Research Methods - Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Research Methods - Critique - Essay Example A critique of the research proves that the study is well directed so as to arrive at the hypothesis and thus contains remarkable strength needed for an authoritative study. However, certain oddities and speculation in the way towards the findings point to specific weaknesses of the research in methods and approaches used. The empirical study is based on a well-defined theoretical framework and its finding that approves the merit of the hypothesis. The loose ends of the study result mainly derive from the inadequacy of the relevant data in general, and that of the Netherlands in particular, where sociological factors limit the findings of the study. The speculative nature of the finding towards the end of the study constrains the appeal of the empirical result. There is a great relevance to this type of research and the objectives of the study prove this point. The research contributes to the study of complementarities among HR dimensions and the selection of Ireland and the Netherlands for data collection, where no such studies are conducted, also proves to be its strength. The introduction states the hypothesis clearly and illustrates the significance of the study. The hypothesis is logically presented, leading to the empirical analysis of the study. As the authors of Research Paper Handbook instruct the researcher, â€Å"Your thesis will show the special nature of your paper.† (Lester Jr & Lester Sr 2005). The paper clearly establishes the thesis that â€Å"the high performance HR management system is the most effective form of the HR management in enhancing the performance of the employees,† with the research method used. It also succeeds in emphasizing that â€Å"this superior effectiveness in part is derived from a com plementarities among the five HR dimensions.† (Horgan & Muhlau 2006). The clarification added for the ineffectiveness of the theory in the Netherlands almost satisfies the finding of the study. The authors provide relevant reasons

Evaluating Effectiveness of Performance Management System

Evaluating Effectiveness of Performance Management System INTRODUCTION Performance management can be explained as the measures or systems put in place to ensure that the organization and all its subsystems i.e. departments, processes, teams, employees, etc. are working together in an optimum way towards achieving their goals and the results desired by the organization (Jackson, 1999:143). This field can be broken down into two components; one looks at the performance of a company as a whole evaluating the effectiveness of top management in reaching company goals while the other is a system of evaluating employees to help them reach goals that help them develop and ensure the company performs better. This paper will look at the later type of performance management. Performance management of individual employees involves setting of goals, planning work, giving feedbacks and reviews, providing opportunities for improvement and appraisal systems for well performing employees (Scullen, Bergey. Smith, 2005:28). This paper will focus on the case study, Perfor mance management at Network Solutions Inc. to give an informed review of performance management systems and their effectiveness. This will be achieved by providing detailed responses to four critical thinking questions emanating from the case study. It will begin by giving a review of the case study and proceed to evaluate the questions presented. REVIEW OF THE CASE STUDY The necessity of performance management system Network Solutions Inc. had been using more that 50 different systems of performance measurement in the company. Despite this huge number of systems, it was found that many employees did not receive a review, fewer than 5% of all employees received the lowest category of rating, and there was no recognition program in place to reward high achievers (Aguinis, 2009: 19). There was clear indication that the employee performance management systems that were coming at a high cost were ineffective in addressing the required issues. Being in the business of computer hardware and software, the company found that quality initiatives were driving change in a wide area of the company. It was therefore decided that such quality initiatives could be applied to improve people quality. Further, it was seen that linking each employees goal to the organizational goals would greatly help the company in achieving its objectives (Aguinis, 2009: 21). How the system works Due to the above mentioned needs, the company decided to adopt a forced distribution management system in which each employee would be classified into a category depending on comparative performance e.g. a rating of 1 to the top 20% of performers; a rating of 2 to the middle 70% of performers; and a rating of 3 to the bottom 10% of performers (Aguinis, 2009: 24). This system would be implemented by a global cross-divisional Human Resource team. Their plan was to begin by showing that business goals would be easily met by carrying down organizational strategy to team contributions which are translated to individual goals. This system would raise the bar on the companys performance management by focusing on the development of all employees. This would result into raised performance for all employees, talent identification and retention, and improvement of performance expectations for all employees. Company support To effectively manage this system, the team sought support from the companies top managers who were required to remain committed to the plan. They were required to stop using any other system of performance management and ensure that top leaders understood and accepted it. They were required to engage employees in talent management training in line with the new system. The result of the plan is a performance management system that revolves around a joint year round responsibility of employees and managers developing the planning phase of the system (Aguinis, 2009: 21). Managers schedule meetings which are prepared and finalized by the employees. Lowly rated employees are given time for performance improvement after which depending on their performance they could leave the company or continue with the plan. Average and best performers are given appraisals in form of salary increases, stock options and bonuses depending on the level of performance. The next part will use four questions to evaluate how the system at Network Solutions. compares with the ideal performance management system and give an assessment of its advantages, disadvantages and expected outcomes. OVERLAP BETWEEN NETWORK SOLUTIONS SYSTEM AND AN IDEAL SYSTEM Question 1: Overall, what is the overlap between Network Solutions system and an ideal system? To answer this question, this section will look at the extent to which the performance management system at Network Solutions corresponds with the ideal system. It will look at the process that it follows in terms of phases. Phase 1 Â ­- Performance planning. This is the stage where managers in the firm meet with the employees for discussion on the planning of the performance appraisal process. They define the behaviours and competencies expected of the employees and there is statement on what the person will achieve in the next twelve months. These goals are closely linked to the individuals development plans. As such, the manager automatically earns the right to hold the employees accountable at the end of the year (Simmons, 2002:86). Network Solutions have exhibited this phase by calling on all the senior managers to implement such measures. Phase 2 Employee Performance Execution This is the phase where employees display the actual performance that is subject to evaluation at the end of the year (Winstanley Stuart-Smith, 1996:66). Network Solutions displays this phase which is in accordance to the ideal system where there is a performance period of one year. In this period there are regular meetings to assess progress like they do at the company. The meetings are planned by the managers in conjunction with the employers who carry out the actual execution of the developments. In the meetings there is seeking of guidance and feedback in various issues (Rector Kleiner, 2002: 43). Phase 3 Employee Performance Assessment Senior managers assess how the employees in their departments have undertaken their duties and how much of their objectives they have fulfilled. They fill the various forms and paperwork intended for these purpose and forward them to the relevant team in readiness for individual appraisals based on performance (Molleman Timmerman, 2003: 95). At Network Solutions, the assessment is comparative with the rating being based on the performance level, e.g. a rating of 1 for the top 20% of performers, 2 for the middle 70% and 3 for the bottom 10% Phase 4 Employee Performance Review In this stage, the employee performers appraisal form that was prepared by the manager is reviewed together with the individuals self appraisal (Lawler McDermott, 2003:56). There is an honest assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, successes and areas needing improvement in the past twelve months. It is at this stage that the course of action to be taken in the next year is decided. In the case of Network Solutions, a low performer would consult with the managers to decide on the modalities of the performance improvement plan. From this assessment, it is clear that the performance management system at network Solutions overlap with the ideal system as has been demonstrated in the timeline approach taken. FEATURES IN THE SYSTEM Question 2: What are the features of the system implemented at Network Solutions that correspond to what was described in the chapter as ideal characteristics? Which of the ideal characteristics are missing? For which of the ideal characteristics do we need additional information to evaluate whether they are part of the system at Network Solutions? To supply an answer to this question, the paper will identify the aspects that are characteristic of the ideal performance system and for each identify if it is present or lacking in the Network Solutions system. Standardization: The ideal performance management system requires that the aspects of performance measured are uniform and there is a constant level of strictness (Scullen, Bergey and Smith, 2005: 27). This is meant to ensure that employees do not lack faith in their mangers and the system that might result from variations. The system at Network Solutions exhibits this aspect when the team ensures that the managers drop the previous systems and they offer training so that they can understand and apply it uniformly. Validity and conciseness: this means that the performance management system only measures what is valid at hand. The evaluation criterion therefore makes sure that employees are evaluated only in issue that regard their line of work (DeCenzo and Robbins, 2010: 214). In this case, the team of performance managers ensures that this is done by asking senior leaders to tailor new programmes applicable in their divisions. Hence the evaluation procedure in say the HR department is not the same as that in a technical field. Due process: this means that there are set guidelines that determine how measures are taken after the evaluation. In the case of network solutions, employees who are lowly rated are a given a specified time period to improve their performance (Fisher, 1995:55). If they do not improve, they can choose to leave the company with a severance package or take up a performance improvement plan. If this does not improve their performance they leave without a severance package. There is also set guidelines that dictate the appraisal of good performers with high salary increases, stock options and bonuses. ANTICIPATED RESULTS FROM IMPLIMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM Question 3: Based on the description of the system at Network Solutions, what do you anticipate will be some advantages and positive outcomes resulting from the implementation of the system? The real value purpose of employee performance appraisal in the organization is not only to transform the management of employee performance from an annual event to an ongoing cycle but also to harmonize the organizational goals with those of member employees (Cardy, 2004:128). The performance management system that the company adopts is fully geared to achieve this end. The systems will therefore yield immense advantages and positive outcomes. These will include the following: Goal setting: the system helps employees understand the link between their responsibilities and the overall objectives of the organization. The habit of goal setting is inculcated in both the managers and employees. This results into greater efficiency and provides a good tool of analysis (Luecke Hall, 2005:100). Communication: the system that the company adopts will encourage good communication between managers and employees. The communication about work performance creates a sense of security for the employees and helps the company in retention efforts. It provides ample time for all employees to learn and grow throughout the year. This fosters an organizational culture (). Motivation: the appraisal system acts as tool of motivation since employee rewards are tied directly to performance. This enhances the companys productivity and efficiency. Employees who know that their presence and contribution is valued may feel more committed to the job and the organization as a whole (Pulakos, 2009: 212). POSSIBLE DISADVANTAGES AND NEGATIVE OUTCOMES Question 4: Based on the description of the system at Network Solutions, what doe you anticipate will be some disadvantages and negative outcomes resulting from the implementation of the system? The following are the possible disadvantages associated with this system of management performance: Risk of Internal Competition: this system might encourage employees to compete with each other for job status, position and pay (Molleman Timmerman, 2003: 101). Teams might be broken down by backstabbing and misleading employee communication due to strong rivalry which would result to dysfunction and underperformance within the team. Expenses and time: this system requires that employees are given rigorous training to equip employees with skills as required by the plan. This requires the use of extra resources and time in the extensive training, retraining and career development workshop for every division and employee division (Scullen, Bergey and Smith, 2005: 34) Favoritism: due to the rating of employees, there emerges individuals who are viewed as key and they are increasingly entrusted with new job roles and duties as team leaders. This creates dissent and distrust among the team members which might adversely affect the morale and satisfaction ((Luecke Hall, 2005:108).

