A Successful Step Forward in the Educational Process

A Successful Step Forward in the Educational Process No Child Left Behind is one of the main principles of the educational system of the United States. It is very important to have determined well-organized principles and methods of studying for students to be more successful in achieving academic grades.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Successful Step Forward in the Educational Process specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It was a big step forward to create such program where all students would be chanced to get a better quality of education with the personal approach to each student. It goes without saying that the surest way to discredit public schools is not to leave any child behind. I think it is the most crucial transformation in the American educational system over the past decade. The federal funding for schools has been increased and the standard of teaching improved which resulted in the higher level of students’ knowledge recorded by the nationwide sta ndardized test. One of the main advantages of this program is that parents have a right to choose a public school for their children. It is comfortable both for parents and schools in particular as children are allotted to the classes according to their abilities and the level of knowledge. Since the level of success is judged by the level of students’ academic performance, it is important to provide all the necessary means and conditions for the students to have the best grades. The disadvantages of NCLB program is that it has not been worked out for those who have health problems and measured abilities and can not study in public schools. I think the program would be more precious if it is created for such people as they are in need more than any other students. One more disadvantage is that government of the United States can not allocate enough money to support all ideas of the program which slows down the process and further development of the program. Nevertheless, acco rding to the data, the achieved result can already be called successful comparing to the level of performance over the past years. As for me, I think this program is effective enough as a lot of opportunities have been given to those who could not afford a good level of education. However, as it was already said, it makes government spend a good amount of money to satisfy all needs.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Actually, talking about the real necessity of such program, it is possible to note that presently, the government of the United States wants to repeal the educational act NCLB. Thinking about this issue more carefully and from the general point of view, the program resulted in increasing the students’ education thanks to the lowering of learning standards. Children were thoroughly taught and tested by public schools. I think it is quite a big disadvantage. A ctually, both public and private schools can choose the educational standards and think about the best ways to increase the level of education of each student in particular. Presently, public schools just lose state funding in case some purposes can not be fulfilled as it is very costly for the government. Education is one of the main parts of a human’s life so a lot of attention both from the government and people’s side should be paid to it. The program No Child Left Behind is in its active development providing a number of measures and ways to increase the accountability of the states and schools for the students’ academic achievements. I think it is a nice opportunity for the teachers to improve their qualification and professional development as well as for parents to be provided with corresponding opportunities of making a choice and getting information. Moreover, one of the goals set by the program at the very beginning has been achieved: the gaps between advantaged and disadvantage students were successfully fulfilled and the general quality of education improved.

Conjugate the French Verb Entendre (to understand)

