Category: Uncategorized

Forms of Learning Assessment

Name

Affiliation

Introduction

Essays are typically utilized as an assessment tool of two general situations (Angelo & Cross, 2013). This first is in branches of knowledge like social studies, arithmetic, science or history to assess how well “students can clarify, convey, hope to measure up, difference, break down, integrate, assess, and generally express their reasoning around a few parts of the subject” (pp. 184-5). The second is to assess students in their capacity to write in Standard English with suitable use of language and to compose for different purposes including composition, influence and correspondence. There are two essential varieties of article things: confined reaction and developed reaction. Confined reaction things limit what the student is permitted to reply in both substance and structure. Though amplified reaction things give students the opportunity to express their own thoughts and sort out those thoughts in their own particular manner (Angelo & Cross, 2013). To help take out subjectivity in the assessment of article things, planners generally create agendas, rating scales, model answers or utilize numerous graders to assess the exam (Bailey & Brown, 2009).

Almost every student has endured the experience of investing hours get ready for a major assessment, just to find that the material that he or she had concentrated on was unique in relation to what the teacher decided to underscore on the appraisal. This experience shows students two un-lucky lessons. To begin with, students understand that diligent work and exertion don’t pay off in school in light of the fact that the time and exertion that they spent mulling over had almost no impact on the outcomes. What’s more, second, they discover that they can’t believe their educators (Bailey & Brown, 2009). These are barely the lessons that capable educators need their students to learn. Regardless, this experience is basic in light of the fact that numerous educators still erroneously accept that they must keep their Assessment mystery. Thus, students come to view appraisals as speculating amusements, particularly from the center Assessment on. They see accomplishment as relying upon how well they can think about what their educators will ask on tests, tests, and different appraisals. A few educators even take pride in their capacity to out-conjecture students. They make inquiries about secluded ideas or dark understandings just to see whether students are perusing painstakingly. By and large, these teachers do exclude such “gotcha” addresses malevolently, but instead frequently unknowingly on the grounds that such inquiries were asked of them when they were students

Assessment that serve as important wellsprings of data don’t shock students. Rather, these Assessment mirror the ideas and aptitudes that the educator accentuated in class, alongside the teacher’s reasonable criteria for judging students’ execution. These ideas, aptitudes, and criteria adjust to the teacher’s instructional exercises and, in a perfect world, with state or region measures. Students see these Assessment as reasonable measures of vital learning objectives. Teachers encourage adapting by giving students essential input on their learning advancement and by helping them recognize learning issues (Gardner, & Gardner, J 2012Faultfinders here and there fight that this methodology signifies “educating to the test.” But the critical issue is, what decides the substance and routines for instructing? If the test is the essential determinant of what educators instruct and how they show it, then we are undoubtedly “educating to the test.” But in the event that craved learning objectives are the establishment of students’ instructional encounters, then Assessment of student learning are just expansions of those same objectives. As opposed to “educating to the test,” educators are all the more precisely “testing what they educate.” If an idea or ability is sufficiently imperative to evaluate, then it ought to be sufficiently vital to instruct. What’s more, if it is not sufficiently imperative to educate, then there’s little legitimization for evaluating it.

The best classroom assessment additionally serve as important wellsprings of data for educators, helping them recognize what they taught well and what they have to take a shot at. Gathering this crucial data does not oblige a modern factual investigation of assessment results. Teachers require just make a basic count of what number of students missed every assessment thing or neglected to meet a particular measure (Hedge, 2011). State appraisals now and again give comparative thing by-thing data, yet worries about thing security and the expense of growing new things every year for the most part make assessment designers hesitant to offer such point by point data. When teachers have made particular counts, they can give careful consideration to the inconvenience spots—those things or criteria missed by expansive quantities of students in the class. In investigating these outcomes, the teacher should first consider the nature of the thing or model. Maybe the inquiry is questionably worded or the paradigm is blurred. Maybe students mis-translated the inquiry. Whatever the case, educators must figure out if these things satisfactorily address the learning, comprehension, or aptitude that they were planned to gauge. In the event that teachers discover no undeniable issues with the thing or model, then they must turn their consideration regarding their instructing (Hedge, 2011). At the point when the same number of as a large portion of the students in a class answer a reasonable question erroneously or neglect to meet a specific rule, it’s not a student learning issue it’s an instructing issue. Whatever showing method was utilized, whatever illustrations were utilized, or whatever clarification was offered, it basically didn’t work.

Conclusion

Analyzing assessment brings about thusly means putting aside some intense sense of self issues. Numerous educators might at first say, “I taught them. They simply didn’t learn it!” But on reflection, most perceive that their adequacy is not characterized on the premise of what they do as teachers but instead on what their students have the capacity to do. Could viable showing occur without learning? Absolutely not. Some contend that such a viewpoint puts an excess of obligation on educators and insufficient on students. Once in a while, teachers react, “Don’t students have obligations in this procedure? Shouldn’t students show activity and individual responsibility?” Indeed, educators and students offer obligation regarding learning. Indeed, even with valiant showing endeavors, we can’t promise that all students will learn everything incredibly. Just infrequently do teachers discover things or appraisal criteria that each student answers accurately? A couple of students are never eager to advance the essential exertion, however these students have a tendency to be the special case, not the standard. If a teacher is coming to less than 50% of the students in the class, the educator’s system for direction needs to progress.

References

Angelo, T. A., & Cross, K. P. (2013). Classroom assessment techniques.

Bailey, K., & Brown, J. D. (2009). Learning about Language Assesment: Dilemmas, Decisions, and Directions & New Ways of Classroom Assessment.Learning, 4(2).

Gardner, J. N., & Gardner, J. (Eds.). (2012). Assessment and learning. Sage.

Hedge, T. (2011). Teaching and learning in the language classroom (Vol. 106). Oxford,, UK: Oxford University Press.

