Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Assisted Suicide A Controversial Subject - 1224 Words
Richard Cantos Professor: Clerc Intro to Government 11/20/2014 Assisted suicide is a controversial subject that welcomes death over life and presents many ethical dilemmas. We are frequently confronted with situations that raise ethical and moral questioning in our lifetimes. Traumatic events, as witnessed in the cases of Terri Schiavo, Brittany Maynard and Dax Cowart, often leave an impression on one s mortality and fate. Decisions may leave us questioning our moral, ethical, and spiritual beliefs. This report will address the ethical implications providing the proââ¬â¢s and conââ¬â¢s, As well as principles and theories pros and cons of assisted suicide. I will also come up with current legislation, and the impact assisted suicide has on social and moral values. Assisted suicide or euthanasia is derived from the Greek word euthanatos which means easy death. Assisted suicide or voluntary Euthanasia is the conclusion to end one s life, by another at the request of that individual. If a person is too ill, the family can petition it, or in some circumstances the courts can decide, which is called non-voluntary euthanasia. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, the legality of assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia has brought about many moral and immoral debates to the profession of medical care. Currently, euthanasia is illegal in the United States except for Oregon and washington. The American Nurses Association (ANA) stance on euthanasia is as follows, The AmericanShow MoreRelatedPhysician Assisted Suicide : A Controversial Subject1692 Words à |à 7 PagesPhysician-assisted suicide is a controversial subject all around the world. Although it is legal in some countries and states, such as the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, O regon, Montana, Washington, and Vermont it is not yet legal in most (Finlay, 2011). People travel from all around the world to these locations to receive information. Physician-assisted suicide is when terminally ill and mentally capable patients perform the final act themselves after being provided with the required meansRead MoreEthical Considerations in Dealing with Changes in the Healthcare System929 Words à |à 4 PagesA topic of consideration that creates controversial discussion is the subject of physician-assisted suicide. Physician-assisted suicide is described as the act in which a physician provides the means necessary for the client to perform the act of suicide. The issue of physician-assisted suicide is viewed through many different perspectives. The topic of physician-assisted suicide has been debated since the development of medicine. Physician-assisted suicide was first legalized in the United StatesRead MoreEuthanasia And Physician Assisted Suicide865 Words à |à 4 Pagestouchy enough subject for people; add in the idea of assisted suicides and thereââ¬â¢s an uproar in society. Euthanasia or physician assisted suicide is a very controversial topic in our society today. Physician assisted suicide by definition is ââ¬Å"suicide by a patient facilitated by means (as a drug prescription) or information (as an indication of a lethal dosage) provided by a physician aware of the patientââ¬â¢s intent (Merriam-Webster). There are two modes of looking at assisted suicides; either itââ¬â¢s seenRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide : Controversial Healthcare And Political Realms Alike1218 Words à |à 5 Pages Physician-Assisted Suicide Elissa Munoz-Tucker University of Arizona Abstract Physician-assisted suicide is controversial in healthcare and political realms alike. Currently, this end-of-life option is practiced in five states within the United States. Social concerns regarding assisted suicide revolve around ethical quandaries; providing the means to a patientââ¬â¢s death is contradictory to ethical principles of healthcare providers. Political concerns surroundingRead MoreEssay On Physician Assisted Suicide1549 Words à |à 7 PagesWriting Project Worksheet 1. This paper will examine the Washington state policy of physician-assisted suicide. 2. State Info: (characteristics, size, culture, political culture, industries, features, etc. to explain state support of policy) Washington is a state in the northwestern United States with an estimated population of 7,288,000, as of July 1, 2016. Washingtonââ¬â¢s population is primarily white at 69% (not including Hispanics), with Hispanics comprising 12.4%, Asians 8.6%, and African AmericansRead MorePhysician Assisted Suicide : Who Should Decide If A Terminally Ill Person?1146 Words à |à 5 PagesGemini Government Siembor Who should decide if a terminally ill person has the right to commit physician-assisted suicide? Introduction Physician Assisted Suicide has been a very controversial topic in the recent years. P.A.S can also be known as physician assisted death or euthanasia. Many states wonder wither this practice is morally right or wrong. Physician Assisted Suicide is when a doctor administers patient lethal drugs, upon the request of the patient, with the end result being deathRead MoreEuthanasia Is The Act Of Killing Someone1284 Words à |à 6 PagesEuthanasia is the act of killing someone that is very sick or injured in to prevent a painful suffering in life. One type of euthanasia is physician-assisted suicide, which is the use of a particular medicine given to a patient by a doctor to cause a peaceful death. This a very controversial topic when it comes to the subject of terminal or severe illnesses such as cancer and dementia. Brittany Maynard is a well-known example of person who took her own live under Oregonââ¬â¢s aid-in-dying law due toRead MoreEssay On Physician Assisted Suicide1250 Words à |à 5 Pagesattitude towards physician-assisted suicide compared to individual who are conservative (Bulmer, et al. 2017, Choi 2013, Gielen, van den Branden, and Broeckaert 2009, and Jacoby 2010). This is due their attitude that government should take action in order for all citizens to achieve national uniformity (MacLean, 2006). This belief can be applied to legislation surrounding physician-assisted suicide. Liberals may have a more positive attitude regarding physician-assisted suicide due their belief in governmentRead MoreA Brief Note On Euthanasia And The United States882 Words à |à 4 PagesHistory of Euthanasia in the U.S. Euthanasia is the act or practice, killing of permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy killing. Far more controversial, active euthanasia involves causing the death of a person through a direct action. In response to a request from the person. Euthanasia itself been around for as long as the history of medicine. This euthanasia is enormous and have long history in the United States. This soRead MoreAssisted Suicide Is Not Common For All Areas Throughout The United States890 Words à |à 4 PagesAssisted Suicide Imagine being diagnosed with a life-ending disease and experiencing such excruciating pain that doctors say cannot be healed. Pain is a terrible thing to experience, especially when it is permanent. What can be done to relieve that pain? What if the only option to rid the pain from the patient is death? No one knows how that feels until it happens to them, that is why assisted suicide is used. Assisted suicide is a practice throughout most of the United States that terminates
Monday, December 23, 2019
The Use of Wind Power Is the Answer for the Future
The use of wind power is the answer for the future. The use of wind power has developed from when it was first used to power ships in ancient civilizations like trading botes that sailed the Nail Egypt. Wind power was then captured by wind mills on farms to produce mechanical energy. This energy was then used to pump water to irrigate crops so farmers could have a more reliable harvest. Windmills also powered and to grinders that that crushed up grains. In todayââ¬â¢s society wind turbines have been developed that makes wind a feasible source of fuel for America. Wind Energy is no longer a simple idea of little importance. It has developed into a major and dependable source of energy. The dependence on fossil fuels is a big problem in society however, if we take advantage of renewable technology like wind energy, the economy and the environment will benefit. Wind turbines offer many positive advantages. They boost the economy, on a local and national level. Wind power is a clean energy source, and unlike dirty fossil fuels. Wind power helps protect our planet by reducing pollution and lowering the amount of harmful emissions that contribute to global warming. Wind is completely renewable, and is a domestic source which will decrease our dependence on other countries. Wind turbines are not flawless, they do have some problems. One of the first problems is the limitation of wind power. Scene the turbines rely on wind to generate electricity if there is no or vary little windShow MoreRelated Wind Power in the Near Future Essay880 Words à |à 4 PagesWind Power in the Near Future Today many people are anxious about energy for the future, as it seems realistic that petroleum energy will someday run out and since some environmental problems caused by petroleum use are getting worse. As alternatives to todayââ¬â¢s main energy source, oil, some others have been proposed already, such as solar, water, biomass, and nuclear. Wind Power is the one of the ways that has the biggest potential and is the most practical. And it is predicted to play an importantRead MoreWind Energy : One Approach From The Energy Crisis996 Words à |à 4 PagesWind Energy: One Approach to the Energy Crisis Introduction The renewable energy from wind energy has become a popular method of producing energy. When the world realized fossil fuel emission are harmful to our atmosphere, many countries started to look toward renewable energy sources. In recent years the U.S. has given tax incentives and tax breaks for using a renewable energy sources. The U.S. has become the leaders in using wind energy for a renewable resources. Even though wind power energyRead MoreEssay on Energy Crisis1570 Words à |à 7 Pagesoffers new market opportunities for business. Providing energy to our nation has been an exciting challenge in recent years. Many changes have been constant throughout that period. The past tells Americans that predicting the specifics of the energy future for our nation with great accuracy would be unlikely. Americans get their energy from different types of resources. With all the different resources Americans believe that an energy crunch shouldnââ¬â¢t happen. The crisis is a nationwide energy discontentRead MorePotential Energy and Wind Power742 Words à |à 3 Pagesoutside, wind blows towards your face, can you imagine the wind can transfer to electricity? Majority people in China have the idea of the coal-burning as a way to produce electricity. However, coal is a limited resource nowadays. Scientists had found out several alternative ways to produce energy, for exampleââ¬âwind power. Wind power can bring us many benefits because wind is an infinite resource; wind power is environmentally friendly while wind farm is also a low-tax project. Wind power, a new wayRead MoreWind Power : Wind Turbines928 Words à |à 4 PagesThe Answer Is Blowing in the Wind Wind energy is a term used to describe the process by which the wind is used to generate electricity or mechanical power. This alternative energy source is not a new technology. Wind mills, similar to wind turbines, have been in use since 2000 B.C. and were first developed in China and Persia. Now with the increasing demand for renewable power, wind turbines or wind generators are beginning to be seen scattered over the countryside. Wind power is believed to be aRead MoreEnvironmental Concerns And Climate Change1135 Words à |à 5 Pagesinfluencing and shaping the future of the power industry. As a result, the electricity required to meet the growing demand is mainly generated from renewable energy resources, and this trend is expected to continue in the next decades [1]. Hydro and wind are major renewable energy resources and are free of greenhouse gas emissions [2]. This makes them valuable environmentally sustainable and economic resources for power generation around the world. A hydro-wind hybrid power system is an excellent combinationRead MoreMgt/360 Final Exam Essay examples1301 Words à |à 6 PagesMGT 360 FINAL EXAM NAME: Choose 2 of the following questions and answer completely. You must answer all items in each question. Use complete sentences. Check grammar, punctuation and spelling. Each answer must be 500-800 words and should include appropriately formatted references and citations. Each answer will be worth 5 points. 1. The water cycle is one important aspect of the biosphere. Briefly describe the movement of water through the water cycle. Water isRead MoreRenewable Energies : Renewable Energy980 Words à |à 4 Pageshave been fully identified and properly acknowledged as required in the referencing guidelines provided.â⬠ââ¬Æ' Introduction Renewable sources of energy are the ones that can never be exhausted as they are provided by nature. For example- solar, hydro, wind, biomass. They produce little or no pollution and hence, do not harm the environment. In times of crisis for the world, such as these, everyone is looking to these energy sources. The obvious advantages of renewable energy are that they do littleRead MoreAlternative Energy: Solar Energy1323 Words à |à 5 Pagestechnologies, but incentives exist to utilize renewable energy. These include solar energy, wind energy, and biomass energy sources. Solar energy using energy emitted from the sun which then transformed into electric energy by using solar panels or photocatalytic cell . Some of the countries such as Japan and Malaysia is a blessed land which including all-year-long tropical climate that guarantee substantial solar power convert into energy. Solar energy become the suitable choice to overcome the increasingRead MoreRenewable Energy Is Not The Answer978 Words à |à 4 PagesRenewable Energy Is Not the Answer Renewable Energy is defined as: a renewable natural resource or source of energy, such as water, wind, or solar power (Oxford English Dictionary). There are those that believe that our nation should abandon the use of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal, and switch to renewable energy sources. Although the change could yield many benefits, I believe that renewable energy is a not viable alternative for our nationââ¬â¢s energy future because it would create
