Quantitative, Qualitative And Mixed Methods - 777 Words

In any type of research, counting things or talking with people are required. Consequently, it is beneficial to think of different opportunities for data gathering in any study, as well as to form these methods by their degree of predetermined nature, their utilize of closed-ended versus open-ended questioning, and their focus for numeric versus non-numeric data analysis (Creswell, 2003). There are three major elements that goes into a research approach is the specific methods of data collection and analysis as shown in the following table: Quantitative, Qualitative and Mixed methods procedures Quantitative Research Methods Qualitative Research Methods Mixed methods Research methods Predetermined Instrument based questions Performance data, attitude data, observational data, and census data Statistical analysis Emerging methods Open-ended questions Interview data, observation data, document data, and audiovisual data Text and image analysis Both predetermined and emerging Methods Both open- and closed-ended Questions Multiple forms of data drawing on all possibilities Statistical and text analysis Source: Creswell (2003) Quantitative approach As the name suggests, is concerned with trying to quantify things; it asks questions such as ‘how long’, ‘how many’ or ‘the degree to which’. Quantitative methods look to quantify data and generalise results from a sample of the population of interest. They may look to measure the incidence of various views and opinions in aShow MoreRelatedQuantitative, Qualitative, And Mixed Methods1467 Words   |  6 Pagesforms the premise of the considerable number of phases of research. The three methods for examination include distinctive strategies. Thus, the speculative plans are distinctive for the three techniques. This paper looks to assess the particular hypothetical designs for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. The qualitative methods do not usually involve statistical analysis. Then again, the quantitative methods essentially include the statistical analysis. Every one of these perspectivesRead MoreCritiquing Quantitative, Qualitative, Or Mixed Methods1135 Words   |  5 Pages Critiquing Quantitative, Qualitative, or Mixed Methods Studies Paper Quantitative and qualitative research studies are both significant in nursing. In this paper, I will be critiquing two articles using both approaches. Using Walden’s database system, the articles will be located and compared to one another. After this assignment, I hope to gain a better understanding if critiquing research articles. Providing care for patients diagnosed with brain tumors is the topic I selected toRead MoreMixed Methods Of Quantitative And Qualitative Data1421 Words   |  6 PagesMixed methods approach was implemented deliberately to gain quantitative and qualitative data. The integration of quantitative and qualitative data maximizes the strengths and minimizes the weaknesses of each type of data to ensure validity and reliability. The two forms of data collection were interviews and questionnaires. Mixed methods was chosen to gain better insight into the issue. This will help to compare, validate or triangulate results and in doing so may help to identify trends and outcomesRead MoreThe Field Of Elearning : Qualitative, Quantitative, And Mixed Methods2985 Words   |  12 Pageselearning, there are three methods that are considered: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods. Within the research method, there are many research designs that may be used depending on the type of researc h being conducted. Case studies, interviews, focus groups, and the analyzation of documents are all common research designs to gather qualitative data. Quantitative data are collected using research designs such as questionnaires that yield numeric responses. A mixed-methods approach uses a combinationRead MoreThe Social Construction Of Experience1437 Words   |  6 PagesIn particular, qualitative researchers tend to focus more on the social-constructed reality and the contextual influence, interaction and constraints between the researcher(s) and the participants. They are interested in finding answers to questions that focus on the â€Å"social construction of experience and how meaning is created† (Cooper White, 2012, p. 15). However, quantitative researchers â€Å"emphasize measurement and analysis, and focus on product rather than process† (Cooper White, 2012, p.Read MoreQuantitative, Qualitative And Quantitative Methodologies804 Words   |  4 PagesIntro duction Along with qualitative and quantitative methodologies in research, the trend of combining both qualitative and quantitative methodologies is widely used and increasingly articulated, attached to research practice and recognized as the third major research approach or research paradigm (Johnson, Onwuegbuzie Turner, 2007). As cited by Anaf and Sheppard (2007), Key in 1997 suggested the theory and meaning, qualitative and quantitative methodologies are distinct. A qualitative methodology’s focusRead MoreThe Three Methods Of Research1201 Words   |  5 Pagesthe three methods of research to include qualitative, quantitative and mixed, (Creswell, 2014). Qualitative research provides the life story through narration, so we are able to identify and understand the human and social situation, (Creswell, 2014). Quantitative research focuses on the statistics, to include analyzing experimental data or survey outcomes, (Creswell, 2014). This method establishes the numeric aspects of research. According to the author, Creswell, (2014), Quantitative was theRead MoreThe Scientific And Disciplined Inquiry Approach757 Words   |  4 Pagesare known as the scientific method. The steps include: identify and analyze the problem, collect data, draw conclusions, and revise theories. This essay will define fou r types of research, discuss the strengths of each, and provide examples for two research methodologies. Four Types of Research According to Johnson and Christensen (n.d.) â€Å"quantitative research relies primarily on the collection of quantitative data and the basic building blocks are variables.† Quantitative research fabricated by twoRead MoreSOCIAL ENQUIRY METHODS assignment 1944 Words   |  4 Pages SATA FAHNBULLEH SOCIAL ENQUIRY METHODS ASSIGNMENT 1: RESEARCH METHODS If you wanted to examine young people’s experiences of homelessness, would you use qualitative methods, quantitative methods or a mixed methods approach? Explain your answer. Brief definition of homelessness The Australian Bureau of Statistic (2012) defines ‘homelessness’ based on aRead MoreApplying A Mixed Methods For Choosing Text And Data Collection932 Words   |  4 Pagespresent study. The chapter has two sections, in the first of which I pro-vide a brief account of the main implications of applying a mixed-methods approach in re-search design and a brief description of the different ways of designing mixed-methods re-search in 3.2. In the second section, I discuss the use of corpus linguistics as a research method, that is, the quantitative part represented by the application of corpus linguistic tools and the choice of the reference corpus that is compatible with the

Single Sex Education Is Overall More Effective For Most...

Single sex education is overall more effective for most people. It helps with multiple aspects of a person s personality. This specific education helps students gain confidence, feel comfortable, and lets students be themselves. It’s no surprise that boys and girls were educated separately in the colonial times (Kennedy). During the 1960s and the 1970s, the number of single sex schools began to decrease. The main reason for this decrease was out of respect for women s rights and equality. The federal government made single sex public schools illegal in its Title IX legislation. The legislation was set up so that activities meant for women were given the same support financially as men s activities (Yates). You couldn t†¦show more content†¦Studies show that there is quite a difference in the way females and males learn, but of course every student learns in a different way (Kennedy). Girls lack inspiring role models in subjects like math, technology and science, wh ich gives males the competitive edge in their career paths (Kennedy). Teachers who understand girls and the way they learn can kindle a girls interest in non-traditional subjects. They can encourage females to dream outside of the box and want a career as a leader of some sort. The students’ aspirations will no longer be limited or discouraged. They can experiment and try out different subjects and sports that are normally for the opposite gender (CRC Health). Researchers from University of Pennsylvania did a study in South Korea. It randomly split up students into single-sex and coed schools. The research showed that students of both genders placed in single-sex clssrooms were more likely to attend four year colleges and receive higher test scores (Heneghan). Students in single-sex classrooms tend to believe that they can achieve their goals and are unafraid to be competitive (Kennedy). Most single-sex schools have very relaxed disciplinary procedures, so the students have the freedom to express themselves. These schools tend to have less discipline problems, because they aren t competing or impressing the opposite gender (Sharpe). Unfortunately there are disadvantages to having

Ad Evaluation free essay sample

The focal point of this paper is to write a 3 page essay evaluating one commercial advertisement from a popular magazine and analyze it with an evaluation of its effectiveness in light of its purpose, paying particular attention to how well its various components work together to persuade. Jean Kilbourne makes an excellent point in her portrayal of advertisement and its appearance of violence and sexually predatory nature. Blatantly sexist, implied violence and the essence of fear or dominance would be inherent in advertisement of all descriptions from lingerie, to jeans all the way to peanut butter. Jean Kilbourne’s essay shows us how much we ignore in the world of advertisement, which simply exemplifies that which we ignore in life as a whole. Her portrayal of the difference between perceptions of men and women in the various ads, including such concepts as intimacy, violence and innocence would be such as to either cause alarm or to cause us to seriously examine the route advertisement is taking in the role of human behaviors. Human behavior is altered by stimuli outside the mind, but absorbed by that same mind. It is this absorption that must be considered when understanding the human psyche. Sexual advertisement has a tendency to increase violence done by men continuously exposed to the ads and the industry continues to use these sexual images for attention magnets. The biggest problem with this now would be the fact that now teenagers and children have become a target audience, resulting in addiction toward images and brands. Jean Kilbourne’s essay is quite an informative piece. It proves that what we see and what we get are obviously gender separate, and also can be either intimidating, or thought provoking dependent upon that gender. Most, if not all, advertisement can be considered mildly offensive, no matter the implied innocence. For example, Calvin Klein’s underwear ads spark outrage to this day and yet, regardless that they are only there for a few moments or weeks even, it is enough for people to go out and buy his underwear line. This, without realizing our own actions, simply feeds the desire to continue the outrageous behaviors displayed within the advertisements. A second example, both on the feminine and masculine side of intimidation, Diet Coke advertisements of Cindy Crawford in a very short skirt drinking a Diet Coke and being ogled by men and boys of all ages and on the other side of the coin, the sweat-coated construction worker ogled by the women in their office building as he drinks the soft drink. In Jean Kilbourne’s essay she states that â€Å"First, the industry spreads the sexual images using the media regardless of appropriate types of media. She cites Paris Hilton as prime example just in the year 2005. There are no doubts that Jean Kilbourne’s criticism of our efforts to put a halt to violence and even the innuendo of violence in both feminist movements and equality based ones, would in fact be direct and to the point in her understanding of what is acceptable, and what should hardly be. The affect of these ads on the younger minds alters the landscape in such a way that we would see it in the actions of younger and younger children. For instance, the rape of a six year old girl by an eight year old on the same bus while on their way home from school as she was held down by four other boys. There are many images that continue to testify to the belief that violence against women is acceptable, that sex, in the case of the woman, cannot be proven as rape because she is a woman. There is an advertisement, in the March 9, 2006 Rolling Stone magazine on pages five and six of a man pulling a woman’s jeans off on a beach. A blatant testament of dominant sexuality, and then add to that the advertisement on page nine of four pairs of women’s legs, showing off the shoes, or showing off the smooth legs? This is no doubt a blatant approach toward masculine attention. Rolling Stone is a very obvious method of exploitation, both masculine and feminine. An advertisement further in this issue proves that with a woman whose clothing shows the curvature of her bust quite blatantly and then a large white feather pointing directly toward the cleavage. She stands there with her lashes lowered and a bottle of Skyy Vodka with a glass in her hands. Fashion and the industry that supports it would be a blatant exposition utilizing many sexual images with both teenagers and adults, usually exposing too much of the torso in their advertisement, their shows and so forth. This would constitute a blatant reinforcement of the vulnerability of women, and now, even more so, of children. Jean Kilbourne has a very good point in her critical assessment of the world of advertising and its affect on both the masculine and feminine gender. Her critical assessment should be considered a wake up call for all in that we ignore the warning signs and exploit the danger in place of fighting against it. Thus, in her essay, she proved her theory quite sufficiently in that the industry would continually uses sexual images specifically to capture the attention of people, and now, teenagers and children have become the target audience thus becoming addicted to both the images and the brand. If we do not fight as equals, then feminism has no true hold on culture in any way. This, in actuality, is of a far greater impact on the lives of men and women, as well as boys and girls. The fact that these ads continue would tell us that feminism is losing its hold on the minds of many. Ads have a tendency to mold a generation, and the portrayal of men and women in suggestive or violent poses manages a platform for strong debate. References: Kilbourne, Jean; Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt: Advertising and Violence; Rereading America Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing 5th Edition; St. Martin’s Press 2001 Jan S. Wenner Editor and Publisher; Rolling Stone Magazine: 1290 Avenue of the Americas; New York, NY 10104-0298 USA

