Definitely use the or a

Definitely use the or a Definitely use the or a Definitely use the or a By Michael When to use the indefinite article a and when to use the definite article the depends mostly on how specific you want to be. During a wedding ceremony the groom would say, Give me the ring! The wedding ring! because he must have a particular ring, while a carpenter would say, Hand me a nail because he doesnt care which nail in the box he uses. Usually the bigger problem is not whether to use a definite or indefinite article, but whether to use an article at all. So many choices! When do you use a? When do you use an? When do you use the? But relax. Well guide the way. We already talked about when to use a when to use an in the article Give me an A: a vs. an, but well give you a few more examples here. A: you use this when youre not necessarily referring to a specific thing (such as a nail, any nail). Its called an indefinite article, because youre not being definite or particular. There are many nails in this big world. She owns a cat. I work on a golf course. An: its used just like a, but when preceding a vowel sound. It probably comes from Old German, on which Old English was based. My theory is that the use of an survives after all these centuries because it sounds better before vowels. Saying, I want a apple sounds odd, compared to, I want an apple. For the same reason, the fake French sentence, Anne, on en a un, sounds even more odd. May I borrow an egg? He is an arrogant critic. The: youre talking about a definite item, which is why the is called a definite article. Of course it only makes sense if both you and your listeners know which item you mean. If I commanded you, Give me the money, you would rightfully ask, What money? I dont owe you any money. The house on that corner once belonged to Charles Dickens. The weather is very pleasant today. You can use the the second time you refer to something, even if you used an the first time. We know what youre referring to, because you just told us. You can do this, but I wouldnt recommend it. Read these examples repeating the noun might sound monotonous. We visited a palace on our vacation. The palace was built in 1546. We also went to a concert. The concert was too loud for me. When it comes to geography, you dont use the before the names of most nations, provinces, states,lakes or islands. But there are many exceptions: the United States, the Ukraine, or the Congo. On the other hand, the Ukrainians and Congolese people Ive met say, Ukraine and Congo, so go figure. If the name refers to plural items, such as the United States, or the Maldives, you would use the definite article. You would do the same for rivers and oceans, such as the Amazon, the Nile, and the Caspian Sea. Bays need the definite article. He moved to Nepal near Mount Everest. They spent their honeymoon in eastern Maine, on Penobscot Bay. Unlike some languages such as French and Spanish, English sometimes does not use any article at all. You dont need one when making a general statement, or when talking about meals and transportation. I prefer folk music. She hates making noodles. She eats breakfast at home. She traveled to college by train. British writers dont use an article for some places that Americans would. British: I go to university. American: I go to college. American: I transfered to the university last year. British: I felt so ill that I went to hospital. American: I got so sick I had to go to the hospital. Some rules apply all the time. Some rules apply only in certain situations, and only experience and reading can help you get them all right. And some rules apply only in certain situations in certain cultures: British and American English is sometimes different, as you may have learned by now. 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 Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Cost-Effective vs. Cost-EfficientStory Writing 10145 Idioms About the Number One

Follow the News Online in Spanish

Follow the News Online in Spanish As recently as 2000, nearly all the breaking news available on the Internet was in English. The few daily online news publications in Spanish were devoted primarily to local concerns of little interest to an international audience. Finding Spanish News Publications Online But, as with much of the Internet, the situation has changed rapidly. These days, the choice is almost limitless. I have found that a daily reading of the days events in Spanish is an excellent way of learning the language as it is really being used. As would be expected, CNN en Espaà ±ol is the site most like the comprehensive, 24-hour English-language sites. Since most of the articles are translated from English, they are usually easier for Spanish learners to understand. A wide selection of articles is available, with an emphasis on those relating to the United States, Latin America, business and sports. Also based in the U.S. is the Spanish-language news field is Google News Espaà ±a, which regularly updates its listing of Spanish-language articles every few minutes. Despite the sites name, there are plenty of news sources listed from Latin America and places other than Spain. Another site updated around the clock, but far less flashy, is that of Agencia EFE, a news service. Theres a definite business slant to the stories, most of which come from Europe. This site also has one of the few Spanish-language news tickers around. Another U.S.-based comprehensive Spanish-language news source is El Nuevo Herald. Although affiliated with The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald is more than a translation of the English online newspaper. Much of its content is original, and its probably the best place to learn news of Cuba. Comprehensive sites from the Spanish-speaking world include Argentinas Clarà ­n and Spains ABC. Many of the other Spanish-language newspaper sites on the Web emphasize their national news rather than attempt to provide comprehensive world coverage. But they provide a perspective that cant be found anywhere else. And if youre planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking area, its a good way find out whats happening there before going.

Interview Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Interview Paper - Essay Example Knowing about his theories, an expectant mother has some educated knowledge about how she should deal with her child if there are certain practices that she wants to develop or otherwise, in the child. Other concepts on human development such as Piaget’s physical growth and development as well as Lev Vygotsky’s â€Å"Zone of Proximal Development† will be put in juxtaposition with the experiences and observations of a caregiver. Mercedes Montes is a caregiver to three year old Alfred. She has been looking after the child every weekday for more than nine months now. The caregiver says that she loves her job because she enjoys being with the child. She considers the joys and thrills she feels being a part of the growing process of Alfred the best part of her job. Even though she is not related with the child, she thinks she is a big part of whatever the child will become in the future. She does not only act as a caregiver to the child but as a teacher as well. She says her employer is making sure that the child gets the instructions she is not able to provide while she is away from her child, working at a bank that is why she hired Montes who recently graduated her BS in Education. The job does not only provide financial support for the woman but experience also which she says is valuable. Montes says that together with the joys and enjoyment she gets from her job, there are also difficulties. For instance, when the child gets sick, she seems to become the culprit for reasons such as forsaking the child’s needs. She says that it is emotionally cracking to think that she has done everything to do her responsibilities well but in the end, when something bad happens to the child, she becomes the first to be blamed. In addition, when the child is well and healthy, she says that she often ends her day very tired because the child is very active. Alfred seems to have all the energy to run around and climb and as a caregiver, she

