Musharraf Era: Pakistan Flourishes

Compiled By: Mirza Rohail B  ©Our leader – Musharraf http://presidentmusharraf. wordpress. com/ All this is all the more amazing when one considers that just six years ago, Pakistan was on the verge of bankruptcy, with only a little more than $1bn in foreign exchange reserves and its stock market teetering at 1,000 points (worth $5 billion only) and foreign debt servicing at 65% of GDP. Our exports were at a pitiful $7. 5 billion. The once ever-declining rupee stood stable at around 60-61 to a dollar since Musharraf took over. Of the 184 member countries of the IMF, Pakistan’s rate of economic growth 7% is one of the best in the world. The Karachi stock market is now above 13,000 points and worth around $65 billion. Now foreign debt servicing has lowered to become 28%. Our exports increased to become $18 billion. 1. Pakistan economy is among the fastest growing economies in the world as its economy has reached the size of $170 billion from a mere $70 billion in 1999. Pakistan attracted a record FDI of $8. 6 billion in 2007-08. 2. 2007: National revenues had swelled from Rs 308 billion during 1988-99 to around Rs 800bn in 2007; and FBR estimates now 2. 8 million Income Tax payers. Year Total CBR Direct Indirect Custom Sales Central excise 1998-99 308. 5bn 110. 4bn 198. 1bn 65. 3bn 72bn 60. 8bn 2005-06 712. 5bn 224. 6bn 487. 9bn 138. 2bn 294. 6bn 55bn 2008-09 810. 3bn 305bn – 105. 3bn 319. 3bn 80. 5bn (2008-09 Progressive) 3. Public sector development program (PSDP) has also grown from Rs 80 billion in 1999; to Rs 520 billion in 2007 and increased further to Rs 549. 7 billion in 2008. 4. FACT: The rate of growth in Pakistan Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) is at a 30-year high. Construction activity is at a 17-year high. LSM: 1999-00 was 1. 5% and 2004-05 was 19. 9% and 2006-07 was 8. 6% and 2007-8 is 5%. 5. FACT: The Infrastructure Industries Index, which measures the performance of Seven industries, i. e. Electricity generation, Natural gas, Crude oil, Petroleum products, Basic metal, Cement and coal, has recorded a 26. 2 percent growth in Industrial sector of Pakistan. 6. FACT: Jan 14: Pakistan now has a total of 245,682 Educational institutions in all categories, including 164,579 (i. . 67 per cent) in the public sector and 81,103 (i. e. 100 per cent) in the private sector, reports the National Education Census (NEC-2005). The census — jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) and the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) — reveals that the number of private-sector institutions has increas ed from 36,096 in 1999-2000 to 81,103 in 2005, i. e. by 100 per cent. 45,007 Educational Institutions have increased in Musharraf Era. 7. FACT: Pakistan is 3rd in world in Banking profitability, a report of IMF said. On the IMF chart, Pakistan’s banking profitability is on third position after Colombia and Venezuela. On the IMF chart India is on 36th position and China is on 40th position. Pakistan’s Banking sector turned profitable in 2002. Their profits continued to rise for the next five years and peaked to Rs 84. 1 ($1. 1 billion) billion in 2006 8. 11 May 2009: By producing 7. 746 tonnes of gold during the last five years – 2004 to 2008 – Pakistan joins the ranks of gold producing countries. According to the data with the Saindak Metal Limited – during the last five years – Pakistan has produced 86,013 tonnes of copper, 7. 46 tonne gold and 11. 046 tonne silver, besides the production of 14,482 tonnes of magnetite concentrate (iron), bringing in a total of $633. 573 million. 9. In 1999 what we earned as GDP: we used to give away 64. 1 % as foreign debt and liabilities. Now in 2006, what we earn as GDP: we give ONLY 28. 3 % as foreign debt and liabili ties. Now we are SAVING 35 % of Our GDP for economic growth. According to Department of Finance, External debt & liabilities (EDL) and DAWN: 1988 – $ 18 bn —–> 1990 – $ 20. 5 bn —–> 1999 – $ 38. 9 bn —–> 2000 – $ 35. 48 bn —–> 2001 – $ 37. 2 bn —–> 2002 – $ 34. bn —–> 2003 – $ 35. 4 bn —–> 2004 – $ 35. 3 bn —–> 2005 – $ 35. 8 bn —–> 2006 – $ 37. 6 bn —–> 2007 – $ 40. 5 bn —–> 2008 – $ 45. 9 bn —–> 2009 – $ 50 bn 10. According to Economic Survey 2005. Poverty in Pakistan in 2001 was 34. 46%. And, now after 7 years of Musharraf; Poverty in 2005 was 23. 9%. Poverty DECREASED by 10. 56%. Overall, 12 million people have been pushed out of Poverty in 2001 -2005! 11. Literacy rate in Pakistan has increased from 45% (in 2002) to 53% (in 2005). And, Education now receives 4% of GDP and English has been introduced as compulsory subject from grade 1. 2. 12-4-07: The IT industry, which was virtually non-existent seven years ago, has grown to be worth $2 billion of which $1 billion is export related. It rregistered a 50% growth. 55 foreign IT companies have already entered the market. Now the sector employed 90,000 professionals. 13. 30-1-08: The government has decided to set up a modern hospital cum Medical University in collaboration with the Harvard Medical International, USA, at a cost of Rs 18 billion. The university will be built at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA), Islamabad. A total of 2,500 students will be taught at the graduate level, while additional 600 seats will be available for postgraduate research courses. 14. Nov 2006: President Musharraf says that Pakistan will set up Nine Engineering World Class Science and Technology Federal Universities by 2008 with foreign assistance. He said the institutions of higher learning would be established in collaboration with Italy, South Korea, Japan, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Austria and China. The Cost of building these Foreign Universities will be above Rs 96. 5 billion. The Vice Chancellors, Heads of department, Professors and Faculty of the planned university will be from these Foreign Universities; while the Examination system, Quality assurance followed and the Degree awarded will also be from these Foreign Universities. 15. Government has approved to give at least 4% of GDP to Education in 2007 budget. 16. In 1999-2000 there were 31 Public Universities. Now 2005-2006 there are 49 Public Universities. HEC setup 47 Universities. a) Air University (established 2002) b) Institute of Space technology, ISB (established 2002) c) Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta (established 2004) ) University of Science & Technology, Bannu (established 2005) e) University of Hazara (founded 2002) f) Malakand university, Chakdara (established 2002) g) Karakurum International university, Gilgit (established 2002) h) University of Gujrat (established 2004) i) Virtual University of Pak, Lahore (established 2002) j) Sarhad University of IT, Peshawar (established 2001) k) National Law University, ISB (2007) l) Media University, ISB (2007) m) University of Education, Lahore (2002) n) Lasbella University of Marine Sciences, Baluchistan (2005) o) Baluchistan University of IT & Management, Quetta (2002), etc. 7. 6-member delegation of Australian Department of Education, Science & Technology and AusAID, is visited Pakistan on the request of PM Shaukat Aziz to help Pakistan in its efforts to realign its TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) according to the market needs. Chairman NAVTEC Altaf Saleem informed the delegation about NAVTEC plans to increase the capacity to train one million people annually by 2010 from the present annual capacity of 320,000. 18. Defense Exports of Pakistan have crossed the $200 million mark as the country’s robust Defense manufacturing industry continues to expand. This was disclosed by Major General Syed Absar Hussain, Director General, Defense Export Promotion Organization; after IDEAS 2006 Karachi . 19. President Musharraf inaugurated an over Rs. 1. 36 billion 18 Mega Watt Naltar hydro power project. The project, completed in four years at Naltar near Gilgit. 20. Pakistan is now in Large-scale Nuclear expansion. The reactor under construction†¦ could produce over 200kg of weapons-grade plutonium per year, assuming it operates at full power for a modest 220 days per year. At 4 to 5 kilograms of plutonium per weapon, this stock would allow the production of 40-50 Nuclear weapons a year,† the report said. 21. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) of Hong Kong will sign a concession agreement tomorrow for setting up a US$1 billion Deep-water container port, the first in Pakistan. KPT will invest $450 million for infrastructure development for the project. HPH will invest $557 million. In the first phase, a 1,500m quay wall will be built with a designed dept of 18m. 22. GILGIT: President Musharraf inaugurated the dry port in the border town of Sust, 200km north of Gilgit. The Dry port, a Pakistan-China joint venture, was built in 2004 at a cost of Rs90 million. It is 10,000-foot high Sust Dry Port. 23. Dec 2006: President Musharraf said many canals, including the Thal and Raini canals, were being constructed for better utilization of the water available. He said Rs66 billion was being spent on brick-lining of 87,000 canals in the country, adding that 6,000 new canals would be brick-lined next year. 24. The Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) has approved expansion of Tarbela dam power project that would generate 960 MW costing $500 million. 25. President Musharraf Thursday inaugurated the Mirani Dam. Mirani Dam in Kech area of Mekran district with a catchment area of 12,000 square kilometre has been built in four years at a cost of Rs6 billion that includes Rs1. 5 billion in compensation to the affected people. It will have a storage capacity of over 300,000 million acre feet of water. 26. Gomal Zam Dam: This project started Aug 2002 and is expected to be completed early 2008. It is located in the Damaan in NWFP. It is 437 feet high and will irrigate about 163,000 acres of land. The total costs amounts to Rs. 12 billion. Having a gross storage of 1. 14 MAF. It will produce 17. 4 MW of electricity. 27. Mushrraf says the government is constructing the Rs40 billion Katchi Canal and Punjab had been gracious to provide land for its 350 kilometre stretch that will pass through the province. 