Forms of Renewable Energy

Student name:

Affiliation:

Abstract

Energy is a critical component in human existence. People derive energy from varied sources through burning of fossil fuels-coal as well as use of utilization of radioactive elements. The former is widely employed in a number of nations globally and is almost the dominant form of energy. It is easily accessible with no complex use of technologies in harnessing. However, it is a high degree of pollution. It releases a high percentage of unwanted gases to the atmosphere hence contributing to global warming. Furthermore, there is only a small percentage of useful energy extracted from them. It is established that not more than fifty percent of energy get utilized properly. The later despite its high efficiency, it is prone to leakage of radioactive substance to the atmosphere. As a result, greener forms of energy prove to be the only answer to the problems encountered. The paper looks at the five forms of energy that when employed will provide plenty of energy with no harm to the environment.

1.0 Solar

Sun is in plenty and the planet gets enough exposure except in the northern and southern regions where sun exposure is only in hours or not at all. Scientists describe the sun as a star that react through fusion and has been burning for many years. Additionally, a day exposure of this form of energy is enough to supply the present population for a period of twenty seven years. The radiation heating the planet in three days can be equated to the fossil fuels present in the planet. It implies that the sun has enough and adequate energy (Cothran, & Helen, 2002).

The procedure of harnessing the sun is a new idea not fully exploited. Clarence Kemp acquired a US patent for novel invention in 1891 for creation of the thermal solar collector. Its utilization was in the cooking food as well as heating water. In 1839, the use of photo voltaic effect got unveiled by Edmund Becquerrel. Since then, many improvements on the technology went on growing.The evolving technologies such as solar heating, solar thermal electricity, solar architecture, solar photovoltaic, and artificial photosynthesis gets employed in harnessing this form of energy. They get categorized as passive as well as active technologies. Active form of harnessing is widely employed where solar panels get utilized so as to harness thermal power and convert it to the need form for use (Glassley, & William, 2010).

The International Energy Agency in 2011 asserted that the growth of inexpensive, vast and spotless solar-energy technologies is going to have big longer-term advantages. It is going to augment nations’ energy safety via dependence on a native, in-exhaustible and typically import-independent resource, increase sustainability, lessen pollution, decrease the price of mitigating climate change, and hold fossil fuel charges down. These benefits are comprehensive and encompass clean pollution free, high efficiency, reliable, and abundant. Therefore the extra costs of the encouragements for placement have to be taken into account and advocacy on the adoption of this type of energy is mandatory as it is in plenty especially in arid and semi-arid areas where it does not allow any viable activity undertaken (Cothran, & Helen, 2002).

2.0 Wind energy

Wind is a wave that carries with it enormous amount of energy and its discovery started long time with the use of wind mills to drive windmills. A windmill derives energy from wind and gets employed for pumping water, grinding serials etc. Wind in major places comes as a catastrophe causing havoc to the environment. Tapping it can be an alternative way of harnessing its potential. The technology employed heavy plates but technology revolutionized everything until now when lighter plates are possible. Beside the uses stated above, electricity is as well generated from wind turbines. It is possible through letting the plates rotate a turbine that in return generate electricity. The turbines act like propellers that propel a shaft of a turbine which in turn generate electricity (Fthenakis, & Kim, 2009).

Currently, there are numerous turbine globally with a capacity estimated as 282,482 MW of electricity as at the end of the year 2012. The figure quadrupled since 2000 and 2006 implying that it adoption is spreading and people are embracing wind as alternate source of energy. By 2013, the nameplate capacity was 318 GW in approximation. Decentralization of electricity is the major concern for every nation. Due to its fastest growing familiarity of the use of wind as an alternative source of energy, the dramatic step calls for major developments. Europe and North America are some of the countries setting the pace for wind energy adoption. There has been increase in capacity and the estimation is 1000 MW in a global scale. According to the America Energy association, it amount to sixteen billion kilowatt hours of electricity. It is the energy that can supply five cities like Miami. In the US, wind energy supply roughly 20% of electricity to the main grid in the national level (Glassley, & William, 2010).

The reduction on the reliance of oil is essential the health of all human beings as well as the ecosystem. Wind energy is a viable option that can ameliorate the predicament. Studies indicate that the three billion in kilowatts produced in America yearly is enough to displace approximately 6.4 million of oils in terms of barrels. It eliminates an estimated amount of 1.67 tons of the carbon emission comprising of nitrogen oxide as well as sulfur known for causing acid rain and smog. Therefore, as a large number of people adopt wind energy, carbon emission gets drastically reduced. The figures is a sure way that global warming can get eradicated completely if people go for alternative sources of energy making the planet a good place for the present as well as future generation (Fthenakis, & Kim, 2009).

3.0 Hydropower

Water that is not stationary presents a strong entity responsible for creating electricity for cities as well as big cities. The early invention began in Greece where water wheel s gets employed as a way of rotating a wheel. The mechanism converted the kinetic energy into potential energy. The resultant energy gets utilized in grinding serials as well as pumping water. It later went as far as utilizing in power machines for cutting timber in factories. In 1879, the first water powered electric plant was in Niagara-falls. Water falling down from a fall gets directed to turn a turbine linking a generator. Water can get tapped in waterfalls or in man-made waterfalls-dams. When water gets collected in a reservoir it has the potential of producing huge amount of electricity. The principal behind the working is that a generator has permanent magnets. When a rotating magnetic field is under a stationary core, electricity gets induced. It is the induced electro-motive force that electricity gets generated. Once realized, it passes through transmission lines to the customer. Stepping up and stepping down is a way of making generated electricity reach to the end user sufficiently (Smith et al, 2008). 

Hydropower is cheap, clean, reliable, and convenient. It is cheap in the sense that it does not involve a lot of complex methods in generation hence the cost present to the client per consumed power is affordable. In terms of cleanliness, it does not produce any carbon to the environment, and as long as water is enough, it always available. The convenience comes with regulation of generation. The amount of power gets generated depending on the number of customers subscribed on the line. As a result of the benefits accrued, the form of energy occupies approximately 97% of all the alternative renewable sources of energy. It implies that its adoption and utilization is widespread turning out to be a leading renewable source of energy. The utilization of this form of energy eliminates the burning of approximately 120 million of coal as well as 22 billion of oil. Conversely, the major drawback is that the construction of a dam calls for a high place. Topography is a challenge. Also, it requires displacement of the population so as to have enough ground for dam construction. In case of flooding, people living around the dam have to relocate to safe sites. Despite the challenges experienced, hydropower is still the most favored form of greener energy globally (Ravindranath, & Hall, 1995). 

