The Lone Ranger And Tonto In Heaven By Sherman Alexie

A collection of twenty-two stories narrated by different characters, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie illustrates the lives of modern Native Americans on the Spokane Indian Reservation and their hardships, which include despair, alcoholism, and poverty. Tribal members hold high hopes for the young who have extraordinary talent while doubting that they will achieve success and watching them succumb to alcoholism. These stories, while sad and gloomy, are told with humor and wit, making the stories bearable to the reader. The grabbing title came to Alexie in a dream, in which the Lone Ranger and Tonto got in a fight in heaven (McNally, 2001). Sherman Alexie grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Many of his works, such as Reservation Blues, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, and Ten Little Indians, are based on his experiences living on the reservation. According to Alexie, â€Å"[e]very theme, every story, every tradgedy that exists in literature takes place in my community† (McNally, 2001). The stories in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fight in Heaven are based on things that he has experiences or witnessed growing up on the reservation. Thomas Builds-the-Fire, Victor Joseph, and Junior Polatkin, who are reoccurring characters in the stories, also appear in Alexie’s first novel, Reservation Blues (McNally, 2001). The first story, â€Å"Every Little Hurricane,† paints a vivid picture of life on the reservation. During a New Year’s party,Show MoreRelatedThe Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, by Sherman Alexie1475 Words   |  6 PagesIn the short stories â€Å"A Drug Called Tradition,† â€Å"The Approximate Size of My Favorite Tumor,† and â€Å"The Only Traffic Signal on the Reservation Doesn’t Flash Red Anymore† collected in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, author Sherman Alexie uses humor to reflect the life on the Spokane Reservation. In â€Å"A Drug Called Tradition,† the story starts with a joke by having Thomas sit down inside a refrigerator in response to Junior’s comment as to why the refrigerator is empty. The Indians areRead MoreThe Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight In Heaven, By Sherman Alexie826 Words   |  4 PagesBorn and raised on an Indian reservation in Washington state, Sherman Alexie is a writer b est known for his fictional stories; The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Although from a poor family, Alexie always had access to books and learned to read from a young age. Alexie expresses his struggle with education while growing up and becoming a writer in a community where most kids have trouble even reading. Alexie shows his audience, the educators of marginalized and deprived students, thatRead MoreAnalysis Of The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight In Heaven By Sherman Alexie1763 Words   |  8 Pagesevolves. Sherman Alexie’s short story â€Å"The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven† tells the story of a Native American living in current day America. It explains the struggles he faces living in a period that his group of people haven’t moved on too. Many Native Americans still live in their reservation and stay separate from the â€Å"real world†. Natives only know their way of life so when they try to change that, they don’t know what to expect. In Sherman Alexie’s short story â€Å"The Lone Ranger and TontoRead More Women in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie1404 Words   |  6 PagesWomen in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie A warrior is recognized as sonmeone who battles for his/her beliefs. Even after receiving mortal wounds many times, such a person never leaves the battlefield. However, the inspiring and metaphorical idea of a warrior can certainly extend beyond the actual battlefield, and into the universal battle of living life. A woman must face this world like a warrior. She must endure the pain of a past that oppressed her, the adversityRead MoreAnalysis Of Sherman Alexie s Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight Heaven 1598 Words   |  7 Pagesstory of morality in fiction, historical fiction, or anything related to such topics. Consequently, most books read in popular culture have a lesson; novels are a form of education. An example of this has been shown through Sherman Alexie’s Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. In this novel, he attempts to shed light on the struggles Native American people, specifically on the Spokane Reservation, withstand through multiple stories and perspectiv es. Some novels, if their perspective of truth hasRead MoreAnalysis Of Sherman Alexie s Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight Heaven 1534 Words   |  7 Pagesthe story of morality in fiction, historical fiction, or anything related to such topics. However, most books read in popular culture have a lesson; novels are a form of education. An example of this can be shown through Sherman Alexie’s Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. In this novel, he attempts to shed light of the struggles Native American people, specifically on the Spokane Reservation, withstand through multiple stories and perspectives. Some novels, if their perspective of truth isRead MoreAnalysis Of Sherman Alexie s The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight Heaven 1435 Words   |  6 Pageslegendary warriors of the past. As times change and the days of Indian and cowboy battles are behind us; how is it possible for a warrior to still be relevant in the modern day? Sherman Alexie expresses this idea of a mode rn-day warrior in his book The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Many times, throughout the book Alexie brings up the idea of warriors and uses their actions to portray them to seem noble. Multiple characters in the book want to change their current outlook on life and breakRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Sherman Alexie s The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fistfight Heaven 1448 Words   |  6 PagesHumor: Sherman Alexie’s Comic Connections and Disconnections in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven,† the author Joseph L. Coulombe, writes about the humor used in Sherman Alexie’s short stories. Coulombe argues that in Sherman Alexie’s stories that humor is essential for character development and the creation of bonds between these characters. He often makes statements discussing how humor allows Alexie’s characters to show strength and connect to their Indian heritage. â€Å"The Lone RangerRead MoreAn Analysis Of Sherman Alexie s The Lone Ranger And Tonto Fight Heaven 1119 Words   |  5 PagesMake It Out Alive In Sherman Alexie’s ‘The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven’ (2005 edition) alcoholism plays a huge role throughout the book. Particularly in the short stories ‘Amusement’, ‘The Only Traffic Signal on the Reservation Doesn’t Flash Red Anymore’ and ‘A Train is an Order of Occurrence Designed to Lead to Some Result’. Kids on the reservation always start off good with school and sports keeping them busy, but somewhere along the way they always seem to fall off track. That isRead More Comparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven1679 Words   |  7 PagesComparing Black Elk Speaks and The Lone Ranger and Tonto FistFight in Heaven      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Traditionally, Native American Literature has been an oral genre. Although Native American Literature was the first American literature created, it has been the last to be recognized -and, to some extent, is still waiting for full recognition (www.usc.edu). With the Indian being forced to assimilate, their literature was forced to take on a written form. Although the traditional way of storytelling has changed

William Shakespeare s Hamlet - Sanity Vs. Insanity

Wesley Ray Elliott December 7th, 2015 Honors English IV Mrs. Joyner Sanity VS. Insanity â€Å"Hamlet represents the mid period of the growth of Shakespeare s genius, when comedy and history ceased to be adequate for the expression of his deeper thoughts and sadder feelings about life, and when he was entering upon his great series of tragic writings† (The World s Best Essays from the Earliest Period to the Present Time). Hamlet’s actions are entirely too extreme for him to be faking his insanity. Hamlet is constantly on the brink of insanity, or so it seems like. All this stress is put upon Hamlet and it’s difficult to tell if he’s faking his insanity or not due to multiple portions of the play. He lost control of his actions, which led to many other issues to arise in the play, and others uphold his ability of dramatic art. Hamlet’s behavior, especially toward Ophelia is inconsistent. Throughout the story, Hamlet’s sanity slowly deteriorates. Then again, Hamlet is a story of vengeance and lust, with a mix of insanity. In Hamlet, Hamlet portrays himself as the victim. Even when Hamlet heard the news of his father’s death he acted mad by blaming who he could and jumping to conclusions. When his father is killed, Hamlet’s insanity starts to shine through, bit by bit (When his mother and the king question Hamlet on his grief for his father, This is where he shows he is unstable). Hamlet is screaming at his mother telling her how his actions are honest and he is not pretendingShow MoreRelatedThe Sanity Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet1938 Words   |  8 Pagesantagonist as mentally ill brings depth to the character’s essence. Many acclaimed critics question the sanity of the protagonist in one of William Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Hamlet. The question of Prince Hamlet’s sanity divides readers into two different opinions: one defending his plan of fake insanity and the other confirming his insanity. In his plan to avenge his father’s death, H amlet disguises himself as mad. Unfortunately, Hamlet’s intricate plan backfires as his mental illnesses become

