Case Study of an Architect: Steven Ngu

Ar. Steven Ngu Ngie Woon is an designer working in Garis Architects house. He is one of the senior designers working at that place and he leads the designing squad. Get downing from his childhood, Steven has already been exposed to this field because of his father’s business as a contractor. Bing the eldest boy in the household, he was brought up in a really rigorous mode. His slogan â€Å"do more, learn more† was besides an influence from his male parent. And because he was brought up to larn to be responsible for the things that he make, he ne'er does his work half-heartedly. Therefore, he was ever one of the top winners in his instruction. He is presently 34 old ages old. He graduated from University Malaya in twelvemonth 2006, he got his Ar. rubric two old ages after graduation. Ar. Steven’s favorite work is the Symphony Hills in Cyberjaya which he handled from the start till the completion of the undertaking, and it is besides a undertaking that has won legi on PAM awards. The intent of this essay is to understand the linguistic communication of architecture based on the designers childhood, instruction and working experience, the messages and significances the edifice carry, and the context of which it is applied within. Therefore I chose the direction office of Symphony Hills. Pic 1 – Front lift of the office Bing in a state with tropical clime, the designer has to believe of different methods as solutions to the rough clime in Malaysia. Cyberjaya is a topographic point that is bare and has no trees to supply shadiness from the searing heat from the Sun. There is non much precipitation and the air current is non really strong. Therefore, some design solutions are used against the climatic conditions in Cyberjaya. In order to avoid direct warming of the infinites of the edifice, green walls are placed on the frontage of the edifice. In add-on, in conformity to the way of the sun way, the green walls besides work as a perpendicular shading device to forestall blaze from the Sun rise and Sun set. Not merely that, big overhangs on the North and south facing of the edifice to supply shadiness. As for the edifice stuff, concrete is used because of it high capacity as a thermic mass and maps as a heat sink. Not merely does it absorb heat easy and detain the peak temperature of the indoor infinit es until the residents have left, it merely releases heat when the outside temperature is lower and that is merely during the dark clip when there is cipher in the office. Furthermore, in order to increase the heat optical density capacity, a green roof is used where the dirt will besides work as a heat sink. Besides, because of occasional heavy rain in Cyberjaya, a polycarbonate roof that extends out to about five metres is used to forestall the rain from making the gallery infinite where people walk from the office to the surau. Pic 2 – demoing the overhand and the construction of the edifice Compared to other subjects, architectural theory is limitless. It encompasses theories of architectural engineering, architectural history, and architectural design. Harmonizing to Professor Korydon Smith, architectural theory is defined as â€Å" the apprehension of nonsubjective rules and subjective values that guides the persons in determination about their ain and others architectural works.† Through this, what i identified was sustainable architecture and late modernism, besides known as structural expressionism. The chief intent of sustainable design is to â€Å"eliminate negative environmental impact wholly through adept sensitive design.† In order to accomplish the optimum comfort in the office without devouring much energy, the edifice uses H2O characteristics environing the edifice as an indirect evaporative chilling method. A green roof garden is besides used to take down the temperature of the edifice through the vaporization of H2O stored by the workss and the dirt. To farther cut down the heat of of import infinites like the office, non merely is the green wall is used as a perpendicular shading every bit good as a chilling device. By using assorted inactive chilling methods into the edifice design, the edifice is able to utilize less air conditioning system. Additionally, the edifice besides uses egg crates in the edifice design to avoid direct sunshine and warming into the infinites. However, it besides uses curtain wall on the frontage of the edifice to maximize the entry on sunshine into the infinites. Another theory used in this edifice is late modernism, besides known as structural expressionism. It normally exposes the structural elements of the edifice, together with the usage of drape walls. Its design is besides largely based on the map of the edifice, big interior infinites and easy entree to each floor. Pic 3 – Diagrams on theory Another factor analysed is the user, the simple program layout makes it easy for the user to do usage of the infinite efficaciously. When in an office, teamwork is of import, therefore an unfastened program was used to avoid individualizing infinite for each staff. With an unfastened program, the staffs are able to pass on with each other with minimum walking distance. The edifice besides has balconies to let people to hold private conversations while looking out to the beautiful landscape. Furthermore, since this is an office for Symphony Hills itself, the multipurpose hall was made to let Symphony Hill to do a impermanent flat salesroom. The salesroom takes into consideration that during the launching twenty-four hours of the undertaking, there will be many viewing audiences to come position the salesroom, therefore public furniture are placed in forepart of the salesroom to let the invitee to hold treatments with the gross revenues people after sing the show unit. Additionally, th e edifice scaled harmonizing to human proportion, non doing the user to experience alien in a on the job environment. Curtain walls are besides used to buoy up the infinites, doing it more environmentally friendly for the staffs when working, as a brighter infinite improves their on the job efficiency. Pic 4 – Diagrams on user Based on the factor analysed, the personal values that Steven used to plan in this edifice is evident. Since immature, Steven has been really discipline about his life style. He is a hardworking individual and he gets along with other people, even though he is busy, whenever person needs any aid or inquiries, he willing teaches them. Bing him, he makes certain that the edifice is functional and it responds to the site. He takes serious consideration on the site context of the edifice. Based on the climatic factor, he has placed much importance in environmental response of the edifice. Though Garis Architects is a topographic point that designs undertakings with a in-between scope budget, Sympony Hills is a undertaking that is considered to be on the higher scope, most likely because of the client. The client this clip is UEM Land and they manage to acquire 98 estates of freehold land in Cyberjaya cardinal concern territories. So due to the location, the clients purpose was to plan the topographic point for the high terminal community with incorporate installation and services. Using a green roof requires the usage of proper technology on the edifice roof and it is non inexpensive. To cut down the temperature of the milieus, Steven proposed the usage of H2O fountains and pools to environ the topographic point, non merely does it take down the temperature, it besides fits the clients demand to do Symphony Hills into a high-end luxury residential country. Pic 4 – Birdseye position of Symphony Hills Furthermore, while Steven has a avocation of traveling and sing celebrated architectural edifice, he tries to larn from the experience gained from the edifices and use it into his ain design. Previously, during his visit to Chandigarh in India, he took the chance to see Le Corbusier’s edifice every bit good. Throughout architecture classs, we have learnt that Le Corbusier is a maestro of designers and he is a modernist. However, modernism is a paradigm of architecture for the machines, it was a clip where the designers pushed their ain political orientation of making a perfect edifice that is suited for anyone. Modern architecture focuses on the honestness of stuffs, usage of modern stuffs and systems, generous usage of glass and natural visible radiation, accent on unfastened infinites, usage shadowing devices to accomplish optimum human comfort, and the accent on rectangular signifiers and consecutive lines. Steven learns from it, nevertheless he took it a measure farther in to late modern architecture, besides known as structural expressionism. Though there is non much of a difference between late modern architecture and modern architecture itself, there is one, nevertheless obvious differentiation between the two. That is late modern manner edifices are non as simple and straightforward as modern manner edifices, albeit rectangular signifier, it is considered as a extremely articulated structural signifier. Common characteristics include open structural frames, truss work, and it tends to be metallic. Pic 5 – demoing the metal constructions of the green wall and the stairway Additionally, whenever Steven designs, he takes into consideration the poetics of infinite, and the experience of the user and the residents of the infinite during the design procedure. Before this, he mentioned that his front-runner designer is Peter Zumthor. In a book Thinking Architecture written by Peter Zumthor, he mentioned that every edifice is built for it’s targeted usage, in its ain topographic point for its really ain society. He designs his edifice to seek to reply those inquiries every bit critically as he can. Though Steven learnt to plan following Peter Zumthor’s train of ideas, he used his ain method of using it into his edifice design instead than the usage of phenomenology architecture. What the client wanted for this office infinite was for it to advance efficiency in the on the job environment while making a friendly infinite to better the sociableness of the staffs. By utilizing a mixture of both type of infinites, an unfastened program together with a private infinite, Steven aimed to hold a big infinite where the staffs would be able to pass on with each other without traveling from their infinites. Through this, there will be less miscommunication between the staffs because they are able the discuss everything in the unfastened. As for the private infinite, it is the balcony, where the staffs will be able to hold a more relax conversation during lunch clip or break clip. Not merely does it assist in let go ofing emphasis and tenseness between the staffs, it helps in conveying them closer and understanding each other in a better manner. Furthermore, because there is no mosque near the site, the surau is located merely opposite the office to let the Malays to be able to pray with privateness and without perturbation. It besides makes it easier for them as they don’t need to go out of the compound to look for the mosque and in the terminal have a shorter clip spent for tiffin. And he places importance in the lighting of the infinite. What Steven did to buoy up up the infinite was through the usage of drape walls and skiding doors. When human plants, they will necessitate a minimal sum of illuming to work expeditiously, if non they will hold to strive their oculus in order to see, and sing the long sum of clip they spend in the office, if there is non adequate lighting, their efficiency lower and their wellness will deteorirate every bit good. In decision, with his slogan of â€Å"do more, learn more† , Steven ever tries to larn the values, and replies from whatever he does and attempts to use it in his design. He aims to ne'er halt larning throughout his life-time, and by making so, he will ne'er halt seeking to look for ways to better himself and his designs. Through this design, one can see the sum of work and clip spent in the design and development of the undertaking. Even though he is considered as a immature designer with small experience because of his age, he worked difficult to come up with a design that he is confident plenty about his design and be able to convert the client with it. Mentions A2modern.org, ( 2014 ) .What is modern: features of modern architecture – a2 modern | modern architecture in the Midwest | ann arbor modern | michigan modern | modern architecture in ann arbor. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //a2modern.org/2011/04/characteristics-of-modern-architecture/ [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] . De Gruchy, G. ( 1988 ) .Architecture in Brisbane =. 1st erectile dysfunction. Brisbane, Qld. : Boolarong Publications with Kookaburra Books. Epa.gov, ( 2014 ) .Green Roofs | Heat Island Effect | US EPA. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/heatisland/mitigation/greenroofs.htm [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] . Historicdenver.org, ( 2014 ) .Historic Denver | Resources | Late Modernism. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.historicdenver.org/resources/late-modernism/ [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] . Nyc-architecture.com, ( 2014 ) .New York Architecture Images-. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //nyc-architecture.com/STYLES/STY-struc.htm [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] . Passikoff, A. ( 2011 ) .A fac?ade of edifices. 1st erectile dysfunction. Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse. Pritzkerprize.com, ( 2014 ) .Biography: Peter Zumthor | The Pritzker Architecture Prize. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.pritzkerprize.com/2009/bio [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] . Riorenewables.com, ( 2014 ) .Evaporative Cooling of Buildings: Improving Energy Efficiency. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //www.riorenewables.com/efficient-design/evaporative-cooling [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] . Smith, K. ( 2012 ) .Introducing architectural theory. 1st erectile dysfunction. New York: Routledge. Topdevelopers2012.iproperty.com.my, ( 2014 ) .Symphony Hills | Top Developer. [ on-line ] Available at: hypertext transfer protocol: //topdevelopers2012.iproperty.com.my/project/symphony-hills [ Accessed 23 Jun. 2014 ] .

