Observation Checklist Essay

Philosophy on Education is the belief that the passion to learn, the commitment to succeed, and the motivation to try, is the passage through the core values that a teacher instills to a student, as learning becomes a way of guidance that encourages pupils to improve. It is an educator’s duty to provide an environment that exhibits a multitude of ways for children to engage in the process of learning. When I was a young child, I always wanted to show people the things I have learned through my family, friends, manuals, and teachers. Then, I entered the field of teaching, where I was able to present to an audience of children, various techniques in reading, writing, and arithmetic under the auspices of the head teacher. Let alone, I wanted to help those whom where much more challenge than others. This interest has catapulted me towards the beginning of my career in education. The journey through my past experiences as a teacher assistant foreshadowed my teaching styles. Under the auspices of the certified staff, I was given the opportunity to work in a population that requires an extra bit of patience. In formulating my approach to each class lesson, there was a need to implement hands-on learning as the basis for each work session. An adulating engagement with the student, while promoting encouragement, and confidence in taking tasks has its role in part with the learning process. Once the student becomes self sufficient, then the teaching has effectively accomplish its role. Furthermore, the importance of a teacher making assessments on a student’s capabilities is vital to facilitating education. In the successful grasping of an academic material and its content, being able to have rapport with the students to gain better understanding of their capabilities should intertwine directly with each learning style. Fostering a positive teaching environment requires that the student receives an invitation to participate in a friendly atmosphere. As a proclamation, there should be willingness for each student to express themselves with an utmost pride towards their work and success. In conclusion, my goal as a teacher is to provide to in each and every student with the necessary skills and knowledge so they could succeed on their own. I want to leave a memory of myself as teacher who was not afraid to roll up the sleeves to help another student in any way and influenced others to do the right thing. My colleagues recall me a teacher who regularly participates and who was active to contribute assistance to the school community.

The Importance of a Portfolio

A portfolio is a well created collection of documentation that helps the interviewee monitor their growth and success in a specific field. A portfolio should reflect your accomplishments, skills, experiences, and attributes. I believe that a portfolio is essential for you as the interviewee to prove what works you have completed and show organization and consistency which can be overlooked if there is not one present. It also can help you gain confidence when you can visually review what your efforts have become in its entirety where in some cases there might not be any confidence or you may feel as though you have accomplished nothing. In your portfolio should be your resume, a letter of reference, samples of diagrams or events you have worked on in your previous positions or schooling, performance monitoring documents if you have them, school transcripts and certificates showing your grades, and some samples of your skills like writing documents or events that you may have planned within your career. The most essential reason it is important is in its ability to allow the interviewer a better way to review your growth and development and compare it to how you may grow in their company. Another important feature in a portfolio is the fact that it is or should be constantly changing. As an interviewee, your portfolio from 2008 should not have the same accomplishments as 2011 seeing as though you have had 3 years of opportunity to gain new skills, experienced different situations, and overall accomplished harder and or different challenges. Since most people don’t use portfolios, having one can set you apart from other applicants when applying to a position. With a portfolio you are able to customize your style of portfolio and showcase not only your jobs skills and experience, but also your ability to be creative. How you choose to organize your portfolio advertises your personality to potential employers and organizations and that alone may get you the job. The use of a portfolio is just limited to a professional setting, it can also be used in a school setting to assist you in receiving scholarships and grants so that you can further your education. Also sense a portfolio demonstrates prior work or learning experiences it can be used in some cases to obtain educational credits based off of what you have already had experience instead of paying a additional cost to be taught in that field.