cap punishment Essay Example For Students

cap punishment Essay This paper will fallow the process of a capital trial from arrest to execution. It will discuss the aspects of federal and state law, trial, appeal, and executions. It will go into further detail on arraignment and the trail details of defense and sentencing. The federal law on capital punishment begins with the constitution, which states in the eighth amendment of the bill of rights that, no person shall be subject to cruel or unusual punishment. Despite this and for the reason that it is the government that decides what is cruel and unusual, capital punishment is still federally legal. Under the United States code, title eighteen there are certain crimes that can be punished by death. Section thirty-four of the said title and code says that any crime that results in the death of any person can be punished by death. Section 1512 deals with witnesses, victims, or informants. It states that anyone who kills or attempts to kill another person with the intent to prevent the attendance o r testimony at trail may be punished by death. Section 2332 states that whoever kills a national of the United States while the national is outside the United States is subject to death if the killing is murder as it is defined. Section 36 states that participants in any continuing criminal enterprise dealing with controlled substances may be punished by death. Section 1992 states that whoever willfully derails, disables, or wrecks any train used in interstate or foreign commerce can be punished by death. Finally section 831 states that anyone involved in prohibited transactions involving nuclear material can be subject to the death penalty. State laws in capital punishment defer from state to state and vary in a wide range of crimes for which it can be imposed. This range usually contains one or more of the fallowing, murder of a law enforcement officer, vehicular homicide while under the influence, contract killings, felony murder, first degree murder, or any murder. No matter the laws of the state are certain states have and will always use their own discretion in handing down a death sentence. This means that for whatever reason, be it social make up, religious make up, or the simple fact that a death sentence may inhibit the prosecution, in that the jury may be hesitant to take a life no matter what the crime, the death sentence is not always used in all cases that it is allowed in. Add to this the differing state laws and the same crime may draw different sentences in different states. The first step once a murder has been reported is to get a suspect. After a suspect is determined and probable cause has been established, a warrant will be issued for the individual?s arrest. Upon arrest the individual will be made clear of the crime of which he is being charged and his rights. He will then be taken into custody. Once in custody he will make an initial appearance in court, if the charges are not dropped the case will move on to a preliminary hearing. At t he preliminary if the charges are still not dropped bail or detention will be issued. Fallowing this a date will be set up for a grand jury indictment, if the prosecution successes in its indictment the individual will be arraigned. Supposing that the defendant gives a not guilty plea and the charges have not been dismissed, a trial date will be set. In the trial the defendant will be represented by a defense attorney and the people will be represented by the prosecution. Both sides will make their opening statements, will call witnesses, and will make their closing statements. In these the prosecution will state its facts and attempt to convince the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. The defense will present its defense. In a murder case the possible defenses are as fallows, mistaken identity, set up, self-defense or defense of others, defense of property, aiding a peace officer, or insanity. Since the laws concerning these defers from state to state they will be dealt with in a model form. Mistaken identity is simple. The defendant is not the killer and was identified as such by mistaken witnesses or evidence. A set up means that someone who actually committed the crime or the police or law officers conspired to make the defendant seem at fault. Self-defense is only viable if the defendant felt that he was in danger of death, serious harm, rape, or kidnaping. Even then there are other stipulations. First off there had to have been no way to retreat with complete safety and their could not be any way to stop the opposing actions by surrendering a good or restraining from any certain action(s). The only way the defendant would not have to retreat is if he was in his home or place of work, or a peace officer attempting an arrest or preventing an escape. If the defense is protecting others all the above still stands and both the defendant and the individual in danger must both believe in the danger. In defense of property there are only two times when it is valid. One If the defendant was being dispossessed of his dwelling and only immediate deadly force can prevent this, or two if a felony is being committed and there has been a threat of deadly force, or if inaction will result in serious injury to himself or others. In aiding a police officer there must be a felony arrest, intent of the arrest must be made clear, there is no risk to the innocent, the crime must involve use of deadly force and if the suspect flees he will cause death or serious harm to others. A final option for the defense is the insanity defense. Three states do not have a defense for not guilty by reason of insanity, they only have guilty by reason of insanity. Three other states have abolished their insanity tests. Two states have no test. The remaining states use the American Law Institute test, the M?Naghten rule, or both. The M?naghten rule is that: ?The party accused was laboring under such a defect of reason, from disease of the mind, a s not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing; or if he did know it, he did not know he was doing what was wrong.? The ALI test is this: ?A person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct as the result of mental disease or defect he lacks he lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or mold his conduct to the requirements of the law.? These conditions are almost always associated with delusional disorders such as schizophrenia. If in the course of the trial or before the deliberations have been completed the defense may initiate a plea bargain. A plea bargain is a plea of guilty in exchange for concessions in the charges or in the sentencingMany things about the way we decide punishments and actually punish offenders have changed drastically with the times. For example In Coker vs. Georgia (1977), the Court declared that the death penalty was unconstitutionally excessive for rape of a woman and, by imp lication, for any crime where a death does not occur. The majority in Coker stated that rape by definition does not include the death of or even the serious injury to another person. Now if a person commits an act of rape or sexual assault they are more likely to serve a prison sentence. There are many problems with the punishment of prisoners. Many people argue that the fiscal cost is astronomical, it has been said that it costs an average of $30,000 per year to house, feed, clothe, and supervise a prisoner. Not including the costs of construction and other factors. When you punish an offender instead of trying to rehabilitate them I believe it causes more of a problem. They argue that punishment causes social disorientation, alienation, and also increases the risk of recidivism. When an offender is released from incarceration, they face social isolation, and economic and employment challenges. What about the people who committed offense under the influence of drugs? They need rehabilitation vs. a ?pure punishment?. Drug courts could provide the offender the job skill training, family/group counseling, and many other life-skill enhancement services that they might need to be successful when integrating back into the community. Data consistently show that treatment, when completed is effective and cost effective. On the other hand deterrence is one of the primary goals in the criminal justice system. Deterrence: the act or process of deterring: as a: the inhibition of criminal behavior by fear especially of punishment. The act of punishment has always been based on the idea that it will deter individuals from committing crime or repeating criminal acts. Incarceration has been the most common form of punishment, however research shows that recidivism amongst convicted felons after the release from prison is as high as 63%. This could prove that punishment through incarceration is only a temporary fix to crime. Most rehabilitation programs are community programs that offer criminal offenders the chance to obtain a GED, learn a trade or obtain a college degree, go through counseling and find gainful employment and adequate housing. The types of counseling available often include drug counseling and psychological counseling. Drug counseling can be beneficial to criminal offenders who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Psychological counseling can be beneficial to criminal offenders who have had troublesome pasts consisting of issues such as childhood abuse, sexual abuse and abandonment. Many rehabilitation programs will also offer programs such as anger management for criminal offenders who have committed violent acts or those who have anger issues. The main goal of rehabilitation is to improve a criminal offender?s life so that they no longer have the desire to commit criminal acts. Rehabilitation also allows criminal offenders to be on probation where they are not in need of taxpayer money to fund their living like they would be if they were in jail or prison. 1,188 people were executed in the US from 1977 through 2009, primarily by means of lethal injection. Most death penalty cases involve the execution of murderers although capital punishment. Proponents of the death penalty say it is an important tool for preserving law and order, deters crime, and costs less than life imprisonment. They argue that retribution or an eye for an eye honors the victim, helps console grieving families, and ensures that the perpetrators of heinous crimes never have an opportunity to cause future tragedy. Opponents of capital punishment say it has no deterrent effect on crime, wrongly gives governments the power to take human life, and perpetuates social injustices. They say lifetime jail sentences are a more severe and less expensive punishment than death an also be applied for treason, espionage, and other crimes. Almost 18 years ago an innocent wife and mother to two, named Sarah Bryne, received a call by her husband?s old college roommate. He explained to her that he and his wife were staying at a secluded motel near her work and were only staying for the weekend. She left work early to go and meet him and his wife. When she arrived he was alone. Once she was inside and the door closed he raped her. After raping her he stuffed her inside a small trunk, put the trun k in the back seat of his car and drove away. She made a help me sign in red lipstick and slid it through the trunk. Many motorists saw this plea and called the police. But before they could catch up he stopped on a secluded farm road, ripped her out of the trunk, strangled her with a necktie, broke her neck, and then finally finished the torture by stabbing her 14 times. He then put her mangled body back in the trunk and drove home to his wife and kids (1). There is only one offence in the state of Washington that you can receive the death penalty for and that is aggravated murder in the first degree. To receive this punishment one must plan out his act and in committing the crime commit an aggravating circumstance (3). Stabbing + raping + breaking a neck + strangulation all add up to an aggravated circumstance. It?s for people like this that we have instituted the death penalty. The death penalty is a just punishment, but like any system it does have some flaws. Although the death penalty does not work too well as a general deterrent it does work as a specific deterrent. Specific deterrent means that the penalty is keeping the offender from re-offending (2). Studies show that those who commit murder, if given the chance, re-offend. But some may wonder, isn?t life in prison keeping them from committing the crime again? The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation states that ?the leading cause of death among prison inmates is murder by other inmates. A murderer serving a life sentence has no reason at all to refrain from killing other inmates or guards, or from hiring other criminals outside of prison to kill those who helped convict them.? But on the other hand the death penalty offers the opposite effect when it comes to general deterrence. The overwhelming conclusion from years of deterrence studies is that the death penalty is, at best, no more of a deterrent than a sentence of life in prison (2). Criminologist William Bowers of Northeastern University, states t hat ?society is brutalized by the use of the death penalty, and this increases the likelihood of more murder.? (2) He later goes on to say that states in the U.S. that do not have the death penalty have drastically lower murder rates than states that do have capital punishment. The same is also true when the U.S. is compared to countries similar to it that don?t have the death penalty. The U.S., with the death penalty, has a higher murder rate than Europe and Canada, which do not use the death penalty. But the United States is not Canada or Europe, in fact Canada has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and thus their murder rates are lower. There are also studies to show that William Bowers is wrong in his statement. Isaac Ehrlich, a criminologist, did many studies which produced results showing that for every inmate who was executed, 7 lives were spared because others were deterred from committing murder and the person who committed the murder was prevented from re-committin g (2). Sentencing a convicted murder do the death penalty does save lives, but is it humane?The Webster?s dictionary states that humane is: Characterized by kindness, mercy, and or compassion. How is it kind to have someone suffocate for up to 45 minutes (hanging method)? How is it mercy to stick someone in a chamber, an invention we stole from Hitler, and instructing them to breathe deeply for a less painful death as deathly gas filters in (gas chamber method)? How are we showing compassion by shocking someone for many 30 second intervals with 500 plus volts of electricity? Capital punishment is not humane, but should it be? Why should we show a convicted aggravated murder kindness, mercy or compassion when he has neglected to show that himself?Studies have always shown that those who commit the violent act of murder were abused sexually, mentally, of physically as children. When you are abused at a young age you are taught that it is ok to be violent. Those who commit murder do no t need to be punishment so severely, but they need to be nurtured with rehabilitation. The Breakfast Club EssayOn January 31, 1988 Newt Gingrich stated that the state should use the death penalty on certain crimes such as murder and treason. Gingrich stated people much be held accountable for the crimes that commit. He stated that there were over a thousand prisoners on death row; many of them have been there since the early 1970?s because of the current criminal justice system. Death penalty is good and serves a definite purpose of reducing crime as well as bringing justice to the criminals and innocent. In order to serve its purpose, it must be adjusted and made more effective and efficient. The justice system has changed dramatically in the past thirty years in order to make sure that the rightly accused is brought to justice. I believe that death penalty should not be abolished, as it ensures the safety of the society, brings justice to those who have suffered and most importantly helps in reducing crime and criminals in our society. Death penalty is important to keep the brightness of justice and public safety shining brightly on our society. Works Cited Budau, Hugo Adam. Capital Punishment and Social Defense. Reserved reading for Philosophy 203. Bedau, Hugo Adam. The Death Penalty in America. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982. Browning, Tonya. Capital Punishment: Life or Death. Computer Writing and Research Lab, University of Texas. Online. Internet. 27 April 2000. Haag, Ernest van den. On Deterrence and the Death Penalty. Reserved reading for Philosophy 203. Shapiro, Walter. What say should victims have? AskJeeves.com. Online. Internet. 29 April 2000. Slambrouck, Paul Van. US Prisons Under Pressure Show Increase in Violence. The Christian Science Monitor Online. 6 August 1998. Internet. Incapacitation. Websters New Collegiate Dictionary. 1981. Rein, Mei Ling Capital Punishment Cruel and Unusual? 2202 Edition 2002 Gale Group Inc Formington Hills, Michigan 48331-3535