Corporate Governance in Malaysia

Corporate Governance is a concept in which it has been existence for decades; although not in the exact form that it has come to be understood today (Anandarajah, 2001). The term corporate governance was introduced in Malaysia in 1997 during the Asian Financial Crisis. It also drew the public’s attention on the weaknesses of the Malaysian corporate governance practice (Nor Azizah Zainal Abidin, 2007).Besides that, the downfall of Sime Bank, the Bumiputera Malaysian Finance (BMF) scandal, the irregularities in Renong Berhad, the Perwaja fiasco and the internal management problem faced by Malaysian Airline System (MAS) forced government to enhance corporate governance regulations (Norwani, Mohamad, & Chek, 2011).The High Level Finance Committee Report 1999 on Corporate Governance in Malaysia defined corporate governance as the â€Å"process and structure used to direct and manage the business and affairs of the company towards enhancing business prosperity and corporate account ability with the ultimate objective of realizing long term shareholder value, whilst taking into account the interest of other stakeholders. † (Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance, 2012). The code that governs the corporate governance in Malaysia is called the Malaysia Code of Corporate Governance (MCCG).This code was recently revised in March 2012 and it is known as the MCCG2012. Besides providing relevant information to investors, this code also aims to encourage transparency management of companies, to enable investors to guide the direction of the company (Nor Azizah Zainal Abidin, 2007). The MCCG 2007 was revised with the aim to enhance the directors’ duty to the companies. With the revised MCCG 2012, there are still many issues arising from corporate governance. However, to some extent there are improvements in some area of the corporate governance.The revised MCCG 2012 contained a few improvements in the recommendation. This Code now establishes clear roles an d responsibilities where ethical standard should be formalized through the code of conduct by the board to ensure its compliance. Through the company’s code of conduct, it mandates the board to formulate system of compliance and ethical standards. Besides, it also includes ensuring that the company’s strategies promote sustainability. There are many improvements made under reinforcement of independence. 3. 1 mandate boards to undertake an annual independent director assessment.For an individual to serve as an independent director, 3. 2 mandate a cumulative term to nine years. Under 3. 3, justification and shareholder’s approval is needed if the board retains as an independent director. And lastly MCCG 2012 recommends that a majority of independent directors must be in the board and the board chairman is not an independent director. These were not in the MCCG 2007. The most important improvement under the MCCG 2012 is to ensure timely and high quality disclosure. Under this the board should make certain the appropriate disclosure procedure and policies of the company.Also, for effective dissemination of information, board should encourage the company to leverage on information technology. This is to promote better use of technology. Furthermore, with the existing recommendation, MCCG 2012 also state that the board should also encourage pool voting in order for strengthening the relationship f the company and shareholder. This imposes duty to inform the shareholders of their right to demand a poll vote by the general meeting chairman. The concern here is whether the revised MCCG have enhanced the corporate governance of the companies in Malaysia.This code calls for voluntary compliance, coupled with the requirement in the listing rules of KLSE which make mandates disclosure of the extent of compliance with the best practice sets out in the Code, while allowing for some flexibility in its implementation by companies. The aim here is to provid e necessary information and encourage disclosure to investors who entrusted their funds to companies, so that they can monitor the way it is being run (Finance Committee on Corporate Governance, 1999). This Code has somehow reduced the number of financial scandal but definitely not completely clear it off.There are many scenarios that company collapsing due to financial scandal as what was initiated by the BMF (Bank Bumiputera Finance) scandal. The law governing director’s duty consist of various forms of law. These duties have been observed also contain a plurality of legal fields such as company law and employment law (Hee, 2003). Section 132(1) of the Companies Act 1965 requires a director to use reasonable diligence and to act honestly in the discharge of his duties. The duty to act in the best interest of the company as a whole also from common law covers the collective interest of both existing and prospective shareholders.It is suggested that the common law fiduciary d uty to avoid conflicts of interest should be codified to allow directors to be clear about their obligations in conflict situations. KLSE listing Requirements stipulates that public listed companies must got at least two independent directors. Individuals who are expressly excluded from being eligible to act as independent directors include major shareholders, professional advisers or relatives of an executive director or major shareholder of the listed company (Hee, 2003). This provides a better equilibrium of powers between directors and independent directors.The auditor actually provides a check on the information aspect of the governance system rather than having a direct corporate governance responsibility. As widely recognized, the duties of the audit committees have been related to internal audit financial reporting and external auditor. The importance of an audit committee in the framework of corporate accountability is where audit committees are expected to act as the guard ian of investors’ interests and corporate accountability suggested by the wide adoption of audit committee (Saidin, 2007).The main duties are to inspect and form an opinion as to whether the financial statements have been drawn up in accordance with the financial reporting standards of Malaysia and the Companies Act 1965; to obtain reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatements; and to examine and form an opinion whether the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Company as of the financial year end and of its financial performance and cash flows of the year end (Yycadvisors, 2012).The pertinent issue in corporate governance is due to mismanagement, director’s duty not well performed, abusing the minority projection / shareholders and not having meetings often to update what is going on. Management or board should practice the commonly accepted principles of corporate governance such as i ndependence, accountability, roles and responsibilities, integrity and ethical behavior, and transparency. A company’s board should have a number of independent directors. They should be individual with no connection with the company other than a seat in the board.Also, selected independent directors should meet the â€Å"independence† test under the regulatory rules and also to serve with independence of minds. This process of selecting independent directors is likely to maintain their independent mindedness (Rahman & Salim, 2010). To create a system that holds decision makers accountable while according proper respect to their authority over corporation is a challenging thing for corporate governance. The market, shareholder voting, and civil and criminal liability is the regular accountability mechanism.In theory, to create incentives for deterring self-dealing and other forms of misconduct and for responsible decision making these mechanisms work together. However, in reality, these contain flaws that allow individuals to occasionally exercise an irrational discretion when making decisions that will affect many others. The impact can be distressing for investors, employees, and the economy when the governance system fails (Jones, 2010). Given the control of publicly held companies, management should be accountable to its board of directors.The board, in turn, should be accountable to the shareholders and other stakeholders. The principle of accountability can be enhanced by many ways, such as enforcing rules and laws, protecting shareholders’ rights, imposing duties on officers and ensuring the scrutiny of the company’s financial statements by independent auditors (Rahman & Salim, 2010). To provide creditors, depositors and shareholders creditable assurance that they will abstain from fraud activities, financial transparency would be an important mechanism.Timely and accurate disclosure should be made regarding all materials mat ter concerning the corporation is one way to ensure excellent corporate governance. The voluntary items disclosed in the annual reports, the time of the information to be released and quantity of information influenced by the board of directors. In disclosing all the relevant information in the financial reporting, the BOD will be transparent when they are independent and examine their responsibility to be accountable to the shareholders.To ensure the quality of the financial reporting process is one of the main functions corporate governance play. Financial reporting should be prepared with integrity which relies on corporate governance. Dependency of the integrity of financial reporting is highly on the performance and conduct of individual involved. What lead the company to reporting failure is when the corporate governance fails where most of them manipulated their financial statement to meet the performance expectation.Research also has found that there is a connection between weaknesses in corporate governance with bad financial quality, fraudulent financial statement weak internal control and earnings manipulations (Norwani, Mohamad, & Chek, 2011). Problems that arise in companies in Malaysia regarding corporate governance have to do with the political interference to certain extent. State/government can be said as the â€Å"real† company controller compared to law/policy regulated under corporate governance. For example, the famous corporate governance failure in Malaysia – the scandal of Perwaja Steel Sdn.Bhd.. Perwaja, a company owned by the government in collaboration with a Japanese company, Nippon Steel Corporation that was established by HICOM Bhd. in 1982, to fulfill the government’s mission in implementing the heavy industrial policy (Nor Azizah Zainal Abidin, 2007). This can be seen as an example where the state, as a shareholder in the company, has direct interest to it. Fraud and corruption can easily happen with the exi stence of this relationship. Due to the misconduct of directorship the corporate governance of Perwaja collapsed.Perwaja faced with corruption and mismanagement in tender and contract awarding. Furthermore, doubtful trading transactions and payments were carried out to non existing companies (Netto, 2004). There are one sided contracts between Perwaja and both local and foreign companies plus with erroneous records and many of millions ringgit were unauthorized (Norwani, Mohamad, & Chek, 2011). This shows the failure of corporate governance in Perwaja Steel Sdn. Bhd.. However, with fresh funds being injected by the government today, Perwaja is still in business (Netto, 2004).In other case, like the Malaysian Airlines System Bhd. (MAS) faced with internal management problems. Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli, the largest shareholder in MAS who held both Chief Executive Officer plus with chairman position, entered into unprofitable business activities whereby he had over expansion the flight de stination, has caused the occurrence of governance failure (Norwani, Mohamad, & Chek, 2011). The new management under Tajuddin Ramli had already cause MAS to suffered huge debts, prior to the Asian Financial Crisis.This had put MAS at risk during the crisis as all their transaction were done is UD dollars (Nor Azizah Zainal Abidin, 2007). Due to the veto power of the government in MAS’s management the decision on airlines destinations were subjected to government’s decision and approval. To comply with Malaysian foreign policy, MAS had to oblige and extend its services, where at that time, not popular destinations or less concentrated areas were decided by the government. This decision contributed lower return to MAS.From this point of view, we can see that the government/political involvement in business have a huge influence in the management of the company. Besides another reason of governance failure of MAS was due to increased in capital expenditure caused by many orders on planes from 1998 to 2001. It was simply a mismatch between earnings and expenditure in the financial reporting, whereby earnings were is ringgit while the latter was in US dollar. MAS ended up paying a higher cost than what was originally ordered for. MAS was then repurchased for more than double of the market price.The question here was before the government’s buyback, why an audit was not conducted which would have a very important bearing on the proper price of the government buyout. An international case study example would be the Satyam Linggam scandal, the biggest corporate scam in India has come to the most respected businessman. Satyam founder resigned as its chairman after admitting to cooking up the account book. The CEO was responsible for the board accounting improprieties that reported a large amount of cash holding that does not exist and overstating the company’s profit and revenue.With a successful effort on the part of investor’s in o rder to prevent an effort by the minority shareholding promoters to use the firm’s cash reserves to buy two companies owned by them, the scandal all came to know. Consequently, this failed the attempt of expansion on Satyam’s part, which in turn led to a collapse in company’s stock prices, followed by a shocking confession from Raju. History has played a part in the development of corporate governance in India. The first code for corporate governance was published in 1988, but by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) entitled desirable Corporate Governance.Unlike codes in some other countries, the CII code did not make statements of principle but addressed specific business issues in India. The code called for â€Å"professionally competent, independent non-executive directors† to make up the board. None should hold more than ten listed company. The code also called for audit committees. A year later 1999 a government committee released India’ s National Code on Corporate Governance (Ticker, 2009). Reflecting international standards, the code had the approval by the SEBI and incorporated into stock exchange rules.The government issued guidelines on corporate governance in central public sector enterprises in 2007, covering the composition of the boards, audit committees, accounting standards and risk management (Ticker, 2009). However, corruption remains entrenched in India, not at least in the government administration. The Ministry of Company Affairs and the Securities and Exchange Board need more competent staff experience in corporate governance matters. But rapid economic growth and potential in India suggest that the next few years will see significant changes in both attitude and practice (Ticker, 2009).The failure in corporate governance forced rules and regulations to be enacted (Norwani, Mohamad, & Chek, 2011). Recent corporate scandals and the near-collapse of the global ? nancial system all demonstrate the imp ortance of maintaining an effective corporate governance regime (Jones, 2010). With the revised MCCG 2012, duties of all the board of directors are clearly stated, and this will serve as guidance and should improve the corporate governance of the company.