Conjugate the French Verb Entendre (to understand) Entendre  is a  regular -re verb  that follows distinct, predictable conjugation patterns. All -er  verbs share the same conjugation  patterns in all tenses and moods. Generally speaking, there are five major categories of verbs in French: regular -er, -ir, -re; stem-changing; and irregular. The smallest category of regular French verbs is  -re verbs. Entendre  Is a Regular er Verb To use  -re verbs, remove the  -re ending from the infinitive, and youre left with the stem.  Conjugate the verb by adding the -re endings shown in the table below to the verb stem. The same applies to entendre. Note that the conjugation table below includes only simple conjugations. It does not include compound conjugations, which consist  of a form of the auxiliary verb avoir and the past participle entendu. The Most Common -er Verbs These  are the most common regular -re verbs: attendre  Ã‚  to wait (for)dà ©fendre  Ã‚  to defenddescendre  Ã‚  to descendentendre  Ã‚  to hearà ©tendre  Ã‚  to stretchfondre  Ã‚  to meltpendre  Ã‚  to hang, suspendperdre  Ã‚  to loseprà ©tendre  Ã‚  to claimrendre  Ã‚  to give back, returnrà ©pandre  Ã‚  to spread, scatterrà ©pondre  Ã‚  to answervendre  Ã‚  to sell Entendre:  Meanings   The most common meaning of the French verb  entendre  is to hear, but it can also mean:   to listen toto intend (to do something)to meanto understand (formal) In the pronominal form, sentendre  means: reflexive: to hear oneself (speak, think)reciprocal: to agree, to get alongidiomatic: to be heard/audible, to be used Entendre: Expressions   Entendre is used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to hear about, intend to, attend mass and more with expressions using  entendre. entendre parler de... to hear (someone talking) about...  entendre dire que...  Ã‚  to hear (it said) that...entendre la messe   to hear / attend massentendre raison   to listen to reasonentendre mal (de loreille gauche/droite)  Ã‚  to not hear well (with ones left/right ear)entendre les tà ©moins  (law)  Ã‚  to hear the witnesses lentendre,   tentendre,   vous entendre   to hear him/her talk, to hear you talk qui veut entendre   to anyone who will listendonner entendre ( quelquun) que...   to give (someone) to understand / the impression that...faire entendre raison   to make someone see sense / reasonfaire entendre sa voix   to make oneself heardfaire entendre un son   to make a soundse faire entendre (dans un dà ©bat)   to make oneself heard (in a debate)laisser entendre ( quelquun) que...     to give (someone) to understand / the impression that...Ce quil faut entendre tout de mà ªme  ! (informal)   The things people say!Entendez-vous par l que... ?   Do you mean / Are you trying to say that... ? Faites comme vous lentendez.   Do what  you think is best.Il / Elle nentend pas la plaisanterie. (old-fashioned)   He / She cant take a joke.Il / Elle nentend rien ...   He / She doesnt know the first thing about...Il / Elle ne lentend pas de cette oreille.   He / She wont accept that.Il / Elle ne veut rien entendre.   He / She just wont listen, doesnt want to hear itIl / Elle ny entend pas malice.   He / She means no harm by it.Il / Elle va mentendre !   Im going to give him / her a piece of my mind!Jai dà ©j entendu pire !   Ive heard worse!Je nentends pas cà ©der.   I have no intention of giving in.Je vous entends.   I understand, I see what you mean.On entendrait voler une mouche.   You could hear a pin drop.Quentendez-vous par l ?   What do you mean by that?  Quest-ce que jetends ?   What did you say? Did I hear you correctly?... tu entends !   ... you hear me?!sentendre (faire quelque chose)  (formal)   to be very good at (doing something) sentendre merveille   to get along very well sentendre comme larrons en foire   to be thick as thieves (to be very close, get along extremely well)sy entendre pour (faire quelque chose)   to be very good at (doing something)cela sentend   naturally, of courseEntendons-nous bien.   Lets be very clear about this.Il faudrait sentendre !   Make up your mind!Je my entends ! Il sy entend  ! etc.   I know what Im doing! He knows what hes doing!Tu ne tentends pas !   You dont know what youre saying! Simple Conjugations of the Regular French -re Verb Entendre Present Future Imperfect Present participle j entends entendrai entendais entendant tu entends entendras entendais il entend entendra entendait nous entendons entendrons entendions vous entendez entendrez entendiez ils entendent entendront entendaient Pass compos Auxiliary verb avoir Past participle entendu Subjunctive Conditional Pass simple Imperfect subjunctive j entende entendrais entendis entendisse tu entendes entendrais entendis entendisses il entende entendrait entendit entendt nous entendions entendrions entendmes entendissions vous entendiez entendriez entendtes entendissiez ils entendent entendraient entendirent entendissent Imperative (tu) entends (nous) entendons (vous) entendez

David Orton PLC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

David Orton PLC - Essay Example In order to understand the challenges that Costwise employees have to face since the merger of their organization with Ortons it is necessary to refer primarily to the main events followed the above merger, meaning the events that are likely to affect the employee relationships across the organization: before the merger both firms, Ortons and Costwise have been quite powerful in the British retail industry. However, the two firms had a different culture, as reflected in their strategic priorities: for Ortons, keeping its prices at a rather high level, ensuring the quality of its products, and increasing the number of its larger stores have been the most important elements of the firm’s strategy. In opposition, the stores of Costwise were of various sizes; developing an effective communication with customers has been more important in Costwise instead of increasing the number of profits. Moreover, the level of compensation in Costwise has been lower than that of Ortons, a fact that has not negatively affected the performance of employee in Costwise. After the merger, when the differences between the two organizations revealed, employees in the two firms have been asked to cooperate for promoting the plans of the organization resulted by the merger, the David Orton plc. However, inequalities in compensation and in the participation of employees in the firm’s decision-making process led employees in Costwise at a lower position compared to their counterparts in Ortons.