Petrys View Of Victimization In The Street Essays -

Petry's View Of Victimization In 'The Street' In The Street, by Ann Petry, Lutie and her son Bub, as well as most of the characters, are clearly portrayed as victims. One is ultimately led to believe that their victimization and the barriers they face are because of race. Race is clearly the main obstacle for Lutie and Bub. It is what holds them back from leaving ?the street?. Born into prejudice, they are basically prescribed a future. The three characters which best represent the victimization of African-Americans and women are Bub, Lutie, and Min. The main obstacle facing Lutie is obviously the color of her skin. This prevented her from being able to advance the way she wanted to. The fact that Lutie is a woman contributes to her struggle even further. Women have to deal with male dominance and being victimized by men, in addition to being a minority. Both Lutie and Min try to break free these constraints, but ultimately fail because the task lies deeper than within themselves. This story is a perfect example of the struggles African-Americans, and in particular, women, have to endure, and a perfect illustration of the vicious cycle that keeps them unable to achieve the lives that they wanted and worked so hard for. There was a force that was keeping African-Americans on the street, and according to Ann Petry's views, it was the system in which they were living. Lutie is faced with being a single parent. She must provide child care as well as earn money to keep her and her son alive. Her life is a double edged sword, because she needs to be at home and working at the same time: an impossible task. Because of these two factors and the invisible barriers they pose, it is impossible for Lutie to achieve the life she desires for herself and Bub. In the beginning of the story, Lutie was forced to take action and support her family because Jim could not find a job. She left her family and home and sent all her earnings to support them. In that time, it was hard enough for a woman to get a job, let alone an African-American woman. Petry contests that the most available job to them, was being a maid. Lutie was able to get a job working for the Chandlers. The portrayal of the Chandlers was a clear illustration of the racial divides at the time. Lutie was awestruck when she saw the lifestyle that they led. The luxuries they had would never be accessible to someone like Lutie. Although she admires their lifestyle, she loathes the impact money has on them. When Jonathan Chandler killed himself, it was then she realized that money was the only thing that this family had. She was interested in the way which money transformed a suicide she had seen committed from start to finish in front of her very eyes into an accident with a gun(Pet ry 54). It was then that she began to despise the family. The fact that African-Americans were dependent on whites for employment made it hard for them to ever be on the same level. They were dependent on the white race essentially, to live. The increasing dependence made it more difficult to ever overcome the dominance. The knowledge of this is what angers Lutie. Mom, why do white people want colored people shining shoes?(Petry 71). Deep down, she knew that no matter how hard she worked, she would never live the way they did. But she did not want the racist mind to bring her down. She began to blame the white race for the hardships she was enduring. I don't know, Bub, she said finally. But its for the same reason we can't live anywhere else but in places like this...(Petry 72). She wanted to escape the street, and made a great effort. ...They'd never catch her in their dirt trap...She'd fight her way out(Petry74). But later we learn that this resolve is to no avail. Lutie wanted Bub to have a better life and rise above the street. She worked very hard to provide this for him. She could do it, too- bring him up so that

Ideas for Engineering Science Fair Projects

Ideas for Engineering Science Fair Projects Engineering science fair projects can involve designing, building, analyzing, modeling, or improving a device. You can also test or create materials. Here are some specific ideas for engineering science fair projects. What is the best material to put in a sandbag to block water, such as during a flood?How tall can you build a tower using only a sheet of ​paper? You can cut it, fold it, crumple it, but only use that single material. What works best?Compare the characteristics of a structure that is made using different materials. You can compare strength, corrosion resistance, and elasticity. Be creative. The trick is to make certain your measurements are truly comparable to each other.What can you do with a swim cap to optimize its ability to decrease drag in water? Can you alter the shape? Does one material work substantially better than another?Which type of paper towel absorbs the most water? Which brand absorbs the most oil? Are they the same brand?What differences do you note in the ability of different soils to support a structure?What type of paper airplane flies the furthest and stays aloft the longest?How can you map a magnetic field? Can you construct a device, using iron filings, that can be reused for field mapping? Construct a Lego building. Now try to make the same building on an incline, such as a 30-degree slope. What changes do you need to make in order to make it stable?How does a change in the construction of a parachute affect flight? Parameters you could examine include size, shape, material, and/or method of attachment.

Confusing Passed with Past

Confusing Passed with Past Confusing Passed with Past Confusing Passed with Past By Maeve Maddox Reader Peggy Lanahan asks Is it correct to say, â€Å"how does the food always get passed the bib? or past the bib†? The frequent confusion between the words passed and past is understandable. They are pronounced alike and have similar meanings. Careful writers need to find some trick for remembering the difference. Both words derive from the same Latin noun: passus step, pace. From that noun came a Vulgar Latin verb passare to step or to walk. English took the word from Old French passer. The form passed is the past participle of the verb to pass. Pass can be used transitively: I passed the church on my way to the store. or intransitively: He passed through life without a care. Intransitive pass is also used as a euphemism for die, as in When did your father pass? The word past can be used as an adjective: Dont hold grudges for past offenses. as an adverb: I thought he would stop, but he just ran past. and as a preposition: How does the food always get past the bib? For more on Past vs Passed, read this post by Ali. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:English Grammar 101: All You Need to Know40 Synonyms for â€Å"Lie†12 Misunderstood and Misquoted Shakespearean Expressions

Methods of Birth Assessments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Methods of Birth Assessments - Essay Example This approach is perceived applicable for a peaceful, â€Å"calm, and comfortable birthing† – relying on the normal physiological and biological interaction between the mother and child in the womb, without regard to the potential complication that are accounted by modern medical science on birthing (MedlinePlus, 2013a). Such happens when a woman is undergoing a â€Å"preterm labor, when the child inside the womb is tied its own umbilical cord, when child is situated abnormally, and whenever there is evidence of birth injuries (MedlinePlus, 2013a, p. 1).† Caesarean intersection is a surgical operation that is only undertaken when child delivery pose serious risks to both the mother and child; the only effective and efficient method, as remedy thereof , is only through surgical operation (ChildbirthConnection.org, 2013). Some women however, who have less tolerance on pain associated to vaginal delivery, will prefer a painless caesarean section delivery for less di fficulty (ChildbirthConnection.org, 2013). ... Although this is costly, experts contended , including the World Health Organization (WHO), that it’s the best method to prevent further complication and it help reduce mortality rate of women and children (ChildbirthConnection.org, 2013). This is to acknowledge the fact that many women nowadays have some medical causes to undertake this method and there are evidences that require the need to uphold this process of child delivery (ChildbirthConnection.org, 2013). Normally, an expectant mother would undergo labor and contractions when it is the time of the child to be given birth (MedlinePlus, 2013b).The process will demonstrate the natural dilation of the cervix and effacement of the uterus (MedlinePlus, 2013b). A number of women can undertake normal vaginal delivery while others require surgical caesarean intersection for the child to be delivered (MedlinePlus, 2013b). The latter require gynaecological expertise that is only available in maternity hospitals and in birthing cl inic (MedlinePlus, 2013b). This is otherwise called medical child birth method of delivery. Modern times have likewise recognized that the present lifestyle associated to childbearing and multiple births have consequentially developed such â€Å"medical circumstance that requires this medical and practical standard (ChildbirthConnection.org, 2013).† In the case of first expectant mother, caesarean operation becomes likely specially of they the cervix cannot attain full dilation that would affect the child’s fetal condition or would cause its distress, thus, mandate the need for such medical intervention (ChildbirthConnection.org, 2013). Mothers however are advised to try the normal process of vaginal delivery before opting for caesarean section operation that will cost them more

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 41

Assignment - Essay Example The context that the research is done is usually in school or other meetings where teachers from different schools meet and discuss their research and how they usually deal with various problems affecting their subjects. Students at the end of the day benefit since the research aims to conduct various methodologies on how one has been teaching and if he can improve and what ways can he use. School wide action research involves most members of the faculty and its goal of including parents and students in future is a welcome advancement. The inclusion of students in search a process is crucial since they get to comment on what they do not understand. The information from the students and parents who monitor their students activities especially academics will provide invaluable information for further research and the consequent solutions. The research will follow up on the parents’ involvement in their children’s studies, which will in turn help in dealing with the problems the students face and help in finding solutions to such problems. Some of the teachers are reluctant to engage in school wide action research because most of them considered the classroom as a private affair. They do not need to include outsiders as such. Such a methodology is for improvement purposes and not for judgmental purposes. Joining the league provided schools with methods of evaluating their performance and that of their students. Schools that joined the league would get valuable information on how to deal with various problems that other school had overcome. School wide research is thus an important area in which teachers discover their weaknesses and strengths and find out ways to overcome them. The interaction with various teachers is important since there are successful teachers who can share their strengths which in turn those who are struggling with their students. The students at the end of the day get to benefit from the varied teaching styles