The Goddess free essay sample

This essay discusses gender roles of specific goddesses in Greek and Roman mythology. This paper examines the role of goddesses in Greek and Roman mythology. The author discusses how they were worshiped in polytheistic cultures, how goddesses were portrayed as virgins, mothers, wives, always in relation to male counterparts. The paper looks at such goddesses as Hera, Demeter, Gaia, Aphrodite, Artemis, Athena, and more. Long ago, the image of the goddess appeared. Stone was carved and bone modeled after a reflection of a maternal figure. Her curvaceous body and falling breasts seem to be humanitys first tangible image of life. From the beginning, the Great Mother was associated with nurturing and life giving. This notion, of Mother Earth as the bearer of all that is living, and the provider of sustenance of life, dates back to a time when we as humans, regarded ourselves as children of nature, and nature as divine, Baring Cashford, The Myth of the Goddess. We will write a custom essay sample on The Goddess or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page London : Penguin Books, 1991. pg. 5. Myths corroborate that women and goddesses were responsible for the discovery of food cultivation and ultimately the preservation of life. While the primacy of the goddess and the idea of the goddess as the creator are not seen in all civilizations, many do show evidence towards this sort of belief.

Free Essays on Blues In St Louis

Albert King, Where Y’at? Film: There’ll Always Be Stars In the Sky In today’s world, many people speak from their own experiences, coming from different backgrounds and caught between conflicting cultures. Countries seen as world powers, strong, confident and proud of their culture, now feel insecure- while other smallere countries are becoming more confident about their roots, identity and culture. St. louis went through tough times of cultural and political conflicts, but now those cultures have come together especially in music. Black music was at the fore-front of the St-Louis music scene, mainly blues and jazz. It was so influential in the communities, that it caught the interest of young white male, Billy peek and and Albert King. They grew found of that kind of music and are music legends of St.louis today. Music is a tool that can be used in various ways. It can be used as an educational informative medium, or strictly for entertainment. But whichever way it is used, it has touched many lives all over the world. It is the world’s universal language. If the blacks from the Caribbean, and Africa had not migrated to St.louis, the blues and Jazz would have never had bearing in that part of the United States. I believe and agree with the fact that, anytime people move to a new place, they bring along part of their culture. That is why most big cities in the world are largely diverse.... Free Essays on Blues In St Louis Free Essays on Blues In St Louis Albert King, Where Y’at? Film: There’ll Always Be Stars In the Sky In today’s world, many people speak from their own experiences, coming from different backgrounds and caught between conflicting cultures. Countries seen as world powers, strong, confident and proud of their culture, now feel insecure- while other smallere countries are becoming more confident about their roots, identity and culture. St. louis went through tough times of cultural and political conflicts, but now those cultures have come together especially in music. Black music was at the fore-front of the St-Louis music scene, mainly blues and jazz. It was so influential in the communities, that it caught the interest of young white male, Billy peek and and Albert King. They grew found of that kind of music and are music legends of St.louis today. Music is a tool that can be used in various ways. It can be used as an educational informative medium, or strictly for entertainment. But whichever way it is used, it has touched many lives all over the world. It is the world’s universal language. If the blacks from the Caribbean, and Africa had not migrated to St.louis, the blues and Jazz would have never had bearing in that part of the United States. I believe and agree with the fact that, anytime people move to a new place, they bring along part of their culture. That is why most big cities in the world are largely diverse....

Your ACT Superscore Calculator

Your ACT Superscore Calculator SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Planning and trying to reach your ACT target score can be stressful and frustrating. You got a 36 in Math on one test date and a 35 in Reading on another test date. Why can’t you just get all of your highest individual section scores on the same test date? If you’re applying to colleges that superscore the ACT, you don’t have to worry about that. So what is an ACT superscore? And how do you calculate it? In this post, I’ll explain what superscoring means, how to create your own ACT superscore calculator, and how superscoring affects your test-prep strategy. What’s an ACT Superscore? An ACT superscore is a new final composite score that is made up of your best individual section scores across all ACT tests you took. These best individual section scores are averaged to create a brand new composite ACT score. In case you're unfamiliar with how to calculate your composite ACT score, here's a brief explanation. The ACT has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored individually on a scale of 1-36. These section scores are then averaged to give you a composite ACT score, also on a scale of 1-36. What if you took the Writing section, too? Don't worry- your Writing score, which uses a different point range of 2-12, will not affect your composite ACT score or superscore. That said, you don't want to get a high ACT score and flunk your essay, so be sure you know how to write a good one! How Do You Calculate Your ACT Superscore? To create an ACT superscore, you'll pick out your best section scores for English, Math, Reading, and Science across all ACTs you took and then average them together. This will give you a new ACT composite score, or superscore. But what are the specific steps? First, make a table to use as your ACT superscore calculator. In this table, insert six columns. The number of rows you have will depend on the number of times you've taken the ACT. Your total number of rows should equal the number of tests taken + 2. Label the table as I've done below: Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Superscore Next, fill in your respective test date section scores and composite scores: Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 31 29 33 21 29 Test 2 32 24 29 29 29 Test 3 27 26 35 24 28 Superscore The third step is to fill in the superscore number for each section by selecting the HIGHEST individual section score. Leave the "Superscore Composite" area blank for now. Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 31 29 33 21 29 Test 2 32 24 29 29 29 Test 3 27 26 35 24 28 Superscore 32 29 35 29 Finally, average the superscore section scores (i.e., the scores in the bottom row of your chart): (32+29+35+29) / 4 = 31 The number you get will be your final composite ACT superscore. Write this score down in the "Superscore Composite" blank in the bottom-right of your chart: Test # English Math Reading Science Composite Test 1 31 29 33 21 29 Test 2 32 24 29 29 29 Test 3 27 26 35 24 28 Superscore 32 29 35 29 31 Make sure to round your average to the nearest whole number. For example, if we got 30.5, our composite superscore would round up to 31. However, if we got 30.25, our superscore would round down to 30. As you can see in these charts, by creating an ACT superscore, our composite score increased by 2 points- that's a considerable jump on the ACT! Before you get too excited, though, make sure the colleges you plan to apply to superscore the ACT since not all colleges do. For example, MIT, NYU, and Cornell all superscore the ACT, whereas Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown do not. Not all schools superscore, but check for information about your target schools anyway. You never know what you'll find out unless you look! Many colleges like ACT superscoring because it increases the average ACT composite score of admitted students, which, in turn, helps schools improve their rankings. Superscoring is also helpful for you. If you do poorly on a section on one test date, it won’t affect you with colleges who use superscoring, as long as you get a higher score for that section on another test date. What Does Superscoring Mean for Your ACT Strategy? Now that you know the ins and outs of ACT superscoring, what does this mean for your approach to test prep? Here, I’ll give a brief summary of the three steps you'll need to take to be able to use superscoring to your advantage. For more info, check out our detailed guide on how ACT superscoring can affect your test prep. Remember: the following strategy only applies if all of the schools you’re applying to superscore the ACT. If some of the schools on your target list do not superscore, then you’ll need to aim for your composite target score on one test (meaning the steps below won't apply to you). Step 1: Plan Your ACT Schedule Early Planning ahead of time, preferably before the start of your junior year, can be a big help in figuring out how you can benefit from schools' superscoring policies. Since you’re able to superscore your ACT scores, it's best to sit for around three test dates. If you reach your target composite score the first time, then great- you’re done early! If you don’t reach your goal score the first time around, though, you'll still have plenty of time to sit for other test dates, and can eventually pick out your best section scores from each date to create a great superscore. Step 2: Focus Your Prep If you reached your target ACT scores on two sections but didn’t do very well on the other two, you can thereafter channel all of your energy into preparing for your two weaker sections. Doing this gives you a better shot at scoring highly, and means you won't have to worry about doing well on the two sections on which you already hit your goal scores. Of course, this doesn't mean you should put zero effort into studying for your stronger sections- just that you should put more effort into prepping for the sections you're weaker at. Step 3: Relax! Ultimately, superscoring should make your test prep more relaxed. Why? Even if you completely mess up on a section on one ACT test date, you could still get into your dream college if you get a better score on a different test date. So if you score poorly on a section, it's not the end of the world- all you need to do is retake the ACT and tailor your prep to that particular section! What’s Next? Got more questions about ACT scoring? Learn about what qualifies as a good ACT score for your college and how to calculate your target score. Already got an ACT score goal? Then take a look at our top 15 ACT tips and tricks as well as our 20-hour prep guide to help you get started. Finally, make sure you're studying the right way with our guide to reviewing your ACT/SAT mistakes. Want to improve your ACT score by 4+ points? Download our free guide to the top 5 strategies you need in your prep to improve your ACT score dramatically.