Sunday, December 15, 2019
The advantages and disadvantages of encouraging more migrants into the United Kingdom Free Essays
There are many negative points about migrants coming into our country, but there are just as many positive points. But how many migrants are too much, and how can we say stop to migrants when they are the foundation of todayââ¬â¢s society? Different groups around the world have been migrating into England since the early Iron Age. The first settlers to arrive in England were during the expansion of the Proto-Celtic movement, in about 500 BC. We will write a custom essay sample on The advantages and disadvantages of encouraging more migrants into the United Kingdom or any similar topic only for you Order Now Then between 300 and 500 AD, the great migration movement started; England was bombarded with new settlers from all around Europe. There were the Angles and Saxons from modern Germany: the estimated total number of Germanic settlers varies between 10,000-200,000. There were also many Scandinavians tribes migrated into England between the late 8th century into the early 11th century, like the Vikings and the Varangians. As you can see migrants are the foundation of todayââ¬â¢s society, all of our ancestors were originally from somewhere else. So why is it a problem for migrants to be coming into our country in this century? The problem is that England being a small country canââ¬â¢t physical cope with the demand for more living space. England already has a high birth rate and increased numbers of older people are living longer. So how can we cope with the non-stop flow of migrants coming into our country? From about 1991 to 2001 the population increased rapidly due to migrants coming into the country and starting families. More than one in 10 now living in the UK is foreign born, and one in 3 people living in London was also foreign born. About 8.2% of the English population was born in a different country but have been living in England. ââ¬Å"letting the UK population spiral out of control, as the Government has done in recent years, will make Britain increasingly vulnerable to resource problems as the 21st century unfolds and is a recipe for future insecurity.â⬠OPT, Optimum Population Trust If we donââ¬â¢t act now against population rise, England could face the same problems as India and China. Will England be forced into sterilizing a vast number of women and men? ââ¬Å"The UKââ¬â¢s population is also forecast to grow by 40 per cent over the next seven decades, from 61 million today to over 85 million by 2081â⬠Office for National Statistics The rise in migrants and asylum seekers has lead parts of the UK to major impact problems; one being the need for more housing. Many of the migrants and asylum seekers that come into the country donââ¬â¢t have anywhere to live; because they are the government main concern to house as quickly as possible, they are on priority list to get council house. ââ¬Å"Foreign migrants are being favoured over UK citizens when it comes to social housing, around 11% of new migrants have been allocated social housing.â⬠First online This means that many British people waiting a house wonââ¬â¢t be given one as quickly as a non-born resident. Another problem with the high amount of migrants and mainly asylum seekers is that they are being given benefits. Asylum seekers are not allowed to work until they have been granted a place to stay in England as a Refugee. This has caused elevated rises in many asylum seekers not working, 3 out 10 are not working. As the rise migrants workers come into the country, there are fewer places for British born people to find work. Most public service jobs have been taking by the migrants and most health services have hired workers from other countries. ââ¬Å"The hotels and shops in my remote Scottish community are filled with workers from the EU, now there are no jobs for the local young people, so most of them on into close towns or cities.â⬠Geva Blanette BBC news talk night Another factor which is a disadvantage of migrants is the increase of malaria, HIV and TB. Many British born children are immune from malaria, HIV and TB, and England didnââ¬â¢t fear these 3 killing diseases as much as other countries. But as the amount of migrants and asylum seekers increase, the amount of cases of these disease increases. Facts show that, 70% of individuals diagnosed with HIV, TB and malaria in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were non-UK born. Most of the migrants infected with these diseases are from devolving counties, 45% of non-UK born tuberculosis cases originated from South Asia and 39% from sub-Saharan Africa. Could the government being doing more to try and stop this rise of 3 killer diseases. The facts are that England just doesnââ¬â¢t have room to accommodate all these migrants and provide them all with a job and we donââ¬â¢t need to be burdened with an outburst of diseases. Migrants are coming into our country and bringing new foods, new materials and more workers. We should encourage these new ethnic ideas and ways of living. These foreign workers are happy to do the jobs which English workers arenââ¬â¢t happy to do; they also tend work harder for the same money. ââ¬Å"Migrants work harder, earn more and pay more tax than Britons!â⬠Home Office So if we do send these migrants home who will do the jobs that were happy to do? Whole sectors of the economy and many public services have become highly dependent on migrant labour, and would collapse overnight if those workers were no longer available One major industry that relies greatly on migrants is the health sector, 30% are doctors and well over 10% of nurses. In education, overseas teachers play an important role in staffing schools, and a growing number of London education authorities are recruiting staff directly from abroad. The rapid increase in demand for workers in the IT industry means that over 50,000 people have been recruited. ââ¬Å"It also suggested that the work ethic of the new arrivals was also having a positive impact on British workersâ⬠the independent Migrant workers contributed à ¯Ã ¿Ã ½6 billion to the countryââ¬â¢s economic growth last year and earned, on average, higher wages than the British workers. ââ¬Å"High levels of skills ââ¬â higher on average than the UK natives and that employ migrants found them to be harder workers and reliable ââ¬Å". Home Office Migrants are becoming part of the foundation of our society they are the strawberry pickers, the dentists, the doctors, the nurseââ¬â¢s, carers, taxi drivers, cleaners, bus drivers, waiters and train drivers. We need them to help us make a better life. There has been much discussion in the media on the idea that migrants may have a big effect on employment and befits for British-born workers, but there is little evidence little on effect employment or befits. ââ¬Å"The overwhelming majority of empirical studies agree that there is essentially no statistically significant effect of immigration on labour market outcomesâ⬠Glover The population rose by 189,000, due to the high number of migrants and also people leaving the country. This steady increase over the last decade has shown that the UK canââ¬â¢t cope with the massive growth. But the government figures show that migration has given the UK a life line to an economy suffering from lack of skills and struggling to support growing bills. I personally feel that we should allow people from different countries and races to work in The UK; I feel that the UK can befit greatly by the mixed culture and races. The need for migrant workers is shown by many facts and I believe that they can make a huge difference for our economy. But I also feel that the government should be doing more to stop un-wanted people coming into our country who are not prepared to work. The government should have stricter laws and rules on who should be allowed into the UK. How to cite The advantages and disadvantages of encouraging more migrants into the United Kingdom, Papers
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Ice Cream free essay sample
References| Page 31-32| Executive Summary In this report, there are lots of researches has been done. In order to successfully finish this research analysis, the author had found 265 people to participate on this survey. Throughout this 265 people, 150 respondents confirmed as the true respondents with the highest accuracy of the information given. The author had used simple random sampling as the method of data collection. This is because this method is simple and it can involve large number of respondents. While for the survey, the author used face to face survey. The reason is because face to face survey is much easier to get the real answer and the time spent with the respondents will also be long enough to get the wanted information. Throughout this research, the author had followed the MRS code of conduct when they do the analysis. Besides that, limitations like time of information completion, uncertainties of numbers reached in a specific time and the uncooperative of the public. Magnolia ââ¬â The pioneer ice cream brand in terms of flavour, quality control, variety, technology and distribution produced by the merger of SMC and Nestle. It introduced the Flavor of the Month series that provided a huge variety of ice cream flavours to the consumer, with projected volumes of FoM ice cream sold reaching over 28 million gallons. It pioneered the introduction of tropical fruit flavours. It was the first to achieve International Standards Organization quality standards, and is the only Filipino ice cream brand that has expanded overseas. Magnolia is poised as the main competitor, as it aims to be at the forefront of the dairy industry.With increasing competition, MNC intends to make its products available in neighborhood stores and major outlets; introduce a feedback mechanism that will help the corporation monitor the market; and employ new approaches to selling. Currently, magnolia is the preferred choice of many five star hotels, fine dining restaurants, sports and country clubs and food chains. Presto ââ¬â this brand claims value for money, as part of the corporate philosophy of the Gokongweis, owners of JG summi t corp. hich URC is part of, which is to make available value-for-money items for all its consumer-branded products, and as such has positioned its prices lower than Magnolia Selecta. Presto excels in the frozen novelties market, as was demonstrated in their introduction of Tivoli bars, the first ice cream bar in the Philippines, a phenomenal success that had competitors challenge it with their own versions of ice cream bars. Presto currently holding the number three position, is determined to further widen its market share and catch up with the giants.Thus, the company is eyeing the possibility of plant capacity expansion and wider distribution network. It is also determined to enhance its advertising campaigns and be very active in the communication field. Arce Dairy ââ¬â This ice cream brand was started in January 1995 and immediately got hold of a 5% market share. Its trademark was the use of carabao milk as base, comfortably within the 5-16% fat content requirement to be called ic e cream because carabao milk contains considerably more fat than cow milk (9. 65% as opposed to 4. 16%).Only the expensive ice cream (super deluxe and super special) of Arce contain carabao milk, and are priced at higher than the rates of the competition, showing that Arceââ¬â¢s main strength is its appeal to the AB market where its products cost P3-5 more than its competitorsââ¬â¢ products, and as its regular ice cream products are priced lower than its competitors by P3-5 which indicates its attempt to appeal to the CD marketââ¬â¢s tendency to want every peso to count. Coney Island ââ¬â 1976 saw the entry of Coney Island in the local ice cream market.It introduced a new standard of creaminess thanks to its productsââ¬â¢ high milk fat content, setting a standard for flavour richness back then. Purefoods acquired it in 1991 and increased its production capacity without having neglected the improvement of its quality. In line with Pure Foodââ¬â¢s rule of following the highest international standards, Coney Island tried to implement the zero- vegetable fat and at least 10 percent milk fat standard of US ice cream. It used high quality ingredients like Callebaut chocolate from Belgium for its top-of-the-line products such as the Premium Bar, Pure and Simple and Bugs Bunny Bar.It repositioned itself in the market in 1995 to improve local competitiveness. It marketed its products as ââ¬Å"Not Just Ordinary Ice Creamâ⬠, supported by new flavours and packaging. Coney Island revised its product classification, and began categorizing its bulk ice cream as simply creamy, fruit and nuts, and cakes and pastries instead of the traditional premium and super premium. This move was inspired by a study that showed that consumers buy ice cream on the basis of flavour concepts. Foreign Brands ââ¬â Foreign include Haagen-Dazs, Dreyerââ¬â¢s Grand Ice Cream and Baskin-Robbins. Dreyers was the first to penetrate the local market.