Book Will Always Exist

Book will always exist We are living in a century of technical progress. More and more new gadgets appear in our everyday lives. If I had been told ten years ago that I would be able to check e-mails, listen to the music and read electronic books with the use of only mobile phone, I wouldn’t have believed it. Nevertheless nowadays it’s as easy as abc to read a book through computer, mobile phone or a special e-books reader.Major IT corporations raise competition for the invention of the most modern and convenient devise helping people among other options to read e-books. One of the advantages of e-books is that you can download it to your mobile phone, for example. Consequently there’s no need to take a heavy thick book with you anymore. Additionally some internet sources give the possibility to download files for free. You don’t go shopping, just to click on an icon.Hence, you simultaneously save your money and time – the most vital things in life. With the appearance of I-Pads, thin and light, more people change from paper books to this new handy gadget. However in spite of the variety of technical devises for reading, in my opinion, books will always exist. There is a large group of people who prefer simple paper to any modern equipment. Some people like the feel and the smell of paper. From my point of view that’s because paper is a natural material, produced from wood.Megapolis citizens often suffer from the lack of nature in the world of electronics and technology. Likewise when I think of myself recharging my batteries after a hard working day I imagine myself lying on a cosy sofa reading a thrilling book, a real paper book. I’d hazard a guess that I’m not the only one for whom a book may be associated with comfort and relax. That’s why it’s so pleasant to hold a book, turn its pages and feel yourself enjoying the atmosphere.

Processing & Packaging of a Specified Prepared Chilled Food Product Assignment

Processing & Packaging of a Specified Prepared Chilled Food Product - Assignment Example Such chain incorporates consumer refrigerators and retail displays. The chilled food must be microbiologically safe at the consumption point by controlling pathogens that lead to food-born disorders. The integrity of the entire food chain determines the quality and safety of chilled food including storage and preparation by the consumers. However, the diversity of raw material, conditions for processing and packaging system presents impossibility for designing the effective single framework for microbiological safety. Manufacturers have hard tasks to comply with legislation and safety requirements (International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods. 2005). They must ensure raw material quality, temperature, acidity, water, modified temperature and hygienic processing. Such consideration collapse into designing sufficient control of microbiological growth. Thus, preventing food spoilage and development of conditions that facilitate the occurrence of food-borne diseas es. The manufacturer must, therefore, determine the effective choice and merger of such safety elements to hit an optimum shelf life for products. Further, the manufacturer establishes product usage conditions that ensure food safety for consumer utilization. The product that I will discuss in this essay is Pizza Dough. The dough is a lean, yeast-leavened bread-type dough. It is similar to the French bread and Middle Eastern flat breads. The Pizza crusts or shell fall under thin or thick crust. There may be a variation in the formulation of crust based on makeup equipment, desired eating properties, and thickness. However, the commercial and wholesale Pizza dough has a higher level of fats that help with the greater speed dough processing. The ingredients include flour, yeast, shortening or vegetable oil, salt, water and sugar. There are also a number of optional ingredients such as reducing agents, mold inhibitors, and

Workforce Divesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Workforce Divesity - Essay Example There is always cooperation between the employees. They have fun together and try to help that are in need. b. In IBM work force diversity being properly maintained great technologies and people from different walks of life are able to work together and could able to exchange mutual understanding. Work force diversity is having tremendous impact on cities. Cities are transforming into great industrial belts. As the industries grow there will be visible impact on the economy. Job opportunities grow and innumerable colonies are developed. The growth is multifold and the technology exchange migration takes place. All this is possible only when work force diversity is properly maintained. And this is being properly maintained and hence there is so much development in all the fields for example take the IT industry and the HR field which is the key area where the work force diversity has to be maintained and that too healthy. c. People of different cultures migrate to different cities in search of work. Different nations of people live in one city, like in New York representing unity in diversity with so many cultures and traditional values. Different languages are spoken. ... The technology is no more permitted, limited to a particular part of the world. It is exchanged in order to serve the public with the latest technology. The globe is no bigger. Work force diversity represents a single economy. Single technology, efficiency and quality of life should be of high standard. Because of work force diversity there is conspicuous change with the social life industries. One shall meat and come across different rest of different nationals represent at one place. Different sets of different nationals represent diversified cultures; different languages are spoken at one and the same place, and at one and the same time. They come to know each other from a closer proximity. The intimacies develop; relationships pave way for greater understanding. The social pavilion of life is set to rolling. Broader outlook develop into more knowledgeable and understanding environment. There will be a great impact on the urban sociology patterns of life. d. May be the chief architect of the work force diversity to take enormous pairs to create and design the super structure of the third world. Work force diversity has its own effects on every aspects of technology. Work force diversity has changed the way urban socialist use to link and express their thoughts. Of course wealth is also acting as a catalyst for the change in the thinking and living of the urban individuals. The new meaning of work force diversity is slowly changing, to be more precise it is altering the essence of socialist thinking. 3. a. For this assignment I get to some the top HR managers of the company and could learn a lot from them, they were equally busy but were also helping. The best part of the work force