One journal and one assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

One journal and one assignment - Essay Example During the 1960s, young women were prevented from wearing pants irrespective of whether it was formal or informal occasion. However, modern women were advised to wear blue jean during their leisure activities. Based on Manzano (2009) the Alpargatas brand was designed to attract the Far West girls. After the Argentine revolution in mid 1960, there were stringent cultural expressions especially for the mini-skirts. From the article, it illustrates the emergence of modern wear and cultural diffusions. Women began to wear miniskirts and blue jeans as a symbol of feminine beauty which encompassed the displaying of erogenous zones (Manzano, 2009). The unisex tradition emerged due to resemblance of the sexes dress codes. Blue jeans and long hair depicted the unisex fashion among the youths Poet Hector Negro pointed out that blue jeans highlighted youth presence in the Argentine virtual culture. In mid 1970, blue jean was exclusively won by the young to express youthfulness. As a result, blue jean generation necessitated the vindication of informality and casualness in today’s culture (Manzano, 2009). 2. It is a superb upscale retail store dealing with clothing lines and other accessories. The chain store offers casual wears, work clothes, designer wear, active wear and sports clothing. In its artistic elements, the retail store specializes in men and women designer clothes. The designer wear includes custom made luxury clothes and bridal gowns (Spector & McCarthy, 2012). 3.The retail store targets the upscale millennium aged consumers. The fashion store aims at middle income to high income level consumers based on the clothing lines, services and its competitive prices (Spector & McCarthy, 2012). 4.The clothes are being advertised through an image. The company hires and employs professional models to advertise their clothing lines. Furthermore, the company also participates in fashion exhibits to market their clothing lines (Spector &