4.0 Biomass

Biomass in biological terms refers to organic material containing stored energy via photosynthesis process. The forms that exist are in pants and can undergo various chains in the bodies of animals together with their wastes. It can undergo conversion for use in daily processes as combustion liberating carbon dioxide in living matter. The biomass fuels utilized presently are in form of dried vegetation, wood, aquatic plants, and even crop remains. Over the last decade the use of biomass has come to be the dominant form of energy employed in many homes. The form of energy is in plenty and a number of people are ignorant of its presents not realizing its affordability, cleanliness, efficiency, and cheap in terms of cost of setting up as well as operation. The compounds of photosynthesis in plants are in mass amounts. People dispose the residues of plants and animals with on knowledge that its transformation can generate vast amount of clean energy (Smith et al, 2008). 

Even though the definition of sustainable generation of electricity proves to be a difficult task, biomass definition can broadly span through to forest timber, solid waste from municipal, and landfill among many. For it to be green environmental form of energy, biomass must get burned without emission of pollution gases. There is need for caution in the process of burning methane gas produced by landfills. It is due to the fact that methane if not harnessed well is not environmentally friendly gas (Fthenakis, & Kim, 2009).

The use of biomass causes drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels by a greater percentage. Despite the disruptive nature of vegetation in quest for biomass, caution has to be put into consideration not to destroy nature for biomass. Residues must only come from wasted by-products. There is need to apply technological means so as to harness this form of energy. The new methods are going to permit energy tapping that is not polluting the environment, efficient, and very economical in the current financial turmoil (Kreis, & Steven, 2001). 

5.0 Geothermal

Geologist assert that the internal core of the earth contain immense heat. When the earth encounters some tectonic movement, the intense heat will find escape roots and come out as jets of steam. It is the steam that can get exploited as a form of energy. Along the rift valley and areas where Fold Mountains occurred experiences steam release inform of jets such as the lake Bogoria, and Olkaria in Kenya. The Kenyan government is now investing heavily (Ravindranath, & Hall, 1995). 

The occurrence of geothermal can be in two forms. First is that the intense heat as a result of molten magma near the surface can heat water in that level forcing jets of steam to be produced such as geysers. Secondly is that there can be a natural occurrence of water that can be easily tapped for generation of energy. Once the steam is tapped, it gets channel to run turbines that in turn move turbines just as in hydropower (Fthenakis, & Kim, 2009).

The geothermal power is very clean, cheap, efficient, and reliable. However, it is prone to decline. For instance, the geothermal facility at North California that was the first to geothermal plant established in 1905s, but it decline in 1980. It is proves that there is a time when the heating of the magma will reduce. Therefore the form of energy cannot be sustainable in the long run. It depends on the geographical location and the processes taking place in the earth’s crust. Irrespective of the disadvantage, it is still a viable source of energy needing a lot of exploitation (Cothran, & Helen, 2002).

Conclusion

The global warming attributed to the release of carbon constituents to the ozone layer can get eliminated and the earth rescued from the predicament. One of the promising methods is to adopt alternative renewable sources of energy that are sustainable in the long term. The five forms of renewable sources of power enumerated are the options that nations of the world must advocate for through policy aligning and support. Hydropower and solar energy are the most viable forms of energy with a lot of benefits with fewer disadvantages followed by wind energy, geothermal and lastly biomass form of energy. The ranking depend on the most adopted with minimal challenges.

References

Cothran, Helen (2002), Energy Alternatives, Greenhaven Press

Fthenakis, V.; Kim, H. C. (2009). “Land use and electricity generation: A life-cycle

analysis”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 13 (6–7): 1465.

Glassley, William E. (2010). Geothermal Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment, CRC

Press

Smith, Zachary Alden; Taylor, Katrina D. (2008). Renewable And Alternative Energy Resources:

A Reference Handbook

Ravindranath, N. H., & Hall, D. O. (1995). Biomass, energy and environment: a developing

country perspective from India. Oxford University Press.

Kreis, Steven (2001). “The Origins of the Industrial Revolution in England”. The history guide.

Retrieved 19 June 2010

Statement of Purpose

My academic and professional achievements have been characterized by hard work and continuous effort. Just like in a race, I have thrived to reach the finish line by preparing myself well in advance and equipping myself with the required skills and knowledge. To this point, I can say that I can see the finish line but I still have to instill the final debonair attempt to avoid those who are behind me from crossing the line ahead of me. To do this, I have to push my self beyond but not past the elastic limit. This is the reason behind my interest in joining Masters of Science in Medical Informatics.

I believe that I am by all ways among the smartest people. This has been propelled by my quest for excellence and my never dying eagerness to defy my ultimate frontier. In my previous education, these qualities have made it possible for me to realize self-transcendence. Whether in my undergraduate studies in B.A. Psychology or my Masters in Business Administration or Ph.D. Business Administration; all undertaken in the most recognized universities, have all been achieved from end to end through strong self-discipline and perseverance. I believe that life is designed like a journey and my application at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies will propel me to greater heights.

My professional journey has helped me gather the most competitive talents in the country. From all the awards of performance, team building contest and presidents’ Club Winner attained at Pharmaceutical Company (Fortune 500) in 2003 and 2004, to the position as the Regional Sales Manager in the same company and later the Senior District Sales Manager, have helped me grow and expand my team spirit, individual accountability and critical thinking. I later worked as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing in Marketing Company and it is here that my interrelation skills have been sharpened. My current position as the Vice President Customer Relations Technology in an Internet Company has made me competitive and has enhanced my basic skills in Microsoft Office, Microsoft CRM, Adobe Acrobat, Lotus 1, 2, 3 among others (Kindly refer to my resume for comprehensive information).

