like this: Letter Grade Percentile Honors GPA AP/IB GPA A+ 97-100 4.5 5.0 A 93-96 4.5 5.0 A- 90-92 4.2 4.7 B+ 87-89 3.8 4.3 B 83-86 3.5 4.0 B- 80-82 3.2 3.7 C+ 77-79 2.8 3.3 C 73-76 2.5 3.0 C- 70-72 2.2 2.7 D+ 67-69 1.8 2.3 D 65-66 1.5 2.0 F Below 65 0.0 0.0 Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Steps Let's work through a couple of examplesto seehow grade conversion works for a transcript that uses letter grades and one that uses percentile grades. How to Convert Letter Grades Into a GPA First, let's check outa transcript where final grades are given as letters by taking a look at the high school career of renowned secret operativeJohn Doe: Here's how its conversion works. Using the unweighted conversion table from before, we can see that, year-by-year, the grades John earned are: 9th Grade 10th Grade th Grade 12th Grade 2.7 2.3 3.0 4.0 2.7 4.0 3.3 3.0 2.3 3.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 2.7 2.7 3.3 3.7 3.0 3.3 4.0 3.3 3.3 3.7 2.3 2.0 4.0 2.0 2.0 4.0 3.0 4.0 3.0 Now, to figure out John'sGPA, first we have to add up his grades to get the sum. Then we have to count how many classes he took. Finally, we divide the sum by the number of classes and round to the nearest tenth: 9th Grade 10th Grade th Grade 12th Grade Total Grade Sum 28.0 25.3 27.0 21.6 101.9 Number of Classes 8 8 9 7 32 So: 101.9 / 32 = 3.1 (John's cumulative high school GPA) To figure out the GPA John would submit on college applications, we just leave off the senior year grades and repeat the same process: 28 + 25.3 + 27 = 80.3 (sum of final grades from 9th to th grade) 8 + 8 + 9 = 25 (number of classes taken from 9th to th grade) 80.3 / 25 = 3.2 (GPA sent on college applications) How to Convert Percentiles Into a GPA The process for converting percentiles into GPA is almost exactly the same. Let’s see it in detailby calculating the GPA of John’s archrival and spy nemesis, Jane Smith: First, we'll convert her grades into GPA scale, and then find the sum and the number of courses she took: 9th Grade 10th Grade th Grade 12th Grade Total 4.0 3.3 3.7 4.0 3.7 2.7 4.0 3.7 3.3 2.3 3.0 4.0 2.3 4.0 4.0 3.3 4.0 3.0 2.7 3.7 3.3 3.7 3.3 2.3 3.0 3.3 3.7 3.0 3.7 3.3 4.0 3.3 Sum 27.3 25.6 28.4 27.3 108.6 Number of Courses Taken 8 8 8 8 32 So: 108.6 / 32 = 3.4 (Jane's cumulative high school GPA) And, leaving off the senior year we see that: 81.3 /24 = 3.4 (the GPA shewill submit to colleges) What’s Next? Still confused about how weighted and unweighted GPA calculations work? Let us help you figure it all out with our comprehensive explanation. Worried about how your GPA will measure up? We explain what a good or bad GPA score is, and run the numbers on the average high school student. 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:

Mystical Traditions between Christianity and Judaism Essay

Mystical Traditions between Christianity and Judaism - Essay Example Similarly, Judaism too relies heavily on the mystical side along with a hard core of established creed handed down through generations. The presence of an omnipotent and omnipresent superpower, high up somewhere, directing all activities of its followers, is the focal point of Judaist traditions. The general belief of all Jews regarding their holy texts, centers on the historical tradition that the laws of living were handed down to them from god directly to Moses. This idea continues to be applied in the belief that a particular geographical area was allocated to them, which constitutes the 'state of Israel'. The monotheistic belief on which the religion of Judaism is built has ensured the strict adherence of all its followers to the laws laid down in the holy scriptures of the Jews. One of the common examples of Judaist traditions that have been studied in great depth, is the golem, which is explained as the transference of power from God (above) to a human-like creature (below) that is brought into being though a series of ritualistic practices. There is an allusion to the transcendental function of spiritual power that flows from the top, to the believers below. Knapp (1979) speaks in detail about the contradictions of good and evil in the golem belief. Judaist traditions, over the years, have undergone a lot of change, understandably so, with the upheavals in history. The daily observances with regard to eating habits, bodily functions, spiritual rites and interpersonal relations have morphed with the influences of not just other religions but also due to the geo-political and economic pressures that have been felt in the recent past. The laws of living or the indigenous traditions that are internalized in Judaism have no doubt adapted to the changing scenario, in the last century. Traditions in Christianity: The traditional belief in the existence of the Trinity (the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) indicates a foundation of the triumvirate, which is the cornerstone of Christianity. Talking about the traditional practices of this religion, brings us once again to the code of living enshrined in the Old and New Testaments. While the former spoke about the origin of the race of man and his subsequent exile from paradise (caused by temptations),the latter focuses on one of the most important doctrines of the Christian church - that God became man. The belief that Jesus Christ (the son of God) was born on earth as a man, in order to save the world from annihilation is the premise on which the Bible (the New Testament) is written. The belief is that the world was full of sinners who could be saved only if a savior could give up his life. (1977 edition) Whether it is the religious observances of festivals or other occasions, such as the birth, marriage or death of individuals, the Christian religion lays down a set of universally accepted rules provided the demarcations of the various sects are well drawn and noted. In other words, different sects have different traditions that are also impacted with the geographical and ethnic factors that vary with time and place. A comparison and a conclusion: Similarities in the religious traditional practices of Judaism and Christianity are strongly evident. This may be due to the fact that they have distinctly similar origins. The belief about Yahweh or Jehovah

Training and Development in Small Businesses Research Paper - 1

Training and Development in Small Businesses - Research Paper Example The entrepreneur should know the all the key sections within the technology supply chain. After understanding this, the entrepreneur should determine the appropriate equipment or services to expand the energy business. As an entrepreneur, you should determine the following Product and service; do you aim at providing products only, services related to your products or both? What will be the uses of the products and services you will provide? Will you provide a wider range of products or related services that will enable the sustainability of your business? For instance, providing repair and maintenance services, supplying complimentary products, providing training for use and maintenance of your products and giving credits to your consumers. It is also important to establish a good and working supply chain (Sahlin A). As an entrepreneur you should know how and where to obtain products and provide them to your consumers. For the company to flourish well in the competitive market there is need to understand the markets. The company should identify potential segments that will provide a ready market for the products. The company must understand the ability of consumers to pay for the services and products (Sahlin A). The company needs to have a better understanding of the end user of their products, the levels of spending on energy needs of the product in the target market and the socio-economic strata of the society. Human labor is so important in any enterprise, each and every employee should be treated in the best way possible, and employees should undergo a comprehensive orientation program to familiarize them with the new trends in the markets. Orientation will ensure that new employees familiarize themselves with the structure of the business and will help them cooperate with the existing staff members (Goldstein, 1989). It is important and efficient for employees to receive information concerning the company’s

SM - Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

SM - Strategic Management - Essay Example It has a niche market in the soft drink business and has its presence in almost all parts of the world. The extent of the business of the company is evident from the fact that the Coca-Cola Company owns four of the top five soft-drink brands in the world. Some of the best known and most popular brands of the company include Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, and Sprite. The company also owns other less known but nevertheless popular brands such as Barqs, Minute Maid, POWERade, and Dasani water. In North America, the company has products such as Groupe Danones Evian. Coca-Cola also sells Crush, Dr Pepper, and Schweppes outside Australia, Europe, and North America. The company either makes or licences more than 400 drink products in more than 200 nations. The mission of the company is to create value in the food industry. A SWOT analysis is used to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a company based on many factors such as market data, historical performance of the company, internal and external factors that impinge the companys performance etc. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis will help to analyse or rather predict the performance of a company in future. It will also give a clear idea as to where the company could be heading with regards to its business performance. Perhaps one of the most important strengths of the company is that it is a world renowned brand. Apart from negative popularity in some countries because of political fallouts, the brand is relatively well known all through the world. Regarding the brand image of the company, the brand is well known and obvious and is easily recognised thanks to the many years that it has been in business. Another important internal strength of the company is that it has a lot of finance at its disposal. The company has been able to generate revenues that are substantially better than most beverage companies. This allows room for the company to expand