Academic Argument Essay Example for Free

Academic Argument Essay High school students today are all excited about post-college life, which for most means going away to college to further their education. The question is, are they truly being provided the necessary tools needed to be successful at the college levels? Are teachers, counselors, parents and the government both state and federal doing enough to lead these young minds out into the world? We all know how expensive college is and that only a small amount will graduate college and go on to live the life the always dreamed, but without a college education the odds are far worse. So shouldn’t every student who has aspirations of going on to college be awarded a little more preparation? The bottom line is we being parents, teachers, counselors, and the government needs to have better programs available for high school students so that the transition, that is already hard enough, is a little easier; as Benjamin Franklin once said â€Å"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. † (www . goodreads . com) The National of State Legislature defines college prep programs as â€Å"programs aimed to increase college access, particularly for those students who are least likely to enroll. These programs take many forms and serve a variety of students. Some start as early as elementary school, others in the senior year of high school. Some college preparatory programs focus on increasing academic readiness, while others specialize in college admissions or financial aid. Some involve families and mentors, and others incorporate service learning or recreational activities. †(www . ncsl . org/issues-research) What I want to know is where are these programs being used and what are they? In 2007 the NY Times published an article stating that only a  quarter of high school students who take a full set of â€Å"college prep† courses which include four years of English and three each of mathematics, science and social studies are well prepared for college according to a study by the ACT, and the Iowa testing organization. The study examined about 1. 2 million students who took the ACT, which is one of the country’s major college admissions tests, along with the SAT, and graduated from high school June of 2008. The study projected whether students had a good chance of scoring a C or better in introductory college  courses based on their test scores and the success rates of past students who had taken it previously. It showed that only 26 percent of those who took the core curriculum were ready for college level work in all four of the â€Å"college prep† core areas. Another 19 percent were not satisfactorily prepared in any of them. â€Å"While taking the right number of courses is certainly better than not, it is no longer enough,† the report said. †(www . nytimes . com) This quote really hits the nail on the head; just like how today’s Bachelor’s Degree is the equivalent of the high school diploma 20 years ago. This is an important issue in our society today, we want our young people to go to college to better their education but we can’t help them along the way. So how did it get to be so bad well in April 1983 the Secretary of Education and United States Department of Education saw that America ranked in the bottom half of education in the world so Ronald Regan declared â€Å"Nation At Risk† which kick-started decades of tough talk about public schools and reforms that culminated in 2002s No Child Left Behind, the Bush administration law that pushes schools to improve students basic skills or face ever-tougher sanctions. Jay Summer, an original teacher on the 1983 panel says â€Å"A true Cold War document, it famously stated: If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves. (usatoday30 . usatoday . com/ â€Å"In 1999, Clifford Adelman, then a researcher at the federal Education Department, found that the strength of high school work was the most important factor in determining college success, more than the socioeconomic status of a student’s family. The new report, which cites Mr. Adelman’s research, makes the case that many high school courses are not providing the necessary quality that he described. † (www . nytimes . com) According to the National Center for Educational Statistics and a study done by the Harvard Graduate School, of the students who graduated college in 2011, only 56 percent graduated with four year degrees but took them six years. Also of those students in the same class 78 percent failed to receive a diploma at all. This study also showed the reasons for dropping out; which student claimed, â€Å"not being prepared for the rigors  of academic work; inability to cope with the competing demands of study, family and jobs; and cost† (www . reuters . com/article/2012) What we see here is that there have been attempts to make things better but they have slowly helped create the mess we have today. I have three points that will hopefully show how we can better this situation we are currently in. My first claim is that if we continue to ignore the fact that students today aren’t prepared for the struggles that await them at college then the dropout rate will continue to rise and effect the country as a whole. If students aren’t prepared for college then they either don’t go or most likely drop out. This affects the economy because if you have thousands of students not getting the proper education which leads to no jobs or low paying jobs, then the country can suffer. This leads to less students getting out into the work force or having very low paying jobs in which they can’t afford their monthly loan payments or other basic needs. With the economy being the way it is we can’t afford to let this happen. My second claim is that statistics show students who take extra or AP level courses perform better in college. In my high school there were luckily many extra courses available to help prepare us for college. I took College level English throughout my four years of high school. When I got to college and took the required English 101 course it was almost a mirror image as what I had previously taken. I was one of the few students who knew what MLA format was and how to use it in a paper. My school also offered AP Government, Calculus, English, Music Theory, which I also took, and Physics. I’m now in my third year of college and doing really well for myself. This just goes to show what  students can achieve with a little more preparation. Students put more pressure on themselves than ever before trying to achieve their goals. It’s up to us to take some of the pressure off them and give them a push in the right direction with more groundwork. My last claim is that students who finish college will have a better future for themselves and a family. Even with student loan debt at a high point these days with an education more financial opportunities are made available to students to deal with the burden of student loan debt. A degree from a technical institute is still better than a high school diploma. My cousin was a college dropout with two kids and no father to help support them. She worked two and three jobs sometimes just to keep her family afloat. One day she decided to take night classes at the local community college. Three years later she has an Associate’s degree in business and is making $20,000 more a year working only one job as opposed to three. She is more financially stable now and not so stressed all the time. Students may think that a high school diploma is enough but the sad truth is you can get the same jobs with a high school diploma that they are giving to 15 year olds at McDonalds. So what I’m trying to say is that if we don’t act now more students will continue to go down a road not knowing that they could have had more help. Education is the key to a better life for you and for a possible family which means better jobs and financial status, which today a lot of Americans lack. Of course some argue that a degree is the wrong path â€Å"Michael Nelson, 22, of Fayetteville, Georgia, retired from nearby LaGrange College during his freshman year. â€Å"I knew it wasnt going to take me where I wanted to go, he says. Now a gold and precious metals dealer, he made $85,000 in 2011. A lot of my friends are coming out of school with $50,000 in debt, Nelson says. They dont know how theyre going to survive because they dont have a job. † (www . reuters . com/article/2012) For some select few this is the case. But this is a rare case of someone who just happens to have a job fall in their lap. It is true that many high school graduates that never attended college or dropped out are doing just fine. Coal miners can make upwards of 100k and I’ve never met a coal miner who attended college. On the other hand I’ve never met a CEO or brain sergeant with high school diplomas. Statistics show that the average college graduate will make $19,550 more a year than someone with a high school diploma according to the U. S. Census Bureau. Also college students need to understand that the economy will not be this bad forever. If we can recover from the Great Depression then we can certainly find a way to fix this financial crisis. Today it’s tough for all people, including college graduates, to find a job and make a decent living. Many students believe that their best option would be to take a semester or two off from college for only a brief period of time and enter the workforce or  the military. The military’s financial benefits are very pleasing to young adults when they consider loan forgiveness programs and tuition compensation. The appeals of the military look great to college students that still believe that nothing bad can happen to them, but the reality of the dangers that young people face while serving abroad are very costly as most of us hear about on the news every week. Another reason kids shouldn’t chase the American dream of a college diploma is that they realize they don’t want the headache of the debt that most every college grad deals with. They know they can’t declare bankruptcy off of student loan debt so what other option do they have? Yet for some students, dropping out with loans can be worse than dealing with the debt. â€Å"Many college dropouts will face career barriers due to the lack of a degree, experts say. Current unemployment statistics show that those without a college degree are twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelors degree. One way students and families can tilt the equation in their favor is to simply spend less, experts say. † If students are more reasonable and selective about where theyre going to get that degree, college costs are more  manageable, says Eleanor Blayney with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. At the very least they can do the first two years at a community college and then transfer. † (www . reuters . com/article/2012) So what we can see is that college is definitely the better route to take if you want a stable future. In conclusion there needs to be more or better programs for students who wish to attend college and succeed in life. You have seen the attempts made by the government to make it easier for students to learn and become better prepared for college, but the recent studies shows a  negative effect on the youths of today and possibly the youths of tomorrow. You have also seen a couple of reasons why I believe better programs will increase students’ academic levels in college; plus opposing arguments from those who think college is a waste of time and money and will only leave you in pile of debt. This in fact is far from the truth and leads me to believe that only people without a proper education could make such an accusation. Finally I hope that soon everyone who has the power to get involved in helping the future leaders of America will step up to the plate and take responsibility for the welfare of these young minds. The sad part is that the ones this affects the most, being high school students, have little to no say in the matter. The Obama administration has shown they have a huge interest in education with cutting student loan debt and making school lunches healthier. I can only hope this very important topic is next on their next to do list. Every student deserves a fair chance to achieve and it’s about time they get some. Franklin, Benjamin. â€Å"goodreads. † http://www . goodreads . com/quotes/tag/preparation.  © 2012 Goodreads Inc. â€Å"College Preparatory Programs. † http://www . ncsl . org/issues-research/educ/college-preparatory- programs-types-of-programs . aspx.  ©2012 National Conference of State Legislatures Arenson, Karen W. â€Å"Study Finds College-Prep Courses in High School Leave Many Students Lagging. † http://www . nytimes . com/2007/05/16/education/16report . html? _r=0. May 16, 2007 Plitt, Todd. â€Å"Nation at Risk: The best thing or the worst thing for education? † http://usatoday30 . usatoday . com/news/education/2008-04-22-nation-at-risk_N . htm. Copyright 2011 USA TODAY The National Commission on Excellence in Education. â€Å"A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform†http://datacenter . spps .org/uploads/SOTW_A_Nation_at_Risk_1983 . pdf. April, 1983 Carlozo, Lou. â€Å"Why college students stop short of a degree. † http://www . reuters . com/article/2012/03/27/us-attn-andrea-education-dropouts- idUSBRE82Q0Y120120327. Tue Mar 27, 2012 â€Å"College Students Should Stay in School. † http://bestessayhelp . com/examples/education/college-students-should-stay-in-school- %E2%80%93-essay-sample.  © 2010 2012 Global Writers Limited â€Å"Summer at Georgetown†. http://scs . georgetown . edu/programs/107/summer-programs-for-high- school-students-college-preparatory-program.  © 2012 Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies.

