Hawaiian island ecosystem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hawaiian island ecosystem - Essay Example here is a gradient between ecosystems-wide impact, as is caused by drastic habitat change, and impact on single species† (Committee on Resources, 2003). Erosion or land runoff contributes approximately two third of total land pollution in the island which has become the biggest menace today. Commercial factor of fishing has destroyed coral reef. Reports (as cited in Timbers, n.d.) reveal the fact that ‘Seventy five percent of fish species in Hawaii are in critical condition’. Above all, the marine debris pollutes the water of river, stream, ocean and sea. Evidently, as an after effect of the waste disposal, many species have already vanished from the face of the earth. It is important to think if the threat posed by the invasive species can be overcome some way. Biological control seems effective in this regard. In order to get rid of these deadly species, and for controlling pests, weeds, plant deceases, and even insects, as a practical solution, relying on certai n living organisms, such as predation, parasitism, or certain other natural mechanisms is effective. In other words, pest management is the primary and ever relevant method to overcome the danger caused by invasive species. In addition, it is necessary to overcome problems in which man has direct involvement. For instance, the issue of marine debris has to be addressed with prime importance. Evidently, marine debris occurs mostly due to excess disposal of plastic on the water. And, preventing such waste disposal needs proper management and collaborative effort. Eventually, by improving control over overuse of plastics it is possible at certain extent. Along with this, non-governmental initiatives and awareness programs can also ensure public participation in protecting the aquatic environment...This paper will analyze the major ecological issues in the region, their tragic effects, and practical solutions. It is important to think if the threat posed by the invasive species can be overcome some way. Biological control seems effective in this regard. In order to get rid of these deadly species, and for controlling pests, weeds, plant deceases, and even insects, as a practical solution, relying on certain living organisms, such as predation, parasitism, or certain other natural mechanisms is effective. In other words, pest management is the primary and ever relevant method to overcome the danger caused by invasive species To recapitulate, Hawaii Island is the promise island among many islands across the United States. The region has been facing potential environmental threats for the recent decades. Unfair human intervention along with invasive species constitutes the major threat to the eco-balance of the island. The success of bringing harmony in the island depends on analyzing the problem and applying practical solutions. Only a comprehensive approach can find a proper solution for this issue. Stakeholders in this matter include government, NGOs, tourists, and the general public. Among the practical solutions, pest management is very important. Other strategies include but not limited to awareness programs, prevention of aquatic disposal, and preservation of endangered species.

Models Comparison of Learning Theories Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Models Comparison of Learning Theories - Essay Example On the other hand, the humanism theories perceive learning to be a process that is initiated by an individual in an attempt to fulfill their potential. This paper draws a comparison between the hierarchy of needs theory by Abraham Maslow, social learning theory by Albert Bandura and the attribution theory by Bernard Weiner. The three learning theories are based on certain assumptions. According to Bandura’s social learning theory, a change in behavior is the indicator of learning. It is grounded on the assumption that learning is largely influenced by the environment; this indicates that people learn through observing others. In addition, this theory agrees with the cognitive learning theory by emphasizing that the mental state of an individual is an integral part of the learning process. On the other hand, the attribution theory as developed by Weiner assumes that people have the tendency of determining causes of certain situations or behaviors. It deals with the cognitive processes and their influence on learning. It also observes that learning involves an integration of old knowledge and the new one. The attribution theory is founded on the view that people endeavor to attribute causes to behaviors. Finally, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory assumes that people desire to satisfy their needs in a systematic and hierarchical manner, such that when one need is satisfied when a person desires to satisfy a higher need in the hierarchy. Maslow came up with a pyramid made up of five levels of needs to be met hierarchically. According to Abraham Maslow (1943), the people’s needs fall into five categories. These needs are met consecutively, with one need being satisfied after the other. The physiological needs are the first to be satisfied followed by safety needs, love/belonging needs, esteem needs, and finally, self-actualization needs. According to Maslow, what people need is a positive self-regard in order to achieve in their engagements.

Assessment test Essay Example for Free

Assessment test Essay Assessment is a vast topic that is a continuing process that educators use to observe, gather, and evaluate evidence to determine what students have learned, as well as, making informed, and dependable decisions to enhance student learning. It encompasses a broad range of testing from nationwide accountability tests to everyday classroom observation and quizzes. In order to take control of what appears to be an excess use of testing, assessment should be looked upon as a tool for information. The more information we have about students, the more closely we can look at  instructional strategies that are effective and which ones need to be modified. There are two main types of assessments that I will be discussing, formal and informal. Informal assessments or in other words â€Å"assessment of learning†, are used to evaluate students during the learning process. Formal assessments are conducted as a tool to evaluate student’s completion of work or the final product. There are many advantages and disadvantages to these types of assessments techniques that I will be discussing for measuring student progress. I will begin by discussing two formal assessment types along with its  advantages and disadvantages. The first type of assessment that I would like to address would be the statewide-standardized test under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). The statewide standardized test is considered a high-stakes test because of the important consequences it has on passing or failing the test. It mandates yearly testing for grades 3 through 8 and once in high school for reading and math. Science was recently added in the mix to test students at least once in elementary, middle and high school. The underlying principle for this type of testing was intended to reach great  academic achievement for all students, especially those from lower socioeconomic classes. Advantage #1 It ensures that no child—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or status is trapped in a consistently low-performing school. If a school does not make adequate progress towards set standards, parents have the option of sending their children to a better performing school or are provided free tutoring. This assessment helps determine if the student is receiving high-quality education at different grade levels. Advantage #2 Teachers are held accountable. If a student is not advancing with one  method of teaching, the teacher must use a different technique for a more favorable outcome. They must use research-based methods of teaching. This high-stakes test determines how to use assessment results to plan effective instruction. Disadvantage #1 This statewide-standardized test does not recognize student growth. It does not offer a realistic picture of how a student or school is performing as a whole. The extent of what a student actually learned is not known. Students that start out at a disadvantage are not given recognition for progress in achievement. Disadvantage #2 Teaching to the test. The growing concern with this high-stakes test is that it has become the curriculum and instruction has been narrowed to focus on results. Disadvantage #3 States set their own standards and can make tests unusually easy to compensate for inadequate student performance. The second type of formal assessment I would like to discuss is the aptitude test. It is a norm-reference test and is administered under timed testing conditions. It measures a student’s overall performance across a wide range of intellectual capabilities. These test are useful to determine the current level students are at and to adjust classroom curriculum  accordingly. Advantage #1 Aptitude tests are excellent predictors of future learning or performance. Advantage #2 Aptitude tests help students understand their own strengths and weaknesses. Advantage #3 Aptitude tests are useful tools for working with students with special needs because it can help teachers form realistic expectations of the student. Disadvantage #1 Since this is a multiple-choice type test, it does not allow for creativity or an alternative way of thinking. Disadvantage #2 Since this is a norm-reference test, students do not know how well they individually mastered the material. They only know how well they did compared to other students. Informal assessments is an important tool for teachers to use to monitor students’ progress throughout the learning process. The first type of informal assessment I feel is crucial in monitoring student performance is observation. I feel this method would be valuable to use in my classroom because I can observe students immediate reaction to my instruction especially during a pair-share or group setting. As I walk around the classroom, I would document my assessment of students’ performance and then provide feedback. Advantage #1 As I observe and listen, it will allow me to know how many students remembered and processed the information given, as well as using it to solve problems. Advantage #2 As I observe and listen, it can help me to immediately clarify any confusion and address the problem. Disadvantage #1 Not all students may be verbally participating at the time of observation. Disadvantage #2 Some students become nervous when being observed, and their performance may suffer. A second type of informal assessment that I would use in the classroom would be student portfolios. Through the portfolio process,  students develop goal-setting and self-directed learning techniques. It helps students value themselves as learners. It also allows students to compete with themselves rather than with other students. Advantage #1 Students can plan and manage their own time to complete their work. This can benefit the students by teaching them responsibility for their own learning goals. Advantage #2 Students know their own strengths and weaknesses as they assess and analyze their progress. Disadvantage #1 Portfolios take a lot of planning and organization. Gathering all the information can make it difficult to manage. Disadvantage #2 Evaluating and scoring a student’s portfolio evolves a wide range of subjective evaluation procedures, which can limit reliability. A third method of informal assessment is through student oral presentation. This technique provides the student an opportunity to present information through verbal means in lieu of a written form. It allows the student to show their knowledge on a particular subject. To assess this type of method I would use a rating scale to grade student performance. It is very important to use a detailed rating scale for students to know the  aspects of the presentation that are to be considered in the assessment. Advantage #1 This method of assessment is instant and immediate in the transmission of information. Feedback can be given instantly. Advantage #2 Oral presentations provide maximum preparation. This can allow the students to practice to achieve perfection. Disadvantage #1 Some students are timid and more introverted than others. Oral presentations can be very intimidating and nerve-racking. Disadvantage #2 English language learners or those students who have a disability might affect their ability to speak fluently. Disadvantage #3  Students might find it easier to organize information through written communication. The final informal assessment method I would use would be pop quizzes. This type of assessment is usually quick, given without prior warning and can be completed in 15 minutes or less. Teachers can use this method to determine if students have grasped recent information. Advantage #1 Allow students to build on previous information and strengthens concepts which may have been unclear to them. Advantage #2 It is a great way to reinforce material that may be covered on a standardized type assessment test. Disadvantage #1 It does not allow for accommodation for those students who need extended time on examinations, tests and quizzes. It can cause undo stress for those students. Disadvantage #2 It doesn’t really tell the true picture of a student’s level of knowledge. Some students may be lucky enough to guess the majority of the questions correctly. Having a mixture of written and oral types of informal assessments services a wide range of students. It allows the teacher to evaluate and recognize student’s learning needs and determine the appropriate level and pace of workflow. It offers the students the best chance to excel in one or more formats.