28. The Economic Coordination Committee decided to set up a $2-billion mega Oil refinery at Khalifa Point in district Hub, Balochistan. The refinery, commissioned by 2010, would have a maximum refining capacity of 13 million tons of petroleum products – higher than the country’s total existing capacity of 12. million tons. 29. Pakistan Steel Mills Corporation (PSMC) during the quarter July-Sept 2007 recorded the highest ever-sales figure of Rs 9. 3012 billion. 30. The Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sector of Pakistan has attracted over Rs 70 billion investments during the last five years as a result of liberal and encouraging policies of the government. Presently, some 1,765 CNG stations are operating in the country, in 85 cities and towns, and 1000 more would be setup in the next three years. It has provided employment to 30,000 people in the country. 31. The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has registered 1,135 companies during the first quarter (July-September 2007). With the new registrations the total number of registered companies with SECP as on September 30 has reached 50,125. 32. Telecom sector has attracted an investment of $ 9 billion in last three years. It created of 80,000 jobs directly and 500,000 jobs indirectly. 33. Corrupt & Incompetent Nawaz Sharif made one motorway M2 (Lahore – Islamabad). Under Musharraf 6 Motorways completed or under construction: M1 (Islamabad to Peshawar) – (Rs. 3 bn) – [155 km] – (started 2003 – Completed Oct 2007) M3 (Pindi to Faisalabad) – (Rs. 5. 6 bn) – [53 km] – (started 2002 – Completed 2004) M8 (Gwadar to Ratodero) – [1072 km] – (started 2004 – will complete 2009) M9 (Karachi to Hyderabad) – (Rs. 6. 3 bn) – [136 km] – ( M10 (Karachi Northern bypass) – (Rs 3 . 5 bn) – [56 km] – (completed 2007) M11 (Lahore to Sialkot) – (Rs. 23 bn) -[101 km] – (started 2006 – under construction) 34. Under Musharraf various Highways under construction throughout the country. Including N5, N-25, N-35, N-45, N-50, N-55, N-65, N-70, N-75, N-80, S-1, etc. 35. General Pervez Musharraf inaugurated the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) project in August 2001, consisting of Karachi-Gwadar, Pasni-Gwadar, and Ormara-Liari (Balochistan) Highways. The Liari-Ormara Highway costed Rs3. 9 billion and Pasni-Gwadar Highway Rs2. 8 billion respectively. The total length of Makran Coastal Highway is 533 kilometers. † 36. 2-12-07: Sialkot International Airport Limited (SIAL) completed. The 1,002-acre airport is 13 km west of Sialkot and is linked by a road to Gujranwala, Wazirabad, Gujrat, Narowal, the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) and the Sialkot Dry Port Trust. 7. Ghandara International Airport (Islamabad) the first-ever green-field airport being built at a cost of $400 million; with a renowned international consultant, Louis Berger Group of USA. President Musharraf laid the foundation stone of the project on April 7, 2007 and will be completed by Dec 2010. Its total area is 3700 acres (15 km? ). 38. Major Industrial estates are being developed under M usharraf’s vision: M3 Industrial estate, Sundar Industrial estate, Chakri Industrial, Port Qasim Industrial estate, etc. 39. Oct 2007: In the current fiscal year the Mining and Quarrying sector has registered a growth rate of 5. 6 percent. Increased growth was propelled by strong growths recorded in magnetite (30 percent), dolomite (26. 1 percent), Limestone (25. 2 percent) and chromites. 40. The government has already started various initiatives, to discover and develop world-class copper-gold deposits in Chagai Baluchistan; by Australian Firms that would fetch $500 million to $600 million per year. 41. Major reserves of COPPER & GOLD in Baluchistan’s Rekodiq area have been discovered in early 2006. It has ranked Rekodiq among the world’s top seven copper reserves. The Rekodiq mining area has proven estimated reserves of 2 billion tons of copper and 20 million ounces of gold. According to the current market price, the value of the deposits has been estimated at about $65 billion, which would generate thousands of jobs. 42. Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) on Wednesday approved 45 developmental projects in its meeting, including six revised projects with a total cost of Rs 154. 1 billion with a foreign exchange component (FEC) of Rs 36. billion. 43. Rs 9. 8 billion have been allocated for 91 different mega projects at Public Sector Universities across the province, said Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan. 44. Oct 2007: A fully functional TMS (Tax Management System), including profiling, withholding, return/payment filing, rectification, refunds, audit, and legal tracking is scheduled to be operational by 2007 in Pakistan, to process the tax year 2007 returns, according to World Bank. 45. The government is providing Sui Gas facility to areas of South Punjab at a cost of Rs 1. 311 billion. A total of 1,138 kilometre gas pipeline is being laid. The districts benefiting from these schemes mainly include Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Vehari and Muzaffargarh. 46. The KHI city government’s rehabilitation of Industrial zones and improvement plan for all those four industrial zones, of the city needs to be completed in 7-8 months. Projects worth Rs 2. 5 billion and beautification Rs 4. 5 billion. 47. 27-11-07: Pakistan Navy Ship Zarrar, the first of Multi-Role Tactical Platform (MRTP-33), was commissioned into Pakistan Navy at a ceremony at PN Dockyard. 48. 9-12-07: City Nazim Mustafa Kamal said the construction work of 47-storey IT Tower in the vicinity of Civic Center at a cost of $200m would start soon. Around 40,000 youth would get employment in the IT Tower. It will have 10,000 call centers of which 6,000 have been booked so far. 49. The President approved the project of laying of 940-kilometre-long â€Å"standard gauge† Railway track b etween Gwadar and Quetta that would cost Rs 75 billion. A German firm won the contract. 50. To increase the income of Farmers, the Government is investing Rs7. 80 billion under which a Food Security Program will be launched. Initially it will be launched in 1,000 villages. He said Rs 3. 60 billion would be invested in live-stocks and dairy sectors. About 1,200 model dairy farms and 2,950 cattle breeding farms will be established under this investment. 51. Pakistan will launch a Self-controlled Remote Sensing Satellite System (RSSS) at a cost of Rs19. 3 billion to ensure strategic and unconditional supply of satellite remote sensing data for any part of the globe over the year. SUPARCO will implement it over a period of six years. President Musharraf has approved the project in principle. 52. Governor inaugurated the DUHS Medical Research City with Dow Diagnostic Reference and Research Laboratories and Jinnah Genome Centre as its important components. He also laid the foundation stone for a library and sports complex which houses different constituent institutions of the university. 53. President Musharraf also inaugurated a 50-bed state-of-the-art Workers Welfare Fund Kidney Center. The first-ever kidney center in Baluchistan, constructed on 7. 5 acres at a cost of Rs385 million and having the diagnostic, dialysis, surgical and lab facilities will help the people of this area. 4. Karachi: The building of the 50-bed Kidney Centre in Landhi has been completed. Minister Muhammad Adil Siddiqui . He said that the building of this centre had been built at a cost of Rs70 million. 55. CM Pervaiz Elahi inaugurated Pakistan’s first Software technology park (STP) on Ferozpur Road to be implemented by Punjab IT Board (PITB). The Rs 1. 5 billion project is set over area of 32 kanals; will be completed in 12 months and is expected to create direct 10,000 jobs and generate economic activity of Rs 9 billion per year. 56. In what is considered a major leap for Pakistan, a Polytechnic Institute is being established to produce skilled workforce that will rescue the manufacturing industry from the clutches of foreign dependence. Being built in Korangi at a cost of Rs450 million, this government-funded institute will start operating in January 2007 and prepare 500 workers by the end of first year, besides producing 22 different types of dies and moulds for aviation, telecom, pharmaceutical and other industries. Experts from Germany, Japan and Thailand assisted in developing curriculum. 57. Police Act 1861 replaced by Police Order 2002 after 141 years. Police force divided into three separate wings: Watch and ward, Investigation and Prosecution. 58. Federal Minister for Commerce in order to modernize tobacco farming in the country; is setting up a state-of-the-art Tobacco Research Center in Bunner. Annually 8 million kilograms of Virginia tobacco (fine quality), worth Rs 9. 2 billion is cultivated in Bunner. Under construction. 59. The government has formed â€Å"Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC)† with a cost of Rs 1. 4 billion, to increase the export of gem and Jewellery from $25 million to $1. 5 billion by 2017. 60. In 1999, Pakistanis could only afford to buy a total of 32,461 locally assembled Cars. The latest annual figure stands at 115,000. Currently, there are 1. 3 million cars on Pakistani roads as opposed to 815,000 cars some five years ago; a 60 percent jump in car ownership. 61. In 1999, a total of 94,881 new Motorcycles were sold in Pakistan. In 2005, Pakistanis bought or leased some 500,000 new motorcycles. 62. ISB: To convert the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA) in a style of Sydney Fish Market, the government proposes an action plan worth $10 million so as to make the KFHA a profitable authority. Estimated, Pakistan has a fish and seafood industry worth $1. 2 billion. Exports alone are worth nearly $200 million per annum. More than 0. 8 million people rely directly or indirectly on the industry for their livelihood. 63. FACT: Pakistan globally ranks 10th among the countries which were among the most active in perusing pro-business policies. A report â€Å"Doing Business in 2006? co-sponsored by World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC). (c) ECONOMIC PAKISTAN and PRESIDENT MUSHARRAF http://economicpakistan. wordpress. com/2008/01/09/pakistan-flourishes/ http://presidentmusharraf. wordpress. com/

