Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Children And Violence in Video Games - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1685 Downloads: 5 Date added: 2019/08/02 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Violence in Video Games Essay Did you like this example? Violence in Video Games Video Games are always being criticized for causing people to become lazier and in some cases become more violent. Politicians also have a tendency to use them as scapegoats whenever some kind of shooting happens and they need to take the pressure off. Why is that? Is it true that video games make people more violent or just a myth? Should parents take actions or has the argument been so screwed that people dont know about the positives. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Children And Violence in Video Games" essay for you Create order Should video games should actually be encouraged because of the many benefits it provides, such as improved keyboard typing, increased reaction speed, and stress alleviation. In addition video games a medium to spread artistic works, increase social engagement, and even speak positive morals to a mass of people, as they by nature are connected to the internet. Video Games have been around for decades, starting back since the nineteen fifties.   In October 1958, Physicist William Higinbotham created what is thought to be the first video game. It was a very simple tennis game, similar to the classic 1970s video game Pong, and it was quite a hit at a Brookhaven National Laboratory open house. (Chodos) Though this game was basic is was the start of what would be multibillion dollar industry. In 1964 Sanders Associates received the first patent for a video game. Magnavox bought the patent and produced video game systems beginning in the early 1970s.(Chodos) The patient was when video games really started to take off, as people realised money could be made off of it. For years there has been debates over violent video games and their effects on if they make people more aggressive. Studies have recently come out with a proving that they do. An international study looking at more than 17,000 adolescents, ages nine to 19, from 2010 to 2017, found playing violent video games led to increased physical aggression over time.(Snider).   The study concluded that kids playing certain games containing physical violence were more likely to show increased behavioral problems. The analysis of 24 studies from countries including the U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan found those who played violent games such as Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and Manhunt were more likely to exhibit behavior such as being sent to the principals office for fighting or hitting a non-family member. (Snider). Many influential figures even have weighed in on the topic. Trump said, Im hearing more and more people say the level of violence on video games is really shaping young peoples t houghts. Many people think that school shootings have a strong correlations with   violent video games. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick last week said that violence in video games have desensitized children to violence in the real world. Patrick was speaking just days after a teenager killed 10, eight students and two teachers, at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas.(Aupperlee) Many groups have done studies on video game violence and aggressive behavior with many saying there is a link between the two, but no hard evidence has been found. The American Psychological Association in 2015 stated that violent video games are linked to aggression but that there wasnt enough evidence to suggest violence in video games causes criminal behavior.(Aupperlee) Though there are correlations, due to the fact that everyone responds differently to them, it is very hard to come up with a concrete cause and effect. Parents should be more informed about the types of games their children play. Many people never read the fine print when making a purchase, leaving them unaware of what strings are attached. Most people never take the time to read the fine print, but knowing what you are agreeing to when you put a check in the acknowledgment box is actually pretty important. These terms outline the services rights and responsibilities, as well as your rights and responsibilities when using the site. (webroot). This could easily transfer over to videogames as many parents are unaware of what people hide in the fine print. In short, the company has the right to use anything you place on their site; in any way they choose including the right to identify you by name and through photos and video. That is why we should have parents sign contracts on any video game, as you are much more likely to read something that has your signature on it. Video Games helps develop social skills. For example Jones further argues that the online communities that have developed around Internet gaming provide a form of social interaction for many who have poor social skills and feel isolated within their communities.(Zamani) This allows people who are more shy than other to interact without seeing them face to face, and in some cases reduce social anxiety. Another fact is that games help with typing skills, Check out Typing of the Dead: Overkill, a twisted gem of a game that trades light guns for keyboards. Instead of shooting at zombies with bullets, youll need to type out the on-screen prompts as quickly and accurately as you can. With randomized word selection and multiple difficulties, Typing of the Dead will put even the most adept keyboardist through the grinder (Robert)This is helpful in school, work, or life, such as when you have to type an essay on a Chromebook about the benefits of video games. Overall Video Games provide several overall benefits that help you in everyday life. Video Games also have health benefits. Playing can actually produce an analgesic (pain-killing) response in our higher cortical systems. (Video game play may provide learning, health, social benefits, review finds) Video Games can help with stress and pain. Another fact is,   In one study, players who were immersed in fast-paced games were 25 percent faster in reacting to questions about an image they had just seen compared to non-players. (Mental Floss) Gamers have a faster reflex time, allowing them to see things a little bit faster. Video Game benefits also improve your health, in more ways than most people know. Certain video games cause violence. Violent video games have been blamed for school shootings, increases in bullying, and violence towards women. Critics argue that these games desensitize players to violence, reward players for simulating violence, and teach children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflicts. For example 60% of middle school boys and 40% of middle school girls who played at least one Mature-rated (M-rated) game hit or beat up someone, compared with 39% of boys and 14% of girls who did not play M-rated games. A 2014 peer-reviewed study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that habitual violent video game playing had a causal link with increased, long-term, aggressive behavior.(procon) Studies have also shown that violence is not caused by video games. As a result, video games have more positive effects than negative. Many people claim that the ESRB rating is just fine, and that it effectively does its job. Research shows that many parents know about the rating system as studies have shown(See image 1). Conducted by Hart Research Associates, ESRB commissions surveys to regularly assess parents awareness and use of the ESRB rating system. The latest study, conducted in July of 2018, includes the following results: 86% of parents are aware of the ESRB rating system,74% regularly check a games rating before making a purchase, 66% are aware of content descriptors, 85% of whom check them regularly.(ESRB) Also video game store have also been very good at preventing underage purchases shows another study. The FTC also periodically conducts nationwide undercover audits, or mystery shops, of movie theaters and DVD, music, and video game retailers. Their most recent survey found that 87% of individuals under the age of 17 were turned away when trying to purchase or rent Mature-rated games. (ESRB) Companies did a very good job at enforcing their policies. My solution is still better, because it does not take much convincing to get a M-rated game or to have a friend buy it for you. In all states, the age requirement to sign a contract is 18 years of age. A child under the age of 18 is considered a minor and is unable to sign a contract unless it is for essential items.(FreeAdvice) If a child tried to go behind your back, only a legal guardian could allow them to get the game. If your minor child has signed a contract for a non-essential item without your approval, the contract is not valid. (Free Advice) This makes it near impossible for minors to get anything without your knowing, making it so adults know what their kids are getting and what they contain.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At the end of the day it is the parent who is responsible for their childs actions. Signing a contract forces you to pay attention to what your kid is doing in their free time. By limiting what they have access to or being well informed about a product, will allow parents to take steps to prevent toxic behaviors to occur. (Image 1) Works Cited Aupperlee, Aaron. Are Video Games to Blame for School Shootings? TribLIVE.com, 1 June 2018, triblive.com/usworld/world/13686252-74/are-video-games-to-blame-for-school-shootings. Chodos, Alan. October 1958: Physicist Invents First Video Game. American Physical Society, aps.org/publications/apsnews/200810/physicshistory.cfm. Consumer Research. Consumer Research about ESRB Ratings Awareness and Use, www.esrb.org/about/awareness.aspx. Is a Contract Signed by a Minor Valid? FreeAdvice, law.freeadvice.com/general_practice/contract_law/contract_valid.htm. Roberts, David. 10 Useful Skills You Can Learn by Playing Video Games. Gamesradar, GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies and TV You Love, 13 Aug. 2017, www.gamesradar.com/10-useful-skills-you-can-learn-playing-video-games/. Snider, Mike. Study Confirms Link between Violent Video Games and Physical Aggression. USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 2 Oct. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2018/10/01/violent-video-games-tie-physical-aggression-confirmed-study/1486188002/. Violent Video Games ProCon.org. Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence?, videogames.procon.org/. Why Read the Fine Print? Webroot, www.webroot.com/us/en/resources/tips-articles/why-read-the-fine-print. Zamani, Eshrat, et al. Addiction Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905509/. 15 Surprising Benefits of Playing Video Games. Mental Floss, 12 Sept. 2017, mentalfloss.com/article/65008/15-surprising-benefits-playing-video-games.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Consequences The Cause and Effect of Drug Use Essay