Psychology for Social Work Practice

Psychology for Social Work Practice Child development is the process of human growth and changes from birth through adolescence (Smith et al 2005). It is the study of how children develop perception, thought processes, emotional reactions and patterns of social behaviour (Mussein, 1990). Observation is a vital tool in analysing and understanding child development and holds key implication of effectiveness of social work practice in recent year (McKinnon 2008). The aim of this report is to analyse my observation of a two years three month old girl. My interpretation of the behaviour observed will be analysed critically using psychological theories with detail of the steps carried out in other to gain consent for the observation. Furthermore, the skills required for my observation will be described, in relation to my future practice, and some relevant psychological theories; stages of human development will be discussed including their relevance. Finally I will reflect on my learning and how it applies to social work as a profession. Child and Family Confidentiality Prior to the observation being conducted, I familiarized myself with the General Social Care Council (GSCC) (2002) Code of Practice to enable me to carry out the observation in a professional way. The child chosen for observation is my colleagues friends daughter, at the preliminary stage, I requested if I could observe her child for my coursework. My observers mother informed me she would discuss the issue with her husband and get back to me. A few days later, I was invited to meet both parents and was able to explain the aim of my assignment. Having explained my aim, I assured them that confidentiality will be maintained; their daughters identity will not be disclosed. I reassured the couple that their privacy will be respected and the daughters wellbeing will be paramount throughout. Consequently, I was given a verbal consent by both parents with approved signatures on the letter of agreement. Child Details As stated above, for anonymity, the childs name will not be mentioned, but will be referred to as Child A for the purpose of confidentiality as stated in GSCC 2002 section (2). Child A is a two years, three month old female. The observation took place at Child As family residence; she is the second child of the family, the only female, lives with her parents and her older brother of which the family composition is middle class, the aim of the observation is to observe Child As behaviour and also to learn how different behaviours relate to different theories. Skills required for structured observation Planning, respect, communication, working as partnership, reflection, listening and being focused are necessary skills required in carrying out structured observation. In Childs A selection process, I established a relationship of collaborative/partnership work between myself and Child As parents, listening to Child A communication with her family during observation has given me the insight of the importance of attentive listening through structured observation (CDWC 2007a: 7-8). The need to be focused by looking closely at Child A and not deviating from my aim has made me to understand how child learns and develop (HNCRC 2007). I also use reflective skills for child observation, as it enables me to reflect on what I have seen and provide accurate record of child behaviour (Wood et al 2005). Psychological theories and their relevance to social work practice Psychologists have defined behaviour in terms of bodily processes and social psychology defines it in terms of peoples interactions. For example Skinner (1953) believes that behaviour modification is based on operant conditioning and it is a way of assisting someone to change their unacceptable behaviour by offering a reward or punishment. From my observation in (Appendix week1), Child A, cries whenever she needs any item from Child B, she is aware of the attention gained whenever she cries and this will result in her getting what she wants. However, this behaviour could have negative consequences as well. Skinner will relate Child As behaviour as an operant conditioning, as Child A continues to cry for her older brothers toys, having known that her behaviour leads to a particular consequences. She behaves this way as she receives attention from her brother by always getting back the toys she wanted, which is reinforcement with reward, a behaviourist perspective. On the other hand, the study of behaviour by Bandura (1977) a Social perspective would disagree with Skinner, as Skinner would say that Child As behaviour is observational based on learning imitation. Child A may have seen someone at her school or a social gathering displaying such behaviour and so copies the same behaviour. Bandura (1971) suggested that learning moral rules by the individual is not in response to their exposure to punishment or reward, but by observing the behaviour of other people (Nicolson et al 2006: 23).This relates to Child As behaviour in (Appendix week1) and shows how the end result may not be as significant as the behaviourist perspective would have believed. As a professional social worker, working with people from different backgrounds it is important to have knowledge of psychological theories as its a vital tool that can be used to understand and interpret behaviour in social work practice. Also social workers need to have a wide knowledge of different cultures and be sure when they are applying psychological perspectives they have an objective mind taking into account individual differences such as ethical, cultural and religious. Stages of human development and its relevance to social work practice. The study of human development is the progressive behavioural changes in an individual from birth. Psychologists have identified the changes that occur at a similar age for most children, from research and evidence, these changes are dependent to some extent on maturation, although certain environmental factors must be present