Assessment for Learning Essay Example for Free

Assessment for Learning Essay The results of the personal survey of assessment literacy showed that general considerations scored 87/90, prior to test design scored 53/55, writing the test scored 28/30, during test administration scored 15/15, and after testing reflected 25/25. Our school is a small private school with small classroom sizes. As a result, most of our students receive specialized one on one attention and strong supervision for their academic success. Teachers believe every student can and will succeed. It is not an option to do otherwise. â€Å"Teachers must believe that all students can achieve a certain level of academic success, must bring all of their students to believe this of themselves, must accommodate the fact that students learn at different rates by making use of differentiated instruction, and must guide all students toward the attainment of standards† (Stiggins, 2005, pg. 326). How we test students need to take into consideration the impact of the learner (Stiggins, 2008). Stiggins (2008) informed teachers to utilize assessments for students by looking at the classroom level of use, the program level of use, and the institutional accountability and policy level of use. Looking at the school survey of assessment literacy will take into account these three types of assessment uses and their importance in generating an accountability system for our school to develop a system that fosters learning for all students. My greatest area of strength in regard to assessment literacy can be found in during test administration (15/15) and after testing (25/25). These were perfect scores and illustrated that student’s needs were met when considering the testing environment as conducive to maximize student performance and monitoring the students as they take ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 3 the test. Directions are always clear and questions are rarely asked. Tests are accurately scored because they are reviewed twice. Assessment data is gathered for what questions students answered incorrectly and notes are made for improvement of material taught the following year. It is reviewed again after the results of the test are completed to ensure mastery before moving on to the next chapter. The main goal is always on student achievement and mastery of the material. The data adjusts instruction to improve student performance. Any students who do poorly are given the opportunity to retest for 92% of the grade for improvement and mastery. Parents are notified of any student receiving below an 86%. This is our school policy. Retests are given within a week of the original test. Tests are graded the same day and given back the next day. This enables students to observe what they got wrong and assess ways to improve for the retest or master the material. Assessments are not always tests. Projects, reports, computer uses, etc. are vital ways to assess student learning through a plethora of ways. Gardner (1999) believed that students learn through spatial, linguistic, naturalist, interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily kinesthetic, logical/mathematical, musical, and existential. Educators should recognize that diversity needs an on-going presence, availability, and active participation in the classroom teaching process (Spasovski, 2010). â€Å"If society wants all students to meet standards, then all students must believe they can meet those standards; they all must be confident enough to be willing to take the risk of trying† (Stiggins, 2008, p. 8). My greatest limitation in regard to assessment literacy is working with colleagues to design common assessments. Since we are a small private school, teachers are left ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 4 with the task of compiling their own assessments. Our principal will supply the assessments created by the publisher in book form or cd rom or teachers can compile their own. None of us work with colleagues to create assessments. We have team meetings that cross teach certain areas that are being studied to enhance learning across disciplines of teaching. However, assessments are each teacher’s responsibility. The Stanford test scores analyze our teaching productivity. Data is analyzed for the incorrect answer. The results address the weakest area of student learning. Teachers are to find solutions to fix them through data and research of proven strategies that work within successful classrooms. According to Creighton (2001), collecting data without purpose is meaningless. Data driven decision making and instructional leadership support one another. By analyzing the data that exist in our schools, student achievement and quality in teaching and learning can improve to assist students to become avid learners. Part 2: Analyzing the Survey Results The survey results of the criteria for the school survey of assessment literacy scored 84/90. Assessment, curriculum, and instruction are balanced in our school. Assessments are aligned to benchmarks, standards, and scaffolding of material over time to foster students’ learning. To promote student achievement, assessments are varied and reliable. Communication is accomplished with parents about performance through emails, assessments sent home requiring signatures, progress reports, report cards, and Stanford test scores. Since our students score in the 79-99% ranking of Stanford test scores as a class average, teachers seek solutions through data to ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 5 improve class average test scores. If any student did poorly, teachers seek ways that will improve student learning. Principals and teachers can learn to maneuver through the statistical data to help create goals and strategies for change and improvement (Creighton, 2001). The school’s greatest area of strength in regard to assessment literacy was that data-based decisions about student mastery of standards are made collaboratively by administrators and teachers. By looking at our strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats, teachers can gain insightful information into how they may best serve their diverse students’ needs and administrators can find solutions to helping these students achieve an optimal learning experience at school. This creates an opportunity for teachers and administrators to work together to improve student achievement. By understanding our diverse students’ needs, teachers and administrators can see the big picture and find viable solutions to problems that arise at their school. This year we have added a resource room to help struggling students with special needs get help from an ESE teacher. Curriculums are modified to accommodate student’s needs based on any language or learning barriers. The dominant culture of the nation-state should incorporate aspects of their experiences, cultures, and languages, which will enrich the mainstream culture as well as help marginalized groups to experience civic equality and recognition (Gutmann, 2004). Teachers have professional development sessions and team meetings to assess proven methodologies and research to help students learn. â€Å"When teachers support students by treating them with respect and caring about their futures, and encourage students by helping them to succeed, students are more likely ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 6 to respect and get along with one another; when taught how to be more tolerant of others, students exhibit greater tolerance† (Gollnick Chinn, 2006). Our school climate is multicultural and is reflected in every aspect of the education at our school. This is imperative if we want our students to compete in a global economy and to ensure learning and equity for all students. The school’s greatest limitation in regard to assessment literacy is that not all teachers recognize students’ emotional connection to assessment and its results. Also, the formative assessments are not used regularly to tell members precisely where to focus their improvement efforts and how to do it in a timely manner. My students complain that some teachers take a month to grade papers. Parents complain to me that other teachers do not understand their child’s special needs. For instance, I have a student with dysgraphia, dyslexia, and ADHD. For spelling tests, I have found it beneficial to call him up after tests and have him spell the word to me verbally that he got wrong in writing and he often gets it correct. He has transformed from a failing student to an â€Å"A† student. I grade his paper immediately after he turns it in and I ask him to spell the words he got wrong to me verbally. When students are failing, teachers need to find viable solutions to increase student learning. No single assessment is capable of answering all these questions to aid a student’s learning capabilities. A productive, multi-level assessment system is needed to ensure accuracy of all instructional decisions (Stiggins, 2008). Relying heavily on Stanford test scores impedes a student’s emotional connection to assessment and its results. Instead a wide arrangement of student work should become part of a portfolio to determine the overall ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 7 success rate of a student. â€Å"If all students are to succeed, they must have continuous access to credible evidence of their own academic success at mastering prescribed achievement standards† (Stiggins, 2008, p. 8). Data shows teachers areas that need improvement in teaching, student’s weaknesses, and how to do better next time. This will enable students to build self-efficacy when teachers help students to see what success looks like through assessment analysis to improve test taking the next time (Stiggins, 2008). This is the reason our school offers a retest at 92% of the grade. This is what Stiggins refers to as replacing the intimidation of accountability as the primary motivator through tests with the promise of academic success for all learners. This type of assessment promotes hope for all students to become successful. We are reminded by Tashik (2010), that an effective performance assessment system requires the complete interplay of several components: 1. Teaching and learning must remain the constant focus of the school. 2. Teams of teachers collaborate on all aspects of instruction and assessment. 3. Staff, department, and grade meetings are regular features of the school week. 4. Scheduling includes blocks of time for teachers to mentor and supervise student progress on the performance assessment tasks. 5. Continual development of new courses and units of study to better engage students in their learning and meet their academic needs. When these key components are intertwined, effective assessments can benefit our students through diversity and it can take the shape of molding into our students’ needs. When we look at the classroom level of use, the program level of use, and the ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 8 institutional accountability and policy level of use, assessments can work together to scaffold student learning for optimal success. In a perfect assessment system, the foundation would comprise of an array of assessments that enable students to learn more through scaffolding and take ownership of his or her learning success (Stiggins, 2004). ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING 9 References Creighton, T. (2001). Data analysis and the principalship. Principal Leadership, 1(9), 52. Gardner, H. (1999). Intelligence reframed: Multiple intelligences for the 21st century. New York: Basic Books. Gollnick, D. and Chinn, P. (2006) Multicultural education in a pluralistic society. New Jersey: Pearson Education. Gutmann, A. (2004). Unity and diversity in democratic multicultural education: Creative and destructive tensions. In J. A. Banks (Ed. ), Diversity and citizenship education: Global perspectives (pp. 77-96). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Spasovski, Ognen. (2010). Principles of the inclusive education and the role of teachers and in-school professional staff. The Journal of Special Education and Rehabilitation,111(1-2), 67-86. Tashik, P. (2010). Changing the national conversation on assessment. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(6), 55-59. Stiggins, R. (2004). Classroom assessment for student learning: Doing it right – Using it well. Portland, OR: Assessment Training Institute. Stiggins, R. (2005, Dec. ). From formative assessment to assessment FOR learning: A path to success in standards-based school. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(4), 324-328. Stiggins, R. (2008). Assessment manifesto: A call for the development of balanced assessment systems. Portland, OR: ETS Training Institute.

The Phoenician Empire :: World History

The Phoenician Empire The Mediterranean Sea has spawned many civilizations through history. The Phoenicians, which originated around 1200 BCE, is one example. Despite the rather small size of this civilization, its impact on our world has been considerable. Being a seafaring nation, the Phoenicians established colonies all over the Mediterranean area, including the present-day cities of Carthage and Tripoli. As notable traders, they shared cultures with many nations, which allowed their invention of the alphabet to spread throughout Eurasia. The Phoenician Empire continued to evolve until its eventual incorporation into the Persian and Macedonian Empires, around 400 BCE. Phoenicia is an ancient region lying on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Empire peaked at around 1000 BCE, and developed until around 700 BCE. Phoenicia, now known as Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, was naturally isolated from other civilizations by the Lebanon Mountains in the east, and the great sea on the west. The small region stretched about 320 kilometers long and about 25 kilometers wide. This geographical isolation gave the Phoenicians enough protection to evolve into a strong nation, while giving it the freedom to trade and explore across the Mediterranean. Although little is known about the ancient civilization, it is known that the government was, at least in part, a monarchy. Royalty was considered a matter of divine descent, so kings could not be chosen outside of the royal family. The merchant families also held much power in Phoenicia, due to their great influence in public affairs. Although the name Phoenicia implies that the civilization was a unified state, the nation consisted of separate city-kingdoms. Each Phoenician City was considered independent from one another, and was ruled by its own king. Phoenicians were known as the most distinguished seafaring traders and merchants of the ancient world. In fact, they called themselves Kena'ani (or Canaanites), which is Hebrew for "Merchant". They established trading colonies all over the Mediterranean Sea, including Carthage, Simyra, Zarephath, Byblos, and Tyre (Sur). Maritime trading also reached into the Atlantic Ocean to England. Some of the goods traded included glass, color dyes, metals, horses, ebony and ivory, linen, coral, honey, spices, oil and precious stones. Maritime trading would not be possible for the Phoenicians without developed nautical technology. Phoenicians were known for having extremely advanced ships and navigation. Ships were built with a keeled hull, which allowed them to travel on the open seas.