The use of drugs is a controversial topic in society today. In general, addicts show a direct link between taking drugs and suffering from their effects. People abuse drugs for a wide variety of reasons. In most cases, the use of drugs will serve a type of purpose or will give some kind of reward. These reasons for use will differ with different kinds of drugs. Various reasons for using the substance can be pain relief, depression, anxiety and weariness, acceptance into a peer group, religion, and much more. Although reasons for using may vary for each individual, it is known by all that consequences of the abuse do exist. It is only further down the line when the effects of using can be seen. Reasons for using drugs depend on the type†¦show more content†¦It can be used to help treat people suffering from cancer, aids, and glaucoma. Chemotherapy is used in the treatment of cancer and causes nausea resulting in an inability to keep food down. AIDS cause a general loss of appetite which can lead to dramatic weight loss and weakness. The healing power of marijuana for these two illnesses results in increasing a persons appetite, as well as relieving nausea, allowing a patient to regain weight. As for glaucoma, it helps reduce the pain of visual pressure that is damaging to the eye. Even though the causes for use in these cases are legitimate, smoking medically or not, the negative effects are all the same. Along with getting high from smoking marijuana, there are many problems that can occur both physically and mentally. Immediate effects hold a wide range of symptoms. Users suffer many symptoms from increased heart rates, nausea, and headaches, to agitation, dizziness, confusion, and paranoia. Respiratory problems are more likely to occur, such as asthma and lung cancer. Smokers might experience panic attacks, difficulty with short term memory, feeling clumsy, and being uncoordinated. Other kinds of effects are seen in being withdrawn from society and peer groups. Lack of enthusiasm in life can become a problem for the user in quitting. Severe mental disorders and psychosis may also be seen later in life. The one symptom thatShow MoreRelatedMandatory Drug Testing for Student Athletes Essay966 Words   |  4 Pagesschools around the country, student athletes are using drugs. â€Å"The percent of students that have drunk alcohol is 72.5% while the number of students who have used mari juana is 36.8%† (Report: Nearly Half of High School Students Using Drugs, Alcohol). The students believe that since they are athletes that they do not need to abide by the rules because they feel more superior and that the narcotic will not hurt or affect them. Implementing random drug tests for athletes will create a positive image andRead MoreThe Causes of Drug Addiction1430 Words   |  6 PagesThe Causes of Drug Addiction What causes a man to risk losing his family or worse his freedom for the ability to get high? What causes a parent to risk not only their own health by smoking but also the health of their children? The answer is addiction. Alan I. Leshner, PhD states that the â€Å"essence of addiction [is an] uncontrollable, compulsive drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences.† He goes on to say, â€Å"This is the crux of how many professional organizationsRead MoreProlonged Use Of Drugs1089 Words   |  5 PagesAll drugs carry a risk and there is no consumption that can be considered totally safe. The risk results from a combination of three factors: the effects of the substance, the way it is used (dose, how it is administered, the effects that it is intended to achieve) and consumer vulnerability.There are millions of people around the world who are making improper use of all kinds of illegal substances. These people are damaging their health an d well-being, jeopardizing their responsibility to lead aRead MoreUnderstanding Drug Use And Addiction. The National Institute1116 Words   |  5 PagesUnderstanding Drug Use and Addiction The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) describes addiction as a, â€Å"chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences† (â€Å"Understanding Drug Use and Addiction,† 2016). Long-term use can effect and change a person’s ability to learn, judge, and make decisions. Stress, memory issues, and behavior problems are also common side effects of extended drug use. There is not one single factorRead MoreConsequences of Addiction to Marijuana781 Words   |  3 PagesThe consequences for the use of marijuana range in a variety of physical, psychological, social, and even financial burdens. People who become addicted to marijuana often find themselves experiencing consequences in all these categories. Consequences and effects in one area often lead to more consequences and down falls in another. Physical can lead to psychological. Psychological can lead to social. Social can lead to fina ncial. The burdens and hard consequences of marijuana use are all connectedRead MoreIllicit Drug Use Is A Prevalent Issue Today s Society1276 Words   |  6 PagesIllicit drug use is a prevalent issue in today’s society. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the global increase of death and disease can be largely attributed to the illegal use of drugs (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013). Though the rates of illegal drug use have remained constant in recent years, there has been a shift in the use of specific drugs (National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2013). One drug that has received a lot of attention due to an apparentRead MoreSubstance Abuse : A Social Problem1608 Words   |  7 Pagesinto consideration because it is all too often neglected. According to the World Health Organization, substance abuse â€Å"refers to the harmful or hazardous use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol and illicit drugs† (Substance). Ind ividuals who become victims of substance abuse become dependent on and overindulge in substances such as drugs and alcohol. The outside forces in our world today influence behaviors including substance abuse, ultimately displaying the connection between social structureRead MoreAddiction : A Familiar Term For Most Of The World1603 Words   |  7 PagesAddiction is a familiar term for most of the world. By its simplest definition, addiction is habitual drug use that causes negative effects on the user’s health and social life despite efforts to stop using (Pinel, J.P. 2013). Drugs have been a part of human society for thousands of years. The quest to alter one’s consciousness is not a new one. Millions of people worldwide suffer from various forms of drug addiction. Yet for such a common affliction, little is understood about how addiction really worksRead MoreA Brief Note On Drug Use On Infants1572 Words   |  7 PagesDrug Use on Newborns Many women abuse drugs whether they are pregnant or not. In both cases, many women are unaware of the consequences of what drugs can do to their body. However, for pregnant women, the situation is completely different. â€Å"Studies show that using drugs -- legal or illegal -- during pregnancy has a direct impact on the fetus† (Gaither 1). In simpler terms, drug use not only affects their own lives but also affects the lives of their unborn children. For the sake of enjoymentRead MoreWhy Marijuana Should Remain Illegal992 Words   |  4 Pagesmost commonly used and abused drug in the United States. â€Å"According to government surveys, about 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly (Norml). The reasons some people smoke marijuana can be for just relaxation, just to be curious, and more reasons. Even though marijuana is bad in several ways, it is good for one reason which is medical purposes but that does not mean it should become legal. Marijuana can cause good and bad, but the bad

Monday, December 9, 2019

Achieving a Goal free essay sample

Lifetime goals can break down into many valuable purposes such as, short-term, long-term goals, also even commitment and effort put in for another individual. However, negative goals may exist, which could cause someone to achieve them to make a difference in society. Therefore, my priorities of my goals would include, personal and professional achievement. In middle school, I had no idea what career I wanted to major in for the future. I have a long way to go I repeated to myself. After constantly procrastinating for months, it finally hit me one night. I started to think seriously about my major. Finally, starting to think seriously about my career, I decided to follow my interests in the tech industry. Moreover, afterwards in high school I would be lucky enough to have the opportunity to experience my interests in technology by taking career classes like Intro to Engineering, Computer programming and even a Video game design class. We will write a custom essay sample on Achieving a Goal or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Additionally, I had interests in knowing how businesses operate, hence I took a Global business class as well. Eventually, from freshmen year onward,I became serious and chose electives that would assemble me for my career. The intro to engineering class came to be one of my most essential classes, due to the great amount of communication and teamwork skills developed. Even though I planned on majoring in information technology, I also decided to attend business classes which would arise just as essential as the engineering course, furthermore beneficial for my future knowledge. As I started to get more involved in higher courses I visioned myself in the future holding a degree in Information Technology, having it framed up on the wall, right above my desk at a franchise company office, and also working strenuously on a business management degree. As of now, professional and long term goals have not finalized my lifetime objective. Personal goals have helped me grow up as a more mature person rather than a juvenile. In result to this, one of my personal targets would be to make sure my siblings follow the correct path as well. Academics and extracurricular activities both have played a major positive role on my life. Not only have I had fun experiencing them, but I also learned greatly essential lessons and skills that would be crucial for the years to come.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Russian Formalism free essay sample

A school of literary theory and analysis that emerged in Russia around 1915, devoting itself to the study of literariness, i. e. the sum of devices that distinguish literary language from ordinary language. In reaction against the vagueness of previous literary theories, it attempted a scientific description of literature (especially poetry) as a special use of language with observable features. This meant deliberately disregarding the contents of literary works, and thus inviting strong disapproval from Marxist critics, for whom formalism was a term of reproach. With the consolidation of Stalins dictatorship around 1929, Formalism was silenced as a heresy in the Soviet Union, and its centre of research migrated to Prague in the 1930s. Along with literariness, the most important concept of the school was that of defamiliarization: instead of seeing literature as a reflection of the world, Victor Shklovsky and his Formalist followers saw it as a linguistic dislocation. or a making strange. We will write a custom essay sample on Russian Formalism or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the period of Czech Formalism. Jan Mukarovsky further refined this notion in terms of foregrounding. In their studies of narrative, the Formalists also clarified the distinction between plot (sjazet) and story (fabula). Apart from Shklovsky and his associate Boris Eikhenbaum, the most prominent of the Russian Formalists was Roman Jakobson, who was active both in Moscow and in Prague before introducing Formalist theories to the United States. A somewhat distinct Russian group is the Bakhtin school comprising Mikhail Bakhtin, Pavlev Medvedev, and Valentin Voloshinov; these theorists combined elements of Formalism and Marxism in their accounts of verbal multi-accentuality and of the dialogic text. Russian Formalism considers literature as a special use of language which deviates from and distorts â€Å"practical† language to make the reader see differently. Language is therefore constructed in order to change our perceptions. According to Russian Formalism, poetry is the quintessential form of literary language, as it presents â€Å"speech organized in its entire phonic structure†, which deforms practical language to draw attention to itself. Form and Content According to Russian Formalism, to understand literature one has to look at the form as well as the content. Form and content for the first time in critical literary analysis were considered as one and intrinsically linked. Formalism stresses that meaning is conveyed from the connotations of the form and only by looking at the form can literary critics understand the text’s meaning. The form of the text is not only the receptacle of the content, but it provides a way of understanding the literary devices employed by the text. The form thus conveys the notion of textuality and how a work of art achieves its effects through its employed literary devices. Sjuzet and Fabula Russian Formalism made a distinction between sjuzet (plot) and fabula (story). The plot is strictly literary, whereas the story is merely raw material awaiting the organizing hand of a writer. The plot is not merely the events of the story but it also encompasses the literary devices used to narrate the story. Sterne in Tristam Shandy employs digressions, displacement of parts of the book, and extended descriptions to make up the novel’s form. In this case the plot is an actual violation of the expected chronological order of events. Free and Bound Literary Motifs A further concept in Russian Formalism is what Tomashevsky called motivation. A motif is the smallest unit of the plot, a single statement of action. Tomashevsky made a distinction between a free motif and a bound motif. A bound motif is required by the story, whereas a free motif while not essential to the story is the literary point of view of the text and its aesthetic quality. This concept is a reversal of the traditional view that literary devices are employed by content. According to Sterne, Tristam Shandy is a text totally devoid of motivation and entirely constructed out of formal devices which are bared. In contrast, motivation is employed by realism to give the illusion of the real and to allow the reader to naturalize the text. Defamiliarization and Laying Bare Literary Devices Russian Formalism challenged the traditional idea of critical literary analysis that art should conceal its literary devices. The Formalist school of thought refused to naturalize text by attributing it to the state of mind of the author, but instead it focused its critical writing on the novel’s literariness which checks naturalization. The concept of Shklovsky’s defamiliarization and laying bare a text’s literary devices influenced Bertolt Brecht’s alienation effect. Brecht’s alienation effect refrains the audience from empathizing with the protagonist so as not to miss the point the dramatist wishes to convey

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Free Essays on The Concious Of A Man