Parenting isnt for everyone Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Parenting isnt for everyone - Research Paper Example Good parenting provides the children with values, morals, ideas and attitudes; while, there is also bad parenting that tends to ruin their whole personalities. To grow into responsible citizens, children want security and affection which is only provided by those parents who are actually willing to be parents and do the tough job of raising kids. Parenting is the process that requires the most patience that one can have because kids are not understanding by nature, and it is a very tactful job to handle them by making them understand little issues. This is why it is believed that everybody does not have what it takes to handle the pressures of raising children, which can lead some to choosing other options. In order to give the reader an idea why parenting is not a favorable choice made by many parents, it is important to discuss first what the pressures of raising children actually are that lead parents to go for other options rather than parenting. The biggest pressure for the parents is that they have to devote themselves whole heartedly to their children. They have to make their life schedules flexible enough to work with their children’s routine. In an intention to fit everything into their busy lives, they start directing their children instead of dealing with them, and this robes them of their personalities, which increases their dependency on their parents. This leaves the parents more stressed out. Parents have to work hard to make both ends meet especially when there is more than one child. They have to cater to their children’s physical and emotional demands no matter how much tired they may be. They have to sacrifice their sleep. They have to plan out their va cations according to children’s comfort. They have to think about providing proper accommodation to the children. Having children puts a hurdle to one’s freedom and increases

What I Would Change About the World Essay Example for Free

What I Would Change About the World Essay If I had the power to change three things in this world they would have to be: I would change who ran our country, I would stop sending our factory jobs to China and Mexico, and I would also put a stop to the unnecessary violence going on around us. To me these are three very important issues that need to be changed; by this I think the world would be a better place. I think we need a different president; this isn’t a racist statement or anything of that sort. I believe we just need a different president because he has already had four years to make a change, yet he hasn’t made that big of a difference. We need a farmer as president. Farmers know how to plan out and deal with sudden problems. Take for example, President Carter, a peanut farmer, people loved him and most things he accomplished during his term. Secondly, we need to stop sending all of our jobs to other foreign countries. Think about it, in America we are suffering from job loss and in a great deal of debt. We send most of our factory and industry jobs over to China or Mexico, when we really could use them here. If we took back factory jobs in America it would cut back on unemployment rates, and we would create a more stable economy for us Americans. Also, we would have the reassurance and pride of creating our own products in The United States. One of the most important changes we need to make is stopping the violence in America. Through-out America’s history we have had numerous bombings, shootings and other horrific, violent events. This is all unnecessary, we are the United States of America ( emphasis on â€Å"United†. ) And there should be no reason for all of this unnecessary violence toward our fellow Americans. And another way we could end unnecessary violence is to track down all the guns that are â€Å"registered† to the owners and make sure that the owners of the guns actually have them. Also to put metal detectors like at airports in every building to make sure no weapons that are not legally concealed or registered to be allowed inside. So if I had the power to change three things about the world I would end all of the violence towards fellow human beings because it’s pointless to harm one another for â€Å"religious† beliefs. And to take away all of the illegally owned weapons away from all of the criminals and that would take away the majority of the violence toward each other. I would put a President in office that would actually live up to his promises to change the country and bring us out of debt and not to have the other countries look at us as a weaker country as to what we once was. Also i would also bring all of the jobs that we are sending to foreign countries and providing them jobs when we are suffering from the lowest employment levels that I can remember.

Discipline in Childhood Essay -- Parenting Papers

Discipline in Childhood Children require freedom to grow and to learn, but they will not thrive on unlimited freedom. The aim of discipline is to set reasonable limits which protect children from harm and teach them what is safe and what is not. If children are to grow up into responsible, conscientious, and dependable adults, they must learn the social, moral, and ethical standards that are considered acceptable in our society. They must also learn to respect the rights and property of others. Children brought up without discipline may become selfish, greedy, dishonest, unpopular, uncooperative and insecure. Undisciplined children constantly demand attention. They may be inconsiderate or disrespectful to others. Some are destructive, aggressive, and accident prone. A child allowed to disobey without punishment is unlikely to develop much respect for law as he grows older. Although it is impossible to define rules for discipline that are appropriate for every situation, some principles are well established. * Your child needs your LOVE more than anything else. * You should use discipline to teach your child. * You should not discipline your child before he or she is old enough to understand the reason for the punishment. * You should not punish your child for behavior that is part of normal development, such as thumb sucking, speech development, or accidents that occur during toilet training. * You should not punish your child for anything that is accidental. * Both parents should be consistent in the application of discipline. * You should explain to your child, in language ... ... has been forgiven. For a time-out to be effective there must also be "time-in." To summaries this piece of work this shows us that children can’t be given unlimited freedom because they will run wild, and this also shows that children require your love and support in life not only as a child but also when they are growing up. This also shows us that children who are NOT disciplined tend to be â€Å"Greedy, dishonest, selfish etc†¦Ã¢â‚¬  these children also seem to get into more trouble than children who receive more love and support during their childhood. It also says that you should NOT use discipline on children that are too young to understand what is going on, due to this may effect their mental development. This also shows us that ‘time out’ is one of the best disciplines in the way to teach a child to stop misbehaving.