The old proverb goes “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”. In my quest for attainment of my academic and professional goals I have also engaged myself in extracurricular activities. I was once the public speaker in National Organization for Women, Elected delegate and Elected Chairman for a National Political Party and also a Developer –Community Outreach Program at St. Francis Memorial Hospital. These roles have helped me realize the importance of teamwork, interrelation skills, and managerial skills. These skills are undoubtedly going to be important in my future studying and practicing Medical Informatics.

The motivation behind my decision to take up the Online Master of Science in Medical Informatics at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies lies behind the integration of my psychology background to the exposure I have had in the Internet Company. Medical Informatics is a field of study that links health and the use of information technology, in such a way that patient care and records are monitored electronically. Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies is a university in the United States that is attributed to best graduates in the world and is well known for its superior scholarly culture. It is also a renowned, eminent, veteran, high-ranking and a university that equips its students with leadership skills.

Employment in the Medical Informatics field according to research is also bound to augment by a significant 18% through to the year 2016. It will expand my demand as a medical informatics proficient in healthcare management, clinical IT Leadership and research related organizations.

In seeking to attain the most that life can offer, I believe that concurring different hurdles and setting new goals to be attained are involved. My quest for further education is one of my new set hurdles. By undertaking my studies at Northwestern University School of Continuing Studies for Master in Medical Informatics will put me ahead of my challengers and what better way to do it than to enroll into a university of factual world stature.

Fossil Records

Name

Institution

Fossil Records

It is often difficult to find complete fossil records because of the environmental and geological processes that affect the process of fossilization. The hard parts of an organism such as teeth, bones, and shells do not decay unlike the soft parts that rot naturally. However, in rare instances, soft parts can be fossilized if the organism is buried in oxygen-free sediment soon after dying before the decaying process begins. Over time, sediments cover the hard parts and mineralization occurs (Stephen, 2009). Minerals such as silica, pyrites or calcite that crystallize out of the water in the sediment usually replace the parts through compression.

The fossils formed are subjected to harsh geological processes such as erosion and subduction, and excessive pressure and heat. In turn, these conditions destroy the formed fossils reducing their chances of survival. Fossil records comprise of the fossils that have survived the harsh conditions and should be present at a location being explored by people for them to be found. In addition, the explorers surveying the possible locations of the fossils should be able to identify the fossils found. Fossil records are usually incomplete because there are few entries of fossils since the majority of the dead organisms do not survive to form fossils. Moreover, other existing fossils have not been unearthed and identified for them to be entered into the fossil records. These factors account for the incomplete fossil records (Stephen, 2009).

Despite the fact that fossil records are incomplete, their importance is indispensable. Taxonomists rely on fossil records in identifying the phylogeny or evolutionary past of an organism. They usually utilize the available data to place an organism in various taxa depending on similar molecular and anatomical characteristics provided by the data entered in the fossil records.

Reference

Stephen, D. (2009). The fossil record – the prodigal son returns. Charles Darwin & Evolution. Retrieved on 6 Oct. 2013 from http://darwin200.christs.cam.ac.uk/pages/index.php?page_id=f7

Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)

NameInstitution

The FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) is a non-profit making organization that was founded by 1999 in the United States. The organization focused on the civil liberties mainly in academic and learning institutions in the United States. The primary goal of FIRE is “to sustain and defend individual rights and freedoms at America’s universities and colleges,” including individual rights to “legal equality, religious liberty, sanctity of one’s conscience- an essential individual dignity and liberty quality, freedom to speech, and due process” ( HYPERLINK “http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/123.html” Columbia University Unable to Defend Policy in Public, 2001). America’s universities and colleges are theoretically described as the institutions that are essential in developing critical and intellectual minds and furthering of core liberty values, legal equality, and protection of individual rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, these learning institutions have become the barriers to these fundamental pursuits and qualities by denying the faculty and students their voices, individual humanity, and their fundamental rights and freedoms as constitutionally granted. The universities and colleges therefore advocate for legal inequality, political indoctrination, and assaults to moral reality orthodoxies ( HYPERLINK “http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/123.html” Columbia University Unable to Defend Policy in Public, 2001). The illiberal universities and colleges’ practices and policies must therefore be abolished and exposed to the public scrutiny and criticism in order to create awareness among the public on the violations of students’ basic rights and freedoms that have become common practices in these institutions of higher learning in the United States. After receiving a number of pleas for help and communications from students who were victims of illiberal institutional policies and practices that violated the students’ rights and intruded on their private consciences, Harvey Silverglate (civil-liberties legal expert at Cambridge) and Alan Charles Kros (University of Pennsylvania professor) founded FIRE to respond to these violations and to help in cultural transformation (Sarabyn, 2008).

FIRE decisively and effectively defends the American liberties particularly on behalf of the faculty members and university students who are often oppressed with the rigid institutional policies that limit their freedoms and basic rights. FIRE therefore comes in a legal body that fights against these institutional policies that infringe on the rights of its members. FIRE is responsible for bringing about favorable and desired resolutions for these groups of students and university teaching staff who are challenged by institutions, universities and colleges’ policies that deny them their liberties and fundamental rights ( HYPERLINK “http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/123.html” Columbia University Unable to Defend Policy in Public, 2001). Besides working for individuals, this non-profit making organization, FIRE, nationally works to create public awareness on the liberty fates in the higher learning institutions in the U.S. FIRE primary responsibility is the protection of fundamental rights of students and teaching staff both at the university and college institutions (Sarabyn, 2008). In so doing, FIRE focuses on four main areas: freedom of association and religious liberty, freedom of expression and speech, legal equality and due process on campus, and freedom of conscience. Therefore, FIRE primary goal is to bring to an end debilitating fatalism in the institutions of higher education that paralyzes the faculty and the student body through the provision of legal protection to the helpless victims of such abuses and by exposing to the public these issues surrounding violations of fundamental rights of the faculty staff and students (Sarabyn, 2008). This has been achieved by criticizing the university and college administrators whose activities and principles, in the view of FIRE, constitutes violation of due process rights and freedoms or free speech of the university and college students and the faculty team as outlined under the HYPERLINK “http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution” o “Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution” Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

References

” HYPERLINK “http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/123.html” Columbia University Unable to Defend Policy in Public”, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, Press Release, March 13, 2001. Accessed October 31, 2013.