The Conscious of a Man The cruelty of war, the power of an alliance and the honor of a man are vividly described in Hernado Tellez short essay â€Å"Just Lather, That All†. In This short fiction story/essay Tellez tells a story that seems to real. It is almost as if he was describing what is going on today in Central and Southern American countries, such as Colombia. His story/essay is about one man who is caught in a dilemma during an encounter with his enemy. The dilemma of this man is his own conscious. It is strange how one mans conscious can go trough so many things, such as contradicting and asserting itself. And in this story/essay this occurs a lot as most of the story/essay is told from the conscious of the character. The character/man is a local barber who has great pride on his work, which is captured in a quote from pg. 700: â€Å"I am a good barber, the best in town, if I may say so†. He is also part of an alliance of rebels The dilemma of the barber starts when a Military group enters his work. The group is a team of soldiers whom haunts and kills rebels; and at the top of this group is a Captain named Torrez. Captain Torrez is a men who has a really bad image, he is painted in such a way that he resembles Fidel Castro in a line from pg. 699: â€Å"†¦he took off the bullet-studded belt that his gun holster dangled from. He hung it up on a wall hook and placed his military cap over it†. The barber is not pleased at all with this man being at his work â€Å"Damn him for coming because I’m a revolutionary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.701). The first thing that crosses the barber’s conscious is to kill the captain or to not kill the captain. This question in his mind is what begins the entire dilemma. He had never had the captain so close to him and it was not known that he was a revel. But the barber knew one thing from the beginning; Torrez was a customer in his shop and not an enemy. This is clear through the entire story... Free Essays on The Concious Of A Man Free Essays on The Concious Of A Man The Conscious of a Man The cruelty of war, the power of an alliance and the honor of a man are vividly described in Hernado Tellez short essay â€Å"Just Lather, That All†. In This short fiction story/essay Tellez tells a story that seems to real. It is almost as if he was describing what is going on today in Central and Southern American countries, such as Colombia. His story/essay is about one man who is caught in a dilemma during an encounter with his enemy. The dilemma of this man is his own conscious. It is strange how one mans conscious can go trough so many things, such as contradicting and asserting itself. And in this story/essay this occurs a lot as most of the story/essay is told from the conscious of the character. The character/man is a local barber who has great pride on his work, which is captured in a quote from pg. 700: â€Å"I am a good barber, the best in town, if I may say so†. He is also part of an alliance of rebels The dilemma of the barber starts when a Military group enters his work. The group is a team of soldiers whom haunts and kills rebels; and at the top of this group is a Captain named Torrez. Captain Torrez is a men who has a really bad image, he is painted in such a way that he resembles Fidel Castro in a line from pg. 699: â€Å"†¦he took off the bullet-studded belt that his gun holster dangled from. He hung it up on a wall hook and placed his military cap over it†. The barber is not pleased at all with this man being at his work â€Å"Damn him for coming because I’m a revolutionary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.701). The first thing that crosses the barber’s conscious is to kill the captain or to not kill the captain. This question in his mind is what begins the entire dilemma. He had never had the captain so close to him and it was not known that he was a revel. But the barber knew one thing from the beginning; Torrez was a customer in his shop and not an enemy. This is clear through the entire story...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How to Get Into Cornell 4 Expert Tips

How to Get Into Cornell 4 Expert Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell University is a member of the Ivy League and one of the most prestigious universities in the world. Every year, Cornell accepts several thousand new students as members of its incoming freshmen class. If you’re hoping to be one of them, you’ll need to make sure that your application is up to snuff. In this article, we’ll teach you exactly how to get into Cornell and talk about Cornell admission statistics so you know how you measure up against other applicants. How Hard Is It to Get Into Cornell? If you’re trying to get into Cornell, you might be wondering, â€Å"How hard is it to get into Cornell? Do I have a shot at admission?† In short: it's very hard to get into Cornell. Cornell is one of the most competitive schools in the world to get into, boasting an admissions rate of a little less than 10%. Cornell admission statistics indicate that Cornell accepts 10 out of every 100 students that apply. If you want to be one of those students, you’ll need to make sure that every part of your application (academics, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations) is as strong as possible. You’ll also need to make sure that you match up to what Cornell is looking for in its students. What Is Cornell Looking for in Its Students? Each year, tens of thousands of students apply to Cornell. Learning what stands out about the accepted applicants will help you learn how to get into Cornell. Simply put, those students possess the specific qualities Cornell looks for in its applicants: they have intellectual ability, character, involvement in their schools and communities, and a passion for Cornell itself. Your Cornell University application is a chance to demonstrate all of those qualities. Through your grades and test scores, you’ll show your academic ability. You’ll get a chance to highlight your involvement in your community and your passion for Cornell on different parts of your application, but most importantly, in your Cornell essays. Can You Apply to Cornell Early? Cornell University offers an early decision option to applicants. Early decision is binding - if you’re accepted to Cornell, you need to withdraw your applications to any other colleges or universities you might’ve applied to. By submitting your early decision application, you’re making a commitment to attend Cornell if you’re accepted. Don’t make this choice lightly - only apply early decision to Cornell if you really, really want to go to Cornell. If you do want to go to Cornell, applying early has its benefits. Cornell admissions statistics indicate that around a third of its freshman class during early decision. In 2018, Cornell had 51,000 total applicants, admitting 5,288 of them. Around 1,600 of those applicants applied early decision. Cornell Application Deadlines and Requirements Cornell is made up of seven different colleges. Each college has its own admissions requirements. However, there are some standard application requirements for all seven schools: The Common Application (CA) or Universal College Application (UCA) The School Report Counselor Recommendation Two Teacher Evaluations The Midyear Report, when your mid-year grades are available $80 application fee or fee waiver Required standardized test scores (only scores sent directly to us from testing agencies are accepted) Official secondary/high school transcript Cornell University Questions and Writing Supplement (CA) or Cornell Supplement (UCA) Depending on which school within Cornell you’re applying to, you may have to submit other supplementary materials. Here they are: SAT Subject Test Requirements Agriculture and Life Sciences: SAT Subject Tests are not required Architecture, Art, and Planning: SAT Subject Tests are not required Arts and Sciences: Two SAT Subject Tests of your choice Engineering: One mathematics SAT subject test (of any level) and one science SAT subject test Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: SAT Subject Tests are not required Human Ecology: SAT Subject Tests are not required Industrial and Labor Relations: SAT Subject Tests are not required Interview Requirements Formal admission interviews are required for applicants to the architecture program in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Formal admission interviews are offered for applicants to The School of Hotel Administration. Portfolio/Design Submission Requirements Some of the Cornell programs require portfolio or design assignments. Here's a look at what those are. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Landscape architecture program: portfolio required. Architecture, Art, and Planning Architecture program: file portfolio required Art program: portfolio required Human Ecology Design and environmental analysis program: design challenge required. Fashion design and management program: design supplement required. How to Get Into Cornell: GPA Requirements It’s extremely difficult to get into Cornell. You need to have a high GPA and demonstrate a history of undertaking challenging coursework to be competitive. The average unweighted GPA of admitted applicants to Cornell is 3.8. You’ll need to have mostly A’s on your report card to meet or exceed this average. That doesn’t mean, however, that you should stack your schedule with easy courses to get good grades. Cornell wants to see that you’re capable of challenging yourself academically. When possible, you should take honors, AP, or IB classes to show that you can handle tough academic coursework. How to Get Into Cornell: Test Score Requirements Your GPA is just one part of your academic record. Cornell also requires standardized tests to measure your academic preparedness for college. What SAT Scores Do I Need to Get Into Cornell? The average admitted applicant to Cornell scores a 1470 on the SAT. The average composite score of applicants in the 25th percentile is 1390; in the 75th percentile, it’s 1540. You’ll need to score a 1390 or above to be competitive with the other applicants vying for admission to Cornell. If your SAT scores aren’t where you want them to be, you should invest your time and energy into building and sticking to a solid training plan. What ACT Scores Do I Need to Get Into Cornell? The average admitted applicant to Cornell University scores a 33 on the ACT. The average score of students in the 25th percentile score 32; for students in the 75th percentile, it’s 34. Basically, this data means that you’ll need a 32 or above on your ACT in order to be seriously competitive with the test scores of your fellow applicants. How to Get Into Cornell: Cornell Essays Cornell requires that you answer one essay prompt only. The prompt you’ll answer depends on which college within Cornell you’re applying to. As with all college admissions essays, authenticity is key. You may have myriad scholastic interests, but for this essay, stick with what you know best and are most passionate about. Your potential topic must correspond with the areas of study at the college, too. Here are the 2018-19 Cornell University essay prompts: The primary focus of your college interest essay should be what you intend to study at Cornell. In the online Common Application Writing Supplement, please respond to the essay question below (maximum of 650 words) that corresponds to the undergraduate college or school to which you are applying. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected? Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced your choice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academic goals?†¯ College of Architecture, Art, and Planning: What is your â€Å"thing†? What energizes you or engages you so deeply that you lose track of time? Everyone has different passions, obsessions, quirks, inspirations. What are yours?† College of Arts and Sciences: Students in Arts and Sciences embrace the opportunity to delve into their academic interests, discover new realms of intellectual inquiry, and chart their own path through the College. Tell us why the depth, breadth, and flexibility of our curriculum are ideally suited to exploring the areas of study that excite you. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management: Affiliated with both the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management is unique by design. Explain how our approach to business education is the right fit for you, and how your interests, experiences or goals will contribute to the unique composition of the entering class. Cornell SC Johnson College of Business: School of Hotel Administration (SHA): The global hospitality industry includes hotel and food service management, real estate, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology, and law. Describe what has influenced your decision to study business through the lens of hospitality. What personal qualities make you a good fit for SHA? College of Engineering: Cornell Engineering celebrates innovative problem-solving that helps people, communities†¦ the world. Consider your ideas and aspirations and describe how a Cornell Engineering education would allow you to leverage technological problem-solving to improve the world we live in. College of Human Ecology: How have your experiences influenced your decision to apply to the College of Human Ecology? How will your choice of major impact your goals and plans for the future? School of Industrial and Labor Relations: Tell us about your intellectual interests, how they sprung from your course, service, work or life experiences, and what makes them exciting to you. Describe how ILR is the right school for you to pursue these interests. If you’re looking for tips on how to ace your Cornell essays, check out our dedicated blog post on this very topic. How to Get Into Cornell: General Tips It’s challenging to be one of the 10% of students accepted to Cornell each year, but if you work hard and polish your application, you can be one of them! Here are some tips for making sure your application is Cornell ready: #1: Pick the Right College Cornell is somewhat unique amongst the Ivy League in that it requires you to apply to one of the seven specific schools on campus. Make sure you pick the right one! If you’re interested in art, don’t apply to the College of Engineering just because you think engineering sounds interesting. Your choice of college should reflect the classes and activities you’ve been involved with to show that you’re prepared and actually intrigued by your potential course of study. #2: Demonstrate Your Love for Cornell Cornell wants you to want to go to Cornell - they say so right on their admissions page! You should use your Cornell essay to not only talk about the college you want to attend within Cornell, but why you want to attend the university as a whole. Speak honestly about what attracts you to Cornell. And don’t just say its stellar academic reputation - pick real, concrete reasons that affect you as an individual. If the academic reputation is important to you (and it likely is), tie it back to how that’ll affect you personally. What will attending one of the best schools on the planet help you achieve? The more authentic excitement you can demonstrate, the better! #3: Be Honest The admissions committee at Cornell has to read through tens of thousands of applications every year. Applications that are trite, boring, and cliche will be shuffled straight to the â€Å"REJECTED† pile. Your application should be true to you - not who you think the admissions committee wants you to be. #4: Show Off Your Spike A spike is something that makes you stand out. Something that no (or very few) other applicants have. Your application won’t stand out if you’re second string on the football team and a non-office-holding member of student council. It will stand out if you single-handedly organize a huge fundraiser to benefit an issue close to your heart or perform at Lincoln Center with your wind ensemble. When your focus is on one thing, you’ll be better at it than if you have to split your time and attention. It will also be more impressive on your resume. What’s Next? Want to rock your Cornell admissions essays? Learn all about the Cornell required essays here. Are youworking on the Common App essayas part of your application? Read our breakdown of the Common App prompts and our guide to picking the best prompt for you. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Tisse pathology dissertation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Tisse pathology dissertation - Essay Example Once there is a failed system through the natural functioning of the immune system, doctors and pharmacists try to intervene through diagnosis and pharmacology (quote). It is important to state however that in order for the roles of the medical professionals to be successful, an important component of the disease they have to consider is the pathology of the disease. This paper is therefore dedicated to finding the pathologic processes involved in the disease of Crohns Disease. Crohns disease is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases that mainly affect the gastrointestinal tract of a person (quote). There are other known inflammatory bowel diseases but in the case of Crohns disease, the target of infection has often been the gastrointestinal area from the mouth to the anus and comes with several imploratory symptoms. Due to the fact that there may be other diseases with similar description as the Crohns disease, it is very important that the forthcoming symptoms of the disease are critically examined to be sure if it is really Crohns disease. Symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss and vomiting, with some outward symptomatic complications outside of the gastrointestinal including arthritis, tiredness and skin rashes should commonly be looked out for (quote). Because of the target area of the disease, it has often been called the regional enteritis, referring to the fact that gastrointestinal (GI) tract with common emphasis on the end part of the small intestine is the worse target point. In the figure below, the specific organ within the human system that Crohns disease attacks, making it have the name of regional enteritis is exhibited. Medically, Crohns disease presents a perfect case of what may be called no respecter of persons as it affects men equally as it affects women. Both men and women may therefore get Crohns disease on the same probability basis. The disease has also been recorded in almost people of every age