Fascism Essay -- essays research papers

On the 23 March 1919 after a series of Communist demonstrations, the almost forgotten Mussolini decided to attempt to revive his Fasci movement. A meeting was held in a hall in a Milan and was attended by some fifty malcontents. From this seemingly small and insignificant event the Fascio di Combattimento' (Combat Group) was born. Initially, it would seem that the Fasci were destined for failure with none of their candidates (including Mussolini) winning a single seat in the 1919 elections. How was it that a party with no clear programme, save a belief in action of some sort, became a ruling dictatorship little more than ten years later? By the end of 1919, Mussolini possessed hardly more than 2% of the vote in Milan, less than 5000 votes against 170,000 for the Socialists. Was this a complete disaster? At the time it seemed so; the Socialists were so confident of their success that they staged a mock funeral in Milan stopping outside Mussolini's house to invite him to attend the burial of his party. Incredibly, by 1921 the membership of this previously tiny group was to rival the size of the Socialists. How was this achieved? It was certainly by no easy means; Mussolini's skill and luck played a vital role, but he was also helped by the seemingly blind incompetence of his opponents. Mussolini's path towards the top of Italian Government was hindered by many forms of opposition. However, most of his opposition came from the Government and the rival Socialist (PSI) party. Soon after the summer of 1920 the Fascists and their opposition inevitably clashed. The fact that Gioletti's government was faced with  « million workers sitting in in factories showed that Italy was a far from stable country in 1920. Did an opportunity present itself for Mussolini to gain ground over the Socialist opposition? If it did, Mussolini certainly did not take it. He was still recovering from his party's humiliating election defeat. Eventually the union leaders, evidently surprised by this sudden, spontaneous revolutionary outburst persuaded the workers to give in in return for higher wages. Although initially it would seem that the workers had won, the strikes had sown the seeds of fear amongst Italy's Socialist opposition. The overall effect of this was that many of the opponents of Socialism joined Mussolini's Fascist' party. The Socialist party by... ...ht home the importance of opportunism and action as opposed to inactivity and fixed ideologies. As S. Lee argues, Mussolini was strongly inclined to intuitive behaviour and projected himself as a flexible pragmatist. This allowed him to make full use of the chaotic conditions in Italy, and considerably increased the Fascist party's fortunes. However, we must also consider that to a certain extent, the opposition's continued failures and misjudgments almost pushed Mussolini into power. We must also take account of the fact that Mussolini certainly had his fair share of luck - a prime example is the King's refusal to declare a state of emergency, which would have allowed the army to attack the Fascists. However, it was his ability to act out the role of the Italian people's dream leader that gave him the most success. He played upon the post-war crisis, and made it appear that Fascism was the only way in which socialism would be smashed, and Italy's society and status would be rebuilt. To the Italian people, Mussolini was the great leader they had been desperately searching for - the leader who was going to make Italy a great power, and a respected force in the world.