An Overview of the Economy of Bermuda Research Paper

An Overview of the Economy of Bermuda - Research Paper Example The country has enjoyed steady economic superiority since the end of the Second World War, although it has been affected by recession since 2007 following the global recession. The country enjoys the fourth highest per capita income, which is 50 percent higher than that of the US. The industrial sector mainly focuses on construction, and there is little agriculture since only 20 percent of the island is arable. Bermuda has a robust financial regulatory system making it an important regional and global offshore financial center. International business is the major foreign exchange generating industry in the country (Anderson, 2011). Bermuda is a reinsurance center and an insurance region with firms writing significant business from USA and U.K. In 2010, 15,078 international companies were registered in the island, many of which are U.S owned (Reinsurance Association of America, 2011). These companies spent approximately $2 billion in the country in 2009, making them an important sourc e of foreign exchange. This sector provided $1.5 billion in its total output corresponding to 26.1 percent of the total GDP. International business is also the third largest employer in the country. The sector had 4,287 jobs in 2010, a reduction from 4,431 in 2009. This reduction has made tourism the largest employer in Bermuda. ... Other countries involved in the import chain are the UK, Canada, and Caribbean countries. Bermuda’s exports are mainly re-exports of pharmaceuticals. These exports are valued at $783 million and export partners include Spain, Germany, Denmark, and the UK. Duty on imports and exports is a major source of revenue for the government (Fabian, 2011). Duty rates in the country are high and are reflected in the consumer retail prices. High prices are countered by high wages that keep up with the cost of living and poverty is practically nonexistent. The government generates approximately 24 percent of its revenue base equivalent to $225.4 million from import and export duty. The government does not impose income, sales, or profit taxes, but levies real estate tax (Fabian, 2011). Bermuda’s tourism industry is the second largest employer with over 4,349 jobs in hotels and restaurants. The industry has been experiencing declining numbers of visitors, which currently stands at 585 ,266 visitors (Ministry of Finance, 2011). The decline can be attributed to the declining travel industry particularly the airline sector. The tourism industry generated approximately $383.9 million in 2011. The cruise and yacht front have reduced the gap created by the failing airline sector. The number of visitors arriving by air grew to 236,038 in 2011 and cruise visitors were 415,711. Three quarters of visitors to Bermuda are from the US, and the slowdown experienced in the country has significantly affected tourism (Government of Bermuda, 2011). Tourism sponsored events such as the Bermuda International Invitational Race Week increased the number of visitors to the island. Hotel occupancy rates have increased with large hotels enjoying the highest occupancy rates. The 2010 census

Population resource environment - need in 12 hours Essay

Population resource environment - need in 12 hours - Essay Example Without the environment, humans and all other living things will find it hard to exist. Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present generation and progressing economically without compromising the needs of the future generation (Reinhardt p.153). This makes sure that the resources, both humans and the natural environment alike, are used and developed in a way that will maintain both the present and future society. Without sustainability, natural resources will be depleted that it will compromise the future generations and endanger their very existence. This shows how important environmental protection is. Without economic progress, the nation will not be able to produce enough to maintain the growing population. But it is exactly because of the growing population that the carrying capacity of the land is jeopardized (Seitz pp.59-61). While maintaining economic progress, it is important to consider the different factors that it impacts, particularly the environment. Land and natural resources cannot be multiplied or created overnight. The growing population eats up land resources while the development and industrialization eats up the rest of the land and other natural resources in order to maintain the existence of the society. Environmental crisis exists because of the excessive use of the natural resources to the point of depletion. Other environmental costs of development are increase of harmful chemicals and toxic gases that pollutes the environment and affects humans gravely, global warming and more (Byrne and Rich pp.55-63). Though there are always new technologies and research es to find other resources that could provide the needs of the world, it continues to jeopardize the rest of the environment. Aside from that, industrialization continues to create technologies harmful not only for the natural environment but also for

Client Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Client Relationship - Essay Example "Think of your life as a consumer. There must be a retail establishment somewhere-maybe a deli, or a CD store-where you really like to shop, because someone there always seems to know exactly what you want. So now visualize going into this store and having them screw something up, with the result that leaves you feeling a little angry. If it were any other store, you think to yourself, you'd take your business elsewhere. But the reason you don't go elsewhere is it would be too much trouble, right You'd have to teach someone at another store everything about your personal tastes that the person at this store has already learned." (Rogers, 2006)Remember that different needs are based on kind of businesses. CRM mans managing all contacts with the clients; part of this is improving customer service. A good CRM program will allow a business to acquire, serve, and retain quality clients. A good CRM program can improve customer service by facilitating communication in several ways: Provide a mechanism to track all points of contact between a customer and the company, and do it in an integrated way so that all sources and types of contact are included, and all users of the system see the same view of the customer (reduces confusion). Help to identify potential problems quickly, before they occur. Provide a user-friendly mechanism for registering customer complaints (complaints that are not registered with the company cannot be resolved, and are a major source of customer dissatisfaction). Provide a fast mechanism for handling problems and complaints (complaints that are resolved quickly can increase customer satisfaction). Provide a fast mechanism for correcting service deficiencies (correct the problem before other customers experience the same dissatisfaction). Use internet cookies to track customer interests and personalize product offerings accordingly. Use the Internet to engage in collaborative customization or real-time customization. Provide a fast mechanism for managing and scheduling maintenance, repair, and on-going support (improve efficiency and effectiveness). The CRM can be integrated into other cross-functional systems and thereby

HowwastheUnited NationshapedbythefailureoftheLeagueofNations Essay

HowwastheUnited NationshapedbythefailureoftheLeagueofNations - Essay Example League of Nations was not a state, it was commonly acknowledged and established entity through the mutual consent of the countries from all over the world. The pioneer of this idea was American President Woodrow Wilson who was famously known for his 14 points gave the idea of an organization of similar magnitude that would set the world on its footings for development and progress (Hakim, 2002, 16). League of Nations was an effective entity on many accounts; however, it failed on numerous fronts and as a result made the countries feel the need of replacing it by a more effective entity. The more effective entity came into existence after the Second World War. That Entity was called United Nations Organization (Conforti, 2005, 6). Briefly put, United Nations Organisation came into existence because of the inability, weaknesses, and silence of League of Nations in many cases (Arp, 2013, 717). The real need and purpose of establishing United Nations organization can be understood by com prehending the overall structure and working of League of Nations and further looking into the areas where League of Nations failed to deliver. Based on that an analysis and observation can be drawn which would allow understanding the establishment of United Nations Organisations. ... g about immediate end to disputes, resolving them through good counsels and establishing global order that would allow overall development and progress of humanity (Johnstone, 2009, 1). Despite the similarity in agenda, the former suffered on account of its structure and weaknesses in its outer formed units. League of Nations lacked several necessary councils and bodies that are part of United Nations and now U.N stands in a much better position than the predecessor global organization. Broadly it was the political failure of League of Nations that invoked the need and realization for an entity that would be far stronger than the predecessor and would guarantee peace across the globe. Achievements of United Nations Organizations: Despite the number of minor weak links of U.N, the organization stands firm and better than its predecessor on multiple accounts. Since its inception nearly six decades ago, the entity has enabled preventing any major war outbreak that might engulf the major states in a war. The world since the establishment of United Nations has seen the complete stoppage of any nuclear attack by any other country unlike the days of League of Nations when United States of America launched a nuclear strike upon Japan’s twin cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Watson, 2010, 33). The fact that every country on the surface of earth is part of the United Nations General Assembly adds to the strength and positives of U.N as an entity. The number has been constantly increasing and it has not seen any withdrawal by any nation in the manner League of Nations did. Socioeconomic facet of U.N: United Nations Organizations has a far more comprehensive and stronger socioeconomic domain. It is a multifaceted entity that aims at eradicating poverty, literacy issues,

Global Navigation Satellite System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global Navigation Satellite System - Essay Example The present working GNS system is the 'Global Positioning System (GPS)' developed by USA. The use of GPS is mainly for military purposes and controlled by the military. Europe is going to launch its own GNSS under the name of 'Galileo'. Galileo is Europe's first GNSS which is intended to be used by various civil sectors such as transport, social service, judicial system, public works, rescue teams, etc. Galileo is set to be fully operational by 2008. The fully deployed system consists of 30 satellites (27 operational + 3 active spares), positioned in three circular Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) planes in 23616 km altitude above the earth, and at an inclination of the orbital planes of 56 degrees with reference to the equatorial plane (ESA, 2005). As a large number of satellites are working together with three active spares, therefore the dysfunction of one of the satellites does not have much effect on the overall functioning of the system. Each satellite of a GNSS is provided with an atomic clock which measures time very accurately. The satellites continuously emit signals simultaneously indicating the time of leaving of the signals from the satellite. A receiver on the surface of the earth has the exact details of the orbits of all the satellites in its memory. By reading the incoming signal it can thus recognise the particular satellite, determine the time taken by the signal to arrive and calculate the distance from the satellite (EUROPA, 2006). The ground receiver receives the signals from about four different satellites simultaneously. Once it does so it can calculate the exact position of itself. The control of the satellites and performance of navigation management is carried out by 'Ground Control Centres (GCC)' located at different places on the earth. The control centres contact with the satellites through 'Up-link stations' and carry out the operations such as time synchronisation. Development The first experimental satellite, part of the so called 'Galileo System Test Bed (GSTB)' will be launched in the second semester of 2005 (ESA, 2005). This satellite is intended to test the technologies still under development. Then in the second stage about four operational satellites are scheduled to be launched in 2006 for In Orbit Validation (IOV). After this the remaining satellites will be launched to make it fully operational in 2008. Uses GNSS has to provide four basic services as follows. Position, Velocity and Time Service (PVT) Accuracy and Integrating Services (AI) Ranging and Timing Services (RT) High Integrity Services (HI) Politics There is an opposition to the European 'Galileo' GNSS mainly from GPS who want to be the sole satellite navigation system. The US is continuously making some announcements regarding GPS in order to derail Galileo. These sorts of announcements, however, do not have any effective impact on the development of Galileo. The objections from US side are that Galileo will be purely used for civil navigation without the control of military over it. Instead of this opposition from the US, development of Galileo will surely go ahead. This is a big step forward because it is for the benefit and welfare of the common people. It will directly benefit various sectors of the society and indirectly almost whole

