The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Essay

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of al - Essay Example The Trinity denotes the unity of the Godhead as one Being but having three Persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity apart from being the central doctrine of the Catholic Church, also holds an important place in the history of the Christian Church as a whole. In the Council of Nicaea (325 AD) the matter of the Trinity was reaffirmed by the Church as the fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith, hence rejecting the teachings of Arianism that held that since Jesus was begotten of the Father, He is not of equal status in divinity but was a created being. Arianism also held that since Jesus was created, He was not co-eternal with the Father. The Athanasian creed that proceeded from the decision of the Council of Nicaea affirmed the doctrine of the Trinity. It succinctly states in its relevant part thus: â€Å"And the Catholic Faith is this, that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance. For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all One, the Glory Equal, the Majesty Co-Eternal.† Though the word ‘Trinity’ does not appear in the Bible, the doctrine of the Trinity is based on biblical provisions both in the New Testament and the Old Testament. Perhaps, the clearest reference to the doctrine of the Trinity in scripture can be found in Matthew 28:19 â€Å"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit†. The Old Testament gives a glimpse of the doctrine of the Trinity in Genesis 1:26 – â€Å"Then God said, â€Å"Let Us make man in Our image†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬  and in Genesis 11:6-7 â€Å"And the Lord said, †¦ â€Å"Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The singularity of the Godhead is made