Checkpoint: Financial Management Goals Essay

It is sometimes suggested that the most important goal for financial management is to earn the highest possible profit for the company. However, the key is to use that in setting a goal for the firm. The main measure of performance is how the earnings are valued by the investor. It is important to an investor how the firm’s earnings have increased or decrease, the quality, reliability and risk of it. The financial manager must take all of these into considerations when making each decision on the firm’s overall valuation. The financial manager may attempt to maximize the wealth of the firm’s shareholders by getting the highest value for the firm. Stock prices are not directly controlled by the financial manager since it is generally affected by the expectations of the firm’s future as well as the current economic environment. In some instances, management may be more interested in maintaining its own tenure than in maximizing stockholder wealth. The goal of shareholder wealth maximization is consistent with a concern for social responsibility for the firm. By adopting policies that would maximize values in the market, the firm can attract capital, provide employment, and offer benefits to its community. Another importance is the ethical behavior of a company because it creates an invaluable reputation. Companies can become more visible than others in their pursuit of these goals. The companies that do a good job at practicing ethical behaviors are profitable, save money, and are good citizens in their communities.

Self Directed Work Teams Architecture Essay

Autonomous Work Teams ( SDWT ) is used by a big figure of administrations in today ‘s society. Manufacturers have started utilizing this construct of SDWT, which has seen to be a large growing ( Richard, William, and Wilson 1991, 44 ) . Since this squad procedure was foremost studied in 1951 in an American workplace, it has assisted this procedure to be used in a figure of concerns and industries in which most of these companies are listed in the Fortune 500 companies ( Junior-grade 2008, 2 ) . Directors who require their company ‘s policy to be up to day of the month will be trusting on members in an SDWT to help with company policy and farther developments for specific countries ( Richard, William, and Wilson 1991, 52 ) . Directors will desire to cognize how this squad procedure will profit them and the administration they are working in. Harmonizing to Caramanica, Ferris, and Little, â€Å" an SDWT offer assorted benefits † ( Caramanica, Ferris and Small 2001, 7 7 ) . Therefore directors must hold a good apprehension of an SDWT to understand the procedure and the positive impact it has in the administration. This essay shows the definition of an SDWT, effectivity of SDWT, critical ideas, and a opinion of the critical reappraisal. SDWTs can be defined in many ways. Harmonizing to Irani, an SDWT â€Å" is a diverse group of people with different attitudes, accomplishments and personalities, to work together towards common concern ends † ( Irani, Choudrie and Love 2002, 596 ) . Similar, Mullen states that, â€Å" an SDWT is a group of persons jointly responsible for carry throughing a set of undertakings and larning from their joint activities † ( Mullen 1992, 43 ) . It means a group people who portion work loads, train each other, and accomplish marks within an administration without holding a supervisor observation over them. Members of the SDWT listen to their squad members and voice their sentiments freely without holding to be criticized ( Attaran and Nguyen 2000, 25 ) . The squad evaluates and design work procedures and are responsible certain procedures within an administration ( Attaran and Nguyen 2000, 25 ) . Members allocate undertakings to team members to finish. Simply they complete und ertakings without holding any engagement of a high positioned employee such as a supervisor ( Versteeg 2007, 1 ) . The intent of making an SDWT is to better efficiency and effectivity of a squad ‘s undertaking. SDWT Teams have been found to really effectual by research workers. It leads to a decreased figure of hierarchies and more duty given to each single squad member ( McShane and Travaglione 2007, 297 ) . SDWTs have been developed over clip and are seen as a superior scheme to help employees to come on in productiveness and efficiency. Employees work together on a day-to-day footing and make positive connexions between members. They are committed to marks which is outstanding to employees compared to the administration ( Foote and Lang 2008, 936 ) . An SDWT can assist come on efficiency an persons understanding of their work which related to their fellow members and sharing control and seeking the best agencies of a undertaking ( Mullen 1992, 44 ) . Research conducted Mullen showed that an Automobile works created by General Motors have 150 SDWTs in their production lines ( Mullen 1992, 44 ) . Teams were in bond with each other squad meetings prior so follow their understandings onto the production line. In traditional administrations, employees are given undertakings and normally stop up with same occupation forever. However in an SDWT, persons â€Å" embrace the constructs of multi skilling and Job rotary motion † ( Richard, William, and Wilson 1991, 47 ) . The effectivity of SDWT benefits the administration in a figure of ways. Better public presentation, portion duty, higher committedness and public presentation, betterments to do effectual public presentation and quality ( Caramanica, Ferris and Small 2001, 77 ) . Research conducted by Irani, Sharp, and Kagioglou stated that traditional work subdivision squads in Velden Engineering ( UK ) were non autonomous and this lead the groups to outbid each other. This was seen as been uneffective and so they decided to set into pattern the usage of SDWT through educational Sessionss. Classs were held to obtain employees involvement in a SDWT ( Irani, Sharp, and Kagioglou 1997, 202 ) . Results showed that these categories organised by direction were effectual for the administration. Communication, squad consciousness, and readying were seen to be an betterment. This shows how effectual SDWT in the administrations is and the huge sum of betterment it brings in. As mentioned before research on Velden Engineering ( UK ) execution of SDWTs had a big consequence on the administration. It was conducted in 1995 and was proven to demo that SDWT was utile to utilize in the administration ( Irani, Sharp, and Kagioglou 1997, 202 ) . The research is non reliable for in-between directors in Australia because of the clip the research was conducted. At that clip, the article references that persons were usage to the traditional work squad and holding been introduced to a new squad procedure that may hold caused their committedness to work to better. The research conducted did non present a broad scope of cultural or different age grouped persons. As the research claims it was effectual and does non advert who the participants were. It may be that Velden Engineering may hold had a peculiar group of race. Research conducted in the early 1995 in an Asset Team which was portion of Chevrons Western Production ( Attaran and Nguyen 2000, 27 ) . Persons had antecedently operated in a traditional hierarchal system. They did non hold adequate employee engagement or adequate teamwork. This lead those to develop an SDWT and handling the plus squad as a whole squad. Each squad had a balance of accomplishments, leading and expertness. The squads â€Å" relied on each other and non on their supervisors † ( Attaran and Nguyen 2000, 27 ) . The research is reliable for in-between directors in Australia due to the fact that huge scopes of employees were put into the squads with different background of cognition and expertness. Attaran and Nguyen purpose was for the squads to do usage of the new cognition and accomplishments they had attained from other squad members in respects to utilizing new engineering ( Attaran and Nguyen 2000, 28 ) . Persons who were non put into squads were non able to d evelop cognition and were lead to doing determination without other single sentiments. It ‘s a valid usher for directors to utilize to implement an SDWT into their administration. The fact that employees were assorted into squads with each single holding each an expertness. Simone Kauffeld conducted a research on 140 companies in which 241 employees were in a traditional work squad and 278 in a SDWT ( Kauffeld 2006, 6 ) . Management decided which groups to include. There were more adult females in SDWT than a traditional squad and extra unskilled persons in SDWT than traditional. This resulted in demoing that SDWT â€Å" were non introduced in companies with specially qualified employees † ( Kauffeld 2006, 7 ) . Teams were given group activities and a subject to discourse. Teams were videoed and observed by a trainer. However the direction assessed the checklist for all 44 SDWT all together. Result showed that SDWT is more competent on seven out of 12 facets of competency. That means that they were competent in finishing the undertakings and were capable of working better than traditional work squads. SDWT in the research showed that they were interested in organizing undertakings to accomplish an reply. Research was conducted on a paper factory fabricating site which had two installations. Researches determined the difference between deserving moral principles of machine operators. One installation used an SDWT and the other installation used a traditional work squad. 169 out of 250 from Site A were put into a SDWT and 83 out of 146 were put into a traditional work squad. 252 out of 396 ( full site ) had completed the studies ( Petty et al 2008, 4 ) . 79 % were male, 25 % between the ages of 27 and 35, and 67 % were between the ages of 36 and 55 ( Petty et al. 2008, 52 ) . Facilities had between 18 and 30 persons in each squad. Team utilizing SDWT were found to be organized and each member acquired new accomplishments from other co-workers. In Site B, they used a traditional construction. The site consisted of a â€Å" top-down authorization † ( Petty et al. 2008, 53 ) and were employees were each individual was assigned to task related to their accomplishment. Consequences s howed that SDWT scored higher than traditional squads. They were reliable, concerted and considerate at work. SDWT was seen to be the less cost bring forthing in the administration ( Petty et al. 2008, 56 ) After reading a scope of diaries related to SDWT, we can judge on how accurate the researches are. As once more it was mentioned that Irani, Sharp, and Kagioglou research on Velden Engineering ( UK ) started in 1995 is non dependable to middle directors in Australia due to the fact that they had non mentioned a broad assortment of different cultural background nor did they advert the age groups in Velden Engineering. The age of diary is non large concern but due to the fact that they did non advert age or ethnicity does convey out some opinion. However it can be used as a usher to portray its effectivity and betterment in an administration.Research on Chevrons plus squad is found to be a dependable to middle directors in Australia. As mentioned before, each squad had a broad scope of cognition and expertness. In which this resulted each person to larn from these experts and better their accomplishment. This assists them to place jobs in the proficient country of Chevron. Each squad c ommunicated to other squads and their old wont of outbidding and viing was eliminated. At first there were defeats between squad members and new day-to-day modus operandi for persons ( Attaran and Nguyen 2000, 32 ) . However this is job was recognised by counsel squad and attempt was put in to decide the issues.Kauffelds research on 140 companies proved to be really effectual in the activities each squad had completed. A broad scope of workers with different age groups, ethnicities were included in the research. An issue that may hold triggered employees to execute better was that they were been videoed and observed by a professional trainer. Thus it could hold caused the squads to work harder as they believed the recording would hold been shown later to direction. It is minor issue and should n't be seen as a large issue. However there are other issues that may hold triggered the consequences to be high. The fact that their were more adult females in SDWT than traditional, SDWT was non introduced in companies with specially qualified employees ( Kauffeld 2006, 7 ) , more SDWT than traditional work squad companies involved either used SDWT or traditional in which some administrations may hold had hapless on the job conditions and others a good working conditions. Besides direction decided which groups to include. These issues pointed out still may hold caused the consequences to drop but it should non be seen as large quandary. This research is non effectual and dependable for in-between directors in Australia to utilize.Research ( Petty et al.2008 ) on the two installations in the paper factory site is a good illustration of the differences of holding a SDWT and a traditional work squad. The consequences show that SDWT is dependable, less cost bring forthing, and good for the administration. However the research worker may hold considered utilizing a different scope of groups and taken persons from different industries instead than the paper factory. It was m entioned that research workers were merely given limited entree to research topics that were granted by company functionaries. The research can be used by in-between directors in Australian who wish to implement SDWT within their administration. Consequences may hold differed if full entree was given to researches and they had included persons from other industries. Overall we can see the effectivity of SDWT and good it is for administration and in-between directors in Australia. ( Petty et al. 2008 ) research on the paper factory site was found to be the most dependable due to the fact that it compared SDWT and traditional squads in which it pointed out the benefits it gained. Their purpose was to detect which squad was successful for the administration in which in was found that SDWT was extremely good. Directors who do make up one's mind to implement SDWT within their administration will see an betterment for both their employee and concern. From reading a broad scope of diaries sing to SDWT, we have indentified the benefits, the effectivity, and research workers ‘ position of SDWT. The purpose was to indentify the effectivity of SDWT. From mentioning to different diary articles, it ‘s been possible to demo how effectual it is for Australian center directors and its administration. Reviewing diaries and comparison has besides assisted on how effectual SDWT is.