Financial Management Midland Energy Resources Finance Essay

Financial Management Midland Energy Resources Finance Essay In the Midland Energy Resources case study we see that it has its operations divided amongst three separate divisions. All these three divisions have different functions and need a separate discount rate to evaluate its projects. Midland uses its cost of capital for many different ways. In order to discount Midlands cash flows we use the weighted average cost of capital. Here the cost of debt is easier to calculate by taking the bond yield plus risk premium approach. The Capital Asset Pricing Model is used to calculate the cost of equity. In case of CAPM, the calculation of beta requires significant judgment. We use the industry data to calculate the beta. Solution 1 Mortensens estimates are used for the following In case of asset appraisals for capital budgeting and financial accounting In case of MA proposals In case of assessment of performances In case of stock repurchase decisions at different divisions and business unit levels. Solution 2 Calculating rD In this case Mortensen computed the cost of debt for each of the three divisions by adding a premium over the US treasury securities of a similar maturity. In order to find rD, we do not use CAPM but we use the interest rate that we are currently paying on the new loans. Here we see that the consolidated spread to treasury is given as 1.62% Thus, rD = 30 year yields to U.S Treasury bonds + Overall Consolidated Spread to Treasury rD = 4.98% + 1.62% rD = 6.60% Calculating the Tax rate The tax rate is calculated on the basis on the Exhibit 1 as average over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006. Therefore the tax rate come out to be (Midlands Income Taxes / Midlands Income Before Taxes and the Average across 2004, 2005, 2006)= 39% Calculating EMRP Based on the exhibit in this case, we see that the traditional data showed is approximately 6.0% EMRP and the surveys show lower EMRP (2.5% to 4.7%) based on a research over the industry with the help from outsiders who have broader industry knowledge, which would result in a better and up-to-date EMRP. Researches in consultation with its professional advisors, bankers and investors, as well as Wall Street analysts covering the industry agreed on the current estimate of 5.0%. As the analysts on the industry, bankers and investors have broader information from different companies and executives, it can be concluded that the approach of outside consulting and the result of 5.0% estimate is appropriate. Â  Calculating rE Here we use 5.0% as its Equity Market Risk Premium. The corporate ÃŽÂ ² is publicly available, and as it represents corporate level ÃŽÂ ², well use 1.25 as it is for Overall Corporate WACC calculation. rE = rf + ÃŽÂ ²(EMRP) rE = 4.98% + 1.25 (5%) = 11.23% Calculating WACC Given + Calculated information: rE 11.23%, rD 6.60%, tax rate 39%, D/E 59.3%, E= 100units, D =59.3units, V=159.3units, E/V= 0.62774639, D/V=0.37225361 Using the formula we get, WACC =rE(E/V) + rD(D/V) (1-t)= 8.548% Solution 3 The company here, Midland, is a large enterprise and has diverse business units with different risks. In the case here we see that the Equity Beta represents the risk factor of those divisions. (Exhibit 5). We also see here that the risk profiles and different here as per the division and the hurdle rates for those divisions should also be different and calculated based on the ÃŽÂ ² of the division In this case Midland should not use single corporate hurdle rate as this will mislead evaluation of the investments, and will result on Midland invest on risky projects and will become risky a corporate by time But on the other hand if Midland invests on corporate level using the corporate level WACC. Solution 4 Calculating EP rE = rf + ÃŽÂ ²(EMRP) rE = 4.98% + 1.15 (5%) = 10.73% rD = rf + EP Spread to Treasury rD = 4.98% + 1.60% = 6.58% rE =10.73% rD =6.58% tax rate= 39% D/E= 39.8% E=100units D=39.8units V=139.8units E/V =0.715308 D/V= 0.284692 WACC for EP= 8.818% Calculating RM rE = rf + ÃŽÂ ²(EMRP) rE = 4.98% + 1.20 (5%) = 10.98% rD = rf + RM Spread to Treasury rD = 4.98% + 1.80% = 6.78% rE= 10.98% rD= 6.78% Tax rate= 39% D/E= 20.3% E= 100units D= 20.3units V= 120.3units E/V =0.831255 D/V= 0.168745 The value of WACC = 9.825% The business units all these industries of Midland operate on are different and thus they have different risk profiles and ÃŽÂ ²s and also different credit ratings. Also as a result the EP and RM have different WACC values. Solution 5 In order to calculate the cost of capital in case of Petrochemical, we would search for the couple of companies which focus only on Petrochemical industry and then use their fact sheet in order to get an average on their ÃŽÂ ² and D/E ratio. By taking into account the data available to us (exhibit 5) and using the arithmetic averages on D/E ratio and ÃŽÂ ² we can calculate cost of capital for Petrochemical division. Corporate ÃŽÂ ² = Average (EP ÃŽÂ ², RM ÃŽÂ ², Petrochemical ÃŽÂ ²) 1.25 = Average (1.15, 1.20, Petrochemical ÃŽÂ ²) Petrochemical ÃŽÂ ² = 1.40 rE = rf + ÃŽÂ ²(EMRP) rE = 4.98% + 1.40 (5%) = 11.98% rD = rf +Petrochemical Spread to Treasury rD = 4.98% + 1.35% = 6.33% Corporate D/E = Average ( EP D/E, RM D/E, Petrochemical D/E) 59.3% = Average (39.8%, 20.3%, Petrochemical D/E) Petrochemical D/E = 117.8% rE= 11.98% rD= 6.33% Tax rate= 39% D/E= 117.8% E= 100 units D= 117.8 units V= 217.8 units E/V= 0.459137 D/V= 0.540863 The value of WACC = 7.589%

Controversial Views in Kate Chopins The Awakening Essay examples -- C

Controversial Views in Kate Chopin's The Awakening "Too strong a drink for moral babies, and should be labeled `poison'." was the how the Republic described Kate Chopin's most famous novel The Awakening (Seyersted 174). This was not only the view of one magazine, but it summarized the feelings of society as a whole. Chopin woke up people to the feelings and minds of women. Even though her ideas were controversial at first, slowly over the decades people began to accept them. Kate O'Flaherty Chopin was raised in St. Louis in the 1850's and 1860's. Chopin had a close relationship with her French grandmother which lead to her appreciation of French writers. When she was only five Chopin's father, Thomas O'Flaherty died leaving her without a father figure. Eliza O'Flaherty, Chopin's mother, was from there on the head of the household. Chopin grew up knowing that women could be strong and intelligent and that they did not have to be submissive creatures (Skaggs 2). She loved her mother and considered her "A woman of great beauty, intelligence, and personal magnetism" (Seyersted 14). Growing up around independent women, however, did not dissuade her from marriage. Her marriage to Oscar Chopin by all accounts was a happy one. Taking on the role of a high society lady as well as wife and new mother, Chopin fit in well with the New Orleans culture. She enjoyed the Louisiana atmosphere so well that most of her writings were based here. Chopin continued living in Louisiana raising her six young children until the sudden death of her husband brought her back to St., Louis (Skaggs 3). Oscar Chopin died while their youngest child, Lelia was only three. Soon after Chopin moved her family to St. Louis to be with her dying ... ...admiration, it is easy to see how far this nation has come. Works Cited Bloom, Harold. Kate Chopin. New York : Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Boren, Lynda S. and Sara DeSaussure Davis. Kate Chopin Reconsidered: Beyond the Bayou. Baton Rouge : Louisiana State UP, 1992. Delaney, Bill. Masterpieces of Women's Literature. New York : Harper Collins Publishers, 1996. Koloski, Bernard. Approaches to teaching Chopin's The Awakening. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1988. Nickerson, Meagan. "Romanticism in The Awakening", The Kate Chopin Project. America On-line. February 2000. Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1969. Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin. Boston : Twayne Publishers, 1985. Taylor, Helen. Gender, Race, and Region in the Writings of Grace King, Ruth McEnerys Stuart and Kate Chopin. Baton Rouge

commentry on the handsmaid tale Essay -- essays research papers

This novel is an account of the near future, a dystopia, wherepollution and radiation has rendered countless women sterile, and the birthrates of North America are dangerously declining. A puritan theocracy nowcontrols the former United States called the Republic of Gilead andHandmaids are recruited to repopulate the state. This novel containsAtwood's strong sense of social awareness, as seen in the use of satire tocomment on different social conditions in the novel. The Handmaid'sTale is a warning to young women of the 'post-feminist' 1980s and after,who began taking for granted the rights that had been secured for womenby the women before them. The environmental danger of pollution and radiation run off from powerplants is commented on in the novel. Atwood is voicing her concernsabout the destruction of the environment here, and warns us of thepossibilities if the destruction continues in our world. Her view is extremeof course, made to shock people into thinking about the potentialdanger. In the novel, pollution and radiation had overwhelmed thepopulation causing sterility in both men and women. Babies were often borndeformed, (these were called 'Unbabies') or died during pregnancy orshortly after birth. At one point in the novel, a funeral is described bythe main character Offred, she said "the first one is bereaved, themother; she carries a small black jar. From the size of the jar you cantell how old it was when it foundered, inside her, flowed to its death.Two or three months, too early to tell whether or not it was an Unbaby"(Atwood, 55). The infertile women, rebels and feminists were sent tothe 'colonies' t o clean toxic waste, where of course they die of eitherdisease or radiation. Atwood incorporated the environmental disasterinto her novel as a warning, her point being that it could happen, andif it did, here is what might happen; mankind could go to an extreme,religious, totalitarian state: the Republic of Gilead. Gilead, the ultra religious military regime is a reaction to thedramatic drop in birth rate. In the novel, Aunt Lydia, one of the women incharge of the Red Centre where handmaids are trained described Gilead;she said "the republic of Gilead knows no bounds. Gilead is withinyou." (Atwood, 29). Offred, replied inwardly "doctors lived here once,lawyers, university professors. There are no lawyers anymore, and th... ...sue; they keep us fromseeing, but also from being seen. I never looked good in red, it's notmy colour" (Atwood, 9). The bulky red dress is designed to hide the Handmaid's bodies and thewings are made to keep the women from being seen. The women are taughtto bow their heads when they walk so that their faces can not be seen.This is a further example of the domination of women in this novel.Atwood's point in demonstrating the oppression of women is not to beultra feminist or to put down men, but to show the dangers of such a regimeas Gilead, because it became such a patriarchal state, and in its wake,women were utterly repressed. It happened so fast, that women did nothave time to revolt, and after Gilead came to power, if women did speakup they would be sent to the colonies. Social commentary is rampant in this novel. Margaret Atwood purposelywrote this shocking and absurd tale to shock people into thinking aboutsuch problems as toxic waste, pollution and radiation. Not onlyenvironmental concerns were voiced in this novel, but social ills such asfemale repression and the dangers of a theocracy as well. Reading thisnovel was a wake up call, and I have since taken up recycling