Ethics Team Case

The auditor discovers that the manager in question, referred to as Charles, is exclusively responsible for setting bonus targets for himself and his department. This alone poses a red flag in the mind of the auditor.In particular is the simple fact that a manager should not be solely responsible or the distribution of bonus targets for his own gratuity. Furthermore, a fundamental element of internal control was not in play. This could give rise to a conflict of interest and overlook a segregation of duties. Following protocol, the auditor brings the issue up to senior management of the accounting firm who concurs that there is a potential issue and requests the auditor to pursue another meeting with Charles. Ultimately, it is determined that there is a noteworthy statement of error on the bonus accruals that will need to be reaffirmed.This will also be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). There is little doubt that this will be a poor reflection on the performance of Charles and may even lead to further ramifications. The auditor's manager is in agreement with this restatement until he learns that the manager that was audited was Charles. The accounting firm manager and Charles are friends outside of work and, from what we can gather, are close with each other's families as well. Immediately pressure is put on the auditor to reverse course and hold off on any formal restatements.With insinuations from the auditor's manager that filing any restatements against Charles or his department would be detrimental to her performance review, the auditor is now faced with a career changing decision. Her performance review and future with the company is at the discretion of her manager. More importantly, by correctly reporting the misstatement, she will guarantee a poor review and possibly a termination of employment. Placed in a compromising position, the auditor's loyalty is questioned. To whom does she owe her loyalty in this situation?As a Certified Public Accountant, there are certain calls of duty, a Code of Ethics to the profession, the obligation to the Organization, and the general financial stability of the marketplace. More importantly, a performance of one's responsibilities in identifying potential misstatements that prevent false or misleading information is proper protocol. In addition to these allegiances, there is the question of obligation that the auditor has to her direct supervisor; who, in this instance, is asking her to ignore duties to the firm and her professional association.We will examine several alternatives that the auditor could choose while being put in this precarious position. Ultimately we will arrive at what we determine is the cost appropriate decision among the alternatives and will argue that decision with ethical concepts we have learned throughout the semester. Alternatives and Measurements With further evaluation of the case, it is evident that the relevant stakeholder is the young auditor working for the large accounting firm. She is faced with decisions regarding her career, her loyalty to the company and manager, and her profession as a certified public accountant.The auditor is faced with various alternatives that can be leveraged to alleviate the compromising situation that she has found herself to be in at this time. It is clear that one alternative will ultimately hold itself morally superior than the other alternatives, but careful analysis relating to general moral theory is needed to appreciate the arguments. As determined by our team, the auditor is faced with four alternatives to benefit the current situation that she finds herself in.Below is our thorough analysis of the four alternatives, which eventually leads to the morally superior choice. As an auditor, this individual is faced with a precarious situation that has the potential to make or break her career as a Certified Public Accountant. Together, as a team, our first identifiable alternative to th e situation is for the young auditor to ignore the situation entirely. Kant thinks that the validity of morality depends on the freedom of the will and conceptually, a duty, and is certainly achievable (Discarding,J & McCall, 2014).Given this rationale, we have learned that the individual's manager has strongly encouraged the auditor to ‘indoor on other things and to move past these questionable findings† (Case 1). If the auditor simply conceded to the managers requests, she would ultimately assert herself to the belief that there is generally no laid or required moral standard. Relativism is a greater title. It is not what people do believe, but what they should believe. Imposing ones moral beliefs on another is wrong, especially if the belief is categorically immoral.Seeing that the auditor's manager has a direct relationship to Charles and his family clouds his judgment, but according to moral theory, it is not wise for the auditor to levy her beliefs on the situation . Turning a blind eye in the face of adversity is something that is not normally celebrated by individuals, but relevant to the young auditors career, it may have been the only viable Option at that time. Her direct manager has threatened the auditor indicating that by failing to let this go, her year-end performance review will be compromised (Case 1).The potential consequences could be debilitating and end her career as a Certified Public Accountant. The performance review was critical. It was duly noted that if one does not get promoted according to the firms regulated progression schedule, they are likely not to have a job after performance roundtable (Case 1). This could very well have been the only realistic alternative that the young auditor sensed at the end of the discussions. Collectively, as a team and contrary to the aforementioned option, we arrived at another credible alternative to the situation; asking a similar manager with unbiased views for his/her opinion.The aud itor states in the case that her direct manager was friends with Charles and did not want to see Charles ultimately come under scrutiny for his self-imposed bonus payout practices. With a willingness to review the matter at hand, managers sharing the same fiscal responsibility as the young auditor may appreciate the gravity of the situation. We looked to this alternative as a viable method of creasing the possible effects facing both Charles and the young auditor's manager.We can only assume and, therefore, hope that the other manager would see the â€Å"ethical implications† regarding the bonus payout made to both Charles and his employees. The correlation of basic rights holds important implications to this alternative by protecting the rights of persons in pursuit of the common good (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014). Most of us are committed to the belief that some individual interests should be protected from actions aimed at improving the good for all, that this is not alwa ys sufficientjustification for sacrificing the interests of the few.Individuals have rights that should not be sacrificed merely for satisfying the preferences of a majority (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014). If the auditor hydration had determined that Charles' actions are questionable at best, she has the right to bring it to the attention of another person other than her direct manager. This foundation relies on the fact that he was willing to do nothing in relation to the impropriety at hand. Basic rights are positive rights as well as duties (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014). They impose affirmative obligations to help secure another's interests.We can see as a team that it is necessary for the young auditor to evaluate the positive rights and duties as related to these alternatives. Besides the reinforcement of proper auditing procedures, the ill benefits of monies allocated to Charlie could further service the company or to other hard working employees. The positive duties can be s hared among players, in this case between the auditor and a similar manager; therefore it is obvious that the auditor can use this as an option to share her thoughts arising from Charles' duplicitous bonus practice.While involving others can somewhat be frowned upon in certain professional situations, we find that, given her hefty predicament, it is a necessary alternative for the young auditor going forward. As a team, we have two alternatives to the young auditor's current situation. Based on ethical theories and the current situation, our third alternative is relevant to the young auditor's mandatory decision process. General moral theory lends itself to the argument of theories, utilities and rights. Morality is a layered definition that lends itself to specific judgments and the obvious action that that the option is morally wrong.They can be determined as mid- level rules and/or basic principles, most notably a Certified Public Accountants Code of Ethics. We recognized the har mful consequences that could possibly be incurred by the bonus payouts for Charles and his team. Stated in the case are the facts that not only was Charles â€Å"responsible for setting the performance targets required for a bonus payout to both the employees in his department and himself,† but the auditor had also â€Å"quantified the bonus accrual to be misstated by several million dollars† (Case 1).In accord with the Utilitarianism argument represented in general moral theory, this misstatement directly relates to harmful consequences for both the individuals and society. When part of a large Fortune 500 company, financial statements are disclosed with the Securities Exchange Commission. Incorrectly reporting the financial not only places ramifications on the individuals responsible, in this case the auditing team and pertinent individuals from the company being audited at the time, but it relates directly to the stockholders of the company.Incorrect financial state ments can cause detriment to society as a whole seeing that investor's in the company would potentially be investing in a company that was misstating their financial for gain. As a team we decided that the cost/benefit analysis involving this situation was significant enough not to be overlooked. When faced with situations where the competent way of achieving one's goals and objectives jars with moral values, a person needs to ask herself why should one be ethical? The power to tackle the confusions produced by the leading view of management is the appeal of stakeholder theory.The theory suggests that a fundamental oral principle to bear on corporate activities; one that requires managers to acknowledge all that corporate stakeholders have equals their moral status. In addition, they are to acknowledge this status in all of their activities (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014). A Utilitarianism argument actually supports the stakeholder theory since it compels that managers take everyone' s interest into account, not just the stockholders. Ultimately it maximizes happiness and encourages interest satisfaction for all concerned in the situation (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014).Evaluating the decision and policy as to whether it increases utility for all that can be affected while defining the stakeholder, the young auditor faced with this problem would have no option but to let all relevant parties know the general misconduct affirmed by the company and choose to let senior management evaluate the egregious acts. Utilitarianism as learned benefits the â€Å"common good† and when relating the financial statements to larger portfolio of stockholders for the company, it seems necessary that this alternative is sustainable.We will be, more than likely, exposed to unethical behaviors in all venues of the business world. But, virtue has its own reward. There are countless, truthful ways that the young auditor can approach her ill-fated circumstances, but sometimes a pe rson could be uncovered to barriers that are beyond control. In order for a leader to inspire others, they need to lead by example. Good leadership takes strength of character and a firm commitment to do the right thing based on your moral code. Therefore, another alternative would be to release herself from the duties of the company.Ethics are normally concerned with moral responsibilities or with Inquiries linking to what is right or wrong. The actions of supervisors, what resolutions they pursue, and what actions they take are all touched by ethics. In any given setting, what a supervisor observes as â€Å"right' instinctively affects his or her actions and the actions of the employees. Moral standards are the consequence of shared strengths and human understandings over hundreds of years. For example, society condemns cheating, lying, and stealing. However, the application of ethics is an individual consideration.Do you or do you not follow moral standards when dealing with oth ers? Are you aware of a moral code and, if so, how do you interpret it? Differences in awareness and interpretation of ethical standards create many problems. To demonstrate, when does a deed consent to the domain Of righteous self-interest and become personal deceit? Does the fact that a person was not disciplined for a certain action make it acceptable? Not being reprimanded may be why Charles did not change his tactics. All too often, actions are justified based on the means used or based on the ends accomplished.That is, do we hold an act to be morally right on the basis of the means used or on the basis of the end result? One might reason, for example, that the act of lying if it achieves positive results, is acceptable? Conversely, one might consider any action that employs ethical ways to be perfectly justifiable regardless of the outcome. A person's inclination to protest with a company's ethical standards demonstrates their moral code and usually is fixed and consistent acr oss all frameworks. Business ethics will believe your corporate image what you portray it to be.The ethical imprint you leave with others dictates in volumes about your personality. The team came to an abrupt realization that sometimes in business, in order to safeguard your corporate presentation ND image, surrendering your duties may be the only feasible choice. The Morally Superior Alternative Looking through the mission, vision, or value statements Of most corporations, you will observe that nearly every company comprises a statement about integrity; a soundness of moral character. After all, integrity should be the basis for doing business.Moreover, a person does not want to work for a company that exemplifies dishonestly to their employees. However, simplicity has its conquests. Rationalizing a situation to legitimate its integrity, reliant on corporate policy, can be difficult. Acceptable practices f defining integrity require personal judgment and value statements are intend ed to be reminiscent that corporate responsibility of integrity is shared as a culture. With our team's values being represented as such, the analysis of all four probable decision alternatives guided us to choose the morally superior alternative.Ultimately we have decided that a marriage of two alternatives is the superior option for the young auditor. Whistle blowing on the situation, while simultaneously looking for employment elsewhere at a firm that respects an individual's moral code represents itself to us as the viable option. The ethical action is tone that provides the greatest good for the greatest number (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014). By disclosing all pertinent facts to proper personnel, including the SEC, and retiring her position from the firm, the auditor can maintain her integrity and ethical behavior in her professional career.The general moral theory concepts are outlined below as substantiating evidence for our decision. . Our approach was gained in the analysis . Realizing that there was a problem, we came to the realization that the young auditor was facing a moral and atheistically or moral problem, en being the rules Of conduct recognized in respect to Charles' actions and the latter being the personal compass of right and wrong with Charles and the auditor's supervisor. The ethics are governed by loosely fitting professional guidelines where morality surpasses these cultural standards.Given these external standards provided by the organization, one's morals may be influenced. Milton Friedman believed that all a business has to focus on is to use its resources and make profit. However, even he believed that the business needed to stay with the rules of the game (Discarding, J & McCall, 2014). Turning a blind eye on the situation, selecting another supervisor to analyze the facts, ceasing employment at the company, or to taking drastic measures and blowing the whistle on the covert relations, are all options that the young auditor can ta ke.But, in which direction does her moral compass point? Can she live with her decision to do nothing about it? The threat of disclosing information to another supervisor can result in further repercussions of her job performance, hence, her forced early termination. As an auditor, you accept a Code of Ethics that states the principles and expectations governing the behavior of individuals and organizations (International Ethics Standards Board of Accountants, 2013). This impartial declaration is designed to add value to one's self and the organization that they represent.It is founded on principles of integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, and competency. Internal Auditor's principles recite that acting with due diligence and responsibility while observing the law and not participating in activities that may impair unbiased assessment of information relevant to professional judgments are what shapes the formation of the elite auditor. Auditors are to provide judicious guarantee a bout whether the financial statements are free of material misstatements, resulting from error or fraud.Their failure to support the opinion that they have filed is one's responsibility. The synergistic relationship of business and society calls for ethics in these practices. Neither of these groups could succeed without the faith of the other (SABA, 2014). The team has used this honorable set Of principles to forgo a coalesced decision moving forward. Sometimes it is easier to form opinions outside the realm of things. However, taking the morally superior alternative would be to honor the given principles that one's profession dictates.We have come to realize that, the auditor's company does not demonstrate the doctrines of trust and honesty. There are certain standards that which we strive for complete maturity of our morality. Through considerate thought on what kind of persons we likely want to become, the Virtue Approach enables us to act in ways that develop our highest potent ial. They allow us to follow the models we have embraced; honesty, courage, compassion, integrity, and self-control. Virtues are like bits, once learned; they become illustrative off person.A person who has recognized these virtues will naturally be ready to act in ways that are sound with moral principles. That being said, the virtuous person is the ethical person. The young auditor, we feel, is that ethical person who should reveal all pertinent information through the proper channels and look for employment elsewhere. Thereafter, terminating her position from her current place of employment will be the key that will open the moral lock and give her the ability to distance herself from all unethical behaviors.This case provided an interesting challenge demonstrating various ethical solutions that the team could have embraced. Eventually, the team made the recommendation based on a moral code of human society and professionalism. The auditor's Code of Ethics represents the ethical steps to her future excellence in the corporate world, but more importantly, for herself.