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Compare one type of contraception known as Depo-Provera and the Essay

Compare one type of contraception known as Depo-Provera and the biological mechanisms that it uses to different types of contraception and the mechanisms that t - Essay Example Each ml of Depo-Provera contains 150 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate. The chemical name of medroxyprogesterone acetate is pregn-4-ene-3, 20-dione, 17- (acetyyloxy)-6- methyl-, (6 alpha)-. The serum half-life of the drug is 50 days. Following a single dose of 150 mg given intramuscularly, the peak plasma levels of 1-7 ng/ml are attained at 3 weeks. After this peak, the levels gradually decrease between 120-200 days following injection. The effect of liver or renal diseases on the pharmacokinetics of the drug is unknown. It decreases plasma levels of cortisol, estrogen, pregnendiol, progesterone and testesterone. It also decreases levels of gonadotrophins and sex-hormone binding globulin (Drug Label, Depo-Provera). The only indication for the use of this drug is contraception. It is an effective contraceptive with less than 1 pregnancy per 100 users per year (Population Reports, BNET Research). It can also be used in the treatment of endometriosis, abnormal menstrual bleeding or amenorrhea (Chrousos, p.663). Like other progestins, medroxyprogesterone acetate enters the cell and binds to progesterone receptors that are distributed between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. The ligand-receptor complex then binds to a progesterone response element to activate gene transcription (Chrousos, p.663). It prevents follicular maturation and ovulation and causes endometrial thinning. These actions produce the contraceptive effect (Drug Label, Depo-Provera). DMPA is contraindicated in pregnant women. This is because there is some evidence suggesting the development of genital abnormalities in fetuses exposed to this drug in the first trimester. Also, studies have shown that the babies may have low birth weight which can increase the risk of neonatal complications. Though the metabolites of DMPA are secreted in breast milk, no apparent hazard to the feeding baby is known. Other contraindications include vaginal bleeding of unknown

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Essay Example for Free

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula Essay Stability in the Arabian Peninsula region has been a concern for the United States for some time now. AQAP poses a direct threat against the U.S. and U.S. interests of Stability and Security in the Arabian Peninsula. This instability and threat is why I have chosen the AQAP as the FTO to research making the next attack. The AQAP comes from the merging of the al Qaeda cells from Yemen and in Saudi Arabia. There are approximately one –two hundred members, with thousands of supporters. The merger took place in January 2009, due to the success of the Saudi Arabian government in destroying al Qaeda’s infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. AQAP is a subsidiary of the al Qaeda, whose center of gravity is in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but works independently of its parent organization. Since formation occurred, they are responsible for a number of attacks on the â€Å"West† and are considered responsible parties of the â€Å"UPS and FEDEX cargo bombing attempts† (Kurczy, 2010). They were deemed a terrorist organization on December 14, 2009, by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (Gerstein, 2010). Prior to the formation of AQAP, al Qaeda claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Those attacks include: the 1993 attack on World Trade Center, 1998 suicide bombings of Embassies, the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, and the 2008 car bombing outside the U.S. Embassy in Sana’ killing 19 people including 6 of the terrorists (Poland, 2005 ). AQAP has claimed to plan on targeting oil facilities, tourists, and security forces in the future. It is believed though that AQAP provided spiritual guidance by U.S. Citizen Anwar al Awlaki to U.S. Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who was the gunman behind the 2009 Ft. Hood killings and the December 2009 attempt to down a passenger airline to Detroit. Responsible parties to these terroristic events are said to be that of the top five â€Å"key leaders† of AQAP. These men include are in order of their rank from the top spot of leaders to the last. 1. Ibrahim Hassan al-Asiri, aka the bomb maker. He is believed to be the creator of the bombs intercepted in October last year on cargo planes. 2. Anwar al-Awlaki, aka the chief ideologue. He is suspected of being part of three unsuccessful terrorist attacks to include the Fort Hood Shootings (Bryant, C., Kasinof, L., 2010), bombing attempt on airliner jet on Christmas, and the Times Square bombing on May 2. 3. Said Ali al-Shihri, deputy chief of AQAP. He is suspected of participation in  September 2008 US Embassy attack and the kidnapping of nine missionaries in June 2009 according to Fox News. 4. Qasim al-Raymi, military commander. He followed Osama bin Laden’s lead on media releases â€Å"building an ever-more sophisticated propaganda arm for al Qaeda in Arabian Penin sula† (Kurczy, 2010). 5. Nasir al Wuhayshi, head of AQAP. Known as the personal secretary of Osama bin Laden (Kurczy, 2010). Most of AQAP is made up of fighters that returned from Afghanistan during the Russian invasion and fighters that have been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They lure new recruits who are sympathetic to al Qaeda and have animosity towards the U.S. and western nations. The recruiting pool is vast in the region with fighters fleeing Iraq and Afghanistan and relocating to Yemen and Somalia. Both countries have weak central governments that are conducive for lawlessness in the region and have vast ungoverned territory. Government cooperation with American counter-terrorism efforts has historically been spotty and portions of both populations are hostile to the United States. (Kerry, 2010) AQAP aims to overthrow the Yemeni government for its support to the U.S. and its offensive operations against al Qaeda. The group also emphasizes its global ambitions and desire to target western interests within the region. Additionally, AQAP has stated it will focus on cutting supply lines of western nations supporting Israel and looks to expand its influence throughout the region (Boucek, 2010). The animosity against the western nations continues to grow, as does the technology and ideas for new weapons. The newest information is that a poisoned perfume plot against religious and government officials was prevented due to arrest of 149 al Qaeda suspects. This is just an example of the creativity AQAP has come up with. Last summer the country’s Deputy Interior Minister had been attempted to be assassinated by a bomber with the weapon in his anus (Rawnsley, 2010). These weapons are just the newest form used by AQAP. Yemen has emerged as a major staging base for al Qaeda and other likeminded groups for attacking American targets within Yemen as well as to reach targets outside of Yemen including the United States. U.S. officials have warned that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula was a growing threat even before the failed 2009, Christmas Day airline bombing attempt (Kerry, 2010). In February 2009, Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair stated that, â€Å"Yemen is reemerging as a jihadist battleground and potential regional base of operations for Al Qaeda  to plan internal and external attacks, train terrorists, and facilitate the movement of operatives.† (Rollins, 2010). The threat coming from AQAP is greater than the threat coming from al Qaeda’s central leadership located in Pakistan. AQAP is increasingly a more pressing concern for U.S. national security. AQAP has relative freedom of movement in the Arabian Peninsula and region which allows for its ability to increase its ranks through recruitment as well as its ability to train new recruits. Additionally, AQAP has also shown its ability to influence other like-minded individuals to conduct attacks to our homeland with little to no warning. AQAP has proven it has the means and capability to attempt to conduct attacks globally although it has yet to be successful. It is only a matter of time before they possess the ability and trained personnel that are able to conduct something equal to or greater than the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. AQAP poses a direct threat to the U.S. and U.S. interest of stability and security in the Arabian Peninsula. AQAP is capable of every threat that has been uttered against the US and western countries. The US as well as the other western territories that are considered allies against AQAP, can end or at least moderate the terroristic threat by â€Å"interdicting terrorists, disrupt their planning, restrict their travel, reduce the flow of financial (EO 13224 signed 9/23/01) and material support to terrorist groups, and enable partner governments to assert control over weakly governed territory where terrorists find sanctuary† (US Department of State, 2005). The Antiterrorism Assistance program is a well used deterrent against FTO’s such as AQAP. The AQAP became a bigger threat than al Qaeda, and the instability and security issues within the Arabian Peninsula are threats we must contend with. With the knowledge and training gained since the imperative attacks on American soil in 2001, we can deter and detain these terrorists and protect our homeland and allies. The ideologies and animosity against the US and other western nations are targeted towards the recruiting of others who sympathize with al Qaeda. Preemptive and retaliatory methods are other forces to use to impede the AQAP’s threats and/or attacks. It is also noted in the Country Reports that by American’s helping partner nations in the quest for improving their abilities to detect and prevent terrorist activities this will clearly enhance the overall security of all nations (US Department of State, 2005). References Boucek, Christopher (2010). Terrorism out of Yemen. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Retrieved from http://carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=viewid=41705 References Bryant, C., Kasinof, L. (2010, October 29). Suspicious UPS, FedEx packages raise new concerns about Al Qaeda in Yemen. Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost CPJ. (2008, April 15). Iraq: Journalists Abducted 2003-09. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from Committee to Protect Journalists: Defending Journalists Worldwide: http://cpj.org/reports/2008/04/abducted.php. Gerstein, Josh (2010). Clinton named Al Qaeda Yemen as terror group. Politico. Retrieved from http://www.politico.com/blogs/joshgerstein/0110/Clinton_named_AlQaeda_Yemen_as_terror_group_a_month_ago.html Kerry, John (2010). Al Qaeda in Yemen and Somalia: A ticking Time Bomb. Committee on foreign relations United States Senate. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2010_rpt/sfrc-aq.pdf Kurczy, S. (2010, November 2). Five key members of Al Qaeda in Yemen (AQAP). Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Poland, J. (2005 ). Understanding terrorism: Groups, strategies, and responses 2nd edition. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Rawnsley, A. (2010, December 7). Danger Room Whats Next in National Security. Retrieved March 15, 2011, from Wired: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/12/al-qaedas-latest-weapon-poison-perfume/ Rollins, John (2010). Al Qaeda and Affiliates: Historical Perspective, Global Presence, and Implications for U.S. Policy. Congressional research Service. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/R41070.pdf US Department of National Security. (2006). The National Security Strategy of the United States of America. Washington DC: USDOS. US Department of State. (2005). Country Reports on Terrorism 2004. Washington DC: US Government.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