Organizational Change and Development Mr. Carlos Ghosn

Organizational Change and Development Mr. Carlos Ghosn Carlos Ghosn is a businessperson who presently acts as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Paris-founded Renault. Additionally, Carlos acts in the same capacity at the Japan-founded Nissan (Millikin Fu 2005). These companies jointly generate more than 10 per cent of cars sold internationally.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Organizational Change and Development: Mr. Carlos Ghosn specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Carlos is as well the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Renault-Nissan coalition, the tactical affiliation administering both companies via distinctive cross-shareholding accord. For coordinating one of the most violent downscaling movements and leading the turnabout of Nissan Company at the verge of bankruptcy, Carlos attained his celebrity standing. Currently, Carlos ranks amongst the 50 most renowned individuals in international business and politics. In 1996, Carlos was empl oyed as the administrative vice president accountable for sophisticated research, purchasing, car improvement and engineering, and management of Renault Company (Yoshino Fagan 2003). Renault acquired around 37% stake of the Nissan Corporation in 1999. While continuing with his capacity at Renault, Carlos was hired as the CEO of the Nissan Company in mid 2001. Carlos met a debt of 20 billion dollars that the Nissan Company had not cleared. Additionally, just three of the forty-eight models of the Nissan Company were making a profit and undoing the falling fate of the company was deemed unattainable. Carlos promised his resignation if the company failed to attain a profitability status by the close of that year. He also affirmed that Nissan could have cleared all it debts by 2005. He disregarded business etiquette in Japan and went ahead to cut off 14 per cent of the entire workforce, closed up five plants, and sold off assets like the aerospace entity of the company.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Owing to his radical schemes, the net profit of Nissan rose to around 3 billion dollars in one year from a loss of 6 billion dollars in the previous year. Within twelve months of his 3-year turnabout scheme, Carlos managed to take Nissan back on the right course. By the end of the 3-year period, Nissan was among the moneymaking companies in the automotive industry. Moreover, the operating profit margin (prior to taxes and interests) of Nissan rose from 1.4% in 2000 to 9.2% in 2006. Carlos initiated major structural modifications at Nissan, considerably adjusting the culture of the company (Pisapia 2011). He stopped dependence of Nissan on an intertwined web of suppliers (keiretsu), modified the official language of the company from Japanese to English, and encompassed officials from Europe and the US in major international policy for the f irst time. In early 2005, Carlos was promoted by the Renault Company to be its CEO. With his assumption of the responsibility of CEO in both Nissan and Renault, he became the first individual to head more than one company simultaneously to the extent of their being among the Fortune 500 companies. He has maintained his dedication of establishing over a million trucks and cars every year in Japan. He has fully rebuilt every one of the earlier damaged plants making all plants attain full production. These efforts have placed Nissan past its rivals like Toyota in some markets. While heading the Renault Company, Carlos has ensured that it remained top on the sales charts by overpowering its rivals like Peugeot and to ensure that Renault evades losing in poor performance period of 2008, Carlos cut off 4800 workforce.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Organizational Change and Development: Mr. Carlos Ghosn specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In conclusion, dedication by Carlos improved both Renault and Nissan companies by making organizational change and development. The tactical partnership involving Nissan and Renault is not a unification or acquirement. Both companies are connected through cross-shareholdings accords (Segrestin 2005). This alliance has continued to widen its scope noticeably by establishing further partnerships. Reference List Millikin, J Fu, D 2005, ‘The global leadership of Carlos Ghosn at Nissan’,  Thunderbird International Business Review, vol. 47 no. 1, pp. 121-137. Pisapia, J 2011, ‘Finding the Future and Making It Happen’, Towards the Next Orbit:  Corporate Odyssey, vol. 1 no. 1, pp. 55-7. Segrestin, B 2005, ‘Partnering to explore: The Renault–Nissan Alliance as a forerunner of new cooperative patterns’, Research Policy, vol. 34 no. 5, pp. 657-672. Yoshino, M Fagan, P 2003, ‘The Renault-Nissan Alliance’, Harvard Business  School, pp. 303-023.

Importance of the US Presidential Primaries

Importance of the US Presidential Primaries The U.S. presidential primaries and caucuses are held in the various states, the District of Columbia, and territories of the United States as a key part of the process of nominating candidates for election to the office of President of the United States. The U.S. presidential primary elections typically start in February and do not end until June. How many times do we have to vote for a new President of the United States, anyway? Why cant we just go to the polls once in November and be done with it? Whats so important about the primaries? Presidential Primary History The U.S. Constitution doesn’t even mention political parties. Nor does it provide a method for choosing presidential candidates. It was not that the Founding Fathers did not anticipate political parties as they had known them in England would come along; they simply were not keen to seemingly sanction party politics and its many inherent ills by recognizing it in the nation’s Constitution. In fact, for the first confirmed official presidential primary was not held until 1920  in New Hampshire. Until then, presidential candidates were nominated solely by elite and influential party officials without any input from the American people. By the late 1800s, however, social activists of the Progressive Era began to object to the lack of transparency and public involvement in the political process. Thus, today’s system of state primary elections evolved as a way to give the people more power in the presidential nomination process. Today, some states hold only primaries, some hold only caucuses and others hold a combination of both. In some states, the primaries and caucuses are held separately be each party, while other states hold â€Å"open† primaries or caucuses in which members of all parties are allowed to participate. The primaries and caucuses start in late-January or early-February and are staggered state-by-state to end by mid-June before the general election in November. The state primaries or caucuses are not direct elections. Rather than choosing a specific person to run for president, they determine the number of delegates each partys national convention will receive from their respective state. These delegates then actually select their party’s the presidential nominee at the party’s national nominating convention. Especially after the 2016 presidential election, when Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton won the nomination over popular challenger Sen. Bernie Sanders, many rank-and-file Democrats argued that the party’s often-controversial â€Å"superdelegate† system circumvented, at least to an extent, the intent of the primary election process. Whether the Democratic Party leaders will decide to retain the superdelegate system or not remains to be seen. Now, on to why the presidential primaries are important. Get to Know the Candidates First, primary election campaigns are the main way voters get to know about all the candidates. After the national conventions, voters hear mainly about the platforms of exactly two candidates one Republican and one Democrat. During the primaries, however, voters get to hear from several Republican and Democratic candidates, plus the candidates of third parties. As media coverage focuses on the voters of each state during primary season, all the candidates are more likely to get some coverage. The primaries provide a nationwide stage for the free and open exchange of all ideas and opinions the foundation of the American form of participatory democracy. Platform Building Secondly, the primaries play a key role in shaping the final platforms of the major candidates in the November election. Lets say a weaker candidate drops out of the race during the final weeks of the primaries. If that candidate succeeded in winning a substantial number of votes during the primaries, there is a very good chance that some aspects of his or her platform will be adopted by the partys chosen presidential candidate. Public Participation Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the primary elections provide yet another avenue through which Americans can to take part in the process of choosing our own leaders.  The interest generated by the presidential primaries moves many first-time voters to register and go to the polls. Indeed, in the 2016 presidential election cycle, more than 57.6 million people, or 28.5% of all estimated eligible voters, voted in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries – just slightly less than the all-time record of 19.5% set in 2008 – according to a report by the Pew Research Center. While some states have dropped their presidential primary elections due to cost or other factors, the primaries continue to be a vital and important part of Americas democratic process. Why the First Primary is Held in New Hampshire The first primary is held in New Hampshire during early February of election years. Taking pride in the notoriety and economic benefit of being the home of â€Å"First-In-The-Nation† presidential primary, New Hampshire has gone to great lengths to ensure it maintains its claim to the title. A state law enacted in 1920 requires that New Hampshire hold its primary â€Å"on the Tuesday at least seven days immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election.† While the Iowa caucuses are held before the New Hampshire primary, they are not considered a â€Å"similar election† and rarely draw the same level of media attention.

IT strategy and information system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IT strategy and information system - Essay Example It is done so on the account of fact that it requires skills and adapatibilty against the excessively advanced knowledge that the company may seek. The goal pursuit requires clear determination of the path to be followed. This is a generic rule for any operation or task so undertaken. The same rule applies to the field of digital technology. However, often the instances are seen where the path so adopted doesnot provide the desired results. This failure to reach the desired may be on account of number of factors. Some of these may be the result of internal poor performance, others possibly due to the external factors within the supply chain network (McKeen and Smith). Ther internal dyanmics relating to the various variables such as the relationship between the partners, ownership versus partnerships, lag in catching on the new trends, innovations and counter innovations from the other parties. Another important factor that often leads to the failure in terms of goals accomplishment is that of the financial crunch or inability to meet up the expenditure against the given originally set forth goals and objectives.All these constraints demand setting a plan that is realistic and takes into account the facts that are aforementioned and ensure that it is a failure proof plan. Technology road maps come along with set of constraints, restrictions which makes the overall planning relatively difficult and hard to accomplish. Preparing for the alternate route often comes along with external constraints and costs in terms of technological road map planning process. The difference between a generic plan and a technology plan is the phases that follow after the initial phase. This often results in deviation from the original path set forth. In order to ensure the technology plan is a successful one, the leading steps need to be taken into account with regard to the due actions. Following the