Cartel and E-books Essay

The article I selected concerns the upcoming antitrust trial of Apple for colluding with publishers to raise the price of e-books (Chen & Bosman, 2013). Why was the firm investigated for antitrust behavior? Apple was investigated, as well as several publishing companies for conspiring to keep e-book prices high. Amazon is the biggest retailer of e-books, and the publishing business has been thrown into chaos by the popularity of e-books. Publishing companies used the old publishing model of selling e-books like print books where the publisher sells the book to the retailer, like Amazon or Apple, at about half the price of the cover price and the retailer can sell the book at whatever price it chooses. (Chen & Bosman, 2013) Apple entered into contracts with publishers that use an â€Å"agency model† to price e-books. This meant that publishers would set the price of e-books, and the retailer would get 30% of the sale price as profit. Apple also stipulated that publishers could not set a price lower than the price in Apple’s e-book store. (Chen & Bosman, 2013) This action by Apple was investigated because the primary purpose of these contracts was to keep the e-book prices higher, and to reduce competition between booksellers. Amazon, the giant in the market, would not be able to compete on price, and e-books would cost consumers more. Identify some of the costs (pecuniary and nonpecuniary) associated with the antitrust behavior (firms having power in the market). Additionally, note the specific antitrust act (Sherman Act, Clayton Act, etc.) under which the violation was investigated. The pecuniary cost of the actions of Apple is that consumers will pay more money for books, and Apple, as well as other book sellers, will not have to compete on price with Amazon who dominates the market. This will cost Amazon, and booksellers and publishers may make more money at the expense of consumers. The non-pecuniary cost will be that books will not be as available at low prices to consumers who want them, but cannot afford the price. Price fixing is a violation of section 2 of the Clayton Act of 1914. This act prohibits price discrimination that is not based on cost differences that reduces competition. (McConnell, Brue, & Flynn, 2012)  Given your research and findings, are monopolies and oligopolies (firms demonstrating power) always bad for society? Be sure to provide real world examples of where this may be the case to strengthen your position. Provide at least one example of a case where having a monopoly or oligopoly may actually benefit the society. According to my research in this case, Amazon’s demonstration of oligopoly power is good for society because e-book prices are lower when Amazon tries to block other competitors from entering the e-book market, and more e-books are then available to the public. This is a good real-world example of the positive influence that an oligopoly can have for society, and an example of how regulation is needed, and anti-trust laws, when oligopolies use collusion to compete instead of letting the free-market operate. References Chen, B. X., & Bosman, J. (2013, June 2). E-book antitrust trial of Apple to begin. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/ McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., & Flynn, S. M. (2012). Economics (19th ed.). Retrieved from http://devry.vitalsource.com/#/books/0077587766/pages/50192724

Why All Children Should Play Team Sports Research Paper

Why All Children Should Play Team Sports - Research Paper Example One of the benefits that are commonly attributed to team sports is that such sporting activities teach children how they can best work well with others. As long as they are on a team, team sports teach children that it is imperative for them to think as a whole instead of just themselves as individuals (Dunlap, 24). They are able to learn how to be happy or their teammates’ successes in addition to their own; this is because every person’s success is of great benefit to the team. A team sport can teach children how to interact with their peers and instills in them the value of respecting their coaches and fellow teammates. They are also able to learn empathy for others. Playing team sports is an avenue through which children can be able to learn from a number of other positive mentors other than their parents. While on a team, children are able to learn how to respect the coach and honor his final decision. By noticing the various strengths that each individual player i s able to bring to the team, children are able to learn how to respect and appreciate each other’s talents. This sense of teamwork, organization and following skilled leaders not only helps children in the classroom but also in their work as they continue to grow. Another benefit that children stand to benefit from as a result of participating in team sporting activities is that even though their athletic prowess might not be quite impressive, children that participate in team sporting activities are often more likely to be hardworking, active students and better future leaders. This is because organized athletics often require that these children learn how to lead others and be disciplined during practice.

What does it mean to securitise the environment Essay - 1

What does it mean to securitise the environment - Essay Example It is necessary to trace safety issues on the different levels and sectors. It implies not just talking, but actions that is very important as talking can’t help anyhow: â€Å"securitization involves referring to an issue that has hitherto been conceptualized ‘only’ in political, economic, environmental or other terms as a security threat so as to heighten awareness of the issue and the urgency of taking effective action† (Scott, 2012: 230).The safety concept is not the one we can use the same approach to in different situations. The task is to isolate every sector in order to implement the analysis of the dynamics of every sector safety, but at the same time all the sectors should form the interconnected network. Every of them is important, though traditionally military threats have always been the top priority. All the sectors should be considered both separately and in their entity while analyzing the safety. The main sectors are: a) military; b) politic al; c) economical; d) social; e) environmental (Kellow, 2006). Safety is the step, which puts the politics beyond the established norms and rules of such problems resolution (Meadows, 1972). Thus, securitization of the environment can be considered as extreme politicization. Leboeuf and Broughton emphasize the necessity of securitization of the environment and new approach to it: â€Å"As health and environmental issues are increasingly considered as having an impact on our security, as they are â€Å"securitized†, such issues gain in prominence and importance on the agendas of international actors. †¦ as a result, many actors will alter their approach to these issues and devise new ways to address them, most notably through the freeing up and dedication of increased resources. Behavioral change could thus be understood to be stimulated, in part, by the process of securitization itself† (Leboeuf & Broughton, 2008: 18). Speaking about the possible ecological threats, we always think about â€Å"the

Women Should Be able to fight in Combat Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Women Should Be able to fight in Combat - Essay Example One of the key arguments against the women participating into the direct combats was that their presence might result into disruption of the cohesion of the teams as male soldiers may not be able to fully trust the female soldiers as their back-up during the battles. Various studies have clearly demonstrated the fact that physical strength of the women may not be the impediments in their joining the forces in the direct combats. It has been argued that with right training and focus, the physical strength of the women soldiers and their performance can easily be enhanced with right kind of training imparted on them in military academies. (Szivak, et al., 2013). Though somes studies also pointed out towards the lower aerobic abilities ofwomen along with other factors such as slower road-march speed and lifting capabilitis. (Kirkwood, 2013)However, research also suggests that these weaknesses can be improvedwith right kind of training offered. One of the reasons as to why women are being ignored from the jobs of fighting into direct combat is that of sexism. However, this issue can also be overcome if it is viewed from the same perspective as that of the racisim. Male soldiers need to treat the issue of sexism in same range as that of the racism in order to uphold the highest standards of dignity and pride in working for army. (Brook, 2013). It is critical to note however, that the stereotype thinking in army may needs to be changed in order to allow women a breathing space in terms fighting alongside male soldiers in combats. In order to achieve this, top military officials may need to be proactive and bring in radical changes in the way training is imparted to females at the initial phase of their training. (Sanders, 2005). As discussed above, it is relatively a myth that the physical conditions of the women can actually restrict their participation into the battlefields. The average lung power of women is relatively greater than the

Risk Assessment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Risk Assessment - Essay Example In the first given case study of Colleen M. who is fifteen year old girl and determined juvenile by the court. When a teen is considered as juvenile or delinquent, his/ her future is put on stake and society also does not accept them. Colleen M. is not any criminal or gang member neither she has crime history prior but her minor quarrel with her neighbor took an ugly turn. In an argument with her neighbor, she threw a bucket of pesticide on her which caused major injuries to her and she immediately died on the spot. Though the accident took place in the negligence of Colleen yet it is sufficient to devastating her future. On the contrary, in the case of Xander who is a seventeen year old African American male is a documented gang member. He was convicted as juvenile when he was thirteen for drug possession, purse snatching and breaking and entering. Till date he has faced three police custodies one of which is for possession of a concealed weapon, to which he has pled guilty. When bo th the case studies are compared, the first difference which is noticed is that Xander had a criminal background but Colleen hadn’t had such background. ... On the contrary, Xander is in contact with his mother and had cordial relations with her, though he does not have any contact with his father. In spite of having love and support of his mother, Xander is a documented member of a gang and have been involved in criminal offences since the age of 13 whereas there are no criminal charges against Colleen before this particular case. Along with this, comparison of these two individuals also indicates that both of them are not good at academics. In fact, Xander is a high school dropout whereas no information provided about Colleen. Therefore, there is room for information about Colleen’s academics background however her actions imply that she is not a regular student in school. Furthermore, their present case status demonstrate that they are involved in great risk as precious years of their young life are stuck into the police case which hinders their personality to grow. It is the time for them when they can polish their skills and become a responsible citizen as well as a family member but their unwarranted actions are slowly spoiling their life. The level of risk in their life is on high level. In the teen age they are accused of crimes like involuntary manslaughter and possession of weapons which is a clear indication of their troubled mental state. Colleen used to live with her aunt but many times she ran away from her home. Again, it shows that she is not happy with her and something immensely disturbing her. Court also doubts that she is a drug addict and but she refused this by saying that while traveling with three homeless men, they unknowingly stumbled upon a field of poppies and that before they knew it; the intoxicating aroma caused her

Title- International Social Work. Question- How does the social Essay

Title- International Social Work. Question- How does the social construction of childhood inform and affect international child protection measures - Essay Example It is on account of these reasons that the international communities and organizations have taken active interest in promoting and protecting the interests and well-being of young children through introduction of effective laws. The UN Convention on the Rights of Child (CRC) is one such international body that seeks protection of children exposed to adversity and has included it as one of their key agendas. The child protection and welfare organizations have, over the years, actively supported and fought for safeguarding young children from intolerable conditions. They argued that a child comes into the world defenceless in the face of an aggressive and violent society and that he is the first to suffer the terrible consequences of famine, war and socioeconomic crisis (qtd. in James, 1997, pp. 191). Hence in order to uphold the moral and ethical values international agencies such as The International Union for Child Welfare, Defence for Children International, UNCRC etc seek the protection of such vulnerable groups in the society. This paper on international social work seeks to understand, assess and explore the role and impact of the concept of ‘social construction of childhood’ in the framin g of international child protection laws. The term social construction refers to the idea / notion that has been created by society. Sociologists argue that childhood is a socially constructed phenomenon since it varies across cultures and does not conform to any form of universal standard or definition. This is mainly because what is considered deviant behaviour in one culture may be considered completely normal and acceptable in another thus implying that the concept of childhood is more of a socially constructed term rather than a natural biological phase. According to Aries (1973) the concept of childhood did not exist in the middle ages (qtd. in Hunt, 2005). It is also argued