Gattaca and Orwell’s 1984 compared Essay

Although the distopias of Orwell’s Oceania and Niccol’s not to distant American city are in many ways similar in the sense of totalitarianism. The systems of control are quit different. Orwell’s world seems to be an overbearing socialist police state where as, the world in Gattaca is almost total control by science. The two pieces were written decades apart from one another, but both the film and the novel send a clear message; to enjoy the social mobility and freedoms of modern life and to be aware of how fragile they are. Both Orwell’s and Niccol’s worlds are dependant upon a class or cast system to divide the powers and freedoms of the people in their respective worlds. Oceania as far as we can tell has three maybe four classes. The Proles are the group of people who hold the worst of the jobs within Oceania. They work as laborers and as prostitutes but their idle time is spent like many undergrads in the modern world; listening to music, drinking beer, and fornicating. The second and arguably the lowliest of Orwell’s classes is the outer party, to which our main character Winston is a member. The outer party is subjected to all the evils of the inner party. Their inner most personal thoughts and feelings are monitored by the thought police and even the slightest inclination of disloyalty is punished by being vaporized. They work mostly as desk jockeys, and their free time is to be spent doing activities for the party. The inner party is closely related to an upper management class within a perverted militant socialist world where all business is run by the state. Compared to the outer party the inner party does seem to enjoy a few more modern comforts but, they are still being subjected to tellascreens and thought police. Arguably the fourth class would only consist of one man a ruling dictator who goes by the name of Big Brother his existence is questionable but if he were to exist it is presumable that he would enjoy every possible comfort. Gattaca has a class system as well but, it is a much simpler one controlled by science. Depending upon Gene manipulation a citizen is either a valid or they are an invalid. The days discrimination because of race, religion, or  sexuality are gone, in this world all that matters is the results of a blood test. The lead character portrayed by Ethan Hawk is Vincent/Jerome Morrow. He is what they call a faith birth, his parents conceived him in the traditional way, in the back of a Chevy Rivera. At his birth he did have ten fingers and ten toes but now that’s not all that mattered. After testing one drop of blood the doctors new that he had a 60% probability of having a neurological condition, 42% probability of manic depression, 89% probability of attention deficit disorder, and a 99% probability of having a heart disorder his life expectance only 30.2 years. Vincent, an invalid, was condemned at birth to live a short life of turmoil. These two very rigid and well structured societies whose purpose was to create order over universal individual freedoms for its citizens freewill was not something that was desired. What Vincent and Winston have in common his that they used their freewill and determinations to resist the status quo.