Introduction to the city Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Introduction to the city - Essay Example Cash flow can be defined as ‘the pattern of income and expenses, and its consequences for how much money is available at a given time’ The process of managing working capital would involve deciding what quantity of cash, other liquid assets, accounts receivable and inventories the firm would require to have at any given point of time. â€Å" The management of working capital is concerned with the management of assets such as cash, marketable securities, account receivable, investor prepaid expenses and the current assets; also liabilities such as accounts payables, wages payables and accruals.†2 Working capital can generally be generated by receiving short term loan from a bank or by placing aside a sum from the equity. Generally working capital can not be added up while taking a long term loan from a bank. According to Keynes a firm holds working capital for three basic reasons; to benefit from timely opportunities arising in the market, as a fund to deal with unforeseen crisis that require immediate action and to carry out the regular business activities of cash inflow and outflow. The process of working capital management is relatively complex and it is meant to ensure that a firm is capable to carry out its regular activities with optimum efficiency at the same time fulfill the short term debt requirements and forthcoming operational expenditures. This process requires an analytical approach towards the spending and receiving of the funds available on hand. â€Å"The analysis requires decisions to be taken for the following questions such as: how should the firm manage its cash? To whom should the firm grant credit? How much inventory should the firm keep? What should be the composition of the firm’s current debt? â€Å"3 The goal of managing working capital is to have cash inflow as early as possible and to delay the cash outflow as much as possible and at the

Childcare Education as a Entrance to the Society Assignment

Childcare Education as a Entrance to the Society - Assignment Example In this specific case, I would consider a child who has received impartial warmth and affection from his parents and family. The child is the victim of ignorance, and therefore his overall influence and participation in the social and family affairs is minimum. Under Circle of Courage Philosophy, it is important to incorporate belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity in the child. The child shall have a sense of association and belonging, this will make a child more responsible and adaptable towards the society. The sense of leadership is an important trait of personality, and the child shall be trained to lead and play a significant role in the activity. It is important that child shall act independently; the emotions and actions of the child should be independent and should be based upon his personal understanding (Larry, 2005). It is important that under no circumstances, the child shall get under the influence of another person except for parents. The mentoring of parents is instrumental in inflicting the sense of leadership. ... It is important that the child is protected from the social injustice, alienation, vanity, and conviction (Larry, 2005). At the very early stage of his early, the mind of the child is the fluid form which takes the shape of the bowl it is poured into; therefore it is important to be careful in the treatment of such child. It is important that such child shall be protected from the troubled and difficult situation. Often parents put their children in a troubled situation to assess their reaction and approach. This is an incorrect approach, it is recommended never to put the child to any test. With reference to this specific case of a neglected child, it is important that the child shall be given love and affection, rather such child shall be the hub of love and affection from all the family members, in particular, the parents (Frederick, 2008).

The Christian Church Essay Example for Free

The Christian Church Essay The Christian Church was born out of the legacies of the Greek, Roman and Jewish cultures. Through God’s providence and perhaps advantageous timing, the Christian Church entered a world prepared for the truth of God. The Greeks provided a universal language and philosophy that supported the acceptance of the Church. Roman laws, organization, and commitment to peace created proper surroundings for the Church to flourish. Lastly, the Jewish religious principles, helped form the backbone of the Christian Church. Through a detailed examination of the language and philosophy, organization and structure, and religions views of the early Christian Church we can determine that the Greek, Roman, and Jewish Cultures all contributed to the birth and spread of the Church. The Hellenistic culture of the ancient Greeks contributed its philosophy and language to the Christian Church. Alexander the Great built an empire united by a common thread: Greek ideology, language and culture. This process of assimilation by which Greek culture was transplanted to the east became identified as Hellenization. The popular Greek language became a medium on which the Christian religion could flourish, as the language created a disposition of acceptance. The Greek language was the contemporary language associated with a well-established culture. Though the Greek religion was considered one-dimensional and simple, its language allowed the Jewish and other eastern religions, which would eventually contribute to Christianity, to communicate properly. The dominant Greek philosophical ideals of the time, which where Stoicism, Platonism and Epicureanism, all contributed greatly to the evolution of the Christian Church. One early Christian by the name of Clement of Alexandria wrote: Philosophy has been given to the Greeks as their own kind of Covenant, their  foundation for the philosophy of Christ the philosophy of the Greeks contains the basic elements of that genuine and perfect knowledge which is higher than human even upon those spiritual objects. (Miscellanies 6. 8) Clements’ statement demonstrates how important Greek philosophy was to the Christian religion. Great philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato added important concepts and teachings to the Christian faith. The Greek culture was instrumental in providing a well-known and respected language for the Christian Church, as well as many significant philosophies, which contributed to the birth and spread of the Church. The Roman Empire provided efficient structure and organization, which catalyzed the growth of the Christian community. In the year 509 B.C. after multiple monarchs had failed to satisfy the Roman society, the Republic of Rome was founded. The republic divided the power of Rome among a group of Assemblies, two consuls and the Senate. The Republic government flourished for 376 years, but in 133 B.C. it collapsed to civil war. After years of fighting, betrayal and violence, a powerful authority named Augustus founded the Roman Empire. Augustus brought peace and prosperity to the Roman world. This great time for the Roman Empire was called the Pax Romana, a revolutionary era where the Christian religion gained the ability to expand its administration. During the times of the Pax Romana, travel across large distances became very efficient and safe for new public highways were introduced throughout the Roman Empire. Such highways made the spread of the Christian Church much easier than before. Suddenly, messages and people could travel vast lengths very quick. Direct highways in the Roman Empire enabled Christians to unite, communicate and gain power and information. Rome also served as a protected area for early Christians to live and worship God. The Empire’s structure and law under the reign of Augustus supported the importance moral conduct and justice, key concepts that would eventually become part of the Church’s purpose. The Roman structure and law was influenced by the dominant Stoic philosophy. Stoics believed that the highest good that man can achieve is to live a life of virtue in harmony with reason. This Stoic belief would ultimately aid in the Christian understanding of the Natural Law. It is true to establish that the Roman Empire’s structure, law and organization greatly helped facilitate the birth and spread of the Christian Faith. The Jewish culture formed the religious foundation of the Christian Church. The Jewish people were the chosen people of God, the true descendants of Abraham. The early Christians were originally members of the Jewish faith. Many of the Jewish principles of religion continue to exist in Christianity, such as their firm monotheistic belief. Perhaps the most important Jewish relation that helped initialize the Christian Church is the life of the Messiah Jesus. The word Christian did not exist until 40 years after the crucifixion, Jesus was born and died a Jew. The origins of Christianity evolved from the heart of Jewish culture. Jesus challenged the customs of the day by teaching revolutionary interpretations of Jewish scripture. Although they did not call themselves Christians yet, Jesus’ followers founded the beginning of the Church. Jesus used modified and logically understood Jewish scriptures to inform the people of God that salvation was at hand. The entire Old Testament originates from the Jewish written Tanakh. Much of our Christian models such as heaven and hell, angels and devils, and respect and love for human life come from Jewish tradition. Through Jewish religious conception and Jesus’s role in empowering and teaching early Christians, it is true to conclude that the Jewish faith directly aided Christianity to commence and develop. A clearer understanding of the Roman, Greek, and Jewish contributions to the Christian Church allows us to identify the significant impact such cultures have had on the Church. An analysis of the language and philosophy, organization and structure, and religions views of the early Christian Church enables us to conclude that the Greek, Roman, and Jewish Cultures all contributed to the birth and spread of the Church.