Market structure Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Market structure - Essay Example The Spangles candy was a fruity boiled sweet with a slight fix about it, the packaging letters were big fat bottomed font, and they came in several flavors. These candies were popular enough that they made their way into pop culture through songs, and cultural references. â€Å"They were launched a few years ago, but didn't seem to take off. The wording on the packaging was in that big fat-bottomed font, the same one that The Goodies used on their opening titles.† (BBC h2g2, 2011) Available market segments include, persons who were born 5 years prior to the initial release of these candies through persons who were born in the late 1960’s, this would include the ages of 63 – 45. Another market segment could be a foreign market base, the youth market, and potential additional markets like comedy fans. Basic objectives for marketing the Spangles branded candy would be to increase product awareness by 20% in the first year, revive the popular side within the first 6 months, decrease customer resistance to buying our product, which would lead to a 50-100 percent increase in sales within the first year. To accomplish these goals we will need to introduce a valid marketing strategy. In the case of this candy we will want to use focused insertion, and narrow advertising structures. It will be important to introduce the product as a special historical re-launch. An additional objective should be the raised awareness of the Mars ® brand name as a result of the campaign, increases of between 10-15% should be realized in the entire Mars ® line which will make the re-launch a success regardless of the eventual outcome of the Spangles line itself. The price should be approximately what it was at the time of its peak popularity for the initial marketing phase; advertising should be done during the most popular hours of television and radio use for the target market. Distribution should be completed at the popular shopping destinations that already car ry other Mars ® products. One potential approach is to use displays that focus on Spangles as the â€Å"Candy you grew up with.† Another possible approach would include different flavours as well as less boisterous yet still â€Å"retro† looking label on the candy itself. Possibly the â€Å"green† approach can be utilized by promoting the use of recycled materials in the wrappings. Another approach could be the use of popular comedians as personalities promoting the cultural aspects from a comedic point of view on television and radio. If the product is marketed with current pop culture icons as spokespersons the additional benefit would be the appeal to the younger generation. By generating a potential new market and by using easily recognized pop culture icons Mars ® could potentially increase their market share not only through the re-launch of the Spangles boiled sweets but also increased interest in current products. If the marketing approach is followe d the potential for name recognition and additional sales of other popular Mars ® products should increase by 15% or more. Additional approaches can be looked to when the initial launch is complete and sales numbers have been returned. A successful re-launch could mean expanded markets in countries where retirees

Financial Markets and Institutions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Financial Markets and Institutions - Essay Example The derivative market can be further sub-divided into the OTC (over the counter) market and the exchange traded derivatives market. While the former is more customized and offers tailor made innovative instruments in the later all transactions take place via exchange. The OTC market transactions are done mainly by the investment banks that heir traders or agents to market derivative instruments to clients. Some instruments of OTC market include forward contract, swaps (interest rates and currency), credit derivatives, and hedge funds. The derivative market transactions in US are mostly dominated by large multinational financial institutions. The global economic importance of derivatives market is that they are important instrument for determining current and future prices of underlying asset. In addition, a derivatives market also helps to reduce the risk of transaction by bringing certainty in to expected cash flows. The derivatives market encourages speculative trading and arbitrag e. A derivatives instrument reduces transaction costs and also offers liquidity of the instrument in market (Parsons, 2013, pp.2-6). Factors Affecting Interest Rates Interest rates are amount payable by the borrower to the lender for using capital for certain amount of time. They are also referred to as financial cost of borrowings. Generally the federal bank or the central bank of a country determines the rate of interest on borrowing. Interest rates are determined primarily from the forces of supply and demand. Inflation plays a very important role for determining the interest rates since almost every lender expects to be compensated after considering the purchasing power of money. Thus, the rate of interest is also driven by the market trends and corresponds to changes in inflation levels. The credit of the borrower is also taken into consideration while determining the interest rates. For instance, entities with good credit ratings are able to enjoy debt at cheaper rates compare d to entities with bad credit ratings. This is mainly because the entities with poor credit rating have more chances of defaulting both in terms of regular fixed interest payments as well as the principal. Another important factor that determines the rate of interest is the duration of debt. Generally, the short term rates are less costly since predicting risk factors and inflation levels are more accurate for shorter time frame. However, the same is not true for long term rates since the future is uncertain and only expected or probabilistic returns are possible. Forecasting of Interest Rates Changes Forecasting the changes in interest rates is an important factor for determining the bond prices. When the interest rates are expected to appreciate in future, the objective of the investor should be to hold bonds with shorter maturity and not to hold long term bonds so as to minimize losses. Conversely, when the interest rates are expected to decline in future, it is an opportunity fo r the investors to invest in good credit bonds. Hence, interest rates directly influence the market value of debt instruments including bonds, money market securities, mortgages, and so on. By determining the key factors that have significant influence on interest rates, the interest rates for future can be forecasted. Some of the important factors that influence interest rates are economic growth rates, inflation rates, monetary policy, and budget deficit

Project Manager Roles and Responsibilities Essay Example for Free

Project Manager Roles and Responsibilities Essay The Project Manager is the person responsible for developing, in conjunction with the Project Sponsor, a definition of the project. The Project Manager then ensures that the project is delivered on time, to budget and to the required quality standard (within agreed specifications). He/she ensures the project has sufficient resources and manages relationships with a wide range of groups (including all project contributors). The Project Manager is also responsible for managing the work of consultants, allocating and utilizing resources in an efficient manner and maintaining a co-operative, motivated and successful team. Additional responsibilities include: managing and leading the project team,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   recruiting project staff and consultants, managing co-ordination between the partners and working groups engaged in project work, detailed project planning and control. Control would incorporate: Developing and maintaining a detailed project plan. Managing project deliverables in line with the project plan. Maintaining records of and managing project issues. Resolving conflicts at project level. Managing project scope and change control and escalating issues where necessary. Monitoring project progress and performance. Providing status reports to the project sponsor. Managing project training within the defined budget. Liaison with, and updates on progress to, the project steering board/senior management. Managing project evaluation and dissemination activities. Managing consultancy input within the defined budget. Final approval of the design specification. Working closely with users to ensure the project meets business needs. Definition and management of : â€Å"User Acceptance Testing† stage. Identifying user training needs and devising and managing user training programmes. As an illustration of the roles and responsibilities of a Project manager, I am going to use the simple example of changing the wheel of a car with one person in charge (project manager). In the exposition that follows, the steps followed will be under the headlines of the five essential ones outlined in the PMBOK: Initiating The initiating stage in replacing a punctured car-wheel is the process of preparing to replace the wheel. To begin with, the project manager, or whoever is overseeing the operation, ensures that all the tools necessary for the job are available. The tools necessary in this case would comprise the jerk, wheel spanner, the unique key-for some car models, maybe some props such as stones where there is a possibility of the car slipping downhill and finally, labor. Planning   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Once the initiating stage is completed, we move on to the planning stage whereby different strategies are proposed and quickly debated with one being agreed upon. The role of the project manager in this stage is to ensure that everyone is given an opportunity to express their opinions on how best to approach the problem. Then, he/she should harmonize every participant’s views and in cases if the group cannot reach a resolution unanimously, he/she should apply his/her critical thinking abilities and skills in choosing the most reasonable approach that would be most efficient, effective and feasible. The planning would entail deciding which nuts to unscrew first e.g. diagonally, where to place the jerk and the props and where to put the tools and nuts in such a manner as to ensure they don’t get lost or pose a hazard to any of the team members. The Plan will also incorporate delegation of duties amongst the team members i.e. deciding who will place the jerk, who will unscrew the nuts, who will carry the spare wheel, and who will screw the new wheel back. The delegation of duties should be fair such that no member feels exploited or alienated and it is the work of the project manager to study everyone’s character and tell who is suited best for what. The final parts of the plan involve training participants as necessary, scheduling everything, and monitoring progress. Executing or Implementation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After initiating and planning, finally the time comes to put the plan into action. During this stage, the team implements the strategy decided upon with a view to achieving the intended objective. The team removes the bad wheel and replaces it with one that is in good condition. The work of the project manager is to ensure that each participant plays his/ her assigned role and that the operation goes according to plan by correcting any digressions and getting rid of any impediments that might arise in the course of the implementation. Controlling and Monitoring   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   As to controlling and monitoring, this entails putting measures in place in anticipation of pitfalls during the process of implementing the plan. Pitfalls to be anticipated might include: some members do not like the roles they are assigned and so they don’t play their roles with the necessary devotion. Also it is possible   that some members might want to sabotage the project for any of a number of reasons or one of the tools gets damaged and cannot be repaired in time for the work at hand. To avoid alienation, the project manager should make every member feel as though they own the project and when it succeeds the glory will be shared and the benefits mutual. In addition, the project manager has the responsibility of ensuring that, if a member were assigned a role he/she does not like, they are free to voice their concerns so that a speedy resolution is sought. The speedy resolution could be training or instruction where a member is assigned work they do not know how to do. Alternatively, members could swap roles to resolve any stalemates. Finally, a backup plan should be in place to cater for unanticipated hitches. Closing   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In finishing up, the project manager should ensure the team tightens the nuts to the required extent and remove the jerk and props. He/she should also ensure that any member who sustains any injury should be attended to and all the tools-wheel spanners, jerk, props, key- together with the bad wheel are all returned and checked to ensure they are in good condition, then put in their respective places of storage. BIBLIOGRAPHY K. Bainey, The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), 3rd ed. Project Management Institute, New Jersey, 2004