Friday, November 29, 2019
Monday, November 25, 2019
How to Grow as a Content Marketer With John Rampton of Calendar
How to Grow as a Content Marketer With John Rampton of Calendar Have you heard the term, ââ¬Å"growth-hackingâ⬠? It can be a bit of a buzzword. Today weââ¬â¢re going to learn about a real-life growth-hacking example. You donââ¬â¢t have to have a special sales and marketing gene it just takes the willingness to learn. Todayââ¬â¢s guest is John Rampton. Heââ¬â¢s a serial entrepreneur, the founder of several companies, and a contributor to sites like Huffington Post and Entrepreneur. Todayââ¬â¢s episode is a case study in perseverance, so you wonââ¬â¢t want to miss it! Some of the highlights of the show include: What John is up to as an entrepreneur and how his products help businesses, as well as how he got into the entrepreneurial world. The first steps John took to get involved in an online business, including a hack he figured out that wasnââ¬â¢t illegal at the time. The framework John thinks about when it comes to risk-taking. Why hyperfocusing on specific niches and problems is one way to succeed. Johnââ¬â¢s thoughts on learning: how he finds time to squeeze learning into his busy days and making time for whatââ¬â¢s most important. How something as simple as a calendar can function as a powerful tool, as well as information about Calendar.com. How an excellent marketing strategy can even sell a crappy product that provides no value. Johnââ¬â¢s most sage wisdom and best advice for marketers just getting started. Powered by PodcastMotor Actionable Content Marketing powered by By AMP068: How To Grow (Like Crazy) As A Content Marketer With John Rampton 00:00/00:00 1x 100 > Download file Subscribe on iTunes Leave Review Share Links: Due.com Calendar.com John on Twitter JohnRampton.com UpWork Email your iTunes review to podcast@.com If you liked todayââ¬â¢s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by John ââ¬Å"Donââ¬â¢t limit yourself to what youââ¬â¢re doing. Go find new and interesting ways there are always unique things to do.â⬠ââ¬Å"In your life, youââ¬â¢ll always go up or down, learning or not learning Thereââ¬â¢s no flat line.â⬠ââ¬Å"You will never be a better salesperson than your customers.ââ¬
Friday, November 22, 2019
High-Frequency Trading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
High-Frequency Trading - Essay Example It is the latest technological tool in the history of securities marketing. They assert the trading has lowered trading costs (Shorter and Miller 1-2). They, however, fail to realize that HFT leads to phantom liquidity, engages in manipulative strategies, have systematic risks, and that some HFT firms are involved in front-running. Although substantial evidence suggests that HFT provides market liquidity, it is not always the case. It at times fails to fulfill the liquidity-supplying function. The provision of liquidity by HFT is partially illusionary because it avails small order depth. This implies that HFT market makers usually quote narrow spreads without the will to sell or buy substantial quantities at the quoted prices. The low spreads, therefore, do not last and transacting significant quantities becomes impossible. In addition, it displaces other liquidity suppliers such as certified exchange specialists who are likely to endure in the market even during turbulent times. During the Flash Crash, for example, the sale of one large order caused HFT firms to gain substantial blocks of E-mini shares. As a result, many orders transacted at cheap prices and the index fell rapidly (Jones 1-3). Regulating HFT would, therefore, be important in order to caution liquidity when market conditions are not favorable. To remedy this problem, HFTs should run batch auctions at regular intervals. Under this regulation, exchanges can collect and aggregate available orders to trade securities. They would then be executed at the price when most offers and bids match (Shorter and Miller 34-36). There is a growing concern that HFT in front-running by damaging price discovery processes. In other words, there is growing worry that HFT provides unreliable price information and makes conditions difficult for traders equipped with sound information. It diminishes the marketââ¬â¢s potential to
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
International sale carriege and contract of goods Essay
International sale carriege and contract of goods - Essay Example In the United Kingdom, the nature of a sale transaction, as to whether domestic or international, is determined in accordance with the places where the contracting parties hold their principal places of business. If the parties hold their places of business in different jurisdictions, the sale is characterised as international, otherwise it is domestic. This is the approach taken by the s. 26 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 as well as Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG hereafter).1 Many types of risks are being borne by long distance sellers in an international sale of goods, which include, inter alia: the uncertainty resulting from the transit of goods by sea; possible political uncertainty; conflict of law, and; payment issues. 1.1 The Uncertainty Brought About by Transit of Goods by Sea It has been said that the management of international business is the management of risk, a fair assessment considering the geog raphical distance between parties and the political and legal disparities between and among various jurisdictions. International sale of goods is complicated by the likely sea transit of goods. The uncertainty of having the goods travel from one point to the other for a considerable period of time from the time the seller brings his goods to the carrier for shipment to the time these goods are actually delivered to the buyer often entails risks that parties are eventually forced to assume. Thus, it is an often told tale in the international business world of goods damaged, spoiled, rusted, contaminated or lost while aboard vessels or when the vessels sink because of bad weather as they are being taken from one point to another. 2 1.2 Conflict of Laws Additionally, when a transaction of sale of goods involves parties coming from different states or countries a conflict of laws is likely to ensue. Thus, when conditions necessitating resolutions of dispute regarding the contract crop u p, the problem of what law should govern the interpretation of the contract as well as the proper forum of the dispute resolution become a problem. After resolution, the problem of enforcing them in the other jurisdiction remains.3 1.3 Problems Pertaining to Payment If the sale, for example, is agreed to be on credit terms the main problem of the seller is how to ensure payment. Allied to this is the problem of currency fluctuation that may occur at any time during the pendency of the transaction, which can potentially change the complexion of the transaction from being profitable to disadvantageous.4 1.4 Political Instability If the other party comes from a state with an unstable political environment and changes in government policies in international transactions occur during the pendency of the transaction, this could lead to changes as well in the nature of the original contract between the parties.5 To minimise risks inherent in
Monday, November 18, 2019
Reasons for Not Closing Guantanamo Research Paper
Reasons for Not Closing Guantanamo - Research Paper Example The research paper "Reasons for Not Closing Guantanamo" explores the reasons why the Guantanamo Bay detention facility has not managed to close. There have been numerous efforts to close Guantanamo Bay detention facility during Obamaââ¬â¢s term as president. Previously, when the President issued the Executive Order for the closure of the facility, the engaged Congress opposed him, hence restricting the delivery of his earlier pledge. There are various problems facing Guantanamo Bay, and even when shut down, more legal, social, and economic challenges would arise if proper measures are not put in place. Besides the Congress, several legislatures have factored into the logistical problems, by acting to withhold funds meant to aid in closure of Guantanamo detention camp. For quite a while, the Congress has repetitively voted against the closure of the facility and included provisions that would prevent the use of appropriated funds for any actions aiding in its closure. The detainees in the detention facility have been categorized into 3 groups; those under preventive detention meant to stop them from returning to the battlefield, those under preventive detention and still expected to appear before the military or other tribunal for criminal charges, and those cleared for transfer or release to other foreign nations, after contentment that they pose no security threat or did not engage in any hostilities. Moving the detainees as the last category infers, requires funds to relocate the detainees into other countries. In 2010, after Obamaââ¬â¢s Order, the Congress passed a legislation (Defense Authorization Bill), blocking the department of defense from spending any finances in relocation of Guantanamo prisoners from the US for any reason (Landers, 2010). Therefore, any acts of reducing the populating in the facility in line with its closure have failed. On a further opposition, the Congress made it certain that the detainees required to be in the facility and hence restricted the action of building another facility in the mainland United States. Despite the Administrationââ¬â¢s clear opposition of section 413, the Congress prohibited the utilization of funds to construct, upgrade or renovate, and expand the US correctional facility in order to house individuals held in the Guantanamo detention facility (Executive Office of the President, 2013). Through the ban, the congress made it clear that not even other US prison facilities would be spared. None would receive financial support to aid in extra housing of the detainees that would be transferred from Guantanamo, which included the expansion activities or operating costs in maintenance of the detainees. Apparently, it is evident that the congress has consistently been usin g its spending oversight authority to control government funds from acquisition by an Illinois state prison (as a detention facility of one category for Guantanamo detainees), financing trials or even of the
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Different Forms Of Democracy
Different Forms Of Democracy The preceding paper describes democracy in detail. It discusses different forms of democracy. The difference between liberal democracy and democracy has also been analyzed in this paper. It puts light on the seven institutional guarantees of liberal democracy and examines each of the institutional guarantees in detail. Most of the people around the globe are familiar to the word democracy but its meaning is often misunderstood by the ton at occasions when marshal law administrators, single-party governments and military groups acquire the support of millions of people by claiming that they are a democratic government. The word democracy has been derived from the Greek word demos which means people. Democracy can be defined as a form of government in which the supreme power belongs to the people of the nation. In some forms of democracy this power is exercised, directly, by the people of the nation. In other forms, however, this power is being exercised by the agents that are being elected by the general public. According to Abraham Lincoln, democracy can be defined as the government of the people, by the people, for the people. (Cincotta , 2006) The word democracy is often used in place of freedom, but these two words are not synonyms. Although, democracy consists of ideas and theories regarding freedom but it also consists of rules, procedures and policies that have been carved through history. Democracy, therefore, can be defined as an institutionalized form of freedom. (Cincotta, 2006) Types of Democracy: The five major types of democracy are as follows: Direct Democracy: This form of democracy does not advocate the selection of rulers by the general public or the ruled instead it denies the concept that there is any difference between the ruler and the ruled. In such a form all the adult citizens get together to shape the laws and policies for the nation. In other words, we can say that the government and the general public become one. (Democracy,) Deliberative Democracy: It is the form of democracy in which the general public, not just the political personalities, deeply get engaged in the process of public decision making. The citizens also take part in the problem solving processes. The citizens, who are the representatives of a wide variety of stakeholders, who are generally trained by professional experts come together to discuss various facts and