Technical Education and Its Importance in Pakistan Essay Example for Free

Technical Education and Its Importance in Pakistan Essay ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Professor David Bergin for providing me with support and guidance throughout my research. Through my experiences working with him I learned a great deal about the research process and how to structure my writing and feel better prepared to move forward with research in the future. I would also like to thank my thesis committee members who provided me with a lot of feedback on how to improve my research topic and gave me ideas to build on in future research studies. A great amount of thanks goes to the schools sampled in this study. The director of the Area Career Center was very welcoming and open to my research topic allowing me to gain as much exposure to career and technical education and their students as I wanted. Without the ACC’s interest in my study this research would not have been possible. I also want to thank the local high school that allowed me access to a few students even though they had very demanding schedules. Gaining insight from Advanced Placement students creating an interesting element to my study that I have found very valuable. ducation at an Area Career Center in mid Missouri. Newer programs that combine career and technical education courses with traditional high school instruction can benefit students in allowing them to connect their academic training with real world careers and practical concepts. This study looks at students’ perceptions of CTE, the sources of influence they reported on their decisions to take or not take CTE courses in high school and the role cultural capital played in their views. Utilizing a qualitative method of data collection eight high school seniors enrolled in either CTE only classes, AP only classes or a combined CTE and AP course load were interviewed about their views of CTE at the local area career center. All of the students were white and there were four boys and four girls interviewed in the study. Results show that all students in the study associated CTE with some form of hands on education, with students enrolled in CTE courses reacting more favorably to CTE instruction and its connection to careers and occupations. The most significant influences on students’ decisions to take or not take CTE classes were their future academic or career goals and how CTE knowledge would or would not help them. Other reported influences include teachers, family members and personal experiences. Finally, the role of cultural capital in students’ views of CTE is explored reaching the conclusion that more data and analysis is needed to find more arguable claims. 1 CHAPTER 1: Introduction In this study, I interview high school students in order to understand their thoughts on career and technical education programs in high school. One reason why this is important is that according to a 2002 survey by the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Center to Workforce Preparation, nearly 75 percent of employers report difficulty when trying to hire qualified workers. Forty percent say that applicants are poorly skilled and 30 percent say that applicants have the wrong skills for available jobs (The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) www. acteonline. org). I believe this means that career and technical education can play a vital role in helping promote this environment and help students succeed through hands on education coupled with challenging high school curriculum. The current high school curriculum in the United States faces challenges with the No Child Left Behind legislation that mandates a standards-based education. This initiative makes career and technical education harder to promote in public schools because CTE courses are elective classes. It rests on the students to enroll themselves in courses that will provide them with the best preparation for post high school opportunities. In this study, I ask students about their attitudes toward CTE courses. Research on comprehensive education programs suggests combining more rigorous forms of education, such as advanced placement (AP) with CTE (Association for Career and Technical Education, 2006; Stern, D. , Dayton, C. , Paik, I. -W. , Weisberg, A. , Evans, J. , 1988). Because of this I include students who are taking AP courses in this study to gauge their responses to CTE. While government statistics show that most high school students 2 take at least one â€Å"vocational† course in their high school careers such as typing or home economics. (http://www. ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/pi/cte/index. html), it seems unfortunate that high school students do not pursue a more advanced career and technical education if it is available to them alongside their academic coursework. Students who are interested in a more academic route with AP courses can balance their studies with career and technical coursework. While benefits of career and technical education can appear obvious to some, it is not difficult to understand the rejection of this alternative form of education when at least a college degree is becoming a requirement for the majority of jobs. Purpose and Research Questions Newer programs that combine career and technical education courses with traditional high school instruction can benefit students in allowing them to connect their academic training with real world careers and practical concepts. Research on career and technical education in the U. S. has a history of highlighting the faults of CTE education such as not delivering on its promises and in some cases being a one-way ticket to a working class life (Claus, 1990). These out-dated reports are representative of Career and Technical Education programs in the older sense and not the newer, academically and career focused model being utilized in many high schools today. There is little research on why students take their chosen classes in high school and how students connect their high school curriculum to their post high school decisions and careers. There is also little research on how social class might impact students’ views and use of career and technical education. In this study I addressed students views of current high 3 school career and technical education programs in an Area Career Center (ACC) in Missouri. Area career centers fall under the umbrella of CTE housing career focused coursework and training in a separate building from local high schools. I investigated how students’ reports of cultural capital seem to influence these views. I chose to conduct a qualitative study because qualitative research allows one to investigate the idiosyncratic meanings that people construct about their lived experience. I was able to pursue in-depth reasons that the students give for their decisions, and was able to use follow-up questions to elaborate on understandings. The present study will address the following research questions: Research Question 1: How do students who are enrolled in CTE or AP classes perceive CTE? Research Question 2: What sources of influence do they report experiencing regarding academic versus CTE coursework? Research Question 3: What role does cultural capital play in students’ views of CTE coursework and their decisions to take or not take CTE classes in high school? Limitations to the Study There were a few limitations to my method of recruiting students and the transferability of the findings. First, there are over 1100 students from the high school enrolled in CTE classes at the Area Career Center so eight participants is not a very representative sample of students. However, qualitative research methods required that I keep my participant pool small. Second, at the local high school, I did not have as much control over the students selected for participation as I did at the ACC. the site counselor who helped me in my 4 recruitment process may have introduced bias into the process. Third, all of the participants were white and there were more males than females in CTE classes and more females than males in AP/Advanced classes. Also, the three AP students in this study were all interested in theatre, an area of study not offered at the ACC so there was probably a general feeling of lack of interest in CTE because no courses were offered in their specific area of interest. Future qualitative studies would benefit from more diverse students from underrepresented populations. Also, because student recruitment took place in the spring, it was hard to recruit students, especially those enrolled in AP courses (either AP only or CTE/AP combined), because end of the year AP exams take place during the spring. Recruitment of students in the fall might create a wider participant pool. 5 CHAPTER 2: Literature Review History of Career and Technical Education Career and technical education began as vocational education in Europe in the 19th century in response to the increase in demand for skilled workers who were educated in industrialized professions. Other factors that influenced the birth of career and technical education include the interest traditional European elites had in their children receiving both an education as well as certification in skills. They wanted their children to gain access to positions in law and theology, and the middle class parents wanted their children to attain the necessary educational credentials to help them enter careers in the civil service or managerial positions (Benavot, 1983). In the U. S. , federal funding for career and technical education was initiated with the passing of the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917. Over the next 65 years and four modifications to the act in 1947, 1958, 1963 and 1968, career and technical education increased funding, expanded programs to improve in the areas of science, math, and foreign languages, offered support for technical occupations related to national defense, and included work study programs. In 1968, a National Advisory Council on Vocational Education was initiated to start collecting information about the progress and development of vocational education programs and students. In  1984, the Vocational Education Act was renamed the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act (Perkins I, P. L. 98-524). While continuing federal support for vocational education, it established programs emphasizing the acquisition of job skills through both vocational and technical education. The act also sought to make vocational education 6 programs accessible to â€Å"special populations,† including individuals with disabilities, disadvantaged individuals, single parents and homemakers, and incarcerated individuals. The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act Amendments of 1990 (Perkins II, P. L. 101-392) made several revisions to the 1984 Act. Notably, the act created the tech-prep program designed to coordinate secondary and postsecondary vocational education activities into a coherent sequence of courses. Programs to eliminate sex bias were designed to prepare students for nontraditional training and employment (e. g. , training women to be welders or men to be nurses). Also, the law also required states to develop and implement performance standards and measures (e.g. , program completion and job placement) to assess gains in learning and in program performance. The Perkins Act of 1998 provided specific federal assistance for secondary and postsecondary vocational education (Skinner and Apling, 2005). The reauthorized 1998 Act also made modifications to performance standards and measures of the 1990 Act. A core set of performance indicators were included in the 1998 Act that resulted in sanctions if the level of performance was not reached or increased funding if performance exceeded the requirements. A key element of the 1998 Act was a greater focus on accountability with states required to â€Å"provide data for four core performance indicators focusing on: (1) student attainment; (2) credential attainment, (3) placement and retention, and (4) participation in and completion of non-traditional programs. † (CRS Report for Congress) Under its most recent amendment in 2006, the Carl D. Perkins Act became the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act. The 2006 amendment showed one of the most notable revisions to the act since it was established by replacing the term 7 ‘vocational education’ with ‘career and technical education. ’ This name change is especially significant in research on the influences student report in their decisions to take CTE classes because of the stigma associated with the world ‘vocational. ’ ‘Vocational’ education resonates with many as being representative of vocational education in the traditional sense and not academically focused or resulting in a college degree or high status occupations the way career and technical education can be perceived. Changing the name could help change the image of CTE towards a viable and legitimate option for secondary schooling. The 2006 revision also set in place a system of accountability to coincide with the No Child Left Behind Standards mandated for public education in the United States. Under this system of accountability, academic attainment and graduation rates of students enrolled in CTE at the secondary level will be measured. These new accountability measures create a greater need for research on how students perceive CTE in order to discover additional methods for recruiting new students and drawing greater attention from parents who steer their children towards a more college prep, academically focused course load. If students decisions not to take CTE classes rests in their view that to go to college and be a doctor they have to take advanced high school classes and CTE doesn’t look good on his transcript, administrators can use this information to create better recruitment methods. They can focus on educating students and parents on the goals of CTE and how these goals align with the traditional or advanced coursework. The subject areas most commonly associated with career and technical education are the following: Agriculture (careers related to food and fiber production and agribusiness); Business (accounting, business administration, management, information technology and  8 entrepreneurship); Family and Consumer Sciences (culinary arts, management and life skills); Health Occupations (nursing, dental, and medical technicians); Marketing (management, entrepreneurship, merchandising and retail); Technology (production, communication and transportation systems); and Trade and Industrial (skilled trades such as automotive technician, carpenter, computer numerical control technician). One difficulty in defining career and technical education coursework is the existence of district regulated definitions on what qualifies as a CTE course and how many courses a student needs to take to be classified as a CTE student. In the state of Missouri, there are 16 career clusters (See Appendix C, Table 1). â€Å"Career Clusters can give all students the academic preparation, guidance, careerrelated knowledge and flexibility to help them plan studies that are in line with their interests, abilities, and career goals. The Career Clusters framework offers a practical way for educators in all disciplines to create relevant contexts for their students learning. At the same time, it reinforces the schools fundamental objectives of academic accountability and improved achievement for all students. † (Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Division of Career Education http://dese. mo. gov/divcareered/career_clusters. htm). In response to the need for a redesigned educational system in U.S. public schools to fit the needs of the 21st century, the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) compiled a report on their views of how the remodeled education system should look (Association for Career and Technical Education, 2006). The report proposes that Career and Technical Education should be modified to do the following: (1) Support students in the acquisition of rigorous core knowledge, skills, habits and attitudes needed for success in9 postsecondary education and the high-skilled   workplace, (2) Engage students in specific career-related learning experiences that equip them to make well-informed decisions about further education and training and employment opportunities, and (3) Prepare students who may choose to enter the workforce directly after high school with levels of skills and knowledge in a particular career area that will be valued in the marketplace (Association for Career and Technical Education, 2006). Career and Technical Education Research Research on CTE tends to fall most often in two areas: the likelihood of students dropping out of school and how to serve at risk students (Plank, 2001; Stern, et al. , 1988; Catterall, 1986), and longitudinal effects of CTE programs (Plank, 2001; Arum Shavit, 1995). In 1986, Catterall and Stern looked at the use of alternative high school programs in preventing students from dropping out. They utilized the California sub-sample of the 1980 and 1982 High School and Beyond surveys (involving nearly 3,000 sophomores and 3,000 seniors) and studied the impact alternative education programs had on labor market outcomes for students. The High School and Beyond Survey in 1980 asked students how many courses they had completed in each of four CTE areas: business, office, or sales; trade and industry; technical courses; or other vocational courses. In addition to finding mixed support for alternative programs to prevent drop outs, they also found positive results on employment and wages. Stern, et al (1988) conducted a study in California that yielded similar results. Their 10 research reported the results from the first two years of an effort in 10 high schools to replicate the California Peninsula Academies. The students in the Academy school were identified by school counselors as â€Å"low performance students† with a high risk of dropping out of school (Stern, et al. , 1988). They were then placed into the Peninsula Academy, which was a school within a school, for grades 10 through 12. These low performing students took most of their remaining classes together at the school including coursework in English, math, and science as well as a course in the particular Academys focus (Stern, et al. , p. 163, 1988). The â€Å"Academy† model combines the core academic curriculum with technical instruction in a particular occupational field. Local employers representing that field participate in various ways by donating equipment to the school and serving as mentors to the students. For example, Hewlett-Packard contributed computer expertise and hardware. The companies also provide summer jobs for some of the students at the Academy school. â€Å"Having a paid summer job which is related to the Academy’s instructional focus creates a powerful connection between school work and â€Å"real† work† (Stern, et al. , p. 163, 1988). Academy students generally compiled better grades and more course credits than students in comparison groups at the same high schools. At three sites in particular, Academy students consistently out-performed comparison groups in the first two years. The authors also found that results were replicated at other sites and helped prevent students from dropping out of school. Claus (1990) conducted an ethnographic analysis of the student experience in a single CTE program, looking to answer two questions: (1) why did the students in the program report satisfaction and improved attitudes in association with their CTE program and (2) how  11 was CTE related to increasing the opportunity of these primarily working to lower class, academically-alienated youth? The CTE experience tended to reinforce class-related inequalities. â€Å"The ethnographic fieldwork and analysis suggest that while the students found their CTE program enjoyable and rewarding, this response was often rooted in a classroom experience which limited their development and reinforced their tendency toward working to lower class work and lives after school† (Claus, 1990, p. 13). Arum and Shavit (1995) utilized the 1987 â€Å"High School and Beyond† data to study individuals’ early labor market outcomes after high school and their track placement while in high school. They found that â€Å"vocational secondary education is neither as pernicious nor as detrimental as some of its opponents have maintained. † (p. 199) They found that CTE inhibited students in their decisions to continue on to college or achieve success in high prestige occupations, but also found that CTE programs serve as â€Å"a safety net for those high school graduates who are unlikely to go on to college. † (p. 199) Plank’s 2001 report for the National Research Center for Career and Technical Education looked at the balance between CTE and academic course-taking during high school for members of a longitudinal study beginning in 1988 with their eighth grade year. The students in the study were broken down into four groups: purely academic concentrators, purely CTE concentrators, dual concentrators who took both academic and CTE course work, and a group of students who took neither the purely academic or CTE coursework. Plank found the following: (1) academic concentrators showed the highest 1992 achievement, followed by dual (academic and vocational) concentrators, then students who fulfilled neither concentration, and then CTE concentrators; (2) almost all students were either in 12 postsecondary education or working, or both, in 1994, with academic concentrators most likely to be in full-time school and CTE concentrators most likely to be in full-time employment. The study concluded that further research is needed to determine what characteristics of CTE or academic education increase the risk of dropping out, and what types of integration  of academic and vocational education are most successful. Gaunt and Palmer (2005) conducted a quantitative study that investigated students’ attitudes towards career and technical education (CTE), what influenced their views, and their course selection decisions. They utilized the data from a previous study in Michigan of over 450 high school seniors. The were interested in the career and technical education funding crisis that is occurring in the wake of No Child Left Behind. Gaunt and Palmer (2005) found the majority of students citing social relationships with their friends and parents as the prime influencers of their views of career and technical education. In addition, students offered responses on how course structure, the benefits offered from each program, and advertising of the CTE programs affected their views of CTE. These results provide support for further research on the subject of career and technical education that puts an emphasis on academic training alongside CTE instruction in career-related fields. What was interesting about Gaunt and Palmer’s (2005) data was that more than half of the students not enrolled in career and technical education courses saw the courses as helping students prepare for college immediately after high school in comparison to 81% of students enrolled in CTE courses who saw this same connection. More than 80 percent of both groups of students saw the ACC as preparation for work after high school and close to 80 percent of all students saw the ACC in Michigan as designed for students of all ability levels. 13 Utilizing a qualitative methods approach with open ended interviewing methods, my study gives the students a greater opportunity to express their views of CTE education and how they compare it with their purely academic coursework. Gaunt and Palmer’s (2005) research is a big step forward in literature on career and technical education and I hope the dialogue of the participants in my study help take research even more forward. Sources of Influence How students perceive career and technical education and the their high school coursetaking decisions can be attributed to a variety of factors. In this study one of my research questions examined what are these factors and how do they influence student choices. Previous research on the influences students experience while choosing their high school classes include parents and friends, current labor markets, and school social networks including teachers and counselors. The most detailed account of influences that impact a student’s decisions to pursue a CTE curriculum in high school is Rossetti’s 1991 study about the influenced students who chose not to enroll in a Vocational School in Ohio. While evaluating the external factors that contributed to students’ decisions to enroll in CTE classes, Rossetti found that friends were the most influential with fifty-three percent stating that they had consulted their friends. (Rossetti, 1987) The next most influential figures were mother/female guardian (49%); father/male guardian (44%); brother/sister (39%); counselor (35%); girl/boyfriend (32%); other relative (32%); teacher(s) (28%); and athletic coach(es) (21%). A report by Dunham and Frome (2003) took a closer look at the role teachers and  14 counselors can play in encouraging and influencing students in their high school course selections. Their results were similar to Rossettis (1991). Current labor markets can also affect a students’ decision to enroll in CTE coursework. A publication by the National Center for Educational Statistics reported â€Å"students may be more likely to concentrate in vocational areas that prepare them for occupations with increasing job opportunities† (p. 1). In the case of the current U. S. job market, this would mean that students who take advanced courses in math and science and focus their studies towards engineering careers could be doing so not for their interest in those subjects but because they recognize the labor market’s shift to careers in engineering fields. This would also mean that these same students would specifically withdraw from involvement in courses focusing on low demand careers. This study was completed in 1998 and concluded that the reason for the decline in CTE courses was due to the job market not requiring those skills. New forms of career and technical education need to emphasize academics and career training in electronics and computer fields because the job market has made a turn towards careers of a more technical nature. Social Class and Cultural Capital The theoretical framework of this study relies upon cultural capital theory. Cultural capital can be defined as â€Å"high status cultural signals used in cultural and social selection† (Lamont and Lareau, 1988). According to Bourdieu’s definition, cultural capital â€Å"consists mainly of linguistic and cultural competence and that relationship of familiarity with culture which can only be produced by family upbringing when it transmits the dominant culture† 15 (Bourdieu, 1977). Cultural capital, according to Bourdieu, includes things such as going to museums, appreciating art and listening to classical music. â€Å"[Bourdieu] argues that individuals in privileged social locations are advantaged in ways that are not a result of the intrinsic merit of their cultural experiences. Rather, cultural training in the home is awarded unequal value in dominant institutions because of the close compatibility between the standards of child rearing in privileged homes and the (arbitrary) standards proposed by these institutions. † (Lareau, p. 276) In a dominant institution like education, the role of cultural capital translates to the practices of the school staff, teachers, organizational processes and authoritative relationships set in place as a method of exclusion for those who are unfamiliar with the institutional practices. In the U. S., children from high cultural capital backgrounds, according to cultural capital theory, have been taught directly or indirectly the value of raising one’s hand to be called on, working independently on homework assignments, and possessing a sense of entitlement to resources and extra help from teachers and other figures of authority (Lareau, 2000). It is argued that â€Å"children from higher social locations enter schools already familiar with these social arrangements† (Lareau, 1987, p. 288) and therefore succeed at a higher level than those not familiar with these practices. Being more familiar with the skills and knowledge valued by the dominant culture, students of the dominant culture are better able to adapt their skills to new settings to help negotiate their way to higher, more prestigious education and jobs. This creates a higher economic class position and allows their children to be exposed to the same culture, which is congruent with cultural reproduction theory (Aschaffenburg and Maas, 1997). 16 Bourdieu used the term â€Å"cultural reproduction† to describe the way society stratifies members of the population by reproducing the values, lif.