Ethical dilemma Essay

In the following, ethical dilemma has been discussed and identified from the given case study. The background for the ethical dilemma has been explained. How the consultant has handled the situation of ethical dilemma and how a learner would have handled it differently, has been given below. ? Ethical Dilemma â€Å"Ethical dilemmas, also known as a moral dilemmas, are situations in which there are two choices to be made, neither of which resolves the situation in an ethically acceptable fashion. In such cases, societal and personal ethical guidelines can provide no satisfactory outcome or the chooser. Ethical dilemmas assume that the chooser will abide by societal norms, such as codes of law or religious teachings, in order to make the choice ethically impossible. † In the given case study, Kindred Todd is also in a situation which is an ethical dilemma. She had just finished her master degree and got a very company to join in. But she did not realize that she had been introduced as an expert on CQI to the potential clients which she discovers by the end of the meeting with the potential clients. She discussed with her boss about the need of the CQI expert but he did not give it an importance and indirectly pushed her to do what the company says. She has now a conflict between her own values(may be religious) which insist her on quitting the job and her personal materialistic needs which do not allow to leave such a good company for her career. Background for Ethical Dilemma â€Å"In a perfect world, businesses and their employees would always do the right thing. Unfortunately, in the real world, ethical dilemmas are a common occurrence in the orkplace. According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, dilemmas are situations or problems where a person has to make a difficult choice; an ethical dilemma is a problem where a person has to choose between a moral and an immoral act. Employees must deal with pressures to perform and help the company succeed as well as personal temptations to take the easy way out. In the end, workers will likely face many dilemmas in their careers; companies should provide training and information to assist them in making the right decision. † There are many reasons which make the background or the reasons for the ethical dilemma. Employees in organizations undergo in such a situation when they are sometimes under the pressure from management . When they are particularly asked to do something which is un ethical but it goes in the company’s favor. In some cases, some employees become quite ambitious and want to succeed in their life at any cost without considering the concept of being ethical or un-ethical. They just do what akes them towards promotions or higher career. â€Å"Though diversity is an important part of business, some people may not be comfortable with people from different backgrounds and possibly be reluctant to treat them fairly. This kind of discrimination is not only un ethical but illegal and still remains common. † â€Å"Negotiators may also try to bribe their way to a good deal.  While this is illegal in the U. S. , it still sometimes happens; in other nations, it is more common, and sometimes even expected, which can put negotiators in a difficult position. † This means in organizations negotiating tactics are sometimes also the cause of ethical dilemma. ? How the Consultant Handled the Situation from Ethic View Point The consultant raised an objection before the president of the company instead of remaining uiet on the issue that why she had been introduced wrongly as a CQI expert. Moreover, she passed on the exact evaluation of her meeting about the potential clients and stress on the need of an CQI expert in order to deal with the clients. At least, in order to secure the job, she did not pretend that she can do anything they want. The best part was that she did her best to help the clients in the area of quality improvement by going through books and consulting her friends, so much so that she had a consultant behind her, unseen, to help sort out CQI issues. After the assigned work got over, she resigned the company, as she could’t trust the company for future. A View of How the Learner would have Handled the Situation Differently I would have not been, probably so daring to ask the president for the actual requirement of the clients or might not have resigned the job. ? Conclusion In a workplace, ethical dilemmas are quite common. There are different reasons for a worker to become ethical or un ethical. So, the important thing how you win the war between your values and materialistic needs.

Cross-Organizational Systems Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cross-Organizational Systems - Case Study Example I will recommend the Clambake Company to implement an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for the integration of different systems. Basically, an ERP is a cross-functional system that is particularly designed to automate and join together a number of internal processes of a business organization. In fact, it is a best for solution for business functions such as logistics, distribution, manufacturing, accounting, human resource, and finance functions. Hence, this cross-functional system works as a central information system of the firm. In this scenario, it will allow the Clambake Company to attain the maximum efficiency, awareness, and agility required to be successful in an ever-increasing competitive business environment. One of the most important advantages of an ERP system is that it encompasses a set of integrated components that will provide the Clambake Company with an instantaneous cross-functional overview of its major business functions like that order processing, sal es, accounting and its resources, for instance information regarding raw materials, production capacity, cash and people (TRIPOD, 2013; Daneva & Wieringa, 2006). In addition, in the cross-functional environments, data and information move between functions and services without communicating with hierarchical channels. In this scenario, SAP’s ERP system is an excellent choice for this scenario. It is believed that enterprise resource planning systems come very close to delivering the cross-functional communication and collaboration so preferred by the majority of business organizations (Amrani, Rowe, Bidan, Geffroy-Maronnat, & Marciniak, 2003; Markus, 2000; TRIPOD, 2013). Amrani, R. E., Rowe, F., Bidan, M., Geffroy-Maronnat, B., & Marciniak, R. (2003). ERP Implementation and change: towards a cross-functional view. Retrieved February 03, 2013, from