Dramatic tension Essay

This then, is clearly contrasted with the language used when describing a life spent as Willy’s has been, selling and buying. Biff speaks off such a life using words such as ‘suffer’ and ‘measly’ and again, the stage directions are clear in indicating his tone ‘with rising agitation. ‘ A dramatic tension is created then, between the different lifestyles, as Biff and Happy are portrayed as struggling with the inner conflict of conforming to their father’s ideals, or obeying their natural desires. The setting is also crucial in conveying dramatic tension. The use of scenery illuminates the attitude of Willy, and the audience is engaged in a sensory experience with the actor. Furthermore, the setting reflects the events taking place and can set the mood and atmosphere that are so important in creating dramatic tension. The house then, is a place of an increasingly dramatic tension. The house is an important part of the setting as it represents Willy’s flawed ambition. Details such as the single ‘silver athletic trophy’ being one of the only furnishings represents the importance of success but also the lack of it due to the bard setting of the home. The kitchen then, shows only ‘three chairs’ at the table. This may represent the absence of Biff as part of their lives. Dramatic tension is woven throughout, hinting at difficulties surrounding the return of ‘the prodigal son’ and the lack of selling success that is soon revealed to be haunting Willy. He built the house as a part of his success however; it has become overshadowed by apartment blocks. The street outside is packed with cars showing that success is now being achieved by many and in comparison; Willy’s small house is now insignificant, as is his dwindling success. Many of the events take place in the house, and most prominently, the family arguments. It is in the house that Biff comes to terms with flunking maths, that Biff and Willy argue about success, that Linda yells at her sons, and finally, Biff produces the rubber piping and confronts his father. These arguments create dramatic tension as what should have been the perfect family set-up and home becomes fractured, and so is Willy’s dream, to the point of suicide. The Garden or Backyard is also an important part of the setting. Willy attempts to plant seeds remarking ‘I’ve got to get some seeds, right away. Nothings planted, I don’t have a thing in the ground. ‘ The garden is a motif then, of Willy’s need and desire for success. It also represents the legacy that that Willy never leaves with his family. Though Willy attempts to plant his garden near the end of the play, this is too little too late. His life then, had already been a failure and he has left nothing remarkable by which to be remembered. This is a very high point of dramatic tension as the audience is very aware that Willy seems to sense the end of his life is incredibly close. Linked to the production of the rubber pipe only moments later, an overhanging reminder of Willy’s contemplation of suicide creates incredible tension. Dramatic tension is also created through the use of stage and sound effects as well as lighting. Miller uses all three methods as mood and atmosphere creators to enhance and create dramatic tension. Miller is very specific when describing the effects to depict the Loman house. Staging effects include transparent walls in order to make to whole house accessible to the audience. Furthermore, it creates a sense of vulnerability and rawness enhanced by the towering blocks surrounding the house. This vulnerability then, creates a sense defence from attack that enhances dramatic tension. Miller describes the Tower blocks as ‘tall angular shapes’ that reflect Willy’s feeling of inferiority and also claustrophobia and then create a threatening presence. Lighting is crucial in creating atmosphere and dramatic tension. The beginning scene is the most prominent example of this. At first Miller uses the ‘blue light of the sky’ to recreate a depressed and sorrowful mood. The dramatic tension arises when this becomes and ‘an angry glow of orange. ‘ This change suddenly shows a threatening and angry, harsh and dangerous mood. Tension is obvious as the two moods seem far apart but are obviously both linked to the events that will unfold in the Loman house. Sound effects are also important at this point and then throughout the novel. At this stage, the music of a lilting flute is described as fragile and small and fine. It can be seen to represent the better times of the family in which Willy was more successful. It also becomes associated with Willy’s self-delusion of success and his dream of fortune. This music is played then at varying points throughout the play, symboling to the audience a flashback or a sad remainder of a once optimistic dream. The dramatic tension is created as music appears before the events, leaving the audience with a sense of suspense. Other characters ‘theme music’ are that of Bens, and that of the boys, described as ‘gay and happy. ‘ Miller uses these ahead of the character appearance to show that they are about to become involved in the plot, creating dramatic tension as the audience wonders how this will effect the unfolding events. Miller uses more than just music to create dramatic tension. Sound effects such as the screech of Willy’s tyres as he commits suicide create vivid, realistic and highly tense moments. Miller also uses voices to create confusion in Willy’s last actions, thereby recreating the confusion and breakdown of Willy’s mental state. The tension is increased, as his next moves cannot be predicted. The voice of ‘The Women’ constitutes much dramatic tension. Upon hearing her voice and laugh, even beyond the ‘Boston Bedroom’ scene, we are then led to consider whether Willy has ended the affair and the consequences the relationship would cast. Combined with the way in which the family seems to further splinter, an incredible tension is created. Moreover, Biff’s growing agitation toward his indicates that he may be ready to reveal hidden affair. ‘The Woman’s’ laugh adds to this dramatic tension by sounding ironic and mocking, and this further exposes Willy’s vulnerability and confusion. Symbolism is also used throughout both to create dramatic tension and to link the past and the future. Perhaps the rubber piping creates the highest point of tension. It represents Willy’s insecurities and contemplation of death, a prospect that is in itself, an incredibly dramatically tense subject throughout as the audience is constantly left to wonder whether or not Willy will commit suicide. Furthermore, Linda knows of its existence but is reluctant to confront her husband. From the point that Biff decides to remove and keep the piping, we are aware that he now has two strongholds over his father, and tension is evident in his conflict between using this advantage over the now weakened Willy, and the reminder of the awesome respect he used to hold for his Father. In this final scene, Biff finally confronts his father by producing the tubing. Linda is horrified; Biff is angry and confused while Willy is left to defend himself. Such dramatic tension is highly powerful as it plays on the volatile emotional and relational ties found linking the characters. Their interactions then, are charged emotional, created by Miller as part of an incredibly tense sense of drama. Miller combines these methods of creating intense dramatic tension and as a result has produced a highly successful play that continues to capture the audiences rapt attention throughout.