Eassy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Eassy - Essay Example This paper shall compare non-profit and profit healthcare organizations particularly focusing on the following aspects of these organizations: mission and purpose, organizational structure and scope, governance and oversight, leadership styles, expectations and accountability, compensation practices, strategic planning and budgeting processes, stewardship and fiscal responsibility, ethical challenges and dilemmas, investor relations, community benefit, social responsibility and stakeholder responsibility, potential impact of health reform on organizational initiatives, environment and organizational culture, and performance improvement and effectiveness – quality measures and indicators. These parameters shall provide a clear picture of distinctions in the application of these two types of organizations. Discussion The main distinction between the profit and the non-profit organizations is that one organization is driven by profit and the other is not driven by profit. More sp ecific differences shall be discussed below. Mission and Purpose Non-profit healthcare organizations have basically an altruistic and non-monetary mission and purpose. Drucker (in Cox, p. ... 2). The mission of non-profit health organizations is not to maximize profits, but to serve the members of the community where it is physically located, providing the members of the community the best healthcare services they can offer (Cleverley, et.al., p. 8). On the other hand, for profit organizations have more financially-related purposes. Its goal of earning profits is mostly sought for distribution to its investor-owners or for reinvestment to the organization for the long-term benefit of these investors (Cleverley, et.al., p. 8). In effect, for profit organizations are usually owned by investors, whereas non-profit organizations are owned by entire communities; and while non-profit organizations seek to benefit the community, the for-profit healthcare organizations aim to benefit its owners and investors. Money contributed to the organization are given with the hope of doubling or earning more profits, whereas, money given or invested to nonprofit organizations are not expect ed to make profits, but they are expected to serve the larger community. The growth in the organization is actually stated in terms of growth, efficiency, and quality; whereas, the mission for non-profit organizations are stated in terms of charity and community service, alongside growth (Gray and Institute of Medicine, p. 6). Organizational Structure and Scope Organizational structures specify the roles and responsibilities of individuals which are tasked with pursuing and fulfilling the goals of the organization (Zietlow, et.al., p. 5). Assigned individuals include the board of directors/board of trustees, committees, staff, officers, outside contractors,

To what extent has globalization influenced one or more aspects of the Essay

To what extent has globalization influenced one or more aspects of the culture in your country illustrate your answer with examples - Essay Example But likewise, as economies become more intertwined, we find that they can also become more vulnerable to unexpected shifts and new forms of opaqueness. This isn’t a reason to turn away from globalization, but it is a reason to be vigilant. This essay will look at the way Russia has become more dependent on other countries through the process of globalization and it will suggest that this has mostly been for the best. Although the exact moment of globalization occurring in Russia is a debatable question considering the length of Russia’s history and its extensive involvement in world affairs, it could be send that most of the post-Soviet period has been marked by the rapid acceleration of Russia’s integration into the world economy. Boris Yeltsin, Russia’s first post-Soviet leader, led the country through a kind of economic shock therapy that involved deregulating markets, selling off state assets, and making Russia a better place to do business. It took awhile for these changes to help make Russia into a stable place to do business, but this began to happen under the premiership of Vladimir Putin. He was helped of course by rising world demand for Russia’s energy and other commodities. Prices for have been increasing a lot in recent years (before collapsing recently), and this helped Russia look to the rest of the world as a good place to do business. Britain decided to go full steam ahead with economic global integration. Of course, with current economic events shaking the world economy, we begin to see some of the potential negative effects of globalization for Russia. The problems point to one of the serious drawbacks of globalization: when you open your economy up to the other economies of the world you can get very rich as long as they do well—but you also become very vulnerable to their problems too. But in the course of this important debate it is vital to remember the benefits that have come with globalization. These changes have not