Interpersonal Communication :: essays research papers

Interpersonal Communication 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This example is showing that the two teen-aged girls are verbally communicating. This is all that can be accomplished by the use of a telephone. The two girls can not see each other there-fore it is near to completely impossible to make hand jesters or other forms of non-verbal communication maybe making it difficult to fully understand their feelings about the event. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is an example of total non-verbal communication. There are no words being expressed by the teacher in any verbal form. The student is just reading them off of her computer. By using this method the student may not grasp all of the information given 100%. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My personal favorite, the ever famous ?COME AND EAT!!!!? I don?t believe it is one of the best approaches at a method of verbal communication. In my eighteen years of experience nothing has accomplished in getting my attention better then the dinner yell. It is a straight forward verbal communicating method that is universally understood. Communication purposes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I like to communicate with people, more then the average person. Part of that reason is because it is part of my job. As a restaurant manager I must familiarize myself with the customers. It is my job to be a representative of the company. I must act hospitable and greet all of the customers with a smile.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I smile when I greet the customers and welcome them with open arms. These methods of communicating are a select handful that I do each day. I use hand gestures when I direct others and myself. I try to limit the hand gestures but it just comes natural to me. I was told by my speech teacher a few years back that it adds character and depth to my speeches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that I communicate well and I get my point across to others when it is needed. In my line of work, like I said, I communicate a lot. Non-Verbal Communication: Non-Verbal communication is a arrangement of physical gestures from hand movements to eye motions. Any form of communicating without the use of words. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbs up 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  smile 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  frown 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  sticking out your tongue 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  screaming 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  laughing 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  grunting 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  waving arms 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  rolling your eyes 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  sighing Eye Contact Eye contact has been around just as long as all forms of communication. Without eye contact you could not understand what someone was trying to tell you. Eye contact is used to look at the communicator or to communicate all on its own. Ancient philosophers believed that all the power in the world rests inn the eyes of people. Interpersonal Communication :: essays research papers Interpersonal Communication 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This example is showing that the two teen-aged girls are verbally communicating. This is all that can be accomplished by the use of a telephone. The two girls can not see each other there-fore it is near to completely impossible to make hand jesters or other forms of non-verbal communication maybe making it difficult to fully understand their feelings about the event. 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is an example of total non-verbal communication. There are no words being expressed by the teacher in any verbal form. The student is just reading them off of her computer. By using this method the student may not grasp all of the information given 100%. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  My personal favorite, the ever famous ?COME AND EAT!!!!? I don?t believe it is one of the best approaches at a method of verbal communication. In my eighteen years of experience nothing has accomplished in getting my attention better then the dinner yell. It is a straight forward verbal communicating method that is universally understood. Communication purposes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I like to communicate with people, more then the average person. Part of that reason is because it is part of my job. As a restaurant manager I must familiarize myself with the customers. It is my job to be a representative of the company. I must act hospitable and greet all of the customers with a smile.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I smile when I greet the customers and welcome them with open arms. These methods of communicating are a select handful that I do each day. I use hand gestures when I direct others and myself. I try to limit the hand gestures but it just comes natural to me. I was told by my speech teacher a few years back that it adds character and depth to my speeches.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I believe that I communicate well and I get my point across to others when it is needed. In my line of work, like I said, I communicate a lot. Non-Verbal Communication: Non-Verbal communication is a arrangement of physical gestures from hand movements to eye motions. Any form of communicating without the use of words. 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  thumbs up 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  smile 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  frown 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  sticking out your tongue 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  screaming 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  laughing 7.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  grunting 8.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  waving arms 9.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  rolling your eyes 10.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  sighing Eye Contact Eye contact has been around just as long as all forms of communication. Without eye contact you could not understand what someone was trying to tell you. Eye contact is used to look at the communicator or to communicate all on its own. Ancient philosophers believed that all the power in the world rests inn the eyes of people.

Learning and Physical Activity Essay

Explain why physical activity is important to the short and long term health and well being of children. physical activity should be part of every childs life. it promotes living a healthy lifestyle and also the childs general well being. short term health- physical activity promotes a lot of different areas, some of these being; building muscle- helps children move more freely which makes them really enjoy physical play. developing heart and lung functions developing a skeletal frame- if a skeletal frame is not developed properly it cause be a risk of many health problems. Long term health- physical activity is very important and also plays a very big role in preventing obesity. aspects of development 1. 2 explain the development of movement skills in young children and how these skills affect other aspect of development movement skills hand eye coordination- is very important as we need eyes and hands to work together. for example to catch a ball requires the eyes to tell the brain that the hand need to move in order to catch the ball. foot eye coordination- to kick a ball the eyes need to tell the brain tht the foot needs to move in order to kick a ball. Travelling movement- where the child moves from one place to another for example running, skipping and jumping object control movement- objects being send, recieved and travelled with for example. throwing a ball. balance and coodination control gross motor control- this mean whole limb movements, such as moving arms, legs or the entire body(running, jumping) fine motor control- these are smaller actions such as picking up an object using finger or thumb or using your tounge and lips to taste. 2. 3 explain the importance of natural outdoor enviroments for young childrens physical activity and movement skills. As well as playing indoors children should be encouraged to join in in outdoor play. outdoor play is important for mental, emotional and emotional well being. playing outdoors will develop a childs imagination and self confidence. They will get to experience movement and freedom and develop their muscle strength, coordination and problem solving skills. there are alot of benefits of outdoor space, some of these being; playing outside also makes children gain more physical skills because they are learning to use their bodies in a different way to what they would do indoors. Social interaction also goes on whilst playing outside this is because they are not getting as much direction of the adults. children get to learn by using their outside voicesm yelling and running. children learn what is acceptable in one setting that may not be acceptable in another playing outdoors teaches children about different types of textures, smells and sounds outdoor play encourages children to take risks, have more imagination and to explore their own interests. Explain how the plan; meets the individul movement skills needs of children  includes activities that promote competence in movement skills encourages physical play in my plan i planned to do sticky kids with the children at the nursery. sticky kids is physical play so the activity encourages children to participate in physical play. As sticky kids is alot of dancing this helps children develop more of their movement skills. When I planned to do sticky kids, I tried to fit the plan around every childs individual movement skills. The children participated really well and the plan I did went well. There were a few children that wasn’t joining in but we got them all to join in and they participated really well. My plan encouraged physical play because we got the children to get up and join in the activity but they had the chance not too. 4. 1 explain the importance of building physical activity into everyday routines. physical activity is a very important part of every childs life and should be in all their everyday routines. physical activity and exercise will increase a childs strenght and stamina which will then improve their muscle tone and muscle usage. It helps with balance and flexibility in a child and also helps develop catching and throwing skills, movivation and social skills, boosts energy, helps stop anxiety and strees, improves coordination, improves bone strength and heart and lung capacity and has a positive affect on a childs self esteem. physical activity and movement also helps to stimulate the brain which is why it is important for children to have physical activitys in their everyday routines. It is also important for a child to have physcial activity in their everyday routines because it has a big impact on the childrens behaviour. For exmaple if children are running inside instead of telling them no you could say we have to use our walking feet inside but we can run when we go to play outside. Children wont learn as well if they don’t get time outside especially boys this is because boys have a bigger body mass and they need more oxygen than girls. Children need oxygen to learn effectively. Boys also need to get out more because they are more active than girls are.

Mother/Daughter Relationship in “I Stand Here Ironing”

There are numerous reasons why a child behaves in a certain way or why he or she grew up to be the person they are now.   Experts say that how a mother brings up her kid greatly affects the psychological thinking of her child.   Well, besides the other factors like race, environment, health, and education, they say that mothers have a great role in the nurturing of their child.   This is shown in the works, â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing† by Tillie Olsen and â€Å"Two Kinds† by Amy Tan.   However, it was mother-daughter relationship shown in these emotion-steering novels. In the first novel mentioned, â€Å"I Stand Here Ironing†, this featured a mother who let the so-called experts take care of her child.   She thinks that the experts know what is best for her child (http://litsum.com/i-stand-here-ironing/analysis001.php).   Although she does want to follow the rules of these experts but she was forced to do so because she does not have any other choice (http://litsum.com/i-stand-here-ironing/). However, the environment also plays a large role why she was forced to follow the experts in sending her child, Emily, to nursery at a very early age, and sending her to a recuperative home where she moves by numbers, where she was not free to do what she wants and Emily was not even allowed to have physical contact with her parents.   And during this time, America was experiencing the Great Depression.   It was hard for the mother to manage their home, take care of young Emily, and it was most difficult to work. And because she had to work, she did not have ample time to spend with Emily.   It even got to a point where she had to let her parents-in-law to take care of Emily.   It was also a huge adjustment when her mother remarried but things got worse when she had four younger siblings.   There was also a time when the mother was pregnant with her second daughter and Emily got measles.   She was not permitted to come close her mother for the safety of not only her mother but also the baby.   As for school, Emily performed not at all satisfactory. Having four siblings to take care of, she can only study at night when all of them are already asleep.   Not to mention that her brothers and sisters were the culprit for scribbles on important material and missing books.   Emily was not at all close to her mother no matter how her mother tried to be close to her.   Her mother was too busy doing other things that she had not been really in touch with her daughter. Emily was always left alone.   On the contrary, she had a knack for arts and comedy.   Though her childhood can be classified as bleak, she can be found shining through the art of comedy.   It is quite remarkable that Emily had made it through it all without the actual help and guidance of her mother.   Unexpectedly, she found her real self, what her passion was without the supervision of her mother. The latter novel, â€Å"Two Kinds†, was presented as a mother prompting her child to excel in all fields especially in the field where the mother thinks that the child has a lot of potential at.   It was a novel wherein the child was forced to follow what her mother wants her to be.   It was a novel wherein the mother takes control of the life of the child.   She will determine the future of the child.   And great depression and misery await if their wants are not obeyed.   It involves kids prodded to be stars and geniuses. Well, it is usual for mothers to want the best for their children.   Although, sometimes, it gets worse that the children are not allowed to make their own choices.   Why do mothers, not only mothers but the same goes for both parents, behave this way?   This may be due to competition with other parents that they have produced a genius.   Or it may be due to their wants as kids that they did not achieve, so they want their children to be what they want to be.   Sometimes, the child becomes a rebel due to this kind of bearing. The child rearing style of the two novels are not exactly correct but it was the best they can think of.   The first was too lenient while the latter, too strict.   Although both mothers idolize the famous Shirley Temple, the first mother let he child be what she wants to be, while the other wanted her child to be a star.   Furthermore, both daughters achieved what they want to be in the end, but in different ways.   One was hiding from her mother and the other, from rebellion.   It is queer enough to think that no matter how a mother brings up her child, it would be the child’s decision who she wants to be and how she is going to make it there. REFERENCES BookRags Student Essays on â€Å"Two Kinds† by Amy Tan. 2000-2006. http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2005/11/10/16231/007. I Stand Here Ironing Summary, Detailed Analysis. http://litsum.com/i-stand-here-ironing/analysis001.php I Stand Here Ironing Summary, Detailed Summary. http://litsum.com/i-stand-here-ironing/ http://www.angelfire.com/ma/MyGuardianangels/index9.html http://www.angelfire.com/ma/MyGuardianangels/index10.html http://www.angelfire.com/ma/MyGuardianangels/index11.html http://www.angelfire.com/ma/MyGuardianangels/index12.html      