Function of the Basal Ganglia essays

Function of the Basal Ganglia essays The effect of perceptual sets on the interpretation of ambiguous figures Many studies have been performed to examine the effects which perceptual sets have on the interpretation of images. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceptual sets on participant's interpretation of an ambiguous figure, and to see if perceptual sets were induced upon participant's viewing of a second ambiguous figure. The study involved 28 participants who were asked to view a series of 4 images followed by an ambiguous figure. This was repeated with a set of four different images. The results were consistent with those of Power (1983), in that perceptual sets effect the way in which people interpret ambiguous figures. The study also found that perceptual sets did not play a role in the interpretation of the ambiguous figure for the second time. Many studies have been performed to show that past expectancies and experience effect the way which individuals view and attend to features in the visual field. This phenomenon has been examined in regard to brain activity and attentive processing to explore the effects which experience and expectations have on people when they interpret The visual cortex consists of 2 main areas, the primary visual cortex (V1) and the s secondary visual cortex (V2) . Cells within the V1 and V2 are horizontally connected, and integrate information from a large part of the cortex. These cells are clustered into specific groups, based on their functional properties (Kalat, 2001). Furthermore, these clusters can often integrate information based on what is being focused on in the visual field. This biological explanation demonstrates the concept that the cells within the visual cortex interact and combine information to interpret an image in the visual field. For this process to occur, people must be able to distinguish an image from its background. A theory by Treisma...