Hybrid Vehicles and Alternative Fuels

Hybrid Vehicles and Alternative Fuels Hybrid vehicles alternative fuels are a key part in reducing pollution. Many people do not realize what might happen if alternative methods of transportation are not developed in the near future. Development of hybrid vehicles is growing more important with each passing day. With no end in sight for lower prices of gasoline much of society is beginning to feel the economic squeeze. Hybrid vehicles could help reduce emissions, and reduce dependence on foreign oil thus taking society out of crude oil chokehold. Hybrid vehicles, when one thinks of them many things may come to mind, things such as small, ugly, not â€Å"cool,† but one needs to look beyond the exterior and what the benefits are. Hybrid vehicles could possibly be one of the most important elements to the future habitation of this planet. Resources are being depleted and used up. Resources that are everyday occurrences for society such as oil, coal, and many other resources that are being depleted, and need to be replaced with other viable solutions for energy. Energy sources such as wind fields, solar panels, and many other new option are growing more and more important each day. However, nothing seems to be more daunting than the oil crisis that looms over most of the world. Oil prices continue to grow every day, causing an economic squeeze on many lower income families. â€Å"Over the next 30 years oil demand is expected to grow by 60%† (Dooly, Fitzpatrick, Lewis, 2007, p.657). Also, not to mention the pollution problem that continues to grow daily, with pollution rates rising steadily and no end in sight society is swiftly approaching crisis mode. â€Å"With the introduction of modern passenger cars and vastly increased demand for power, the twentieth century saw rapid increases in the use of fossil fuels† (Dooly, Fitzpatrick, Lewis, 2007, p.657). This may not surprise many people, as it is widely known that sport utility vehicles (SUV’s) have been the option to fulfill societies need for power. This increase in vehicles is promoting the growing pollution problem; the increased burning of fossil fuels has pollution rates growing high er with each passing day. Nevertheless, as it is thought that the increase of use of fossil fuels has only been a problem for the past twenty years, this problem was getting a head start over 150 years ago. According to Dooly, Fitzpatrick, and Lewis (2007, p.657) â€Å"since the industrial revolution in the mid 1800s worldwide energy consumption has been growing steadily.† This is shocking to think that that long ago pollution was already beginning to grow. With the growing talk of global warming and its effects on the earth, and its surroundings, the thought thereof is intimidating alone. Over the past several years scientists have done extensive research into global warming. Research has varied greatly from scientific group to group, one side saying that it is real and is happening, and the other saying that there is not enough supporting evidence to confirm the theory of global warming. Yet on the other hand, the majority of society does know one thing, that pollution, whether from factories, cars, or any other business establishment belching out smoke, cannot be a good thing. In contrast to the gloom and doom of pollution and how it can affect the earth, and several aspects of life, now begins the adventurous quest to make the world a better place. Not only for the present, but also for the future inhabitants of this earth. Reversing pollution problems cannot and will not be done overnight, and it will most certainly not be done by just one person. To reverse this deepening rut that has been dug, it will take a combined effort of nations to make a difference. One might ask why the word adventurous is used to describe reversing this cycle of pollution. As of now there really is no catalyst to begin ending the cycle and begin with the newer greener lifestyle. There are still, however, many things that can make a great impact. To give an example on how far things have gone in the wrong direction in the mode of travel and vehicle use is best summed up by Briggs, Hoogh, Morris, and Gulliver (2008, p.12) â€Å"nationally the trips made on foot has declined by more than 20% since the early 1990s† this is a good example how the vehicle use has grown by a great margin in the past ten years. When there is a decrease in trips made on foot, bicycle, or even subway or train, there has to be an increase somewhere in travel. This increase more often than not occurs in an increase made by a motor vehicle. The increase in travel has made a global impact on many things. The increase in demand of oil, and increased emissions affects many other elements of everyday life. Obviously asking to completely reduce trips made by vehicle is a lot to ask. It may be too much, especially with the fast paced lifestyle. It cannot go unnoticed by society; trips are being made more frequently, and for longer distances. It is expected that European transport is to grow greatly in transportation, in both road, and air transport (Van Mierlo, Maggetto, 2006). On the upside of all of this negative talk, rest assured that there is something being done. Over the past fifteen to twenty years many advances have been made to reduce emissions in vehicles. Many new fuels are being tried and developed in an effort to find viable solutions to gasoline (crude oil). This process is a slow moving operation amid much trial and error, and brick walls, nonetheless breakthroughs have been experienced. As of now there is not only one, but several fuels that have potential for being the next gasoline. Talk of methanol, ethanol, hydrogen, electric, and many other lower priority fuels that have essentially not been given the recognition that the others have. Not only would a new fuel such as ethanol. Help reduce dependence on foreign oil, but the other advantage would be lower emissions. Romm stated: Alternative fuel vehicles (AFV’s) face two central problems. First, they typically suffer from several marketplace disadvantages compared to conventional vehicles running on conventional fuels. Hence, they probably require government incentives or mandates to succeed. Second, they typically do not provide cost-effective solutions to major energy and environmental problems, which undermines the policy case for having the government intervene in the marketplace to support them (2006, p. 2610). These are important issues to the hybrid cause because it is an opposition, which will make it tougher to make hybrid vehicles and have them catch on. The road for hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels is not going to be an easy one. Ethanol is probably one of the alternative fuels that is at the forefront of the race, and making the strongest bid to become the next solution to gasoline. Ethanol has done several good things since it has started. Ethanol is taken from corn. This alone most likely is going make the market for corn better than it has been in the past couple of years. Corn is also expected to reach peak prices in the near future. However, there are two sides to the story of ethanol. While none of it has been confirmed as of yet, it is claimed that cost of production of ethanol and transporting it that it actually ends up being more expensive to use. Farrell et al., (2006, p. 506) also said â€Å"whether manufacturing ethanol takes more nonrenewable energy than the resulting fuel provides. It has long been that the calculations of net energy are highly sensitive to assumptions.† Could this be a futile enterprise to produce this fuel? While much of this has not been given proper analysis by prof essionals in the field, it is still something one would need to keep in mind, should a time of consideration of buying an ethanol burning vehicle arise. Another downside to ethanol is that when it comes to fueling arrangements, stations that carry it are mostly in the Midwest, after that, fill ups are few and far between. Biodiesel is an alternative fuel source that is being tested. Research continues to be conducted to improve it; it has already been tested and works. New ways to produce it are on the horizon. Producing it from soybeans is an option but not yet thoroughly researched and developed. â€Å"For the diesel engine seed-oil bio-fuels have been widely examined across the world, as a suitable alternative† (Crookes, 2006, p. 461). One of the neat things about biodiesel is that it can be made and refined at home. Used oil from deep fryers at restaurants can be used to make biodiesel. All of this sounds really great, but the bad thing with biodiesel is that it does not have the octane that comes with regular diesel. There are other disadvantages to biodiesel as well, For instance, in colder climates it does not function as well as regular diesel. The same can be said for towing with biodiesel it just does not have the power. While there are some cold hard facts about biodiesel, it is stil l a vital component to reducing dependence on foreign oil. â€Å"The hydrogen economy has received increasing attention recently† (Waegel, Byrne, Tobin, Haney, 2006, p. 288). This is for good reason too. Hydrogen is a fuel that if it is made to work will greatly reduce environmental impacts. Hydrogen has potential to be a great alternative fuel, if it pans out. â€Å"Whether the hydrogen is produced by steam reforming of natural gas, wind electrolysis, or coal gasification. Most benefits would result from eliminating current vehicle exhaust† (Jacobson, Colella, Golden, 2005, p.1901). Development however for hydrogen is not at its best. On a good note if hydrogen becomes a viable fuel, it would be a zero emissions fuel. If there is a significant number of people using hydrogen fuel vehicles in the future, a great decrease in emissions would inevitably follow. Although all of this sounds wonderful and dandy, there is a darker side to hydrogen. It is not fully developed, and this writer does not believe it will be in the near fu ture. Hydrogen is still extremely expensive. According to Waegel, Byrne, Tobin, and Haney, (2006, p. 289) â€Å"in terms of economics, hydrogen from natural gas is 50 % to 100% more than an equivalent amount of gasoline.† That is bad news for hydrogen, not to mention the price of transportation of hydrogen which also is expensive. Hydrogen most definitely has its work cut out for itself. Electric vehicles are next on the list of possible solutions as an alternative fuel. Even though it is not necessarily a fuel, it is still an alternate mode of transportation. Electric vehicles have many good qualities they do not put out emissions, and they are quiet. Both of those qualities are good for city living. Some experts believe that electric vehicles are going to be an integral part in reducing pollution. With proper engineering, this is quite possible. The most likely hybrid car in the foreseeable future is the electric vehicle with less fuel consumption, and reduced emissions. Minimal change in vehicle styles means that the safety would not be compromised, and nothing resulting in job loss (Romm, 2006). Electric most definitely has a strong place in this market. In fact electric cars may be starting to be seen more often. Especially in cities where transportation does not require going a great distance to do everyday tasks such as getting groceries, going to school, and things of that nature. With the new advantages in electric technology, businesses that need outdoor transportation are more likely to turn to electric vehicles rather than the traditional four-wheeler, or other all-terrain-vehicle. It is extremely plausible that electric vehicles will be popping up all over the world. Electric will be a contributor as an alternative fuel. Altogether there are various fuels that have a good chance of being the next gasoline. Ones such as electric do not have a chance to be a permanent option to gasoline. Electric will however be a large contributor. Keep in mind that these research efforts and new ideas for fuel are not intended to completely factor out gasoline. Gasoline will always be used for some application. What these new fuels are intended to do is reduce dependence on foreign oil, and help decrease gasoline prices while reducing pollution at the same time (Waegel, Byrne, Tobin, Haney). The next order of business is to get to the actual vehicles themselves. Contrary to what one might think, a hybrid car is not a new concept; in fact it is probably older than what most people think Many people think that hybrid vehicles are a very recent development, but many would be surprised at how old the concept really is. The history of hybrid vehicles goes back to 1665. Between that year and 1825, Flemish Jesuit priest and astronomer Ferdinand Verbiest created plans for a steam â€Å"car† for Chinese Emperor Khang Hsi, Frenchman Nicholas Cugnot built a steam-powered motor carriage capable of six miles per hour, and British inventor Goldsworthy Gurney built a steam car that successfully completed an 85-mile journey in ten hours. In 1839, Robert Anderson of Aberdeen, Scotland, built the first electric vehicle (Griffin, Shen, 2007, p.177). General Motors (GM) has made its mark on hybrid history. â€Å"Most of the early work by General Motors was due to the concern for increasing price of gasoline at the time of the oil embargo.† (Rajashekara, 1993, p.447) GM also had the first electric fuel cell vehicle in the Electro van, and also had an electric truck for military application. (Rajashekara, 1993) Contrary to what some people may think, research on hybrid vehicles started more than three-hundred years ago. Now evidently they began working with steam technology because they had no knowledge or the resources to create an internal combustion engine. When it is thought about for a short period of time, steam technology for the first steam boats had to have been tested on land before put to use on water. Therefore the first steam car advancements should not be thrown out as worthless for they did lay the groundwork for other future uses. Even when Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine, it was meant to run on peanut oil! This however did not turn out so that they ran peanut oil in it, because at the time diesel was cheaper to process. Now with the ever higher price of diesel, refining used restaurant oil to use in diesel engines is beginning to take on. Now that the history of hybrid vehicles is taken care of, it is time to get to the flesh of the issue, hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicles will be the most essential component to reducing pollution, and end the vicious cycle that has been started. Hybrid vehicles have grown by leaps and bounds over the past ten years. New prototypes are being worked on researched, and developed daily. However they do not always get a good review. Hybrid vehicles tend to be somewhat smaller than conventional vehicles. This condition tends to make people think somewhat differently about them. â€Å"Hybrids pose no more danger in a collision than do conventional vehicles.† (Griffin, Shen, 2007, p. 178) Also people who drive them are wrongfully stereotyped, stereotyped into being some sort of environmentalist democrat wanting to ban firearms, impose noise ordinances, and do anything they can to keep people from having any fun. Well this is just not true. It is negative images like this that can thro w an effort to promote hybrid vehicles askew. Hybrids are important in every aspect of a green future. Fewer emissions, cleaner air, reduced dependence on foreign oil and better gas mileage, are all benefits that are at stake if hybrid vehicles never catch on. Research was done to by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by conducting a survey in the years 2003, and 2005, to find out influenced them to buy their hybrid vehicles, the survey results are illustrated below. Graph 1. Share of respondents The results appear to be not much different from year to year. These are however the most common reasons why hybrid vehicles are purchased, and with no surprises, saving money on gas at the head of the pack. The above results are promising ones. They show hope for the future of hybrid vehicles. Now what exactly makes a hybrid vehicle a hybrid vehicle? Hybrid vehicles are just that they are hybrids not only in a sense of how they are powered but also in other aspects in addition to having a power source other than that of gasoline or diesel. Many key elements and time consuming research go into developing a hybrid vehicle. For starters, weight reduction is a key component to making a hybrid vehicle. Even when using a conventional fuel, weight reduction should be given close attention. â€Å"The demand for weight reductions in automobiles has been increasing in recent years because of global environmental issues.† (Saito, Iwatsuki, Yasunaga, Ando, 2000, p. 516) Toyota has done something extremely great by making the Prius. The Prius is a type of hybrid car that runs on both electric and internal combustion engines. The Prius when starting from a complete stop runs solely on battery power, and at low speeds from 5 to 20 miles per hour, it also runs on battery. When it reaches higher speeds the gasoline engine kicks in to assist. The Prius is said to get 40 to 50 miles per gallon. The battery will not run dead because when the gasoline engine turns on it runs the alternator and charges the battery. While companies like Ford, Chevrolet, and others have made their mark on the hybrid economy, Ford with the Escape, and Chevrolet with the new hybrid Yukon, none of them have had quite the impact that Toyota has. When it comes down to it, it is hard to describe how very important hybrid vehicles will be to the future. Hybrid vehicles hold the key to a cleaner environment, and lessening dependence on foreign oil. As of now hybrids do not have the popularity in the world that is needed. If the world continues to pollute at the rate it is going at now, the implications will be serious. More effort is needed from everyone to make this world a better place, and while hybrid vehicles are going to be extremely important, that is not the only thing that can be done. If one is not in a position to be able to drive a hybrid vehicle, other opportunities are out there to help the environment. Recycling is something that always helps the environment, and doing things such as walking, riding a bike, or even taking the bus can have bigger impact than is thought. This writer concludes that hybrid vehicles are an integral part of making a greener environment. Without them, along with the increasing rate of po llution, many countries are headed on a crash course for disaster. References Briggs, B.J., Hoogh, K., Morris, C., Gulliver, J. (2008). Effects of travel mode on exposures to particulate air pollution. Environmental International, 34, 12-22. Retrieved February 30, 2008, from Science Direct. Crookes, R.J. (2006). Comparative bio-fuel performance in internal combustion engines. Biomass Bioenergy,30, 461-468. Retrieved February 17, 2008, from Science Direct. Dooly, G., Fitzpatrick, C., Lewis, E. (2008). Optical sensing of hazardous exhaust emissions using a UV based extrinsic sensor. Energy, 33, 657-666. Retrieved May 30, 2008, from Science Direct. Farrell, A.E., Plevin, R.J., Turner, B.T., Jones, A.D., O’Hare, M., Kammen, D.M. (2006). Ethanol can contribute to energy and environmental goals. Science, 311, 506-508. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from www.sciencemag.org. Griffin, M.D., Shen, Q. (2007). Hybrid vehicles- are university students in North Alabama ready to buy them? Journal of Alabama Academy of Science, 78,175-178. Retrieved February 20, 2008 from IEEE Jacobson, M.Z., Colella, W.G., Golden, D.M. (2005). Cleaning the air and improving health with hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Science, 308, 1901-1905. Retrieved March 5, 2008, from www.sciencemag.org. Rajashekara, K. (1993). History of electric vehicles in General Motors. 447-454. Retrieved February 15, 2008, from IEEE Romm, J. (2006). The car and fuel of the future. Energy policy, 34, 2609-2614. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from Science Direct. Saito, M., Iwatsuki, S., Yasunaga, K., Andoh, K. (2000). Development of aluminum body for the most fuel efficient vehicle. JSAE review, 21, 511-516. Retrieved March 1, 2008, from Science Direct. U.S. Department of Energy. (2006). Why purchase a hybrid vehicle? Retrieved April 15, 2008, from http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/2006_fact_fotw417.html Van Mierlo, J., Maggetto, G. (2007). Fuel cell or battery: Electric cars are the future. Fuel cells, 2, 165-173. Retrieved February 18, from Wiley interscience. Waegel, A., Byrne, J., Tobin, D., Haney, B. (2006). Hydrogen highways: Lessons on the energy technology-policy interface. Bulletin of science, technology society 26, 288-298, from Science Direct.