buy custom Steven Kinzer essay

buy custom Steven Kinzer essay The kind of terror that is witnessed in the Middle East is more or less a direct result of some of the actions of the Western countries. The terrorist events as witnessed in parts of the Middle East are not necessarily the result of hatred for the West (Kinzer xxvi). In as much as Western governments sponsor coup d'tats, upheavals and armed incursions, they do this to their detriment. They do such things with the hope that they will emerge victorious. In most cases, they win; however, these victories come back to rile them in destructive and catastrophic ways. This happens to be true even as todays composite and hot-blooded Middle East reels from political and military intrusion from the West (Kinzer xxvi). The Arguments Used by the Author to Support the Thesis Ever since the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States, terrorism and terrorists has become the monomania of Washington, which has guided both the foreign and military policies of the United States (Kinzer 65-7). Over the past, major decisions have typically twisted public opinion in the Middle East in opposition to the United States and its allies (Kinzer 56-8). It is the result of these decisions that fundamentally spawned the conditions that have led to the development of terrorist groups in the Middle East. Some of these are such as jihadists, Al-Qaeda, and suicide bombers (Kinzer 78). One of the decisions made by the United States took place immediately after the end of the Second World War in 1945. Leaders of the United States decided to extend their dominion all over the Middle East (Kinzer 45-7). This was done with the aim of knocking out their wartime partner, the Soviet Union, in having a grip of the region. Since that time, the goal of Washington has been to establish some form of dominion over the rich oil region. This would go a long way to insure Americas global economic supremacy (Kinzer 47-9). For the sake of accomplishing this objective, the United States decided to make agreements with the ultra-conservative kingdoms in the region (Kinzer 52-6). The US did this by offering these nations armed fortification and protected dynastic elongation in return for allegiance and concessions on the supply of oil (Kinzer 47-9). Otherwise, the royal houses in nations like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other places would have been history. As a result, the prolongation of monarchical rule in these nations has impeded democracy and instead led to the rise of Muslim extremists who perpetuate terrorism (Kinzer 54-6). A good example is the case of Iran, which was a young democracy. When the elected democratic government took the reigns of power and nationalized Irans substantial petroleum reserves, Washington had other intentions (Kinzer 7-8). With the help of the CIA, the United States in conjunction with Britain launched a propaganda campaign against the then Prime Minister Mossadegh (Kinzer 1-2). Even though many Iranians thought of Americans as of friends who were in support of their delicate democracy, the situation changed drastically (Kinzer 1-2). To most Iranians, America was a great country, perfect country that protected them from countries that browbeat them. All the trouble began with the overthrow of Mossadegh in 1953 (Kinzer xxvi). Consequently, this led to the crush of democracy and reinstallation of the atrocious Shah of Iran to power (Kinzer 1-2). In the process of establishing a foothold over the region and gaining dominance in the Middle East, the majority of the Middle East has largely remained undemocratic resulting in the alienation of the masses all over the region (Kinzer 86). In a rejoinder, since the United States demanded a lot from the Arab monarchies, the opinionated left and developing secular forces led to the administrative deterioration of the region (Kinzer 78-9). As a result, there has been an Islamic struggle which has in turn occupied the vacuum and taken up the national resistance against American dominance. This has then led to formation of extremist fundamentalist ideologies with others joining terrorist elements like Al-Qaeda (Kinzer 109). In the case of Afghanistan, having spent colossal amounts of money in the war against the Soviet Union, the United States took the chance to harvest the fruits of combat (Kinzer 206). With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States needed to establish a foothold for the sake of establishing an oil pipeline from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to the Indian Ocean. The two nations were previous oil fields of the former Soviet Union (Kinzer 49-51). For the whole undertaking to succeed, the United States decided to replace the Islamic State with more radical Islamic forces (Kinzer 56-9). This prompted the US to mobilize fundamentalist Islamic forces of Afghanistan and other Middle East countries (Kinzer 78-83). As a result, clergymen with radical Islam beliefs together with their followers were organized and armed by the CIA. This in turn led to the formation of Taliban since other Arab countries joined them in the crusade (Kinzer 93-6).

Cheap Out-of-State Colleges Top 25 Most Affordable

Cheap Out-of-State Colleges Top 25 Most Affordable SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re hoping to be far from home for college but are worried about the cost of an out-of-state school, you might run into some issues in the application process. How do you find out-of-state schools that still offer relatively cheap tuition? In this article, I’ve compiled a list of schools that offer the lowest tuition rates and highest rates of institutional aid to out-of-state students who choose to attend. Keep reading to learn what these schools are! What Are Cheap Out-of-State Colleges? First off,it's important to keep in mind that public collegesare the only schools where the moniker "out-of-state" will have any meaning for you tuition-wise.Public colleges usually offer far higher tuition rates for out-of-state students than they do for in-state students, whereasprivate colleges aren't concerned with students' residential statuses. Therefore, you’ll only see public colleges on this list (in other words, schools whose tuition price would be affected based on whether or not you live in the state). I decided that the cutoff for "cheap" colleges would be schools with tuition and fees lower than $15,000. Currently,the average public school tuition and fees for out-of-state residents is $26,290, andI wanted to pick schools that cost significantly less than average for students hoping to attend from out of state. I’ve included the cost for room and board at each of these schools because tuition and fees are often less than the price of room and board.I’m hoping this will give you a better idea of the real cost of attending these colleges. I’ll also provide statistics onhow much aid is typically offered to students at each college so you can see how generous these schools are in helping out students who can’t afford to pay full tuition. Finally, I’ve included stats for admissions rates and enrollment to help you get a better idea of the size and competitiveness of these schools.I did not include schools with open enrollment,so these colleges all have some degree of competitiveness (even if their acceptance rates are in the 90s). The 25 Cheapest Out-of-State Colleges These schools are listed in order of net cost from lowest to highest(based on tuition and fees +room and board −average annual institutional aid). Though some schools might have higher tuition prices, they make up for it by offering generous financial aid to students. Note that some schools did not provide info on average financial aid packages for students; this does not necessarily mean these schools they don't offer any aid to students. All data below comes from the College Board, and all costs are for fall 2018. School Tuition Fees Room Board Avg. Aid Package Acceptance Rate Undergrad Enrollment 1.Minot State University $7,064 $6,610 $9,946 69% 2,956 2.Southwest Minnesota State University $8,632 $7,985 $9,766 62% 6,526 3.Southern Arkansas University $12,786 $6,240 $12,154 69% 3,475 4.Mayville State University $9,399 $7,840 $10,027 48% 1,097 5.Central State University $8,346 $10,232 $,352 48% 1,784 6.West Texas AM University $10,476 $7,196 $9,767 61% 7,394 7.Harris-Stowe State University $9,973 $9,250 $,146 40% 1,442 8.South Dakota School of Mines and Technology $14,021 $8,440 $14,379 - 2,421 9.Henderson State University $10,086 $7,504 $9,279 80% 2,832 10.Louisiana State University Alexandria $14,230 - $5,836 - 3,372 .Northern State University $,471 $8,029 $10,752 88% 3,162 12.Midwestern State University $10,969 $8,877 $10,955 81% 5,330 13.Bemidji State University $8,696 $8,408 $8,025 66% 4,833 14.Alcorn State University $7,144 $9,608 $7,581 40% 3,172 15.Southeastern Oklahoma State University $15,390 $6,970 $13,097 72% 3,070 16.Truman State University $14,581 $8,780 $13,306 67% 5,898 17.University of Minnesota Morris $15,342 $8,342 $12,851 64% 1,627 18.Dakota State University $12,249 $6,873 $7,789 84% 2,962 19.University of South Dakota $12,425 $8,216 $8,620 87% 7,648 20.University of Nebraska at Kearney $14,503 $9,878 $12,008 82% 4,843 21.Missouri Southern State University $13,934 $6,865 $8,367 95% 6,021 22.Oklahoma Panhandle State University $9,133 $4,695 - - 1,138 23.Southwestern Oklahoma State University $13,935 $5,830 $5,769 - 4,623 24. Rogers State University $15,210 $8,616 $9,422 83% 3,696 25. Arkansas Tech University $15,848 $7,870 $9,235 95% 10,781 Fort Hays State University campus- though I'm not sure why this picture makes it look like a miniature model ... Why Are These Colleges So Cheap for Out-of-State Students? Why are the tuition prices on this list so low? For a significant number of these schools, there is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. With the increasing level of competitiveness in higher education, less well-known schools are using low prices to entice students to attend. The affordability of a college education has become a huge concern as tuition prices continue to rise at most schools. The best way for more obscure schools to increase their viability in the higher education market is to lower their price tags. This gets them on lists of "best value" schools (like this one!) and leads to a strong reputation for caring about the financial struggles of students. Some of these schools are simplydedicated to reducing the impact of financial concerns on those who choose to attend their college,whether they're in state or out of state. For example, Delta State University charges the same tuition rate for all students regardless of their residential status, stating that, "These rates are established to increase financial equity, reduce the impact of financial considerations on educational policy, and increase uniformity across the university." A Final Word: Remember, It’s Not All About Cost After seeing the low price tags on all these schools, you might be tempted to forego your other priorities in favor of a loan-free future.However, there are many factors to consider besides cost in the college search process. Even if you know it will be difficult for you to pay for college, many schools offer generous financial aid packages to those with demonstrated need.Avoid sacrificing your preferences for location, academic programs, and campus life just so you can spend less money on college. Before you make a decision based on how expensive a school is,think about the following: How big the school isand whether you think you’ll prefer a large or small environment Where the school is located in the country and whether it lines up with how far away from home you want to be The school'sprogram strengths and whether they align with your own interests- what opportunities do you want to have available to you in college? The social scene- do you want to be at a party school or one that caters toward smaller gatherings? Are you interested in Greek life at all? Overall quality of academics based on its admissions rate and student feedback The environment beyond the campus- do you prefer a large city or a small town? Once you’ve made up your mind about these key factors, you can move on to comparing schools based on financial criteria.It’s OK to compromise on some things, but be sure you know what’s most important to you so you end up with the best possible college experience. If you’re not sure where to start and need more specific advice, readour step-by-step guide to the college search process.You can also look at some highly reviewed college search websites to learn more information about schools that interest you. What's Next? Still not sure what you're looking for in a college? Read our articles on whether you should go to a school close to home and whether you should attend a large or small college. Application fees are the first hurdle you'll have to overcome when paying for college. Take a look at this list of colleges that don't charge any application fees to see whether you might be able to save some money in the application process. Many of the schools on this list have fairly small student bodies. Read this article to learn what you should expect from a small college environment and to figure out whether it's really the best choice for you. 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:

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 36

Management - Essay Example use it maximises the â€Å"must† and â€Å"want† criteria, as well as having lowered uncertainty and risks through the lowest negative impact on the environment and employees, while Brand B is the second choice because it is satisficing in relation to the minimal criteria of â€Å"must† and â€Å"want.† Brand A is chosen because it has the most points when it comes to the â€Å"must† and â€Å"want† features and has the lowest risks involved. Brand A has the highest points for meeting the â€Å"must† features of maximum cost, being compatible with related equipment, availability of support services, and having no need for renovation. Aside from meeting the planned budget for the equipment, Brand A has the least negative effects on people and workplace because it is already compatible with resources and space, so it reduces costs for renovation and other physical changes at work that can disrupt everyday routine. In other words, it has the fewest risks of changing the status quo and creating conflicts that might be causes of resistance to changes. Brand A also meets the â€Å"want† features of safety, availability upon delivery date and not needing special training for its use. By being available, a plan for its future use can be set up. By not requiring special training, it has the least consumption of training resources and do not need to change work flows and other work habits. The next most important factors are pricing and flexibility, which Brand A meets. Brand A has a good price, unlike Brand C. Though there is more uncertainty with Brand A because the minimum years of service are not assured compared to other brands, it has the fewest negative effects on employees and the workplace. Brand A has safety features and it is compatible with existing equipment and space that Brand C does not have, for instance. Brand A requires no renovation for existing space and additional special training, which again means less uncertainty for workers. In addition, Brand A has

Budgeting Procedures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Budgeting Procedures - Essay Example The FY 07-08 Budget also reflects the culmination of a substantial effort by City staff to include performance measures for all City programs (Adopted Annual Budget, 2007-08). While this effort is still in its developmental stage, the performance measures will provide a better connection between budget resources and desired outcomes. Usually, annual budgets are adopted on a basis consistent with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and the City uses a cash basis for budgeting governmental funds (Adopted Annual Budget, 2007-08).Yearly appropriated budgets are accepted for the General, Special Revenue, Debt Service and Enterprise Funds. All operating and capital expenditures and revenues are recognized in the budgeting process because of the want for appropriation authority. This paper will therefore focus on analyzing and evaluating the budget. According to the Adopted Annual Budget (2007-08), the process for preparing and adopting the city's annual budget and levying a property tax rate is conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 200 of the Florida statutes and the city's code of ordinance. Chapter 200, Florida statues outlines the budget process beginning with the certification of taxable value on or before July 1 by the country property appraiser. The setting of the millage rate and budget involves a formal process also known as Truth in Millage Act. TRIM serves to formalize the tax levying and budget adoption process by requiring a specific method of calculating the tax rate and any increase, the form of notice to property owners, and public hearing and advertisement requirements prior to the adoption of the annual budget and tax rate. Development of the Annual Budget is comprised of three major initiatives: strategic planning and financial trends outlook, 5 year capital improvements programs development and operating budget preparation. The budget is entirely prepared to accept the accounting system at the start of the fiscal year. A number of GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) adjustments are made to reflect balance sheet requirements and their effect on the budget. These include changes in designations and recognition of accrued liabilities. Amounts needed for such long term liabilities as future payoff of accumulated employee vacation and sick leave (i.e. compensated absences) are generally not budgeted but are adjusted or reported for the actual amounts incurred as a result of an employee resignation or retirement. Usually, a four step process is followed to come up with the budget. This involves preliminary planning and preparation, review, adoption and monitoring. During the preliminary planning stage, the city council meets in January/ February to review the city's strategic priorities. Later on (March/April), the council is provided with a financial trends outlook for the city's three operating funds. In a workshop setting, the city council reviews and discusses major budget trends and then provides policy direction for preparation of the upcoming fiscal year budget. The budget preparation stage follows up in January whereby a 5 year CIP process is initiated with various departments. The CIP for the upcoming fiscal year is the only year in which actual funding is appropriated. The five year CIP serves as the basis for

Sample Quality Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sample Quality - Article Example It lowers the cost of carrying out a research, enables faster collection of data, improves the quality of the data, and ensures homogeneity and accuracy of results. This paper will analyze sample quality in the listed articles. In doing this, paper will seek to define the population in each case and quote the sampling method used. It will also explain the choice of the sample and state who participated in the study. It will equally seek to qualify the research to other populations. In deducing, the sampling method used, it will be necessary to define the various sampling methods that we have. Random sampling involves the random selection of sample from the population. In cluster sampling, selection of samples is in clusters close to each other like households in the same estate. Quota sampling involves selection of samples nonrandom according to a fixed quota. Snowball sampling involves the identifying of samples that meet the criteria for inclusion in a study. Purposive sampling involves sampling with a  purpose  in mind.  Availability sampling involves using just the available samples (Trochim Web). In the article by Scott et.al, the population was all Canadian elderly patients with anxiety disorders and clinically significant anxiety symptoms. Quota sampling method selected a sample of 36,984 adults aged 55 years and above who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey in 2008. The selection of the people in the sample was because they suitably represented the target population.  The actual participants in the study were 12,792 individuals, living in Canada (Scott et.al 792). The researchers cannot generalize it to other populations because the analysis focused on adults aged 55 years and above which are usually the minority in any society. In the Yang et.al study, population was all adolescents 6 months after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in China. Quota sampling selected a sample of 2,463 middle schools and grade 10 students. Their selection was