Sarabyn, K. (2008). HYPERLINK “http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/9041.html” “Yale Caves into Its Women’s Center’s Speech-Repressing Demands”. Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Retrieved 2008-03-25.

Name

Professor

Class

Date

Forging the new Solomon

How to whether the Treasury auction irregularities are a “very big deal” or not?

One can decide whether Treasury auction irregularities are a very big deal or not after indiscretion is observed in the stock market. Apart from that, auction irregularities are discovered if clients find out that unauthorized bids have been submitted in their accounts. However, it is only after the aggrieved clients report the matter to the concerned authorities that the issue of whether the auction irregularities are a big deal or not can be verified (Linda 22).

The 1991 August disclosure triggered a crisis because Solomon failed to provide a “long when issued position” that is the company failed to commit itself to buy Treasury securities yet they had already been issued by its clients. In every occasion the company managed to outwit treasury department regulations that limit every firm’s bid and award to a maximum of 35% of the entire issues.

The Crisis as an Organizational Failure

The crisis is best explained as an organizational failure. This is because as much as Mozer’s actions were unusual there was a need to modify certain aspects of the company’s culture. This is because the perception of the outsiders was that the company was deeply corrupt even though this was the action of a few disgruntled elements. This called for a re-assertion of the company’s traditional values in order to avert the occurrence of such a crisis in the future. Without this, then permissiveness was likely to take hold of employees with a nark to making money.

As a matter of fact the scandal was a clear indication that the company had lost its way. The money culture in the streets had infiltrated the company. People had started thinking of how they can make millions for themselves at the expense of the company’s reputation and their own careers. There was a need to ensure that moral suasion works in the company. The company failed in establishing standards where characters with Wall Street egos would not have thrived. The individuals seized the opportunity and capitalized on it. Following this failure it was up to the company to put its house in order to avert a crisis of this nature in the future (Linda 23).

Main Concerns upon Assuming Leadership as Maughan

As Maughan, my concerns upon assuming leadership on August 18 would have been to take time to address the existing management issues. It would be critical to deal with management issues even before dealing with the auction irregularities because management was the source of the problem. If you deal with a problem and forget about its source the problem is likely to reoccur. By focusing on management reorganization I would get rid of the rotten eggs and get in new and fresh blood that is not part of the awful breed. In addition to this I would ensure that senior management who are well versed with the oversea markets and communities take charge of the foreign branches (Linda 24).

Effectiveness of the New Management in Handling the Crisis

The new management was very effective in handling the crisis. To begin with on the 25th of September following the end of the third quarter, Buffet and other top company executives met over 350 clients in New York and globally via satellite. Buffet assured the company’s esteemed customers that the company had already gone past the crisis. He assured them that he was confident there would be no criminal charges against the company from the government. This is because theirs was an isolated case of few disgruntled elements. Apart from that, in comparison to E.F. Hutton, Drexel, Lambert or Burnham, Salomon had not stonewalled or acted strange by circling the wagons. Maughan also likened the former top Solomon Managers to drunk drivers who recklessly drove the company resulting in a dent that had since been pulled out by the current sober drivers.

Upon meeting the company customers Buffet and Maughan separately met with Congress and the company shareholders and briefed them on the crisis at the company and the steps they had taken in dealing with it. Buffet used over $500,000 in advertising letters to the company shareholders. He also advertised a letter in the mainstream Newspapers where he insisted on the value of integrity amongst Solomon’s employees. The company also tasked Cooper and Lybrand to audit its risk management systems upon which it introduced a more formal risk management process. By the time the year was ending some of the company’s important customers such as the World Bank had started trickling back (Linda 25).

The End of the Crisis and Its Major Consequences

The crisis was not really over until the 20th of May 1992 when the US Justice Office made an announcement that it had decided not to take Criminal action against Solomon. Amongst its major consequences was a renegotiated settlement between the SEC, national treasury, Federal Reserve board and the Justice department that Salomon would pay $290 million to a public fund that would be used to pay any incriminating damages claims. The company was also suspended for two months from any trading activities with the Federal Reserve Bank; however the Federal Reserve reinstated the firm as a primary dealer. At the end of 1992 Salomon posted a whopping $1.02 billion in pretax profits. This was the best that had ever been posted by a security firm publicly held in the USA (Linda 26).

Works Cited

Linda Grant, “Taming the Bond Buccaneers at Salomon brothers” Los Angeles Times, Feb 16 1992: 22-26. Print.

Table of Contents

TOC o “1-3” h z u HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614857” 1.Introduction PAGEREF _Toc402614857 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614858” 2.Types of Motivation PAGEREF _Toc402614858 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614859” 2.1 Incentive PAGEREF _Toc402614859 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614860” 2.2 Fear PAGEREF _Toc402614860 h 1

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614861” 2.3 Achievement PAGEREF _Toc402614861 h 2

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614862” 2.4 Growth PAGEREF _Toc402614862 h 2

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614863” 2.5 Power PAGEREF _Toc402614863 h 2

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614864” 2.6 Social PAGEREF _Toc402614864 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614865” 3.How Motivation Affects Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614865 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614866” 3.1 Motivation increases effort and persistence in activities. PAGEREF _Toc402614866 h 3

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614867” 3.2 Motivation affects cognitive processes. PAGEREF _Toc402614867 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614868” 3.3 Motivation determines what consequences are reinforcing and punishing. PAGEREF _Toc402614868 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614869” 4.How Emotions affects Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614869 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614870” 4.1 Negative Ways Emotions Affect Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614870 h 4

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614871” 4.2 Positive Ways Emotions Affect Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614871 h 5

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614872” 4.3 Direct Ways Emotions Affect Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614872 h 5

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614873” 4.4 Indirect Ways Emotions Affect Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614873 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614874” 4.5 Emotional Empathy Affecting Behavior PAGEREF _Toc402614874 h 6

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614875” Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc402614875 h 7

HYPERLINK l “_Toc402614876” References PAGEREF _Toc402614876 h 8

Introduction HYPERLINK “http://www.lifehack.org/articles/tag/motivation” Motivation is generally defined as the force that compels us to action. It drives us to work hard and pushes us to succeed. Motivation influences our behavior and our ability to accomplish goals.