Financial Management for a 5 Star Hotel Essay Example for Free

Financial Management for a 5 Star Hotel Essay The service to be marketed is a 5 Star hotel with 380 luxury rooms supported by a range of food and beverage outlets. Located in Dubai, the domestic market will be considered to be the GCC, given the accessibility via short-haul flights and that currencies are broadly all pegged against the US Dollar, and therefore do not fluctuate against each other. The marketing strategy will cover sales in this domestic market as well as a range of global key feeder markets. Through analysis and comparison with economic theories, recommendations to guide the marketing strategy have been made. These point to focussing more strongly on the domestic market based on the higher levels of government spending, backed by a high oil price, the relatively low impact of cross elasticity with airfares and the lack of currency fluctuation risk for sales. Firstly I will consider the cost of production and some scenarios which may impact on the marketing strategy. The main costs in providing a hotel service are labour, rent and upkeep, energy and room servicing supplies (such as linen and tea amp; coffee). In terms of predicting costs for the first half of 2012, it appears likely the cost base will stay fairly stable. All costs are incurred in the UAE, with all items sourced in the local market. The major items, rent, labour and room servicing, are on long term agreements which are already fixed. Longer term macroeconomic effects may impact these, for example expat labour from Asia may be available cheaper next year in the global employment market if the world economy slips into recession. Unit energy costs are variable and could be influenced by macroeconomic factors affecting the oil price. These are difficult to predict, however I have considered that a global slowdown in the period could lead to less demand, forcing the oil price to decline. At the same time, continued tension in the Gulf, particularly around the Straits of Hormuz, could lead to upwards pressure on oil prices. On balance, for this exercise I have assumed that energy prices in Dubai with remain broadly flat. In summary, the overall cost base for the hotel service appears to be relatively flat for the first half of 2012. To assess the service type, I have analysed the price, income and cross price elasticities for the hotel service. I have observed from personal experience in the hotel market in Dubai that a 33% reduction in room rates results in almost doubling of demand, suggesting a relatively high price elasticity of demand of -3. This provides evidence that demand in the hotel market in Dubai is very sensitive to room rates. Whilst the service is considered to be a luxury item, the global tourist market is highly competitive. The income elasticity of demand for such a service is likely to be relatively high, given a luxury hotel’s status as a non-essential item. Since it is a global market it is complex to assess how individual income effects will influence each feeder market, although I would expect that this elasticity will generally be greater than 1. For residents of some countries with high GDPs, such as the GCC, I would anticipate a luxury hotel in Dubai may have a slightly higher income elasticity of demand than for countries with a very low GDP, where increases in income may still not be enough to afford this service. When considering possible cross elasticities, a key factor influencing hotel demand in Dubai is likely to be the cost of air travel to the UAE. Since such a high proportion of guests arrive by air, some from far away with relatively large airfares, there is likely to be a high cross price elasticity between demand for hotel rooms and the price of air travel. Looking to the first half of 2012, possible effects on aviation prices may include additional aviation taxes, such as the EU carbon tax [1]. This cross price elasticity may therefore result in less demand for McKenzie Group’s service from Europe. Assessing the market structure for the McKenzie Group Hotel in Dubai, it is highly competitive. For 2012 STR Global said â€Å"most rooms planned to open in the luxury segment (11,123 rooms amp; 34 projects) and upper upscale category (10,198 rooms amp; 31 projects). The new supply growth in 2012 is expected to reach 9. 6% causing both rates and occupancy to slow down† [2]. Given the range of hotels and brands, my assessment is that the market is near to a perfect competition. Competitive strategies are likely to include discounted room rates, special offers for additional added benefits (such as complimentary transfers, room upgrades and theme park tickets), and increased sales and marketing efforts. Given the analysis above, The McKenzie Group will need to compete on pricing supported by investment in sales and marketing campaigns. In order manage the cross price elasticity risk with aviation prices, The Group should look to focus efforts on the non-air travel local market and pursue pricing opportunities for packages with airlines to give competitive overall costs to global customers. The market for The McKenzie Hotel Group is mainly segmented geographically, location of customers is the biggest influence on buying behaviour. This can be grouped into four key feeder markets: Asia Pacific (10% of sales), Europe (40%), GCC (40%) and North America (10%). Demographically, gender has no noticeable effect and buyers from all markets tend to be middle aged professionals. In the European market government-level economic activity is likely to dominate prosperity given the current crisis. High debt and deficit levels in certain countries will lead to big reductions in government spending and may reduce consumer confidence. Combined with general forecasts for flat growth, if not recession, in the first half of 2012, this could have a large negative impact on overall demand. The GCC market however could be buoyant with high levels of government spending activity, mainly on infrastructure backed by oil and gas revenues. There may also be additional government spending on social schemes as a result of the Arab Spring in Levant countries. As a result of this activity, the domestic market is likely to remain strong. Given the analysis above on the economic climate in key feeder markets and the effects of government spending, The McKenzie Group should target the domestic GCC market much stronger in the first half of 2012. Given the breadth of global feeder markets, a variety of currencies must be considered in relation to pricing effects for customers. Costs are all incurred in UAE Dirhams so the main impact on currencies is not on costs but on sales. Since the Dirham and GCC currencies are pegged to the US Dollar there is no consideration required currency fluctuations with the domestic (or North American) market. However some currency fluctuations could have a major impact on sales in the first half of 2012. The Eurozone crisis may reduce the value of the Euro against the Dollar (and hence the Dirham) which will make hotels in Dubai more expensive for customers in the Eurozone market. As well as the cost of rooms, customers will also be affected by the relative increase in costs for anything bought locally, such as food and entertainment. This risk adds to the argument that Europe is not a good prospect for sales for the first half of 2012. Since the UK is not in the Eurozone its currency (Sterling) moves independently to the Euro and given that it is traditionally a strong market for McKenzie Group, this must be considered. Since the UK may enter recession again in the first half of 2012 it seems unlikely that interest rates will be increased from their current low rates. In addition Bank of England actions might also reduce the value of Sterling and so holidays in Dubai will seem relatively expensive for UK customers. McKenzie Group should reduce its reliance on the UK market in the first half of 2012 to help protect against this risk. Having analysed various macroeconomic and microeconomic influences on costs and sales for McKenzie Group Hotels in Dubai in the first half of 2012, there are some clear recommendations for the marketing strategy. Costs are anticipated to be reasonably stable since they are either already fixed or are incurred locally. Sales are likely to be much less stable. Given the high price elasticity on demand and the near perfect competition in the market in Dubai, price strategies will be key. For sales from the European market in particular, poor economic conditions, low levels of government spending, the risk of weak currencies, and cross elasticity with aviation costs, could all have a negative impact on sales. In contrast, these effects have much less, if any, impact on the domestic GCC market which is also likely to be buoyant from government spending. It is recommended to invest sales effort in the GCC for the first half of 2012.