The Fate of Women in The Birthmark Essay -- Birthmark Essays

The Fate of Women in â€Å"The Birthmark†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Wilson Sullivan in â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne† in New England Men of Letters states that Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tale, â€Å"The Birthmark,† depicts the efforts â€Å"of a deranged scientist to obtain total perfection† in   his wife by removal of a facial blemish. In this story the scientist operates on the superficial level of the physical world, while the woman, the truly heroic woman, functions on the level of the heart and soul, the more significant level. She it is who in her virtue provides for the reader an example to live by, even though she loses her life in the process. This essay hopes to explore the status, role, attitude toward women and other such issues.    Alfred Kazin in the Introduction to Selected Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne comments regarding the central idea in the author’s short stories: â€Å"In story after story the given element, the central and unifying element, is what moves and stirs within us, the mysterious springs of our every action, our â€Å"soul†(Kazin 14). The secret to understanding the role and concept of women in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s tale, â€Å"The Birthmark† lies in the reader’s appreciation of Kazin’s statement above. The woman who sets a shining example for the reader is a specialist in soul development, whereas her counterpart, the male scientist, is a scientist of the physical world only. Another literary critic, in â€Å"Hawthorne’s Use of Mythology,† relates his similar interpretation of the essence of Hawthorne’s stories: â€Å"Everything he has to say is related, finally, to ‘that inward sphere.’ For the heart is the meeting-place of all the forces – spiritual and physical, light and dark, that compete for dominance in man’s nature. . . .† (McPherson ... ...horne – A Collection of Critical Essays, edited by A.N. Kaul. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966.    McPherson, Hugo. â€Å"Hawthorne’s Use of Mythology.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.    Stewart, Randall. â€Å"Hawthorne’s Female Characters.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.    Sullivan, Wilson. â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne.† In New England Men of Letters. New York: Macmillan Co., 1972.    Swisher, Clarice. â€Å"Nathaniel Hawthorne: a Biography.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.    Williams, Stanley T. â€Å"Hawthorne’s Puritan Mind.† In Readings on Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited by Clarice Swisher. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press, 1996.   

Education on health promotion Essay

The dissertation topic of this paper is â€Å"education on health promotion† and problem statement of this dissertation is â€Å"During an 18 month period, the researcher will design, implement and evaluate an HIV/AIDS health promotion program for inpatients in a non- profit hospital located in Los Angeles California. † The literature that has been used in the literature review is related to the topic in aspects of looking at how the health of patients can be promoted. This literature review provides the reader with an overview of the education on health promotion that is related with HIV/AIDS patients (http://library. ucsc. edu). The materials used are all relevant to the topic of discussion in the dissertation. A literature review is supposed to provide the reader with an overview of the research topic as expounded in the literature that has been used. In it, the researcher critically looks at how the authors have presented their information. The reliability and validity of the literature is analyzed and confirmed with the sources cited. Furthermore, in it the objectivity of the researcher is put under scrutiny and the various aspects of the information are evaluated. The ability of the author to persuade the reader on the theses they are talking about is also analyzed. How the literature contributes to the research topic at is also questioned and thus the value of the information is established. A literature review may either be the final product or be part of a research (http://www. isc. edu). In the body and conclusion of the literature review the writer will need to provide as summary of the studies that are found within the literature. Usually only the major contributions towards the research topic are discussed in the literature review. The much that one explains in the review is determined by the space and time available for the literature review. The problems identified in the research conducted by the authors of the literature are also noted during the literature review. Literature review Many scholars are in agreement that there is an urgent and necessary need for a research on the impact of education on health promotion. In regards to the problem statement posed for this topic which is â€Å"During an 18 month period the researcher will design implement and evaluate an HIV/AIDS health promotion program for in patients in a non profit hospital located in los Angeles California†, the literature that has been reviewed dwells specifically on cases that are related to HIV/AIDS. Le Blanc (1993) tries to understand to what extent the Americans know about HIV/AIDS. He tries to understand what sort of information they are familiar with, whether it is about how one can be infected or it is about how to manage the problem once it has been established that one has contracted the disease There has been growing concern of why the spread of HIV/AIDS is still high. The statistics show that the rate of infection is still high yet has been so much advancement made in recognizing how to avoid contracting it. The research is aimed at establishing why this is so and this is to be done in a non-profit making hospital so as to establish which other causes other than money are involved in the lack of protection from contracting the HIV virus. An alarmingly huge percentage of those who are infected do not even know it and may thus spread the virus unknowingly (Brandon W. R. 1999). Despite there being many ways of aiding those who are infected, if one does not know their positive sero-status there is no way that they can benefit from all the research that has been taking place. It has been identified that specific groups of people in the society do not benefit from the researches done because they are sidelined when it comes to obtaining information on the prevention and management of the ailment. Economic hardships experienced by both health workers and those in need of the information limits their ability to get this information (Grusky O. , Liu H. & Johnson M. 2002). This is because none is able to obtain the literature required to keep up to date with what is happening in the world of research. If the health care providers do not have the information then it is hard for the local layman to have more information than they have. Once a person is infected it is also difficult for them to access quality medical care if one does not have money to take care of this. The other people who are even denied medical care are the homosexuals. (Baumgartner T. C Jnr 1998). When it was first discovered, it was assumed to be a disease for the homosexuals and it was supposed to be a punishment for their ‘un-natural’ sexual tastes’. They were therefore stigmatized and up to date they are treated differently by some of the staff in the medical care centers. By ignoring the effects that their attitudes have on the psychology of these patients makes them unwilling to go to these centers to obtain medical care. There is therefore a need to look in to the emotional health of these people. There is also need to modify the medical curriculum so that it may accommodate the minorities in the teachings. This is because if has been noted that these people are not mentioned in the curriculum. It has also been established that the number of young people who are infected is very high and thus the need to introduce policies that will work to help these students live a normal life in school despite their positive serostatus (Committee on Pediatric AIDS 2000). These children have been seen as having the same cognitive ability as those who have tested negative for the virus and therefore should be allowed to attain as high an education as they can manage before the ravages of the disease catches up with them. In the United States, there have been laws and policies passed that protect the rights of such students. There are also outlines of how the school personnel should handle the students who are both affected and infected by the virus. The authors note various ways in which the HIV virus is transmitted and these include unsafe sexual practices, intravenous drug use and also being transmitted to the unborn child by the mother. The best place to provide health related education to young people is in the schools because that is where most young people are to be found everyday (Kolbe L. J. , Talley R. C. & Short R. J. 1999). By using schools to reach out to young people, the health service providers will be able to reach more youths especially those with inadequate resources and thus improve their health. Once the health issues of the youths have been addressed then it is easier for the students to perform much better in their academic pursuit. WHO describes health promotion as being the process that enables the people be able to increase their control over their health and thus be able to improve it. For the people to be able to lead wholesome lives, they have to be well psychologically emotionally and physically (WHO Europe 1986). There is therefore need for the incorporation of psychology treatment in the promotion of health (Leviton L. C 1996). Psychology seems to be aimed at temporally strategies while the public health infrastructure dwells more on long-term strategies. This then means that neither can work in the absence of the other and so they have to be coordinated for them to achieve optimum ability to promote health. It is very important that the ideological part of health promotion and practical part are all combined to bring about a wholesome outlook of the health promotion. (Davies J. K. & MacDonald G. 1998). This is where the ideas developed in psychology are put into practice through the public health infrastructure. There are questions raised on the effect of education relating to sexuality of the youths. There is a debate that it may cause early exploration of the youth about sex (http://www. seicus. org). However those who want it introduced and implemented in schools insist that it is important for it to be used in schools because it helps the youth have more information on sexual issues. Youths are already involved in sexual intercourse and it would be best for them to be educated on the safe practices that can be used to avoid unwanted pregnancies and infection by various STDS including HIV/AIDS infection. This will make them more aware of the various ways in which they can be able to protect themselves and thus promoting their own health. On top of this, there is a need for the academic personnel to be trained on how to deal with infected students. Not only are the teachers to learn how to deal with these students but also they go ahead to teach the rest of the students on how they should live with these students who are infected. The community in general has to be involved in the promotion of health promotion should always be the priority in the society and all the policies that are put in place should be aimed at improving their knowledge base concerning health. The various ways in which their health can be improved in terms of prevention and management should be adequately communicated to them through the various health providers found in the community. In doing this and further reducing the cost of attaining the health services the members of the community would be able to improve their ability to determine their health status and thus be more productive in the society.