There are many different forms of motivation. Each one influences behavior in its own unique way. No single type of motivation works for everyone. People’s personalities vary and so accordingly does the type of motivation, that is most effective at inspiring their conduct (Weinstein & Ryan, 2010).

Types of Motivation2.1 IncentiveA form of motivation that involves rewards, both monetary and nonmonetary is often called incentive motivation. Many people are driven by the knowledge that they will be rewarded in some manner for achieving a certain target or goal. Bonuses and promotions are good examples of the type of incentives that are used for motivation.

2.2 FearFear motivation involves consequences. This type of motivation is often one that is utilized when incentive motivation fails. In a business style of motivation often referred to as the, “carrot and stick,” incentive is the carrot and fear is the stick.

Punishment or negative consequences are a form of fear motivation. This type of motivation is commonly used to motivate students in the education system and also frequently in a professional setting to motivate employees. If we break the rules or fail to achieve the set goal, we are penalized in some way.

2.3 AchievementAchievement motivation is also commonly referred to as the drive for competency. We are driven to HYPERLINK “http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/6-simple-steps-to-make-progress-towards-achieving-a-goal.html” achieve goals and tackle new challenges. We desire to improve skills and prove our competency both to others and to ourselves. Generally, this feeling of accomplishment and achievement is intrinsic in nature.

However, in certain circumstances be motivation for achievement may involve external recognition. We often have a desire or need to receive positive feedback from both our peers and our superiors. This may include anything from an award to a simple pat on the back for a job well done.

2.4 GrowthThe need for HYPERLINK “http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/42-practical-ways-to-improve-yourself.html” self-improvement is truly an internal motivation. A burning desire to increase our knowledge of ourselves and of the outside world can be a very strong form of motivation. We seek to learn and grow as individuals.

Motivation for growth can also be seen in our yearning for change. Many of us are wired by our personality or upbringing to constantly seek a change in either our external or internal environment or knowledge. We view stagnation to be both negative and undesirable.

2.5 PowerThe motivation of power can either take the form of a desire for autonomy or other desire to control others around us. We want to have choices and control over our own lives. We strive for the ability to direct the manner in which we live now and the way our lives will unfold in the future.

We also often aspire to control others around us. The desire for control is stronger in some people than others. In some cases, the craving for power induces people to harmful, immoral, or illegal behavior. In other situations, the longing for power is merely a desire to affect the behavior of others. We simply want people to do what we want, according to our timetable, and the way we want it done.

2.6 SocialMany people are motivated by social factors. This may be a desire to belong and to be accepted by a specific peer group or a desire to relate to the people in our sphere or in the larger world. We have an innate need to feel a connection with others. We also have the need for acceptance and affiliation.

A genuine and passionate desire to contribute and to make a difference in the lives of others can be another form of social motivation. If we have a longing to make a contribution to the world around us, it is generally a sign that we are motivated by social factors.

The real importance of understanding the different types of motivation is in our ability to determine which form of motivation is the most effective for inspiring the desired behavior in either others or ourselves. None of these styles of motivation is inherently good or bad, the positive or negative outcome is truly determined by the way they are used.

How Motivation Affects Behavior

3.1 Motivation increases effort and persistence in activities.Motivation increases the amount of effort and energy that learners expend in activities directly related to their needs and goals. It determines whether they pursue a task enthusiastically and wholeheartedly, on the one hand, or apathetically and lackadaisically, on the other. Furthermore, motivated learners are more likely to continue a task until they’ve completed it, even if they are occasionally interrupted or frustrated in the process. In general, then, motivation increases learners’ time on task, an important factor affecting their learning and achievement (Schwartz, 2010).

3.2 Motivation affects cognitive processes.Motivation affects what and how learners mentally process information. Attention is critical for getting information into working memory. Motivated learners also try to understand and elaborate on material—to learn it meaningfully—rather than simply “go through the motions” of learning in a superficial, rote manner.

3.3 Motivation determines what consequences are reinforcing and punishing.The more learners are motivated to achieve academic success, the more proud they will be of an A and the more upset they will be by an F or perhaps even a B. The more learners want to be accepted and respected by their peers, the more meaningful the approval of the “in-group” will be and the more painful the ridicule of classmates will seem. To a teenage boy uninterested in athletics, making or not making the school football team is no big deal, but to a teen whose life revolves around football, making or not making the team may be a consequence of monumental importance.

How Emotions affects Behavior4.1 Negative Ways Emotions Affect BehaviorNegative emotions, such as anger, jealousy and depression, can affect our behavior negatively. However, positive emotions can also negatively affect our behavior, such as allowing ourselves to be abused by someone because we love them, or indulging in unhealthy activities because they make us happy. When a particular emotion is stirred and becomes intense, our point of view becomes distorted. We focus on the emotion, and the stimuli that triggered it. It becomes amplified in our minds, and so, at that time, our reaction to it almost seems rational, because it is the only information we deem important enough to process. This subsequently motivates our behavior in a variety of ways. For example, fighting when we are angry, withdrawing from participation and responsibilities when depressed, or enduring a bad relationship when we still love someone.

4.2 Positive Ways Emotions Affect BehaviorThe affect emotions have on our behavior is not all negative, however. In fact, the reason for emotions is to help us cope with life. For example, when we feel fear, we flee to protect ourselves. When we feel love for our children, we try to take care of them better. When we feel angry, we fight to defend ourselves or what belongs to us. These things are in place to ensure not only our personal survival, but the survival of our species. If there was nothing we felt passionate about in life, we would have had little motivation to act, and perhaps would not have become the dominant, diverse, creative and practical creatures that we are today (Yee, 2006).