USA Patriot Act Essay -- American Government Rights Freedom Essays

USA Patriot Act The USA Patriot Act, actually named the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism act, was created to deter and punish terrorist acts in the United State and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes. It was passed by President Bush in October of 2001. he USA Patriot Act gave the FBI and other agencies more power to investigate, created a Counterterrorism Fund, and made it illegal to aid and/or harbor terrorists. The Act was a good one to pass, and it has many good ideas and policies, but the Act contains several policies that are unconstitutional due to the rights of the First Amendment. The attacks on September 11th, 2001 were devastating. It was the first time since Pearl Harbor that the United States had been attacked on home soil. The threat to America was great, attorney general John Ashcroft responded by making the USA Patriot Act to help fight against the terrorist threat. In a time when fighting terrorism was the nation’s number one priority, the entire congress agreed on the Act, and passed it without any significant changes. The power given to the FBI and other agencies provided what was needed to capture enough terrorists to get the fight off of American land. The Patriot Act allowed the United States government the power and authority to look for terrorists in ways that was never done before. Evidence could be collected on any suspect and used in court, almost regardless of how it was required. It was almost like saying, â€Å"forget the rules, we need to protect ourselves†. At the time, the USA Patriot Act was a good thing, because the average American didn’t have to wo... ...ed. The notion that the FBI can ‘censor’ books by putting people on a watch list for reading them in a public domain is terrible, especially since the government is against censoring and banning books due to free speech rights. The idea that the government can stop a person’s expression because it ‘aids’ terrorism is also a horrible one. They might as well say that criticizing the government aids terrorism, and therefore should be punishable. The USA Patriot Act was an effective system when it was created. Without it, capturing the remaining terrorists in the United States would have been next to impossible. It was essential to solving that problem. Now that the fight against terrorism is off of American soil, the Act is no longer necessary in the fight. The USA Patriot Act should be repealed and declared unconstitutional. It violates the rights of every American.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman Essay

Characters and settings in the book Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman help the reader to understand the themes and issues in Afghanistan. The themes of war, freedom, oppression and hope are particularly show through the characters of Jamal and his mother and through the settings of Afghanistan and the boat. This book is written in first person point of view, which helps the reader to understand how war affects children and how women are treated in Afghanistan. Body Paragraph 1 The character Jamal shows the effect of war on children through his daily life in Afghanistan. This is show when Jamal says â€Å" There’s no smoke or nerve gas or sandstorms. I can’t even hear any explosions. Which is really good.† Pg1 This quote highlights the effect of war on the children through the language Jamal uses which shows that it is a regular occurance. The boo shows the reader how war has effected children in Afghanistan and helps the reader to understand it more as it is from a child’s point of view. The book has shown the reader how tough life is for children and the conditions that they live in, in Afghanistan. Body Paragraph 2 The character of Jamal’s mother shows the effect of freedom and oppression through her daily life as a woman in Afghanistan. This is shown through the quote â€Å"Girls playing soccer is a crime. I say. Almost as big as mum and dad running an illegal school.† This quote shows how Jamal’s mother is running an illegal school as the government does not allow women to become teachers. This is shown through the restrictions she faces which the government have made rules. The book has shown the reader what life is like for the women living in Afghanistan and how harsh the government are towards women. It has also shown the reader how very little rites women have and how many rites men have compared to women. Body Paragraph 3 The setting of the boat shows the theme hope through the challenges Jamal, Bibi and their friends face. This can be shown through the quote â€Å"Pay full price, or we turn back†¦. I haven’t got anything he croaks in a tiny voice nor have I.† This quote shows that Jamal and Bibi have a lot of hope and belief even though they have no ide where their parents are and if they are ever going to see them again. This book has shown you must have courage, hope and belief to get through tough times even though it may not be easy. Conclusion Morris Gleitzman shows the themes and issues through the characters and settings in the book Boy Overboard. The reader is shown how tough it is for children especially as on the it is always about the people smugglers but this book focus’s on how war and conflict effects children and I show shown through a young boy named Jamal.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Hypertension Among Tribal Population Health And Social Care Essay