Critical Analysis of Women Behind Bars Essay

More and more women-mothers, grandmothers, wives, daughters, and sisters are doing hard prison time all across the United States. Many of them are facing the prospect of years, decades, even lifetimes behind bars. Oddly, there’s been little public discussion about the dramatic increase of women in the prison system. What exactly is happening here, and why? This paper will be a critical analysis of the book, â€Å"Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System. This paper will Introduction Journalist Silja Talvi’s Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in The U.S Prison System is an overview of issues affecting incarcerated women. The goal of the book Women Behind Bars is to increase the awareness about the growing population of women prisoners. Women Behind Bars presents a number of important issues regarding women prisoners. Incarcerated women’s stories represent a distillation of the larger forces that affect free women like racism, sexism and economic pressure. For these reasons, Silja Talvi explains, â€Å"incarcerated women should not be forgotten, despite the stigma of their criminal convictions and their physical removal from the community† (Talvi, 2007). Additionally, though incarcerated women may be locked up, they should not be overlooked. Women Behind Bars succinctly illustrates some of the important connections involving the War on Drugs, racial disparity, medical neglect: physically and psychologically, and the high rate of substance abuse and physical and sexual abuse among incarcerated women. Silja Talvi’s aim is to â€Å"shed light on what has contributed to this historic phenomenon of the mass incarceration of women in the United States† (Talvi, 2007). This paper will give background on how Silja J.A. Talvi researched the increase of female incarceration. This paper will also give insight surrounding the problems of the women, who Silja J.A. Talvi interviewed, faced while incarcerated. Additionally, outside resources pertaining to the issue of women in prison will be mentioned throughout this paper. Finally, an informed opinion based on the collection of outside information and what  was learned from the book will be presented. Silja J.A. Talvi bases her account on interviews with women prisoners. Silja J.A. Talvi had in-person and phone interviews with roughly one hundred women prisoners over a two year span. She also received letters from approximately three hundred women behind bars. In addition, she interviewed more than a dozen women who has been releases form jail or prison. Silja J.A. Talvi stayed in regular contact with fifty women locked up in state and federal prisons in seventeen states. In addition, Silja Talvi visited he women’s county jails in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as the Seattle/King County detention facility for juveniles. Silja Talvi also spent a fair amount of time talking with and learning from low-income women on Seattle streets who were willing to talk about their encounters with law enforcement and incarceration. Internationally, Silja Talvi was also granted permission to visit three women’s prisons, including the European Union’s biggest women’s prison, Holloway, in London, England; the sole female prison on Hameenlinna, Finland; and a provincial Canadian prison in British Columbia. Silja Talvi focuses on these women because she believes â€Å"that incarcerated females are the most misunderstood population in the vast U.S. incarceration system† (Talvi, 2007). These accounts from the women interviewed will further the insight on the realities of female incarceration. Further on this topic of incarceration, the author, Silja J.A. Talvi has stated that the United States has more people in prison than any other nation. â€Å"By mid-2006, the total number of women and men in prison rose to over 2.24 million, representing a significant increase from earlier year† (Harrison & Beck, 2006). Relatively speaking, more than one thousand prisoners are added to the prison and jail system every single week (Harrison & Beck, 2006). Meanwhile, â€Å"the number of incarcerated adult women has jumped by a shocking 757% since 1977, at nearly twice the rate of male prisoners† (Harrison & Beck, 2006). â€Å"The number of women in prisons and jails has reached a milestone,† explains Kara Gotsch, director of advocacy for the Sentencing project in Washington, DC. One of the main reasons why women are being locked up at an alarming rate is a result of a policy of mass incarceration. â€Å"Mass incarceration is a rate of incarceration so high that it affects not only the individual offender, but also whole social groups.† (American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 2011) Pursuing further, another main reason of  the increase of incarceration of women are the sentencing policies brought about by the â€Å"war on drugs.† â€Å"At the Federal level, prisoners incarcerated on a drug charge comprise half of the prison population, while the number of drug offenders in state prisons has increased thirteen-fold since 1980. Most of these people are not high-level actors in the drug trade, and most have no prior criminal record for a violent offense.† (sentencingpolicy.org) According to an excerpt in the Journal of Criminology, women are more likely to serve time for drug-related offenses and are less likely to serve time for violent offenses. (Lalonde & Cho, 2008) In addition, with the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, women began to be arrested and charged with impunity, and were threatened increasingly with conspiracy charges if they didn’t snitch on their husbands, boyfriends, family member and acquaintances. Women were interrogated and threatened if they did not cooperate and these women would face serious repercussions. (Talvi, 2007) Many of the women that in state or federal prisons are first-time, non violent offenders sentenced on drug conspiracy charges. These women are serving far longer sentences than most first-time offender rapists, child molesters, or even murdered convicted of second degree murder or aggravated manslaughter. Furthermore, to a far greater degree than men, women come into the system with histories of sexual, physical abuse, domestic violence, rape, and mental illness. In this sense it is believed that our country is in crisis. Undoubtedly, because there are so many women locked up, there are a plethora of problems that incarcerated women face on a daily basis while in prison. Some of these problems include sexual assault and misconduct, medical neglect, deficient mental health treatment, and also discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation. Experiences of extreme violence and sexual abuse in women’s prisons are far worse and far too common than most American’s realize. In the United States, sexual assault by guards in women’s prisons is so notorious and widespread that it has been described as â€Å"an institutionalized component of punishment behind prison walls† (Davis, 1998). â€Å"Today it is estimated that at least 40% of guards in women’s prisons are men. In some female prisons, the majority of employees are men.† (Talvi, 2007) In these kinds of settings, there are violations of women’s privacy, as well as visual and verbal abuse by the male guards. Today, â€Å"one in four women reports having been sexually abused while being in  jail or prison† (Talvi, 2007). In addition to reports of violent restraint and punishment resulting in abrasions, cuts, bruises and even broken bones, women stated that they were subjected to humiliating strip searches and verbal harassment. Talvi explains that most of the women she interviewed in these prisons are in fear to even say anything about their abuse because of the likeliness to face the wrath of prison guards. The prison guards will cut visitation and phone privileges, take away prized possessions, and threaten these women and their families with bodily harm. On another note, According to Kim Shayo Buchanan, in an article called, â€Å"Beyond Modesty: Privacy in Prison and The Risk Of Sexual Abuse† basically explains, if women are being victimized by male guards in prison, it does them no harm to expose the problem by saying so. It is pointed out that black women are often discouraged from speaking out about sexual abuse because of concerns that, by speaking out about sexual harassment by black men, black women â€Å"will reinforce negative racial stereotypes about Blacks in general and about Black men in particular.† (Buchanan, 2005) Furthermore, ineffective formal procedures, legislation and reporting capacity within the United States prison system account for much of the ongoing sexual abuse of women. In several instances, guards who were disciplined for the abuse of women were reprimanded to the minimum degree. The frequency of sexual harassment and abuse in a prison environment is a constant reminder of how little power the women have over their lives once they are sentenced to do time. The sexually intrusive or abusive nature of these experiences in prison has a devastating impact on a women’s likelihood of achieving a healthy and successful reentry in society. When women leave jail or prison, with even more traumatic experiences heaped upon their life experiences, these women might endure low self-esteem issues, shame and rage. Within the book, Silja Talvi explains, â€Å"that these women who do re-enter into society, manifest any number of serious problems: continuing mental and/or physical illness the likelihood of an interruption of their treatment and medicines; loss of custody of their children; limited education or career opportunities; a lack of safe or stable housing; and the temptations to indulge in drug use or criminal activity.† If these factors are in place, it is believed that these women will find themselves back in the prison system intertwined in a vicious cycle. Secondly, a problem that is also plaguing women’s prisons is medical neglect and carelessness. While medical care for all prisoners is poor, the situation is far worse for women prisoners. Because prison health care systems were created for men, routine gynecological care, such as pap smears, breast exams and mammograms, is extremely rare in prisons. (Talvi, 2007) Care is frequently only administered once the situation becomes an emergency. In addition, women are denied essential medical resources and treatments, especially during times of pregnancy and/or chronic and degenerative diseases. There is also failure to refer seriously ill inmates for treatment and delays in treatment, cutbacks in budgets, lack of qualified personnel, inadequate supplies, and use of non-medical staff, charges for medical attention, inadequate reproductive health care, and lack of treatment for substance abuse. In the same sense, a factor that magnifies the severity of physical illnesses and disease is a nutrient poor, high fat diet. Fruits and vegetables are nearly non-existent in prisons. Relatively speaking, â€Å"the extensive overcrowding in some of these prisons lends itself to a concentration of mental and medical health problems that the prison system was never designed to handle† (Talvi, 2007). Thirdly, deficient mental health treatment is a serious issue when dealing with the incarceration of females. â€Å"48-88% of women inmates experienced sexual or physical abuse before coming to prison, and suffer post-traumatic stress disorder. Very few prison systems provide counseling. Women attempting to access mental health services are routinely given medication without opportunity to undergo psychotherapeutic treatment.† (Amnesty International, 2011) The overuse of jails and prisons to treat mental illness in society is problematic itself. Many of these women would be better served by intensive treatment programs and community based care rather than being thrown in prisons. The environment of prison can make an inmate’s mental health worse, not better. â€Å"Most prison systems lack treatment settings and programs for these prisoners. For instance, most state prisons, refused admittance to a psychiatric inpatient unit if inmates have a record of violent episodes† writes Kupers in Prison Madness. â€Å"they tend to wind up in super maximum confinement, where the harsh conditions and forced idleness worsen their mental disorders, followed by more disruptive behaviors on their part and  even longer terms in lockup.† (Kupers, 1999) A majority of the corrections employees are not trained in any extent in psychology or social work, and are most generally uneducated about the common symptoms of various psychiatric disorders and states of emotional distress. In these prisons that Talvi had visited she felt that there is high level of ignorance and outright hostility toward the mentally ill. The separation between mental health and disciplinary is lacking in many of the prisons. In a book called Prison Madness, Terry Kupers, an expert in psychiatric issues in prison criticizes this issue of mental illness treatment within prisons. â€Å"When behaviors on the part of mentally disordered prisoners-including suicide attempts, self-mutilation, rule breaking, and even some minor violent incidents-are secondary to their mental disorder, they should not be handled entirely as disciplinary infractions requiring punishment. Too often, disruptive acts are merely punished and the possibility that they reflect an imminent psychotic episode or a need for immediate psychiatric attention is never even considered.† (Kupers, 1999) In light of the issue surrounding the treatment of the mentally ill prisoners, suicide rates within in these prisons are at an increase. An investigator appointed by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton took a look into the mental healthcare in the state prison system, and to find out a reason behind the increase in suicides. It was found that prisoners in overcrowded and understaffed Administrative Segregation units are killing themselves in unprecedented numbers. Confining a suicidal inmate to their cell for twenty-four hours a day only enhances isolation and anti- therapeutic. (Talvi, 2007) In addition to insufficient substance abuse and mental health services, educational and vocational programs are also in short supply. Several studies (Pollock-Byrne, Morash, Haarr, and Rucker) found that female prisons offered fewer vocational and education program opportunities when compared to those offered in male institutions. Educational program opportunities could help successful integrate these incarcerated women back into the community. Lastly, discrimination based on gender, race and sexual orientation is a significant matter of contention in women’s prisons. The growth in incarceration has had its greatest impact on minorities, particularly African Americans. â€Å"Over a five-year period, the incarceration rate of African American women increased by 828%.