Two Ends of the Pen Happens When a Great Author Blogs

Two Ends of the Pen Happens When a Great Author Blogs The author of the Two Ends of the Pen blog is Debra L. Martin. She is the co-author of several fantasy and science fiction novels alongside her brother, David W. Small. Their authorship deals with dystopian future in The Path trilogy; what I would call vampire romance fiction in the Silver Cross and Silver Double Cross (still forthcoming); and their newest release, The Witchs Curse â€" a trilogy set to be completed in late 2018 or early 2019. Looking further into the author, we discover she writes romance under the pen name Debra Elizabeth, and is an extensive reviewer of self-published and indie-published novels. Also readily apparent is her affiliation with the Xpresso and GoddessFish book tours. When a new author is looking to get the word out on their novel, Debra L. Martins blog is involved in promoting the new work and making sure her readers get the first sneak peek.ContentDebras blog usually deals with material directly relevant to readers looking for a rarer read. A recent p ost on April 19, 2018 promotes an author named James Moushon, who is self-published, but whose story of a bomb plot and CIA investigation in Southern California will appeal to the readers of Robert Ludlum and other authors in the spy thriller genre. Her other posts, for the most part, follow a similar format. She finds a book, and gives her readers some quick insight into why they might like it. This shines when the author is interviewed directly. In one post with author Arthur J Gonzalez, Two Ends of the Pen gives us some interesting insight into the authors writing process and marketing strategy. This sort of inside scoop is what makes Two Ends of the Pen worthwhile â€" advice, straight from the authors mouth.On lighter days, Debra Martin blogs about topics meant to inspire the reader, or bring some interesting historical moment to their notice. Usually, these posts are made in addition to her weekly posts, and the one which I lingered on was her description of Patriots Day, which breaks down the commemoration of the battles at Lexington and Concord during the American Revolution. Posted to her blog is a short description for her readers who are not native to Massachusetts, and some reenactment pictures which could serve as a great jumping off point, or writing prompt, for authors and writers browsing her site.Debra blogs frequently. In the month of March alone, she made twenty-five posts. These were broken down across three major categories: reviews, excerpts, and interviews. What should really appeal to her viewers is the quantity of titles covered. With so many excerpts and interviews to choose from, and of such independent talent, it is easy to find an appealing novel even for those who normally veer quite mainstream in their reading tastes. I am especially fond of the excerpts, which make it quite easy to gauge ones interest in the novel, before committing to buying. Of course, each of these posts provide links to the Amazon and Smashwords pages for eac h novel, and occasionally include special sales, giveaways, or discount prices for those who purchase the book through Two Ends of the Pen.ReviewsUpon discovering Two Ends of the Pen, there are two types of people. There are those who immediately start scrolling through interviews and looking at what each independent author has to offer, and there are those who immediately think, how do I have my novel promoted like this? Debra reviews a lot of novels. Though her reviews are sometimes closed for submissions, she can be contacted any time via her e-mail, posted on her blog review policy.If you do happen to land her as a reviewer, she boasts some serious credentials. Debra Martin reviews for Goldberg McDuffle Communications, Knox Publishing, Angry Robot Publishing and FUZE Publishing, as well as a variety of other sources. She states that she gives a fair and honest review, but her reviews tend to rest on the high end of the scale, and she is clearly bias toward four and five-star rat ings on Amazon and Goodreads. Still, she does not receive compensation for her reviews, so she is able to speak her mind. She often gives details about plot, character progression, and readability in her reviews.InterviewsDebra L. Martin is an accomplished author and a whiz at marketing her material. She knows the interviewing world inside and out, and has made her presence known across the blogosphere. One interview she gave, which stands out, was for the blog Up Around the Corner on April 24, 2014. This hidden gem gives a bit of insight into how Debra writes with a co-author, and how co-authoring a work requires a writer to leave their ego at the door. She gives some good writerly advice, such as taking a break after finishing a novel, before hitting the editing grindstone; and on the importance of proper outlining (especially when working with a partner).Besides giving interviews, Debra L. Martin also interviews authors looking to make a name for themselves in the self-publishing world. Though she is currently not accepting review submissions, she is open to author interviews and can be contacted directly via her e-mail, or via her Facebook page.The Real MeatAll in all, Debras blog doesnt stand out in the blogosphere. It is one of thousands of blogs which promote authors and independent publishers. What does stand out is Debra herself. She has years upon years of experience, and she takes the time to collect resources useful to writers and authors. Near the bottom of her blog are four important sections:Author Panel DiscussionsPopular Guest PostsWorld of Symbols by Michelle SnyderRebecca Writes AboutEach of these sections of the blog contains deep dives on diverse topics related to writing and authorship, but Ill give a short synopsis of each here.Author Panel DiscussionsThese are awesome. In this short series (15 posts), Two Ends of the Pen asks a panel of authors for their opinions on questions ranging from whats your favorite part of writing a novel?? to plot or character â€" what comes first? These short posts give great insight into the opinion of multiple authors, often offering contrasting and complimentary advice on how to get the most out of your writing. This discussion offers a depth of field, and the clarity which that provides. By measuring the words of each author against the others, a reader can potentially gain a much deeper understanding of the material discussed.Popular Guest PostsThe guests on Two Ends of the Pen are as accomplished as Debra herself, and they lend their authority to the writing advice offered on the blog. There are a collection of posts by Grammar Girl, a blogger who has recently blown up, and now has a larger viewership than Two Ends of the Pen, but (and no surprise here) Debra hosted her content before it was widely known. Other topics by guest posters include Holes in History, which discusses historical fiction, and how far you can push the boundaries of realism; as well as topics like Prologue o r no Prologue; and step-by-step guides to hiring a graphic artist, and getting the best from them.World of Symbols by Michelle SnyderMichelle Snyder is popular outside of Two Ends of the Pen, and so her guest spots on the blog are wonderful reads. Most of them deal with mythology and the history behind common symbols. She details the origins of ?a green thumb? in one post and delves into the history of the zodiac signs in another. All of these are excellent reads. I can highly recommend The Truth About Midas, which was one of her first posts on the site.Rebecca Writes AboutFinally, Rebecca Writes About is a frequent contributor to Two Ends of the Pen, and famous in its own right among those in the know on the blogosphere. Her content is always awesome and should hit home with a number of authors and writers. Some posts to check out are her deep-dives on: traditional vs. indie publishing, working with a freelance editor, memorable characters, and writing with co-authors.ConclusionDeb ra L. Martin is, and will continue to be, an independent author and a capable reviewer. If you are hoping to write, edit, or promote a novel, then starting at Two Ends of the Pen will place you in good company.