Ischemic Heart Disease is one the major causes of decease in developed states. It is increasing being recognized as a major slayer in developing states like India that are presently undergoing demographic and epidemiological passage. Although IHD has a broad gamut of hazard factors like unhealthy dietetic form, serum cholesterin, age, physical activity, high blood pressure remains a major underpin that accelerates the hazard of future IHD. Hypertension is besides being widely investigated because of our ability to observe and pull off it easy and besides the potency for community degree intercession, sing the non-modifiable nature of other hazard factors and every bit good as the restricted feasibleness for intercession as a public wellness step. India has started the national programme for control of NCDs in maintaining with its committedness to react to emerging wellness jobs during the passage. In order to better understand the natural history of IHD many epidemiological surveies have been undertaken. In this context tribal populations have been investigated for IHD hazard factors both in western states and India every bit good. Tribal populations provide a particular epidemiological window to take a closer expression at the natural history of IHDs, based on our given that such populations have a life manner much different from that of modern society which is considered a major determiner of IHD. Tribal people live a hurried life, without the fiscal emphasiss of the modern society, their day-to-day life necessitating moderate to heavy physical activity and their diet forms remain mostly un-penetrated by the high salt, high fat nutrient civilization. This premise holds good as long the tribal people remain unacculturated. The procedure of socialization strips these people of the protective consequence that their traditional ways have provided hitherto. In India tribal population constitutes about 8 % of the entire population. Majority of them reside in the provinces of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Several surveies have been done to gauge the prevalence of high blood pressure in tribal population. Most of these surveies are from the southern parts of the state. It has been by and large accepted that the prevalence of HTN in tribal population is low but recent surveies have found higher prevalence. We did a systematic reappraisal to place all surveies done in tribal population that estimated HTN prevalence.MethodologyLiterature huntTwo writers independently ran hunts for the cardinal words high blood pressure, tribal, prevalence, India, hazard factors, coronary bosom disease and ischaemic bosom disease. The Boolean operators AND and OR were both used. The databases searched were MEDLINE, INDMED, Science Citation Index and Google Scholar. Documents of national bureaus like ICMR, NIN and other related organisations were besides searched. The members of the ICMR Expert Group on HTN besides provided suggestions for including certain surveies. Cross mentions of all the articles ab initio obtained were besides searched. Hand hunt was done in BBDL and NML. In instance of merely the abstract being available efforts were made to reach the corresponding writer bespeaking the full text. Articles published till September 2012 were searched. Attempts were made to look for gray literature li ke unpublished informations, theses and thesiss. Articles published in other linguistic communications were besides searched if they had a elaborate sum-up in English with the indispensable figures. Extras were removed. If more than one article was published from a survey the article that provided the most appropriate informations and/or the most late published was included. Each article was assessed for quality utilizing standard checklists like CASP/STROBE and information was extracted on predefined spreadsheets. Study features that were considered to hold an impact on the prevalence of HTN were extracted. The inclusion standards were spelled out based on the undermentioned – ( 1 ) It should a primary research. ( 2 ) A geographically and temporally defined population. ( 3 ) Cross-sectional survey or informations, or first stage of a longitudinal survey ( 4 ) Defined diagnostic standards stated for Hypertension ( 5 ) Well defined age group ( 6 ) Community based survey ( 8 ) Published in English, or with elaborate sum-ups in English ( 10 ) Provides prevalence informations with appropriate statistics for computation of consequence sizes. In instance of discordance between the writers for inclusion, consensus of the 3rd writer was sought. In instance two different writers reported the same survey as different articles, merely the first published art icle was included.Consequences:A sum of 16 surveies including two NNMB studies were retrieved ab initio. One article ( Mandani et al, 2011 ) was excluded because it reported the same information as given in another survey ( Tiwari RR, 2008 ) . Two of the articles published by Dash SC et Al ( 1986, 1994 ) seemed to be describing on the same information and therefore the most late published article ( 1994 ) was included and the 1986 article was excluded. Full text of one of the articles published by Mukhopadhyay B et Al ( 1996 ) could non be retrieved and the abstract did non provided sufficient information and hence excluded. The NNMB survey done in 2004-05 published as Technical Report No: 24 ( 2006 ) included Scheduled Tribes as one the survey population but provided neither sample size informations nor prevalence informations for this sub-population. Hence this information could non be used. After all these exclusions, a sum of 12 articles ( including one NNMB tribal study ) were taken up for farther reappraisal. In entire these articles provided informations on 23 sub-populations. There was a big grade of heterogeneousness among the surveies in footings of the age groups studied, trying scheme, survey scene, instruments used to mensurate blood force per unit area ( quicksilver vs. electronic ) , individual or multiple BP measurings, standard standards used for categorization of high blood pressure, socialization position of the folks and eventually the consequence of clip period over which the surveies were conducted. The earliest survey found was done in 1981 by Dash SC et Al and the most recent surveies were done in 2009. Merely five surveies were done before the twelvemonth 2000 and the remainder after that. The survey size varied widely between 50 and 47400. Except for two surveies which had used electronic setups, all other surveies have used quicksilver sphygmomanometer ( this information was non available for one survey ) . Almost all the surveies have used a cut-off of 140/90 for the diagnosing of high blood pressure ( JNC VII, ADA or WHO ) but two surveies used a cutoff of 160/95 ( this information was non available for one survey ) . Almost all the surveies used multiple readings of blood force per unit area ( two or three ) for the concluding diagnosing of high blood pressure ( this information was non available for one survey ) . Surveies were non available in all the provinces of the state ; even states known to hold a big proportion of tribal population ( like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, NE provinces ) were left out. Most of the surveies were carried out in southern provinces.S. No.Name of the province in which survey was carried outNumber1 Andhra Pradesh 3 2 Orissa 3 3 Kerala 1 4 Sikkim 1 5 Gujarat 1 6 Andaman & A ; Nicobar Island 1 7 Rajasthan 1 8 Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka ( 9 provinces survey ( 2009 ) by NNMB ) 1 Most of the surveies were done in big population of both sexes aged & gt ; = 16 or 18 or 20 old ages ( this information was non available for two surveies ) . One peculiar survey entirely included aged population aged & gt ; 60 old ages. Sexual activity wise prevalence was available merely for nine sub-populations. All the surveies explicitly provided the name and socialization position of the folk studied except for the NNMB study ( 2009 ) . The most common sampling scheme adopted by these surveies was simple random trying followed by multistage sampling and non-random sampling. The overall survey quality ranged from just to good. Most of the surveies were of good quality. One survey did non supply adequate information to measure survey quality. The prevalence of high blood pressure reported in these surveies ranged from 0 % to 50 % ( excepting the survey done among aged population ) . The prevalence of high blood pressure reported in surveies done before the twelvemonth 2000 ranged from 0 % to 23 % and that reported in surveies done after 2000 ranged from 17 % to 50 % ( excepting the survey done among aged population ) . The prevalence of high blood pressure in acculturated folks ranged from 0.25 % to 50 % , whereas in unacculturated folks it ranged from 0 % to 31 % . This shows that socialization might move as a determiner of high blood pressure in tribal population. There is an obviously increasing tendency in the prevalence high blood pressure in tribal population ( Fig 1 ) . This figure was obtained by come ining the maximal prevalence reported by the surveies in a peculiar twelvemonth. The prevalence was higher in certain population subgroups which were deemed have particular features like higher consumption of intoxic ant or salt tea, prevailing baccy mastication or toddy imbibing wonts or aged as compared to subgroups which didnaa‚Â ¬a„?t have such particular features.DecisionThe broad scope of prevalence reported in these surveies is unequal to deduce any valid decisions about the prevalence of high blood pressure in tribal population. Surveies with more unvarying methodological analysis should be carried out in a representative sample to obtain a better apprehension of the issue. A good planned follow up survey will turn to the inquiries raised about cogency of the findings reported in this reappraisal. A comparative prevalence survey between acculturated and unacculturated folk is necessary for an in-depth apprehension of the natural history of high blood pressure.Consequences of preliminary meta-analysis ( random effects ) with sensitiveness analysisS.No.Nature of the surveiesNo. of surveies includedPrevalence1 All surveies 23 14.0 2 All surveies ( excepting survey on aged ) 19 11.3 3 Unacculturated tribes* 12 8.2 4 Acculturated folks * 10 20.3 5 Acculturated folks ( excepting survey on aged ) * 9 17.0 6 No particular features in the population studied* 14 6.7 7 Particular features in the population studied* 8 31.7 8 Particular features in the population studied ( excepting survey on aged ) * 4 30.6 9 Surveies done prior to twelvemonth 2000 12 5.3 10 Surveies done after twelvemonth 2000 11 28.3 11 Surveies done after twelvemonth 2000 ( excepting survey on aged ) 7 26.1 * Excludes NNMB survey due to miss of needed information * Excludes NNMB survey due to miss of needed informationRanking of the nature of surveies harmonizing to increasing prevalence of HTNS.No.Nature of the surveiesNo. of surveies includedPrevalence1Surveies done prior to twelvemonth 2000125.32No particular features in the population studied*146.73Unacculturated tribes*128.24Acculturated folks ( excepting survey on aged ) *917.05Acculturated folks *1020.36Surveies done after twelvemonth 2000 ( excepting survey on aged )726.17Surveies done after twelvemonth 20001128.38Particular features in the population studied ( excepting survey on aged ) *430.69Particular features in the population studied*831.7* Excludes NNMB survey due to miss of needed information The lowest prevalence was seen in surveies done prior to twelvemonth 2000, in populations with no particular features and among unacculturated folks. Reasonably high prevalence was seen in surveies done after the twelvemonth 2000 and in acculturated folks. The highest prevalence was seen in surveies done among population with particular features.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

How To Write One Of The Most Important Essays At College

How To Write One Of The Most Important Essays At College Helpful Tips on Writing a College Application Essay One of the most important college assignments is the college application essay. And this type of essays is absolutely different from all those you used to write throughout high school. It is not like a persuasive or argumentative essay, a college application essay allows you to be more creative and show yourself through writing. In this case, you will have to create not just a good essay but a really excellent one. But don’t be scared at once, everything is not that complicated. Thanks to the following guide, we are sure you will be able to master those skills as soon as possible. The Definition of a College Application Essay Sometimes, a college application essay is called an admissions essay, personal statement (statement), application essay, or purpose. The applicants are frequently asked to write several such essays, though some institutions might ask you to write just one. As a rule, you will be asked to complete just one question selected, though it’s possible to choose from several ones, too. The topics can be really specific or vice versa, very wide to write on. Most often, the essay statements are connected with three topics – talents of the applicant, the significance of the chosen area of expertise, and mutual benefits. If you are assigned a college application essay about the applicant’s talents, you should write about your life experience and why you are a serious candidate. You will have to share your dedication to art or sports, overcoming various obstacles, etc. If you are assigned a college application essay on the importance of the chosen field, you will have to share your academic pursuits and goals to show how ambitious you are. Mutual benefit questions should show why you would benefit from admission and why the college would benefit from such a student as you. Your main task is to give a unique answer to question and show your best sides. Format of a College Application Essay As a rule, college applications are being written online, so you will have to create your essay in a text box. At first, it is necessary to type it in Microsoft Word (or other compatible programs) and paste it to the text box. Make sure to check if everything is spaced properly to avoid various cutoffs. There is no certain structure set for formatting a college application essay. Some teachers insist that it’s necessary to follow the five-paragraph structure; however, it is not mandatory at all. Your essay has to be well-written and unique. And writing it in a five-paragraph structure won’t help you be accepted to college. Your essay should have an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. However, it might consist of four, five, or even six paragraphs in total. All you need is not to forget about the word limit. How to Write a College Application Online Read the task and write down your ideas on paper. Here there is no need to restrict yourself, just let your ideas flow from your imagination and answer the question the best way possible. You might write your best answer from the very first idea, and it might take some time to think and choose the best answer. Keep in mind that the most unique, honest, and the attention-capturing answer will be the best one. Create a hook, which is the first sentence that will grab the reader’s attention and will be relevant to the prompt. Your essay doesn’t have to be one of the thousands of those essays the members of the admission committee read every day. It has to stand out from them all! For that reason, it is the most important sentence of your entire essay, while it promises your reader that the rest of the writing is really smart, interesting, and worth his or her time. Do not reply as hundreds of other applicants, but write something unpredictable, something vivid and something that will make your reader keep reading your writing. Once you have finished with the hook, it’s time to write an introductory paragraph, which will make the reader acquainted with the subject. The last sentence contains an overall thesis. You won’t have to prove the thesis here like when writing other types of essays. But a single point orbiting around is mandatory for a college application essay. If you are asked why the college will help you reach your goals, you will have to address this question in your introductory paragraph final sentence writing something like: In my opinion, this college will help me reach my top dream helping people by becoming a great dentist. However, it is not too unique and interesting. Instead, it’s better to write something like: I have always been concerned about human suffering, so I believe educating studying to become a dentist at such a great university is the best way to help people cope with their pain. Each body paragraph has to start from a very strong topic sentence and contain good examples to support your unique or life perspective. And your final paragraph has to link the reader to why you exactly need to study at that school. Create your first draft. Once you have your opening sentence, good outline, and an overall imagination of what you want to say in your body paragraphs, start to write. It would be perfect if you could take a one-hour or even more break and after that, read it again. When rereading your draft, you should underline everything that seems too weak to you, eliminate the repetitions and misspellings. The draft should flow very smoothly and sound engaging, so can rewrite it as many times as necessary. Now you can ask your family member, friend, or any other trusted person to read it and give their feedback. Ask for honest feedback from them, so they could tell you exactly what part is weak or boring. If necessary, make revisions. Now you can even put it away for a couple of days and only then reread it. once you feel comfortable with it, you can submit it online. Topics for Your College Application Online As a rule, students are being assigned a particular topic, but sometimes they may ask you to choose from five or seven topics. There are even cases when the college asks you to write on your own topic you feel comfortable with. Below, there are some topics to choose from and make them your own: Describe the biggest challenge you’ve overcome. What was your biggest failure and what lesson you took from it? Have you ever disappointed someone you love or care for and what lesson you took from it? What profession do you consider to be the noblest and why? They say every family is weird. What about yours? How the weirdness of your family made you grow into a better person? Who of the public figures you would like to interview and why? What lesson did you take from one of your flaws? What childhood memory embodies the best who you are today? What social issue is the most compelling for you and why? Is there any law you would like to change? Why? Conclusion The college application essay is one of the most challenging and important assignments for any student. And an average student often finds it very complicated and scary. And it happens for some good reasons, while a great essay will open lots of doors for you. If you are not sure about having good skills to write your best college application essay, you can use our tips and make them yours, as well as read some of the college application essay examples to get a better idea of how it’s better to create the essay of your life. Remember that your future might depend on your college application essay, so it’s necessary to put some efforts and get some special skills to show your best self to the commission!