concepts from the diversified point of views. They talk to each other and consider various options that are presented to them. They also critically analyze the tension that underlies most of the decisions related to public issues. In the end, the citizens as well as the politicians reach a conclusion or a decision that is being made by both public and political opinion. Most of the countries, nowadays, are trying to employ the deliberative form of democracy. (Carcasson Sprain, 2010) Representative Democracy In this form of democracy people elect representatives who rule them. Most of the nations in todays world are representative democracies. In such nations, a flag represents a nation, a lawyer represents a client and elected politicians represent the nation on international and national levels. The rulers or the representatives allow the general public to have considerable influence or control over them. According to Joseph Schumpeter, representative democracy gives the general public the right to accept or refuse the person who would rule them. (Democracy,) Liberal Democracy Liberal democracy can also be defined as limited government. It limits the authority of the government in order to secure the liberty and the freedom of the public. It also seeks to defend the rights of the minority and to protect the minority from the major danger that is being by democracy, the tyranny and oppression of the majority. This form of government can be defined as the rule of the law rather than the men. In this form of government the rulers are subjected to follow the constitutions and laws. These constitutions consist of rules regarding individual rights. If a citizen feels that he is being exploited by the government then he can raise a dispute in the judicial institutions. (Democracy,) Illiberal or Electoral Democracy In this type of democracy, the leaders or rulers pay no or very little attention to the rights of the individual citizens. The process of democracy is limited to the elections. And in some cases the elections are also disrupted by the influence of the rulers and they may turn the election process in favor of their party. (Democracy,) Difference between Democracy and Liberal Democracy Democracy or presidential form of government can be defined as a form of government where strong decisions are being made immediately in a short period of time and are implemented as well. It is a form of government where the voice of people is valued more than the freedom of the government. According to Schmitt, liberal democracy can be identified with plurality, compromise and indecision. In such a system the freedom of individuals is valued a lot. The decision making process in this form is very lengthy and weak. The decisions made in this form of government, are temporary and do not provide a permanent solution for any problem. Nowadays, in the parliamentary or a liberal form of government the real decisions are being made by the executive committee members behind the closed doors and the parliament is being treated as a debate house. This indicates that the present form of liberal democracy is moving away from its basic objective, public decision making. In a democracy, unlike l iberal democracy where public decision making is practiced, there is a set of rules and regulations which is being followed to make all the important decisions. According to Schmitts theoretical approach, a democracy may exist in a real world but it is nearly impossible for a liberal democracy to exist and sustain in the real world. (Stewart, 2002) Institutional Guarantees Provided by Liberal Democracy For the liberal democracy to exist, it must fulfill the following institutional guarantees; Freedom to Form and Join Organizations All the individuals have complete freedom to join the organization (political) of their choice or they may form their own political organization. For example, the United States of America allows its citizens to freely form and join political organizations. There are about 29 minor and 5 major political parties in the United States of America. Freedom of Expression: All the citizens of a liberal democracy have a right to express their views freely. For example, public demonstrations in different democratic states clearly represent the fact that the general public in democratic states has a complete right to express their views. Inclusive Suffrage: This condition provides all individuals the right to cast the vote and to elect the government. The liberal democracy, for example, provides men and women an equal right to cast the vote whereas; in the previous times women were being neglected in the case of casting votes. The Right to Run for an Office This means that the individual citizens as well as the political candidates have a right to run for a political office in a liberal democracy. For example, in different states many private candidates run for different offices, such as Ross Perrot, who ran for US presidential elections in 1992. Right of Political Leaders to Compete for Vote and Support A liberal democracy allows all the political candidates to compete with each other in legal ways to get their voted and support. For example, different political leaders arrange mass political campaigns in order to convince the people to vote for them. Availability of Alternative Information It is the right of the people to have complete information about all the alternative options available for them. The liberal governments, for example, provide all possible information and complete profiles (including their asset count, net income) of the potential candidates to the general public. Free and Fair Elections It is the responsibility of the government in a liberal democracy to conduct free and fair elections so that the deserving candidate may win and the people may get what they want. For instance, the government posts military officials at various polling stations so that the elections may be conducted peacefully. In addition to that, various policies have been designed by a number of governments in order to avoid vote tracking. Conclusion The increase in transition, from an authoritarian form of government, to democracy has led towards an increase in the number of corrupt governments and system failures. In a survey conducted in third world countries, it was reported that the majority of the people (about 74 percent) said that democracy is the best form of government but they (about 55 percent) also indicated that they would not mind having an authoritarian leader if that would lead towards better economic conditions. Democracy has its pros and cons, but if managed properly, this form of government can bring the best out of a nation and its people. (Howard, 2011)
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Power Of The Few Over The Many :: essays research papers
The Eleventh Commandment portrayed the state church as being the supreme dictator. It is through the eleventh commandment that the church held it's power and control over the masses. Without the church and it's leaders to guide the masses, their society would have collapsed. However, compared to Brave New World, the whole society is conditioned to "work for everyone else"(Huxley 67) by the abuse and daily consumption of soma. Without the drug called soma, their society would have also collapsed due to withdrawal symptoms. The underlying reality between the two societies is that the masses are manipulated, controlled, and brainwashed, without resistance, to obey and follow their leaders through various methods of enforcement. The Brave New World is controlled by a select few who call themselves Resident Controllers and Directors. These elite few are able to control the production and selection process of societies masses. Mustapha Mond, Resident Controller for Western Europe, and the Director of Hatcheries and Conditioning, oversee the conditioning of embryos. Their powers and control over these particular jurisdictions gave them great power, and with that the ability to manipulate others. "'You ass'... said the Director,... 'Hasn't it occurred to you that an Epsilon embryo must have an Epsilon environment as well as an Epsilon heredity'"(Huxley 23). Through a hierarchy of Alaphas and Betas down to the lower cast Epsilon, everyone was suited for their job. The Director however, through his position of authority, was able to "... condition the masses to hate the country,"(Huxley 30). In doing so, the Director succeeds in creating an obedient society, which obeys and bows to every whim of his commands. The Resident Controller and Director were two authoritative figures that were able to control whomever and whatever each person worked at, even before they were conceived. Each cast had pre-conceived morals preached to them through conditioning, and to this end effectively brainwashed to the point of utter obedience. The outcome of this brainwashing by conditioning sets forth a society that exists in two tiers, the guardians and the domesticated animals. [who? why?->BNW] [who? why?->11th C] The church and it's head archbishops are able to control and manipulate the masses in North America by preaching the eleventh commandment through strict laws and enforcement practices. The eleventh commandment ordained that every man and women must be fruitful and multiply. Because of this commandment and of the militant ruling religionist enforcement, North America alone had four billion people, and yet the church continued to preach the eleventh commandment and it's practices. The competition between continents was the driving force behind the eleventh commandment. If it was not the competitiveness between ruling church states,
Monday, November 11, 2019
Ideal student Essay
Students are the future hope of the country. A student is like clay which can be molded into any shape. Hence, it is very necessary that the student should be brought up and taught in the right ways. Teachers and parents are responsible for shaping the character of students. Discipline is the foremost quality of a student. He has to live with good behavior and in a discipline way. This is the time of life when the foundation of character is laid. A student without a sense of discipline is like a ship without a rudder. He should be obedient, cautious, humble and simple. He should respect his elders and gain knowledge so that he may become a good citizen. A good student should be studious. He should not only study but also let others study from him. For this he will have to be law-abiding. An ideal student should keep himself healthy by taking part in games and extra curricular activities. He should be an all rounder. He should select his friend intelligently and wisely. He should have no evil in him and let no evil tempt him. An ideal student should be any time helping and an amusing friend. He should keep the atmosphere lively by his humorous nature. He should never be passive in mind and body. He should take an active part in the activities of the school. He should be a source of inspiration for others. The school is a community and an ideal student should have good relations with his authorities and friends. He should be frank and fearless. An ideal student will admit his mistake, get it corrected and learn from it. He is fully conscious of his duties and responsibilities. He sets an example for the younger generation. An ideal student has many good qualities. He presents an ideal model of character before others such a student will be an asset to others.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Benefits of Using the Internet