Salvador Dali: Influences Essay examples -- essays research papers

Perhaps one of the world's greatest artists is the Hispanic artist Salvador Dali. He won many awards and became very successful in his work as an artist. During his childhood and thereafter, during the Depression, Salvador Dali's artwork and personality were influenced by many different people and entities. Dali's personal life exhibited to his contemporaries and those who enjoyed his works after his lifetime the various influences that led to his artistry. During his childhood, his family life was difficult and operose. This had an extensive influence on Salvador and his artwork. His father opposed Salvador's chosen occupation. By the time the young wonder was twenty years old; his father had already disowned him. Both his mother and his father were embarrassed and disappointed by their son and his vocation. Dali's uncongenial side showed through in a painting titled The Enigma Of William Tell, which depicted Lenin nearly nude with a deformed buttock supported by a crutch. The group found this picture to be offensive because of the disrespect it showed to the proletariat. Dali's obsession with Hitler also angered the Surrealists and made the group demand explanations of his works. Within the same time period, Dali managed to offend the International Exhibition of Surrealist Art by wearing a diving suit to a convention and almost suffocating himself in the suit. On the other hand, Dali was also an achiever. He worked very hard on whatever he was doing to attain success.... Salvador Dali: Influences Essay examples -- essays research papers Perhaps one of the world's greatest artists is the Hispanic artist Salvador Dali. He won many awards and became very successful in his work as an artist. During his childhood and thereafter, during the Depression, Salvador Dali's artwork and personality were influenced by many different people and entities. Dali's personal life exhibited to his contemporaries and those who enjoyed his works after his lifetime the various influences that led to his artistry. During his childhood, his family life was difficult and operose. This had an extensive influence on Salvador and his artwork. His father opposed Salvador's chosen occupation. By the time the young wonder was twenty years old; his father had already disowned him. Both his mother and his father were embarrassed and disappointed by their son and his vocation. Dali's uncongenial side showed through in a painting titled The Enigma Of William Tell, which depicted Lenin nearly nude with a deformed buttock supported by a crutch. The group found this picture to be offensive because of the disrespect it showed to the proletariat. Dali's obsession with Hitler also angered the Surrealists and made the group demand explanations of his works. Within the same time period, Dali managed to offend the International Exhibition of Surrealist Art by wearing a diving suit to a convention and almost suffocating himself in the suit. On the other hand, Dali was also an achiever. He worked very hard on whatever he was doing to attain success....