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The Meaning of Tenir in French and How to Use the Verb

The Meaning of Tenir in French and How to Use the Verb Tenir is an irregular verb ending in -ir and usually means to hold or to keep. Tenir has a number of other meanings, including some which depend on the preposition that follows. Its used in a number of French expressions. Meanings of Tenir Tenir usually means to hold or to keep: Quest-ce quil tient la main?  Translation: What is he holding in his hand?Je dois tenir les enfants par la main. Translation: I need to hold the kids hands.Tenez les yeux fermà ©s. Translation: Keep your eyes closed.Il faut tenir cette affiche en place. Translation: You need to hold this poster in place. Additional Meanings To have/keep under control: Vous tenez bien votre classe.Translation: You have your class under control. To run/manage (a business): Qui tient le magasin?Translation: Whos running the store? To organize (an event): Le comità © tient une sà ©ance chaque mois.Translation: The committee holds a meeting every month. To handle, be able to accept: Elle ne tient pas lalcool. (informal)Translation: She cant hold her liquor. To keep: Je tiens toujours mes promesses.I always keep my promises. To take up, fulfill: Cette table tient trop de place.Translation: This table takes up too much room Tenir Tenir may be followed by a noun, an infinitive, or a clause. When followed by a noun, it means either to value, care about, be attached to or to be due to, stem from: Je ne tiens pas son opinion. Translation: I dont care about his opinion. quoi tient son succà ¨s? Translation: What is the secret of his success? When followed by an infinitive or ce que subjunctive, tenir means to be anxious/eager: Je tiens vous remercier. Translation: Im eager to thank you.Il tient ce que tu sois laise. Translation: Hes anxious for you to feel comfortable. Tenir can also be used to mean to depend on - most commonly with ne___ qu: Cela ne tient qu toi de choisir. Translation: Its up to you to choose. The choice depends (only) on you.Cela ne tient pas qu moi. Translation: It doesnt depend on me alone. Tenir de Tenir de means to take after/resemble, to have to do with: Elle tient de sa mà ¨re. Translation: She takes after her mother.Cela tient du miracle. Translation: That seems like a miracle, Theres something miraculous about that. Se Tenir Reflexively, tenir means to hold (oneself), to be in a position, or to behave: Pourquoi se tient-il la jambe? Translation: Why is he holding his leg?Je me tenais par une main. Translation: I held myself (up) with one hand.Tu dois te tenir debout. Translation: You have to stand up.Nous nous tenons prà ªts partir. Translation: Were prepared to leave.Elle se tient bien. Translation: Shes well-behaved.Tiens-toi tranquille! Translation: Behave yourself! Be quiet! Se tenir can also be used intransitively with many of the meanings in the first section (to hold a meeting, to be connected, etc) Present Tense Conjugations je tienstu  tiensil tientnous  tenonsvous  tenezï » ¿ils  tiennent

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Failed IT project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Failed IT project - Essay Example The Affordable Care Act – MNsure project in Minnesota cost more than $150M USD. The project failed due to the following: Strong sponsorship, as well as solid requirements, is particularly tricky to come by in a political setting. It is because many individuals along with group stakeholders argue with one another then alter the project (Keegan, Huemann, and Turner 2). Applying the political course of lengthy arguments, consensus-building along with numerous agendas to defining project requirements brings disaster. To avoid this failure, the contractors doing the government work should have discouraged changes. The contractors saw a chance to grow the project scope with work of a much higher-margin because change orders are usually much more profitable compared to the original bid. Another way to avoid the failure was to have adequate sponsorship and strong requirements. Insufficient sponsorship and weak requirements were merged with a waterfall development methodology together with the overall big bang technique used by the government procurement methods. Keegan, Anne, Martina Huemann, and J.  R. Turner. "Beyond the Line: Exploring the HRM Responsibilities of Line Managers, Project Managers and the HRM Department in Four Project-oriented Companies in the Netherlands, Austria, the UK and the USA." International Journal of Human Resource Management  (2012): n. pag.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Musical Jersey Boys Production analysis paper Assignment

Musical Jersey Boys Production analysis paper - Assignment Example When the group started, their story emerged as four stories. Each story represented one of their career season told by different members of the group. Their earliest beginnings occurred during spring. They harmonized this on a balmy evening under a street lamp. According to the group, the zenith of success is during the season of summer. The beginning of autumn is when their fortunes take a toll because the marriages and lives of the members of the group begin to unravel. According to the group, the winter season comes with a lot of reflection, sorrow, and solitude. There is, however, a wide variation when the recollection of individual members of the group is done with their historys broad outlines. It is from these members conflicting memories, torque and tension that the bounce of their music originates and thus revving their music further and thereby giving the group a momentum that is irresistible. The story of Jersey Boys occurs within a four seasons symbolic year though their stories cover a period of several decades in the life of the group. The group started their career in mid-1950s. It is when the rock and roll phenomenon metamorphosised into a lounge music and propriety staid era. It opened the doors and also vented the rebellion and the life force of a large new generation. The first two members of Jersey Boys Valli and Elvis recorded their first albums in 1953 and after that displayed staying unusual power. The Four Seasons hit the pop charts forty times in the 1960s, something unusual because most bands could have disintegrated. The strength of the four seasons was demonstrated when the group remained together under the onslaught of the added pressures of the Vietnam War, famous Rolling Stones to the American shores and the British invasion that brought the Beatles. It managed to bring the famous groups like the Boomers innocence, but the Four Seasons stayed and regr ouped where Gaudio and Valli partnered and sealed the

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Domestic violence as it relates to pregnacy (Option 2) Research Paper - 1

Domestic violence as it relates to pregnacy (Option 2) - Research Paper Example er gives an outline as tohow nurses may offer special treatments to such women.After being attacked, victims are at peak of their physical and mental disturbance and that’s when they need the some serious support. Nurses can be of great help to suchwomen as they usually know how to take care of patients during sensitive situations like these.Such women need not only medical treatment but psychological guidance as well. Many lives are affected by domestic violence. It is one of the main issues of the rapidly growing world. Although many victims do survive, some of them are not strong enough and usually succumb to the fear and trauma of the incident. In most of the cases, it is the silence of the victim that gives the abuser an authority over them. I got my firsthand experience with a rape victim while I was serving as a junior nurse in the hospital nearby. I was treating a regular patient when I heard a sharp painful voice coming from the hospital’s lobby. Wanting to know what’s going on, I rushed to the lobby and saw a teenage girl being moved on a stretcher to the emergency. Just as I reached nearby to ask what had happened to her, she was rushed into the emergency ward for urgent treatment of her wounds. I still remember that day very correctly. She was inside the emergency room for around two hours and throughout she would keep on shouting at the top of her voice. As soon as the doctor came out from the emergency theatre, I inquired from him what had happened. He didn’t give me many details owing to the critical nature of the case but he just said that the girl’s pregnant and got raped in this situation. Being a woman myself, I got shocked like something had happened to my own self. Soon after, I was assigned to take care of that same patient. When I first went in the room I remember she was still trembling in pain and saying something to her own self. When I went close by I heard her saying â€Å"why me, why me?†. I went close to her and told her