The advent of the Internet has become one of the most important manmade inventions during the twentieth century. With the use of the Internet everyone can easily access live weather reports, prepare travel reservations and research on a foreign country without leaving their computer. Certainly everyone wants to veils someplace around the world they can call paradise, I know do; and the paradise I would love to veils one day Is Boar Boar.I never heard of Boar Boar until I watched a popular television show titled ââ¬Å"Keeping up with The Sardinian. â⬠In one of the episodes of ââ¬Å"Keeping up with the Sardinianâ⬠the family took an exciting trip to Boar Boar, and they participated in many entertaining activities that I would like to try someday such as Jet skiing, exploring the country's exotic wildlife, scuba diving in the ocean, etc. While browsing the Internet I learned the history of the Boar Boar, which is part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia located in th e Southern Pacific Ocean.It Is approximately 160 miles northwest of Athol and about 2,600 miles south of Hawaii. An Interesting fact about Boar Boar Is that after the bombing of Pearl Harbor the united States entered World War II and chose Boar Boar as a South Pacific military supply and aviation base as well as constructed multiple defensive forts. During this period the island of Boar Boar and its U. S. Military presence was known as ââ¬Å"Operation Bobcat. â⬠It maintained a supply force of nine ships, 20,000 tons of equipment and nearly 7,000 men.Seven massive naval cannons were set up at strategic points around the island to protect it against potential anti-U. S. Military threats. The use of the Internet assisted me to found out more interesting facts about Boar Boar. For Instance I typed out ââ¬Å"Where is Boar Boar located? At Google search. And according to Google, Boar Boar is a tropical Island In French Polynesia that Is located In the middle of the Pacific Ocean h alfway between Australia and the united States of America.I also typed out, ââ¬Å"Why Is Boar Boar one of the best ultimate tropical vacation getaway? ââ¬Ë It stated that the island has pristine white sand beaches, clear blue lagoons, tropical vegetation over dramatic volcanic peaks, and numerous beautiful tourist resorts. In addition, the Internet informed me useful traveling and educational information about country's culture, socioeconomic statuses, weather forecast, demographics, and such more. The predominant languages spoken among the indigenous and non- indigenous people are French, English and Titian.The weather in Tahiti is similar to the island of Guam and normally has two seasons: the wet season and the dry season. If tourists want to find out when Is the best period to travel to Boar Boar, they can browse the website at www. Overindulgence's. Com. Lastly, the Island of Boar Borax's geographic landscape Is 29. 3 km (1 1. 31 square miles), set In a turquoise lagoon tha t is surrounded by a string of small islands, and Mount Ottoman has a The Internet has become a significant and marvelous tool to billions of people's daily lifestyle at their work, school, and home around the world.Accessing information electronically can be quick and easy in a manner of seconds. It has revolutionized the social network that made politicians implement new laws so they can monitor and prevent any national or international potential threats or crimes from occurring; it has assisted businesses in improving the process of economic globalization and marketing; and it allows people from all ages to communicate with their family and rinds members across the world.My draft question: wintertime's show how people are using internet to find out the real story about the place. Before the internet you have to relay on the travel brochure/agent. What happened in recent years that may people may not trust company in businessâ⬠¦.. Peer reviewers Familiar what is going on in th e internetâ⬠¦ 1. Find a place where you want to visit (building -hotel, park, neighborhood, market etc.. ) 2. What did you learned and find out about the place that you would not known that places. 3. This is to aware that there are places that is
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Van Eyck - Arnolfini and His Bride essays
Van Eyck - Arnolfini and His Bride essays Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride is a piece that has a great deal of symbolism along with legal function. Done in 1434, it was done with oil on wood and is actually only 2'8" by 1'11". The piece was a wedding portait and displays Van Eycks love of detail. Details such as hair had to be done with a single hair brush. First this work shows Arnolfini's wealth, being a silk merchant. He wears a fur coat, appearing in a room of extravigant furnishings. Also he dawns a very large hat which was symbolic of wealth at the time. His hand position is important, swearing an oath of loyalty and fidelity. This begins the functioning of a legal document. That is in this case for marriage. The placing of hands was done and then sworn in front of a noted republic. In the mirror one can see two other people,one the noted republic(in red), and Van Eyck(in blue) as a witness. He wrote; "Van Eyck was here" and dated the event. His bride is an example of what the ideal bride should be. Aristocratic women wore white headress and hair in horns. Women would pluck their forehead back one to two inches as another expression of prestige. The green dress is associated with fertility and her form shows future pregnancy. It was probably an arranged marriage and is important to show the premenition of child birth. Due to the fact that children were important to the relationship. She looks down to show she is respectful and submissive. She is positioned by a wisk broom to show her future position at home and cleaning. Arnolfini is postioned by an open window to show how he will go out into the world and do business. The chandelear has one lit candle that they will blow out after they consumate their marriage. In the background a statue of St. Margret is on the bed post. She is the patron saint of child birth and is yet another example of fertility. The dog is important because in latin Fido means faithful/loyal. The fruit is ri...
Monday, November 4, 2019
Woody allen's films Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Woody allen's films - Essay Example aractersââ¬â¢ problems too easily and therefore, his humor serves a detrimental purpose in draining away the potential value that his films could represent. This is opposed to the view of Nangy Pogel who affectionately refers to Allen as the ââ¬Å"little manâ⬠and views his humor as a cartoonic representation of the Director. Girgus sees a more serious purpose behind Allenââ¬â¢s view and is of the view that it serves to deepen the intricacy of the narrative rather than detract from it. In his criticism of Allenââ¬â¢s films, Carney therefore differs from these other two authors in that he views the humor in Allenââ¬â¢s films as an element that detracts from the real value that his films could have. Carney is critical of Woody Allenââ¬â¢s use of humor in the context of the real problems that the characters in his films may face. He points to the example of Hannahââ¬â¢s drug problem in the film Hannah and her sisters. Holly has a serious problem of drug addiction, yet it is never presented as such in the film, although the problem is mentioned in almost every scene in which the character of Hannah appears. Her muddled state and her pleas for money while in a drug induced state are presented in an endearing rather than a frightening manner. She is openly shown taking drugs in only one scene, when she goes on a date with Mickey (played by Allen). Yet the scene that ensues after she takes drugs is full of gaffes and jokes and it ends up with Hannah being cured of her drug problem. This is another aspect that Carney is critical of ââ¬â the manner in which serious problems are often revealed only at the end and then miraculously cured through the use of humor. In the film Annie Hall, when Annie is almost being induced to try drugs, the character of Alvy tries the drug and sneezes the powder all over the room, thereby dispelling the frightening moment when Annie could have slipped into that dangerous state in a puff of powder humor, and the problem ends right there and the time bomb is
Saturday, November 2, 2019
How social commerce help business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
How social commerce help business - Essay Example Social commerce is a process of utilizing social media with the intention of facilitating businesses to perform marketing, buying, selling as well as sharing of products and/or services in both online and offline market segments (Zhou, Zhang & Zimmermann, 2013). In the recent business scenario, social commerce is identified to play an important role for businesses to perform their activities in the worldwide market segments in an efficient manner. Social media including Facebook, blogs and YouTube among others are used for promotion purposes and also for executing business transactions by firms with the targeted client base with the motive of improving its overall effectiveness and competitiveness (Zhou, Zhang & Zimmermann, 2013). Emphasizing on the notion that social media technologies are recognized to be playing a significant role towards the development of businesses, the paper will intend to emphasize on the factors which are deemed to be responsible for the success of social co mmerce in the contemporary business era. Success of Social Commerce In the present business environment, the development of technologies and the rising notion of globalization have been observed to intensify market competition. Moreover, consumers in the worldwide market segments are observed to be driven with modern technologies. In this respect, organizations, in order to execute their business activities proficiently and competently in international market segments should adopt the tactic of social commerce. It has often been affirmed that social commerce will assist business organizations to appropriately target worldwide consumers and maintain long run association with them with the virtues of the minimized gap between customer demand shifts and organizational service deliverance. It is in this context that organizations and customers with online technologies are facilitated with the opportunity of exchanging information in relation to products and/or services in a time and cos t efficient way. Moreover, the customers will also be able to acquire important information from trusted individuals about buying and selling decisions. In this context, organizations using social technologies will be able to provide consumers with enhanced shopping experiences in comparison to the organizations focusing solely on traditional approaches. Hence, social commerce also aids in developing a better relationship with consumers (Zhou, Zhang & Zimmermann, 2013). From a theoretical perspective, it can be affirmed that social commerce is a tactful blending of social networking technologies along with e-commerce. There are certain drivers which are seemed to be responsible for the development of social commerce. In this regard, the technological factors are considered to be a major factor responsible for the growth of social commerce. Moreover, the rapid progress of technology and communication sectors can also be identified to have increased the essentiality for organizations to adopt latest technologies in order to execute its business activities successfully. The government of a country is also perceived to formulate as well as implement policies and regulations with the intention of supporting technological development and Information Technology (IT) (SAGE Publications, 2005). It has often been argued in this regard that social comm
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Value Proposition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Value Proposition - Essay Example For the reason that no company or product was developing a Catalogue app, a Smart Interface Solutions has registered the Catalogue app, a cheap and easy in use and setup mobile Micro Enterprise Resource Planning, the product will be good idea for the small business. The product will be available on any smartphone as a powerful and smart inventory management tool. The interface will use the smartphone technologies such as camera, GPS, accelerometer and Bluetooth. The Catalogue app is a highly adaptable inventory management and tracking app, the primary target audience is the traders and small entrepreneurs focused on the stock management system with the easy interface. While, small enterprises do not have access to he significant finance for specialized hardware, the product will be a solution in this area. In terms of user interface and configurations, they are functionally identical with the larger desktop variants within the same software. The main benefits for the customer is the efficiency, ability to save userââ¬â¢s time, accuracy of the data received, ability to make an analysis of the data and reduction of task repetition processes. In terms of costs, the product will not cost much; customers will be able to train when using the app. It will allow customers to configure and manage their software on the computer of the usual size through the available software. An app will give a possibility to design that information which user wants. Such opportunity is one for the purpose to make Catalogue adaptable to all applications.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
An Investigation of the Gender Gap of Boys Underachieving in Literacy Essay Example for Free