Child Trafficking Essay -- Legal Issues, Sexual Exploitation, Forced L

Child Trafficking â€Å"The global market of child trafficking is at over $12 billion a year with over 2 million child victims† (â€Å"Stop Child Trafficking Now† 1). This statement from the article â€Å"Stop Child Trafficking Now† describes how serious this crisis is nationwide. Child labor, illegal adoptions and child prostitution are the three forms child trafficking typically exists as (â€Å"Riverkids Project† 1). There has been a rising number of Cambodian children being trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor because of poverty, unemployment and lack of education; however organizations such as the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative Against Trafficking (COMMIT) are trying to raise awareness of this crisis. There is a rising number of Cambodian children being trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor. Human trafficking is a major crisis that is rapidly growing, affecting many young women of Cambodia. In just one year the number of young women involved in prostitution grew from 6,000 to 20,000 trafficking victims (â€Å"No Trafficking† 3). In 2006 it was estimated 30,000 Cambodian children had been exploited in the sex trade (â€Å"Global Crime Case: The Modern Slave Trade† 1). Studies have shown although not all sex workers are human trafficking victims 1 in 5 women and girls working in brothels have been trafficked (â€Å"SSF Cambodia† 1). It is estimated 50 percent of Cambodia’s population comprises children younger than 15 years of age (â€Å"No Trafficking† 4). End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT) reports as many as one third of the trafficking victims in prostitution are children (â€Å"Human Trafficking† 2). There are around 158 million children aged 5-14 engaged i... ...n Trafficking Data Sheet† 2). There are many organizations within the nation that are gaining awareness for child trafficking. Child trafficking is a rapidly growing crisis forcing young women of Cambodia into sexual exploitation and child labor. This issue is cause by many factors including the lack of education and high levels of poverty; however, there are many organizations such as the Somaly Mam foundation trying to gain awareness of this crisis. Citizens of the United States can help bring awareness to child trafficking by teaching young women of this issue. As stated by the article â€Å"Child Labor-Killing the Age of Innocence,† â€Å"Thus, one should be careful when saying that the future of the country lies in the hands of children, for the very hands holding the key to growth are clamped down in the innocence phase† (â€Å"Child Labor-Killing the Age of Innocence† 2)

Marriott Corp: the Cost of Capital

To : President, Marriott Corporation From : FLO299 Subject : Marriott Corporation – The Cost of Capital Date : April 6, 2010 The Importance of the Cost of Capital The cost of capital is important as it forms the basis for Marriott’s investing and financial decisions. By understanding and knowing the cost of capital, Marriott is able to select relevant investment projects for the company, determine incentive compensation, and repurchase undervalued shares when needed. The returns of a project were found by discounting the appropriate cash flows against the appropriate hurdle rates. Without knowing the cost of capital, Marriott would not be able to determine hurdle rates that would help Marriott’s growth. Also, knowing the cost of debt would allow Marriott to optimize the use of debt in the company’s capital structure. Knowing the hurdle rates on a divisional level would also enable Marriott to reward their managers using incentive compensation. By using hurdle rates, Marriott managers would be â€Å"more sensitive to Marriott’s financial strategy and capital market conditions† and would give the company a more accountable method of rewarding their employees. Lastly, Marriott’s method of calculating a â€Å"warranted equity value† for its common shares required knowing the company’s equity cost of capital. A share price that was below the â€Å"warranted equity value† signaled to Marriott when the company needed to step in to repurchase its stock as the company believed that repurchases of shares were a better use of Marriott’s cash flow and debt capacity than acquisitions or owning real estate. Computing Marriott’s WACC The cost-of-capital was computed both divisionally and overall for the company. It required using the formula WACC = (1-t_)RD(D/V) + RE(E/V). D and E are the market values of the debt and equity respectively and V (market value) = D+E. RD and RE are the pretax cost of debt and cost of equity respectively and t is the corporate tax rate. The Numbers Used in Marriott’s WACC A 34% tax rate rate will be assumed for simplicity's sake so more effort can be focused on other issues . The above WACC calculation uses market value of debt. Cost of debt can be observed directly by calculating the yield to maturity of outstanding bonds, but since the bond market is not very transparent and we know Marriott's unsecured debt is A-rated, the company can expect to pay a spread above some base rate. Which index to use should be determined by project life, and as lodging is based on a long term business model, a 30-year treasury bond is appropriate. In this case, the base is 8. 95% according to Tabe B and the spread for the overall company is 130 basis points according to Table A. Also found in Table A, Marriott set a target of the debt percentage in its capital structure to be 60% for the overall company. Because there is no way of directly observing the return that equity investors require, we rely on a couple of methods to estimate it. A dividend growth model can be used, and although simply to use, this approach assumes steady dividend growth. This approach also does not directly adjust for the riskiness of a project. An alternative approach is to use CAPM, which does not rely on dividend growth and does take both the market risk premium and systematic risk into consideration. Using CAPM to estimate the cost of equity we use the following formula: _E(R)=Rf+ {draw:frame} *MRP_. Rf is the same risk-free base rate used to calculate cost of debt, in this case, 8. 95% from Table A. The {draw:frame} is obtained from regression using market data and therefore is affected by leverage. To adjust for this, the B is unlevered and then relevered so that it is the B for business risk only, independent of capital structure. With due consideration given to each input, Appendix A is a computation of Marriott's WACC, 11. 87%, which is also the required rate of return for the company overall. The Use of Marriott’s WACC in Divisional Decisions Marriott can use the computed WACC to support its stock repurchasing decisions because it allows the equity cash flows to be discounted at a company level rate. But because each cost of capital input could differ amongst its divisions, the cost of capital varies across each. If Marriott used the above calculated WACC for all divisional decisions, it would cause the company to take on riskier projects, projects that once risk adjusted would likely cause the company to lose money in the long run. A better approach would be to use individual {draw:frame} for each project with CAPM to calculate the WACC for each project and compare it to IRR. Determining Divisional WACC To estimate the WACC for each division, we need their corresponding {draw:frame} . To do this we use comparable companies for each division; this is because we cannot run regressions at the divisional level as that information is not available. For the lodging division, we compare other hotel companies, for the restaurant division, we compare other restaurants, and for the contract services division we use the identity: {draw:frame} M=WL* {draw:frame} L+WR {draw:frame} R+WCS {draw:frame} CS. The identifiable assets in Exhibit 2 will be used to compute the weights of each division. Once again, because the information is actual market numbers, {draw:frame} E is affected by leverage and must be unlevered by multiplying it by 1 – market leverage. This results in {draw:frame} A which is business risk, independent of capital structure. Asset risk is the only thing that is comparable across firms. Within each divisional comparison to comparable companies, weighted average of {draw:frame} A is used as smaller companies have less impact on the overall segment. These numbers are shown in Exhibit 3. The WACC for each division is found in Appendix B to D. Differences in WACC Appendix A: Marriott’s Overall WACC Calculation Appendix B: Marriott’s WACC for Lodging Appendix C: Marriott’s WACC for Restaurants Appendix D: Marriott’s WACC for Contract Services Identifiable lodging assets = 2777. 4 WL = 60. 61% {draw:frame} L = . 57 Identifiable restaurant assets = 567. 6 WR = 12. 39% {draw:frame} R = . 75 Identifiable contract services assets = 1237. 7 WCS= 27. 00% {draw:frame} CS = solve for this below {draw:frame} M=WL* {draw:frame} L+WR {draw:frame} R+WCS {draw:frame} CS 0. 57 = . 6061*0. 42 + . 12390. 75 + . 2700 {draw:frame} CS {draw:frame} CS = 0. 57