The Indian laying Essay Example for Free

The Indian laying Essay This story introduces the theme of masculinity. Hemingway turns a typically female act, set in a female space into a male-dominated situation. Although this story is about childbirth, it focuses on the experience of the doctor rather than the woman. After the birth, Uncle George and Nicks father have a playful, exuberant camaraderie over the job well done. Another theme introduced is racism or sexism, Uncle George says damn squaw bitch to the Indian woman. Depending on how your interpret this remark, it could be racist or sexist, with the fact being we arent told. Another emphasis to racism is from Nicks father saying, I dont hear them (screams from woman) because they are not important. This remark could be argued is racist. Simply by adding these themes, Hemmingway has included a true-life prospective life and enhanced the interest of the story; otherwise without some themes this story could have been uninteresting. The language in the statements is quite abusive and downgrading. Although it could be argued they were not racist comments and just aggravated words from Uncle George perspective as he was bitten! In Nicks fathers view, we cant really tell if or not he is racist, as his words are not as downgrading as Uncle Georges. We can interpret his words to mean anything, for example it could mean he concentrates on the job, instead of being put off by the screams or it could mean, as she is a poor woman he doesnt simple care. After Nicks dad had finished his small operation he conversed a lot, using a simile He was feeling talkative as football players are in the dressing room after a game. . Then came Nicks interrogations of his experience he has had, Do ladies always have such a hard time having babies Why did he kill himself, daddy Do many men kill themselves, daddy Do many women where did uncle George go the father responds back minimally not many Nick Hardly ever Hell turn up alright. Childish language is present from Nick. The father could be uninterested in what Nick has to say or simply unable to answer Nicks questions and just tries to evade them, hence the short answers. The only violent situation in this story shows quite a gruesome image. The Indian laying with his face towards the wall. His throat had been cut from ear to ear. The blood had flowed down into a pool where his body sagged the bunk. His head rested on his left arm. The open razor lay, edge up, in the blankets. . The language and style is fairly simple, there is nothing complicated to read, the language is more like everyday words. It creates a bloody mental image with the paragraphs sharp words Throat Cut Blood Pool Razor, to mind it looks like a story for a movie. There was no build up to the situation; it is just the way that Uncle George found the Indian. The paragraph read out, is fast paced due to the varied action words above, lacking descriptive adjectives that could slow it down. The ending of the Indian Camp is a strange ending, In the early morning on the lake sitting in the stern of the boat with his father rowing, he felt quite sure that he would never die. Ernest Hemmingway creates a simple effect. I feel the ending has an element of ambiguity like this, to make the reader ponder and think about what Nick is trying to say. It leaves the reader pondering several interpretations in their mind. He could suggest he will never die, because his Father is with him who is a safe surgeon, or after viewing of what he saw of the operation, he felt safe if he had to go for an operation. The fact is we would never know, which keeps the beauty in the simple effect. Comparing the stories, they are two very different stories in terms of language, sentence structure, beginnings and endings. The language is completely different in terms of complexity with To Build a Fire far more complex than Indian Camp. The Sentence structure is far longer in To Build a Fire than The Indian Camp, the beginning and endings to say the least is different in its own way and the tone is different with the Indian Camp, being fast dues to its simple words and To Build a Fire, slower due to more complex words. Londons language contains similes and metaphors richer in description of places, people and events. Hemmingway pushes the action story to its limit. He takes it as far as he can by allowing the action to drive the story. Hence the ambiguity, as he cant explain the thoughts, feelings or beliefs, when he hasnt allowed himself that option from the start. In conclusion, the storywriters have completely different styles in terms of writing a story. The feature, similar in both books are both sets of characters enter a strange world, with the characters trying to adjust to their location, using any means possible. Desperation from the man to survive and desperation to keep Nick away from the shocking observations, loneliness in a place not many foreigners go to, inquisition to himself (the man) and from Nick and reservations from the man about not having a partner with him and reservations on Nick coming. The mere fact is, if this were not a foreign place, the individuals would not be as circumspect as they were then. Actions are the key features of both stories. Moreover the authors describe to us vividly a world that we will never experience. If the man thought of his action and went with a partner, would he be dead? If Nicks father did not bring Nick along, would Nick have been introduced to poverty, operations or suicide? This just proves that if you think hard before you act, all will be successful in which neither responsible characters did. The most comparable factor is the language, of the weather is mentioned. Indian Camp is dark and gloomy and To Build a Fire is exceedingly cold and grey. This truly outlines the writers intentions, to build a lonely approach on the basis of descriptive words.

A Christian Response To Divorce Theology Religion Essay

A Christian Response To Divorce Theology Religion Essay I sometimes wonder if divorce is really acceptable to God or if he really considers it a sin. There are a number of factors to consider in making this decision. For the purpose of this paper I am going to review my personal life, reasons people get divorced, and some religious documentation and opinion to draw hopefully reach a reasonable conclusion. I was raised by my mother and my step father, my parents divorced when I was two years old. I attended a Catholic School from kindergarten to the fifth grade; I dont recall attending any religious classes even though the school was right next to our Church. We went to Church every Sunday and that is the only time I remember learning anything about God. My mother changed my last name on my school records so it would be the same as hers. She said it was just easier that way but I wonder if that was the real reason, because I know now that Catholics view divorce as sinful behavior so they may have been pressuring her. It was around this time that my mother decided she needed to find a new religion as well. She told me we were converting to Judaism because she needed a religion that was more like a way of life than Catholicism. I didnt really care one way or the other at that point in my life I was just a kid. Divorce was a pretty normal occurrence in my family. My grandmother had eight siblings and three of her sisters, that were still living, were all divorced, they were also Catholic. My mothers only sibling my aunt was also Catholic and divorced. I didnt know until I got older that they were all considered sinners at Church. My older cousin knew because we went to the same school but she never told me. I have been married for twenty years and have never been divorced, not that I have never thought about it, just because I would rather just work out the problems than start over. I couldnt imagine that if I chose to get a divorce I would be committing a sin against God. Some of the time I actually think that it may bring me closer to God which is the opposite of sin so how could that be sinful. The divorce rate has declined slightly since 1982 but the number of divorces are still historically high (Alan J. Hawkins). Estimates are that about 40% of first marriages and an even higher rate of second marriages end in divorce. Some policy makers are trying to change both marriage and divorce laws to combat in the hope of bringing the divorce rate down (Alan J. Hawkins). Another way to combat divorce is to work on marriage and there are many faith based programs that offer workshops, retreats and marriage based enrichment programs. In some states take Florida for example you have to wait three days to obtain your marriage license unless you attend pre-marital counseling, and in Illinois you have to wait 60 days unless youve attended 4 hours of pre-marital counseling (Alan J. Hawkins). Some states are even diverting money from their temporary Assistance to Needy Families Funds to support pre-marital counseling. In the State of Florida marriage education is a class just like driver s education, and in Adrian County Michigan one court will not issue a marriage license without pre-marital education to anyone within its jurisdiction (Alan J. Hawkins). Some people feel that it is just too easy to get a divorce now days, and maybe a change in legislature would keep marriages together. Creating tax reforms that will benefit married couples and differentiating the ease of no-fault divorce laws, especially when there are children involved are two ways to combat the problem. The trend seems to be to keep the sanctity of marriage for economical reasons as well as spiritual reasons but how do the causes for divorce play into this dilemma? The top ten reasons I found were infidelity, poor communication, change in priorities due to having kids or job changes, lack of commitment to the marriage, sexual problems, addictions, failed expectations, physical and emotional abuse and the number one reason money (McCloud). These are all things that we have to go through to live and some look like reasonable reasons to file for divorce but for me to evaluate these reasons I have to figure out if they are harmful or sinful. 53% of American marriages end in divorce due to infidelity (Infidelity Facts). People cheat on their spouse for many reasons but men tend to cheat because of sex. They want to spread their seed or loose sexual desire for their wives especially after childbirth. Ive even heard it said that men are not made to be monogamous, or that their spouse is no longer as much fun as she was when they married. Some men commit adultery to feed their ego because they feel a need to be in control or to feel that they have made some type of conquest. Women on the other hand cheat more times than not because of the emotional deficiency they suffer in the marriage. Regarding poor communication I found a quote that summed it up pretty nicely Lack of communication is one of the leading causes of divorce. A marriage is on the rocks when the lines of communication fail. You cant have an effective relationship if either one of you wont discuss your feelings, cant talk about your mutual or personal issues, will keep your resentments simmering under wraps, and expect your partner to guess what the whole problem is about (Panse). Having a family definitely changes the dynamics in any household and all big changes affect the way a husband and wife interact with one another. It will infringe on the time you get to spend together, your finances will be affected, and your focus is altered. Some people get married because they feel they have to either the biological clock is ticking or they have a child out of wedlock, or maybe there is pressure from family or colleagues to tie the knot. Intimacy especially sexual can be a deal breaker only if you let it. In todays society there are surgeries and so many products available to enhance sexual arousal and drive that it seems easy to overcome. Most addictions can be treated in some type of medical forum but the key is in recognizing there is a problem and getting the treatment. Some people dont take any time to get to know the person they are marrying before they get married or tend to think they can change what they dont like about them. They are too often looking fo r a quick solution when it does not work out (Panse). Abuse is a horse of a different color Ive seen firsthand what mental and physical abuse does in a marriage. It tears people down and strips them of their self confidence. It does not seem rational to do this to another human being. Money, the root of all evil, I see the harm in all of these actions but I believe these are things God will forgive you for if you ask him to and as long as you discontinue the action. If the reasons for divorce are considered sinful it would seem to me that if you get rid of the sin causing the divorce you would no longer have reason to divorce. My findings on rationale for divorce may seem rationale to me but there are others who believe differently. The Bible for one is very clear on how God feels about divorce and there are various scriptures to prove it: I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel, and I hate a mans covering himself with violence as well as with his garment, says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith (Malachi 2:16). What God has joined together, let man not separate . . . I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery (Matthew 19:6, 9). Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery (Mark 10:11-12). If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him (1 Corinthians 7:12-13) (Brittan). Some people are of a mind that you need to do whatever you have to do to stay married. They would even go so far to say that if you are already divorced for an unbiblical reason and you were a Christian when you got divorced, then you need to face the awfulness and seriousness of your sin (Brittan) and you shouldnt pretend that is was not wrong in the eyes of God. Additionally they give warning in scripture that you should not ask for Gods grace when you get divorced because that too is a sin They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord (Jude 4) (Brittan). I found one ministry that believes based on experience that staying in a non-feeling relationship and enduring the pain was worth going through because of the growth in the Lord they gained by doing so (Matthews). With all of the documentation in the Bible a good Chris tian would just do what the bible said and not get divorced, but I still wondered if there were ever any exceptions. There is also scripture to support divorce under certain circumstances: I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery (Matthew 19:9). Jesus said God only allowed divorce in the Old Testament because of the hardness of our hearts (Matthew 19:8). If you are married to an unbeliever, it is Gods desire for you to stay married (1 Corinthians 7:12-14, 16; 1 Peter 3:1-6). To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is n ot bound in such circumstances (1 Corinthians 7:12-15) (Brittan). Now all of this made me err on the side of caution if there are exceptions for divorce not being a sin in certain situations maybe I could find some documentation to counter all divorce as a sin. I ran across an article written by a Christian woman who had gone through a divorce and she admitted to being one of those Christians who frowned upon people who divorced. She commented on the spiritual crisis she endured and the questions she as a believer asked herself. She wanted to know if there was a Godly way to get through it, where to find God in the process, and if somehow this changed what type of Christian she was (Carsten). In doing so she found comfort in the word and a few passages that led her to the conclusion that when Gods says he hates divorce he is saying it out of compassion because of the destruction it causes. God wants us to be married for the protection and safety that it gives us and for the love it provides us. He cares more about human beings than he does an act like divorce (Carsten). Jesus showed us on many occasions how important rule keeping was in comparison to the needs of a person. One occasion in the Bible that confirms this is in the book of Matthew: At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. [2] When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath. [3] He answered, Havent you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? [4] He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated breadwhich was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. [5] Or havent you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? [6] I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. [7] If you had known what these words mean, I desire mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the innocent. [8] For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:1-8) In conclusion I have found that some Christians take the word of God and use it in such a way that they turn Gods condemnation of acts into condemnation of people. They disregard his compassion for people and this discounts the very foundation of their religious faith, Jesus Christ. They speak of sin as sacraments against God when the sin is whatever you do that takes you away from God and causes you to lose faith in him. If you divorce and fall away from God in the process then you are committing a sin, and sinful acts to cause divorce can be forgiven but you have to commit yourself to keeping your faith and staying from those things that you ask Gods forgiveness for. In the beginning I wondered if divorce was acceptable to God or if it were a sin. I am concluding that it is acceptable and it is not a sin because divorce in and of itself is not the sin, the sin of divorce only occurs when you divorce God.