An Investigation of the Gender Gap of Boys Underachieving in Literacy Essay The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender gap, especially of boysââ¬â¢ underachievement in literacy, and discover if there are particular strategies that schools can implement in order to raise the attainment levels of boys. As the issue of the gender gap is so wide I selected literature to review which covered a wide range of theorists and existing studies. Specifically I wanted to identify some of the suggested causes for the underachievement of boys and any already proposed effective strategies which I could execute in my own study. The data I collected from the study was both qualitative and quantitative in order to give a more valid outcome; these included an open-ended, semi-structured interview, which I felt would enable the respondent to provide a wider range of ideas; questionnaires, observation and existing data. The results showed that there is in fact a close correlation between boys who do not read for pleasure/enjoyment and boys who underachieve. However it also showed that there are specific strategies that can be applied to meet the learning needs of boys in order to raise their achievements. However due to the scale of the topic this small study cannot provide a definitive outcome for the causes and solutions of boys literacy, it has merely suggested some probable reasons for and some possible remedies. HYPOTHESIS During the past twenty years there have been rising concerns over the achievement gap between boys and girls, particularly with boys underachieving in literacy. The aim of this investigation is to identify if reading is the main factor for the achievements of boys in literacy, or if there are other strategies that can be implemented to raise the attainment levels of boys and therefore close the gap. To complete this study, I will undertake the investigation at an all boysââ¬â¢ school (for ethical reasons of anonymity, the school will be known as School A) located in a leafy suburban area in the North West of England. School A is a high achieving school compared to other mixed and same sex schools in the Local Area. The current Head of English (HoD) is driven, ambitious and highly motivated towards pupilsââ¬â¢ achieving the best results possible. During the research I expect outcomes to show that there is a correlation between high achieving boys and enjoyment of reading for pleasure. I also expect to find that particular classroom strategies can effectively impact the attainment levels of boys, particularly in those who do not read for pleasure. LITERATURE REVIEW In 1993 Ofsted reported that boys do not perform as well in English as girls (cited in Bearne, 2004), and more recently the National Assessment of Education Progress (2009) has found that ââ¬Ëfemale students consistently score higher than boys on average in both reading and writingââ¬â¢ (Watson et al., 2010: 356). However this concept is not a new one; researchers for the Gender and Education Association noted that in the 1950s and 1960s the pass rate for the eleven plus examinations, taken by almost all eleven year olds at this time, were different for boys and girls; Epstein et al. (1998 cited in Watson et al., 2010) claims that the pass rate for boys was lower than girls because girls supposedly matured earlier than boys. Gareth Malone, writing for the Telegraph in September 2010 stated that nationally ââ¬Ëboys lag behind girls in reading by 6 percentage points and in writing by 15 percentage pointsââ¬â¢ (Malone, 2010). Despite this, Gorard (2001, cited in Malacova, 20 07) believes that, the panic about the gender achievement gap is exaggerated; he blames the concept on lack of sufficient data, which until recently had not been available, and believes that a lot of the assumptions regarding boys underachievement is based on statistical misinterpretation. Gorard (2001, cited in Malacova, 2007) conducted the first UK analysis of national data set over a six year period; he found that the gap only appeared amongst high-ability pupils and that the number of boys and girls failing exams was similar. His conclusions found that the gender gap was, if anything, decreasing. Regardless of Gorardââ¬â¢s (2001) analysis, there are many who still feel that the performance gap is a concern. In 1993 the Ofsted report offered some insight into differing perspectives and explanations for boysââ¬â¢ underachievement, including the lack of male literacy role models, classroom strategies, curriculum literacy content, perceptions of behaviour, social class and ethnicity (cited in Bearne, 2004). Solsken (1995, cited in Bearne, 2004) added to this list claiming that literacy is associated more with females and femininity and believes that this possibly has a negative effect on boys and their attitudes towards reading. Solkenââ¬â¢s (1995) argument links very closely with Watson et al.(2007) who proposed that popular explanations often focus on boysââ¬â¢ ââ¬Ëbiological make-upââ¬â¢. They claim that evidence shows that ââ¬Ëhegemonic masculinity is central to the struggles boys face as literacy learnersââ¬â¢ (Watson et al. 2010: 357). Rowan et al (2002) also believes that ââ¬Ëboys are biologically different to girls and that this biologically difference is the cause of behavioural differencesââ¬â¢ (Rowan et al. 2002, cited in Watson et al. 2010:357). He believes that due to these biological differences, boys and girls are defined by inherent masculinity and femininity characteristics and in order for educational success this must be acknowledged and accommodated for. This is an important assertion to consider for this particular case study; due to the domination of boys in School A it is important to understand how masculine characteristics are catered for in an all boysââ¬â ¢ school. One of the suggestions to improve literacy for boys is to make education more ââ¬Ëboy friendlyââ¬â¢ by including more reading materials that boys enjoy, such as action and graphic novels, which will motivate boys to read. Hornton (2005) believes that adolescent boys could rediscover the magic of books by using texts that appeal to their interests. Young and Brozo (2000, cited in Brozo, 2010) deem that encouraging boys and actively helping them to find access points into literacy and reading should be made priority by teachers. During this particular study the idea and notion of actively promoting literacy through any route possible is addressed by School Aââ¬â¢s English department head in the interview, and shows that it is essential for boys be aware that reading does not have to be confined to specific genres and authors. Furthermore Cole Hall (2001, cited in Taylor, 2004) claim that boys read less fiction than girls, preferring to opt for texts that contain more facts and less narrative, such as magazines or texts that are analytical. Similarly Millard (1997) claims that boys tend to opt for genres such as action and science fiction whilst reading as little as possible in school that they think they can get away with. Due to these preferences, boysââ¬â¢ are at a disadvantage in academic literacy as their motivation towards school texts and curriculum texts is affected. Probst (2003, cited in Taylor, 2004) believes that if boys are to engage with reading, the texts that they are asked to study need to be significant to them. In other words it seems that in current literacy education, there is not enough stimulating material which addresses the needs or interests of boys. Millard (1997) relates the findings of boysââ¬â¢ apparent lack of interest in reading as significant to low achievement in English, while Holland (1998) attributes lesson style and strategies as some of the other causes for underachievement. Both of these arguments are valid for this particular study and will be investigated further by studying the reading habits and the predicted GCSE grades of boys in a high set and a low set, and by exploring particular teaching styles implemented in School A. Hollandââ¬â¢s study (1998) showed that boys can spend any amount of the day, stemming from 25 percent up to 75 percent, passively listening to the teacher rather than actively engaging. When trying to reason why boys had a tendency for this she found that the boys preferred lessons which were practical, had a range of different activities (such as personal research, groups work or discussions), or involved competition. If boys are passive during English lessons they are not learning the essential literacy skills required to help them achieve results. Taking this into consideration it seems then that pedagogical practice needs to be addressed. Taylor (2004) suggests that teachers contemplating their own practice could reflect on whether they are meeting the individual learning needs for each boy through learning pace and style, and innovative strategies which build on boysââ¬â¢ existing interests to maximise their potential, development and emotional needs. Pollack (1998, cited in Taylor, 2004) agrees with this theory suggesting that numerous opportunities should be presented to boys for hands on, interactive learning. METHODOLOGY My approach to research was identified by the nature and context of the question. After considering the purpose and desired outcomes for the investigation I decided that the research would take the form of a case study, incorporating a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data to ensure validity and reliability; ââ¬Ëqualitative methods may supplement the findings by identifying gaps from the quantitative studyââ¬â¢ (Bryman Bell 2007:650). The decision was made to collect evidence using a multi-method approach including interviews, questionnaires and analysis of existing recorded data. According to Gillham (2000) ââ¬Ëdifferent methods have different strengths and different weaknessesââ¬â¢ (Gillham 2002:13), and so ââ¬Ëtriangulation to strengthen your findingsââ¬â¢ (Greetham 2009:184) was implemented to strengthen the validity of the study. To form part of the qualitative data I arranged an interview with the head of the English department. The purpose of the interview was to gain a deeper understanding of the context of the department and of the strategies which have raised attainment and achievement within the subject. Jones (1985) claims that ââ¬ËIn order to understand other personsââ¬â¢ constructions of reality, we would do well to ask them and to ask them in such a way that they can tell us in their terms (rather than those imposed rigidly and a priori by ourselves)ââ¬â¢ (Jones cited in Punch 2009:144). Taking this into consideration I decided that the interview should be open-ended and semi-structured for flexibility; Cohen et al. (2007) claim that semi-structured interviews gather ââ¬Ëmore intangible aspects of the schoolââ¬â¢s culture, e.g. values, assumptions, beliefs, wishes, problems.ââ¬â¢ (Cohen et al., 2007:97). A semi-structured interview then would enable me to gather more in-depth information regarding the Head of Departmentââ¬â¢s ideas and beliefs surrounding School Aââ¬â¢s succe sses. To understand boys and literacy, and whether reading habits have an impact on GCSE results, a questionnaire was compiled to collect primary data and distributed to a top set and a bottom set year 11 English class. According to Gillham (2002), questionnaires are not typical of case study research; however they can be used to obtain simple, factual information. For the purpose of this part of the study I felt that a questionnaire was a practicable way to acquire important facts regarding the reading habits of a group of high ability boys and a group of low ability boys. These would then be compared to analyse and identify any correlation between reading habits and English predicted exam results using samples from the furthest range on the ability spectrum. During the research I also decided to collect additional data through participant observation. The aim of this was to gain an ontological perspective of the pupils enabling me to observe interaction, relationship and actions performe d by pupils. I felt that this would help me to make sense of the data collected in both the interview and the questionnaire. In regards to validity and obtaining accurate results from my observations, I first needed to develop a relationship with the classes I intended to observe to ensure that my presence was unobtrusive and did not affect their normal behaviours and create a bias observation. To achieve this I regularly participated in classroom observation at the back of the room in attempt to become a participant in the classroom context. Trochim (2001) claims that ââ¬Ëthe researcher needs to become accepted as a natural part of the culture to ensure that the observations are of the natural phenomenonââ¬â¢ (Trochim, 2001: 161), therefore I attended certain classes as an observer over a series of months to ensure that the pupils were comfortable with my presence and so acted within normal behaviours. The final set of data collected was secondary data compiled of the schoolââ¬â¢s GCSE results since the Head of English was appointed, including results form 2008, 2009 and 2010. The data also provided average GCSE results for the rest of the Local Authority enabling me to compare the schoolââ¬â¢s results against average achievements in the LA. The purpose of this data was to compare the information obtained from the interview with the head of department, about strategies implemented to raise attainment, against