Christianity And Islam The Age Of Faith - 906 Words

Sometimes, the Middle Ages are referred to as the Age of Faith because â€Å"religion was so pervasive in European society†¦ [in which] villages were organized around local churches, and larger towns would devote generations of labor and resources to build large cathedrals† (Thompson) as well as citizens following God’s words through thoughts and actions. Durning the medieval time, both Christianity and Islam regions follow the concept of faith and God’s orders but each have their own limits and approaches to the idea. From roughly 1000 AD until modern day time, faith has been considered an important element of Christianity and Muslim in which each individual has a specific faith that is unique to them and no one else. The development of faith and the changes that the idea has went through have allowed historians to examined what faith is really about and how one can view their own faith through actions from their Father’s demands. Influenced by the G reek culture, the term Hellenism was established to explain the interaction between the Greek and Roman Empires and how the church laws were adopted into Christianity. During early development, many organizations brought conflicts between competitive cities due to their desires to influence the Christianity religion. During the medieval time, Christianity was the only well-recognized religion that European citizens really wanted to followed. In the form of the Roman Catholic religion, the central teaching of traditionalShow MoreRelatedThe Lost History Of Christianity By Philip Jenkins954 Words   |  4 PagesIn the novel title â€Å"The Lost History of Christianity†, author Philip Jenkins attempts to convey the message that there are many aspects of Christianity that are unknown to Christian followers today. Jenkins start by implying that Christianity essentially starts in Northern Mesopotamia. Jenkins then traces the history of Christianity from Africa to the Arab world to the heart of Asia, in what he consider to be the â€Å"golden age† of Christianity. He informs the readers of the stories of churches andRead MoreCritical Thinking Assignment On Islam1488 Words   |  6 PagesThinking Assignment on Islam Islam is a monotheistic religion founded by Muhammed during the seventh century. Islam means â€Å" surrender.† (The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetic) To follow the teachings of Islam, one is called a Muslim. The book that was recited to Muhammed from the angel Gabriel is referred to as the Quran. Allah to a Muslim means God. As a Christian I must understand the worldview of Islam. In the understanding I hope to communicate the Christian faith by showing Christ sRead MoreAbrahamic Faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam1302 Words   |  5 Pages Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are united as Abrahamic Faiths because they share many common beliefs and thoughts. Over two billion people practice Christianity. Judaism is the original Abrahamic faith and originated in the Middle East over three thousand five hundred years ago. Islam is the second largest religion in the world, revealed over one thousand four hundred years ago in Mecca, Arabia. These three faiths share many common characteristics when it comes to their outlook on god, women inRead MoreThree Religions : One God1467 Words   |  6 PagesReligions: One God Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are three of the most influential religions in the world. Together, they account for almost four billion followers. These religions are usually referred to as the Abrahamic religions. This is because they all claim Abraham as an important pillar of their faith. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism have many things in common, including a main place of worship and holy book, but within these similarities are some major differences. Christianity is a religionRead MoreHow Did Christianity Become A Major World Religion?1660 Words   |  7 PagesHow did Christianity become a major world religion? Saint Paul had a huge impact on the development of Christianity. He spread the word of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire by visiting synagogues, preaching, and writing letters. Without Saint Paul, Christianity would not have been a major religion of the world, instead, another would have likely taken its place. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, was a crucial part in the development of Christianity. Paul, who was born in Tarsus, CiliciaRead MoreThe Spread Of Christianity And Western Europe1637 Words   |  7 PagesThe spread of Christianity in Western Europe was both similar and different to the spread of Islam. The rise of Islam starts with the Prophet Muhammad, believed by Muslims (followers of Islam) to be the last in a line of prophets that includes Moses and Jesus. Because Muhammad was the chosen one to be the messenger of the word of God, Muslims from all around the world work to follow the example he set. For Muslims after the Qur an (their bible), the sayings and teachings of Muhammad and the descriptionsRead MoreSimilarities Between Hinduism And Buddhism942 Words   |  4 Pageseventually gave way as Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and syncretic faiths gradually moved in and across the Indian Ocean basin by 1750 CE. Even then, Hinduism did spread from northern India through sout hern India to Southeast Asia. The caste system was maintained from 600-1750 CE, given the fact that Hinduism promoted such rigid class distinctions as morally right, though the caste system developed sub-castes during this period. Buddhism actually declined with Hinduism and Islam gaining more ground in itsRead MoreThe Rise Of Islamic Civilization872 Words   |  4 Pageswhen he stated â€Å"I think that rather than condemning Islam, Islam needs to be studied by those who are sincere.† Knowledge of other religions and understanding of other beliefs is important. People, as Christians, need to understand the basis of not just Islam itself, but its larger role in today’s society. Islam has not only impacted culture of the past, but western civilization today, it shows similarities and differences to the Christian faith, and has also been perceived harshly in light of theRead MoreSimilarities Between Christianity And Islam920 Words   |  4 Pagessacrifice; their savior and redeemer. Although there were many conflicts in the development of the Christian faith, Christianity is the world’s largest religion. Islam was founded by Muhammad, a caravan trader from the ruling clan in Mecca. To Muslims, he is the human prophet of the god Allah. Although Christianity and Islam are portrayed as two distinctive religions, they are both rooted to the Jewish faith, and are considered to be Abrahamic monotheistic religions. It may be very controversial, but it isRead MoreIslam : A Unique Religion1208 Words   |  5 PagesIslam is a unique religion that was founded by a prophet named Muhammad in the 7th century. The religion came at a time when various religions such as Judaism, Christians and other polytheistic religions dominated. The previous religions managed to coexist and even share common grounds such as the Ka’aba. Both Islam and Christian religions were based off of tradition and customs from the tribe’s fathers before them. Their r eligious customs ran rapid throughout the Mediterranean and especially in

Essay on Net Present Value and Ocean Carriers - 613 Words