† (NAACP LDF Equal Justice, 1998.) Also, according to Amnesty U.S.A,  the racial disparity revealed by the crack v. powder cocaine sentences insures that more African American women will land in prison. Although 2/3 of crack users are white or Hispanic, defendants convicted of crack cocaine possession were 84.5% African American. Crack is the only drug that carries a mandatory prison sentence for first time possession in the federal system. (prisonpolicy.org) Women are most vulnerable to different forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment or abuse. Women that do not fit the norm, such as lesbians, face increased risk of torture and abuse. Many of the prisoners Silja Talvi had interviewed expressed their grief about always getting taunted because of their sexual orientation. The issues facing lesbians and bisexuals in the criminal justice system aren’t just limited to what goes on behind bars. One study conducted by Victor Streib, a professor of law at Cleveland State University points to the possibility that lesbians, or women who do not appear to appear feminine, may be victims of harsher sentencing. In addition, lesbian or non feminine women who had entered the prison system may very well have less if a shot at an early release. (Streib, 2002) Human Rights Watch has documented categories of women who are likely targets for sexual abuse. Perceived or actual sexual orientation is one of four categories that make a female prisoner a more likely target for sexual abuse, as well as a target for retaliation when she reports that abuse. (HRW, 2010) These issues facing these women in the criminal justice system are not just limited to what goes on behind bars. In conclusion, based on the information provided from Women Behind Bars and many outside resources, the incarceration of women is at an all time high. Most likely, the number of incarcerated women will increase in the upcoming years unless the problem of mass incarceration is solved permanently. I feel as that as a result of drug laws, women are now a fast growing segment of the U.S. prison population. It is my belief that women are particularly vulnerable to such policies as mandatory minimums, because they are more likely than men to be incarcerated for drug-related or petty, non-violent property crimes. It is these arrests that are driving their high rates of incarceration. The problem of women in prison is directly tied to current US drug policy. For the last ten years, researchers have argued that the war on drugs has become a war on women (Belknap, 2002; Bloom & Chesney-Lind, 2000; Owen, 2000 & 1998, Cheney-Lind, 1997). In my opinion, one of several  alarming statistics is, The Bureau of Prisons reports that almost 80% of their female population is incarcerated for drug-related offenses. Relatively speaking, I think factors of poverty, psychosocial problems, mental illness, histories of trauma and abuse, and involvement in abusive relationships can lead up to a life of criminal behavior in women. Furthermore, based on information, statistics, and stories provided from the book Women Behind Bars and also from outside resources, it is my conclusion to say that many things could be altered within the prison system. First of all, I believe there are simply far too many women in prison for enough people to be drawn to the difficult job of guarding and rehabilitating these women and addressing their needs. With the information that has been researched, women’s prisons are poorly equipped to deal with the range of issues and needs of an ever-increasing female population. One of the things that struck me when reading the book is the degree to which jails and prisons have become America’s new mental health facilities. Also in regards of the issue of incarcerated mentally ill, I believe that basic education could be provided to correctional staff. Furthermore, guards could be taught to calm and talk the dangerous mentally ill women down from fits of paranoia, anxiety, or distress. Also, many of these women would be better served by intensive treatment programs and community-based transitional care, instead of just being thrown into the prison system. Furthermore, I feel that the extreme abuse of women in prison is a serious problem. I believe this action also harms society because it decreases the legitimacy of the justice system. If society cannot trust those responsible for guarding our prisons to behave properly, there is little hope for the rehabilitation of women in prison. Personally, I feel the prison has a place, but it is not in the persecution of non-violent females. I think there can be a lot more rehabilitation for these women. Many of these women in prison have emotional and psychological issues and because of the abuse, discrimination, and medical neglect, it is only going to make matters far worse. An excerpt from Silja Talvi’s Women Behind Bars that I found captivating that summed up a lot of what the book was about is, â€Å"Imprisoned girls and women deserve a chance to heal from past abuse, and to learn from their life experiences and the nature of their crimes. Before women and released, they must be given the tools to ensure that their reintegration  into society is not fraught with immediate economic and social struggle, and to help increase the odds that they will be released into families or communities that will actually support their reintegration. Former prisoners must be given the productive tools to become productive members of society; that is, if they weren’t productive already, and if they even needed to be locked up in the first place. In general, women in prison aren’t given one iota of the emotional, social and vocational skills they need to overcome the vast hurdles awaiting them beyond the gates that have confine them for years or decades on end.† (Talvi, 2007) In closing, I never realized to a great extent of the problem of women in prison. This book, Women behind Bars and also many outside resources has enlightened me on the growing issue of female incarceration. Women in prison is a problem in itself, then leading to all of the other problems these women face while in prison. I believe the struggles that women go through, go unnoticed, and more people should be aware of the increasing problem. Finally, I feel that Silja J.A. Talvi’s book Women Behind Bars can help focus attention on this growing population of women prisoners, and maybe one day something can be done about this increasing issue. According to the text, women represent the fastest growing segment of the criminal justice system increasing 757% between 1977 and 2004, a rate nearly 2 times the percent increase in the male offender population. The number of women involved in the US criminal justice system doubled during the 1990s (Beck, 2000). An estimated 68 in every 100,000 U.S. women are serving time in a state or federal prison with increased rates to one in every 100 among black women in their late 30s. Women currently represent about 7% of the overall state and federal prison population and 24% of individuals on community supervision. Substance use and abuse have been consistently reported as major contributing factors in the increasing population of women offenders. Some have argued that increased attention to substance users during the late 1980s and 1990s during the war on drugs had particular adverse consequences for women. A majority of women offenders have a history of drug use and drug-related offenses. Conclusion In closing, the writer never realized to a great extent of the problem of women in prison. This book, Women behind Bars and also many outside resources has enlightened on the writer of the growing issue of female incarceration. Women in prison is a problem in itself, then leading to all of the other problems these women face while in prison. The struggles that women go through, go unnoticed, and more people should be aware of the increasing problem. Finally, this book, can help focus attention on this growing population of women prisoners, and maybe one day something can be done about this increasing issue. The writer believes that alcoholism and addiction is a disease. Because it is a disease, communities should address it as a health issue and not a criminal justice issue. Imprisonment only removes a symptom, but does not cure the problem. The number of women incarcerated is steadily rising at frightening rates. When you incarcerate a woman, most often, you are also incarcerating a mother. The state not only pays to house the offender, but often pays for the care of the children of the offender as well. Women offenders have special needs many of which revolve around their children. Corrections should be perceived as a positive and helping connection, not a punitive one. In our present system, unfortunately, the women must often first fail before they are given the level of treatment they needed in the beginning. A new approach to corrections, one that offers a highly structured environment and stresses accountability, as well as, addressing the individual needs of each offender will not only save money, but also more importantly, it will save lives. In addition, communities should take responsibility and become involved in getting and giving education, reaching out to their communities to offer assistance helping addicts find hope through programs that take a holistic approach to their disease. Addicts need programs that heal body, mind and, most importantly, their crushed spirit. If needs are responded to on a personal level, in a way that engenders trust and confidence, women offenders can begin to hope again and the lives of families can be rebuilt. If people do not have hope, there is nothing to strive for, no reason to change. Instead of incarceration, I believe it would be more cost-effective to put women offenders in a community based program similar to the work release program that is used for prisoners after incarceration. These programs would allow the individual to maintain a job, yet they would be held accountable for all their time. They would receive counseling on an individual basis geared toward each one’s individual needs. The best programs combine supervision and services to address the specialized needs of female offenders in highly structured, safe environments where accountability is stressed. In conclusion, I believe that if communities would make an effort to educate themselves and their communities about the disease of alcoholism and addiction, they would begin to understand the magnitude of the problem. Although there are no easy solutions, one must accept the responsibility of educating our children, offer new and innovative programs that heal holistically, and most importantly, accept responsibility that as citizens one must reach out to help those in our communities who are struggling, offering them hope, support and encouragement. References American Academy of Arts & Sciences. (2011) Retrieved from http://www.amacad.org/projects/incarceration.aspx Austin, J., Irwin, J. (2001). â€Å"It’s About Time: America’s Imprisonment Binge.† Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co Belknap, J. (2001). â€Å"The Invisible Woman.† Gender, Crime and Justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co. Bloom, B., Chesney-Lind, M., Owen, B. (1994). â€Å"Women in California Prisons: Hidden Victims of the War on Drugs.† San Francisco, CA: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Bloom, B., Chesney-Lind, M. ( 2000). â€Å"Women in Prison; Vengeful Equity.† In It’s a Crime: Women and Criminal Justice. Roslyn Muraskin, (ed.), pp. 183-204. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Buchanan, K. (2005). â€Å"Beyond Modesty: Privacy in Prison and The Risk Of Sexual Abuse.† Marquette Law Review, 88(4), pp. 751-813. Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1994). â€Å"Special Report: Women in Prison.† Washington, DC: US Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics. (1999). â€Å"Women Offenders.â €  Washington, DC: US Department of Justice. Davis, A. (1998). â€Å"Public Imprisonment and Private Violence: Reactions on the Hidden Punishment of Women.† Crim. & Civ. Confinement, 24, pp. 339-350. Editors. (2006). â€Å"U.S. Inmate Populations on the Rise: U.S. Leads World in Number of Incarcerated.† Correctional News. Harrison, P., Beck, J. (2006). â€Å"Prisoners in 2005.† Bureau of Justice Statistics. Human Right Watch. (2010) â€Å"Sexual Abuse of Women in U.S. State Prisons.† Retrieved from http://www.hrw.org/ Immarigeon, R., Chesney-Lind, M. (1992). â€Å"Women’s Prisons: Overcrowded and Overused.† National Council on Crime and Delinquency. San Francisco, CA Kupers, T. (1999). Prison Madness: The Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars and What We Must Do About It. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers. Lalonde, R., Cho, R. (2008). â€Å"The Inpact of Incarceration in State Prison on the Employment Prospects of Women.† Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 24, 243-265, 23. doi: 10.1007/s10940-008-9050 Mauer, M, Potler, C., Wolf, R. (1999). â€Å"Gender and Justice: Women Drugs and Sentencing Policy.† The Sentencing Project. Washington, DC Owen, B. (2000). â€Å"Women and Imprisonment in the United States: The Gendered Consequences of the US Imprisonment Binge.† In Harsh Punishments: International Experiences of Women’s Imprisonment. Cook and Davies (Eds.) pp. 81-98. Northeastern Press. Streib, V. (2002). â€Å"Gendering the Death Penalty: Countering Sex Bias in a Masculine Sancutary.† Ohio State law Journal, 63 Talvi, S. (2007). Women Behind Bars: The Crisis of Women in the U.S. Prison System. Emeryville, CA: Seal Press. Van Denend, J. (2010). â€Å"Melanie Klein, Drug Crimes, and Women.† Studies in Gender & Sexuality, 11, 10-23. doi: 10.1080/15240650903445799 http://www.sentencingproject.org/template/page.cfm?id=107 http://www.prisonpolicy.org/scans/women_prison.pdf