Human Development & Learning/ Personality & Emotional Development Essay

There are different skills that are important and which contribute to positive social development in life. These skills help a person to be able to carry out social roles and responsibilities. Children need to learn all these skills both in school and in their homes so that they are able to handle life situations. Conflict resolution skills are very necessary for children. This is because conflicts are always present both at home and at school. Therefore, they need skills on how they can handle these skills. This helps further in building of healthy social relationships, which are necessary in life. Conflict resolution skills not only helps children to social problems but also conflicts they may be experiencing within them (Baker& Myles, 2003). Caring skills are also crucial to children. It is very important that children should be trained to be caring from the time they are young. This helps them to care and assist each other both in the classroom and in the community. Caring skills also help them to become caring citizens in the future. Teaching children to be caring means that the society has caring members in the future. It acts as a foundation of a community that is able to assist each other during times of needs. It is also important that children should be taught to be responsible. Responsibility is a key skill that children need in order to handle their social roles at home and in school. Being responsible in whatever they do would assist them be able to attain their self-actualization in the future. There are various qualities of a family environment that are necessary for the development of the above skills. A peaceful environment at home is very essential for a child to be able to solve problems. This is because a child will learn how to solve conflicts from home in a non-violent way. A family that is inclusive in its roles make children be able to be responsible in their social roles. This is a situation where children are incorporated when sharing role at home. Being given roles makes them become responsible in their capacities. This also allows them to become managers of their time and in making plans on how to accomplish their roles. They also develop a feeling of belonging in the family. Irresponsibity in the family contributes to under development of social skills in children. If parents do not take their roles well then it means that the children also learn to be irresponsible in their duties as a result of the example they learn from their parents. They develop the feelings of being insecure, as they feel neglected in their families. They grow being irresponsible citizens in future. (Damon & Lerner, 2006). A Classroom, which is inclusive, allows children to be caring and responsible. For example, a classroom whereby children are given various roles to play enhances their responsibility skills (Damon & Lerner, 2006). A classroom where children are engaged in-group work allows them to learn how to work with others and learn how to solve problems, which may arise when working as a group. Therefore, the classroom environment gives them an opportunity to develop these skills. The classroom also helps them to develop friendship and respect for the others. However, a classroom environment that promotes individualistic work may hinder children from attaining various social skills. This is because that kind of classroom will only make children to be locked in their own cocoons without much consideration of their social roles and responsibilities. Children in such a classroom do not develop a feeling of belonging, which is essential for social development. (Baker& Myles, 2003).

Free Essays on Abe Lincoln

Born: 1809 Died: 1893 Years in Office: 1861-1865 Elected From: Illinois Party: Republican Vice President: 1) Hammibal Hamlin 2) Andrew Johnson The future president was born in the most modest of circumstances in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky., on Feb. 12, 1809. His entire childhood and young manhood were spent on the brink of poverty as his pioneering family made repeated fresh starts in the West. Opportunities for education, cultural activities, and even socializing were meager. When his father could spare him from chores, Lincoln attended an ABC school. Such schools were held in log cabins, and often the teachers were barely more educated than their pupils. According to Lincoln, â€Å"no qualification was ever required of a teacher beyond readin', writin', and cipherin', to the Rule of Three.† Including a few weeks at a similar school in Kentucky, Lincoln had less than one full year of formal education in his entire life. 5 important facts during term: 1. On March 4, 1861, Lincoln was sworn in as the 16th president of the United States. Ironically, he received the oath of office from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney, whose decision in the Dred Scott Case was a direct cause of the crisis Lincoln now faced. 2. To his Cabinet, Lincoln appointed his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination and other leading Republicans. He made Seward secretary of state, Chase secretary of the treasury, Cameron secretary of war, and Bates attorney general. Gideon Welles of Connecticut became secretary of the navy, and Caleb B. Smith of Indiana became secretary of the interior. Montgomery Blair of Maryland was named postmaster general. 3. Lincoln feared that taking direct action against the Confederacy would lead to the secession of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. But events at Fort Sumter forced him to act. 4. Lincoln now took decisive measures... Free Essays on Abe Lincoln Free Essays on Abe Lincoln Born: 1809 Died: 1893 Years in Office: 1861-1865 Elected From: Illinois Party: Republican Vice President: 1) Hammibal Hamlin 2) Andrew Johnson The future president was born in the most modest of circumstances in a log cabin near Hodgenville, Kentucky., on Feb. 12, 1809. His entire childhood and young manhood were spent on the brink of poverty as his pioneering family made repeated fresh starts in the West. Opportunities for education, cultural activities, and even socializing were meager. When his father could spare him from chores, Lincoln attended an ABC school. Such schools were held in log cabins, and often the teachers were barely more educated than their pupils. According to Lincoln, â€Å"no qualification was ever required of a teacher beyond readin', writin', and cipherin', to the Rule of Three.† Including a few weeks at a similar school in Kentucky, Lincoln had less than one full year of formal education in his entire life. 5 important facts during term: 1. On March 4, 1861, Lincoln was sworn in as the 16th president of the United States. Ironically, he received the oath of office from Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger B. Taney, whose decision in the Dred Scott Case was a direct cause of the crisis Lincoln now faced. 2. To his Cabinet, Lincoln appointed his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination and other leading Republicans. He made Seward secretary of state, Chase secretary of the treasury, Cameron secretary of war, and Bates attorney general. Gideon Welles of Connecticut became secretary of the navy, and Caleb B. Smith of Indiana became secretary of the interior. Montgomery Blair of Maryland was named postmaster general. 3. Lincoln feared that taking direct action against the Confederacy would lead to the secession of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas. But events at Fort Sumter forced him to act. 4. Lincoln now took decisive measures...

Corporate social responsibility and corporate governance in transitioning economies