Report of Maf 680

MAF 680 REPORT The problem faces by the Delima Enterprise Sdn. Bhd can be solve if the company implement some sort of internal control system in all activities. A system of internal control consists of policies and procedures designed to provide management with reasonable assurance that the company achieves its objectives and goals. Typically, there have three broad objectives in designing an effective internal control system, reliability of financial reporting, efficiency and effectiveness of operations and compliance with laws and regulations.Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is one of the internal control systems that can be implemented by the company. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a set of written instructions that document a routine or repetitive activity followed by an organization. The development and use of SOPs are an integral part of a successful quality system as it provides individuals with the information to perform a job properly, and facilitates consistency in the quality and integrity of a product or end-result.The term â€Å"SOP† may not always be appropriate and terms such as protocols, instructions, worksheets, and laboratory operating procedures may also be used. SOPs will detail the regularly recurring work processes that are to be conducted or followed within an organization. They document the way the activities are to be performed in order to facilitate consistent conformance to technical and quality system requirements and to support data quality. They may describe, for example, fundamental programmatic actions and technical actions such as analytical processes, and processes for maintaining, calibrating, and using equipment.SOPs are intended to be specific to the organization or facility whose activities are described and assist that organization to maintain their quality control and quality assurance processes and ensure compliance with governmental regulations. SOPs should be written and documented properly for easy use and refer. If not, SOPs are of limited value. In addition, the best written SOPs also fail if they are not followed. Therefore, the use of SOPs needs to be reviewed and re- enforced by management, preferably the direct supervisor.Furthermore, the written SOPs should be put in place that is easy to see mostly for individuals who involve directly in the activities. In preparing the SOPs, the company should have a procedure in place for determining what procedures or processes need to be documented first. Those SOPs should then be written by individuals knowledgeable with the activity and the company’s internal structure. For example, in the case of Delima, Puan Balqis or Encik Salam should be the suitable person for this task. The other way is, they can also create a group or team for preparing SOPs.By using SOPs, the Delima should be able to prevent the mistake as well as errors in performing the operations. In terms of sales, for example, the employee will know what to do from the time of receiving orders until producing the invoice even if he or she do have any special skills in that area. Hence, SOPs should be prepared in a simple way, so that, individuals with basic understanding can understand. Another internal control that can be implementing by Delima Enterprise is Segregation of Duties. Segregation of duties is a concept of having more than one person to complete the task.It is basically to have one person handle only one type of task or power. Segregation of duties is critical to effective internal control because it reduces the risk of mistakes and inappropriate actions. It helps fight fraud by discouraging collusion. Example of segregation of duties such as the person who requisitions the purchase of goods or services should not be the person who approves the purchase. Regarding the Delima case, Puan Hashimah is responsible for approval of employee’s timesheet as well as payment of salaries.Supposedly, she only given the approval of the timesheet only, and the payment should be done by other person such as human resource personnel. So, when Delima implementing a proper internal control system as mention above, its can prevents and avoid any major mistake happens. Because, SOPs for example, it has given the instruction about the procedures to be done. Also, when implementing the segregation of duties or powers it can prevent a person from able to do frauds because the concept of one person with one task only AGMCORPORATE GOVERNANCE †¢Cik Amy do not have enoughknowledge and experience inher field of work. †¢ Company should provideguidance and training to newemployees. †¢ Management should hiresomeone that is capable indoing his work. NO STANDARD OPERATINGPROCEDURE (SOP) †¢ Withdrawal of company’smoney made without properdocumentation. †¢ Decision and authorizationmade by the directors on itsown without properdocumentation †¢ It will increase the risk of fraudand inconsistency in performingtask †¢ Give the auditor hard time tokeep track of the transactionand movement of asset. Delima should implement standardoperating procedure (SOP) : †¢Increase efficiency andconsistence in performing task †¢ Indicate compliance in theentity requirements and can beused to train others LACK OF COMPETENCY †¢ Head of department leaded byunqualified staff †¢ Does not spend on training of staff †¢ Decrease companyperformance as a whole †¢ Discredit the companyreputation †¢ Spend more on training toequip employee with properknowledge †¢ Should hire qualified staff thathave experience †¢ Employees manually preparedtheir timesheets. †¢ No staff in charge and monitoremployee attendance. †¢ Staff take advantage overthe slackness †¢ Decrease in companyperformance †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Install automated timeattendance5 C’S CREDITWORTHINESSThe 5 key elements a borrowershould have in order to obtaincredit : 1. Character a Integrity / a borrower’s reputation 2. Capacity a company’sborrowing history 3. Capital a Net worth 4. Collateral a Assets to securethe debt 5. Conditions a Of the borrowerand the overall economyEg. interest rate and amount of principalRECORDING †¢ Several assets purchased bythe company were notrecorded †¢ Every asset purchased must berecorded manually andcomputerized. †¢ Assign person(s) to beresponsible for the companyassets. †¢ Create an Asset ManagementDivision. †¢Propose the Asset TaggingSystem. LEAN ORGANIZATION †¢ Lean organization with basicfunctional position †¢ Position & function should beclarified clearly. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION †¢ Did not meet academicqualification or relevantexperience that required bythe company †¢ Hire people that have goodacademic qualifications &relevant experiences. STATUTORY AUDIT †¢ Company did not perform theStatutory Audit †¢ Only legal to Public ListedCompany. Not compulso ry forPrivate Company to performS. A †¢ Private Companies may needto do so when applying forloans and etc from FinancialInstitutions. AUDITOR’S DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIES †¢Encik Zayed tried to negotiateauditor to make unqualifyreport †¢ Sec 174(2)Express opinion in report (dutyto report defects, irregularitiesin account) †¢ Sec 174(3)Report particulars of deficiency, failure andshortcomingPROBLEM IN FINANCE DIVISION †¢ Invoice not pre-numbered †¢ Appoint new finance managerto authorize and supervise †¢ Company did not sendStatement of Account(SOA) toclient †¢ Not prepare monthlyreconciliation †¢ Use company’s money forpersonal use †¢ No segregation of dutiesfinance department †¢ Separate duties according towork position †¢ Emphasize the separate legalentity conceptACCOUNTING SYSTEM MYOB Software not integrated †¢ Purchase new software †¢ Eg: UBS, SAP Software,Ramcon Engineering,Autocount,etcPROBLEM IN HUMAN RESOURCEDIVISION †¢ Pay wages weekly withoutemployees benefit †¢ Unqualified staff (lack of knowledge and experience) †¢ Lack of employees andunbalance staff allocation †¢ Pay wages in monthly basisincluding EPF and Socso †¢ Provide training and seminarfor staff †¢ Assign more staffs withqualification †¢ And re-organise chartWere there any abuses of power bymanagement and breach of fiduciaryon the part of the directors? YESWho should be held responsible andaccountable?NOT ONLY DIRECTOR, ALLMANAGEMENT LEVEL SHOULDBE RESPONSIBLE ANDACCOUNTABLECould the Audit be completed soonwithout any qualification? †¢ Yes, the audit report can beclassified as qualified opinionreport due to severalunresolved issues. If theauditor audited the rest of thefinancial statements and isreasonably sure that theyconfirm with GenerallyAccepted Accounting Priciples(GAAP), then the auditorsimply states that the financialstatements are fairlypresented, with the ex ceptionof the issues which could notbe audited. What should be done to improve theleadership and management of Delima Enterprise Sdn Bhd? SUME JAWAPAN DIATAS†¦ Report of Maf 680 MAF 680 REPORT The problem faces by the Delima Enterprise Sdn. Bhd can be solve if the company implement some sort of internal control system in all activities. A system of internal control consists of policies and procedures designed to provide management with reasonable assurance that the company achieves its objectives and goals. Typically, there have three broad objectives in designing an effective internal control system, reliability of financial reporting, efficiency and effectiveness of operations and compliance with laws and regulations.Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is one of the internal control systems that can be implemented by the company. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a set of written instructions that document a routine or repetitive activity followed by an organization. The development and use of SOPs are an integral part of a successful quality system as it provides individuals with the information to perform a job properly, and facilitates consistency in the quality and integrity of a product or end-result.The term â€Å"SOP† may not always be appropriate and terms such as protocols, instructions, worksheets, and laboratory operating procedures may also be used. SOPs will detail the regularly recurring work processes that are to be conducted or followed within an organization. They document the way the activities are to be performed in order to facilitate consistent conformance to technical and quality system requirements and to support data quality. They may describe, for example, fundamental programmatic actions and technical actions such as analytical processes, and processes for maintaining, calibrating, and using equipment.SOPs are intended to be specific to the organization or facility whose activities are described and assist that organization to maintain their quality control and quality assurance processes and ensure compliance with governmental regulations. SOPs should be written and documented properly for easy use and refer. If not, SOPs are of limited value. In addition, the best written SOPs also fail if they are not followed. Therefore, the use of SOPs needs to be reviewed and re- enforced by management, preferably the direct supervisor.Furthermore, the written SOPs should be put in place that is easy to see mostly for individuals who involve directly in the activities. In preparing the SOPs, the company should have a procedure in place for determining what procedures or processes need to be documented first. Those SOPs should then be written by individuals knowledgeable with the activity and the company’s internal structure. For example, in the case of Delima, Puan Balqis or Encik Salam should be the suitable person for this task. The other way is, they can also create a group or team for preparing SOPs.By using SOPs, the Delima should be able to prevent the mistake as well as errors in performing the operations. In terms of sales, for example, the employee will know what to do from the time of receiving orders until producing the invoice even if he or she do have any special skills in that area. Hence, SOPs should be prepared in a simple way, so that, individuals with basic understanding can understand. Another internal control that can be implementing by Delima Enterprise is Segregation of Duties. Segregation of duties is a concept of having more than one person to complete the task.It is basically to have one person handle only one type of task or power. Segregation of duties is critical to effective internal control because it reduces the risk of mistakes and inappropriate actions. It helps fight fraud by discouraging collusion. Example of segregation of duties such as the person who requisitions the purchase of goods or services should not be the person who approves the purchase. Regarding the Delima case, Puan Hashimah is responsible for approval of employee’s timesheet as well as payment of salaries.Supposedly, she only given the approval of the timesheet only, and the payment should be done by other person such as human resource personnel. So, when Delima implementing a proper internal control system as mention above, its can prevents and avoid any major mistake happens. Because, SOPs for example, it has given the instruction about the procedures to be done. Also, when implementing the segregation of duties or powers it can prevent a person from able to do frauds because the concept of one person with one task only AGMCORPORATE GOVERNANCE †¢Cik Amy do not have enoughknowledge and experience inher field of work. †¢ Company should provideguidance and training to newemployees. †¢ Management should hiresomeone that is capable indoing his work. NO STANDARD OPERATINGPROCEDURE (SOP) †¢ Withdrawal of company’smoney made without properdocumentation. †¢ Decision and authorizationmade by the directors on itsown without properdocumentation †¢ It will increase the risk of fraudand inconsistency in performingtask †¢ Give the auditor hard time tokeep track of the transactionand movement of asset. Delima should implement standardoperating procedure (SOP) : †¢Increase efficiency andconsistence in performing task †¢ Indicate compliance in theentity requirements and can beused to train others LACK OF COMPETENCY †¢ Head of department leaded byunqualified staff †¢ Does not spend on training of staff †¢ Decrease companyperformance as a whole †¢ Discredit the companyreputation †¢ Spend more on training toequip employee with properknowledge †¢ Should hire qualified staff thathave experience †¢ Employees manually preparedtheir timesheets. †¢ No staff in charge and monitoremployee attendance. †¢ Staff take advantage overthe slackness †¢ Decrease in companyperformance †¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Install automated timeattendance5 C’S CREDITWORTHINESSThe 5 key elements a borrowershould have in order to obtaincredit : 1. Character a Integrity / a borrower’s reputation 2. Capacity a company’sborrowing history 3. Capital a Net worth 4. Collateral a Assets to securethe debt 5. Conditions a Of the borrowerand the overall economyEg. interest rate and amount of principalRECORDING †¢ Several assets purchased bythe company were notrecorded †¢ Every asset purchased must berecorded manually andcomputerized. †¢ Assign person(s) to beresponsible for the companyassets. †¢ Create an Asset ManagementDivision. †¢Propose the Asset TaggingSystem. LEAN ORGANIZATION †¢ Lean organization with basicfunctional position †¢ Position & function should beclarified clearly. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION †¢ Did not meet academicqualification or relevantexperience that required bythe company †¢ Hire people that have goodacademic qualifications &relevant experiences. STATUTORY AUDIT †¢ Company did not perform theStatutory Audit †¢ Only legal to Public ListedCompany. Not compulso ry forPrivate Company to performS. A †¢ Private Companies may needto do so when applying forloans and etc from FinancialInstitutions. AUDITOR’S DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIES †¢Encik Zayed tried to negotiateauditor to make unqualifyreport †¢ Sec 174(2)Express opinion in report (dutyto report defects, irregularitiesin account) †¢ Sec 174(3)Report particulars of deficiency, failure andshortcomingPROBLEM IN FINANCE DIVISION †¢ Invoice not pre-numbered †¢ Appoint new finance managerto authorize and supervise †¢ Company did not sendStatement of Account(SOA) toclient †¢ Not prepare monthlyreconciliation †¢ Use company’s money forpersonal use †¢ No segregation of dutiesfinance department †¢ Separate duties according towork position †¢ Emphasize the separate legalentity conceptACCOUNTING SYSTEM MYOB Software not integrated †¢ Purchase new software †¢ Eg: UBS, SAP Software,Ramcon Engineering,Autocount,etcPROBLEM IN HUMAN RESOURCEDIVISION †¢ Pay wages weekly withoutemployees benefit †¢ Unqualified staff (lack of knowledge and experience) †¢ Lack of employees andunbalance staff allocation †¢ Pay wages in monthly basisincluding EPF and Socso †¢ Provide training and seminarfor staff †¢ Assign more staffs withqualification †¢ And re-organise chartWere there any abuses of power bymanagement and breach of fiduciaryon the part of the directors? YESWho should be held responsible andaccountable?NOT ONLY DIRECTOR, ALLMANAGEMENT LEVEL SHOULDBE RESPONSIBLE ANDACCOUNTABLECould the Audit be completed soonwithout any qualification? †¢ Yes, the audit report can beclassified as qualified opinionreport due to severalunresolved issues. If theauditor audited the rest of thefinancial statements and isreasonably sure that theyconfirm with GenerallyAccepted Accounting Priciples(GAAP), then the auditorsimply states that the financialstatements are fairlypresented, with the ex ceptionof the issues which could notbe audited. What should be done to improve theleadership and management of Delima Enterprise Sdn Bhd? SUME JAWAPAN DIATAS†¦