the GCSE results. ANALYSIS The Interview: The aim of the interview with the English Head of Department (HoD) was to discover if GCSE results had improved since being appointed Head of English at School A, and if so to discuss the strategies and provisions which had been implemented to raise the achievement levels in literacy at School A. The current HoD had taken over the English department in April 2008; the English GCSE in the Local Authority that year was 64.5 percent of students achieving A*- C; School A achieved 58 percent, more than 6 percent less than the LA average and 2.1 percent less than the national average. However in 2009 the following year, after just one year as the department head, School A had improved their results by 20.7 percent. The LAââ¬â¢s average results in English in 2009 was 66.7 percent achieving A*-C, the national average was 62.7 percent, while School Aââ¬â¢s results were up to 78.7 percent. In 2010 the GCSE results at school A dipped slightly to 76.8 percent due to the schoolââ¬â¢s wea ker cohort for that particular year; however the results were still higher than the Local Authorityââ¬â¢s average of 70.4 percent and the national average of 64.8 percent. Due to the weaker cohort that year the HoD considered this result to be an excellent achievement. Strategies implemented in the department were a crucial factor for the improved attainment levels across the Key Stages at School A. In September 2009 a centralised, uniformed English curriculum was introduced to Key Stage 3 aiming to ââ¬Å"drip-feedâ⬠appropriate skills and assessments to pupils that prepares them with relevant GCSE experience before they enter Key Stage 4. Pupils in Key Stage 3 are assessed each half term (part of Assessing Pupilsââ¬â¢ Progress) and are assessed in relatively the same way as the new Specification GCSE, ensuring the identification of weakness areas for improvement. Despite the success of raised attainment across the Key Stages, these strategies cannot be considered as part of School Aââ¬â¢s GCSE progression; the first year group from Key Stage 3 in September 2009 are due to sit their GCSE exams in the summer of 2011, only then will it be pos sible to determine if this strategy attributes to the departments achievements. There are, however, specific strategies in place which can be measured against the departmentââ¬â¢s raised achievement results. These are those that have already been applied at Key Stage 4, including a uniformed teaching curriculum incorporating, for example, all of the same poets and clusters in the GCSE specification; personalised revision packages which identify individualââ¬â¢s weakest areas combined with personalised intervention to improve these weaker areas and ensure pupilsââ¬â¢ achieve highest marks possible; ceased timetables for year 11 pupils close to exams and new timetables put in place to prioritise learning for the nearest exam. The Head of Department believes that all of these are essential contributing factors for the departments improved results. Other elements, which the Head of English believes help pupils at School A to maximise their achievements, are more innovative and practical activities for example the employment of production companies to perfor m GCSE texts such as Of Mice and Men; and school trips to events such as Poetry Live, an event hosted by poets from the GCSE anthology. Pollack (1998) argues that ââ¬Ëwe need to develop and implement innovative teaching approaches this may mean providing numerous opportunities for hands-on as well as interactive teachingââ¬â¢ (cited in Taylor, 2004:294). The English Head felt that these opportunities expanded the boys learning and understanding by developing them outside of the classroom context. Bearne (2003) claims that ââ¬ËThere is a tendency for boys to draw on visual sources for their writingââ¬â¢ (Bearne, 2003:3) and so visual performances such as Of Mice and Men help the pupils to draw on their experiences through vision and memory. In addition to those already mentioned, the Head of Department also felt that the ethos created in the department combined with class room methods were an essential factor in the development and attainment of the pupils at School A. The department has a strong focus on literacy which is promoted broadly amongst all pupils, including reading groups and book clubs, as wel l as spelling and reading lessons delivered to pupils on a weekly basis. Pupils are encouraged to read regularly, regardless of material, to ensure positive enjoyment of reading. In contrast, Brozo (2002, cited in Taylor, 2004) felt that teachers were more likely to choose texts with narratives that did not appeal to boys. The HoD however regularly promoted the reading of any materials, whether it was comics, newspapers, information books or autobiographies; she felt that if pupils were to enjoy reading and increase their confidence with literacy, they should feel that any text that they enjoy to be suitably considered. In terms of classroom strategies the department endorses well paced positive learning in an environment of mutual respect between pupil and teacher; clear personal targets which are monitored explicitly; strong Assessment for Learning to test and extend pupilsââ¬â¢ understanding and learning through challenge, feedback and routes to improve; short, sharp activities; a strong focus on reading; regular homework; and clear learning objectives which are reviewed during the plenary to ensure all pupils know the direction of learning. These techniques are consistent to that of a survey which was conducted of fourteen schools in 1997. The survey was performed by former HMI Graham Frater; he concluded that the most successful schools in regards to boys and literacy were the ones that paid a lot of focus towards teaching methods. Particular methods that he felt where important for success included: prompt starts to lessons with clear learning objectives shared; a challenging pace sustained throughout the lesson; lesson endings which reflected on the learning objectives and achievements within the lesson; a variety of activities; high expectations of the pupils combined with a non-confrontational attitude towards discipline; and effective modelling. It seems quite clear then that pupilsââ¬â¢ achievements at School A can be attributed to the methods and strategies implemented consistently across the department. The pupils are suitably challenged with pace and activities, they know what the aims of their lessons are and how they have achieved these aims, they regularly assess their strengths and weaknesses and so understand what they need to do in order to raise their achievement levels. On the contrary, however, it is difficult to determine whether classroom and reading strategies are the most influential factor for raising attainment in boys and literacy. From observation of quiet reading lessons I discovered that many of the high ability pupils in the top set classes within Key Stage 3 welcomed the lesson as a chance to read an engaging book; however the lower ability groups were often much more difficult to set on task. Indecision over which books to read, reluctance to read quietly, and regular disruption amongst the pupils seemed a frequent occurrence in the low ability classes. When addressing reading, the HoD spoke about the issues regarding boys and reading, specifically in respect of boysââ¬â¢ loss of motivation of reading in their teenage years. She believed that possible causes in lack of motivation in boys and reading was due to their increased socialisation as they grew older, the introduction of more complex reading materials in preparation for GCSE, peer pressure from others that could overshadow pupilsââ¬â¢ personal preferences, and she also felt that a lot of teenage boys only read to obtain information and not for pleasure. Taking these factors in to consideration she claimed that it is important to understand the reasons why boys do not enjoy reading but it is more productive to motivate and encourage them to read. The HoD considers the best way to encourage reluctant readers is by getting to know individual pupils and then gauge their interest levels and preferences as a starting point. Some of the suggested strategies, she felt were particularly useful, are to provide a variety of books, both fiction and non-fiction with appropriate reading levels; to keep in touch with boys current interests and provide books that reflect them; respect reading interests of young people and donââ¬â¢t expect them to only enjoy books suggested by the teacher; allow pupils to self-select their own books; encourage an interest in short stories, graphic novels and magazines, working up to full-length books; and to give academic recognition and credit for books read. These ideas meet the suggestions put forth by Hornton (2005), who stated that boysââ¬â¢ motivation should be encouraged with texts that appeal to their interests, and Young and Brozo (2000, cited in Brozo, 2010) who find it important to aid boys to seek access points into literacy and reading. The Questionnaire: The questionnaire was distributed to a high ability top-set year 11class and a low ability bottom set year 11 class. There were 32 pupils in the high set and 13 in the low set. The aim of the questionnaire was to compare the reading habits and attitude towards reading from a range of pupils of different abilities. According to Hornton (2005) there is a correlation between individuals with low level literacy skills and those who dislike reading for pleasure, and so I predicted that an individualââ¬â¢s attitude toward reading would correlate with their predicted GCSE grade; the more pupils enjoy reading and feel that it is important, the higher I expected their grade to be. The predicted GCSE grades in the set one class ranged from A* C while the set five classesââ¬â¢ grades ranged from B ââ¬â G. The questionnaires revealed that in the top set group 84.38 percent of pupils enjoyed reading and 90.63 percent felt that reading was important for reasons such as expanding vocabul ary, increasing knowledge and learning new things. There was a vast difference in comparison with the lower set where only 23.8 percent of pupils enjoyed reading and just 53.85 percent felt that reading was important. It appears then that there is indeed a correlation between literacy skills with enjoyment of reading, however other elements surveyed in the questionnaire aimed to establish whether boys and literacy could have a direct link to their parentsââ¬â¢ relationship with reading. The survey asked pupils if their parents enjoyed reading and if they had been encouraged to read as a child. Sadowski (2010) analysed the literacy gap between working and upper class boys, he found that the gap for more affluent boys was not as large as those from working class backgrounds and attributed this to richer boys growing up with fatherââ¬â¢s who were readers. This suggests that pupils whose parents enjoy reading and encouraged them to read from a young age would achieve higher results than those whose parents either did not enjoy reading or did not encourage them. Surprisingly the results did not reflect this to an extent that one would have expected. In regards to pupilsââ¬â¢ parents who enjoy reading, 76.92 percent of pupils in the lower ability set agreed that their parents enjoyed to read while 81.25 percent of pupilsââ¬â¢ in the high ability group confirmed the same. Of parents who encouraged their sons to read as a child, 61.54 percent from the low ability agreed and 78.31 from the higher ability group. Despite a difference between the percentages for both groupsââ¬â¢ parents who read and encouraged them to read when they were younger, the gap is not a remarkable one and does not qualify a distinct correlation between pupilsââ¬â¢ ability in literacy and the relationship their own parents have with reading. The questionnaires revealed that in spite of 76.92 percent of their parents having an enjoyment of reading, only 23.08 percent of pupils in that class enjoy reading, which suggests that perhaps even if a higher percentage of parents had encouraged their son to read this would not necessarily have affected their attitude towards reading for pleasure and therefore would not affect their achievements in literacy. EVALUATION The outcomes and findings from this case study have, to some extent, complemented a lot of the existing research addressed in the literature review. For example Holland (1998) discovered that boys tend to spend a lot of time listening passively to teachers because they prefer lessons that are practical and involve a range of activities. From my observations in the classroom and confirmation from the Head of English in the interview, the boys at School A also learned best when lessons involved a series of different activities such as discussions, group work or practical tasks such as drama-based role plays. This