4.3 Direct Ways Emotions Affect BehaviorAutomatic responses are one way our emotions affect our behavior. Sometimes, our feelings stimulate our brains to process certain information very quickly, or process it in a certain way. If that information is processed while disregarding facts, common sense or other considerations, it could result in a quick or poorly analyzed final action. This is when emotions directly affect our behavior. For example, punching someone for insulting you, ducking and running when you hear a gunshot, or rushing into the arms of an attractive, sweet-talking stranger. These actions are often impulsive rather than premeditated. These usually result in behavior that is counter-productive, if not destructive.

4.4 Indirect Ways Emotions Affect BehaviorEven though, when emotionally aroused in some way, many of us will briefly think of the same automatic responses, few people will act on them. Most of the time, our behavior is indirectly affected by our emotions. Rather than an instinctual action, the cognitive processing that takes place results in a decision-making process, adaption and assimilation of information and, eventually, a learning experience. For example, when someone insults us, we might think about hitting the person, but many of us will choose not to do so, though we may engage in a conscious response that our brain allows, such as insulting the person back. We will cognitively process the encounter and the emotional stimulation, decide that we do not like the person, and seek to avoid that person in the future. Further, this may motivate us to stop going to a particular place where that person might be found. It becomes a domino effect from a single emotional response.

4.5 Emotional Empathy Affecting BehaviorEven further, emotions provide us with the ability to empathize with others. Because of this, we can predict emotional responses, which also affects our behavior, which is why people will usually try to evoke a positive response rather than a negative one. For this reason, few of us go around insulting others at random, cutting lines in the grocery store or stealing each other’s goods, because we wish to avoid evoking and dealing with a negative response in others. On the other hand, trying to be a nice person by complimenting others, being polite and following rules, is a behavior that is motivated by desiring a positive emotional response from other people (Weinstein & Ryan, 2010).

Conclusion

A common misconception is that motivation is something people “carry around” inside of them—that some people are simply motivated to do something and others are not. In fact, learners’ immediate environments can have dramatic effects on their motivation to learn and achieve. Such environment-dependent motivation is known as situated motivation. Certainly extrinsic reinforcement and punishment steer learners toward certain activities and behaviors and away from others. Yet environmental factors play a significant role in intrinsic motivation as well. For instance, presenting an unexpected, puzzling phenomenon may pique learners’ natural curiosity and interest in a topic. And providing scaffolding and guidance for challenging tasks may entice learners to tackle the tasks strictly for the pleasure and the sense of competence they bring.

References

Grant, A. M., & Gino, F. (2010). A little thanks goes a long way: Explaining why gratitude expressions motivate prosocial behavior. Journal of personality and social psychology, 98(6), 946.

Schwartz, S. H. (2010). Basic values: How they motivate and inhibit prosocial behavior.

Yee, N. (2006). Motivations for play in online games. CyberPsychology & behavior, 9(6), 772-775.

Weinstein, N., & Ryan, R. M. (2010). When helping helps: autonomous motivation for prosocial behavior and its influence on well-being for the helper and recipient. Journal of personality and social psychology, 98(2), 222.

DB replies

Name

Institution affiliation

Date

Introduction

The topic on forecasting and Inventory management is one very important in today’s world. Forecasting is necessary to enhance organizations plan for future prospects. This topic as covered by Arapovic was well done. The study about forecasting was well covered as it involved all fields of business. This research was effective as it clarifies all the important ideas that an organization wants to know. As compared to what I had researched, I think ibro did not quite focus completely on forecasting as required. Ibro’s study aimed at giving fewer details and was supposed to concentrate on all details. This study was, however, not effectively researched and was not that much helpful. The study has, however, explained facts about forecasting and its importance to business today. This clearly states that businesses should consider forecasting as a way of planning for future success. Forecasting should be taken as a measure that identifies how fit the business is to conduct and compete with the others.

Inventory management is very important to an organization. For a company to forecast about its progress, then it must ensure that it keeps proper inventory. With the invention of technology, it has become very easy for organizations to manage their inventory. Manual, technology, or both methods should be used to manage inventory. The essay clearly states and clarifies the importance of inventory. This assay as compared to what I wrote seems to lack some aspects that I explained. However, the writer clearly makes it evident that profit of a company is dependent on the inventory. Each organization should realize that inventory is all what pertains the business and proper management should be enhanced. Inventory should be used as a means of security for the company. This is well explained in the essay written by Sam. Organizations should realize that proper management of inventory means that the supply chain and value chain of the organization increases. Management of inventory should be used by organizations as a measure of attaining success and making profit.

Conclusion

The use of forecasting should be encouraged in organizations. This makes it possible for companies to have a clear outline of what to expect and how to cope with the situation. This should be a practice that organizations do regularly to view their progress. Inventory management should also be encouraged in organizations. This helps the company realize what it has that can help the organization achieve success. Proper management of inventory should be encouraged.

References

McAuliffe, B. (2011). Forecasting. Mankato, MN: Creative Education.

Bose, D. C. (2006). Inventory management. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India.

Formal Analysis Of ‘La Quatorze Juillet’

Abstract

Basic description of the painting

Formal analysis and elucidation

Rudiments and principles that convey form

Conclusion

Surveillance from the oil painting

Formal analysis of ‘La Quatorze Juillet’

A closer look at any piece of art or literary work needs a keen eye that will elucidate conspicuous and salient themes. Hence, the painting titled ‘La Quatorze Juillet’ is predominantly fascinating to have a formal analysis. This oil painting was completed in the year 1892. Its significant is credited to the occasion that was celebrated in June during that epoch. This piece of art ‘La Quatorze Juillet’ was painted by an impressionist artist called Prendergast Maurice Brazil. One particular design that captures the eye meticulously is the monotypic oil technique that Prendergast used. There are captivating facet of form that will evoke an overwhelming “aesthetic emotion” once the keen eye identifies these facets. Briefly, in the foreground women and children are seen. These illustrations are painted indistinctly in dark green hue which caught my eye ardently. Basically the painting employs a lot of hue and silhouette representation of the images thereof.