Auerbach Enterprise Essay

â€Å"Auerbach Enterprises uses machine hours as the cost driver to assign overhead costs to the air conditioners. The company has used a company-wide predetermined overhead rate in past years, but the new controller, Bennie Leon, is considering the use of departmental overhead rates beginning with the next year. â€Å"(Schneider, 2012). One product is affected more than the other by use of departmental rates rather than companywide rate. â€Å"Companies can choose to use the accounting job order costing method when they have a single product line or numerous products to manufacture. However, it is less costly and less time-consuming if they elect to use process costing when calculating the manufacturing of a single product line. With similarities and differences, there are also pros and cons that come with these costing methods. Every company is unique and what may work well in a car repair shop, may not work in an automobile company. When we think about the similarities between job order costing and process costing we can agree that they both monitor three specific elements, which are direct material, direct labor and manufacturing overhead. In addition the flow of costs in each method is essentially the same when you look at both accounts. † (Huntington, 2013) Radiator Parts Fabrication equal Overhead Costs divided by Machine Hours $80,000 equal $8 per machine hour 10,000 Radiator Assembly, Weld, and Test equal $100,000 equal $5 per machine hour 20,000 Compressor Parts Fabrication equal $120,000 equal $24 per machine hour 5,000 Compressor Assembly and Test equal $180,000 equal $4 per machine hour 45,000. The department overhead rates included the compressor assembly and test department has the highest overhead costs with the most machine hours that total $4 per machine hour. The compressor parts fabrication department yields the highest cost per machine hour at $24. †Job order costing gives managers the advantage of being able to keep track of individuals’ and teams’ performance in terms of cost-control, efficiency and productivity. Process costing, on the other hand, gives managers the advantage of being able to ascertain the same qualities in entire departments and compare performance over time. (Ingram, D 2013) The next feasible objective for the company is to determine the company wide overhead rate using machine hours as the cost driver. Company Wide Overhead Rate equal Forecast Overhead divided by Expected Machine Hours Overhead Rate equal $480,000 equal $6 per machine hour 80,000. Company Wide Rate: Direct Material Costs x Batch Size plus Direct Labor Costs x Batch Size Maxiflow: Alaska: 135 x 20 equal 2700 110 x 20 equal 2200 75 x 20 equal 1500 95 x 20 equal 1900 equal $4200 per batch equal $4100 per batch Departmental Rate. Direct Materials Costs plus Direct Labor Costs divided by Each Department Hour Maxiflow: 135 plus 75 equal $210 Radiator Parts Fabrication: 210 divided by 28 equal $7. 50 per batch Radiator Assembly, Weld, and Test equal 210 divided by 30 equal $7 per batch Compressor Parts Fabrication: 210 divided by 32 equal $6. 60 per batch Compressor Assembly and Test: 210 divided by 26 equal $8. 10 per batch Alaska: 110 plus 95 equal 205 Radiator Parts Fabrication: 205 divided by 16 equal $12. 80 per batch Radiator Assembly, Weld, and Test: 205 divided by 74 equal $2. 0 per batch Compressor Parts Fabrication: 205 divided by 8 equal $25. 60 per batch Compressor Assembly and Test: 205 divided by 66 equal $3. 10 per batch. There was only a $100 difference between Maxiflow and Alaska when it came to company-wide rates per batch. On other hand, the departmental rates between Maxiflow and Alaska were significantly different. Maxiflow had the cheaper departmental costs per batch with an average of $7. 30 per batch compared to $11. 05 per batch with Alaska. to determine the companywide and departmental costs per unit of Maxiflow and Alaska. Company-Wide Rate: Total Cost per Unit equal direct material Costs plus Direct Labor Costs divided by Number of Units Maxiflow. Direct Materials equal Alaska: 135 Direct Labor Costs equal 75 210 $415 plus $480,000 divided by 40 equal $12,010. 38 per unit 110 plus 95 equal 205 210 plus 205 equal $415 Departmental Rate: Radiator Parts Fabrication: $80,000 plus $415 divided by 40 equal $2010. 38 per unit Radiator Assembly, Weld, and Test: $100,000 plus 415 divided by 40 equal $2510. 38. Compressor Parts Fabrication: $120,000 plus 415 divided by 40 equal $3010. 8 Compressor Assembly and Test: $180,000 plus 415 divided by 40 equal $4510. 38. So, it seems that the total costs per unit for the company-wide rate is slightly less per unit. The company-wide rate for total cost per unit is $12,010. 38, while the total cost per unit for each department is $12, 041. 52. â€Å"Auerbach Enterprises manufactures air conditioners for automobiles and trucks manufactured throughout North America. The company designs its products with flexibility to accommodate many makes and models of automobiles and trucks. The company’s two main products are MaxiFlow and Alaska. †(Schneider, 2012). The reduction of overhead expenses is one of the sparse areas of corporate cost control that receives few to no attention from management. However the savings and profit improvement can be surprising. Reviewing the data for Auerbach management would be better suited to continue using company-wide rates. The perception by managers of the relative importance of costs may be determined by the nature.

Benifits of introducing children to books at an early age and Reading Aloud

Educational researchers praise the practice of parents and teachers reading to children. In a book aimed at helping parents provide their children with useful learning experiences, for example, Butler and Clay (1999) asserted: â€Å"There is no substitute for reading and telling stories to children, from the very earliest days† (p. 17). Based on his review of the literature on reading to children, Teale (1991) concluded that â€Å"reading to preschool children . . .Is an activity through which children may develop interest and skill in literacy† (p. 902). And in Becoming a Nation of Readers, Anderson, Hiebert, Scott, and Wilkinson (1995) cited reading to children as â€Å"the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading† (p. 23). Moreover, a number of correlational studies have linked activities in which adults and preschool children share book reading to the children's beginning reading success in school (Hew ison & Tizard, 1990).Such unabashed praise for reading to children is intriguing because it begs for elaboration: Why is reading to young children thought to be so beneficial? What knowledge do children acquire from it? Although asserting the value of the practice of reading to children, researchers have given little attention to what children learn from it. Interactive story reading is a joint use of picture books to talk about the pictures, read the text, and discuss the story ideas.Central to this definition is the notion that the adult and child (or group of children) construct an understanding of the book together. It is because of this emphasis on the joint construction of meaning that we prefer this term over others, such as shared reading, story reading, reading aloud to children, and guided reading that have been used in the research literature to label the event of reading to children. When adults read stories to young children, they usually do more than read the words alo ud.They ask meaningful questions about the stories. To make sure children understand the story, they paraphrase or interpret as needed, and they answer the children's questions about it. From the research that has examined parent-child story reading, it is possible to explain the social nature of the event and to make deductions about what young children learn during it. The research on parents reading to children is based primarily on middle-class mothers reading to their preschool children at bedtime.Moreover, the studies are often descriptions given by highly educated mothers reflecting on their practices with their children. A seminal work of this type is the Ninio and Bruner (1998) study in which it was found that highly ritualized discussion sequences between parent and child occur during story reading, and that these sequences are the primary means through which toddlers learn to label pictures.Ninio and Bruner found that mothers interpret children's smiling, babbling, vocali zing, reaching, and pointing as either requesting or providing labels. For example, a baby reaches toward one of the pictures in the book, and the mother extends that gesture by saying the name of the picture. Moreover, if the baby vocalizes or gestures toward the picture when the mother gives a label, the mother assumes that the baby is attending to the name she gave, furthering the likelihood that she will continue to provide labels.These parentchild interchanges are orchestrated into turn-taking sessions, with parent or child initiating a communication. At about the same time that Ninio and Bruner were reporting their work, Snow (1993) began reporting her analyses of mother-child discussion during book sharing. She posited that the features of the interactions that support oral language acquisition are the very same features that promote beginning reading and writing development.She highlighted four such features: (a) semantic contingency, or the adult continuing a topic introduc ed by the child's previous statement through expansions, extensions, clarifications, or answers; (b) scaffolding, or the steps the adult takes to minimize the difficulty of the activity; (c) accountability procedures, or the way the mother demands the task be finished; and (d) the use of highly predictable contexts for language use that help the child move from the concrete here and now to the remote and abstract.Elaborations on these four features illustrate how children learn about reading through social interactions during interactive storybook reading. The use by adults of semantic contingency, or meaningfully extending a child's comment to facilitate oral language acquisition, has been well documented (Cross, 1998). Snow (1993), however, argued that when adults expand on or clarify text during storybook reading, they facilitate the development of literate behavior.For example, adults can answer children's questions about letter names and words, they can clarify story meaning, a nd they can extend children's understanding of story concepts such as what direction one reads print or where a word begins and ends. Not only is the discourse during interactive story reading expansive in nature, Snow argued, it is scaffolded. Drawing from Bruner (1998), she defined scaffolding as the â€Å"steps taken to reduce the degrees of freedom in carrying out some task, so that the child can concentrate on the difficult skill he is in the process of acquiring† (p. 170).Scaffolding occurs in oral language development. For example, although young children often say only one word for a whole sentence when they are learning to talk, parents respond by treating the word as a complete and sophisticated statement. In story reading, scaffolding might include parent reminders to the child about the name of the story, who the important characters are, or what the story problem is. The parent might point to a picture and then its printed label, hesitate to see if the child fill s in a story word or phrase, or encourage the child to help tell parts of a story.Snow also argues that parents challenge their children during reading sessions by holding them accountable for what they do to help construct the session. Snow and Ninio (2006) proposed seven tenets of literate communication from the interactions during the reading event that, although not explicitly taught, help children become literate. These tenets are (a) that a book is for reading rather than manipulating, (b) that a book controls the conversation, (c) that pictures are events, (f) that book events occur outside of real time, and (g) that books are an independent fictional world.It is clear that parents help children take over storybook-reading talk, and that this practice encourages children's later strategies for talking about and interpreting books. The descriptive research shows clearly that children experience opportunities for learning from engaging in interactive story reading with parents, and that the interactions have characteristic patterns that children imitate and that could promote literacy development.The nature of the dialogue that occurs during interactive book reading is affected by factors that include the size of the group, the competency of the participants, and the familiarity and type of the text. Yet a basic framework can be seen. When parents or teachers model, read, and talk to children about a text, they provide a structure that helps children understand and remember the story content.By promoting socially interactive story reading in which both reader and listener actively participate and cooperatively negotiate what is important and what things mean, teachers engage children in a process of learning through social interaction. It appears that, not only do children internalize the social conventions of stories when they talk with adults about them, they take away specific knowledge from hearing stories, such as the syntax, organization, and word f orms used in written language, and knowledge of its elements – words and letters themselves.Explanations of how children move into independent word reading have assumed a strong relationship among letter knowledge, phonological awareness, and reading (Ehri, 1999). Reading requires children to attend to the sounds in words and to the letters that symbolize those sounds. New evidence from interactive reading studies suggests that interactive reading may be another way to draw children's attention to print and to the ways that letters sound in words. through interactive reading, children begin to remember the story dialogues.In the process, they acquire written language structures and new vocabulary and then begin to focus on print and letter concepts. The research documents that these aspects of literacy learning can appear both at home and in the classroom. Therefore, both parents and teachers can promote young children's literacy acquisition through interactive story reading. At home, children can learn at a fairly optimal level because most parents are sensitive to their children's developing abilities in language.Parents can connect book information with their children's background experiences, and they are better attuned to the children's interests and level of understanding. At school, teachers achieve similar effects if they organize the story reading to elicit maximum participation from all students and if they repeatedly read stories. The theoretical construct posited by Vygotsky helps to explain how learning occurs. When reading to children is a social event, children's book explorations are refined through the verbal and nonverbal interactions that take place during the reading.During the reading, adults highlight and interpret the reality of the book, its written language features, vocabulary, and print forms, and the children mimic and modify the language to fit their understanding. Structured interactions enable children to add these underst andings to their current viewpoints through play with the language, questions, comments, and attempts to extend their understandings by making sense of new situations with the book language and print.From this theoretical perspective, it becomes obvious that reading to children without allowing discussion is not likely to be sufficient for developing the ability to use written language. If the goal is to teach literacy, an adult should mediate the ideas in books by keeping within bounds of children's understandings and by using an interactive story reading approach. Then, story reading becomes a way for young children to acquire knowledge about written language at new levels of understanding.Their face-to-face communication with adults provides a way for them to ask questions, comment about what makes sense, and use book language and book ideas. Although picture books provide essential picture and story line context, the language is without intonation, gestures, and pitch until an a dult reads it to the child. But, through mediation of this language, the child learns to interpret, apply, and transfer the sophisticated written language to their own oral language. Thus, literacy learning opportunities abound in interactive reading sessions.The process takes place through highly structured social interactions, interactions that involve routine joint participation sequences, in which the adults help children make connections to their own knowledge, and in which children make known their old understanding and practice their new understandings. Although this approach is easier for parents who are reading to one child, sufficient evidence now exists that teachers can read to small groups of children in a similar way, particularly in situations where teacher-group interactive language structures are fairly routinized, such as in rereading stories.Children learn about three aspects of literacy when they engage in interactive reading. First, they acquire knowledge about written language structures from the stories that they read interactively with an adult on a regular basis, and that they can talk about, act out, and use to play with story language. This suggests that teachers need to provide opportunities for children to hear and talk about stories. Second, they acquire new vocabulary from listening to stories.Children's oral language is embellished with new words and book phrases that are drawn from the book they hear read, particularly those they hear read repeatedly. Their attention to story information thereby becomes more focused and their listening comprehension improves. Finally, children learn about the form of print, that is, about how language is graphically represented, when they have opportunities to memorize texts and recite them as though they were reading. Their learning can be heightened when the print in the stories is salient, and when they hear repeated readings.Repeated reading is an activity particularly well suited for presc hool and kindergarten classrooms and will foster development of children's letter knowledge and phonological awareness, which can be connected to later word and letter recognition and to decoding. It is clear from more than a decade of research that interactive story reading is a powerful social avenue for developing language and literacy, and that it can be used as an influential literacy tool both in the home and in the school; that is, as Cochran-Smith (1984) has said, the child and adult bring to life books, and books enrich children's lives.Works Cited Anderson R. C. , Hiebert E. H. , Scott J. A. , & Wilkinson I. A. G. (1985). Becoming a nation of readers: The report of the Commission on Reading. Champaign, IL: Center for the Study of Reading; Washington, DC: National Institute of Education. Butler D. , & Clay M. (1999). Reading begins at home: Preparing children for reading before they go to school. London: Heinemann. Cochran-Smith M. (1984). The making of a reader. Norwood, N J: Ablex. Cross T. G. (1998). â€Å"Mother's speech and its association with rate of linguistic development in young children†. In N.Waterson & C. Snow (Eds. ), The development of communication. London: Wiley. Bruner J. S. (1998). â€Å"Learning how to do things with words†. In J. S. Bruner & R. A. Garton (Eds. ), Human growth and development. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. Ehri L. C. (1999). â€Å"Movement into word reading and spelling: How spelling contributes to reading†. In J. M. Mason (Ed. ), Reading and writing connections (pp. 65-82). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Hewison J. , & Tizard J. (1990). â€Å"Parental involvement and reading attainment†. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 50, 209-215.Ninio A. , & Bruner J. (1998). â€Å"The achievement and antecedents of labelling†. Journal of Child Language, 5, 1-6. Snow C. E. (1993). â€Å"Literacy and language: Relationships during the preschool years†. Harvard Educational Re view, 53, 165-189. Snow C. E. , & Ninio A. (2006). â€Å"The contracts of literacy: What children learn from learning to read books†. In W. H. Teale & E. Sulzby (Eds. ), Emergent literacy: Writing and reading (pp. 116-138). Norwood, NJ: Ablex. Teale W. H. (1991). â€Å"Parents reading to their children: What we know and need to know†. Lrnguage Arts, 58, 902-912.