Corporate social responsibility and corporate governance in transitioning economies Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a critical component in the development of a vibrant relationship between an organization and its stakeholders. Hence, organizations are supposed to be proactive in engaging the immediate environment on matters regarding the welfare of the environment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Corporate social responsibility and corporate governance in transitioning economies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In particular, corporate social responsibility is supposed to create a balance between profitability and the overall wellbeing of the targeted market. While the concept of corporate social responsibility is broad and sometimes complex depending on the method used to approach it, this paper will largely dwell on the analysis of the modern issues that often affect business organizations and their practices. In particular, the paper will attempt to offer a detailed discussion of the so cially irresponsible, unethical or illegal activities that usually bedevil business organizations even as they seek to boost their profitability. It is prudent to note that there are three main areas of concern that are instrumental when exploring the concept of corporate social responsibility. These are the management of a company, corporate culture and the competitive environment of a business entity. The essay will begin by exploring the concept of corporate social responsibility using the example of AstraZeneca Plc. In particular, the essay will explore the employees deployed by AstraZeneca since they are part and parcel of the company. The analysis will focus on the safety, health, and environment (SHE) program. Although there are negative practices that the company may have committed in the past, it is profound to note that there are good practices that amount to corporate social responsibility courtesy by the company. The information represented in this essay was obtained fro m stakeholders who have been given the duty of undertaking the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the company. AstraZeneca Plc. was incepted way back in 1999 (Turner 2005, p. 69). This was made possible due to the merger between Astra AB and Zeneca Group Plc. Most of the activities of the company take place in the United Kingdom. Hence, the operations of the company are centered in the United Kingdom. The company was formed with the broad objective of generating long-term and sustainable growth.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More While profitability is the key goal of the company, the stakeholders have also been the center of attention of the company. It is vital to note that stakeholders include even the targeted market that comprise of customers and their diverse needs. The company clearly understands that the process of production does not stop at the point o f sale. It goes beyond sales and marketing. Hence, corporate social responsibility goes beyond making profits and leading the market. At present, AstraZeneca Plc is one of the most competitive pharmaceutical companies. It has a strong focus on research, development and innovation. The latter are required because its commercial and manufacturing operations depend on the aforementioned aspects bearing in mind that there is a growing competition in the marketing of pharmaceutical products. The company manufactures medicinal products for treating various ailments. In addition, its operations are not localized in Europe. As already, mentioned, United Kingdom acts as its headquarters. However, its activities are scattered in over one hundred destinations across the world. In terms of the manufacturing process, it takes place in twenty nations. The company has a workforce of about 54000 employees. Corporate Social Responsibility in transition economies Economies that are in a state of tran sition are largely considered to be in the developmental stage. Nevertheless, even the developed states may still experience transition economies especially if there are major economic adjustments. In the case of AstraZeneca Plc., corporate social responsibility can be attained by putting the right efforts and initiatives in place so that sustainable development can be effectively implemented. This implies that when a company takes corporate social responsibility seriously, it significantly contributes towards corporate governance. The organization assumes that sustainable development is the ability of a specified economic operation to meet the needs of both the present and future markets. At present, this business organization is putting in place a lot of energy in order to boost its corporate social responsibility fundamentals. Besides, it is aiming at establishing suitable techniques for implementing and regulating the efficacy of the Corporate Social Responsibility.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Corporate social responsibility and corporate governance in transitioning economies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The most sensitive stakeholder that needs to be put into consideration is the employee of the company. The SHE program should be directed towards the employees of the organization. In any case, aligning employees with the corporate social responsibility program is the most important aspect that the company should embark on. Stakeholder theorists often claim that the management of companies ought to make sure that shareholders’ interests are enhanced at all times. Unfortunately, this is not the case at AstraZeneca Plc. There are no clear guidelines that have been put in place by the county in order to take care of this vital need. In addition, other stakeholders or groups that work hand in hand with the company. Areas of Corporate Social Responsibility include the environment , social welfare, and economic wellbeing. These responsibilities are critical fundamentals of the corporate responsibility of any given company or business entity. In some cases, the environmental sustainability largely lays a lot of emphasis on the effects occasioned by people on the immediate environment. In addition, social sustainability takes care of various issues that directly or indirectly impact the society as a whole. When the latter is put into consideration, it brings into perspective the fact that AstraZeneca plc is yet to put into consideration the safety environmental rules regarding emission of toxic materials into the environment (Boerner 2011, p.34). It is profound to underscore the fact that the process of manufacturing pharmaceutical products usually leads to massive generation of waste products in form of chemical wastes. Therefore, it is necessary for the management of the company to formulate policies guarding waste control and management both inside their fac tories and immediately after being released. Adequate management of pollution clearly amounts to corporate governance. The ideals behind corporate responsibility of a company entails various operations such as employees’ working conditions, environmental protection, production of safe products, ethical sales and marketing ideals as well as activities that add value to a business organization. Since Considering AstraZeneca Plc operates within the pharmaceutical industry, social and corporate responsibility cannot be ignored at all costs.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More How can corporate social responsibility be integrated in the operations of AstraZeneca Plc? In order to integrate the ideals of the corporate social responsibility of this company in environmental management and safety of stakeholders, there are three fundamental areas that must be addressed by the company’s leadership. These include the competitive environment of the business, corporate culture, and also the nature of leadership of the company. Integration of corporate social responsibility within an organization begins with the leadership that has been put in place. For example, the entire management of the organization should be actively involved in all the activities that involve corporate social responsibility (Geraghty 2010, p.44). When it comes to the corporate mission and corporate culture, it is evident that AstraZeneca does not have a properly defined mission statement. However, the company has always confirmed that it is one of the leading pharmaceutical organizati ons across the globe. Irrespective of market leadership, the absence of a specific corporate culture especially in the mission and vision statements is a major ingredient towards failure on matters related to corporate social responsibility. There is no doubt that the company has done quite well in reaching out pharmaceutical markets outside Europe. The 20 manufacturing plants spread across various geographical locations is indeed a vivid indicator that the company stands a better chance of not merely making super profits, but also being a leader in the corporate social responsibility circles (Dhaliwal et al 2011, p.73). As it stands now, the company has a competitive business portfolio and therefore its business environment is highly competitive. As already pointed out, it is one of the outstanding market leaders in terms of profitability and of course a large market base. Monitoring and evaluation of the corporate social responsibly and corporate governance One of the reasons why this company has failed to implement its CSR operations is that it does not have an adequate and effective mechanism for measuring, assessing and reporting corporate responsibility activities. The presence of heavy bureaucracy within the organization has immensely contributed towards poor reporting systems. The company is currently struggling to develop slim and efficient systems that can expedite the process of social corporate responsibility reporting. Nonetheless, it is vital for company to develop appropriate systems that can be used to measure various aspects that impact the corporate social responsibility (Cramer Bergmans 2003, p.76). Recommendations The proposed alternatives and solutions that can be put into place by AstraZeneca have been briefly discussed under the recommendations. To begin with, the company ought to develop an effective system for monitoring, assessing and reporting all the corporate social responsibility operations. Since the organization does not have a clearly defined mission statement, it is crucial to devise a suitable mission statement. This will map out the much needed corporate culture needed in this organization. The company should also diversify its operations in various areas such as genetics and the development of new and improved vaccines. . This will be instrumental in lowering the current competition from other market rivals such as GlaxoSmithKline. Some market competitors are doing quite well in terms of the corporate social responsibility framework (Boeger, Murray Villiers 2008, p.37). It is also highly recommended for the management of this company to consider sustainability reporting as a corporate organization. Most of the transition economies such as that of Russia are sometimes difficult to predict in terms of performance. For example, a transiting economy can easily be affected by the sharp fluctuations in the foreign exchange rates. Since such fluctuations are usually inevitable, it is upon the competing com panies to create and clearly define sustainability reporting so that all the activities or operations that need to be carried out can be brought into a sharp focus (Babin Nicholson 2011, p.48). Conclusion To recap it all, it is vital to reaffirm that the corporate social responsibility is a critical area of operation of any business entity. It is one of the most practical ways through which organizations can participate in governance. For instance, waste management, pollution control and basic development and improvement of local infrastructure are some of the key operations that can be integrated in the corporate social responsibility. References Babin, R Nicholson, B 2011, â€Å"How green is my outsourcer? Measuring sustainability in global IT outsourcing†, Strategic Outsourcing: an International Journal, 4(1) 47-66. Boeger, N., Murray, R., Villiers, C 2008, Perspectives on corporate social responsibility, Glos, UK, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham. Boerner, H 2011, â€Å"Globa l corporate accounting language is expanding-through regulations, mandates, and voluntary adoptions†, Corporate Finance Review 16(2) 32-36. Cramer, J., Bergmans, F 2003, Learning about corporate social responsibility the Dutch experience, IOS Press, Amsterdam. Dhaliwal D, Li O, Tsang A Yang, Y 2011, â€Å"Voluntary nonfinancial disclosure and the cost of equity capital: the initiation of corporate social responsibility reporting†, The Accounting Review, 86(1)59-100. Geraghty, L 2010, â€Å"Sustainability reporting- measure to manage, manage to change, keeping good companies†, 141-147. Turner, T N 2005, Vault guide to the top pharmaceuticals and biotech employers, Vault, Inc, New York.