Cells :: essays research papers

History of the Cell Theory   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cells, the make-up of all living things. Some cell are complete organisms, such as unicellular bacteria and protozoa. Other types of cells are called multicellular, such as nerve cells and muscle cells. Withen the cell is genetic material, Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) containing coded instructions for the behavior and reproduction of the cell. The cell was first discovered by the 1665 English scientist Robert Hooke, who studied the dead cells of cork with a crude microscope. Robert Hooke was born on the isle of Whight and educated at the University of Oxford. Hooke could not have discovered the cell without the microscope which was developed by Antoni van Leeuwenhoek a 1674 Dutch maker of microscopes. Leeuwenhoek born in Delft, Holland and had little or no scientific education. Leeuwenhoek also confirmed the discovery of capillary systems. Theodor Schwann a German physiologist born in Neuss and educated at the universities of Bonn, Wurzburg, and Berlin, Schwann was involved in the study of the structure of plant and animal tissues. Along with Matthias Jakob Schleiden a German botanist, Schwann proposed the cell theory. The cell theory has three parts:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1. All organisms are composed of cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2. Cells are the basic units of structure and function in organisms   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3. All cells come from preexisting cells.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The impact on science was very great due to the discovery of cells and the cell theory. Many or all things were effected by the discovery of cells, everything was looked upon in a different way. Some people still did not believe that all living organisms were made of tiny microscopic chambers called

An Asian Growing Up in America Essay -- Persoanl Narrative Essays

An Asian Growing Up in America The air would always be humid and stuffy while riding the bus to school, and the slightest bump in the road would result in tossing up the kids like salad. The backseat would provide carriage for all the popular and tough kids shouting out at pedestrians on the street or flipping off a middle finger to the bus driver that would shout for them to calm down. I despised those kids in the back. They were the same people that made my life a living hell, while growing up and attending an American school. My parents sometimes got the notion that they knew everything in my life. They constantly advised me to eat my vegetables, do my homework, and put the toilet seat down after going to the bathroom. Yet, I felt as if my mother and father never understood what I went through in school due to the fact that they grew up in a totally different country. I’m sure that if I were raised in an Asian country, no one would pull their eye sockets back and start singing some gabble that didn’t even include a real character in any Asian alphabet, because we would all have the same face. My folks just moved to the â€Å"land of opportunity† in hopes of getting me a bright future; a land that has high school kids shooting up fellow students and teachers. Some future. Everyday was the same for me, having to deal with racial slurs that would otherwise imprison someone for a hate crime if we were adults. All through out freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year, people gave me nicknames like Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan. It’s a shame that those names never really held up it’s title, due to the fact that I didn’t know anything about Kung Fu or any fancy martial arts. One cold December morning of my 7th grade year in mi... ...t out, I figured what I wanted to do. Knowing that it would be four years of relentless pestering, I knew that someday I would surpass my tormentors; I would keep under cover of my books and study hard to make my brother proud one day. It would be worth the pain to someday walk into a restaurant and see my former bully come to my table wearing an apron and a nametag and wait on me, complete with a lousy tip. To walk the halls of the hospital I work in, sporting a stethoscope and white coat while walking across the floor that was just cleaned not to long ago by the janitor, who was the same boy that tried to pick a fight with me back in middle school. To me, an Asian in an American school is picking up where my brother left off. It’s a promise to my family that I wouldn’t disappoint nor dishonor our name. It’s a battle that’s gains victory without being fought.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Essay -- Health Mental Disorders OCD Ess

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder and was one of the three original neuroses as defined by Freud. It is characterized by "recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) or repetitive, purposeful ritualistic behaviors that the person feels driven to perform (compulsions)." (1) The prime feature that differentiates OCD from other obsessive or compulsive disorders is that the sufferer understands the irrationality or excess of the obsessions and compulsions, but is unable to stop them. What differentiates people with OCD from other usually healthy people with milder forms of obsession and compulsion is the fact that the obsessions and compulsions serve to interfere with the person with OCD's life to the point where they are extremely distressed, the obsessions and compulsions take a large proportion of their time, and serve to interfere with the their routine, functioning on the job, normal social activities, and relationships with others. (1) (3) Some of the typical compulsions that someone with OCD may exhibit include an uncontrollable urge to wash (especially the hands) or clean, to check doors repeatedly to make sure that they are locked, confirming that appliances are switched off multiple times, "to touch, to repeat, to count, to arrange, or to save." (1) Obsessions that one with OCD may display can include fixation on dirt and contamination, the fear that one may act upon destructive or violent urges, having an overdeveloped sense of responsibility for the welfare of others, objectionable religiously blasphemous or sexual disturbances, other socially unacceptable behavior, and an overbearing concern with the... .../server-java/Arknoid/science/AS/Encyclopedia/0/04/Est_042250_pg2.html 3) Neurotic Disorders, An article on neurotic disorders by Marshal Mandelkern on McGraw-Hill's Access Science site, an online encyclopedia of science and technology. http://www.accessscience.com/server-java/Arknoid/science/AS/Encyclopedia/4/45/Est_450300.html 4) Ancient Gene Takes Grooming in Hand, An article by Bruce Bower found through McGraw-Hill's Access Science site, an online encyclopedia of science and technology. http://www.accessscience.com/server-java/Arknoid/science/AS/News/45/4483.html 5) Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), An informational site about OCD, from the makers of Zoloft, which is used in the treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders. http://www.zoloft.com/zoloft/zoloft.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=default_home&pageid=14&o=7779976%7c5101527%7c0 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Essay -- Health Mental Disorders OCD Ess Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder and was one of the three original neuroses as defined by Freud. It is characterized by "recurrent, persistent, unwanted, and unpleasant thoughts (obsessions) or repetitive, purposeful ritualistic behaviors that the person feels driven to perform (compulsions)." (1) The prime feature that differentiates OCD from other obsessive or compulsive disorders is that the sufferer understands the irrationality or excess of the obsessions and compulsions, but is unable to stop them. What differentiates people with OCD from other usually healthy people with milder forms of obsession and compulsion is the fact that the obsessions and compulsions serve to interfere with the person with OCD's life to the point where they are extremely distressed, the obsessions and compulsions take a large proportion of their time, and serve to interfere with the their routine, functioning on the job, normal social activities, and relationships with others. (1) (3) Some of the typical compulsions that someone with OCD may exhibit include an uncontrollable urge to wash (especially the hands) or clean, to check doors repeatedly to make sure that they are locked, confirming that appliances are switched off multiple times, "to touch, to repeat, to count, to arrange, or to save." (1) Obsessions that one with OCD may display can include fixation on dirt and contamination, the fear that one may act upon destructive or violent urges, having an overdeveloped sense of responsibility for the welfare of others, objectionable religiously blasphemous or sexual disturbances, other socially unacceptable behavior, and an overbearing concern with the... .../server-java/Arknoid/science/AS/Encyclopedia/0/04/Est_042250_pg2.html 3) Neurotic Disorders, An article on neurotic disorders by Marshal Mandelkern on McGraw-Hill's Access Science site, an online encyclopedia of science and technology. http://www.accessscience.com/server-java/Arknoid/science/AS/Encyclopedia/4/45/Est_450300.html 4) Ancient Gene Takes Grooming in Hand, An article by Bruce Bower found through McGraw-Hill's Access Science site, an online encyclopedia of science and technology. http://www.accessscience.com/server-java/Arknoid/science/AS/News/45/4483.html 5) Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), An informational site about OCD, from the makers of Zoloft, which is used in the treatment of OCD and other anxiety disorders. http://www.zoloft.com/zoloft/zoloft.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=default_home&pageid=14&o=7779976%7c5101527%7c0