Instructional Design | Definitions and Principles

Instructional Design | Definitions and Principles Section 1 – My Definition of Instructional Design According to the Internet Wikipedia, â€Å"Instructional Design, also called Instructional Systems Design is the practice of maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and appeal of instruction and other learning experiences.† The course of action to be undertaken is made up in a broad sense of deciding the state in which the learner is in as we see it, stating the end purpose of the teaching, and cause the existence of some light at the end of the tunnel so as to make the transition smooth. Andragogical and pedagogical theories of learning inform the instructional design process which may transpire in three settings; teacher-led, community-based and student-only. Instructional design may be measured scientifically, observable directly or hidden completely and assumed. As much as there may be so many models of Instruction design, most of them are based on the ADDIE model in which the different phases are analyzed; design phase, development phase, implementation phase and evaluation phase. Training is everything. The peach was once a biter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education (Mayer et al, 1996). In addition, Nadler (1984) postulates that training is defined as learning that is provided in order to improve performance on the present job. â€Å"Instructional Design is the systematic process of translating general principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials and learning† (Alessi Trollip, 1991). Most authors have looked at Instructional Design as a Discipline, a Science, and a Process and also as a Reality. â€Å"Instructional Design is the systematic development of instructional specifications using learning and instructional theory to ensure the quality of instruction. It is the entire process of analysis of learning needs and goals and the development of a delivery system to meet those needs. It includes development of instructional materials and activities; and tryout and evaluation of all instruction and learner activities† (Gentry, 1994). Instruction Design can also be explained as a Discipline. â€Å"Instructional Design is that branch of knowledge concerned with research and theory about instructional strategies and the process for developing and implementing those strategies† (Anglin, 1991). It can also be explained as reality. â€Å"Instructional Design can start at any point in the design process. Often a glimmer of an idea is developed to give the core of an instruction situation. By the time the entire process is done the designer looks back and her or him checks to see that all parts of the â€Å"science† have been taken into account. Then the entire process is written up as if it occurred in a systematic fashion† (Venezky, R. Osin, L., 1991). Instructional design is the systematic development of instruction by using learning and instructional research and theories, as well as established best practices, to ensure the quality of classroom/course materials (Learner, 1986). The entire process of analysis of what a group of learners needs, objective identification and development of learning objects constitutes instructional design. Instructional design cannot come to a standstill at some point then pick up again. It is an ongoing process. When instruction comes to a completion, there is evaluation and after this the instruction design starts all over again. From the many authors, I can say instruction design is a process in which instruction is followed up to its completion and also the means and ways the same could be achieved. In education, instruction is part and parcel of the system. It is therefore important that means to follow instructions by students is looked into. Research and observations has it that most students do not fail because there is anything wrong with them but they fail because everything is right with them but cannot follow instructions! Section2 – The principles of Instructional Design Before looking at the key principles of Instructional design, we need to list the most important of the principles and elements of the instruction design. They include; objectives, evaluation, the learner and methods. We are going to look at the most important elements of the four principles of instruction design and see how they fit in the instruction design models that exist. Under the elements of the instruction, for one to develop a good instruction design then we need to identify the people the instruction is being developed for. This gives us a starting point. It becomes clear immediately when we have the target audience. In this way, we can profile the targeted audience and out of the profiling, we may get a rough idea of how to design the instruction. It is also important to come up with a list of things that the people for whom the instruction is being developed for should be able to accomplish after going through the instruction. This also adds some meat to the skeleton of the design of the instruction we have from the profiling we did above after identifying the people the instruction is being designed for. This is like starting from the end in order to design the instruction. Once we have an idea of what a learner should have achieved by the end of the instruction then we can come up with the best ways in which to achieve the same for the learner. Some of the things we need to think about are the teaching methods or learning methods that could be employed so as to have the objectives achieved in the best way possible (Mayer, 2001). Activities to be included in the design and resources to be used are also very important factors that we should also look into. The way to look at them is to have an established plan of how to use the resources and the activities in order to achieve the objectives of the instruction design. Another element that needs to be looked at is a way of knowing whether the learner has been able to do the things the learner should be able to do once the instruction is complete. This is some kind of the examination of the design of the instruction. One wise man once said that an unexamined life is a wasted life. Examination in whatever we do is very crucial and so it is also very important in the design of an instruction (Newby et al., 1996). It is the examination that reveals whether something is working or not. It is also good for us to put measures in place so as to determine whether the design of the instruction has made the learner learn something. Evaluation of the learning characteristics, objectives of the instruction and the methods of instruction needs to happen before taking on the actual instruction design. Learner characteristics are one of the factors to put into consideration before designing an instruction. It is very important to run a background check on the level of exposure the learner has on the topic, the grades of the learner and also how the learner has been performing academically in the past not necessary in the instruction topic but in general. The social characteristics o rather personal characteristics have to be looked at. The learners work experience, age, the relation of the content of the instruction to the leaners life and the attitude as well. It is also good to put non-conventional learners into consideration. These may include the learners who have disabilities, learners from different cultures and also primary language learners. The style of the learner is also put into consideration. This means looking at the conditions the learner has to be in when learning. Lastly, we all know that when one is motivated, the motivation quickly serves as an ingredient for success (Sweller, 1988). The motivation of a leaner is also a point to look at. Some of the pointers are the students grade, a persons credit, the self improvement of a person, the salary one earns and also the advancement of ones status. Section 3- Models of Instructional Design ADDIE model The ADDIE model is the most common of all models. The acronym ADDIE stands for five words which make up the five phases of the ADDIE model. The â€Å"A† stands for analyze. The analysis is of things like the characteristics of the learner, the tasks that the learner should learn. The â€Å"D† stands for design where the learning objectives are developed and also an approach that is instructional in nature is chosen in this phase. The second â€Å"D† stands for develop where the training or the instructional materials are brought to existence. The â€Å"I† stands for a big word and the word is the â€Å"I† stands for is implement. Implementation in a nutshell involves the distribution of the materials containing the instructions. Lastly, the â€Å"E† stands for evaluate. In the evaluation phase, checking of how the materials distributed in the implementation phase affected the learner takes place (Saettler, 1990). It is in this phase that we a re able to know whether the goals for designing the instruction were achieved. Most models of instruction design have been modified from the ADDIE model. Rapid Prototyping Rapid prototyping is a model that was adopted from the ADDIE model. It is considered a simpler version of the ADDIE model b y many instruction designers. The heart of Instruction design is the analysis phase. This phase comes first. It is the doorway to the other four phases of instruction design (Seels Glasgow, 1990). It is after the analysis stage that we are in a position to choose the instruction design model that is most suited for the design of the instruction. This is because it is only after understanding exactly what we are dealing with is one able to pick the right bus to take him or her to the right destination. Analysis should be done thoroughly. Most instruction designers do not do a thorough job when it comes to analysis. The result of this is pretty much obvious. This is synonymous to expecting a very strong house to be sustained by a very weak foundation (Smith Ragan, 1993). The analysis is the foundation of the house called instructional design. It is therefore encouraged that at the analysis stage, a lot of time and keenness should be put into the analysis so as to gather as much information as possible. The Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model In the book entitled The Systematic Design of Instruction, which was published in 1978, Walter Dick and Lou Carey came up with The Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model. In this model, the instruction is not viewed as a breakdown of parts isolated but as a system. Its main focus is on the interrelationship between content, instruction, context and learning. â€Å"Components such as the instructor, learners, materials, instructional activities, delivery system, and learning and performance environments interact with each other and work together to bring about desired student learning outcomes† (Clark et al, 2006). The components to this model include instructional goal identification, instructional analysis conduction, learners and contexts analyzing, writing of performance objectives, developing of assessment instruments, developing of instructional strategy, developing and selecting of instructional materials, designing and conducting formative evaluation of instruction, revi sion of instruction and lastly, designing and conducting of summative evaluation. In the Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model, the execution of components is done in an iterative, parallel manner and not in a linear manner as in the Rapid prototyping. Apart from the above mentioned models, there exists the Instructional Development Learning System (IDLS), the Smith/Ragan Model and the Morrison/Ross/Kemp Model. Section 4- Relationships Between the Principles and the Models In this section we are going to look at the way the models have applied the key principles of instruction design. As we had seen in section two, the key principles of instruction design include; objective, evaluation, the learner and methods. Our goal in this section is to see how the models of instruction design have taken the principles of instruction design and blended than in the models of instruction design. We had also seen that the ADDIE model was broken down into five phases and these were analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation phase. At the analysis, all the blind spots to the problem are removed and this is where the goals and objectives are established. It is at this stage that the identification of the skills the learner needs is identified and the learning environment determined. The analysis stage in the ADDIE model goes hand in hand with the principle of objectivity. This shows that the ADDIE instruction model has used one of the principles of objectivity as per the analysis above. At the design level, the objectives determines in the analysis level are learnt. At the design phase, the instruments to be used to asses are determined, the content of the exercises to be done are also determined. Planning of the lessons as well as the selection of media is done here. This is consistent with the principle of methods. Under the methods principle, all the items looked at are more or less similar to the ones put into consideration under the design phase in the ADDIE model. Under the evaluation phase in the ADDIE model, there exist two sides to the coin; summative and formative. Formative has been there in each and every phase in the ADDIE model. However, Summative evaluation is specific to an identified area of problem from the learners. Under the lists of principles used in the design of an instruction, there is the principle of evaluation. This goes to show that the ADDIE is consistent with the key principles of Instructional design. If we were to look at Rapid prototyping, we can say that it is also consistent with the principles of instructional design. We can say this because it is a simpler version of the ADDIE model meaning it is very similar to the ADDIE model and since the ADDIE is compliant with the principles of Instructional design, Rapid prototyping also is consistent with the key principles of instructional design. So far, we have looked at ADDIE model and also Rapid prototyping in relation to the key principles of instruction design. The Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model is seen to have quite a number of components of which we are going to look at each and every component to see of it is consistent with the key principles of instruction design or not (Paas et al., 2004). This is the model that looks at instruction as a system and not a sum of isolated parts. The identification of a goal is consistent with the objectives principle. The conducting of the analysis of the instruction is rather on its own there. There seems to be no principle in tandem with the analysis of the instruction. The principle of objectivity is in line with the analysis of learners and contexts. Writing of performance objectives can be put under the objective principle. The developing of the instruments to be used in the assessment can fit quite well under the methods principle (Clark Mayer, 2002 Cooper Sweller, 1987). The development of the instructional strategy to be used when distributing the instructions can be out under methods. The evaluation of the instruction, revision of the instruction and the summative evaluation will all fall under the evaluation principle. We can safely say therefore that all the components of the Dick and Carey Systems Approach model all follow the principles of the key principles of the design of instruction. Most models adhere to the simple key principles of instruction design. Section 5-My Lesson Plan Subject Matter and Grade Level The subject matter I choose for my lesson plan is geometry for the 6th graders. The reason behind this choice is firstly because when I was in the 6th grade, geometry was not a smooth ride but when I moved to higher grades, I felt so stupid for not being able to understand the simple geometry the teacher always taught. I would tail the class in geometry and this was not a good feeling as it interfered with my ability to grasp other subjects confidently. I can easily identify with kids whom their teachers would clearly, loudly and publically say that they have given up on them. This is because they never get above a certain grade in some subjects. This is what my teacher used to say and I would feel so inadequate. I have narrowed down to geometry because most kids at this stage feel that geometry or anything mathematical such as college algebra is hard and is beyond their capabilities (Chandler Sweller, 1991). The truth is with the principles and models of instructional design, there is nothing that cannot be learnt! The lesson I want to design is the simple formula on how to get the circumference of a circle. This was also an area I used to be confused at. Firstly, the confusion came when choosing the figure to put as diameter and the figure to put as radius. There may be students who have no problem with this but my target is the students who have time and time again gotten this geometric question wrong. The Model The model I choose to work it is the Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model. I chose this model because I want to have a system approach to the instruction and not as a sum of little instruction bits and pieces. The goal of the instruction is to prompt the learner to give the circumference of a circle whether operating from the radius or the diameter. The instruction can either be wordy or delivered using the mathematical language. The Lesson The sixth graders analyzed cannot tell the difference between the radius and the diameter and this may be the reason as to why the question is failed so many times. The performance objectives are to see a bigger percentage of the sixth graders getting questions related to the circumference of a circle correct. In school, every single mark is important just the same way as in life, every small thing done to enhance your life counts. The assessment instrument to be used is a geometry test. The strategy in getting the objectives met is to make the learning process as interesting as possible. For example, instead of drawing boring shapes using chalk on the board, we use colorful shapes and abstract shapes so as to make learning less formal for the students to relate with the interesting shapes (Kemp et al., 1996). These will be the interesting instructing materials. The formative way of checking if the instruction did work is by looking at the marks to the geometry test. If the grades ar e higher than what they were then the instruction design process was a success. Relationships The model is consistent with my theory of learning because of the components. B following the components of the Dick and Carey Systems Approach Model, I already could feel how easy the learning process has been broken down. This is exactly what I believe learning is all about. It is about taking the â€Å"complex† stuff and simplifying it further into step by step basic components which can easily be digested by the learners whom you have already profiled. The model also allows for evaluation (Mayer, 1997). Whenever there is learning, the learnt information has to be examined for the instructor to know whether their way of instruction design helps or not. References Alessi, S., Trollip, S. (1991). Computer-based instruction. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.. Anglin, G. (Ed.). (1991). Instructional technology: Past, present and future. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited. Chandler, P. Sweller, J. (1991). Cognitive Load Theory and the Format of Instruction.† Cognition and Instruction 8 (4): 293–332. Cooper, G., Sweller, J. (1987). Effects of schema acquisition and rule automation on mathematical problem-solving transfer.† Journal of Educational Psychology 79 (4): 347–362. Clark, R.C., Mayer, R.E. (2002). e-Learning and the Science of Instruction: Proven Guidelines for Consumers and Designers of Multimedia Learning. San Francisco: Pfeiffer. Clark, R. C., Nguyen, F., and Sweller, J. (2006). Efficiency in Learning: Evidence-Based Guidelines to Manage Cognitive Load. San Francisco: Pfeiffer. Gentry, C. (1994). Introduction to instructional development. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Co. Kemp, J., Morrison, G., Ross, S. (1996). Designing effective instruction. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Learner, R. (1986). Concepts and Theories of Human Development (2nd ed.). New York: Random House). Mayer, R.E. (1997). Multimedia Learning: Are We Asking the Right Questions?† EducationalPsychologist 32 (41): 1–19. Mayer, R.E. (2001). Multimedia Learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Mayer, R.E., Bovet, W. Bryman, A. Mars, R. Tapangco, L. (1996).When Less Is More:Meaningful Learning From Visual and Verbal Summaries of Science Textbook Lessons. Journal of Educational Psychology. 88 (1): 64–73. Mayer, R.E., Steinhoff, K., Bower, G. and Mars, R. (1995). A generative theory of textbook design: Using annotated illustrations to foster meaningful learning of science text.† Educational Technology Research and Development. 43 (1): 31–41. Nadler, Leonard (1984). The Handbook of Human Resource Development. New York: John Wiley Sons. Newby, T., Stepich, D., Lehman, J., Russell, J. (1996). Instructional technology for teaching and learning. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Inc.. Paas, F., Renkl, A. Sweller, J. (2004). Cognitive Load Theory: Instructional Implications of the Interaction between Information Structures and Cognitive Architecture. Instructional Science 32: 1–8. Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science 12 (1): 257–285. Sweller, J., Cooper, G. A. (1985). The use of worked examples as a substitute for problem solving in learning algebra. Cognition and Instruction 2 (1): 59–89. Saettler, P. (1990). The evolution of American educational technology. Stolovitch, H.D, Keeps, E. (1999). Handbook of human performance technology. Seels, B. Glasgow, Z. (1990). Exercises in instructional design. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Publishing Company. Seels, B. Glasgow, Z. (1998). Making instructional design decisions. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Publishing Company. Smith, P. Ragan, T. (1993). Instructional design. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice- Hall, Inc. Venezky, R. Osin, L. (1991). The intelligent design of computer-assisted instruction. New York: Longman. Furagin: Forced Degradation Studies Furagin: Forced Degradation Studies

Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Isn't it strange how princes and kings And clowns who caper in sawdust rings And common folk, like you and me Are builders for eternity. For each is given a bag of tools, A shapeless mass, and a set of rules. And each of us, a life is flown, Must either build a stumbling block or stepping stone. Builders for eternity ... what an awe-inspiring thought: That you and I not would be, nor could be, but are builders for eternity. On this day, the seventh of June 2006, at our high school graduation night, the night we say goodbye to the structured life high school offers, the night we say goodbye to friends and teachers that have impacted our lives in so many ways. This night, as we bid farewell and invite the broad, new horizon ahead of us, we must ask ourselves this: What kinds of builders will we become, and what will we build? Life is filled with endless opportunities of what we can become. Not merely as a profession, but what makes us as individuals. As we, builders for eternity, fabricate our lives from here on out as high school graduates, I hope and pray for the very best for each and every one of us; that we can all build, for ourselves, and, more importantly, others, stepping-stones. In doing this, there are three words that stand out to me to keep in mind. They all start with the letter E. The first E is for Enjoy. A band named Aerosmith said: "Life is a journey not a destination." So live it accordingly. Let us enjoy being who we are, doing those activities that excite, enliven, and motivate ourselves. It is often important and necessary to do things that are not fun, but overall, be you, someone who you will enjoy being. The second E is for Effort. "A person should do his or her job ... ... in this gymnasium this evening has these three items: A bag of God given talents, a life of time to do with what we please, and a few laws to live by when applying these talents and time. So, with these thoughts in mind, what is the challenge before us? ... And each of us, a life is flown, must either build a stumbling block or a stepping-stone. On behalf of the Humphrey graduating Class of 2006, I would like to thank the School District Board of Directors, administrators, teachers along the entire path, and any more members of the Humphrey School District staff. Also, thank you parents, families, and friends for your love and support. Congratulations Class of 2006. We made it, and have made it this far together. After tonight we take separate paths to conquer what lies before us. Let's choose our battles wisely, fight a faithful fight, and win. Thank you.