The Charles H. Kellstadt Graduate School of Business DePaul University FIN 555: Financial Management Prof. Randy Fisher Case Study Questions: Ocean Carriers These questions relate to the Ocean Carriers case in your course packet. You can find the data for this case on the course website in a spreadsheet named: Ocean Carriers Exhibits.xls. This case provides the opportunity to make a capital budgeting decision by using discounted cash flow analysis to make an investment and corporate policy decision. Ocean Carriers is a shipping company evaluating a proposed lease of a ship for a three-year period beginning in 2003. The proposed leasing contract offers very attractive terms, but no ship in Ocean Carrier’s current fleet meets†¦show more content†¦How are your results affected? What do you conclude? Useful Hints: a. You need to be consistent in the treatment of the timing of the cash flows in your analysis. To accomplish this, you should assume that all cash flows occur at the end of the year closest to the actual date of the cash flow, so for example if the case states that a cash flow occur in â€Å"January† or â€Å"early† in a specific year, you should assume that it occurs on Dec-31 of the previous year. This is what makes most sense from a financial perspective, as the Present Value of a cash flow will be almost exactly the same whether it occurred on Dec-31 in one particular year, or Jan-1 the following year, as those two dates are just one day apart. (When there is no mentioning in the case of when within a certain year a cash flow occurs, assume that it occurs at the end of the year.) b. As stated in the case, you should assume that operating costs will grow annually at 1% in real terms. You should however be consistently using nominal cash flows while making the cash flow projections. c. Assume that Ocean Carriers has a sufficiently high taxable income in each year so that any tax shields can be used immediately. d. Assume that the ship is depreciated straight-line for 25 years to a remaining book value ofShow MoreRelatedFinance--Ocean Carriers Inc1365 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Ocean Carriers Inc. is a shipping company specializing in the operation of capsizes bulk dry carriers. In January 2001, the vice president of finance for Ocean Carriers was evaluating a contract proposal. In the proposed contract, Ocean Carriers would lease one ship to a client for a three year time frame. The customer would begin utilizing the ship in 2003. In 2001, Ocean Carriers did not have a ship that would meet the needs of this customer, and thus was considering purchasing aRead MoreOcean Carriers829 Words   |  4 PagesOcean Carriers Recommendations and Analysis We have carefully reviewed and analyzed the proposal for Ocean Carriers to lease a ship for a three-year period, beginning in early 2003. Our extensive analysis included considering the cash flows over the lifetime of this investment. We concluded that based on the expected future cash flows of this project the opportunity to take on the contract would not be advantageous for Ocean Carriers. We first considered the future expectations of the spot andRead MoreOcean Carriers613 Words   |  3 PagesOcean Carrier Case Study Summary In order to accept the recently submitted leasing contract proposal, Ocean Carriers would have to purchase a new ship. The purchasing of a new ship is a considerable investment. We have analyzed whether or not Ocean Carriers should make this investment using Free Cash Flow and Net Present Value (NPV) analysis. Given the details of the contract, the forecasted daily time charter rates, and the costs data; we have concluded that Ocean Carriers should not acceptRead MoreOcean Carriers Essays1200 Words   |  5 PagesOcean Carrier Case Study INDEX Case Background ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·3 Dilemma ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·3 Scenarios under different tax rates and years  ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·3 Alternative ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·5 Decision summary ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·Ã‚ ·5 Appendix Ocean Carrier Case Study * Case Background Mary Linn of Ocean Carriers is evaluating the purchase of a new capesize carrier for a 3-year lease proposed by a motivated customerRead MoreOcean Carriers Case Report Essay1447 Words   |  6 PagesOcean Carriers Case Report Executive Summary Ocean Carriers is evaluating a proposed lease for a ship over three years starting in 2003. Currently, Ocean Carriers does not have any ships that are available to meet this customer demand. This report will assist VP of Finance Mary Lynn to make a decision on whether or not to commission a new carrier and how long to hold on to this asset. Based off a financial analysis using the data Ocean Carriers has provided, the final recommendation is thatRead MoreCase Study: Ocean Carriers1563 Words   |  7 Pageswhich wants a contract of only 3 years. Based on the calculations of the costs of construction against the value of the contract, it is recommended that Ocean Carriers not go ahead with the construction. However, if a strategic alliance can be created with another carrier to lease their vessels, Ocean Carriers should accept the contract. If the strategic alliance is mutual, Ocean Carriers should build the vessel to add on to its own fleet. Key Financial Issues Mary Linn has to deal with the followingRead MoreCase Study1046 Words   |  5 PagesMemorandum To: CEO, Ocean Carriers Re: Ocean Carriers Capital Budgeting Mary Linn, Vice President of Finance, has been approached by a potential customer with a proposed lease of a ship for a three-year period, beginning in early 2003. The terms are very attractive but we currently do not have a ship that meets this customer’s needs. Ms. Linn has asked Group 4 to research three proposed scenarios to determine whether or not commissioning a new capesize carrier for this customer willRead MoreOcean Carriers751 Words   |  4 PagesCase 1: Ocean Carriers We think that daily spot hire rate will likely decrease next year. There are two reasons. First, there are 63 new vessels scheduled for delivery in 2001 to increase the supply of vessel and only few old vessels need to be retired, while the demand will not increase because imports of iron ore and coal would remain stagnant over next two years. Second, exhibit 5 shows that avg. spot rate of 2000 was higher than the rate of previous years and avg. 3-yr charter rate. In additionRead MoreA Case Study Of Ocean Carriers Essay1425 Words   |  6 PagesA CASE STUDY OF OCEAN CARRIERS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Ocean Carriers, a shipping company, is evaluating a proposed lease for a ship over three years starting in year 2003. Currently, Ocean Carriers has no available ship that meets the customer’s requirement, because the vessels available in Ocean Carriers fleet are either on lease or are too small for the required purpose. The goal of this report is to assist the Vice President of Finance of Ocean Carriers, Mary Lynn to make a decision on whether or notRead MoreOcean Carriers2562 Words   |  11 PagesOcean Carriers Inc. was approached in January of 2001 with a contract proposal for the leasing of one of their ships for a term of 3 years beginning in 2003. Ocean Carriers currently has no ship to accommodate the customer. To commission the construction of a new vessel would take 2 years from start to completion. The average rate in the spot market is $22,000 per day. Ocean Carriers deployed a younger fleet than average carriers and generally earned a 15% premium over the aver age daily rate