The Best IB Chemistry Books, Reviewed

The Best IB Chemistry Books, Reviewed SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips To get an A in IB Chemistry SL/HL and a 7 on the exam, you need to be using the best study materials for your learning style. In this article, I will review some IB Chemistry SL/HL books to help you narrow your search. Note: I'm only including IB Chemistry Books from 2012 or newer. I don't recommend studying with older books as they most likely do not correspond to the most recent IB Chemistry syllabus. Who Should Use This Article? This post is for IB Chemistry students who are want to do well in the classroom and on the IB Chemistry SL/HL exam. If you're looking for a book that will help you cram for a few days before the IB exam, any of the books we mention below will work for you. But if you're looking to ace the test, it's best to choose a book that will help supplement what you learn in class. If that's your goal, you should pick the book carefully. Make sure you're picking a study book that fits your unique needs! Top IB Chemistry SL/HL Books I’ve split the best IB Chemistry books into a few categories to help you make your decision: Best Textbook: This text is our overall winner. It's the best book to help you learn throughout the school year, no matter your strengths or weaknesses. Best Study Resource for Quick Learning During the School Year:This is our top recommendation for all students to master topics quickly. Best Study Guide for Mid-Scoring Students:This text provides more in-depth explanations for those who need a little more help understanding the material. Best Value Study Guide:This book will give you the most bang for your (limited) buck. Book to Avoid:This book lacks all of the material you need to succeed. Best IB Chemistry Textbook IB Chemistry Course Book: 2014 Edition: Oxford IB Diploma Program Price on Amazon: about $58 Description: This is the go-to textbook for IB Chemistry SL/HL. The Oxford University Press is the only publisher coordinating directly with the IBO to create their books, which means they better comprehend what the IBO wants you to learn and what they will expect you to know for the IB exam. They're also able to create the most realistic practice IB Chemistry problems. Pros: Developed directly with input from the IBO High-quality explanations Realistic practice questions Organized logically, with practice integrated throughout Cons: This textbook is thorough in its coverage of the syllabus, but it won't help you find the best study method for your learning style. It The best way for you to study for IB Chemistry may not be cover to cover! Unfortunately, this book doesn't give clear guidance on how best to customize its content for your needs Does not contain study strategies or test strategies More expensive than other guides Best Study Guide for Mid-Scoring Students IB Chemistry Study Guide: 2014 Edition: Oxford IB Diploma Program Price on Amazon:about $34 Description: This is the go-to IB Chemistry Study Guide when you've got limited time to study. Also published by The Oxford University Press, this study guide complements the IB Chemistry Course Book mentioned above. This book breaks topics down into comprehensible sections, with pictures to help cement concepts. Also, IB Chemistry exam preparation material is integrated to make sure you excel on the IB Chemistry exam. Pros: Developed directly with the IB High-quality content Realistic practice problems and exam material Organized logically, with practice integrated coherently Very thorough for those who need a little extra help in addition to their textbook / class lectures Cons: This book is better for thoroughness and not very good for customized prep More expensive than other guides Best Study Resource for Fast Learning Throughout the School Year IB Chemistry (SL and HL) Examination Flashcard Study System: IB Test Practice Questions Review for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Cards) Price on Amazon: about $44 Description: Flashcards are a good study option for IB Chemistry since there are many specifics to memorize. These flashcards help break the subjects down into manageable sections, so that you can easily memorize important information. Unlike the Oxford University Press, this company doesn't work with IBO, but they use the IB Chemistry syllabus to make sure they cover all subjects. These flashcards are a great resource to use for studying during the school year for your in-class IB Chemistry tests. You can focus just on the applicable flashcards for each quiz. Even though there are no IB exam practice questions, these flashcards are still good for exam review because they cover core concepts. Since most of the IB Chemistry exam questions ask you to repeat memorized facts (such as asking you to decide â€Å"Which statement about reactivity is correct?†), these flashcards are a great tool to help you get a 7 on your exam. Pros: Developed using the IB Chemistry syllabus Provides a high-quality content review Breaks down big topics into small manageable parts Organized by topic, making it easy to help you memorize throughout the year, not just for the IB exam Cons: Doesn't give advice on how to use the flashcards to study. I encourage you to use our "waterfall method" These flashcards just have space for brief explanations. If you don't understand a topic, you will need to refer back to another resource to help cement understanding. More expensive than other guides Best Value Study Guide IB Chemistry Notes by Vincent Keat Standard Leveland Higher Level Price on Amazon:About $19 Description: What I love about these books is that they are topic specific. These notes were written following the IB Chemistry SL and HL syllabus. They contain fully worked examples on each topic and are an ideal resource for test preparation throughout the school year as well as for the IB Chemistry exam. Pros: Developed using the IB Chemistry syllabus High-quality content review Fully worked examples of each topic Relatively inexpensive Cons: Does not contain full practice tests Does not contain study strategies or test strategies Book to Avoid IB Chemistry (SL and HL) Examination Secrets Study Guide: IB Test Review for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (Mometrix Secrets Study Guides) Price on Amazon:about $50 Description: This study guide for IB Chemistry covers the core topics of the syllabus including some practice questions for paper 1 (the multiple-choice section of the exam). However, it doesn't review any of the options (tested on paper 3 of the IB Chemistry exam) or include any practice for paper 2 questions. Pros: Focused review of IB Chemistry core topics Includes practice questions from paper 1 with detailed answer explanations Includes test tips and strategies Cons: Expensive compared to other materials Missing review of the options, which count for â…“ of the IB Chemistry exam Missing review of paper 2 questions, which count for â…“ of the IB Chemistry exam This book is too expensive to spend money on when it is missing â…” of the material needed to succeed on the IB Chemistry exam Other (Free) Study Resources While these are great study aids, we know they can be pretty pricey. Find other free IB Chemistry study resources in our IB Chemistry Study Guide.Also, check out our article on where to find IB Chemistry past papers to help you practice for the exam. What’s Next? Learn more about IB Chemistry by checking outthe complete IB chemistry syllabus. Trying to figure out what extracurricular you should do? Learn more about participating in Science Olympiad, starting a club, doing volunteer work, andjoining Student Government. Studying for the SAT? Check out our complete guide to the SAT.Taking the SAT in the next month? Check out our guide to cramming. Not sure where you want to go to college? Check out our guide to finding your target school.Also, figure out your target SAT score or target ACT score. These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Taxonomy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Taxonomy - Essay Example A solution to this dilemma lies in the introduction of the PhyloCode way of naming, which could name and organize living beings on the basis of phytogeny, the evolutionary history of a species or group. With advances in modern science, it has become easier to perfectly determine the evolutionary history of a species, and species and clades can be accurately organized according to phytogeny. In this type of nomenclature, change in one part of the naming organization would not involve any widespread changes. This, coupled with its evolutionary accuracy, is being touted as the major advantages of PhyloCode by its proponents. Changing to PhyloCode from the deeply entrenched Linnean system would mean the re-definition of millions of species, something that the PhyloCode workers have not yet worked out conclusively. Global diversity catalogs will be the first to be affected by any changes that take place: while the Linnean system has the advantage in history and numbers, PhyloCode could soon be throwing the gauntlet, and the catalogs remain flexible to both.

Society Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Society - Assignment Example The invention of the steam engine accelerated industrial revolution in Europe and later the entire world. However, although the intended purpose of this invention was met, there were other side effects due to the invention, and all this will be discussed in this write up. Keywords: Steam Engine, Invention, Science, Society, Inventor, Industrial Revolution, History of Steam Engine The power of steam is given credit for its earlier and current application in the power industry. Long ago, steam power made a lot of difference in industries, it still does. Its history is dated back to the first century. There were a lot of life challenges that required innovations to reduce the human labour and increase production. Miners during the 18th century faced a lot of challenges relating to the mining industry; they had to look for the ways of overcoming these obstacles. Their effort for minimizing challenges led to the introduction of steam energy to pump water from deep mines; this slowly trans formed to the fully developed steam engine (â€Å"Industrial History: The History of the Steam Engine,† 2013). Before the introduction of steam, power was obtained through wind, animals, and water. The steam engine was the first form of power generated by human beings (â€Å"A Brief History of Steam Power,† n.d.). Steam engine invention is not credited to one single individual, every inventor put in some small effort and with time, there was an improvement. One of the important principles used in the development of the steam engine was the principle of condensation of water vapor so that it could create a vacuum. In the steam engine, water and water vapor are the key ingredients, â€Å"work is done by the pressure which the substance exerts while its volume is undergoing change† (Ewing, 2013, p. 2). Historical Development of Steam Engines The historic development of the steam engine defines the beginning and the progress of the steam engine invention. It started with the need to have more power to solve the issues that were at hand. First, there was a lot of cold, people wanted to get warmth therefore they had to invent fire, as life went on, there were other developments in the industrial sector, for example for glass makers, there was a lot of firewood to be used in these glass industries, and since there were large forests around, the firewood was to be used to provide heat in the furnaces. As the needs increased, requirements for fuel also increased to meet the requirements of the increasing operations. Coal was then invented; a furnace that generated higher temperatures and used less fuel was invented by Abraham Darby (â€Å"A Brief History of Steam Power,† n.d.). Pumps were then needed to drain the coal mines. During the 1600’s, a German scientist called Otto Van Guericke invented the first air pump; this was after his discovery of gas as the third matter. He realized that he could remove air from a glass globe, leaving behind an empty space called a vacuum. Later on, he discovered static electricity and abandoned his work on pumps and vacuums, with this, he was already setting up some pace for the invention of the steam engine, although he had no idea about it. The progress that he had already made was enough for Denis Papin to pick up the idea about a piston and cylinder. His idea was that if air

(Choose the Topic) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

(Choose the Topic) - Essay Example Huxley is correct though when he comments that â€Å"the release of atomic energy marks a great revolution in human history† (Huxley, 1946, xi). When Huxley wrote Brave New World, nuclear energy had yet to be used in warfare. However, later in his foreword Huxley does mention of America’s use of nuclear bombs the year before in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Huxley was at least correct in saying that nuclear fission would change the way that wars are fought in the future, and this has proved to be the case. Huxley also predicted that the â€Å"politicians and generals of Europe consciously resisted the temptation to use their military resources to the limits of destructiveness or to go on fighting until the enemy was totally annihilated† (Huxley, 1946, xii). As World War II had just ended when Huxley was writing his foreword, he could not have predicted that the European Union would be formed. What Huxley did get right was that the horrors of the two world wars taught leaders and politicians to not get involved militarily. Since the end of World War II, many European nations have attempted to diffuse conflicts through negotiation and as such there have not been any major wars in Western Europe. Huxley also talked about the shifts in political and economic power that would occur in the future. â€Å"To deal with confusion, power has been centralized and government control increased† (Huxley, 1946, xiv). Over the last eighty years there has been increased centralization in the major economies of the world, and this has been facilitated through international trade. Trade unions have made the world smaller and also kept political and economic power in the hands of the few. To combat this, Huxley correctly surmises that â€Å"only a large-scale popular movement toward decentralization and self-help can arrest the present tendency toward statism† (Huxley, 1946, xiv). Perhaps Huxley underestimated the control that governments and