Fats Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Fats - Research Paper Example Other things also cling on to the patch work done by the white cells and that turns into a callus. This hard stuff is called plaque. That is how bad habits of smoking or cocaine usage can lead to diseases like atherosclerosis (Brewer). Sometimes there are other factors that come into play regarding extra cholesterol in the blood stream. For instance, people can have excess amounts of LDL and less of HDL which carries away excess cholesterol out of the blood stream making the blood flow smooth and keeping blood cells healthy. LDL cholesterol sticks on to the artery walls and hardens and rots. Nutritionists suggest taking appropriate amounts of antioxidants in such cases as it prevents the rotting of LDL cholesterol. If the rotting process is not prevented, other substances join the LDL cholesterol and then plaque is formed on artery walls (Brewer). If the plaque stays there for right amount of time, calcium starts depositing there and that obstructs the blood flow. Just like water can back up in the sink pipe due to clog, calcium deposits on the plaque can do the same thing by forming a clog and that backs up blood in arteries (Brewer). Regular box cereals 1 cup contains zero cholesterol (Kellogg’s cereals are preferred as they are readily available and their nutritional values are monitored by many). In grams, 1cup of cereals weighs about 30 grams, taken with fresh orange juice (no sugar), that is a breakfast with no cholesterol at all. It has 78 calories (2000 calories contain about 30 mg of cholesterol by weight and is considered a standard for measurement) ("Calories in Cereals ready-to-eat"). 1 cup of chopped boiled chicken (weigh almost 140 gm.) contains about 119mg of cholesterol (â€Å"Calories in Chicken†). Chicken can be consumed in boiled form with salt and pepper for seasoning. For dessert after chicken, raw bananas can be

Marketing Manager Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Marketing Manager - Assignment Example Typically, marketing managers oversee all marketing, advertising and promotional staff and activities. They formulate appropriate marketing strategies to meet objectives, evaluate market research, and implement marketing plans (Halvorsen 2006). The job of a marketing manager requires both professional qualifications and individual skills. Professional qualifications usually include academic qualification, strong understanding of management and marketing, industry and product/service experience, and a network of contacts (Microsoft 2008, HSN 2008). Individual skills usually required include excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, project and people management skills (HSN 2008, Catholic Answers 2008, Infinity Ward 2008). A review of most want advertisements for marketing management shows three main skill requirements: excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills and leadership skills in terms of people and project management. Excellent Communication Skills The job of a marketing manager requires excellent communication skills because the function involves interaction with customers, subordinates, professional peers, higher-level managers, suppliers, other business partners, and other individuals involved in the marketing process. Since communication is a two-way process, effective communication involves conveying messages to others clearly and unambiguously, as well as receiving and understanding information sent by others. In a survey conducted by the University of Pittsburgh, communication skills were cited as the single most important decision factor in the hiring of managers. Excellent communication skills denote high levels of proficiency in both verbal and written communication. For the marketing manager, these skills are applied in various interaction with the different audiences in the marketing process, in listening; delivering presentations; facilitating meetings and discussions; giving and receiving feedback; making value p ropositions; dealing with criticisms, customer complaints or other objections; communication during crisis situations; and cross-cultural communications (Mind Tools 2008). Interpersonal Skills Another highly-required skill for a marketing manager is interpersonal skills. Interpersonal skills include the habits, attitudes, manners, appearance, and behaviors that one uses around other people which affect how one gets along with other people (Hill 1999). According to the American Management Association (2008), success depends upon the

Cis week 5 classwork class discussions Assignment

Cis week 5 classwork class discussions - Assignment Example The company should also educate their employees on the risks involved if they give their passwords to strangers or any other person. Data is most vulnerable at the points where the computers of the company are connected to the outside world like the internet. It is important that the IT managers to implement necessary defenses at these points (Murphy & Zwieback D, 2011). Qualitative risk analysis is risk-level, easy and quick to execute, does not require any special tool or software and it is subjective in evaluating the probability and the impact of the risk. On the other hand quantitative risk analysis is project-level, consumes time, specialized tool may be required and it gives probabilistic estimates of time and cost. Business impact analysis being the determination of the impact an incidence can have, all the parties involved will be affected by one way or the other. People have to be compensated to their normal life they had from the incidence, and proper systems have to be in place to oversee that the incidence is totally mitigated. Data should be kept proper as this will amount on the total costs incurred in the analysis and properties should be rebuild again and the owners given their