Ban the bull - Emphasis

Ban the bull Ban the bull They say money talks. But why does financial language so often leave the poor reader in need of subtitles? Since the credit crunch, the thorny issue of finance has dominated the media. If only we all had a euro for every story wed read on the subject, wed all have far fewer financial concerns. And the less pain the financial experts add to the topic, the better. So why do they sometimes trouble the average reader with inaccessible language that adds up to whole lot of nothing? Take this quote from Andrew Balls, head of European portfolio management at investment multinational Pimco, and brother of Shadow Chancellor, Ed. Here, he muses on the prospects for the eurozone: We think it is prudent to remain underweight European sovereign risk and to wait for evidence that countries with stressed debt dynamics can deliver on fiscal consolidation without undermining growth in their economies. This example cloaked as it is in dense financial jargon is a tough nut to crack. Granted, it initially came from a research report, where one might expect the readers to be familiar with this kind of technical language. But the quote has been increasingly exposed to less specialised readers. First, business news website Bloomberg used it, and then in June the Telegraph shoehorned it into its Emergency Budget blog. At this point, perhaps the Telegraph could have broken it down getting the gist across by using reported speech. Something like: Mr Balls took a cautious view, and suggested investors should wait for evidence of long-term economic stability in vulnerable eurozone countries before taking any action there. Or, time allowing, you could even call on someone in the know to put it into laymans terms. Whatever you do, its always important to consider the reader and their needs, interest and level of knowledge even when quoting. This could involve using everyday alternatives for some jargon terms. Or, if technical terms are unavoidable, explain them afterwards as you would to a friend who worked in a completely different field. Its important, too, to think about what readers dont need to know, so they dont get overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of information. If in doubt, cut it out. And while we cant do anything about the financial situation, we can help you get your message across effectively with our article The language of money. Help us ban the bull If you stumble across any bewildering business gobbledegook, then please send the offending text to us and well do our best to translate it.

Middlefield Hospital Essays

Middlefield Hospital Essays Middlefield Hospital Essay Middlefield Hospital Essay did the patient receive the appropriate care for the diagnosis in the ER? Outcome measures evaluate the end result of care and assess whether treatment has produced the desired outcomes, i. e. , did the patient have a heart attack after entering the emergency room or was the heart attack avoided? This leads me to Preventative and Curative Approach to healthcare. The Curative approach refers to a system of care that is based upon treating illness or alleviating symptoms. People fall sick unexpectedly; they can be fine one moment and have the flu the next moment. In a situation like this the curative approach to health is appropriate. However, the Preventative approach, which is preventing illness rather than curing it, is more productive. The hospital can save a lot of money if they do not have to run extensive tests and procedures for diabetes and heart disease and other diseases that could have been stabilized if the patient used proper care. An effective strategy would be to offer classes on diet and exercise and other preventive measures such as smoking cessation programs just to name a few. Employee motivation-Recruiting Qualified health care professionals employed by Middlefield hospital should teach classes at Essex College and the clinical internship should be conducted at Middlefield hospital. That way Middlefield will know that new recruits will already know the proper procedure and will be qualified to work at the hospital upon graduation. This solution will benefit both parties because Middlefield can look forward to qualified new recruits and Essex has qualified teachers with real life experience for their healthcare programs. Employee Motivation- Retention Ways that Middlefield Hospital can motivate employees is to offer intrinsic and extrinsic rewards and offer them an opportunity to climb the corporate ladder. Extrinsic rewards are mostly financial and tangible, such as, wages, raises, bonuses, and benefits. Employees need to feel assured that they are offered a competitive salary and they will be able to take care of their obligations. Although extrinsic rewards a short term remedy to the problem it is still important and needs to be addressed. Intrinsic rewards on the other hand are more effective for employee retention and include: * Sense of meaningfulness, a sense of purpose * Sense of choice- use your judgment and feel responsible * Sense of competence- qualified * Progress- feeling of accomplishing something. An employee can offer intrinsic rewards by promoting the employee to a higher position where they are in charge of a department or project and acknowledging their accomplishments by offering incentives, such as extrinsic rewards. An employee is more likely to stay with a company long-term if they feel appreciated and have a sense of meaningfulness. Our employees are our most valuable asset and we have to make them â€Å"feel at home. † Middlefield Hospital should encourage our employees to climb the corporate ladder. Middlefield should offer continuing education and promotions within the company to motivate our employees to stay. Many people chose to look for work elsewhere or go back to school to change their careers because they are not making enough money and/or they are bored. At Middlefield Hospital, we encourage all of our employees to always strive for more, no matter what their position might be. Education and/or finances should not deter any of our employees from going to the next level. Let’s say for example, Maria was hired to work in environmental and clean the hospital earning $9. 50 /hr, if Maria chooses she should be able to take a course which is provided by the hospital so that she can earn her certified nurse’s assistant license (CNA), making $12. 50/hr. Maria doesn’t have to stop there; she can continue taking advantage of the classes and opportunities offered by Middlefield until she becomes a Registered nurse (RN) making $30/hr. Middlefield should offer their employees endless possibilities. Conclusion There are endless possibilities for Middlefield hospital to offer the best quality care for their patients and motivation for their employees. If the techniques suggested are applied, Middlefield hospital would see a vast improvement in their operation and employee retention.

Toll, Knell, and Tocsin

Toll, Knell, and Tocsin Toll, Knell, and Tocsin Toll, Knell, and Tocsin By Maeve Maddox The following headlines lead me to assume that the bride or groom or both did not survive the ceremony: Wedding Bells Toll For A Bride From Camelot- Philadelphia news site, 1986 Wedding bells toll for Tiger- Cape Cod Times, 2004 Wedding bells toll in Conn. for gay couples- Boston Globe, 2008 Wedding bells toll for Richard Marx, Daisy Fuentes- Business Standard, 2015 However, each of these headlines appeared over articles about weddings that- at the time anyway- did not go awry. There was a time when â€Å"to toll a bell† just meant to pull on a rope attached to a really big bell. Since at least 1620, however, when John Donne wrote his famous devotional, the verb toll in connection with the ringing of bells has been associated with death. Bells toll at funerals. At weddings, they peal. I suspect that headline writers reach for the word toll because they associate it with the title of the Hemingway novel  For Whom the Bell Tolls. Unfamiliar with Hemingway’s source, they imagine that toll goes with any kind of bell, including wedding bells. Hemingway took his title from a meditation on death by John Donne (1572-1631). Donne lived in London during a plague epidemic. Every time someone died, the church bells tolled. Lacking online news updates or Twitter, people would send a messenger to find out the identity of the latest victim. Donne tells his readers not to bother. The bell is tolling for everyone: Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Another gloomy word for ringing a bell is knell. knell verb: To ring slowly and solemnly, as for a death or at a funeral, to toll. knell noun: The sound made by a bell when struck or rung, especially the sound of a bell rung slowly and solemnly, as immediately after a death or at a funeral. In modern usage, the noun is more common than the verb. The phrase â€Å"death knell is a figurative expression that indicates something is on the brink of extinction. Unmodified, knell is a synonym for end. Here are recent examples of usage: Sound the Knell for Free Cell Phone Games Super Bowl the Knell for TV Sports? Does New House Bill Sound the Death Knell for Estate Tax? China’s Communist Party Sounds Death Knell for Arrest, Conviction Quotas Does Election Outcome Ring Death Knell for Religious Freedom? Greek, French Elections Sound Death Knell for Austerity Bells have long been associated with religious ceremony, but church bells have also served as community alarm signals because the sound of them can be heard across great distances. The word for a bell rung as an alarm signal is tocsin. The word is often used figuratively as a synonym for alarm or warning: Two stories about British dental care sound a tocsin about government involvement in health care Representative Buyers comments and widespread reports in the press that basic training has gone soft should sound a tocsin for policymakers concerned with the institutional integrity of the armed forces.   A tolling bell denotes sorrow. Unless your intention is to imply that getting married is the equivalent of a death sentence, better say that wedding bells are  pealing,  chiming, or simply ringing. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Examples of Passive Voice (And How To Fix Them)What to Do When Words Appear Twice in a Row7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Oraganzation behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Oraganzation behavior - Essay Example Moreover, with respect to the question of what role common sense and intutino plays with regards to the management of individual team members, it must be understood that whereas studies in management and organizational behavior can go a long way in helping to delineate the correct path that should be taken, there is no substitute for common sense and intuition (Rostein 17). However, with that being said, it must be stated that both common sense and intuition are subjective human interpretations of the world; so they are not useful in each and every situation and should not be trusted to apply to each individual in the same way that it does to the individual manager/leader who employs it. 2. One of the first perceptional biases that can be noted is with regards to how the United States press is so keen to take statements out of context and perceive them to be something that they are not. This was recently noted with regards to President of Russia’s opinion editorial in the New York Times concerning Syria. However, instead of taking this op-ed for what it was, the American press instead sought to sum up the entire opinion editorial by emblazoning headlines with phrases such as â€Å"Putin laughs at American Exceptionalism†; a statement that was ludicrous compared to what was actually said by the Russian President (DeWayne 1). Another recent news bias is with regards to the expectation that the gunman in the Washington DC shootings must have been a Muslim; prior to any information coming out as to who he was and why he might have done such a thing. Finally, sticking with the motif of the news, it can also be noted that a strong perceptional bias exists with regards to the conflict in Syria. 3. Firms such as Yahoo have recently found it difficult to juxtapose the creative energies and talents of a multigenerational workforce. As many firms have noted, seeking to maximize the potential of a diverse group of people does not allow for any one approach to be used by itself. In this way, some of the tech giants, Yahoo, Microsoft, Google, and others, have opted for created a more relaxed atmosphere where millenials and other inter-generational employees can work at their own pace without the more rigid and structured approach that had been deemed so useful to the past generation of employees (Jain et al. 47). Rather than seeing this as good or bad, it is necessary for the individual to merely understand such a reaction as one that seeks to take into account the needs of different individuals and seeks to maximize utility and productivity accordingly. 4. Without question values affect the way in which individuals integrate with different situations. However, rather than making the mistake of viewing values as synonymous with attitude, it must be understood that an individual’s attitude is likely to change and morph at various times throughout their professional career; however, values are more innate and are unlikely to experien ce a major shift as an individual progresses within their career. Nevertheless, attitude is one of the most important factors of performance and happiness/job satisfaction. One distinct situation stands out in my own mind with regards to a given task