Letter from Birmingham Jail Argument

Letter from Birmingham jail argument essay In Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s essay â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail† he makes the claim that; â€Å"It is a historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privileges voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light and voluntarily give who their unjust posture, but†¦groups tend to be more immoral than individuals,† (paragraph 12). This means that those who come from privileged groups tend not to give up their privileges. Which is completely true, hence is why I qualify with his statement.King lived in the 1960s and was a anti-segregationist activists. Also he was a member of the clergy and a very influential member in our American history. In the 60s blacks and whites were separated in everything they did, from schooling all the way down to restrooms and water fountains. It was a unfair and unjust time period for the oppressed blacks. Which is why King was in jail to begin with, and also why he wrote hi s letter in response to the clergyman. King's statement about how the privileged are not quick to give up their privileges is evident throughout our history.When the slaves in America were enslaved the white slaveholders who were clearly privileged were not quick to give up their ownership over theses people, in fact they even went to war over this issue. The Germans, in Nazi Germany were not quick to revolt against the Nazi's because their power allowed them even greater privileges. In fact, I would argue that those who are a part of a privileged group will even advocate towards immoral actions to greater their privileges. Personally speaking as a competitive dancer I have seen an example of this first hand. The more money you put into the sport it is evident that you get out more.And the dancers' parents who put in more money expect more, even if their child is completely un-talented. These dancers whom are clearly privileged when asked if they will trade a front line in a dance f or the back because little Susie never gets to be in the front will simple scoff at even the idea. People who are privileged do not even know what it is like to work hard to earn your blessings, and that is what us wrong with our world today. King's argument about those who are privileged is evident throughout world history and continues onto modern day. Those who are given more will not hand over what has been granted to them.