Importance of manners Free Essays

Manners are the buildings blocks, of character they build and construct the character and present it as a model or a diamond in front of others, it gives rising shining respect to you. Manners are very useful and even free of cost, lust use them and get benefit from them, by good manners you can have respect In front of others manners also means respecting others and by respecting others we are respecting ourselves. Manners can be adopted by following footsteps f those persons who good manners, act as they act live as they live one day you will also have priceless manners rich for your respect Without manners life can be difficult and many problems can come In front of you, Manners doesn’t really deal with religion. We will write a custom essay sample on Importance of manners or any similar topic only for you Order Now It Is a part of the human characterless. Everyone either has good or bad manners. Having manners will let people respect you. They will be kind towards you and they won’t hesitate to talk or be your friend. A person with good manners is honored everywhere while a person with bad manners is spoken about badly. A person with bad manners will have people treat him as if he is a piece of trash’ that they won’t even bother to look at. They’ll think that your parents didn’t bring you up. Also, the Prophet pub had amassable wonderful manners. The Prophet pub is the example to all Muslims. We all are supposed to have good manners. It will help take you far in life. How to cite Importance of manners, Papers

Perceptions Of Factors Technology Projects -Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Perceptions Of Factors Technology Projects? Answer: Introducation In Maldives, the quality of education is a primary challenge that needs to be addressed among the students. The country hence developed a first generation objective aimed at providing universal access to basic knowledge by rapidly expanding student enrollment while the second challenge is the provision of quality education. Elliott and Clifford (2014) denote that Maldives has poor quality of education that is weak and requires urgent improvement. The national learning assessment proves that learning outcomes for Grades 4 and 7 proves the unsatisfactory level of education. As a result, Maldives policy makers aim at adopting several dimensions to improve the quality of education with the teachers qualification as a primary factor. There are also quality assurance mechanisms that require pilot testing, refining, and up-scaling all over the country. Most students, if not all are eager to achieve practical and scientific success in life. However, the level of performance varies depending on multiple variables such as level of intelligence and the attributes in enhancing success. From this attempt of achieving success, a human being is subjective to failure. Mostly, failure is associated with frustrations and to some extent punishment (Osabiya, 2015). In some communities, low academic performers encounter discrimination on social duties. The concept is profound in the academic grounds where the low-performing students strive to achieve their educational goals and objectives (Ramos Mota, 2014). Often, people generalize the strategies of improving low performance making proposals; on the need for discipline and an orderly learning environment. Unfortunately, low-performing students find it difficult to translate these provisions into a better performance. Individual differences have a great impact on academic performance. Various academic researchers have attempted to explain these variables through the application of varied methodological approaches. Despite the effort, the low-performing students might apply to improve their performance, variables such as attitude, psychological factors, socioeconomic factors, demographic condition, and personal ability. This may provide insight on reasons of low performance and thus, contribute to the formulation of appropriate strategies (Hazrati-Viari, Rad, Torabi, 2012). Some studies propose that education performance is at a point affected by socializing and therefore, the stakeholders in education should employ active learning styles in academic. Rationale for the study Since education performance determines success and failure in different perspectives, learning and teaching are at the forefront of the revolving world. The incidence of low performance in some students is a problematic situation that subjects the families and the communities to dangerous situations. Most households with the cases of poor performing children have reported high incidences of violence and instability (Hjalmarsson, Lochner, 2012). Thus; result in divisions in the society into social classes where some ethnic groups of violence and crime establish at the community level. The study intends to eliminate the gap in determining the causes and the ways of helping low-performing students in Maldives. While various studies have discriminated students personality in academic performance, this study provides diverse approaches to developing effective educational strategies. As a result, the stakeholders will have a different perspective in motivating and supporting the students (Moswela, 2014). Although Maldives are bound to a weak education system, the government, teachers, and parents have a role to play in improving academic performance. The Personality differences among students can be approached in thoughtful strategies to improve individual performance (Elliott Clifford, 2014). Therefore, the study assesses the education systems in leadership and learning arrangements to determine efficient learning procedures. Also, the study defines the responsibility of the government in establishing policies based on accountability and support for the low-performin g students. Consequently, the study will contribute to national development in academic performance by identifying the cause and providing incentives appropriate for all stakeholders. Hence, the findings will be helpful in determining teaching strategies and techniques to meet the needs of the students at the ground level (Isac et al., 2015). The ministry of education and legislation can impose policy changes that improve performance in students. The findings will, thus, formulate appropriate strategies which will assist in the integration of demographic, socioeconomic, and personal differences to help students improve in their academics. Literature Review While finding approaches to improve academic performance, it is imperative to assess variables such as socioeconomic, individual differences, demographic and educational systems to contribute to improving this performance. Low performance is not attributed to a single factor but different limitations that students encounter in life (Owusu, Essel, 2017). Each section is addressed rationally to indicate its essence in improving education systems, thus, improved performance. Before analyzing factors affecting performance in Maldives, it is vital to consider the statistical reports on students enrollment and performance in different academic levels. According to the World Bank statistics, the completion rate in primary education is high with 114% in 2010 which is higher than in the developing countries. However, the attainment rate at the lower secondary levels raises a concern about the quality of education since only 27% achieved a passing grade in 2008 (Bank, 2017). The problem advanced in 2011 when the figures decreased to 16%. Also, the incidences of school dropout have gradually increased. Demographic Approach Maldives consists of 1,192 islands which hold a population of 36000 square people. The economists classified the country as a middle-income nation (Kundur, 2012). However, the result of this data does not satisfy the translation of the economic development to benefit children in an equal way. 40% of the entire population in Maldives is made of children between the ages of (0-4) years. One possible reason for this demographic result could be the emigration of the adults to further higher-quality education (Bank, 2017). The results also suggest possibilities of high dependency ratio in the future. After the economic crisis in 2009 the economic growth of the nation increased, but with significant inequalities in the regions (May, 2016). The trend of decreased poverty level depends on one's location; poverty increased in the capital and reduced in the atolls. For this reason, the access to education is also affected. Socio-Economic Factors Notably, socioeconomic disadvantages contribute to the low performance of students in a larger scope. The current research indicates that low performance in students prevails in an individual with the higher socioeconomically disadvantages. These students have poor language background and enroll in vocational programs. Therefore, low performance necessitates multi-faceted approach directed to national and local issues. The policymakers, students, and parents should invest time and resources to address this crucial role. The theory of Education productivity suggests that schools are critical points for the childrens academic success. However, the children are subjected to community influence, parental participation and psychological traits of the students. It also provided that, home environment has a key bearing on the academic performance of the student. For example, the increased incidences of drug trafficking due to poor institution support might relatively affect performance in the education sector (Adyb, 2014). The interaction of the student with the home environment has an impact on the academic success. Sometimes, the income level of the parents determines the quality of education the child can access. Personality Traits These factors determine the success of the student, especially in the psychological and behavioral research. Students have different levels of imagination, curiosity, interest, and perception (Hazrati-Viari et al., 2012). Also, consciousness helps the researchers to determine the organization, intelligence, reliability, and diligence of the learner. The traits have a significant effect on the academic potential of the student. However, the level of expertise of the teacher and the learning styles might affect performance in school. Data Collection techniques and Analysis Two methods of data collection were employed that is conducting personal interviews and questionnaire surveys. The study involved face to face interviews with the teachers and students are the primary focus. Furthermore, it was also used to eliminate the feeling of being cornered by questions requiring specific answers. According to Galletta, (2013), semi-structured questionnaires are advantageous since they are reliable and can be used to generate comparable qualitative data. It is imperative to note that face to face interviews pave way for the collection of more in-depth data and comprehensive understanding of the research problem. On average, the sessions of the interview and survey lasted for 15 minutes for every respondent. Sixteen teachers were interviewed and 3 students from the senior classes. The focus on the questions was on issues that directly or indirectly affect the performance of the students in Maldives. Questionnaires were administered on face to face format to the respondents and comprised of both closed and open-ended questions. The respondents were first informed of the intent of the study where their participation was by free will. Face to face format of administration was selected since it is associated with a higher response rate than other methods of administration (Szolnoki and Hoffmann, 2013). The respondents were given 20 minutes to fill the questionnaires. Administration and filling of the questionnaires were done under the supervision of the researcher. In the process, the researchers role was to provide any clarification the respondents needed and collection of the questionnaires after filling. All questionnaire administered were returned representing a 100% response rate. Bickel and Lehmann, (2012) assert that descriptive statistics is a vital method of analyzing qualitative data in providing data especially when a large amount of data is involved. In this case, frequency distribution was used in determining the impact of individual factors on the low performance of students in Maldives. The analysis paves way for generation of a frequency table to facilitate interpretation of data after analysis. Findings and Discussion According to the survey done for the study, the results shows that different people had various reasons as to why there was poor performance experienced among the students in Maldives. For instance, poor parental help to the students was identified as a major challenge as every parent had the assumption that tuition is more vital and is sufficient to assist their students regarding academic performance than the assistance they could offer as parents. It was also identified that most of the parents are not familiar with the strategies and methods adopted for assessing the students on their performance as per the new curriculum requirement. A few parents are noted to care for the education of their children and try their best to offer the help they could such as paying for their tuition fees. However, even such students still perform poorly. Possible reasons for the poor performance could be as a result of lack of effective attention in class as well as discipline issues as a result of poor parental guidance. However, a few cases were as a result of poor family background exposing the students to bad behavior and lack sufficient resources for their studies as supported by Elliott and Clifford (2014). The survey on the teachers clearly indicated that 92.9% of them were full-time employed with majority of the teachers being degree holders. Over 30% of the teachers have an experience of over 6 years with others having 15 years of the teaching experience, an aspect that is expected to boost the performance of the students. They were also experiencing an average ability of accessing the necessary learning resources to ensure effective teaching process for the students. However, poor performance can as well be related to the poor professional development. The teachers were also receiving effective support from the administration, but the same was not being expressed in the performance of the students. The survey also found out that too there is much teacher-directed learning process adopted in Maldives. As a result, the preferences of the students are not considered result to poor understanding of the essential aspects of the learning process neither do they enough education exploring activities that can boost their learning process. The study as well identified that most teachers base their lessons for the whole class instead of adopting level-based education system to help the below average students. In such cases, Moswela (2014) denotes that all the students tend to be taught similar things without the consideration of the individual differences in their performance. With the high number of students, one on one attention for the poorly performing students is not adopted. There is also huge gap differences between the A level and O level accompanied with poor linguistic skills leads to the overall poor performance. While surveying the individual students, it was evident that the majority of the students lived far from school, an aspect that led to lateness as well as high level of absenteeism. All the students were also fond of speaking of speaking their local languages while in class hence leading to poor practice and performance of the official academic languages. At the same time, only 33% of the students regularly have their work checked by the teachers, an aspect that is likely to encourage laziness among the students on completing their homework and class assignments. With all these challenges, even the students themselves clearly accept that they are facing challenges with their studies hence leading to their poor performance. However, just few teachers were willing to help the students with the challenges they were facing in their studies. Overally, over 60% of the students rally want to learn and often participate in class work but do not take time for extra help in class or pay attent ion in class. Despite their desire to learn, the student are not motivated to learn as majority of the students only come to school for fun with the aim of enjoying to play with their fellow students. Students accepted that they do not cooperate with the teachers and often miss essential topics due to poor focus on class work. Poor performance among students in Maldives is attributed to the problems they experience, where the problems can be broadly categorized as internal and external. Internal problems arose from factors such as student preparation for the exams and psychological conditions. On the flipside, external problems were brought indirectly by people around them. The findings focused on promoting motivation among the students through exposing them to real-life situations. In the process, the students are internally motivated when having knowledge of the opportunities that await them. Exposing children to many class tests was found to be the most effective way of reducing examination anxiety. Elimination of anxiety can help the students to concentrate on their examination thus, leading to academic improvement. Recommendations To effectively improve on the performance of the students, Maldives needs to adopt a curriculum that is focused on solving the socio-economic needs of the country. Such a curriculum will be relevant to the needs of the country and help in responding to its future projections. The ministry of education also needs to work with the relevant ministries given the mandate of national planning with the aim of harmonizing the curriculum to focus on achieving the projected goals of the country. Another best option to ensure improvement in performance is academic institutions adopting ICT in the curriculum. Given that Internet access is a problem for most schools, especially in rural areas, educators and administrators needs to consider the possibility of establishing Local Area Networks (LANs) in schools. Content could be hosted on school LANs, instead of trying to make them available on the Internet. A digital library on a server on the LAN would be a valuable asset, as it can store all types of digital content. Interactive multimedia material can also be hosted on the LAN at a much lower cost than on the Internet. This also has the added advantage of enabling students to access Programmes at their convenience, instead of having to adhere to a scheduled telecast. Given that India has invested significantly in educational television and already has a commendable satellite television infrastructure, schools should focus on leveraging this technology. Some Indian educational channels are planning to switch to DTH soon, and it is very practical for them to do this. Due to the rapid fall in the cost of servers and storage, it is possible to record thousands of hours of TV programmes in digital form onto a server and make it available on demand from every PC on the LAN.21. Teachers have a pivotal role in designing performance of the students. According to World Bank result in Maldives, the student-teacher ratio is 12:1, which is a low ratio for an effective learning program. Also, 15% of teachers are untrained, and the students rely on 35% of expert teachers especially in secondary level (Bank, 2017). Although there is high enrollment in primary and secondary levels, the low performance in schools suggests a weak education system. The untrained teachers have limited knowledge of local needs, culture and academic contexts (Arshad, Naseem, 2013). For that reason, the World Bank provides that, the high percentage of unqualified teachers impose inadequate learning strategies to improve educational performance. This statement suggests that the delivery of academic services links different parties which include: Teachers, government, and students. Every party has a role in improving performance. Conclusion Low performance among students is a problem that has a wider scope affecting parents, teachers and the school in general. In regards to the various causes of the decline in performance that were realized during the study, some are within the control of the student while other are not. Since most of the students may not understand what is going on, parents and teachers need to take the initiative of helping them understand these problems and willingly participate in overcoming them. It is imperative to note that much focus on helping improve the performance of students was placed on solving anxiety and motivation. This can be attributed to the fact that motivation affects the students commitment to stick to their plan. On the other hand, anxiety touches on the students themselves and the people around them especially their parents who have expectations such as expecting them to excel in their studies. It is true the researcher believes that applying those measures shall lead to a sign ificant improvement in the students performance. The educational governing bodies need to critically take into consideration the findings of the study to promote the quality of education in Maldives. Ultimately, the study has shown that the problem of declining performance among students and ways of improving it lies squarely on the whole socie Reference Adyb, A. (2014). Maldives under the Burden of Drugs.Journal of Alcoholism Drug Dependence. Arshad, M., Naseem, M. A. (2013).Comparison between the performance of trained and untrained teachers in Lahore.Global Journal of Human-Social Science Research. Banerjee, P. A. (2016). A systematic review of factors linked to poor academic performance of disadvantaged students in science and maths in schools. Cogent Education, 3(1), 1178441. Bank, W. (2017).Enhancing the Quality of Education in the Maldives : Challenges and Prospects. Retrieved 2 Oct. 2017 from: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/17979?show=ful Barrows, J., Dunn, S., Lloyd, C. A. (2013).Anxiety, self-efficacy, and college exam grades.Universal Journal of Educational Research, 1(3), 204-208. Bickel, P. J., Lehmann, E. L. (2012).Descriptive statistics for nonparametric models i. introduction.In Selected Works of EL Lehmann (pp. 465-471).Springer US. Elliott, S. N., Clifford, M. (2014). Principal assessment: Leadership behaviors known to influence schools and the learning of all students. Retrieved from University of Florida, Collaboration for Effective Educator, Development, Accountability, and Reform Center https://ceedar.education. ufl. edu/tools/literature-syntheses. Galletta, A. (2013). Mastering the semi-structured interview and beyond: From research design to analysis and publication. NYU Press. Hazrati-Viari, A., Rad, A. T., Torabi, S. S. (2012). The effect of personality traits on academic performance: The mediating role of academic motivation. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 32, 367-371. Hjalmarsson, R., Lochner, L. (2012). The impact of education on crime: international evidence. DICE Report, 10(2), 49. Isac, M. M., da Costa, P. D., Arajo, L., Calvo, E. S., Albergaria-Almeida, P. (2015). Teaching Practices in Primary and Secondary Schools in Europe: Insights from Large- Scale Assessments in Education. Kontos, A. P., Covassin, T., Elbin, R. J., Parker, T. (2012).Depression and neurocognitive performance after concussion among male and female high school and collegiate athletes.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 93(10), 1751-1756. Kundur, S. K. (2012). Development of tourism in Maldives.International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 2(4), 1-5. May, J. F. (2016). Maldives Population Dynamics: Policy Prospects for Human Growth and Opportunity. Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., Saldana, J. (2013).Qualitative data analysis.Sage. Moswela, B. (2014). Students' Academic Achievement: Whose Responsibility andAccountability?.International Journal of Business and Social Science, 5(10). Osabiya, B. J. (2015). The effect of employees motivation on organizational performance. Journal of public administration and policy research, 7(4), 62-75. Owusu, P., Essel, G. (2017). Causes of students stress, its effects on their academic success, and stress management by students. Ramos, P., Mota, C. (2014). Perceptions of success and failure factors in information technology projects: a study from Brazilian companies. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 119, 349-357. Richardson, M., Abraham, C., Bond, R. (2012). Psychological correlates of university students' academic performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 138(2), 353. Schunk, D. H., Zimmerman, B. J. (Eds.). (2012). Motivation and self-regulated learning: Theory, research, and applications. Routledge. Szolnoki, G., Hoffmann, D. (2013). Online, face-to-face and telephone surveysComparing different sampling methods in wine consumer research. Wine Economics and Policy, 2(2), 57-66. Wang, M. T., Sheikh?Khalil, S. (2014). Does parental involvement matter for student achievement and mental health in high school? Child Development, 85(2), 610-625.

Sociology, Social Closure Essay Sample free essay sample

Analyse the extent to which societal closing exists in UK society. Use two contrasting theories and relevant surveies in your reply. PresentationSocial stratification is the manner in which society is stratified or â€Å"made up of layers† of societal groups in a hierarchal manner. Class stratification is a signifier of societal stratification. which tends to divide separate categories. whose members have contrasting entree to resources and power. In Britain. society is structured in footings of inequality. Different categories tend to incorporate the same sorts of people with the same â€Å"hidden barriers† halting them from being able to mount the societal ladder. Social closing is when people merely can non get away the societal category they belong to. They have no manner of being socially mobile within society. Class can be measured in a subjective manner as opposed to an nonsubjective attack. The Registrar General Scale of Classification is used to organize society into different categories. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology, Social Closure Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Social closing. nevertheless. is when a individual has the inability to mount or fall from their topographic point in society. And with capitalist economy. it is indispensable in order for this political orientation to work within today’s society. There is a definite divide between the middle class and the labor. and hence. societal closing. most definitely exists in today’s society. THEORY ONEThere are a figure of different sociological positions that attempt to explicate category stratification. One theory of which is Marxism. Karl Marx believed that there was a definite struggle between the categories. and that the system of stratification derives from different societal groups and their dealingss to the agencies of production. From Marx’s position. a category group is when all it’s members portion the same dealingss to the agencies of production. Marxism besides believes that there are merely 2 categories. the middle class and the labor. demoing societal closing. The middle class exploit the labor who have to sell their labor to the opinion category. Marx believed that the ownership of the agencies of production has the indispensable ingredient in make up ones minding which category a individual belonged to. In modern twenty-four hours Britain. it is capitalist economy that creates divisions within category in today’s society. which relates to Marx’s thought of substructure impacting society in that the ownership of the agencies of production create tenseness between the categories. Marx besides believed that struggle would ensue in alteration. and that one twenty-four hours the labor would lift up against the middle class and that there would be a revolution. but to this twenty-four hours that is still to come. Which is of class still relevant in our society today. as we can see clearly that the â€Å"proletariat† have non risen to revolt against the â€Å"bourgeoisie† . So hence. today. we see no societal mobility. and alternatively. societal closing. A strength that Marxism possesses is that it draws attending to the development of the labor by the middle class. which emphasises the importance of economic ownership within society. This benefits sociologists in that they can easy recognize societal closing in the UK today as we see that people who own their ain companies are most likely to be the â€Å"bourgeoisie† of society. Marx explains how the battle between the category groups creates struggle within society. This proves to be true in the twenty-first century as there us a current battle for power. and the labor suffer in a closed system of stratification. There are failings of Marxist theory. as it is seen by sociologists as â€Å"too economically deterministic† . and privileges the function of the labor. in demoing that they exploit themselves to the middle class. Another failing is that Marx claims there would be a revolution one twenty-four hours. which has still neer occurred. turn outing that societal closing is present in society today. because the working category still have non risen above the middle class. and there still remains a false category consciousness. THEORY TWOA contrasting theory to Marxism is functionalism. Functionalism is a theory that believes strongly in meritocracy. Harmonizing to Talcott Parsons. anyone who works difficult plenty and hold on all chances will be able to mount the societal hierarchy and achieve what they desire. The category person is born into should non cut down their opportunities