Atheistic Existentialism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Atheistic Existentialism - Essay Example This in turn refers to the vast improvements achieved in agriculture, the sciences, the arts, and in almost all spheres of human life, in activities which contribute to the cultivation, betterment, and refinement of the individual person, and of societies in general. Modern culture therefore refers to the sum total of all human experiences and phenomena, starting with the period mentioned and continues up to the present time. Modern culture is the integrated system of learned behavior and actions, mediated by new technologies such as in telecommunications, the Internet, and others. Culture is produced from the creative, imaginative, inventive, and innovative ideas that people make during their time. Culture is primarily in two forms, that of physical things made by a group of people, called as artifacts, and secondly, the intangible culture made up of language, customs, traditions, religious beliefs, cultural practices, and a particular worldview. In particular, the intangible aspect s of culture can be evidenced by the prevailing or prevalent philosophy at a certain time, which in turn guides human thinking and behaviors. Relatedly, there are various or different types of life philosophies over the course of human existence. In this connection, this is the focus of this paper. The philosophy of existentialism is a fairly modern kind of world view, a product of the modern times. It can be traced to around the nineteenth century and clearly within the modern period in human history; its main tenet is the emphasis on the individual person. Discussion Existentialism is a philosophy which states that thinking begins with the individual. It is further claimed by existentialists that acting, feeling, and living are the true indicators of what it termed as an â€Å"existential attitude† which refers to a vague sense of disorientation and confusion, felt by people who are truly living in the real meaning of the word. This feeling of disorientation is experienced when an individual realizes he is living in a meaningless, absurd world. People have always asked since time immemorial what constitutes reality, because human existence is faced with doubts whether human existence is the reality or merely a reflection of it. This feeling of doubt was expressed succinctly by the famous Dutch philosopher, priest, and humanist Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) with his utterance of â€Å"cogito ergo sum† or in the plain English language translated roughly as â€Å"I think, therefore I am.† Basically, existentialism advances the idea that it is the individual himself, and not society or religion, which determines and gives meaning to human existence. In other words, it is up to that individual, by his actions, how to live his life the way he wants, how it will turn out to be. This is quite a radical departure from previous life philosophies, because the sole responsibility is placed squarely on the person. Man acquires essence, once he acts on his thoughts, by using his free will (Sartre, 1947). Existentialism as a life philosophy ignores the basic question of whether there is really a God or not. It rather dwells on the capacity of Man to act by himself through his free will; that is Man himself is ultimately responsible for what happens, based on a doctrine of action. A God is seen by existentialists as a limitation or a hindrance to what Man can achieve (Webber, 2009). Conclusion Existentialism as

Examine how John Reed explains the Mexican revolution Essay

Examine how John Reed explains the Mexican revolution - Essay Example According to John Reed, the majority of the citizens were annoyed with the manner in which the state was handling the affairs of the public. Indeed, the events of the revolution shaped the social, economic and political landscape of Mexico. Hence, the paper is describing the revolution using john reed’s explanation. The Mexican revolution John Reed reports that the revolution began as struggle between the incumbent president and his challenger, Mr. Madero. According to John Reed, Mr. Madero who was challenging the presidents incited his supporters to take part in a revolution (Reed 1). Mr. Madero incited the masses because he felt that the incumbent president had bungled the elections. The rivalry amid the two leaders culminated into war that led to bloodshed. War was at the hallmark of the revolution that begun in 1910. John Reed explains that the revolution begun slowly in 1910, thereafter it escalated to uncontrollable magnitudes in the subsequent years. Lack of communicati on was contributing to the misunderstandings that lead to the escalation of the wars. During the time, the Peons took part engaged themselves in the war with the expectations that their lives will change for the better. They had been promised favors, hence their participation in the war. Moreover, a majority of Mexicans were annoyed with the dictatorial leadership of President Porfirio Diaz. According to John Reed, the fighting that took place in the North affected most of the activities in the entire country. As a result, the economic landscape of the country changed. People began engaging in activities that demanded less capital because war had incapacitated them. Moreover, John Reed states that war halted most of the activities of people of Mexico. There was a decline in farming activities since people spend most of their times on fights. Poverty levels were escalating in the entire country. However, it is perplexing when the john reed states that he is annoyed with the events of the war yet he took part in the war. In some cases, he contradicts himself by supporting and criticizing the war at the same time. From the explanations of John Reed, economic activities played a huge role in shaping the life of individuals in Mexico. For instance, issues of wealth distribution lead to the escalation of war. The poor were angered with the manner in which the wealth owners were mistreating them. Moreover, the farmers received low wages from their employers. As indicated in the works of John Reed, people engaged in wars as a means of ending slavery. Hence, slaves preferred taking part in battles instead of working in the farms (Reed 12). The deplorable conditions in the farm made them hate employment. By taking part in wars, slaves were seeking liberation. They had wanted to have a life of their own to control their lives. Interestingly, during the war, the majority preferred the rebels to occupy their territories. This is because they hated the presence of the feder al authority. Reed reported to the metropolitan magazine Mexicans engaged in agriculture as their major source of live hood. Indeed, it was true that farming was the major economic activity for the people in Mexico. Hence, people supported the revolution because they had desired to own land. In Mexico, property ownership was highly cherished by the people then. Interestingly, this applies to the current situation in Mexico whereby people strive to own properties for their own use. The Peons in Mexico were claiming that the slave owners

Hospital Administartion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hospital Administartion - Essay Example Within the context of what was previously mentioned, Sentara offers a variety of services, for patients ranging from newborn to elderly, and in almost every field. Sentara has also focused on providing first aid, as it pioneered the first air ambulance service in the region called Nightingale, as well as implementing new protocols in 2000 that dramatically improved the survival rate and lowered the effects of stroke. Also, in 2006, it implemented the 12-Lead EKG system that enabled doctors in Sentara hospitals to receive EKG's from paramedics on route to the hospital. While providing both inpatient and outpatient services, it should be mentioned that Sentara has focused the past years on several fields, improving their methods and technology. These fields include oncology, cardiology and urology. Oncology is an ever developing field, and Sentara managed to develop their methods and expand the scope of their treatments to provide the best care for its customers. In 2000, it implemented a computer-aided detection system for breast cancer, revealing cancers earlier, and therefore improving the effectiveness of treatments. It also implemented several systems in 2002 for a better effectiveness of radiation treatments, such as stereotactic radio surgery, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and brain wafers, all with the purpose of effectively delivering chemotherapy and radiation treatments to tumors without damaging surrounding tissue. In addition, in 2005 it is the first healthcare network in the region to use the recently approved FDA chemotherapy ViaCirqO method for treating abdominal cancers. Sentara also implemented certain revolutionary surgical techniques in treating cancers. In 2002, the Zeus surgical robot was used to treat prostate cancer, making small incisions and m inimizing scars. From 2004-2007 has been implementing the Da Vinci surgical robotic system that has been implemented in several aspects of thoracic, urinary and oncologic surgery, reaching the number of 500 surgeries performed in 2007 since its implementation. As cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States, Sentara has also focused on perfecting the procedures and machinery involved in treatment of such diseases. Procedures like transmyocardial revacscularization that increases the blood flow to the heart is beating-heart bypass surgery is one of the many techniques utilized by the physicians. In 2002, Sentara performed the first adult congenital atrial septal defect interventional repair. In 2004, this procedure was improved even further, by pioneering a new transcatheter technique, reducing patient's recovery time from 6 weeks to 2-3 days. It also pioneered several new devices in the region, such as the HeartMate II, which is a device assisting in transplants in 2005, and a latest in CT and MRI technology in 2007 in order to better detect cardiac tumors, septal defects and the percent of damage after a heart attack. Urology is also one of the more prominent areas of healthcare that Sentara focuses on. They provide the InterStim therapy, which is a rare procedure throughout the hospitals in US, and just recently made available for patients. It is also the healthcare

An Analysis of Jane Austin's Emma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