Why Expertise Should Be Your Priority in Creating Online Content

Why Expertise Should Be Your Priority in Creating Online Content Whether you are marketing a business, a brand, a website or yourself, creating and providing online content across several forms of media comes with its own slippery slopes. It doesnt take much to realize the inherent problems that are part of such public and easy publishing. In fact, all one has to do is consider the scandals of celebrity Twitter account holders to see the extent of damage that can come of providing the wrong content; and the professional consequences of posting content that is awkward, misinterpreted or otherwise harmful to ones reputation.For this reason, particularly if you are building your personal brand, using expertise as a guide for online content publishing is essential if you want to do it the right way and be successful at it. If you are publishing online content for the sake of building a business or attracting website traffic, providing meaningful content not only gives your website legitimacy- it also helps potential clients or customers know that you do a good job at providing the services you sell. This type of reputation-building behavior is important and stands in contrast to the aforementioned celebrity Twitterers, who undermined their professional reputation with online content instead of building it.What is content marketing?Content marketing is the term used for published content that provides information to an audience, particularly an audience made up of potential clients or customers. When you create content marketing, your goal should be to provide value to your audience- either through giving them useful information relevant to your line of work or assisting them by answering questions they might have. In answering questions, you are showing yourself to be an expert, and your audience will consider that online content to be an extension or picture of the quality of the services or products you provide. In other words: its a good thing to answer questions and provide meaningful expertise in your specific area- but onl y if those answers and bits of expertise are correct, so fact checking is important!Providing expertise or answering questions builds value for your site, your company and your personal brand. Value is, in many ways, a perception, so it is essential that the perception of value online audiences glean from your content is positive. When your readers see it as useless information, or information that has just been reworded and rehashed from other sources available online (that may or may not be correct), your content will quickly lose value. The result of that is your online presence loses value, as well.So what about readability and watering down content?One of the worst things you can do in providing online content is attempting to make it readable for everyone. In doing so, you end up watering down the content, or making it less than what it could be for the sake of attracting what is hoped to be a mass audience. While the intention is a good one, it can end up destroying your cont ents perceived value, since those who are seeking detailed expertise will be unable to find it in your content. If you provide advice that is readily found anywhere on the internet, your potential audience and potential customers are likely to move their business elsewhere, since there is nothing separating your company or services from hundreds of others that are available.Your experience speaks volumesSo how do you avoid providing content that looks like everyone elses? Simple. Use your experiences as a springboard for showing your expertise. Many businesses hire copywriters to rehash already-published content just to provide keyword-rich content, but few insist on providing the source information. Why is this? Much of it has to do with not being involved enough in the content being published. Without this involvement, the content provided on a website is only as good as the copywriters knowledge base and source material. It does not reflect the expertise of the person or company attempting to build its image and brand through the content, and could end up backfiring when unchecked or incorrect information gets posted. The way to avoid this is absolute involvement in the content you are publishing under your name or under the name of your business. You wouldnt allow a stranger to write your personal mail and memos; dont let a stranger write your online content unless you are highly involved in the process and can provide source material for the writer.Heres an example: An attorney who wishes to grow her clientele hires a copywriter to create informative content regarding her subject area of practice on her websites blog. Since she practices in the area of Will and Estate Law, she tells the copywriter to write content that focuses on the different terminology and what it means. She notices after a while that her website is not drawing nearly as much traffic as shed hoped.What should she do differently?First, she should realize that content that simply defines terms is content that is available online in copious amounts. A search for definition or a general description is likely to pull up hundreds of websites before it pulls up hers, so its value is slight, if there is any value to it at all.Second, she should reframe her content to provide examples of her work with each of these types of cases or legal arrangements. She could include a quick definition within her description for simple SEO keyword purposes, but the bulk of the content should be focused on unique experience and expertise in the field- hers.Finally, she should welcome questions from her websites visitors, and post the answers to those questions as part of the content she provides. This not only solidifies her as an expert in the business- it also fills the website with useful, relevant content that makes visitors feel like their time reading her website and blog has not been wasted. A potential client looking for an attorney in Will and Estate Law will see this particula r attorney as someone who knows what she is talking about and is willing to go that extra mile to help her clients and answer their questions. They will see her as such because of the content she provided.