Evaluation of an argument through analysis Essay - 1

Evaluation of an argument through analysis - Essay Example To aggrandize on this judgment, it is wise to relate the aspect of rational and irrational factors; while the latter can be related to women, it can as well be used to justify why women speak much. Irrational persons tend not to take close precaution while speaking and factors can be related to their superior speaking techniques which in most cases are situation and theoretically assembled (Holmes, 38). Nevertheless, rational talk attributed to men is based on attributes of honesty, factual and being concise. However, Holmes argument is not based on the amount of words spoken but on the quality of the talk. She challenges women to construct a formidable talk in order to counter balance patriarchy. Primarily, Holmes present women talk based on social factors such as friendship and trivial relationships, compared to male talk which focused on critical global arguments. To justify the above description, it is wise to note that Holmes essay is based empirical evidence in critical examina tion based on science, environment and demagogy principles. The essay has applied strong literature dogmas; for instance, of humor, proverbs, imagery/ symbolism, simile/ metaphors and as well borrowing close examples. This essay will counter examine Holmes essay by; firstly, close checking on the claim and subsidiary claims. Secondly, the essay will base its principles on hilarious practical evidence presented. Thirdly, the essay will examine on technical presentation applied by Holmes; primarily focusing on opposing views, credibility, language, organization and the tone of the essay. Finally, the conclusion will establish whether the argument â€Å"women talk too much is valid†. Claim What is the main claim presented in the essay? Is it clearly stated the essay does it reflect the purpose of the essay The main claim in the essay is the argument against the quality of talk compared between sexes and what governs the talk. While men uses talk to exemplify power, women uses ta lk to express emotions and relations. Women are more interested on trivial elements; for instance, of how the society perceive them as individuals and not what men argues out; how the society perceive the general concept life and how it affects mankind, what are the necessary changes and solutions to challenges. The essay categorizes men as discreet and in very unique cases they would speak out their problems but women are more interested in speaking out their lives to access comfort. According to Holmes (43), men are interested in presenting a certain social point of view and debating on it, while women are more concerned whether the point of view does directly affect them What are subsidiary claims presented in the essay? In other words what claims are used to support the main claim? Are the claims clear and valid? And they related to the main claim? Holmes aggrandizes on the main point of view, literature aspects have been categorically employed to empower the main point. Subsidi ary claims presented stretch from literature, psychological, gender and biological claims. For instance, according to the essay women are more interested to hear their own voice than the validity of what they are talking about. Consequently, biological claims prove that; while a male is developing before conception, the testosterone hormone alters the brain (Brizendine, 2011 56). The hormone is significant in

IRAQ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

IRAQ - Essay Example It has a  span  of 437,072 km2. The Northern part is mountainous with the highest point being Cheekah Dar, which is 3,611m. Idaho is half its’ size. The capital city of Iraq is Baghdad other cities include; Mosul,  Basrah, Kirkuk,  Erbil  and  Sulaymaniyah.  Iraq’s  terrain  is characterised  by  broad  plains, reedy marshes in the south and mountainous  landscape  in the north.  It  ismostly  dry  and  hot  since it is a desert. The Iraq’s total population as at April 2009  was estimated  to be 31.2 million. According to Central Intelligence Agency, 75% of the Iraq population comprises of Arabs. This  is followed  by Kurds who are 15-20%, and while others include only 5% (Cotter, 2011). Iraq has a federal government that defined by the constitution as Islamic, federal, democratic, and  parliamentary  and republic (Cotter, 2011). This government has three branches, the executive, judiciary and legislature. The government has  many  independent  commissions. There are areas in Iraq that has governorates apart from the federal government. Some districts have jurisdiction regarding some  lawful  matters. The governorates in Iraq are eighteen and  are divided  into districts. Iraqi Kurdistan is a  region  that  is legally defined  having quasi-official militia and its own government. In 2005, Iraq passed a new constitution by 78% majority voting in favour of it. The new constitution got greatest  support  from Shia and Kurdish communities (Cotter, 2011). Oil is the greatest contributor to Iraq’s economy. It provides most of the foreign exchange earnings to Iraq. The economy of Iraq suffered  extensive  losses due to the war and lost close to US$100 billion. After the war, oil exports have tremendously increased new pipelines  were constructed, and damaged facilities restored. Low oil prices, costs of construction and war debts repayments made Iraq suffer  immense  financial crisis (Tripp, 2007). Iraq got a debt relief that was to be

Teaching methods and strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Teaching methods and strategy - Essay Example It evolves and conforms according to the imagination and opinion of the teacher. The teacher is provided with numerous techniques that can be applied in ensuring that the learners comprehend and utilize the accumulated and assimilated knowledge. Such strategies and methods include gaming quizzes, lectures, class discussion, story and role playing, brainstorming, active learning, distance learning, and case method. The current society requires learners who are creative, proactive, and flexible in communicating ideas and thoughts, making decisions, and working effectively within groups and teams. Possessing knowledge is not enough to succeed or make a difference in the current ever-changing world; teachers have a crucial role in moulding learners to fit and be competitive through application of effective teaching methods and strategies. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of each of the stipulated methods is presented with a suggestion of the most effective level of applica bility. Gaming Quizzes Games are used to enhance competition, participation, and feedback during teaching (Accardi, Drabinski and Kumbier, 2010). They serve as a motivator and entail practical application of learning concepts. The technique is efficiently applicable when teaching children and primary level learners. In gaming quizzes, the expatriates are actively involved in the exercise. This frustrates boredom and enhances motivation and positive attitudes towards learning. Gaming promotes team work and application of collaborative efforts towards solving educational problems. The trainers are able to obtain feedback on learning progress of the expatriate candidates instantly. Practical application of theoretical concepts in the form of games instils confidence among learners in acquiring education facts. However, gaming quizzes can discourage learners who are not competitive compared to their colleagues. Gaming may lead to rivalry and unhealthy relationship among competing groups . Most members would shun creativity and device short cuts or crude methods to secure victory as most of the games are focused towards winning. Another weakness is that team work may derail the application of individual efforts. Lecture Lecture method entails the teacher solely controlling the core focus of information transfer. The instructor normally positions him or herself in front of a class and presents educational facts to the students who are listening and taking notes. Occasionally, teachers use a board or overhead projector to provide visuals to the learners. The method is normally common at all levels of learning although the use of visuals is common with higher levels of learning. Minimal exchange exists between the instructors and students in this learning method. When preparing for a lecture, the instructor should have a clear introduction and summary of the topic of discussion (Lang and Evans, 2006). Lectures should also be presented in the form of summary with time u tility. The message being relayed is made clearer through the use of examples and anecdotes. Lectures are advantageous in that the proceedings of a lecture session can be recorded for future reference. The method is a fast and straight forward way of relaying knowledge to a large,

IRAQ Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

IRAQ - Essay Example It has a  span  of 437,072 km2. The Northern part is mountainous with the highest point being Cheekah Dar, which is 3,611m. Idaho is half its’ size. The capital city of Iraq is Baghdad other cities include; Mosul,  Basrah, Kirkuk,  Erbil  and  Sulaymaniyah.  Iraq’s  terrain  is characterised  by  broad  plains, reedy marshes in the south and mountainous  landscape  in the north.  It  ismostly  dry  and  hot  since it is a desert. The Iraq’s total population as at April 2009  was estimated  to be 31.2 million. According to Central Intelligence Agency, 75% of the Iraq population comprises of Arabs. This  is followed  by Kurds who are 15-20%, and while others include only 5% (Cotter, 2011). Iraq has a federal government that defined by the constitution as Islamic, federal, democratic, and  parliamentary  and republic (Cotter, 2011). This government has three branches, the executive, judiciary and legislature. The government has  many  independent  commissions. There are areas in Iraq that has governorates apart from the federal government. Some districts have jurisdiction regarding some  lawful  matters. The governorates in Iraq are eighteen and  are divided  into districts. Iraqi Kurdistan is a  region  that  is legally defined  having quasi-official militia and its own government. In 2005, Iraq passed a new constitution by 78% majority voting in favour of it. The new constitution got greatest  support  from Shia and Kurdish communities (Cotter, 2011). Oil is the greatest contributor to Iraq’s economy. It provides most of the foreign exchange earnings to Iraq. The economy of Iraq suffered  extensive  losses due to the war and lost close to US$100 billion. After the war, oil exports have tremendously increased new pipelines  were constructed, and damaged facilities restored. Low oil prices, costs of construction and war debts repayments made Iraq suffer  immense  financial crisis (Tripp, 2007). Iraq got a debt relief that was to be