outcome also corresponded with Malone (2010) who, in a venture to discover why boys where underperforming in literature, stated that he aimed to perform short, achievable tasks with the boys, he also suggested that giving explicit time frames focused the boys into completing their work. During the interview the HoD explained that by giving the boys at School A short time frame s to complete specific task, it kept the pace of the lessons challenging and rigorous and therefore engaged them in learning more effectively. However the problematic outcome for this particular study is that only one school has been investigated and so it is difficult to determine whether the observations, questionnaires and interview conclusions, pertaining to strategies and the improved GCSE literacy results for School A, are a true reflection of causes and solutions of underachievement. The English GCSE results were really poor at School A in 2008, just as the current Head of Department took over, and from the interview questions and answers it would seem that the department and classroom strategies implemented since then have helped to improve the pupilsââ¬â¢ achievements. Nevertheless it is certainly impossible to verify whether these are the sole reason for improvement; one particular reason is that it was never established what mode of departmental and classroom strategies were in place before the current HoD took over from the previous. Another reason is that School Aââ¬â¢s GCSE results prior to 2008 were not obtained for this study and so results before this year have simply been generalised based on the last available statistics. It could be assumed that the 2008 result may have been an isolated case and so accessing results prior to 2008 would have endorsed whether or not the results had improved substantially. Gorard et al (2001, cited in Malacova, 2007) believes that the gender gap is exaggerated and to some extent it is possible from this research to argue in favour of this. Over the past three years School A has achieved excellent GCSE results, especially in English and particularly in comparison to local and national results. School A is an all boysââ¬â¢ school and so advocates that boys in this particular context are not underachieving as are others in other contexts. This suggests that if School A can produce results above the average mark, particularly in a year when the cohort was extremely weak, i t should be possible for other schools to raise the achievement levels of literacy in boys just the same. However it would be possible to prove or disprove Gorardââ¬â¢s theory of the gender gap, if the strategies implemented at School A could be put into action in a school of a different context. If successful this would validate the outcomes from this case study, it would also give rise to further research based on boys and literacy and whether these strategies could be used in a co-educational school or if they are too specific to the needs of boysââ¬â¢ learning and therefore not beneficial to girlsââ¬â¢ learning. I felt that the findings made regarding boys reading habits and their attainment levels were significant. From the sample of questionnaires taken there seemed to be a direct correlation between predicted grades A*-C and boys who enjoyed reading or felt that it was important; 100 percent of the boys in the high ability group were predicted a grade A*-C (although three pupils were unaware what their predicted grade is, the school setting procedures ensured that only bo ys predicted A*-C would be allocated to set one). Of this a high 90.63 percent felt that reading was important and 84.38 percent enjoyed reading for pleasure. There were however exceptions to this; one pupil in the higher ability group stated that he did not think reading was important because ââ¬ËI do not read and I am predicted Aââ¬â¢s at GCSEââ¬â¢. Another boy from the high ability group, who has been predicted a C grade, also felt that reading was not important because it ââ¬Ëdoesnââ¬â¢t do anythingââ¬â¢, however this boy also claimed that he enjoyed reading and so regardless of whether he felt that it was important or not, reading is part of his literacy development. Despite the boys who did not feel that reading was important, the majority of the boys in the class felt that reading was important; this suggests that the highest achieving literacy pupils in School A were ones that enjoyed reading and so this would also be an essential contributing factor to the success of their achievements. It is difficult here to state whether the reasons for the boysââ¬â¢ enjoyment of reading is owing to the strategies for motivating reading encouraged by the HoD and so part of the questions on the questionnaire should have been more open ended to allow pupils to explain perhaps what motivates their enjoyment of reading. The lower ability results from the questionnaire were also significant for showing a correlation between literacy achievements and reading habits. Only 23.08 percent read for pleasure and only half the class felt that reading was important, this suggests that the reason for low ability achievers is possibly due to the lack of enjoyment in reading. Once again the problematic issue with these results is that the number of pupils in the low ability class was considerably less than the number of pupils in the high ability class. To gain a perhaps more informed result from the questionnaires a larger sample from low ability classes should have been obtained to match the number of pupils in the high ability class. This may or may not have produced different results, but, whatever the outcome, they certainly would have been more valid. One final evaluation to consider, in regards to the low ability group, is how effective the suggested motivation strategies have been in engaging boys in reading. With only 23.08 percent of pupils in this class finding an enjoyment in reading it would seem that the strategies have been ineffective in increasing motivation and achievement in these particular pupils. What would have been an interesting study if had been possible, would be to assess pupils attitude towards reading and predicted grades before the HoD had taken over and implemented strategies, and then to compare them to the results that have been found during in this study. CONCLUSION Returning to the hypothesis, my aim was to find out if reading for pleasure impacted on boysââ¬â¢ attainment levels; whether the achievement of boys who did not enjoy reading was affected. I also wanted to identify successful teaching strategies and whether these would raise the levels of those boys who again did not enjoy reading. The study has shown that there is a correlation between boys reading habits and their achievement levelsââ¬â¢; it has also identified some strategies that can be used to raise their attainment levels. However from this study alone it is difficult to say if those strategies implemented in an all boysââ¬â¢ classroom would be equally effective in a mixed sex classroom. Due to this it would be interesting to expand the research on a larger scale to investigate the impact of those strategies, which are effective for boys learning, on a) girls learning in a mixed classroom and b) boys learning in a mixed classroom. The gender gap issue is such a broad topic that research can be extended to a greater degree of investigation. For example I have covered some possible causes of boysââ¬â¢ underachievement in this study; however on a wider scale other possible causes could be explored such as masculinity and identity, class or ethnicity. I feel that the most important route to take continuing from this particular investigation would be a focus on masculinity stereotypes in the single sex classroom and the mixed classroom. Holland (1998) states that: Boys do appear to be locked inside a stereotype which appears to make them succumb to peer pressure and which inevitably impacts on their attitude to workââ¬â¢ (Holland, 1998: 177). Therefore researching ways that can reduce or even prevent these macho stereotypes in the classroom would be an important factor for understanding boys and underachievement. Despite that there is no definitive outcome from this study; I feel that it is something that I will take forward into my professional development; whether it is through consideration of differentiation in boys learning style in a mixed classroom, or through a focus of raising attainment levels in my classes. Whichever way I incorporate consideration of gender into my teaching, it is certainly something that needs to be addressed. Gorard (2001) believes that concern over the gender gap is exaggerated; however it is clear through GCSE tables that boys tend to achieve lower than girls. In relation to this then, it is important for both newly qualified teachers and established teachers to consistently strive to meet the learning needs of their pupils. It seems the most important way is by adapting their style and approach to learning styles to ensure that both girls and boys have equal opportunities to work and achieve their highest potential. BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS Bleach, K. (1998). Raising Boys Achievement in Schools. Staffordshire: Trentham Books Ltd. Brozo, W. G. (2002). To Be A Boy, To Be A Reader: Engaging Teen and Preteen Boys In Active Literacy. US: International Reading Association. Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007) Business Research Methods 2nd Ed. Oxford University Press Cohen, L. , Manion, L. Morrison, K (2007). Research Methods In Education. London and New York: Routledge. Cox, T. (2000). Combating Educational Disadvantage: Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Children. London and New York: Falmer Press. Frances, B. (2000). Boys, Girls and Achievement: Addressing the Classroom Issues. London and New York: Routledge. Frater, G. (1997). Improving Boys Literacy. London: The Basic Skills Agency. Gillham, B. (2000). Case Study Research Methods. London and New York: Continuum. Greetham, B. (2009) How to Write Your Undergraduate Dissertation. Palgrave Macmillan. Mason, J. (1996). Qualitative Researching. London, Thousand Oaks, New Delhi: Sage. M illard, E. (1997). Differently Literate. London, Washington DC: The Falmer press. Punch, K. F. (2009). Introduction to Research Methods in Education. Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC: Sage. Rae, T., Pederson, L. (2007). Developing Emotional Literacy With Teenage Boys. London, California and New Delhi: Paul Chapman Publishing. Trochim, W. M. (2001). The Research Mothods Knowledge Base. Cincinnati, OH: Atomic Dog Publishing. Weeks, A. (1999). The Underachievement of Boys. Northants: First and Best Education. JOURNALS Holland, V. (1998). Underachieving Boys: Problems and Solutions. Support for Learning , 13(04), pp.174-178. Hornton, R. (2005). ââ¬ËBoys Are People Too: Boys and Reading, Truth and Misconceptionsââ¬â¢. Teacher Librarian ,.33(2), pp 30-32. Malacova, E. (2004). ââ¬ËEffects of Single-sex Education on Progress in GCSEââ¬â¢. Cambridge Assessments UK , 33, pp233-259. Mills M. Keddie, A. (2007). ââ¬ËTeaching Boys and Gender Justiceââ¬â¢. International Journal of Inclusive Education ,11 (03), pp.335-354. Myhill, D. (2002). ââ¬ËBad Boys and Good Girls? Patterns of Interaction and Response in Whole School Teachingââ¬â¢. British Education Research Journal , 28 (03), pp.339-352. Reichert, M. Hawley, R.(2010). ââ¬ËReaching Boys An International Study of Effective Teaching Practicesââ¬â¢. Phi Delta Kappan ,91 (04), pp35-40. Sadowski, M. (2010, August). ââ¬ËPutting The Boy Crisis in Contextââ¬â¢. Education Digest , pp 4-6. Taylor, D. L. (2004, December). ââ¬Ë Not Just Boring Stories: Reconsidering the Gender Gap for Boysââ¬â¢. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy , pp290-298. Watson, A., Kehler, M. Martino, W. (2010, February). ââ¬ËThe Problem of Boys Literacy Underachievement: Raising Some Questionsââ¬â¢. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 53(5) , pp356-361. WEBSITES Bearne, E. (2004, September). Raising Boys Achievement in Literacy. Retrieved March 2011, from RBA: www-rba.educ.com.ac.uk/PaperEB.Paf Boys Underachievement. (2005, November). Retrieved December 2010, from Teaching Expertise: www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/boys-underachievements-101 Gender and Achievement. (n.d.). Retrieved December 2010, from National Strategies: http://nationalstrategies.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/node/46121?uc%20=%20force_uj Malone, G. (2010, September 2nd). Extraordinary School For Boys: helping boys love literacy. Retrieved April 11th, 2011, from Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/education/7976044/Extraordinary-School-for-Boys-helping-boys-love-literacy.html Mendick, H. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2011, from Gender and Education:
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