How Political Issues Affect Youth, and How Youth Can Affect Political Essay

How Political Issues Affect Youth, and How Youth Can Affect Political Issues - Essay Example As mentioned in the book by Lerner and Steinberg, â€Å"identity is considered a definitive task of the adolescent and young adult years. As young people reflect to who they are, the future to which they aspire, they will also take stock of their societies. Political views are taking shape as part of this process, although youth may not refer to them as such if politics connotes only conventional activity to them. But politics reflecting an individual worldview, politics as a language for explaining social problems is forming in these years, although it is probably well into the third decade of their life before these views crystallize†. The above statement completely explains how the youth form their political images and views. While these reformative years make for the way that the youth attune themselves to problem solving and issues as such, the policies made by the policy makers affect the youth more than anyone or anything else. It is the policies made during these reformative years of the life of the youths that ultimately result in their future preferences and the way they look upon the policy making. The recent president elect Barrack Obama has launched a reformative economic project, aiming at bringing about a u-turn in the degenerative American economy of the present. Take this as an example of how this is going to affect the American youth. American youth has been crying hoarse what with the economic showdown, Iraq war, rising inflation etc under the bush administrations.

The pros and cons of direct marketing and legal issues that accompany Essay

The pros and cons of direct marketing and legal issues that accompany this field - Essay Example The significance of direct marketing is beyond just selling a product because it is used by companies to enhance relationship marketing that is forming and maintaining long term relationships with customers through effective public relations activities and direct marketing assists these activities. Companies send cards and cakes on special occasions to their customers through direct mail and this incurs a positive rapport with the customers. Direct marketing not only serves the basic purpose of a company to inform the customer but also to generate positive feelings with the customers for the company (Kotler & Keller; 2002). Direct marketing roots from Europe during the middle ages or most popularly known as feudalism period and then it began to enter its golden age during the renaissance. This was the 15th century and direct marketing became a regular practice in Europe only after the invention of moveable type by Guttenberg. The first catalog in Europe was then printed in 1450. The concept of direct marketing was originated by Lester Wunderman. Lester implemented these innovative techniques over two famous brands namely; American Express and Colombia Records. The concept was originated by this man during 1961 in America but direct marketing became a regular practice only after the typewriter was invented in 1867. The credit for the first catalog through mails goes to Aaron Montgomery Ward in 1872. Since the concept was gaining popularity amongst the businesses in America so the Direct Mail Advertising Association was established in 1928 which now is known as Direct Marketing Association. With direct m arketing in full speed the most popular terms of today started to emerge and took permanent shape. Junk mail was a term used by people since 1954 and the term spam took birth in 1993 so it's still young. Since the customers became more and more aware and educated the companies had to work even harder to convince them to buy their products. The market was no longer nave and direct marketing played an essential role to maintain goodwill amongst the customers in order practice effective public relations activities and retain customers. Thus, by the 18th century direct marketing was rocketing towards the sky and it was the most popular means of advertisement and maintaining public relations. Benjamin Franklin was the first printer to stand out of the rest of the printers in Colonial America and he came up with the most famous catalog in 1974 that was close to the present day catalogs that contain information and attractive punch lines that are all intended towards customer satisfaction. Companies then began to receive orders and send products through mail. It was during the 1830's that various companies mailed the products to their customers in New England. The general feeling of disdain and detest against the middlemen started in the post civil-war period in Midwest Europe with the farmers who decided to eliminate middlemen since the farmers were buying at a higher price and then selling

The Implications of the Use of the Triple Bottom Line Approach Essay - 1

The Implications of the Use of the Triple Bottom Line Approach - Essay Example However, these events reflect the cultural and social values of the country. Therefore, it is the moral responsibility of the business to participate in the upliftment of the society as well as the environment. In the given project, the concept of Triple Bottom Line approach will be discussed mainly in the respect of event industry. Later on, the case of Edinburgh will be discussed to explain how the application of Triple Bottom Line approach can improve the performance of festival and event industry; that is how the event industry can gain sustainable growth in long-term perspective. With growing concern on sustainability, the concept of Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach is gaining popularity among companies throughout the world. As coined by Elkington (1997), a financial performance that is â€Å"the bottom line† is insufficient to indicate the long-term corporate success of an organisation. Therefore, it is quite essential to pay equal importance towards ecological and social â€Å"bottom lines† (Ehnert, 2009, p.37). The key concept of Triple Bottom Line can be summarised as- wealth generation, social benefit and environment protection. This concept is commonly popular as â€Å"People, Profit & Planet† (Cayreyre, et al., 2009, p.46). The main motto (goal) of a company is to increase the wealth of its shareholders. Thus, it is quite essential for a company to generate profit for its investors (shareholders). Therefore, to attain long-term growth in the industry, a company should improve its profitability. Profit-generating capability can be measured with help of certain financial indicators, such as gross as well as net profit margin, return on investment, return on capital employed and so on. The company is a part of the society. It acquires all the resources (land, labour, capital and material) from the society. Therefore, it is the moral responsibility of a company to participate in the upliftment of the society where it operates. Similar to the social aspect, a business should also consider environmental factor while making essential decisions.  