for development to take place and so its difficult to decide whether the appearance of a new ability is simply due to learning or maturation (Woods 2000:5). For instance, Jean Piaget (1932) cited in Wood (2000) proposes that children think differently from adults, their knowledge is structured differently and shows their understanding developed in the following stages: First stage is the Sensory Motor Stage (Birth to 18 months) At this first stage the child watches moving object, reach out towards it and is able to grab the object, the child will put the object in the mouth and try to explore it by biting and smelling. Second stage is Pre-Operational Stage (18 months- 7 years old) During this stage the language are developed using words and expression, which enable the child to talk about things and express ideas. Third stage is Concrete Operational Stage (7-11 years) The child is able to centre more logical thinking and able to understand that it is possible for there to be two different view of the same thing at the same time and able to decentre. While the final stage is Formal Operational Stage (11 years and older) The child can manipulate ideas in its head, for example being able to calculate by thinking through imagining the impossible sequence. From cognitive perspective, Piaget also believed that the environment can affect childs development but, argued that it will not prevent a child from skipping the cognitive development stage. However, he would have interpreted Child As behaviour, as due to the fact that she is in the pre-operational stage and she demonstrates this behaviour by using ability and memory. Her thinking is in a non-logical manner as she suddenly cries for her mothers attention in other to get what she wants (Woods 2000:227-231). Relevance to social work practice The relevance of this observation to social work practise is that the use of theories would help to understand individuals behaviour. As a result social workers need to acquire skills and knowledge to enable them to understand the reason why a particular event occurs. To achieve this, social workers need to be aware of sensitive issues around them (Thompson 2005). However this observation process increased my understanding of Child A; as a very happy chid, to appreciate her skills and unique qualities and to come into her world and see things from her perspective (Faulkner, 1995). This has become so relevant, as the failing of professionals in the Laming Report (2003) highlights; which emphasises the need for professionals to move the focus away from the parents and back to the child (Copper, 2005). Reflect on my experience In reflecting on my role on child observation, I have learnt how to focus my attention and reflect on it afterwards, trying to make my presence less obvious. It is good practice to avoid assumption and being non-judgemental is vital. Each individual is different and their needs must be tailored to individual requirements. I now understand that self-reflection is a continuous process during observation, which is to reflect on what I am doing and reflect on my reaction and interpretation of what took place by thinking, writing and recording report. Payne (1997) defines reflection as to imagine alternative ways to understand situations using observation. In addition, looking into different theories and perspectives has given me the insight into how they can be applied to practice. Children also need to be encouraged to join in to activities that they may not be interested in, taking into account their reasons for not interacting. I have also learnt that children use gesture to express what they want to say if they are not in the mood to speak. This is of an interest to me as I want to work with children with special needs who are not able to communicate through speaking and use their behaviour as a way of communicating instead. As such this assignment has made me feel a little more confident in approaching people. Conclusion In conclusion, I have learnt greatly through observation and reading. I have realised that working from ones own personal perspective can be oppressive and it is better to use different perspectives in dealing with individuals. I have also gained knowledge on behaviourism and how it can be used to relate to childrens behaviour which is relevant to social work practice and not to have general assumption about children as there are individual differences. I have also acquired good knowledge and understanding of child development. REFERENCES Bandura A (1971) Social Learning Theory General Learning Press Childrens Workforce Development Council (CDWC 2007) (online) accessed on 25/11/2010 at http://www.cwdcouncil.org.uk accessed on 09/12/10 Copper A (2005) Surface and Depth in the Victoria Climbe Inquiry Report Child and Family Social Work 10 1-9 Faulkner D (1995) Play Self and the Social World In Barnes P (ed) Personal Social and Emotional Development of Children General Social Care Council (2002) (online) accessed on 26/11/2010 at http://www.socialworkconnections.org.uk/content.php?id=47 HNCRC (2007) The early years Foundation Stage: Effective Practice Observation Assessment and Planning Laming Report (2003) (online) accessed on 10/11/2010 at http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_110711.pdf McKinnon F (2008) Child Observation and Professional Practice In Ruch G (ed) Post-Qualifying Child Care Social Work Developing Reflective Practice Sage Mussein P (1990) (7th ed) Child Development Harper and Row publishers Nicolson P Bayner R and Owen J (2006) (3rd ed) Applied Psychology for Social Workers Payne M (1997) (2nd ed) Modern Social Work Theory Macmillan Skinner B F (1953) Science and Human Behaviour Macmillan Smith P C H and Blades M (2005) Understanding Children Development (4th ed) Blackwell Publishers Thompson N (2005) Understanding Social Work Preparing for Practice Palgrave Macmillan Woods B (2000) Basics in Psychology Hodder Stoughton Wood M Taylor J (2005) Early Childhood Studies: An Holistic Introduction Hodder Arnold