Research paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 7

Research Paper Example When my Aunt, Elizabeth was a young woman, a wife for five months, all she could dream of is becoming a mother of three lovely kids. Due to anxiety, she could sit to watch baby stories on TLC, and always cry when the baby is born, a feeling of joy felt by a new mother. She thought every part of motherhood had to be the most amazing feeling. Such was the feeling that she decided to hasten the decision to become pregnant contrary to the agreement with her husband that they would only become parents once they achieve status they can comfortably take care of a baby. According to her plans she thought she would labor for a while, and then have a perfect delivery and start breastfeeding expecting to start bonding with the baby instantly. As a first time pregnant mom, it was natural that she would always think of how fun it will be. She is just one woman among the many who undergo such expectations before becoming pregnant after all. It was not long after that she found out it was not all glitters as she had dreamt it would be. Like other women, she experienced varied emotions coupled with life changing moments that she would be forgiven for dismissing the idea of having a second baby in the near future. An occasional drinker in her youthful years, she stopped her habit, stopped eating her favorite cheese and meat products. Instead she had to drink milk and other foods as advised by those magazines that she read. She even began keeping track of the amounts of fruits and vegetables that she because she was obsessed with being the perfect pregnant woman. Now not interested anymore in working and having resigned all she would do was master the TV programs that would help further her know-how on motherhood. All these adjustments to her were a small sacrifice to make; the baby was that entire she cared for. In the first months of pregnancy frequent vomiting, fatigue, and

James Is Intolerance of the Catholic Faith Essay Example for Free

James Is Intolerance of the Catholic Faith Essay Do you agree with the view that the main cause of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was James I’s intolerance of the catholic faith? It was the lack of tolerance in which James showed toward the Catholic faith, but also the large amounts of tolerance to the Protestants in the mean time. James was, almost, too pleasant towards the Protestants and therefore angered the Catholics as he did so, leaving the Catholic’s wanting to display that the intolerance shown towards them was unacceptable. Therefore, historians are able to infer that it was due to James’ attitudes towards the catholic faith that the Gunpowder Plot took place. Source 2 and 3 both agree that the gunpowder plot was due to James dealing with the Catholic faith with a very harsh attitude, also pushing the Catholics into taking measures such as ‘massacres, rebellions and desperate attempts against the King and State’ due to the King driving them to. James ‘dealt severely [..] he took a lot of money’ which he, evidently, didn’t implicate amongst the puritans. James shows a lot of hatred towards the Catholics and their faith through the way he dealt with them. Source 4 supports evidence shown through both source 2 and 3 in the way that it is expressing the ‘utter detestation’ he had of Catholicism and how he was happy to show his ‘hostility against the Catholics in order to satisfy the Puritans’. James states how he couldn’t comply with all the needs of the Catholics which they present to them, however he made no effort to even think about contemplating those needs of the Protestants. The kings hatred towards the Catholics, however, may also have been due to the influence of his inherited chief minister, Robert Cecil, who from Source 3 we can understand himself didn’t enjoy having the Catholic faith around, being warned that if the harshness shown towards them wasn’t to stop then the king would have to intervene in ‘massacres, rebellions and desperate attempts against the king and state’. However, Robert Cecil, down to his own despise of the faith manipulated the situation, applying a larger amount of pressure upon James to continue to treat the Catholics with a harsh manner, shown in source 5, ‘Cecil used every opportunity to infer to James that the popes were rivals to his authority [] something James could not tolerate’. Source 5, unlike source 3, states how Cecil was a ‘staunch protestant’ seeing the Catholics as being ‘tantamount to traitors’ due to their beliefs opposing the king by referring back to the pope, although they both show that Robert Cecil is using his own viewpoint to affect the way in which the King undertake the ‘issue’ of the Catholic faith, just in diverse ways, and therefore a possible cause of the gunpowder plot, which many historians would argue, was due to James’ ministers themselves, influencing the kings beliefs and ideals. Robert Cecil through his influence over the king shown in source 5 can also be supported in source 1 with him stating that the King has been too tolerable of the Catholics and how the king should be harsher towards them and how ‘the King’s excessive kindness’ has resulted to ‘priests preach that Catholics much kill the Kings to help their religion’, and therefore wasn’t James’ intolerance of the Catholics that caused the Gunpowder plot but the tolerance he showed them instead. Many Catholics would say that due to James’ deliberately publicly announcing his ‘utter detestation’ of their faith that James deserved the plot to be against him due to the harshness shown towards their faith and beliefs, which we are able to infer via source 4 telling historians that ‘all priests [] had been expelled and recusancy fines introduced’. Overall through the sources historians are able to infer that James showed a large intolerance towards the Catholic faith, whether it be through him own ideals or influenced by other, which then pushed them into believing that performing the Gunpowder plot upon the Houses of Parliament was for the greater good of their religion, and therefore the main cause of the gunpowder plot of 1604 was King James’ intolerance for the Catholic faith. Amy Poole.

Oscar Mayer Essay -- essays research papers

Problem: One of the key issues faced by McGraw is that there is a large gap between his projections for next year, and what the manager’s are promising him . His goal is to obtain a 15% increase in the operating income from his division (OM, LR and NP). The managers are projecting a decrease of 5.2% from the current year. In absolute terms there is a gap of $27 MM in the projected divisions operating income. If McGraw were to keep his A&P budget the same as last years, he would save $32MM over the managers’ projections. Therefore, one solution could be to effectively use the strengths of the product lines and the A&P dollars by consolidating his sub-divisions. Analysis: Comparing the contributions and costs of the three product lines OM, LR and NP as a percentage of the total division’s numbers for the three years can give a detailed picture on the successes and failures of each sub-division, their strengths and weaknesses. This exercise lets us determine what percent of the divisions’ A&P budget is dedicated to Oscar Mayer vs. what percent of the divisions operating income comes from OM vs. LR. Louis Rich Brand Strengths are growing market segment, â€Å"health conscious† segment contributing to the rise in the operating income exponentially. However, a 33% of division’s advertising and promotional budget is being consumed for a 24% of total revenue or 14% of division’s operating income. While contribution to operating income is exponential, it is still less than 1/4th of the total divisions operating income. Oscar Mayer Brand Oscar Mayer brand has been developed over 100 years. It has a strong brand name, brand equity associated with it. It has established marketing and distribution channels. The numbers show a decline in the operating income of 18% over 3 years in part this may be due to a decrease in percentage of division’s A&P expenses directed towards OM brand. There is a question as to whether LR brand is cannibalizing OM brand. New Product Stuff’ n Burger numbers shows that a proportionately large spending on A&P is still generating no operating income. It is in the red. This points out the difficulty and expense involved in developing new brand or products. One of the key questions to ask is if the Louis Rich Brand is eating away into the Oscar Mayer’s market share? The two tables below show a decrease in the Oscar ... ...eat Oscar Mayer products. The tag line can say Oscar Mayer: offering choice and variety, fun and relaxation. Extend Product line This would require the company to reposition Louis Rich brand under Oscar Mayer Brand, without loosing its target audience, the health conscious group. (Both division can leverage off of the well reputed brand name Oscar Mayer.) Introduce repackaging, ready to eat lunches – including red and white meat variation. The focus here would be convenience for working people and enjoyable for kids. Pricing Strategy Running a sales promotion offering two for one package deals. Can sell white meat products via vending machines at health clubs and give free Samples to women. Cutting price of Oscar Mayer products in order to gain more market share and become more in line with the market competition. Products from Oscar Mayer and Louis Rich under the Oscar Mayer umbrella would need to be priced competitively with products from Smithfield, Ball Park, Hillshire Farms, Butchers, Tyson, Carl Budding and Kellogg’s etc. Russell Winer. Marketing Management 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, 2004. ISBN 0131405470. Custom Business Resources. Prentice Hall, 2005. ISBN 0536921288.

The Importance of Books :: Teaching Education Essays

The Importance of Books Book have been a part of my life since the beginning. My mother once told me her and our neighbor would sit together and read to me and the other woman’s baby, who was later to become my childhood best friend. I didn’t start reading Wharton and Steinbeck until much later, but we have to start somewhere. Before knowing how to read, my mother and father would read to me a book from my endless number of â€Å"The Bearnstein Bears† books. Every book had a lesson. I think that having been read to every night and being explained some of the words and their techniques of why they are the way they are, helped plow my way in favor of learning to reading in school. When it came to reading â€Å"Look at Spot† and those other memorable 2-3 worded pages that made up a story, I was always ahead and frequently help my teacher with her work rather then practicing reading with the rest of my class. Now being read to before bed time became reading to me mother and father. My most sentimental memory of being read to be when my father went overseas to be in Desert Storm, he recording himself reading a countless number of books so he could still read to me even though he was a lot of miles away. It was one of few moments I can really remember about him in my childhood. He was always aroun d when he could be but when he wasn’t there he was dreadfully far away. When I started to read for myself, the books would consist of Amelia Badelia, Peanut, Butter, and Jelly, and any book authored by Shell Silverstein. Eventually in school we were being assigned to read books for class and for Accelerated Reader. AR book are certain books that contain a test you take and the difficulty of the book corresponds with the number of point receives with each correct answer given. After, about, every six weeks there is an AR prize cart. This system works like Chucky Cheeses’ or Peter Piper Pizza. You could wait to â€Å"spend† your points until the end and receive a really expenditure and remarkable prize. It encouraged others and me to read more and to read the more difficult books.