history :: essays research papers

At the time that Gotham City was situated, the political condition of the country was undergoing major transition. There was great need for politicians to take up opportunities created by the masses as a leverage for their own cause. Gotham City with its infrastructure would have been an ideal situation for any political figure to take up and use it for his own advantage. Michael Curley, who has been a democratic candidate himself, was keen on individuality. He had been nominated for Boston’s mayor several times but he had not been able to achieve significant success with Congress due his criminal background. Curley would have suggested that the town continues to develop the Gotham district that was thriving and at the same time the immigrant groups should be paid more attention. Curley believed that every person is entitled to social rights. Even if he was charged with fraud himself and jailed, the Bostinanian believed in individuality. He belived that any misuse of public rights should be rectified by law. In the case of Gotham City, the rights of the immigrants were being misuse; therefore they should be given their due rights. Similarly, George Washington Plunkitt (1842-1924) would also have the opinion that people whether poor or rich should be given opportunities to rectify their situation. He believed in dealing with any situation in an honest manner, not through dishonest black mailing etc. He believed every man is an opportunist and he should use such opportunities to better his cause. Whether these opportunities comes in the form of rectification of a city living standards or investing in a project. With Gotham City’s background an opportunist should take up the situation in his own hand to improve the condition of the city. With an infrastructure like Gotham, Plunkitt would have considered the city a good investment. To improve the condition of the city, they would have to improve the living condition of the immigrants further. This way they would build a stronger city and labor force for the meager industrial structure further. On the other hand Woodrow Wilson with his Princeton background would have a different view for reorganization of Gotham City. Wilson gained a Ph.D. and professorhood when he became president of Princeton in 1902. His main concern was to reorganize the curriculum and introduction of preceptorial system of instruction to provide individualized education to the masses.

Biological Determinism :: essays research papers

Biological Determinism 1. According to the author of the article "All in the Genes?", there is no intrinsic causality between genetics and intelligence. The author analyses different aspects of biological determinism, and supplies many examples, which illustrate aspects of this problem that are being discussed since the time when these ideas became popular. He does not agree with biological determinist that the intellectual performance of a person depends on genes inherited from his parents. There are a lot of different theories about intellectual capabilities. All these theories reflect different points of views, depending on the period of time the authors of these theories lived. The author argues for the theory that in the nineteenth century , artificial barriers in social hierarchy prevented people from achieving higher intellectual performance. In the end of XX century, in most places these barriers were removed by the democratic processes, and nothing artificial can stand between the natural sorting process and social status of the people. These changes can not be considered as historical because the age of democracy is just two hundred years , and the time when inequality between classes and between people was a natural situation is almost as long as the history of the world . The author insists that there is no connection between environmental differences and genetics. In support of his idea the author state that any Canadian student can perform better in mathematics than some ancient professors of mathematics. The author comes to the conclusion that changes in a cultural environment are the main factor that determines level of intellectual performance, not inherited combination of parent's genes . He argues that genetic differences that appear in one environment may easily disappear in another. A theory that twins were raised in different social conditions will have the same level of intellectual performance because identical genetics constitution was used by the ideologist of biological determinism. The author rejects this theory because from his point of view, all these cases cannot be considered as always reliable on a close look, in most cases, twins were raised by the members of the same family or in other words, not in a diametrical opposite level of society. The author believes that there is no convincing measure of the role of genes in influencing human behavioural variation. During the argumentation of questions of biological determinism, the author supports his idea with numerous examples. He gives examples of supporters of bio determinism and outlines that these examples are not reliable. One of the fallacies of biological determinism is the result of IQ testing. According to some scientist only 20% of performance depend on environment and other 80%

How Can We Explain the Difference in Achievement with Boys and Girls?

How can we explain the differences in achievement between boys and girls? Statistics show that it is clear that girls achieve more A* to C grades at GCSE then boys. This obviously shows that girls do better and achieve more in schools. In fact, since 1980 to the present day, the percentage of boys who have achieved these grades has risen. But so has the girls. When it comes to girls and boys choosing their options for GCSE, although they are open to pick the same subjects, there still seems to be a split. Girls tend to op for cookery, design technology and sociology. Whereas boys tend to op for resistant materials, P.E and science. So it is clear that there are the ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ subjects. One way the difference is shown in achievement is by setting and streaming in different schools. It is more common for girls to be placed in top set for all their subjects then it is for boys. Girls tend to do better in school then boys. This could be influenced by a t eacher (self- fulfilling prophecy). If girls and some boys are told that they are capable of getting great grades in school, then they are bound to achieve better than other students that are put in bottom set and are told they can only get a D or E, which are mostly boys.This shows that there is a difference between the achievement of boys and girls because girls are more likely to be placed in top set and are encouraged by their teachers to do well, whereas boys are not. Another way the difference is shown is by society and through the jobs that different gender roles take. There has been a divide in women and men jobs for a while. However now, there are increasing job opportunities for women. It is still known that women are more likely to take up jobs like nursing, caring, teaching and so on then it is for men.Men usually take up the job of mechanics, firemen, policemen etc. So in schools, they prepare the students for the job they believe is right for their gender. This shows t hat there are differences because boys must need to be more educated for the jobs they are required to get, whereas girls don’t need to be as much. If boys are ‘more’ educated then girls, then they are more likely to get better grades, but that still doesn’t explain why girls are achieving better than boys! Individual attitudes have a big impact on how a student achieves.Girls tend to always do their homework, always be well behaved and are in the pro- school subculture. Whereas boys tend to never do their homework, always misbehave and are in the anti-school subculture. This shows that girl want to do well in school to have a good life and a well-paid job, but it also shows that boys don’t really care about school and haven’t really thought about their future. This shows that there is a difference in achievement between girls and boys because girls have a better opinion of school and so will achieve better grades then boys as they have a neg ative opinion of school.It’s not that boys’ do less well. Boys’ achievement has been improving but girls have been improving more. All the matters that I have stated are linked. They all seem to state that girls achieve better in school than boys and that boys take their education for granted. There is also a link with boys and girls attainment. Boys tend to be at school less than girls and girls have better punctuality then boys. So, we can conclude that girls achieve better than boys because of their positive attitudes, actually wanting a good life and a good education.

Positive discrimination Essay

â€Å"New Right Sociologists† would argue that this would be a disadvantage to the government as it would lead to an eventual reduction in the nation’s talent pool. However, it is important to note that the methodology used in the production of â€Å"The Bell Curve† is both dubious and highly doubtful. This is most vividly illustrated by the article Inequality by Design, written by the Sociology Department of UC Berkeley, which claims that the statistics used by Murray and Herrstein were flawed due to omissions and technical errors. On the other hand, â€Å"New Right Sociologists† also argue that ethic groups are disadvantaged because they refuse to integrate into their host society. A refusal to integrate may include a refusal to take on the norms and values of the host culture; or to learn the language. This prevents them from seeking opportunities and hence leaving them at a disadvantage. â€Å"New Right Sociologists† would henceforth argue that the state would have no responsibility whatsoever for self-made choices, and therefore that Positive Discrimination would be pointless and a waste of both time and resources. Neo-Marxists and Social Democratic/Left Wing sociologists would argue that because Ethnic Minorities suffer from ethnic discrimination as well as poorer life chances they require and need Positive Discrimination in order to ensure that they are able to reach the best of their potential. Neo-Marxist Sociologists would refer to the argument, as advocated by Stuart Hall of black people being scapegoat for economic and social problems in times of peril. This shows that people from ethnic minorities are blamed for causing problems, and hence are put at a disadvantage with other groups. This effect is then emphasized through the schema model, in which press coverage and blame of ethnic minorities leads to prejudice, prejudgment and in turn a disadvantage for minorities in regards to a wide range of areas, including life chances as represented through education, health and work. The prejudice caused by scapegoating leads to ethnic minorities being denied jobs in the primary job market, having to get by through the routine, ill paid and unskilled jobs offered through the Secondary Job Market. This in turn impacts greatly on all other aspects of their life, including where they live and the lifestyle they lead. Because ethnic minorities are tied to the secondary job market with lower wages, or languishing in unemployment, they end up residing in inner cities and other areas which are likely to be affected by what is described as the â€Å"Inverse Care Law† as coined by Hart, in which those who need the most access to services receive the least. Statistics from the Office of National Statistics show that ethnic minorities tend to have the worst self-reported health, live in overcrowded housing and smoke the most. This shows the fact that Ethnic Minorities, due to the lack of job opportunities, suffer from lower than average health and lifestyles. This, coupled with the fact that ethnic minority households are three times more likely to live in poor neighborhoods (Commission on Racial Equality, 2003) tells us that ethnic minorities do indeed suffer from lower life chances due to poor health, poorer education due to failing inner city schools and finally a cumulatively lower chance of success in life that other groups due to clear disadvantages in terms of health, education and job prospects. This clearly shows that Positive Discrimination in favor of disadvantaged groups is desirable as it allows for the disadvantages caused by ethnic discrimination and its knock-on effects to be limited if not redressed, hence increasing the nation’s pool of talent and preventing those who are capable from languishing behind due to disadvantageous conditions. Henceforth it can be said that Positive Discrimination in favor of disadvantaged ethnic minorities is both beneficial and disadvantageous depending on which perspective it is viewed from. However, it could be concluded with a degree of certainty that Positive Discrimination in favor of ethnic minorities is both a good government policy and advantageous to the country in question- as it allows ethnic minorities put at a disadvantage to compete on what amounts to nearer grounds to those from other ethnic groups that may enjoy an advantage, whether it be through wealth, power or better overall life chances. This allows for the meritocratic principles of Functionalism to occur on fair and even grounds- facilitating competition for roles and jobs between everyone on fair and even terms, hence allowing the best and brightest, regardless of ethnicity, to reach the very top and bring mutual benefits for society as a whole.