in ulterior life if they work hard plenty. This highlights societal mobility in that anyone. no affair what their â€Å"social barriers† may be. that they can easy mount the societal ladder due to difficult work and meritocracy. The category divisions in society are reflected as of import. as different businesss define where a individual â€Å"belongs† to in society. Different occupations can be expressed as a gradient. and there will so be several places and categories in the hierarchy. Peoples who are socially nomadic are awarded from their hard-work with a good topographic point within society. Though today. ca n Parson’s theory truly be true? â€Å"Hidden barriers† are what keep people from mounting the societal hierarchy. and functionalism merely truly â€Å"accepts† the capitalist system. A strength of functionalism is that it suggests that persons can mount up the societal ladder and can go successful. The whole political orientation of meritocracy is that anyone. no affair what their background. linguistic communication. gender or race. can accomplish anything if they work hard plenty to acquire it. Functionalism provides an account for inequality merely because people are discriminated against in society for their speech pattern. background etc. This means that people with inequalities automatically go down the hierarchy. or worse. they are born into the bottom terminal of the societal ladder. So in today’s society. functionalism can be used to understand that societal closing is present due to concealed barriers. A failing of functionalism is that there are many jobs with thoughts of difficult work and instruction are making an unjust society in that merely the people who can afford an instruction are acquiring one. and that those who are disadvantaged in any manner. are in societal closing. and neglect to mount the hierarchy. Besides functionalism ignores capitalist economy. but merely acknowledges it and accepts it. it does non explicate in anyhow how society’s categories evolve unit of ammunition capitalist economy and that capitalist economy is straight related to societal closing. in that the middle class exploit the labor. STUDY ONESocial closing has been studied by many in item. One survey of which was by Scott. who focused on The Upper Classes. Property and Privilege in Britain ( 1982 ) in order to reason that there is still a governing category in Britain. Scott believes that the upper categories have seen of import alterations in the latter half of the 20th century. However. he argues that these alterations have non led to their disappearing or so a decline of their power influence. Scott bases his analysis on Weberian constructs such as societal closing. Though his findings reflect a Marxist analysis in that he feels that within Britain there is a governing category. whose power and influence are based on the capitalist political orientation. There is tonss of grounds that supports Scott’s analysis. In 2002. about ?160 billion of wealth in Britain was controlled by 1000 of the richest households in Britain. Presently. there are 126 female MPs. which is a record degree whereas the figure should be about 330. In 2001. merely 12 % of labour MPs had a on the job category background. which shows societal closing in that merely the richer or better off people became MPs. which besides refutes the labour leftist political orientation. However. Scott is criticised for undervaluing the alterations which have allowed entree to the opinion category. He is criticised for undervaluing the diminution in household owned houses and the growing of pension houses. insurance companies whose financess include investings by 1000000s of ordinary workers. Showing societal closing in that the middle class are the â€Å"elite† and are the ruling opinion category. STUDY TWOAnother survey that looks at societal closing is The Sociology of the Professions ( 1997 ) by Keith MacDonald. This survey deals with what MacDonald calls the â€Å"professional project† . in which professions try to set up and keep a monopoly in their chosen field. To make this. such professionals must at the onset set up societal closing. which is a important portion in making a monopoly. which allows them to command their services. frequently ensuing in really high fiscal wagess. MacDonald’s survey is supported by the professional organic structures. which exist in modern societies such as Britain. for illustration the BMA. the Law society and the institute of Chartered Accountants. Such professions are amongst some of the highest paid in Britain and they do frequently exert a practical monopoly in their chosen field. MacDonald’s positions are partially supported by C Wright Mills who saw these professions as being portion of the power elite in America. Again. demoing that the middle class are the definite opinion category within society. MacDonald’s survey is criticised for reasoning that such professions can move chiefly in their ain involvements. and critics argue that they progressively work on behalf of the rich and powerful. DecisionTo reason. the theories and surveies used by sociologists to analyze societal closing within society have been utile in assisting us understand today’s society in the twenty-first century. Unemployment rates are around 2. 53 million. and with this. the labor are happening looking for work much harder than in the yesteryear. Meritocracy is turn outing really hard to prosecute in today’s society as employers. or the middle class. hold much higher criterions for people to take on. With this. an on-going false category consciousness will go on and these concealed barriers will go on to maintain the labor and the middle class separated in societal closing.

Hellbender essays

Hellbender essays (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis is the largest North American salamander, ranging in length from 30.5 to 74 cm (Niering 1985). Eastern Hellbenders are members of the order of tailed amphibians, Caudata and the family, Cryptobranchidae. Along with C. a. bishopi, the Ozark Hellbender, it is one of the two subspecies of hellbenders, also known as the Allegheny C. a. alleganiensis is perennially aquatic, preferring clear fast-moving rivers or large streams with rocky bottoms. Most are found in water 12 to 46 cm deep and tend to avoid areas with thick layers of silt (Hillis and Bellis 1971). It ranges from the Susquehanna River and its tributaries in New York and Pennsylvania to the Ohio River and its tributaries including the Allegheny, which gives it its species name, westward to the Mississippi River and southward to Missouri, Arkansas, and Georgia. It has also been recorded in Iowa (Bishop 1943). C. a. alleganiensis has a dorsoventrally flattened body and a laterally flattened tail. The tail is the main means of locomotion, but the hellbender can also crawl when seeking refuge (Hillis and Bellis 1971). C. a. alleganiensis is dark gray or olive-brown with a mottled or spotted pattern on its dorsal surface. The ventral surface is a lighter shade with few markings (Niering 1985). The male and female are similar in appearance, but the male is broader and heavier than a female of the same length. Eyelids are absent. It has five toes on its hind feet and four on the fore feet, most of which develop during C. a. alleganiensis is nocturnal, spending its days hiding under rocks with only the tip of its broad head exposed. It exhibits diurnal behavior only during its mating season which occurs in late summer or early fall depending on geographic ...