10 Threats to Monarch Migration

10 Threats to Monarch Migration Though monarch butterflies as a species are not in danger of extinction in the near future, their unique North American migration may cease without intervention. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) calls the monarch migration an endangered biological phenomenon. Migrating monarchs face threats throughout their journey, from their overwintering sites to their breeding grounds. Here are 10 threats to monarch migration, all of them the result of human activities. Until we change our ways, monarchs will likely continue to decline throughout their North American migration route. 1. Roundup-Resistant Crops American corn and soybean growers now plant mostly genetically-modified crops that are resistant to the herbicide Roundup. Rather than till the soil to control weeds in their fields, farmers can now plant their crops first, and then spray their fields with Roundup to kill the weeds. The weeds, including milkweed, die back, while the corn or soybeans continue to grow. Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), perhaps the most important monarch host plant of all the milkweeds, can still thrive in a tilled field. Ask any gardener who has planted a patch of it about how quickly it spreads, and how hard it is to keep from resprouting. But common milkweed (or any milkweed species, for that matter) cannot tolerate these repeated applications of Roundup on farm fields. Milkweed in agricultural fields is believed to have been a food source for up to 70% of monarchs in the past; the loss of these plants could seriously impact the population. Roundup doesnt discriminate, either, so nectar plants tha t once bloomed between crops have disappeared in these areas, too. 2. Insecticide Use This might seem like a no-brainer (and perhaps it is), but monarch populations can be impacted by exposure to insecticides, even those intended for controlling other insects. In some cases, the insecticide in question may be deemed safe to other, non-targeted wildlife, but often no studies exist to prove the product wont harm monarch butterflies. Fear of West Nile virus leads many communities to conduct aerial spraying programs of pesticides intended to kill mosquitoes, to the possible detriment of monarchs. Permethrin, for example, is used to control adult mosquitoes, but one study done by the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota showed that permethrin residue on milkweed foliage is highly lethal to monarch caterpillars, particularly in the early instars. Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)is a bacteria that specifically targets caterpillars. It is applied aerially to forests, to combat pests like the gypsy moth, and inserted into genetically modified corn, to help the plants repel pe sts like the corn borer. Studies show that windblown pollen from GM corn can kill monarch larvae if the toxic pollen lands on milkweed foliage. Fortunately, recent research suggests Bt-laden corn pollen may not pose a serious threat to the overall monarch population. 3. Roadside Maintenance Activities Milkweed grows well in disturbed habitats like roadsides. It could be said that most monarch enthusiasts can spot a milkweed patch while driving 60 miles per hour down the highway! One would think such an easy growing host plant would give monarchs an edge, but unfortunately, the people who maintain our right-of-ways usually view milkweed as a weed, and nothing more. In many places, the roadside vegetation is mowed, often right when milkweed is at its peak and crawling with caterpillars. In some cases, roadside vegetation is treated with herbicides. As farmers eliminate milkweed from their fields with Roundup, roadside milkweed stands will be more important to migrating monarchs. 4. Ozone Pollution Ozone, a major component of smog, is highly toxic to plants. Some plants are more sensitive to ozone pollution than others. Milkweed is highly sensitive to ozone at ground level, so much so that it is considered a reliable bio-indicator of ozone pollution. Milkweed plants affected by ozone develop dark lesions on their foliage, a symptom known as stippling. While we know the quality of milkweed suffers in areas of high ground-level ozone, we know little about how this may impact monarch larvae that feed on milkweed plants in smoggy areas. 5. Deforestation Overwintering monarchs need forests for protection from the elements, and they need very specific forests at that. The population that breeds east of the Rocky Mountains migrates to mountains in central Mexico, where they can roost in dense stands of oyamel fir trees. Unfortunately, those trees are a valuable resource, and even after the monarch wintering site was designated as a preserve, logging activities continued illegally. In the 20 years from 1986 to 2006, an estimated 10,500 hectares of forest were either lost entirely or disturbed to a degree that they no longer provided suitable winter cover for the butterflies. Since 2006, the Mexican government has been more vigilant in enforcing the logging ban within the preserve, and thankfully, deforestation has decreased significantly in recent years. 6. Water Diversion Since long before the monarchs were found clinging to trees by the millions in Mexico, Mexican families have subsisted off the land in and around the oyamel forests. Local residents need water, both for their homes and for their cattle and crops. In recent years, villagers have started diverting water from mountain streams, using plastic pipes to intercept and direct it to their homes and farms. Not only does this leave streambeds dry, but it also requires the overwintering monarchs to fly longer distances in search of water. And the farther they fly, the more energy the butterflies require to survive until spring. 7. Real Estate Development California boasts some of the countrys highest property values, so its no surprise that monarchs on the west coast might get squeezed out by land developers. Both breeding habitat and wintering sites are at risk. Remember, the monarch butterfly is not an endangered species, so it isnt afforded the protections of the Endangered Species Act. So far, butterfly enthusiasts and monarch lovers have done a good job of pleading for the conservation of overwintering sites, which are scattered from San Diego County to Marin County along the California coastline. But vigilance must be maintained to make sure the monarchs keep this prime real estate. 8. Removal of Non-Native Eucalyptus Trees Why would the removal of non-native trees impact the monarch butterfly, a native species? In the mid-to-late 19th century, Californians imported and planted no less than 100 species of eucalyptus from Australia. These hardy trees grew like weeds along the California coast. Western monarch butterflies found the groves of eucalyptus trees provided ideal protection in the winter, even better than the stands of native pines where they roosted in the past. The western population of North American monarchs now relies heavily on these stands of introduced trees to see them through the winter. Unfortunately, eucalyptus is known for its propensity to fuel wildfires, so these forests are not so beloved by land managers. We may see a decline in monarch numbers where the non-native trees are removed. 9. Climate Change Monarchs need very specific climate conditions to survive the winter, and this is why their overwintering sites are limited to just 12 mountains in Mexico and a handful of eucalyptus groves in California. It doesnt matter whether you believe climate change is caused by humans (it is) or not, climate change is real and it is happening now. So what will that mean for the migrating monarchs? Scientists used climate change models to predict what conditions at the overwintering sites will be in the near future, and the models paint a gloomy picture for the monarchs. By 2055, climate change models predict the oyamel forests of Mexico will see precipitation similar to what the area experienced in 2002 when an estimated 70-80% of the monarchs in the two largest overwintering sites died. Why is wet weather so detrimental to the monarchs? In a drier climate, the butterflies can adjust to the cold by a process known as supercooling. Wet butterflies freeze to death. 10. Tourism The very people who care the most about monarchs may be contributing to their demise. We didnt even know where the monarchs spent their winters until 1975, but in the decades since, millions of tourists have made the pilgrimage to central Mexico to see this mass gathering of butterflies. Each winter, up to 150,000 visitors travel to the remote oyamel forests. The impact of 300,000 feet on the steep mountain trails causes considerable soil erosion. Many tourists travel by horseback, kicking up dust that blocks spiracles and literally suffocates the butterflies. And each year, more businesses pop up to cater to butterfly tourists, requiring more resources and creating more waste. Even in the U.S., tourism has sometimes hurt more than help the monarchs. A motel built at one of the California overwintering locations degraded the forest and caused the butterflies to abandon the site. Sources North American Monarch Conservation Plan (PDF), prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC).Conservation Initiative in North America to Protect Monarch Butterfly, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).Monarch Butterfly Conservation in North America, U.S. Forest Service.Migrating Monarch Butterflies in Monterey County, Ventana Wildlife Society.Species Profile (Monarch), Species at Risk Public Registry, Government of Canada.The Effects of Mosquito-Control Applications of Permethrin on Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Larvae, Sara Brinda, 2004.Lethal and Sublethal Effects of Resmethrin on Nontargeted Species, Meredith Blank, 2006.

Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors

Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors Fight the Good Fight Against Creeping Errors By Mark Nichol Editing, the skill set practiced by the other half of my writer/editor dual personality, is a pleasurable pursuit for me. It enables me to practice problem solving, help people express themselves, and improve my own writing. But as I peruse some of the prose I examine professionally more than a million words each year I repeatedly come across banal but annoying errors that baffle me. There are corollaries of these mistakes in every profession, and in the personal compartments of one’s life. They’re the editorial equivalent of finding that the toilet seat has been left up. (I’m sure you can think of cognates in your experience.) These are among those indefensible editorial errors that seem to perpetuate themselves like a virus, inconsequential in isolation but aggravating in the aggregate. One irritating error I find often is the intrusive framing of a name in commas when it is an appositive of a preceding description of the person named, as in â€Å"The exhibition showcases the work of photographer, Mathew Brady, who produced many iconic images from the Civil War era.† This mistake is rarely replicated in well-edited publications. Unfortunately, many people are corrupted by its ubiquitous appearance in not-so-well-edited publications, and it is thus passed on to infect others. (This error is no doubt influenced by a superficially similar and correct construction: â€Å"The exhibition showcases the work of the photographer, Mathew Brady, who produced many iconic images from the Civil War era.† This is correct form only if the photographer has already been referred to as such in a previous sentence without being named. Also, some publications precede an epithet describing a prominent person with the as in â€Å"The exhibition showcases the work of the photographer Mathew Brady, who produced many iconic images from the Civil War era† though the insertion is an unnecessary affection but notice that the name is not set off by a pair of commas.) Many other examples of such evergreen errors exist, including words misspelled (definately in place of definitely), imperfectly rendered because they’re imperfectly heard (supposably substituting for supposedly), unnecessarily augmented (irregardless, when regardless is sufficient), or faultily combined (alot instead of â€Å"a lot†). The persistent prevalence of these mutations is baffling, considering that the correct forms are found in any self-respecting publication. But the answer must lie in the explosion of email and texting, the proliferation of blogs and websites with less-than-rigorous editing, and the erosion of editorial quality in traditional print publications. The only defense against deterioration of grammar, syntax, usage, spelling, and punctuation standards is careful writing and careful editing with the assistance of good role models, knowledgeable editors, and reliable reference sources. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should Know36 Poetry Terms1,462 Basic Plot Types