Hydropower plants Essay Example for Free

Hydropower plants Essay Introduction In this paper I’m going to investigate the characteristics features of the hydropower as one of the potential alternative key energy source. I will discuss advantages and disadvantages of hydropower plans and compare them with the traditional means of energy production. I will also discuss the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the hydropower plants and investigate their application on the example of the hydropower plants in China and Argentina. I will also touch the topic of legal regulation of the hydropower plants construction and operation. Notion of Hydropower 1. 1. Definition of hydroelectricity The main focus of this paper is hydroelectricity, which can be briefly defined as electricity produced by hydropower. This is a quite potential source of electricity in the contemporary world, which now provides round 715,000 MWe, which constitute about 19% of world electricity . I’m mainly concerned with the advantages and disadvantages of the hydroelectricity, which are the main factors determining the future development of this source of energy. First, let us determine the main advantages of hydroelectricity. 1. 2. Historic facts about the oldest hydropower stations Hydropower can be considered as one of the oldest and one of the most powerful and perspective means of electric power generation. Among the most famous oldest hydro-electric power stations the following can be listed: Cragside, located in Rothbury, England, which was constructed in 1870, Appleton, situated in Wisconsin, USA built in 1882, Niagara Falls in New York completed in 1895, Duck Reach, located in Launceston, Tasmania, operating since 1895, Decew Falls 1, situated in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, which began its work in 1898 . 1. 3. Advantages of hydroelectricity This first aspect to be discussed in this section is the connection between hydroelectricity and economics. Among the main advantages of hydroelectricity is that it eliminates of the cost of fuel. Thus, the cost of the operation of hydroelectric plants is quite low if compared with other means of electricity production. This is particularly important now when the price of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas or coal constantly grows. Hydropower plants do not require the use of fuel . The other economic value of the hydroelectric plants is that they tend to operate much longer than fuel-fired plants. Thus, the usual operation time of the hydroelectric plants is 50 or even up to 100 years ago. Besides, hydroelectric power plants involve fewer personnel due to the fact that they are highly automated. This leads to the reduction of the expenses associated with the high labor cost . Construction of the hydropower plant is particularly justified in the places where a dam has multiple purposes. For example, it was estimated that the construction costs of the Three Gorges Dam will be covered by the electricity sold in just 5 7 years of full generation . The other possible economic benefit of hydroelectric plants is that they can create other activities. For example, well-considered hydroelectric schemes can create picturesque water sports, which draw attention of tourists and become the additional source of revenue. Quite many countries resort to the use of reservoirs for fish farming . Besides, some dams can be used for many purposes. Thus, dams used primarily for irrigation may also serve the source of the constant water supply, which is beneficial for fish farming. The other positive moment of large hydro dams is their ability to control floods. Thus, they are beneficial for the people living downstream of the project. In some cases dams are proved to improve transportation through creation of large reservoirs and elimination of rapids . Further, I would like to discuss the connection between the operation of the hydropower plants and greenhouse gas emissions. On the one hand there is no obvious emission of the carbon dioxide from the hydropower station due to the fact that is doesn’t use fossil fuel, which eliminates this gas in the process of burning. To be fair enough it should be mentioned that still some amount of carbon dioxide, which is eliminated in the process of construction of the hydropower plant, but this is quite unessential amount if compared with the fossil-fuel electricity generation . Still hydropower plants cannot be counted completely safe to the environment and further I will discuss the possible sources of emissions and threats. 1. 4. Disadvantages of hydroelectricity First possible threat of the hydropower plant is that it can have a disruptive effect on the aquatic ecosystems. There are several examples of such harmful influence. Thus, dams at the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of North America are proven to be the main cause of the reduction of the population of salmon due to the fact that these dams serve a barrier on the salmon way to the spawning grounds upstream. Even construction of fish ladders in salmon habitat seems not to improve the situation . Dams also prevent salmon to migrate to the sea as the fish has to pass through numerous turbines on its way. One of the possible ways out of this situation is the transportation of smolt downstream with the help of by barges. There are still many researches, which focus on the elimination of the harmful effect of the hydropower plants on the aquatic life . The other negative influence of the hydropower plants is their ability to change the downstream river environment. Hydropower plants can have a disruptive effect on the river beds and even lead to the loss of riverbanks due to fact that water exiting a turbine for the most part has a very little suspended sediment. As an example we can view the influence of Glen Canyon Dam, which is proven to contribute to the erosion of sand bars of the Grand Canyon through constant cyclic flow variation . Hydropower plant can also affect the surrounding aquatic live through changing the usual amount of dissolved oxygen in the river. Other possible threats may be attributed to the lower temperature of water exiting from turbines. This can be fatal to some aquatic faunal species. One of the most disruptive effects can be produced by the hydropower projects, which make use of the canals in order to divert a river at a shallower level to increase the head of the scheme. Sometimes this may lead to the complete change of the flow of the river and drying of the old riverbed, like in case of the Tekapo and Pukaki Rivers . However, it should be mentioned that dams of the hydropower plants can affect not only aquatic life. They can also produce a harmful effect on birds. As the possible example of this I can name the influence of dams of the Platte River in Nebraska on the Piping Plover and Sandhill Crane, which are now seriously endangered . As it was discussed above hydropower plants do not typically serve a main contributor of the greenhouse effect. However, it should be mentioned that sometimes reservoirs of hydropower plants particularly in tropical regions may be a source of methane and carbon dioxide emission. This happens because of the decay of the plant material, which involves the creation of methane, one of the main producers of the greenhouse effect. A research conducted by the World Commission on Dams, showed that in cases when the reservoir is large in comparison with the generating capacity of the plant and when there was no prior clearing of the forests, methane emission may be even higher than that of the oil-fired thermal generation plant . However, it should be mentioned that this is true only for the tropical climate. In moderate climate conditions of Canada and Northern Europe the emission of greenhouse gas is not essential and typically constitutes not more than 2 to 8 % of emissions of conventional thermal generation. Numerous contemporary researches focus on the mitigation of the forest decay effect through underwater logging operation . One more disadvantage of hydropower plants operating on large dams is associated with the relocation of the population living on the areas, where the reservoirs are constructed. Although for the most part people get compensation for this forceful relocation, no one can actually estimate spiritual and moral damage caused to the people, who have to leave the places, where their ancestors lived. In extreme cases unwise planning may lead to the loss of the valuable cultural and historic sites as this happened during the construction of the Three Gorges Dam in China, the Clyde Dam in New Zealand and the Il? su Dam in Southeastern Turkey . Finally, I’d like to discuss one of the most serious potential threats of the hydropower plants operating on large dams. Although quite rare, dam failures can be considered very dangerous and can be compared with the natural disasters. Let us only take a look at the case of the Banqiao Dam failure in China, with caused the death of 171,000 people. Millions of people became homeless. Large dams can be viewed as a weak point in war times as they quite often become a target of enemy bombardment, sabotage and terrorist actions . Besides it should be mentioned that construction of the dam should be carefully considered from the geological point of view. Otherwise it can possibly lead to such disasters as the one happened in case of the Vajont Dam in Italy in 1963, which lead to deaths of 2000 people . Hydroelectric power is one of the oldest and one of the most popular sources of energy, which is considered to have a great future. This is partially due to the fact that it is viewed as a source of renewable energy and it is very valuable in the places with an adequate water source. The main advantage of the hydropower plants is that they give relatively cheap electricity without any visible threat to environment such as waste byproducts and air emissions. Furthermore, hydropower plants are considered as an alternative to other electric plans due to the fact that its product – water – is not consumed in the process of electricity production and is subjected to reuse, which is not possible in many other electricity production processes such as ones using for example fossil fuels . On the other side hydropower has not only positive sides. Among its disadvantages many researchers list negative impact of the hydropower plants on the surrounding area. Hydropower plants operate on the reservoir, which are quite often artificially-made by flooding valleys. Quite often this process involves flooding of places, which used to have towns, farmland or places of interests. Besides, new reservoirs tend to destroy the natural habitats of aquatic life and fish places . But on the other side the same reservoirs create the new conditions, which can be a new habitat for a new aquatic life. Other possible threat is that hydropower operations using run-of-the-river dams are sure to impede the natural process if fish mitigation. This is particularly dangerous to salmon. One of the possible examples of this is problems of Pacific salmon mitigation created by the numerous large dams in the Columbia River Basin . Because of all this concerns the United States do not make emphasis on the hydropower as its main source of electricity production even due to the fact that its natural resources are quite favorable for its development. Thus, we can see that only some 2,400 of the 80,000 dams in the country are used for production of hydroelectric power. Authorities claim that construction of a new hydroelectric power plant is quit costly, but the main fact is that such construction needs much water and land, which could be used for other purposes . Besides, development of the hydropower plants in the USA is impeded by the raising environmental concerns of the public. However, this doesn’t mean that the USA will completely refuse to use hydropower as the possible source of energy. Among the possible future trends, named by the U. S. Geological Survey is the development of the small-scale hydropower plants, which can be used by single communities to generate electricity . 1. 5. Hydropower in comparison with other methods of power generation In order to realize the strengths and weaknesses of the hydropower it is very valuable to compare it with other methods of power generation. As compared with fossil-fuel generated power plants, hydroelectricity eliminates the flue gas emissions. These emissions include such environmental dangerous components as dust, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide and mercury . In comparison with the nuclear power plants, hydroelectric plants are not that powerful. However, they do not present such danger to people and do not serve the source of the nuclear waste. Besides, hydroelectric plants produce electric power with the help of water, which is a renewable energy source, in contrast with uranium . Hydroelectric power plans are also seem an advantage if compared with wind farms. This is mainly due to the fact that they are more reliable and predictable. Wind is a natural factor, which can be subjected to changes, while hydropower plants with a storage reservoir are completely reliable and able to generate power when needed even in case of low water level and rainfalls. Besides, unlike wind farms hydroelectric plants are more easily operated and regulated corresponding to changes in power demand . On the other hand hydropower plants have also some disadvantages if compared with other ways of power production. Thus, we can see that construction of fossil-fueled combustion turbines does not require any specific preliminary studies, while in order to construct an environmentally-friendly hydroelectric plant researchers should carefully conduct site, hydrological studies, and environmental and social impact assessment. In the majority of cases these studies require deep analysis of data up to 50 years old . One more disadvantage of the hydropower plants is their dependence on the level of water. Thus, in case of low rainfall or snowmelt generation of hydroelectricity can be significantly lower. However, as it was mentioned before there exist numerous ways to ensure sufficient power production even in low water years . 1. 6. Hydroelectric power production in the world In order to realize the capacity and the potential of hydroelectric power plants, let’s compare the data of the following table, representing the characteristics of hydroelectric power production in the countries with the most hydro-electric capacity. Country Annual Hydroelectric Energy Production(TWh) Installed Capacity (GW) Load Factor Peoples Republic of China [8] 416. 7 128. 57 0. 37 Canada 350. 3 68. 974 0. 59 Brazil 349. 9 69. 080 0. 56 USA 291. 2 79. 511 0. 42 Russia 157. 1 45. 000 0. 42 Norway 119. 8 27. 528 0. 49 India 112. 4 33. 600 0. 43 Japan 95. 0 27. 229 0. 37 Sweden 61. 8 France 61. 5 25. 335 0. 25 Sources: BP Annual Report, 2006.

Reality in Fenimore Coopers The Pioneers :: Cooper Pioneers Essays

Reality in Fenimore Cooper's The Pioneers Looking back on the mountain-view that was described as the main character's of Fenimore Cooper's The Pioneers caught sight of Templeton, their hometown, in the distance, Elizabeth, the primary female character, "felt as if all the loveliness of the mountain-view had vanished like the fancies of a dream" (59). While it may be true that during the moments that Elizabeth looked down on the scene, the scene was her reality, this reality was not an accurate portrayal of the town itself†¹the point of Elizabeth's comment. For both Elizabeth and the reader (through Cooper) in the mountain-view the reality of objects was forgotten because no detail was available from the distance at which the party stood. Once the reality was forgotten each of the objects took on qualities not implicit in the object itself. That is, the objects and the scene were idealized. Both Cooper and Elizabeth, then, seemed to take part in the "action of inventing imaginary states of things," the Oxford English D ictionary's definition for fiction. The most significant precursor to this fictive account is the change in scale of that occurs. Before the description of the mountain-view commenced Cooper tells of the horses pulling the parties sleigh: "The horses soon reached a point, where they seemed to know by instinct that the journey was nearly ended, and, bearing in the bits, as they nodded their heads, they rapidly drew the sleigh over the level land." The details of the horses movements explain the senses of the riders and the reality of the situation. Sleighs viewed during the description of the mountain-view, however, are no more than "a few dark and moving spots." This change in scale obscures all details in the objects being observed. A moment later the "habitations of man" are also called "spots of white . . . amidst the forest." Even when closer scrutiny is given to less distant "habitations," only the color is mentioned. In this scene few details of the objects that comprise the scene are given, instead the objects t hemselves are the details. There is nothing in this lack of details that is fictional, or inventive in itself. But once the details are gone Cooper is not tied down by actual elements of the objects when giving them further meaning. Cooper's primary method of ascribing further meaning to the objects is through anthropomorphism. A tree