An Analysis of Jane Austin's Emma - Essay Example The protagonist belongs to the highest social position in Hartfield’s estate in Surrey, in the village of Highbury of Regency England. He has social responsibilities towards other members holding lesser or poor social positions. Emma is a young woman possessing great amount of charm and tenacity, but misguided by imaginative skills that cloud her judgment. Jane Austen's â€Å"Emma† is a sophisticated example of fiction employing the art of high wit, elements such as irony, subtlety, diction etc to achieve overall effect to the narrative. "Emma," set in a fictional village of rural England within the timeline of the early nineteenth century, is structured around consummated and/or anticipated marriages. The narrative implies the relationship among different characters in a subtle way, providing deeper understanding of the characters that are apparent to only a vigilant reader. The novel involves the development of the character, Emma, from being an ambivalent and naive p erson to a mysterious individual. The plot involves the courtship and romantic connections of three major couples and their ultimate marriages. Austin presents marriage as a fundamental aspect of the society that appropriates and solidifies the social status of individuals. In â€Å"Emma† the institution of marriage is also used as the reason for all conflicts and excitement among its characters. Apart from the primary theme of courtship and marriage, the theme of social class also plays a vital role in the novel. Through this novel, Austin asserts the necessity of compassion and charity among the members of higher classes, which is evident from taking Harriet Smith of the lower class and bringing her to almost an equal social level. The readers can also see Emma pointing out the lower - class distinction of Harriet and the assertion that she would not have been accepted by the higher class, if she did not have Emma's influence. This causes confusion for Harriet who is caught between the desire of marriage and acceptance from higher class and the fear of rejection from her peers, like the Martins. Love is another major theme of the story. Even though Emma considers the possibility of her marriage to Frank Churchill, the reader finds that she is immune to romantic love. She even acknowledges that she does not love Churchill and that she is happy in his presence as well as in his absence. Here, Austin seems to argue that for the society, love is not a requirement for marriage. On the other hand, the social class, fortune and logical qualities become the decisive factors for marriages. However, we can see that Emma, who is financially independent, does not need to succumb to the above logical considerations and that she is able to marry Mr. Knightley solely for love. The marriages of Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax also involve love, though their alliances also serve the purpose of financial and social security. The novel also involves the theme of imaginat ion vs. reason, which becomes unraveled only to the eyes of the audience. There exists constant conflict between desires and judgment in this novel. When Emma misreads Mr. Elton's behavior, she imagines that he is in love with Harriet. Mr. Elton, on the other hand, is in love with Emma and misreads her behavior for encouragement. Mr. Knightley is unable to form an infallible judgment of Frank Churchill, as he is jealous of Churchill's

Money and Banking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Money and Banking - Assignment Example Money supply as defined by Fed does not include bank reserves. It only includes such money that may be used for exchanging goods and services. On the other hand, demand deposits and all other cash which can be used for transactions are included in the money supply.  The money supply in the form of loans is in the form of cash. so, money supply in cash is equal to the number of loans.   STRONG DOLLAR: strong dollar happens when U.S. dollar increases to a level with respect to any other currency which has a high rate of exchange for other currency which is relative to the dollar. WEAK DOLLAR: Weak dollar occurs when U.S. dollar falls to a level with respect to another currency that possesses high exchange rates for other currency that is relative to the dollar. INTEREST RATE POLICY AND DOLLAR STRENGTH: The interest rate policy affects the strength and weakness of the dollar to a great extent. An increase in interest rate will increase the demand for the dollar so that more investments can be made in U.S. assets. Thus the value of the dollar will also increase. Increase in value means strong dollar. Thus, the dollar will get stronger with higher interest rates. On the other hand, the lower the interest rates, the weaker will be the dollar due to the same reason. DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE:   If we analyze the exchange rate of Dollar with respect to major countries Broad Index, we see that in January 2009, the dollar exchange rate was 89.5039 which reduced to 80.3001 by the end of September 2011. The decrease was gradual and consistent. However, the exchange rate rises initially till March 2009 after which it started falling. It was 77.83 by the end of July 2011. However, it rises in August and September and reaches to 80.3001 in September 2011. EFFECT OF DOLLAR STRENGTH/ WEAKNESS ON CONSUMERS, BUSINESS AND ECONOMY: The exchange rate analysis of dollar for the past two years reveals that the dollar is continually weakening. This weakness will affect all the consumers and businesses and will also have impacts on the economy of the country. The economists are of the view that weak dollar will affect every aspect of the economy. The prices of consumers clothing, electronic, the rates of mortgages and job markets will all be affected by the dollar value. The weakness in dollar value also asserts an increase in oil prices. This increase will definitely affect the producers. Their production costs will rise. Consequently, the producers will increase the prices of consumer goods. This will affect consumers and thus, the whole economy would be affected. the weakness of dollar will also affect some other currencies. This is due to the reason that as the dollar got weaker and weaker; the investors will tend to search for some other currencies to which are relatively stable as compared to Dollar. This will increase the demand for other currencies and decrease in the demand for the dollar. Consequently, the interest rate will tend to decrease. This will affect the deposits of individuals and businesses in the banks. Finally, this will again have an impact on the whole economy.

An Analysis of Jane Austin's Emma Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

An Analysis of Jane Austin's Emma - Essay Example The protagonist belongs to the highest social position in Hartfield’s estate in Surrey, in the village of Highbury of Regency England. He has social responsibilities towards other members holding lesser or poor social positions. Emma is a young woman possessing great amount of charm and tenacity, but misguided by imaginative skills that cloud her judgment. Jane Austen's â€Å"Emma† is a sophisticated example of fiction employing the art of high wit, elements such as irony, subtlety, diction etc to achieve overall effect to the narrative. "Emma," set in a fictional village of rural England within the timeline of the early nineteenth century, is structured around consummated and/or anticipated marriages. The narrative implies the relationship among different characters in a subtle way, providing deeper understanding of the characters that are apparent to only a vigilant reader. The novel involves the development of the character, Emma, from being an ambivalent and naive p erson to a mysterious individual. The plot involves the courtship and romantic connections of three major couples and their ultimate marriages. Austin presents marriage as a fundamental aspect of the society that appropriates and solidifies the social status of individuals. In â€Å"Emma† the institution of marriage is also used as the reason for all conflicts and excitement among its characters. Apart from the primary theme of courtship and marriage, the theme of social class also plays a vital role in the novel. Through this novel, Austin asserts the necessity of compassion and charity among the members of higher classes, which is evident from taking Harriet Smith of the lower class and bringing her to almost an equal social level. The readers can also see Emma pointing out the lower - class distinction of Harriet and the assertion that she would not have been accepted by the higher class, if she did not have Emma's influence. This causes confusion for Harriet who is caught between the desire of marriage and acceptance from higher class and the fear of rejection from her peers, like the Martins. Love is another major theme of the story. Even though Emma considers the possibility of her marriage to Frank Churchill, the reader finds that she is immune to romantic love. She even acknowledges that she does not love Churchill and that she is happy in his presence as well as in his absence. Here, Austin seems to argue that for the society, love is not a requirement for marriage. On the other hand, the social class, fortune and logical qualities become the decisive factors for marriages. However, we can see that Emma, who is financially independent, does not need to succumb to the above logical considerations and that she is able to marry Mr. Knightley solely for love. The marriages of Harriet Smith and Jane Fairfax also involve love, though their alliances also serve the purpose of financial and social security. The novel also involves the theme of imaginat ion vs. reason, which becomes unraveled only to the eyes of the audience. There exists constant conflict between desires and judgment in this novel. When Emma misreads Mr. Elton's behavior, she imagines that he is in love with Harriet. Mr. Elton, on the other hand, is in love with Emma and misreads her behavior for encouragement. Mr. Knightley is unable to form an infallible judgment of Frank Churchill, as he is jealous of Churchill's

Management Responsibilites with regards to Forensic Accounting Research Paper

Management Responsibilites with regards to Forensic Accounting - Research Paper Example Moreover, they offer litigation assistance to attorneys and agencies of regulations enforcement investigating financial crimes (Abdolmohammadi, pp 13). The management responsibilities can, therefore, be done in regard to forensic accounting. One key management responsibility involves the strategic planning for the business. For the business to succeed, the management should guarantee that they embark on the strategic planning of the affairs of the business. Strategic planning enables a business to formulate the objectives of the business (Emerald Journal). In strategic planning forensic accounting is also included so that the capital invested in the business is correctly used. In case of a mismanagement of the capital then it is noticed at an earlier stage before it creates a severe problem to the management and business. The supervising and evaluation of the overall performance of the business is also a chief management responsibility. The operation of a business includes many performances, which are carried out by different departments of a business. The management does the evaluation of the activities of each branch and management through the supervisors does the monitoring of the operations of the each department. This is to ensure that the operations of the business are done in accordance to the strategic plans. The management further ensures that evaluation is effective through using forensic accounting to make sure that no fund from each department is embezzled. The forensic accounting is majorly used in evaluation at the financial department because this department is responsible for all the assets of the business (Arokiasamy, Koh and Suat, pp 146). The management responsibility is also to ensure that all the employees uphold high conduct standards. The conduct of the employees determines the image that the public has about a business. It is, therefore, significant for the administration to