Navigating Early Essay

* Summary: * After his mother’s death the young Jack Baker is uprooted from his home in Kansas and is placed in a boarding school in Maine. At the boarding school he feels lost and out of place. While trying to impress the boys and find a place in his school, he can’t help but be drawn to one of the misfits, Early Auden. Early is one of the strangest of boys, who reads the number pi as a story and collects clippings about the sightings of a great black bear in the nearby mountains. When Early decides to set out to find Pi and the black bear in his brother’s boat, the legendary â€Å"Fish†, Jack decides to join him. Through the course of their journey the boys begin to realize that Early’s story for Pi is starting to become reality as they come in contact with characters like pirates searching for treasure, a Norwegian still pining for his first love, and a 100 year old women still waiting for her son to come home. The irony of the story is that all 3 boys, Jac k, Early and Pi, lost their direction in life and through their journeys they find a way to navigate their way back. Why this book is a good choice for math? * The number PI is one of the most common constants in all of mathematics. It is an irrational number, which means that its value cannot be expressed exactly as a fraction (when the numerator and denominator are integers). Nobody knows its exact value, because no matter how many digits you calculate it to, the number never ends. In math it’s obvious that we use PI in calculations for finding the circumference of a circle and finding areas of circles, cylinders, cones, and spheres. What most people don’t know is that PI is also used to calculate numbers that are used in different jobs: for example electrical engineers used pi to solve problems for electrical applications, statisticians use pi to track population dynamics and biochemists see pi when trying to understand the structure/function of DNA. * In the novel, Navigating Early, Clare Vanderpool introduces the mystery  of PI in a fun creative way that has the reader egger to find the answer of PI. In the beginning, she has a Math teacher, Mr Blane, introduce his course by explaining the number PI as the Holy Grail of mathematics, in other words it is the mysterious number that has entranced mathematicians for milenia. â€Å"Why do I mention this today? Because this year, we are going to embark on a quest of our own to expand our minds, to challenge what we think we know, and push the boundaries of mathematics. If pi, the most venerable number, can be proven to end, what else are we blindly believing that might be put to the test?† The way Mr. Blane introduces Pi in the start of his class is a great way to have students use their critical thinking skills as to what Pi really is and get them prepared to what they will encounter in the course. The book, Navigating Early is a great tool for any lesson to get the students excited to learn formulas that incorporate PI. It also teaches the students, to always keep going even when you feel like you want to give up. Inquiry Circle Design The book will be divided up into 6 sections. Section 1-3 students will use the role sheets. Each student will switch roles within each group every week. * Section 1: Pages 1-50 * Section 2:Pages 51-109 * Section 3:Pages 110-150 Section 4-6 Students will use the organizers. * Section 4:Pages 151-198 * Section 5:Pages 199-253 * Section 6:Pages 254-295 1 section per week, Meet once a week for 20 minutes. Monday| Tuesday| Wednesday| Thursday| Friday| | | | | Section 1| | | | | Section 2| | | | | Section 3| | | | | Section 4| | | | | Section 5| | | | | Section 6| What will occur in the meetings: * Go over role sheets * Discuss essential questions Materials: * Book * Role sheets Inquiry Circle Performance Task For Early, creating a story about the character Pi with the numbers of Pi helped him remember the numbers of Pi. For this assignment you are asked to create your own story to remember the first 15 digits of Pi. 1. You should first brainstorm ideas for your story. The best way to do this is to create a web of ideas. Start with your character, Pi, in the middle of your web and clockwise write ideas for your plot. Make sure you include the numbers of Pi for each idea. You can use either single digits or multiple digits. (NO MORE THAN 2 DIGITS GROUPED TOGETHER!!!) 2. Using your web you should create a rough draft using your ideas. You should double space your rough draft so you will have room for corrections. 3. After writing your draft, find a partner to correct your paper. Make sure when you are correcting your partner’s paper that you look for grammatical errors, digits of pi used correctly, and their ideas make sense. 4. Once corrections are made, type out your final draft with your name and title at the top. You final paper should be single space, sized 12 font, and in times news roman. Your paper should be AT LEAST one page! You can certainly write more pages, but again it has to be at least one page. Don’t forget to include all the digits and that your story makes sense. 5. Once you have created your story, fill out the H chart comparing and contrasting your story to Early’s story. When contrasting, think of the differences of the journeys, what did Pi encounter, and how Pi became a better man from his journey. When comparing the two journeys, think of the plot of the stories: Does Pi in Early’s story face the same problems in your story? For example: There once was a boy named Pi who had 3 older sisters, Alpha, Beta, and Omega. They all lived under 1 house and split the bills by 4’s. They were always happy living with each other until 1 day at school 5 boys we’re making fun of Pi. They bullied Pi saying because he didn’t have a father and lived with all girls he will never grow up to become a man. One boy piped up and said he killed and skinned 9 deer’s and 2 raccoons in the same night. â€Å"I’ll show you!† says Pi and leave that night to go into the woods. Pi has never hunted before but with a knife at hand he was willing to try. 6 birds overhead gave warning calls to the rest of the wildlife throughout the woods. Then behind a nearby tree 5 black bear cubs crawled to Pi. Pi laughed and played with the little cubs until suddenly 3 momma bears ran to attack Pi. Pi thought he was a goner until 5 grey adult wolves came and save Pi’s life. When Pi arrived home, he was bombarded by 9 of his friends and family asking about his journey in the woods. Pi has learned that being a man doesn’t mean going off and killing animals, It means having ethical principles and sticking by them, and protect your family. * The fifteen digits of Pi:3.1415 9265359 Organizer Word WizardThe words an author uses are important to the author’s craft. Your job is to be on the lookout for at least one word that has special meaning to the selection for today. Include the word, the page number, the definition, and the reason why you chose the word| Quotations Locate at least one quotation in the text you have read that would be beneficial for your group to discuss. You may look for quotations that are puzzling, interesting, powerful, funny, or those that contain literary devices. Include the quotation, the page, and your reason for choosing the quotation. | IllustratorGood readers make pictures in their minds as they read. This is a chance to share some of your own images and visions with the members of your group and use these images to participate in the conversation. Your picture can take a variety of forms but should represent your thinking. | Essential QuestionsEssential questions are critical to promoting deep and interesting conversations. Write at least one good, quality essential question that you can pose when talking with your group about the passage read.| Literature Circle Role Sheet Summarizer Name _____________________________ Circle _____________________________ Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________ Book ___________________________________________________________________ Summarizer: Your job is to prepare a brief summary of today’s reading. Your group discussion will start with your 1-2 minute statement that covers the key points, main highlights, and general idea of today’s reading assignment. Summary: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Key Points: 1.________________________________________________________________ 2.________________________________________________________________ 3.________________________________________________________________ 4.________________________________________________________________ 5.________________________________________________________________ Connections: Did today’s reading remind you of anything? Explain. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ————————————————- ____________________________________________________________ Literature Circle Role Sheet Questioner/Discussion Director Name _____________________________ Circle _____________________________ Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________ Book ___________________________________________________________________ Questioner/Discussion Director: Your job is to develop a list of questions that your group might want to discuss about this part of the book. Don’t worry about the small details; your task is to help people talk over the big ideas in the reading and share their reactions. Usually the best discussion questions come from your own thoughts, feelings, and concerns as you read. You can list them below during or after your reading. You may also use some of the general questions below to develop topics to your group. Possible discussion questions or topics for today: 1.__________________________________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________________________________ 3.__________________________________________________________________ 4.__________________________________________________________________ 5.__________________________________________________________________ Tips: Consider †¢ A discussion of a work’s characters: are they realistic, symbolic, historically-based? †¢ What motivates the characters or leads them to make the choices they do? †¢ An in-depth discussion of the work’s events †¢ A discussion of any confusing passage or event †¢ Literature Circle Roles Connector Name _____________________________ Circle _____________________________ Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________ Book ___________________________________________________________________ Connector: Your job is to find connections between the book and you, and between the book and the wider world. Consider the list below when you make your connections. †¢ Your own past experiences †¢ Happenings at school or in the community †¢ Stories in the news †¢ Similar events at other times and places †¢ Other people or problems that you are reminded of †¢ Between this book and other writings on the same topic or by the same author Some connections I made between this reading and my own experiences, the wider world, and other texts or authors: Literature Circle Roles Illustrator Name _____________________________ Circle _____________________________ Meeting Date _______________________ Reading Assignment ________________ Book ___________________________________________________________________ Illustrator: Good readers make pictures in their minds as they read. This is a chance to share some of your own images and visions. Draw some kind of picture related to the reading you have just done. It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, flowchart, or stick-figure scene. You can draw a picture of something that happened in your book, or something that the reading reminded you of, or a picture that conveys any idea or feeling you got from the reading. Any kind of drawing or graphic is okay – you can even label things with words if that helps. Make your drawing(s) on any remaining space on this side and on the other side of this sheet. If you use a separate sheet of paper, be sure to staple it to this role sheet. Presentation Plan: Whenever it fits in the conversa tion, show your drawing to your group. You don’t have to explain it immediately. You can let people speculate what your picture means, so they can connect your drawing to their own ideas about the reading. After everyone has had a say, you can always have the last word: tell them what your picture means, refer to the parts in the text that you