Understanding Job Analysis Essay Example

Understanding Job Analysis Essay Example Understanding Job Analysis Essay Understanding Job Analysis Essay Web Exercise: Understanding Job Analysis Week 3 Human Resources Management Professor Lawrence R. A. Prosper March 23, 2013 1. How easy was it to find the specific occupation you were looking for, and how comprehensive was the information provided about that occupation? I was immediately impressed by the O*NET Resource Center after opening the site. The design was smart and the site was easy to navigate despite the many choices available to explore. This is a great example of what a Government agency working with the business community and the actual workers from each occupation can accomplish. A wealth of useful information is presented to the public at no cost in an easy to use format. I was quickly able to locate information that was specific to my chosen occupation. My current job title is Special Projects Manager which is a hybrid description. My primary duties are to initiate the acquisition of production machinery and when needed, additional building space to install the equipment; that is the Project Manager role. I also ideate and participate in projects related to safety, facilities management and production flows which justifies the Special Projects designation. I selected Project Manager in my search and was directed to the page for Architectural Engineering Managers which gave a brief description of similar titles (Project Engineer, Project Engineering Manager), what these managers do, and what they would be expected to do on the job. The last item listed some on the job duties as to direct, review, or approve project design changes and to confer with management, production, or marketing staff to discuss project specifications or procedures: basically , my assigned duties. Following the link to Advanced Manufacturing, I was able to see examples of descriptive information about specific jobs. This page had a graphic of a sample career Ladder/Lattice for Advanced Manufacturing which was very similar to my actual career path. The job titles were a bit different but did show a familiar progression from helper, to operator, to production supervisor, to engineering/production manager. This was my path to my current position but I made it here without a college degree, a feat that would be impossible in this company today. I maneuvered to the Engineering Manager page and found more job specific information. A good amount of detail was devoted to the Job Description and some mention of the required education, workforce preparation, work experience, licensure/certifications, salary and the employment outlook for the next 10 years. The information for this occupation was easy to read and comprehensive. As someone who is presently in this field I can say the duties and expectations presented are realistic. For a person considering pursuing a career in this area a path can be established to achieve that goal by using this resource as a guide. What did you think of the occupations O*NET suggested as matching your skills? Was the occupation you are in or preparing for among those listed? This exercise has confirmed that I have ended up in an occupation that suits my skill sets, abilities and personality. The non-scientific results earned on the Interest Profiler test were also quite representative of me as a person and the specific area scores did indicate an affinity for my chosen field. My chosen occupation is Project Manager and this was among the professions listed. I continue to prepare for this occupation by attending college to complete my degree despite having worked at my company for 29 years. A Project Manager works alone while being involved with coordinating the work of many unconnected groups simultaneously. It can be a demanding profession and may not provide satisfaction to certain personalities. The skills detailed on the O*Net are well defined and can be interpreted as needing one to be technically knowledgeable, have good people skills, and to be adaptable to changes in the scope of a project. Math skills are important in the product design and for producing the cost analyses and project justifications. I recently completed algebra and statistics which the job description notes as necessary. Character skills are described as needing attention to detail, integrity, adaptability, analytical thinking, dependability and stress tolerance. I match up well in those areas and at times tend to overdo the attention to detail. Problem solving skills are used to notice a problem and figure out the best way to solve it. This is a difficult skill to master and sometimes the logical solution is not the best choice as a solution. Finally, there are project management software tools available and learning to use them benefits the project and the teams involved in the work progression. You can also contact them to tell them your computer has died and you want to use the program on your new computer. They are the ones to reset the activation counts. Just explain what has happened. NP124865399 2. As an HR professional, how could O*NET be useful in conducting a job analysis? Explain specifically how you would use the data from this site to assist your organization. 3. As a director of human resources, would you have your staff use this site? Why or why not?

Free Song of Solomon Analysis Essay

Free Song of Solomon Analysis Essay Song of Solomon Song of Solomon, winner of the 1978 National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction, is an intricately woven, thematically complex novel that addresses ancestral history, class-versus-race bonds, and sexism. Milkman Dead begins searching for gold and freedom from familial ties; in the process of searching, he discovers his family history and learns about his own tribal power. Although the opening scene occurs in 1931, the characters tell stories that date back to the late nineteenth century, when Milkmans great grandfather, Solomon, flew away from a field in which he worked as a slave, leaving behind twenty-one children and an African myth of flight. In many of Morrisons stories, seeking or denying ones cultural roots is a major concern Milkman Dead, the young man who is searching for independence in Song of Solomon, leaves his home to find gold. Instead, he discovers the intricacies of his familys heritage, a discovery that connects him to life and, ironically, simultaneously frees him from life. Milkman begins to recognize the links between past experiences and present circumstances. Consequently, he develops an understanding of his mothers abnormal sexual behaviors and his fathers obsession with owning things. Ruth is dead inside, frightened of her husband and bored by her life She searches for some sign of her own purpose and usefulness in life by creating elaborate arrangements to cover a watermark on her mahogany dining table. Much more alarming, she breast-feeds her son until he is old enough to walk and talk, a fact that is discovered by a town gossip who gives the boy the nickname Milkman, which stays with him for the rest of his life. Macons obsession with gaining wealth and owning property is symbolized by his keys, which he counts constantly and fondles frequently in order to gain a sense of security. Macon believes that class elevation will protect him and his family from racism. He marries Ruth because she is a doctors daughter, not because he loves her. He parades his well-dressed daughters before his lower-class tenants but rushes to guard the girls when a tenant tries to touch them. Furthermore, when Macon collects rent from these tenants, he shows little compassion for the plight of those who have limited funds. Although Morrison does not focus primarily on the class/race relationship in this novel, this concern appears to be a major theme. Rather than seeking truth or taking flight, Macon decides to live by the standards set by his capitalistic society. Pilate refuses to do the same thing. Her only participation in society is her business of selling homemade wine, the profits from which she, Reba, and Hagar either squander or give away. Milkman says that he cannot identify the source of comfort in her home, a home of so few material comforts. Pilates daughter, her granddaughter, her bag of bones, and her homemade earring, with which a bird flies away after she dies, seem to be her only treasures. The flying motif of the story is based on the African myth of enslaved Africans flying back to the African continent. Whether Milkmans great grandfather died, simply left, or actually flew away from the field is undetermined. Yet the empowerment of such a myth and the oppression it suggestsan oppression so strong that it engendered such wishes or such powerattest the Africans faith in their ability to transcend their subjugation. The importance of ancestors and history is indicated by Morrisons emphasis on naming The incorrect, altered, and denied names in the story create distance between the characters and their identities. When Macons father, who is actually named Jake, registers with the Freedmans Bureau, a government organization that requires the registration of all emancipated slaves, the clerk makes errors that result in the name Macon Dead becoming his legal name. Macons father begins the Dead tradition of blindly choosing the names of female children from the Bible. This is how Pilate, Reba, Hagar, and Milkmans sisters, Magdalene Lena Dead and First Corinthians Dead, get their names. The names in the community are also important indications of the struggle between those in power and those in subjugation. The African Americans in the city decide to refer to the street on which the only colored doctor had lived as Doctor Street, but the citys legislators order that any mail addressed to Doctor Street be directed to the dead letter office. In an official notice, the legislators note the streets name as Mains Avenue and not Doctor Street. Therefore, as a way to keep their memories alive and please the legislators as well, the African Americans refer to the street as Not Doctor Street. In a similar way, they rename the MercyHospital No Mercy Hospital, to emphasize the hospitals refusal to treat African American patients. Morrisons women in this novel are fascinating, and they are necessary to Milkmans maturity and development as well as to the fulfillment of his journey. The magnificent Pilate, juxtaposed with her brother Macon, illustrates for Milkman how far removed his parents and sisters are from natural lives. During Milkmans search in Virginia, women provide significant pieces to the puzzle of his history. An examination of Pilate, Ruth, and Hagar indicates, however, that Morrison wishes to point out that women are not allowed the freedoms that men enjoy in this society. Milkmans mother and aunt are the two important women in his life As the daughter of the only African American doctor in town, Ruth is bred to an upper-middle-class existence. She is presented in the novel as the underside of the ideal Southern lady image. She is totally cut off from life, benevolently imprisoned by her father, and spitefully contained by her husband, who marries her because of her class position and despises her for her inherent weakness. Ruths life is one of uneventful waste. As critic Barbara Christian explains, her life is symbolic of the terror that awaits those women who become the emblem of a mans wealth and class position. Unlike Ruth, Pilate exists totally outside societal structures, as is indicated by her lack of a navel. Her home, which is not even equipped with electricity, stands outside town. She sees little value in material things and sells homemade wine to provide an income for herself, her daughter, and her granddaughter. Pilate possesses admirable strength and energy, but, in order to grow and survive on her own terms, she has to move outside society. Hagars acceptance of European standards of beauty, such as light skin, straight hair, and thin noses, illustrates the ill effects of societys tendency to objectify women who live within it. When Milkman rejects Hagar, she concludes that her woolly hair, unfashionable clothes, and lack of makeup are the reasons. Frantically, she shops for stockings, lipsticks, and other cosmetics, hoping to transform herself into something she imagines Milkman finds acceptable. By the end of the novel, Milkman recalls and regrets his treatment of Hagar His experience with her and his exposure to the other women in his life lead him toward the fulfillment he enjoys as his journey closes. Morrison seems to imply that women are necessary participants in the development of males. Meanwhile, male-dominated cultures impede female development.