The Functional Requirement Of Cladding System Essay

The Functional Requirement Of Cladding System Essay Strength and Stability A wall structure should have adequate strength to support its own weight between points of support or fixing to the structural frame, and sufficient stability against lateral wind pressures. To allow for differential movements, there has to be adequate support to carry the weight of the wall structure, and also restraint fixings that will maintain the wall in position and at the same time allow differential movements without damage to either the fixings or the wall material. Thin sheet wall materials such as GRP, metal and glass suffer rapid changes in temperature and consequent expansion and contraction which may cause distortion and damage to fixings or the thin panel material or both. In the design of wall structure faced with thin panel or sheet material, the ideal arrangement is to provide only one rigid support fining to each panel or sheet with one other flexible support fixing and two flexible restraint fixings. The need to provide support and restraint fixings with adequate flexibility to allow for thermal movement and at the same time adequately restrain the facing in place and maintain a weather tight joint has been the principal difficulty in the use of thin panel and sheet facings. Resistance to weather/exclusion of wind and rain The least thickness of solid wall material necessary to prevent penetration of rainwater to the inner face depends on the degree of exposure to driving rain. Common practice is to construct a cavity wall adequate thermal resistance to the passage of heat, and an attractive finish. Common practice is to construct solid cladding systems with an outer leaf of light weight block for insulation. Material used to seal joints is required to be resilient enough to accommodate movement and resist weather deterioration. The rain screen principle is designed to provide a separate outer skin, to screen wall panels from scouring by wind and rain and deterioration by sunlight, and to improve the life and efficient of the joint seals. Durability and freedom from maintenance The durability of a wall structure is a measure of the frequency and extent of the work necessary to maintain minimum functional requirements and acceptable appearance. For example, masonry required a little maintenance because the dirt stained due to slow run-off of water from open horizontal joints. Panels of glass will maintain their finish over the expected life of buildings but will require frequent cleaning of the surface if they are to maintain their initial appearance, and periodic attention to and renewal of the seals. Another material that can be used is metal. bronze and stainless steel, both materials, will weather by the formation of a thin film of oxide that is impermeable and prevents further oxidation. Fire safety/fire Resistance Primary precautions are the internal spread of fire across the surface materials of the wall and ceilings, external fire spread over the fabric and fire spread such as cavities. The Building Regulations prohibit the use of materials that encourage spread of flame across their surface when subject to intense radiant heat and those which give off heat when burning. Limits of using thermoplastic materials in roof lights and lighting diffusers set in Building Regulation. To limit the spread of fire between buildings, limits to the size of unprotected areas of walls. The term unprotected area is used to include those parts of external walls that may contribute to the spread of the fire between buildings such as windows. The Regulations also limit the use of materials of roof coverings near a boundary that will not provide adequate protection against the spread of fire over their surfaces. Resistance to the passage of heat/thermal property Addition insulation need to be provided by lining of the cladding material. The interiors of building clad with large areas of glass may gain through large part or the whole of their internal heat from a combination of solar heat gain through glass cladding and from internal artificial lighting. Solar heat gain can be controlled through the use of simple shading devices fixed externally or internally to the building fabric. Control of internal temperatures As we know, solar is gain through glass panel. The thermal control can be achieved by deep recessed window used in conjunction with external vertical fins, non-transparent external louvers and used of special solar control glass. Another way is minimized the air leakage in the building. We need to maintain the temperature in the building like the concept of green house effect that can traps the heat in the building in the cool day. Resistance to the passage of sound/sound insulation There are several ways to overcome this problem. Firstly, used the resilient pad to prevent sound originating within the structure to be transferred vertically through cladding members. Airbone soung can be prevented by utilizing double glazing panel to window area. B) A client requires a road that requires little maintenance with reasonable non-skid properties. With the aid of diagramme, suggest a type of road and the construction methodology for the proposed used. A client requires a road that requires little maintenance with reasonable non-skid properties. With the aid of diagramme, suggest a type of road and the construction methodology for the proposed used. Type of Road: Flexible Road Sub-grade: original soil or backfilling soil Sub base: small aggregates. The surface of the compacted sub-base should be close textured to prevent migration of sand from the bedding course. Example: sand or quarry dust. Road base: crusher run Surfacing : pre-mix bituminous. Prime coat as binder of particles. Construction Methodology Site Clearing Right of way The corridor of the road has to be cleared to the required width (prevention of soil erosion) Make sure that the accessibility of the road is permitted legally. Clearing and grubbing of the site Using dozer or grader for the works. The hedges and grass roots can be removed by using dozer. Grader is usually for grubbing works where the topsoil needs not to remove form site Cut and fill of the road Cutting: Formation level is lower than original ground level. Filling: Formation level is higher than original level. Preparation of sub grade layer Make sure that the base and subgrade layers must provide adequate and moisture resistant strength and modulus, in addition to durability and stability. Before subgrade can start, make sure the installation of services has finished such as ground surface drainage, piping for water supply and electrical. Subgrade is started and compacted until reaching uniform density for the whole width and to falls. Replaced the unsuitable material such as rock or not useful soil. Subgrade, and base materials frequently require treatment with additives such as asphalt, cement, fly ash, and lime.   Should have unsoaked C.B.R (California bearing ratio) of 15% in the subgrade. CBR is a penetration test for evaluation of the mechanical strength  of  road  subgrades Preparation of sub base 300mm thick of sand/quarry dust. Compacted with 8-10 tonne smooth wheeled roller at 125mm layer 12 times. Rolling start from one side of the road to the center of road in horizontal direction by using roller-compactor. Road base construction Constructed into two layers with same thickness with each layer not more than 150mm thick. Materials (crusher run) leveled following chambers. Lastly, using compactor to compact the mixing tar of the road. Surfacing Construction the graded subgrade or the top granular base layer may be prepared with a prime coat A prime coat is a sprayed application of a cutback (MC-30 or MC-70) or emulsion asphalt applied to the surface of untreated subgrade or base layers.   The size of the premix: 12.5mm to 19mm Compaction should be done quickly Underseal which is a sprayed application of asphalt binder (emulsion or hot applied asphalt binder) immediately covered by a layer of one-sized aggregate. The last step is Road surface marking by using white paints. C) Describe the performance and specify of the material that can be used to fill the void of disused structures e.g. culverts, redundant sewers, cellars and basements and also for soil stabilization, e.g. bridge abutments tunnel stabilization and embarkments. Describe the performance and specify of the material that can be used to fill the void of disused structures e.g. culverts, redundant sewers, cellars and basements and also for soil stabilization, e.g. bridge abutments tunnel stabilization and embarkments. Materials used: Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Developed in Sweden in the late 1920s, autoclaved cellular concrete (ACC) is a lightweight precast concrete building material that is cured under elevated pressure inside special kilns called autoclaves. Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (often shortened to AAC) is effectively concrete with lots of closed air pockets in it. It is lightweight and energy efficient, and is produced by adding a foaming agent to concrete in a mould, then wire cutting blocks or panels from the resulting cake, and cooking it with steam (autoclaving). Performance Appearance It contains many small voids (similar to those in aerated chocolate bars) that can be clearly seen when looked at closely. The closed air pockets contribute to the materials insulating properties and also its aerated nature. Although there is no direct path for water to pass through the material, an appropriate coating is required to prevent water penetrating into the AAC material. AAC can be sculpted with wood working tools, but its softness means that it is rarely used as an exposed finish owing to its need for surface protection. Structural Capability The compressive strength of AAC is very good and load-bearing structures up to three storeys high can be safely erected. Entire building structures can be made in AAC from walls to floors and roofing with reinforced lintels, blocks and floor, wall and roofing panels available from the manufacturers. AAC panels and lintels contain integral steel reinforcement to ensure structural adequacy during installation and design life. Thermal mass With its mixture of lightweight concrete and air pockets, AAC has a moderate overall level of thermal mass performance. The temperature moderating thermal mass is most useful in climates with high cooling needs. Sound insulation With its closed air pockets, AAC can providevery good sound insulation. As with all masonry construction, care must be taken to avoid gaps and unfilled joints that can allow unwanted sound transmission. Combining the AAC wall with an insulated asymmetric cavity system will provide a wall with excellent sound insulation properties. Fire resistance AAC is inorganic and incombustible and is thus especially suited for fire-rated applications. Depending on the application and the thickness of the blocks or panels, fire ratings up to four hours can be achieved. AAC does not harbour or encourage vermin (ulat). Durability and moisture resistance The purposely lightweight nature of AAC makes it liable to impact damage. With the surface protected to resist moisture penetration it is not affected by harsh climatic conditions and will not degrade under normal atmospheric conditions. The porous nature of the material can allow moisture to penetrate the material to a depth but appropriate design (damp proof coarse layers and appropriate coating systems) prevents this happening. AAC will not easily degrade structurally when exposed to moisture. Toxicity and Breathability There are no toxic substances and no odour in the final product. If low toxic, vapour permeable coatings are used on the walls and care is taken not to trap moisture where it can condense, AAC may be an ideal material for homes for the chemically sensitive. Environment Impact AAC has manufacturing, embodied energy and GH emission impacts similar to those of concrete, but can be up to one quarter to one fifth that of concrete based on volume. Its much higher insulation value reduces heating and cooling energy consumption. As an energy and material investment it can often be justified for buildings intended to have a long life. Buildability, availability and cost AAC is relatively easy to work, is light and easily carved, cut and sculpted. Very large block sizes may require two-handed lifting and be awkward to handle but can result in fewer joints and more rapid construction. Low waste component, as the offcuts can be re-used in the construction of the wall. *Figure show the principle of heat insulation and sound insulation D) Briefly describe the activities involved in external works at the start of the contract. Briefly describe the activities involved in external works at the start of the contract. External work is means by the work or the construction is carried out outside of the building or the work generally done externally from main building. At the contract commencement, there are many types of external work can be carry out such as drainage, temporary access, temporary storage, temporary car parks, temporary site facilities, and public utilities such as water, electricity and telecom. Those external works must be prepared before the construction can be started. Most of the activities will span the whole contract period but bulk of activities will fall under early stages of construction and toward the end of the construction. In early stages of construction, there are many external work s need to prepare. For examples, drainage main runs, access arrangement, storage facilities, car parks, place to settle the machinery for foundation construction, and services to the construction sites. The first activities involves in external works at the start of the contract is drainage system. There are two categories of drainage which are surface drainage and sub-surface drainage. Surface drainage is the removal and disposal of water from the surface of the pavement. Whereas sub-surface drainage is the use of underground pipes and other fittings to corect the flow of water from where it is not wanted to some other place. This includes land drainage that removing and disposing of surplus groundwater from gardens, fields and other plots of open land. A subsurface drain is a perforated conduit, such as tile, pipe or tubing, installed below the ground surface to intercept, collect or convey drainage water. *The picture show the surface drainage and sub-surface drainage Besides drainage that need to take consider in the early stages of external work, temporary access also an importance in construction site. Ususally, a geotextile is used as a temporary road access. A geotextile is a synthetic permeable textile material used with soil, rock, or any other material. Geotextiles extend the service life of roads, increase their load-carrying capacity, and reduce the incidence of ruts. These benefits are accomplished by separating aggregate structural layers from subgrade soil while allowing the passage of water. Geotextiles should be considered for use on any section of road requiring an aggregate (rock) layer for surfacing. Geotextiles can reduce the amount of aggregate required, thus reducing the cost of the road, as well as providing the benefits described in the previous paragraph. * The picture show how the geotexile work. Next, temporary site storage and car park (empty area) also consider as external work that need to prepare in construction site. The uses of the temporary site storage is to keep important material or the expensive material. For example, the cement which cannot put outside space, it must be covered by the roof to avaid raining. The cement also need to keep in a dry place because it is easily chemically react with water. Car park or empty area also need in construction site because it is for the lorry to loading or unloading the things for the construction. Car parks also need for the site manager or outsides visitor to keep their vehicle. * The picture show the temporary car park at the site of construction Apart from that, at the commencement for external works, public utilities such as water supply, electricity and telecom also need to prepare in the site of construction. The piping work must be installated at early stage of external work in order to easy the work. The electricity supply need for the lighting, and machinery used. Telecom is used for the communication purposes.