Sunday, October 27, 2019

What is churn? An overview

What is churn? An overview Churn is the phenomenon where a customer switches from one service to a competitors service (Tsai Chen, 2009:2). There are two main types of churn, namely voluntary churn and involuntary churn. Voluntary churn is when the customer initiated the service termination. Involuntary churn means the company suspended the customers service and this is usually because of non-payment or service abuse. Companies, in various industries, have recently started to realise that their client set is their most valuable asset. Retaining the existing clients is the best marketing strategy. Numerous studies have confirmed this by showing that it is more profitable to keep your existing clients satisfied than to constantly attract new clients (Van Den Poel Larivià ¨re, 2004:197; Coussement Van Den Poel, 2008:313). According to Van Den Poel and Larivià ¨re (2004:197) successful customer retention has more than just financial benefits: Successful customer retention programs free the organisation to focus on existing customers needs and the building of relationships. It lowers the need to find new customers with uncertain levels of risk. Long term customers tend to buy more and provide positive advertising through word-of-mouth. The company has better knowledge of long term customers and they are less expensive with lower uncertainty and risk. Customers with longer tenures are less likely to be influenced by competitive marketing strategies. Sales may decrease if customers churn, due to lost opportunities. These customers also need to be replaced, which can cost five to six times more than simply retaining the customer. 1.1.Growth in Fixed-line Markets According to Agrawal (2009) the high growth phase in the telecommunications market is over. In the future, wealth in the industry will be split between the companies. Revenues (of telecommunication companies) are declining around the world. Figure 2 shows Telkoms fixed-line customer base and customer growth rate for the previous seven years. The number of lines is used as an estimate for the number of fixed-line customers. Figure 2-Telkoms fixed-line annual customer base (Idea adopted from Ahn, Han Lee (2006:554)) With the lower customer growth worldwide, it is becoming vital to prevent customers from churning. 1.2.Preventing Customer Churn The two basic approaches to churn management are divided into untargeted and targeted approaches. Untargeted approaches rely on superior products and mass advertising to decrease churn (Neslin, Gupta, Kamakura, Lu Mason, 2004:3). Targeted approaches rely on identifying customers who are likely to churn and then customising a service plan or incentive to prevent it from happening. Targeted approaches can be further divided into proactive and reactive approaches. With a proactive approach the company identifies customers who are likely to churn at a future date. These customers are then targeted with incentives or special programs to attempt to retain them. In a reactive targeted approach the company waits until the customer cancels the account and then offers the customer an incentive (Neslin et al., 2004:4). A proactive targeted approach has the advantage of lower incentive costs (because the customer is not â€Å"bribed† at the last minute to stay with the company). It also prevents a culture where customers threaten to churn in order to negotiate a better deal with the company (Neslin et al., 2004:4). The proactive, targeted approach is dependent on a predictive statistical technique to predict churners with a high accuracy. Otherwise the companys funds may be wasted on unnecessary programs that incorrectly identified customers. 1.3.Main Churn Predictors According to Chu, Tsai and Ho (2007:704) the main contributors to churn in the telecommunications industry are; price, coverage, quality and customer service. Their contributions to churn can be seen from Figure 3. Figure 3 indicates that the primary reason for churn is price related (47% of the sample). The customer churns because a cheaper service or product is available, through no fault of the company. This means that a perfect retention strategy, based on customer satisfaction, can only prevent 53% of the churners (Chu et al., 2007:704). 1.4.Churn Management Framework Datta, Masand, Mani and Li (2001:486) proposed a five stage framework for customer churn management (Figure 4). The first stage is to identify suitable data for the modelling process. The quality of this data is extremely important. Poor data quality can cause large losses in money, time and opportunities (Olson, 2003:1). It is also important to determine if all the available historical data, or only the most recent data, is going to be used. The second stage consists of the data semantics problem. It has a direct link with the first stage. In order to complete the first stage successfully, a complete understanding of the data and the variables information are required. Data quality issues are linked to data semantics because it often influences data interpretation directly. It frequently leads to data misinterpretation (Dasu Johnson, 2003:100). Stage three handles feature selection. Cios, Pedrycz, Swiniarski and Kurgan (2007:207) define feature selection as â€Å"a process of finding a subset of features, from the original set of features forming patterns in a given data set†. It is important to select a sufficient number of diverse features for the modelling phase. Section 5.5.3 discusses some of the most important features found in the literature. Stage four is the predictive model development stage. There are many alternative methods available. Figure 5 shows the number of times a statistical technique was mentioned in the papers the author read. These methods are discussed in detail in Section 6. The final stage is the model validation process. The goal of this stage is to ensure that the model delivers accurate predictions. 5.5.1Stage one Identify data Usually a churn indicator flag must be derived in order to define churners. Currently, there exists no standard accepted definition for churn (Attaa, 2009). One of the popular definitions state that a customer is considered churned if the customer had no active products for three consecutive months (Attaa, 2009; Virgin Media, 2009; Orascom Telecom, 2008). Once a target variable is derived, the set of best features (variables) can be determined. 5.5.2Stage two Data semantics Data semantics is the process of understanding the context of the data. Certain variables are difficult to interpret and must be carefully studied. It is also important to use consistent data definitions in the database. Datta, et al. (2001) claims that this phase is extremely important. 5.5.3Stage three Feature selection Feature selection is another important stage. The variables selected here are used in the modelling stage. It consists of two phases. Firstly, an initial feature subset is determined. Secondly, the subset is evaluated based on a certain criterion. Ahn et al. (2006:554) describe four main types of determinants in churn. These determinants should be included in the initial feature subset. Customer dissatisfaction is the first determinant of churn mentioned. It is driven by network and call quality. Service failures have also been identified as â€Å"triggers† that accelerate churn. Customers who are unhappy can have an extended negative influence on a company. They can spread negative word-of-month and also appeal to third-party consumer affair bodies (Ahn et al., 2006:555). Cost of switching is the second main determinant. Customers maintain their relationships with a company based on one of two reasons: they â€Å"have to† stay (constraint) or they â€Å"want to† stay (loyalty). Companies can use loyalty programs or membership cards to encourage their customers to â€Å"want to† stay (Ahn et al., 2006:556). Service usage is the third main determinant. A customers service usage can broadly be described with minutes of use, frequency of use and total number of distinct numbers used. Service usage is one of the most popular predictors in churn models. It is still unclear if the correlation between churn and service usage is positive or negative (Ahn et al., 2006:556). The final main determinant is customer status. According to Ahn et al. (2006:556), customers seldom churn suddenly from a service provider. Customers are usually suspended for a while due to payment issues, or they decide not to use the service for a while, before they churn. Wei and Chiu (2002:105) use length of service and payment method as further possible predictors of churn. Customers with a longer service history are less likely to churn. Customers who authorise direct payment from their bank accounts are also expected to be less likely to churn. Qi, Zhang, Shu, Li and Ge (2004?:2) derived different growth rates and number of abnormal fluctuation variables to model churn. Customers with growing usage are less likely to churn and customers with a high abnormal fluctuation are more likely to churn. 5.5.4Stage four Model development It is clear from Figure 5 that decision tree models are the most frequently used models. The second most popular technique is logistic regression, followed closely by neural networks and survival analysis. The technique that featured in the least number of papers is discriminant analysis. Discriminant analysis is a multivariate technique that classifies observations into existing categories. A mathematical function is derived from a set of continuous variables that best discriminates among the set of categories (Meilgaard, Civille Carr, 1999:323). According to Cohen and Cohen (2002:485) discriminant analysis makes stronger modelling assumptions than logistic regression. These include that the predictor variables must be multivariate normally distributed and the within-group covariance matrix must be homogeneous. These assumptions are rarely met in practice. According to Harrell (2001:217) even if these assumptions are met, the results obtained from logistic regression are still as accurate as those obtained from discrimination analysis. Discriminant analysis will, therefore, not be considered. A neural network is a parallel data processing structure that possesses the ability to learn. The concept is roughly based on the human brain (Hadden, Tiwari, Roy Ruta, 2006:2). Most neural networks are based on the perceptron architecture where a weighted linear combination of inputs is sent through a nonlinear function. According to de Waal and du Toit (2006:1) neural networks have been known to offer accurate predictions with difficult interpretations. Understanding the drivers of churn is one of the main goals of churn modelling and, unfortunately, traditional neural networks provide limited understanding of the model. Yang and Chiu (2007:319) confirm this by stating that neural networks use an internal weight scheme that doesnt provide any insight into why the solution is valid. It is often called a black-box methodology and neural networks are, therefore, also not considered in this study. The statistical methodologies used in this study are decision trees, logistic regression and survival analysis. Decision tree modelling is discussed in Section 6.1, logistic regression in Sections 6.2 and 6.3 and survival analysis is discussed in Section 6.4. 5.5.5Stage five Validation of results Each modelling technique has its own, specific validation method. To compare the models, accuracy will be used. However, a high accuracy on the training and validation data sets does not automatically result in accurate predictions on the population dataset. It is important to take the impact of oversampling into account. Section 5.6 discusses oversampling and the adjustments that need to be made. 1.5.Adjustments for Target Level Imbalances From Telkoms data it is clear that churn is a rare event of great interest and great value (Gupta, Hanssens, Hardie, Kahn, Kumar, Lin Sriram, 2006:152). If the event is rare, using a sample with the same proportion of events and non-events as the population is not ideal. Assume a decision tree is developed from such a sample and the event rate (x%) is very low. A prediction model could obtain a high accuracy (1-x%) by simply assigning all the cases to the majority level (e.g. predict all customers are non-churners) (Wei Chiu, 2002:106). A sample with more balanced levels of the target is required. Basic sampling methods to decrease the level of class imbalances include under-sampling and over-sampling. Under-sampling eliminates some of the majority-class cases by randomly selecting a lower percentage of them for the sample. Over-sampling duplicates minority-class cases by including a randomly selected case more than once (Burez Van Den Poel, 2009:4630). Under-sampling has the drawback that potentially useful information is unused. Over-sampling has the drawback that it might lead to over-fitting because cases are duplicated. Studies have shown that over-sampling is ineffective at improving the recognition of the minority class (Drummond Holte, 2003:8). According to Chen, Liaw Breiman, (2004:2) under-sampling has an edge over over-sampling. However, if the probability of an event (target variable equals one) in the population differs from the probability of an event in the sample, it is necessary to make adjustments for the prior probabilities. Otherwise the probability of the event will be overestimated. This will lead to score graphs and statistics that are inaccurate or misleading (Georges, 2007:456). Therefore, decision-based statistics based on accuracy (or misclassification) misrepresent the model performance on the population. A model developed on this sample will identify more churners than there actually are (high false alarm rate). Without an adjustment for prior probabilities, the estimates for the event will be overestimated. According to Potts (2001:72) the accuracy can be adjusted with equation 1. It takes prior probabilities into account. With: : the population proportion of non-churners : the population proportion of churners : the sample proportion of non-churners : the sample proportion of churners : the number of true negatives (number of correctly predicted non- churners) : the number of true positives (number of correctly predicted churners) : the number of instances in the sample However, accuracy as a model efficiency measure trained on an under-sampled dataset is dependent on the threshold. This threshold is influenced by the class imbalance between the sample and the population (Burez Van Den Poel, 2009:4626).