Free Essays on Merwin

The Language of Nature W.S. Merwin’s poems are of great lyrical intensity, concerned with darkness and light, the seasons, and the passing of time across landscapes. His lyrics capture the spiritual heartbreak of our time. He illustrates the bittersweet joys of vanishing wilderness in Native Trees, anger at our political wrong-doings in Term, and the emotions that memory can generate in Hearing the Names of the Valley’s. Merwin uses trees as a symbol of identity, specifically Hawaiian identity, in Native Trees. The first line states, â€Å"Neither my father or mother knew the names of the trees where I was born† (pg. 1). The child is curious to know about his culture and past, in which knowing these things forms identity. By asking questions about the trees, the child can have a greater sense of his identity. The parents do not answer his questions about the trees because they do not know the answers to them. â€Å"Both my father and mother said they never knew† (pg. 1). The reason to why they might not know the answers may be that the parents have never questioned the â€Å"trees† as their child does. It appears that they have accepted the deterioration of their Hawaiian identity while their child longs to find it. â€Å"There were no questions, They had forgotten†. The attention of their fingers were focused on the surfaces of furniture (pg. 1). Merwin portrays trees to be more than just a habitat of the land but as important as one’s identity. Merwin conveys, in the simplicity of language, a sense of political urgency using nature to represent the loss of the Hawaiian’s land. Merwin expressed the idea that nature was a part of everyone and the moment that you decided to harm a part of nature, you were, in actuality, destroying a part of yourself (video in class). In Term, the road, once walked upon by generations of men, represents Hawaii’s land. The people that have taken away this land cannot see that it is more than... Free Essays on Merwin Free Essays on Merwin The Language of Nature W.S. Merwin’s poems are of great lyrical intensity, concerned with darkness and light, the seasons, and the passing of time across landscapes. His lyrics capture the spiritual heartbreak of our time. He illustrates the bittersweet joys of vanishing wilderness in Native Trees, anger at our political wrong-doings in Term, and the emotions that memory can generate in Hearing the Names of the Valley’s. Merwin uses trees as a symbol of identity, specifically Hawaiian identity, in Native Trees. The first line states, â€Å"Neither my father or mother knew the names of the trees where I was born† (pg. 1). The child is curious to know about his culture and past, in which knowing these things forms identity. By asking questions about the trees, the child can have a greater sense of his identity. The parents do not answer his questions about the trees because they do not know the answers to them. â€Å"Both my father and mother said they never knew† (pg. 1). The reason to why they might not know the answers may be that the parents have never questioned the â€Å"trees† as their child does. It appears that they have accepted the deterioration of their Hawaiian identity while their child longs to find it. â€Å"There were no questions, They had forgotten†. The attention of their fingers were focused on the surfaces of furniture (pg. 1). Merwin portrays trees to be more than just a habitat of the land but as important as one’s identity. Merwin conveys, in the simplicity of language, a sense of political urgency using nature to represent the loss of the Hawaiian’s land. Merwin expressed the idea that nature was a part of everyone and the moment that you decided to harm a part of nature, you were, in actuality, destroying a part of yourself (video in class). In Term, the road, once walked upon by generations of men, represents Hawaii’s land. The people that have taken away this land cannot see that it is more than...

Free Essays on Exploring The Affect Society Has On The Shaping Of Human Behavior

There are numerous aspects of social interaction used in the shaping of social relationships. For the purpose of this paper, I thoroughly examined the theories of â€Å"Self-perception† and â€Å"Social perception â€Å"I decided to focus on the views given by Sociologist’s Erving Goffman and Charles Darwin throughout chapter four. According to sociologist Erving Goffman, social interaction should be compared to a theatrical performance, with the members of society playing the roles of actors or actresses. Performers often worry and stress prior to going on stage. They worry about what the spectators will think? Will they ever get another role? How will they know if the spectators like their performance, and if they don’t what will happen to their career? Goffman believes â€Å"self-presenters sometimes worry about being judged incompetent; they often rehearse prior to their performance†. However, performers are not the only individuals who are self -presenters. Society is full of norms and rules that are socially acceptable or unacceptable. These societal norms shape and mold the behavior of human behavior throughout society. Individuals, who try to fit into those norms and rules, often find themselves rehearsing their roles and behavior. For example, applicants going for job interviews often rehearse what they will, and will not say in the interview. An applicant also observes the interviewers body language and responses, in order to figure out if they are being accepted or rejected. Goffman, gives the example of an individual preparing â€Å"for a romantic dinner date, for instance, you might purchase your date’s favorite wine, splash on some enticing cologne, and bring a romantic CD as a gift (the props) that will later be played at the right moment to properly set that stage for your romantic self-presentation. You might even practice your romantic gazes and postures in front of a mirror or rehearse a romantic speech beforehand† (... Free Essays on Exploring The Affect Society Has On The Shaping Of Human Behavior Free Essays on Exploring The Affect Society Has On The Shaping Of Human Behavior There are numerous aspects of social interaction used in the shaping of social relationships. For the purpose of this paper, I thoroughly examined the theories of â€Å"Self-perception† and â€Å"Social perception â€Å"I decided to focus on the views given by Sociologist’s Erving Goffman and Charles Darwin throughout chapter four. According to sociologist Erving Goffman, social interaction should be compared to a theatrical performance, with the members of society playing the roles of actors or actresses. Performers often worry and stress prior to going on stage. They worry about what the spectators will think? Will they ever get another role? How will they know if the spectators like their performance, and if they don’t what will happen to their career? Goffman believes â€Å"self-presenters sometimes worry about being judged incompetent; they often rehearse prior to their performance†. However, performers are not the only individuals who are self -presenters. Society is full of norms and rules that are socially acceptable or unacceptable. These societal norms shape and mold the behavior of human behavior throughout society. Individuals, who try to fit into those norms and rules, often find themselves rehearsing their roles and behavior. For example, applicants going for job interviews often rehearse what they will, and will not say in the interview. An applicant also observes the interviewers body language and responses, in order to figure out if they are being accepted or rejected. Goffman, gives the example of an individual preparing â€Å"for a romantic dinner date, for instance, you might purchase your date’s favorite wine, splash on some enticing cologne, and bring a romantic CD as a gift (the props) that will later be played at the right moment to properly set that stage for your romantic self-presentation. You might even practice your romantic gazes and postures in front of a mirror or rehearse a romantic speech beforehand† (...

How to Use Sentence Fragments Effectively

How to Use Sentence Fragments Effectively Most writing handbooks insist that incomplete sentencesor fragmentsare errors that need to be corrected. As Toby Fulwiler and Alan Hayakawa say in The Blair Handbook (Prentice Hall, 2003), The problem with a fragment is its incompleteness. A sentence expresses a complete idea, but a fragment neglects to tell the reader either what it is about (the subject) or what happened (the verb) (p. 464). In formal writing, the proscription against using fragments often makes good sense. But not always. In both fiction and nonfiction, the sentence fragment may be used deliberately to create a variety of powerful effects. Fragments of Thought Midway through J. M. Coetzees novel Disgrace (Secker Warburg, 1999), the main character experiences shock as the result of a brutal attack at his daughters house. After the intruders leave, he attempts to come to terms with what has just occurred: It happens every day, every hour, every minute, he tells himself, in every quarter of the country. Count yourself lucky to have escaped with your life. Count yourself lucky not to be a prisoner in the car at this moment, speeding away, or at the bottom of a donga with a bullet in your head. Count Lucy lucky too. Above all Lucy.A risk to own anything: a car, a pair of shoes, a packet of cigarettes. Not enough to go around, not enough cars, shoes, cigarettes. Too many people, too few things. What there is must go into circulation, so that everyone can have a chance to be happy for a day. That is the theory; hold to this theory and to the comforts of theory. Not human evil, just a vast circulatory system, to whose workings pity and terror are irrelevant. That is how one must see life in this country: in its schematic aspect. Otherwise one could go mad. Cars, shoes; women too. There must be some niche in the system for women and what happens to them. reflect the characters efforts to make sense of the harsh, disruptive experience. The sense of incompleteness conveyed by the fragments is deliberate and quite effective. Narrative and Descriptive Fragments In Charles Dickenss The Pickwick Papers (1837), rascally Alfred Jingle tells a macabre tale that today would probably be labeled an urban legend. Jingle relates the anecdote in a curiously fragmented fashion: Heads, headstake care of your heads! cried the loquacious stranger, as they came out under the low archway, which in those days formed the entrance to the coach-yard. Terrible placedangerous workother dayfive childrenmothertall lady, eating sandwichesforgot the archcrashknockchildren look roundmothers head offsandwich in her handno mouth to put it inhead of a family offshocking, shocking! Jingles narrative style calls to mind the famous opening of Bleak House (1853), in which Dickens devotes three paragraphs to an impressionistic description of a London fog: fog in the stem and bowl of the afternoon pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; fog cruelly pinching the toes and fingers of his shivering little prentice boy on deck. In both passages, the writer is more concerned with conveying sensations and creating a mood than in completing a thought grammatically. The Series of Illustrative Fragments Pale druggists in remote towns of the Epworth League and flannel nightgown belts, endlessly wrapping up bottles of Peruna. . . . Women hidden away in the damp kitchens of unpainted houses along the railroad tracks, frying tough beefsteaks. . . . Lime and cement dealers being initiated into the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men or the Woodmen of the World. . . . Watchmen at lonely railroad crossings in Iowa, hoping that theyll be able to get off to hear the United Brethren evangelist preach. . . . Ticket-sellers in the subway, breathing sweat in its gaseous form. . . . Farmers plowing sterile fields behind sad meditative horses, both suffering from the bites of insects. . . . Grocery-clerks trying to make assignations with soapy servant girls. . . . Women confined for the ninth or tenth time, wondering helplessly what it is all about. . . . Methodist preachers retired after forty years of service in the trenches of God, upon pensions of $600 a year. Collected rather than connected, such brief fragmented examples offer snapshots of sadness and disappointment. Fragments and Crots Different as these passages are, they illustrate a common point: fragments arent inherently bad. Though a strictly prescriptive grammarian might insist that all fragments are demons waiting to be exorcised, professional writers have looked more kindly on these ragged bits and pieces of prose. And they have found some imaginative ways to use fragments effectively. Over 30 years ago, in An Alternate Style: Options in Composition (now out of print), Winston Weathers made a strong case for going beyond strict definitions of correctness when teaching writing. Students should be exposed to a wide range of styles, he argued, including the variegated, discontinuous, fragmented forms used to great effect by Coetzee, Dickens, Mencken, and countless other writers. Perhaps because fragment is so commonly equated with error, Weathers reintroduced the term crot, an archaic word for bit, to characterize this deliberately chopped-up form.The language of lists, advertising, blogs, text messages. An increasingly common style. Like any device, often overworked. Sometimes inappropriately applied. So this isnt a celebration of all fragments. Incomplete sentences that bore, distract, or confuse readers should be corrected. But there are moments, whether under the archway or at a lonely railroad crossing, when fragments (or crots or verbless sentences) work just fine. Indeed, better than fine. Also see: In Defense of Fragments, Crots, and Verbless Sentences.