Still Alice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Still Alice - Essay Example Thus, one of the first scenes shows the main character giving a lecture about her work. This is clearly a big honor for everyone who is present. However, during the lecture, Alice (Julianne Moore) forgets a word. This is rather surprising for such a smart woman as she. So, to win some time she jokes about having an extra glass of champagne. However, even after several seconds she can not remember the necessary word; so, she uses a synonym: the word she forgot was lexicon and she said word stock. This is quite an important scene as it shows that Alice is still able to use the majority of her mental resources and can fight the early symptoms. Several times during the movie Alice is seen playing a mobile application that is called Words with friends. This element serves several significant functions. First of all, it situates Alice in the environment of ‘normal’ people who are able to use their brain to its fullest to play abstract games. Later in the movie she tells her daughter that she has developed an obsession with this game. One might see a considerable amount of irony here since as her disease progresses, she will no longer be able to carry on what she liked a lot. In other words, other people who did not use their brain so much should not feel such a tragedy in the disease that she was diagnosed with. Finally, this very game might also be seen as a measurement of her mental potential. Thus, in the very beginning of the movie Alice is seen forming a word Hadj (Islamic ritual pilgrimage). There is no doubt that few people who are not Muslims know this word. This shows that Alice is quite intelligent. Ho wever, at the end of the film the best word she is able to come up with in the game is tone. This might be regarded as a clear sign of her mental degradation. During the first interview of neurologist, the latter asks Alice about her family. She reveals that her

Breast Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example The death due to breast cancer is a nightmare for all the women. However, National Cancer Institute has given some hope to the people by providing with the information that the survival rate of the breast cancer patients have increased from 48 percent to 52 percent in a span of 19 years (Mankiller, p.68). A number of women in US who are breast cancer survivors and won the battle against this life-ending disease are now leading a reasonably normal life. New York Magazine illustrated a story of a breast cancer survivor in 1992. Joyce Wadler who is a resident of New York stated in the magazine, â€Å"I have a scar on my left breast, four inches long that runs from right side of my breast to just above the nipple. The true story is, that a surgeon made the cut, following the line I had drawn for him the night before. He asked where I wanted the scar, the surgeon took it out using a local, and when he was done, I asked to see it. A robin’s egg size with the grey brain like matter that gives it its name: medullary cancer. It rested in the middle of a large ball of pink and white breast tissues, sliced down the centre like a hard-boiled egg, an onion like layering of whitish grey tissues about it, and I looked at it hard, trying to figure it out. We did know it was cancer until twenty minutes later, when they had almost finished stitching me up and the pathology report came back, and then I was especially glad I had looked. Mano a mano, eyeball to eyeball. This is a modern story. Me and my cancer. I won† (Wadler, p.36). The risk of getting breast cancer augments with age until the menopause, after which the risk decreases drastically. The probability of having breast cancer is higher than of lungs cancer in young age. Most of the women become a victim of this disease at an age of 25-30 and they are the largest group of female cancer survivors. The breast cancer survivors face number of physical and emotional consequences after the treatment and need a sp ecial health care. Women who are breast cancer survivors, often lack confidence due to the physical changes they suffer after treatment and they hesitate to date someone. A forty-five year old divorced woman who is a breast cancer survivor said, â€Å"I do not feel as beautiful. It is as if I am not as confident as I was before I had my breasts removed. I am not as confident getting to know someone new in that way, not at all† (Abel & Subramanian, p.95, 2008). This behavior of the breast cancer patients is due to the mistreatment they get from other people. They lose social life, their friends leave them, and they feel lonely. However, a positive attitude is all what a cancer survivor needs in order to enjoy his or her life. Sarah a resident of New York is a proud survivor of breast cancer too. She was 27 years old when doctors told her about her breast cancer. She says, â€Å"Since I have had breast cancer, it is clear that I have changed. For starters, I value my body more now. I treat it more carefully and do not take it fore granted. I also think that I look better than before and like the way I look. Over the years, I have developed a dress style that covers up my bad parts and play up my good parts† (Kahane, p.22). Works Cited Abel, Emily K. & Subramanian,