Negative Aspects of Reality Shows

In recent years we have seen how the reality shows have Increasingly Invaded our screens, and there is something that captivates people to the point that change their way of life and are carried away by this â€Å"fever†. Most of the people who watch this kind of shows believe that all what they see is real so they begin to feel identify with them. The audience imitates they behaviors and most of the time it Is negative.They turn violent, Irritable and susceptible to reactions. A big percentage of people who watches this believe that their way of being is normal, but it is not like that. There are certain manners or behaviors that we are used to watch, but it doesn't mean it is normal at the point that we accept it as a way of life. What is true about this is that producers control everything and can alter or distort the actions of the actors. The actors are aware of this because when they sign their contract It Is specified over there.So, can we believe In everything we see? A key for success of these shows is the humiliation of the â€Å"actors†. Like American Idol or many others, because the jury criticizes them In a derogative way so the contestants leave the stage but being teased. The audience assimilates this as a normal process so if they don't have skills they begin to feel shame of it or scared to people who can watch them doing things. Another negative thing is that they can think that humiliation is a necessary step to succeed, thing that is not true.We hooked not allow ourselves to be influenced by these shows and that Is why there are recommendations while watching them, such as: It Is not recommended for children and young people, therefore they can understand and analyze the background and have a very strong personality. All in all we must be alert and aware to see a reality show, because this can lead to unexpected and negative changes. The best one can do is to turn this experience into something good and know how to select those programs that teach us and help us develop.

Different Views on Affirmative Action Essay

This paper will discuss the different views on affirmative action. I will go over both views of this issue, and will explain which side my personal views fall on. I will also discuss the pros and cons of affirmative actions, and the effects it has on the workplace. â€Å"In its tumultuous 45-year history, affirmative action has been both praised and pilloried as an answer to racial inequality. The â€Å"affirmative action† was first introduced by President Kennedy in 1961 as a method of redressing discrimination that had persisted in spite of civil rights laws and constitutional guarantees† (Brunner, 2008). Affirmative action is a highly controversial policy that is designed to help minorities gain access to jobs and schools, etc. that they normally would not be able to enter into. â€Å"Affirmative action generally means giving preferential treatment to minorities in admission to universities or employment in government and businesses. The policies were originally developed to correct decades of discrimination and to give disadvantaged minorities a boost. The diversity of our current society as opposed to that of 50 years ago seem to indicate the programs have been a success. But now, many think the policies are no longer needed and that they lead to more problems than they solve† (Messerh, 2008). The benefits were very great for minorities at one time. There was a time when minorities and women faced an uphill battle for equality in the workplace and in education. The majority of people believed that the better paying jobs should not only go to white men; but that they were the better qualified candidates. â€Å"Keep in mind that all people have more shared than different characteristics, and no group is biologically superior to another. Nevertheless, racism, the belief that some racial groups are inherently inferior to others, has been common and is used to justify discrimination and equality† (Lauer & Lauer, 2006, p. 225). This belief was spurred on by racism and sexism in the past. â€Å"Focusing in particular on education and jobs, affirmative action policies required that measures be taken to ensure that blacks and other minorities enjoyed the same opportunities for promotions, salary increases, career advancement, school admissions, scholarships, and financial aid that had been the nearly xclusive province of whites. From the outset, affirmative action was envisioned as a temporary remedy that would end once there was a â€Å"level playing field† for all Americans† (Brunner, 2008). I think that this policy was a good idea to begin with. There were many people back in the 50’s who would go out of their way to make sure that blacks were not able to raise above their â€Å"born into roles†. At the time, a law like this was needed very bad. It was very important at that time in our history to include every one of all races and sexes. I believe that we have now reached a time in our history, where inclusion is at an all time high nationwide. This brings us to the problems that affirmative action has caused in our society. The biggest problem is reverse discrimination. â€Å"Affirmative action leads to reverse discrimination. Affirmative action is designed to end discrimination and unfair treatment of employees/students based on color, but it in effect does the opposite. Whites who work harder and/or more qualified can be passed over strictly because they are white. Contrary to many stereotypes, many minorities fall into the middle or upper class, and many whites live in poverty. Unfortunately, the way things are set up now, a poverty-stricken white student who uses discipline and hard work to become the best he can be can be passed over by a rich minority student who doesn’t put in much effort at all† (Messerh, 2008). Many people do not want to admit to this problem; however, affirmative action has created discrimination of the majority. If a person is a white male, they may actually be looked over for the simple fact that a university or company does not have enough minority employees. This is a discriminatory practice in the process. â€Å"By the late 70’s, however flaws in the policy began to show up amid its good intentions. Reverse discrimination became an issue, epitomized by the famous Blakke case in 1978. Allan Blakke, a white male, had been rejected two years by a medical school that had accepted less qualified applicants – the school had a separate admissions policy for minorities and reserved 16 out of 100 places for minority students. The Supreme Court outlawed inflexible quota systems in affirmative action programs, which in this case had unfairly discriminated against a white applicant. In the same ruling, however, the Court upheld the legality of affirmative action per se† (Brunner, 2008). I personally feel like affirmative action has also lowered the quality within the universities and in the workplace. â€Å"Affirmative action lowers standards of accountability needed to push students or employees to perform better. If a minority student can get into Harvard with a 3. 2 grade-point average, why should she push herself to get a 4. 0? Although some students or employees are self-motivated, most people need an extra push or incentive to do their best, by setting lower standards for admission or hiring, we are lowering the level of accountability. We should reward hard work, discipline and achievement, we shouldn’t reward a student simply because he or she is a certain race, nor punished because he or she isn’t† (Messerh, 2008). All positions regardless of what it is, is better filled by filling it with the best and most qualified applicant. The best tool against discrimination and unfair hiring practices, would be to make sure all of our lower, middle, and high schools are up to par in order to create the best applicants overall.

Comparing a Past Decade with Todays Economy Research Paper

Comparing a Past Decade with Todays Economy - Research Paper Example At the same time, they face various types of barriers when they try to compete against other firms in the US marketplaces. 2000 is one of the decades that has created loss for employees and financial system of US. â€Å"The decade that just ended has been the worst for the U.S. economy in modern times by a wide range of data, with zero net job growth and the slowest rise in economic output since the 1930s. Many who stayed employed were hurt too, with middle-income families making less in 2008, when adjusted for inflation, than they did in 1999 — the first decade since the 1960s that median incomes have fallen† (Seitz-Wald para. 1). Recent financial data demonstrates that the poverty rate in US has grown the highest in the past 20 years. It is well recognized that the present financial climate in the US is not favorable. This pushes one to think on the subject of the level of economic growth over the last 10 years in the country. One thing to observe is the wide GDP alte rations that have occurred over the period. Considering the information from 2000 to 2011, the CPI representing the price of living has increased to 25.74% (January 2000 to September 2011). Individual income, deriving from interest, dividends, labor, and transfers made by government minus social security through the corresponding period rose up to 57.19%. 2) Relate that state to today’s economy based on those indicators. The US’ real GDP rate has increased annually by 2.5 % in the third quarter of 2011 (that is, from the second part to the third part) according to the "advance" estimation released by the agency of Economic study. In the second part, real GDP advanced to 1.3%. â€Å" †. (GDP United States 1). The increase in real GDP in the third part mainly reflected positive contributions from Individual Consumption Expenditures (ICE), exports, nonresidential fixed assets and federal administration spending that were partially counterbalanced by negative contri butions from private inventory investment as well as local and state government expenditure. Imports, which are a subtraction in the computation of GDP, have also been increased. â€Å"U.S. Inflation Rate Past Trend Present Value & Future Projection YoY Change in CPI. Percent. † (U.S. Inflation Rate Forecast para. 2). Recent financial Indicators published in November 08, 2011. Indicator Value of the indicator. Worldwide Stocks development, % 0.37 United State GDP development, % 2.45 United State Inflation, % 3.90 United State Unemployment rate % 9.00 Gold, $/oz 1,795.00 WTI Oil, $/bbl rate 96.89 US 10 Yr Treasuries, rate % 2.09 (US Inflation Rate Forecast) 3) Describe the state of the economy at the end of the decade: The US financial system is the world's biggest national economy. Its nominal GDP was anticipated to be almost $14.7 trillion in 2010, around a quarter of nominal worldwide GDP at buying power parity. The US economy also keeps a very high rate of production every year. In 2010, it was anticipated to have a per capita GDP of $46,844, the 7th maximum in the globe. The United State is the main trading country in the globe. Its three major trading partners at the end of the

Demonstrating Professional Skepticism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Demonstrating Professional Skepticism - Essay Example Boyle et al. (2015) observe that the failure on the part of the auditors to exercise professional skepticism when conducting the audit of financial statements imposes costs on the shareholders and other stakeholders. When fraud fails to be recognized, the shareholders are the net losers. The article points to the application of professional skepticism in audit engagements as being the solution to the increased number of audit failures and deficiencies. Professional skepticism has become a matter of critical importance to the profession of auditing given the increased complexity of the audit environment (Boyle et al. 5). The article explains that the exercise of professional skepticism by the auditors is in line with the requirements of the Statements on Auditing Standards 1 (SAS1) (Boyle et al. 5). The standard on auditing requires that the auditors must apply due care with an emphasis on the exercise of professional skepticism as part of the auditor responsibilities and functions. T he role of professional skepticism in the consideration of fraud in the audit of financial statements is analyzed with a proper discussion and relation of the elements of skepticism to the audit (Boyle et al. 6). Boyle et al. (2015) explain that professional skepticism is an attitude that involves a critical assessment and analysis of audit evidence and a questioning mind. It is this questioning mindset that enhances the possibilities of recognizing fraud with less attention to experience.