Formalism theory regarding pieces of art should evoke aesthetic emotion. Tolstoy and Bell argue that aesthetic emotion should be correlated with the “extrinsic and intrinsic features present in art”. Although ‘La Quatorze Juillet’ is made from the oil technique, a worm’s point of view brings forth the astounding texture of the foreground. Starting from the foreground there is a clearly gray path. This is seen by the procession of the women and children on the alleyway. On the right part of the painting, the artist manages to bring out the roughness. The movement of Prendergast’s brush is witnessed by the gray path which is somehow rough and inflexible. This send emotions to my nerves.

In the top left corner there are shapes that are cleverly decorated in effervescent yellow hue. Aesthetic emotions are brought to mind by the spiral way in which the circular forms are repeated. These forms leave behind a path of dark smog that adjusts whenever your eyes budge transversely on the painting. The spherical objects cast an artificial light because of their vibrant hue. The light radiates on the women and children making them visible in the foreground. On top of the women and the children there is a crowd of people who are dyed in a dark green hue. This hue allows the floor to shine by using the faint light. I suppose the artist seldom used real “black” color. This is because the areas of darkness are not conforming to a black hue. Moving to the left part of the piece the semi-circles amazingly diminish towards the middle part. This diminishing ability is perfectly painted in a sloping angle and generally decreasing their size. One extrinsic feature of the semi-circle objects is that they are vibrantly colored. Hence, this facet gives a “three-dimensional aspect” of the venue of the event. Therefore, “harmony and balance of objects” in the painting is nonetheless present.

Prendergast employs different hues that correlate well hence achieving formalism in the painting. He specifically uses yellow color which is responsible for shading desirable amount of light on the images, and silhouettes forming shadows which are short. Hence depicts the time of the event. Aspect of lines and shapes are seen clearly. In addition, this color shows emphasis of the occasion and different guests present. Conspicuously, the clever use of color in presenting the silhouettes mechanically partitions the painting into three segments. That is, the foreground is painted with a shallow brown-gray and textured in vaporous white. The hub part is tinted in an imposing dark-green with a few touches of yellow here and there. The top left locale is vibrant by the way his brush presents the intense yellow hue, with a blue sky which is v-shaped. That is, my eye could not miss how the movement of the artist’s brush nurtures the foreground and background. Complex shapes across the middle parts are brought clearly by lines that are lightly colored and tinted in dark green. The woman on the left part is definitely shown carrying a child by the use of the dark lines on the arms and garb. There are vanishing spiral lines that suggest a movement of the figures in the top left locale.

Images in foreground are well spaced and concerted on the two-thirds part of the painting in the left upper locale. My eye caught the dull space left in the bottom right corner of the piece. This is balanced with brightly colored circular forms in the top right corner. Therefore profound “proportionality” is evident. This painting illicit several aesthetic emotions about the nature of the event captured in this painting. The facets of formalism depict the state and culture of the people at that time. One may argue that the use of visible women and children depicts the position women were given or denied during such merriment. Several disturbing questions come to mind. For example, where are the men? Are they purposely hidden behind the women and far from the light? Does it bring the idea of feminism or male chauvinism? What is the symbolic part of the silhouettes used in the middle part, the bright yellow circular, and spiral moving forms? Could they have chosen by Prendergast to depict how jubilant the event was? Do the deep blue sky, women, and these disturbingly circular forms suggest anything spiritual? These are a few of the mysterious questions that provoked aesthetic emotions that kept me to stare in wonder at such a monotypic oil painting named ‘La Quatorze Juillet’.

Bibliography

Austin, Michael. Reading the world Ideas That Matter. New York: W. W. Norton andCompany, 2010.

Barnet, Sylvan. A short guide to writing about Art. New York: Macmillan, 2007.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the FCPA of 1977 is responsible for prohibiting bribery among foreign government officer in America and prescription of practices of record keeping as well as accounting. The Act has two provisions namely Anti-bribery provisions and accounting and record-keeping provisions.

Anti-bribery provisions of the Act, illegalizes bribery to foreign government officers to retain or obtain business and any payments made must be proven to be lawful based on the recipients written laws. Stiff and severe penalties are subjected to people who fail to defend themselves based on the FCPA (Cleveland, Favo, Frecka & Owens, 2009).

FCPA accounting and record-keeping provisions affect American publicly traded firms. The provision requires that the companies device and implement a system of accounting that facilitate for a tight control and keeping of accurate records regarding the firm’s assets dispositions. Through the provision therefore, any slush funds is prohibited and accounts used are able to inhibit any form of illegal payments. The provision also prohibits payments mislabeling and expenses misrepresentation (Margaret, Clive, Ogrady & Morgan 1997).

FCPA mandate involves crackdown of bribery among foreign officers and its breach is considered a high profile offence. Non compliance to the act may result to being barred from contracts tendering in American government, huge fines and criminal conviction leading to jail term. There is therefore a need for effective control among financial firms and have a clear understanding of management structure, financial dealings as well as well as group ownerships so that they have knowledge of business partners and avoid criminals (Brodsky, et al 2008). FCPA complements legislations such as Oxley Act through a requirement for effective control systems that avoid cases of frauds. Such effective controls include customer diligence and understanding their financial transactions, staff training, independent monitoring and conduction meetings with senior managements.

References

Brodsky, D., Greenburg, N., & Kelly-Najah, N. (2008). “Recent developments in the enforcement of the US foreign corrupt practices act”. Journal of Securities Compliance, 1(3), 212-230.

Cleveland, M., Favo, C., Frecka, T., & Owens, C. (2009). “Trends in the international fight against bribery and corruption”. Journal of Business Ethics, 90, 199-244.

Margaret M. G., Clive R. G. Ogrady & Morgan O. Forrest (1997). Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Available at HYPERLINK “http://library.findlaw.com/1997/Jan/1/126234.html accessed on 23” http://library.findlaw.com/1997/Jan/1/126234.html accessed on 23 February 2012.