How to Get a 5.0 GPA Expert Guide

How to Get a 5.0 GPA Expert Guide SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In the increasingly competitive atmosphere of high school, you may be wondering how you can best all your classmates with a 5.0 GPA. It's a lofty goal, to be sure. In this article, we'll discuss why that goal is often impossible, or at least impractical, to meet, ways in which itmay be possible to earn a 5.0, and what's really more important than a 5.0 GPA. What Is a 5.0 GPA? In the United States and some other countries, the letter grades you receive in classes can be converted into grade points, usually up to 4.0 per class. For instance, earning an A or A+ gets you 4.0 grade points, while earning an A- nets you 3.7 grade points, and so on: Letter Grade Grade Point A+ 4.0 A 4.0 A- 3.7 B+ 3.3 B 3.0 B- 2.7 C+ 2.3 C 2.0 C- 1.7 D+ 1.3 D 1.0 D- 0.7 F 0 Your grade point average, or GPA, is the average of the grades you've earned in all the classes you've taken. If, for example, you earned A's in five ofyour classes and B's in another five classes, you would havea 3.5 GPA. Youget thatby averaging together the 4.0s and 3.0s that correspond to those letter grades. Now, sometimes classes are "weighted" on a 5.0-scale (or higher). We'll talk more about that later; basically, it means that each grade earns you one full point (or more) past what it would earn in regular classes. Weighted classes are tougher, on average. A 5.0 GPA, then, is a grade point average that results from a weighted scale. A 5.0 generally indicates that a student took only 5.0-scale classes and earned only A's (and/or A+'s). Normally, all perfect straight-A grades result in a 4.0; with weighted classes, though, perfect straight-A grades could result in a 5.0 (or even higher). Sounds impressive, doesn't it? There are, technically, other ways to earn a 5.0, as we'll see below; the basic point is thatyou always need weighted classes to earn a 5.0. Juggling weighted classes with ease will not get you in the Olympics, sadly. Weighted vs. Unweighted Grading Scales In an unweighted grading scale, an A is worth 4.0, a B is worth 3.0, and so on, right the way down, just like we say above. No consideration is made for how hard the class may be; an A in Quantum Physicsis treated the same way as an A in Navel Contemplation. In a weighted grading scale, tougher classes earn you more points. Typically, that maximum is a 5.0, so that an A is worth 5.0, a B is worth 4.0, and so on. There are exceptions; for example, some schools weight honors classes on a 5.0-scale and IB/AP classes on a 6.0-scale. This is, on the whole, rare. Why Is a Weighted Scale Useful? Essentially, weighted scales encourage students to attempt harder classes, knowing that falling short of an A will not affect their GPA as much as it otherwise would. Also, having weighted scaleshelps with class ranks. If two students are both straight-A students, but one took the easiest classes available at the school and the other took the hardest, it hardly seems fair to rank their 4.0s equally. If the harder classes were weighted, though, one student's GPA of, say, 4.57, would clearly outrank the other student's 4.0. Why You Usually Can't Earn a 5.0 There are two reasons this goal is often unfeasible. First of all, not all schools weight classes. If you go to a school where no class earns you more than 4.0, you're out of luck: you can't earn anything above a 4.0. Second, even at schools where classes are weighted up to 5.0, there are usually unweighted classes you must take. Health and P.E. come to mind. If weighted classes are worth 5.0, but you have a few 4.0s thrown into the ultimate average, you can't come up with a 5.0 as the result. It's not possible,even if you get perfect grades. This is a mathematical truth of averages. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. How You Might Be Able to Earn a 5.0: 2 Methods At most schools it's simply impossible to geta 5.0 GPA; however, there are two situations in which you might be able to do so. Method 1: Taking Classes That Are Worth More Than 5.0 Points If you happen to go to a school that weights some classes abovefive points, you have a much better chance of earning a GPA of 5.0. The idea is to take (and excel in) as many classes weighted above 5.0 as you can. That way, even the 4.0 classes you need to take won't pull your average down below a 5.0. (This method still assumes you're getting straight A's, or pretty close.) Method 2: Taking Classes Pass/Fail Another possibility involves making use of your school's pass/fail policy, if you have one. At some schools, you can elect to take a class pass/fail, meaning you don't receive a letter grade. Satisfactory performance earns a pass; unsatisfactory, a fail. Generally, a pass does not affect your GPA, although often a failwill count against you. The trouble is, relatively few high schools have pass/fail policies; it's more of a college thing. Your school may not give you this option. If, though, your school does offer the pass/fail option, you can take all of your regular, unweighted, 4.0-scale classes as pass/fail, earning your GPA solely off of your 5.0-scale classes. This may not be the wisest idea, however, as colleges tend to be suspicious of seeing a number of pass/fail courses. They figure this could indicate that a student didn't want to try in that course or lacked confidence in their ability to get an A. Pass/fail classes may be a golden ticket to a 5.0 GPAbut not necessarily to college. Why a 5.0 Doesn't Really Matter While, as enumerated above, there are some ways to get a 5.0 GPA, it's generally either extremely difficult or flat-out impossible. The good news is, colleges don't really care if you got a 5.0 GPA. Colleges generally look at your unweighted GPA (converting it back to the 4.0 scale: 4.0 for each A, 3.0 for each B, etc.). They also look at how hard the classes you took were. Your school will send colleges a profile sheet that details the grading policy of the school. All will be revealed regarding pass/fail classes, 5.0 classes, etc. Colleges want to see that you took hard classes and excelled in them; they care less about what absolutenumber your school assigned to your stellar performance. What Does Matter: Excelling With a Rigorous Course Load As I've hinted, what really matters is doing well in challengingclasses. Do well in your electives and other 4.0-scale classes, too, of course. The first step, then, is choosing the right classes. Choose classes that are difficultand that will challenge youbut not conquer you. Recognize your limits, but also seek to stretch and expandthem. If you know you have no real hope of passing a class, don't take it, but if you think some very hard work will get you where you need to be, go for it. High school is about learning and working hard, not just about the final grades. The next step is excelling in the classes you've chosen. You should be working hard. Attend every class and listen attentively; ask questions and engagewith the teacher. Do your homework consistently and well. Review regularly. In general, apply good study habits. Be confident that colleges will look at the big picture, not just your exact GPA. Colleges want to see that you took advantage of the hardest classes available to you and mastered them, not necessarily that you had an outrageous grade point average. Conclusion Earning a 5.0 GPA requires taking weighted classes and doing well in them. Depending on the grading policy of your school, a 5.0 might be perfect, less than perfect, or quite literally impossible to attain. To earn a 5.0, you need to take weighted classes, and, depending once again on your school's policy, you may need to use pass/fail opportunities for unweighted classes.If you can't (or don't) earn a 5.0, however, it's not the end of the world.Your GPA goes outto colleges with a lot of context that will help them understand the broader picture of your performance. What's Next? If you want to knowmore about GPAs and their application, by all means, read on! We have an article that covers what a GPA is in all its glory. We also cover weighted vs. unweighted GPAs. Then, there's always our article on how to calculate GPA. Also, take a moment to read some very helpful advice on what colleges actually look for. If you're wanting advice on getting good grades and a great GPA, look no further than this advice by a Harvard alum. Finally, if you're wondering how much your GPA will help in the college search, check out our very nifty tool for that very question; the article starts by discussing a 4.0 GPA, but you can adjust the GPA within the article to customize it to your needs. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Ecological footprint Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ecological footprint - Essay Example 2. Very briefly, what were the results of the two different tests and what did you find surprising or noteworthy? In the first test that I took, with me answering it honestly, I actually found out that when everyone on the planet lived like me, it needs 3.9 earths to support humanity’s lifestyle; in addition, I need 17.3 global acres for me to be able to support my lifestyle (myfootprint.org, 2011). However, when I took the test the second time, wherein I assumed that I was the richest man on earth having a very extravagant lifestyle, I actually found out that when everybody else on earth lived like I do, it actually needs 12.4 earths to support humanity’s lifestyle, and I actually need 55.4 global acres in order for me to support my personal lifestyle (myfootprint.org, 2011). What I found in the tests that I took is the fact that as one’s lifestyle becomes more extravagant, wherein one consumes more meat and more commercial food than others, or when one owns a l arger home and has lots of cars or even a private plane, it takes much of the world’s resources to support that lifestyle. ... d natural foods, recycling my trash more often, living in a green, sustainable shelter, using less non-renewable sources and going more for renewable energy, and most of all, having a simpler lifestyle. In this case, I must be able to be more aware of my environment, and that I must be able to consume only what I need. By having a simpler and more sustainable lifestyle, I can significantly reduce my ecological footprint. 4. If everyone lived like you, how many earths would we need to sustain this population and what does that mean? (Why can't we continue consuming resources at the current rate? What would happen if nothing was done?) As I have indicated, if everyone lived like me, it would actually take 3.9 earths to sustain this population (myfootprint.org, 2011); it actually means that the current word’s population actually needs 3x the earth’s current resources. Personally, I think that we cannot continue consuming the earth’s resources at the current rate bec ause time will come when the earth cannot support humanity’s needs anymore. If nothing is done about this matter, the earth’s resources would be depleted fast, and humanity may suffer from famines and natural disasters, or even extinction. 5. What would you suggest, if anything, that should be done to reduce the footprint of everyone else? Given such kind of scenario, I personally think that there must be a renewed awareness campaign regarding the importance of having a sustainable lifestyle, in order for the rest of the world to appreciate and understand why it is important to change our lifestyles. I think that it is important for everyone else to know that the earth has only limited resources and that it can only support so much, and by spreading awareness, I think people will follow and change