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Five

The sun was way too bright. Bonnie shielded her eyes with one hand and glanced anxiously around as she walked across the quad toward the bookstore. It had taken her a long time to fal asleep after getting back to their room the night before. What if some crazy person was stalking the campus? It's broad daylight, she told herself. There are people everywhere. I have nothing to be afraid of. But bad things could happen during the day, too. Girls got lured into cars by horrible men, or hit over the head and taken to dark places. Monsters didn't just lurk in the night. After al , she knew several vampires who strol ed around during the day al the time. Damon and Stefan didn't scare her, not anymore, but there were other daytime monsters. I just want to feel safe for once, she thought wistful y. She was coming up on the area the police had been searching the night before, stil blocked off with yel ow tape. Students were standing nearby in groups of two or three, talking in low voices. Bonnie spied a reddish-brown stain across the path that she thought might be blood, and she walked faster as she passed it. There was a rustling in the bushes. Bonnie sped up even more, picturing a wild-eyed attacker hiding in the undergrowth, and glanced around nervously. No one was looking in her direction. Would they help her if she screamed? She risked another look back at the bush – should she just take off running? – and stopped, embarrassed by the furious thumping of her heart. A cute little squirrel hopped hesitantly from under the branches. It sniffed the air, then dashed across the path and up a tree behind the police tape. â€Å"Honestly, Bonnie McCul ough, you're a moron,† Bonnie muttered to herself. A guy passing her in the other direction overheard her and snickered, making Bonnie blush furiously. By the time she got to the bookstore, she'd gotten her blushing under control. Having the typical redhead's complexion was a pain – everything she felt was broadcast by the flush or paleness of her skin. With any luck, though, she'd be able to handle a simple trip to buy books without humiliating herself. Bonnie had started getting acquainted with the bookstore when she'd had her shopping spree yesterday, but she hadn't real y investigated the book side of the store. Today, though, she had the book list for the classes she'd registered for, and she needed to stock up for some serious studying. She'd never been a huge fan of school, but maybe col ege would be different. With a resolute squaring of her shoulders, she turned determinedly away from the shiny stuff and toward the textbooks. The book lists were awful y long, though. She found the fat Intro to Psychology textbook with a sense of satisfaction: this would definitely give her the terminology to diagnose her friends. The freshman English seminar she was assigned to covered a slew of novels, so she wandered through the fiction section, pul ing The Red and the Black, Oliver Twist, and The Age of Innocence off the shelves as she passed. She rounded a corner in search of the rest of the Ws, intent on adding To the Lighthouse to her growing stack of books, and froze. Zander. Beautiful, beautiful Zander was draped graceful y next to a bookshelf, his white-blond head bent over a book. He hadn't seen her yet, so Bonnie immediately ducked back into the previous aisle. She leaned against the wal , breathing hard. She could feel her cheeks heating up again, that awful tel tale blush. Careful y, she peeked back around the corner. He hadn't noticed her; he was stil reading intently. He was wearing a gray T-shirt today, and his soft-looking hair curled a bit at the nape of his neck. His face looked sort of sad with those gorgeous blue eyes hidden beneath his long lashes and no sign of that fabulous smile. There were dark shadows under his eyes. Bonnie's first instinct was to sneak away. She could wait and find the Virginia Woolf book tomorrow; it wasn't like she was going to read it today. She real y didn't want Zander to think she was stalking him. It would be better if he saw her somewhere, when she wasn't paying attention. If he approached her, she'd know he was interested. After al , maybe he wasn't interested in Bonnie. He'd been kind of flirtatious when he'd run into her, but he'd nearly knocked her down. What if he was just being friendly? What if he didn't even remember Bonnie? Nope, better to take off this time and wait til she was better prepared. She wasn't even wearing eyeliner, for heaven's sake. Making up her mind, Bonnie turned firmly away. But, on the other hand†¦ Bonnie hesitated. There'd been a connection between them, hadn't there? She'd felt something when her eyes met his. And he'd smiled at her like he was real y seeing her, past the fluff and fluster. And what about the resolution she'd made the day before, walking to her dorm from this very same bookstore? If she was going to become a terrific, confident, stepping-out-of-the-shadows kind of person, she couldn't run away every time she saw a boy she liked. Bonnie had always admired the way that Elena managed to get what she wanted. Elena just went after it and nothing got in her way. When Stefan had first come to Fel ‘s Church, he hadn't wanted anything to do with Elena, certainly not to fal into her arms and start some kind of amazing eternal romance. But Elena hadn't cared. She was going to have Stefan, even if it kil ed her. And, Well, it had kil ed her, hadn't it? Bonnie shivered. Bonnie shook her head a little. The point was, if you wanted to find love, you couldn't be afraid of trying, could you? She stuck her chin determinedly into the air. At least she wasn't blushing anymore. Her cheeks were so cold, she was probably as white as a snowwoman, but she definitely wasn't blushing. So that was something. Before she could change her mind again, she walked quickly around the corner back into the aisle where Zander stood reading. â€Å"Hi!† she said, her voice squeaking a tiny bit. â€Å"Zander!† He looked up, and that amazing, beautiful smile spread across his face. â€Å"Bonnie!† he said enthusiastical y. â€Å"Hey, I'm real y glad to see you. I was thinking about you earlier.† â€Å"You were?† Bonnie asked, and immediately wanted to kick herself at how overly enthusiastic she sounded. â€Å"Yeah,† he said softly. â€Å"I was.† His sky-blue eyes held hers. â€Å"I was wishing I'd gotten your phone number.† â€Å"You were?† Bonnie asked again, and this time didn't even worry about how she sounded. â€Å"Sure,† he said. He scuffed his feet against the carpet, like he was a little nervous, and a warmth blossomed inside Bonnie. He was nervous talking to her! â€Å"I was thinking,† Zander went on, â€Å"maybe we could do something sometime. I mean, if you wanted to.† â€Å"Oh,† Bonnie said. â€Å"I mean, yes! I would want to. If you did.† Zander smiled again, and it was as if their little corner of the fiction section was lit up with a glowing light. Bonnie had to keep herself from staggering backward, he was so gorgeous. â€Å"How about this weekend?† Zander asked, and Bonnie, feeling suddenly as light and buoyant as though she could float up into the air, smiled back. Meredith stepped her left foot behind her and raised her right heel, moving into a back stance as she brought her hands up sharply, fists together, in a blocking move. Then she slid her foot sideways into a front stance and punched forward with the fist of her left hand. She loved running through a taekwondo form. Each movement was choreographed, and the only thing to do was to practice over and over until the whole form flowed in a model of precision, grace, and control. Taekwondo forms were perfectible, and Meredith enjoyed perfection. The most glorious thing about them was that once she knew her forms so Wellthat they were as natural as breathing, she could be ready for anything. In a fight, she would be able to sense what her opponent's next move would be and counter with a block or a kick or a punch without even thinking. She turned swiftly, blocked high with her right hand and low with her left. It was the preparation, Meredith knew. If she was so prepared that her body could sense what move she needed to make without her brain having to get involved, then she would be able to truly protect herself and everyone else around her. A few weeks ago, when she and her friends had been under attack from the phantom and she'd sprained her ankle, only Stefan had been left with Power enough to defend Fel ‘s Church. Stefan, a vampire. Meredith's lips tightened as she automatical y kicked forward with her right foot, slid into a tiger stance, and blocked with her left hand. She liked Stefan, and she trusted him, she real y did, but stil †¦ She could picture generation upon generation of Sulezes rol ing over in their graves, cursing her, if they knew that she had left herself and her friends so vulnerable, with only a vampire between themselves and danger. Vampires were the enemy. Not Stefan, of course. She knew, despite al her training, that she could put her faith in Stefan. Damon, on the other hand†¦ However useful Damon had been in a couple of battles, however reasonably pleasant and, frankly, out-of-character he had behaved for the last few weeks, Meredith couldn't bring herself to trust him. But if she trained hard, if she perfected herself as a warrior, Meredith wouldn't have to. She moved into a right front stance and, sharp and clean, punched forward with her right hand. â€Å"Nice punch,† said a voice behind her. Meredith turned to see a short-haired African American girl leaning against the door of the practice room, watching her. â€Å"Thanks,† said Meredith, surprised. The girl strol ed into the room. â€Å"What are you,† she asked, â€Å"a black belt?† â€Å"Yes,† Meredith said, and couldn't help adding proudly, â€Å"in taekwondo and karate.† â€Å"Hmm,† the girl said, her eyes sparkling. â€Å"I do taekwondo and aikido myself. My name's Samantha. I've been looking for a sparring partner. Interested?† Despite the casualness of her tone, Samantha was bouncing eagerly on the bal s of her feet, a mischievous smile flickering at the corners of her mouth, and Meredith's eyes narrowed. â€Å"Sure,† she said, her attitude light. â€Å"Show me what you've got.† Samantha's smile broadened. She kicked off her shoes and stepped onto the practice mat next to Meredith. They faced off, assessing each other. She was a head shorter than Meredith, thin, but wiry and sleekly muscled, and she moved as graceful y as a cat. The anticipation in the girl's eyes betrayed Samantha's belief that Meredith would be easy to beat. She was thinking that Meredith was one of those trainees who was al form and technique with no real fighting instinct. Meredith knew that kind of fighter Well, had met them often enough in competitions. If that was what Samantha thought of Meredith, she was in for a surprise. â€Å"Ready?† Samantha asked. At Meredith's nod, she immediately launched a punch while bringing the opposite-side foot around in an attempt to sweep Meredith off her feet. Meredith reacted instinctively, blocking the blow, dodging the foot, then sweeping a kick of her own, which Samantha avoided, grinning with simple pleasure. They exchanged a few more blows and kicks, and, against her wil , Meredith was impressed. This girl was fast, faster than most of the fighters Meredith had faced before, even at the black-belt level, and much stronger than she looked. She was too cocky, though, an aggressive fighter instead of a defensive one; the way she'd hurried to strike the first blow showed that. Meredith could use that cockiness against her. Samantha shifted her weight, and Meredith slid in below her defenses, giving a fast spin heel kick that hit Samantha firmly on the upper thigh. She staggered a bit, and Meredith moved out of range quickly. Samantha's face changed immediately. She was getting angry now, Meredith could tel , and that, too, was a weakness. She was frowning, her lips tight, while Meredith kept her own face purposeful y blank. Samantha's fists and feet were moving quickly, but she lost some accuracy as she sped up. Meredith pretended to fal back under the assault, feinting to keep her opponent off-balance, al owing herself to be backed toward a corner while stil blocking Samantha's blows. When she was almost cornered, she jammed her arm against Samantha's fist, stopping her before she could ful y extend her blow, and swept a foot under hers. Samantha tripped, caught by Meredith's low kick, and fel heavily to the mat. She lay there and just stared up at Meredith for a moment, face stunned, while Meredith hovered over her, suddenly uncertain. Had she hurt Samantha? Was the girl going to be angry and storm off? Then Samantha's face blossomed into a wide, glowing smile. â€Å"That was awesome!† she said. â€Å"Can you show me that move?†