Stories about miracles Essay Example for Free

Stories about miracles Essay Stories about miracles are an obstacle to faith for modern people. Discuss. The whole concept of miracles is rooted in the fantastical, improbable and downright outrageous. So its not particularly hard to see why modern, enlightened people might consider them an obstacle to faith. However, stories about miracles are part of religious lore; so if they are an obstacle, theyre certainly not insurmountable. Indeed, for some they can be said to enhance the idea of a loving, divine God. But exactly how loving can a God that is so indifferent to the suffering of those he doesnt deem worthy of his miracles be? A willingness to believe in Gods benevolence must be present in order to ignore the unfair nature of miracles, and in these literate, informed times, it proves incredibly difficult to have such faith. An important religious perspective on miracles is that of St Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas believed that God can manipulate creation in any way he/she desires. His definition of miracles is those things done by divine power apart from the order usually followed in things. This idea is useful for those inclined towards faith because it encompasses a vast spectrum of events, ranging from a spontaneous apparition of someone dead to an unlikely, but possible occurrence such as a fast recovery from a curable ailment. But this definition of miracles presents some problems. For example, John Macquarie argues that because interpretation of supposedly miraculous events varies, it is nonsensical to ascribe religious meaning to acts that are quite possibly random and lucky. How are we to distinguish between coincidence and an act of God? Surely God cant be responsible for every last one of the unlikely fortuitous events that happen in the world? The Bible appears to fail to provide any answers- it si mply asserts that God exists and his miracles occurred, evidence be damned. In spite of this, the miracles in the Bible can be said to support faith for modern people, as they demonstrate the power and benevolence of God. A prominent example would be Isaiah 38:8, when God stops the Sun for King Hezekiahs benefit. Another would be when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Miracles such as these can evoke powerful religious feeling. The implausible nature of these acts, however, makes them a very real roadblock on the path to faith for many discerning, intelligent people. Rudolf Bultmann addressed this by attempting to demythologise Christ. By doing this, he thought he could both enable faith for modern people while allowing them to maintain their suspension of disbelief. He offered rational explanations for the miracles of Christ; for example, when Jesus fed the 5000, there may have been a concealed cave behind him, or he may have simply inspired the others around him to share. This approach is better than the literal interpretation of Biblical miracles because it offers a logical, contemporary solution for Jesus supposedly divine acts whilst maintaining their essential goodness. But it can also be said that by demythologising Christ you take away the power of his sacrifice- his divinity is integral to Christianity. David Hume provides a less liberal definition of the miraculous. He limits miracles to a transgression of a law of natureby a particular volition of the deity. This essentially means that nothing that happens within nature should be labelled miraculous. Hume does not outright reject miracles, but he instead uses the fact that they are impossible to prove to support his criticism. If we are to adhere to Humes staunchly rationalistic stance, concluding that miracles are an obstacle to faith would be inevitable, as there is no evidence for them. However, Humes argument is not entirely without its detractors. For example, his parameters can be described as too restrictive. He arrogantly claims that the only credible witness to a miracle is a well-educated, reputable person. But if a miracle genuinely occurs, why are the eyes of an academic more reliable than those of a farmer? John Hick also points out that Hume is assuming that we are privy to all the laws of nature. They certainly appear to have been broken before, only for it to be found that certain things thought imp. Hicks conclusion is that observing things we do not understand does not constitute breaking natures laws; we simply need to broaden our understanding of nature. Arguably the most compelling argument against miracles was devised by Maurice Wiles. Wiles premise is that a God willing to perform arbitrary miraculous acts is unworthy of worship, because he/she seems indifferent to the suffering of others. Why does God heal some people, but let others suffer unbearable agonies? The intervening God of Christianity turned water into wine, but remained indifferent to the suffering of six million Jews. Of course, one could argue that greater, celestial rewards await the dead for their pains, but it is my belief that no reward can justify such torture. For some, the concept of a miraculous God allows for a small degree of security and comfort in the knowledge that, despite the dangers of this harsh, brutal world, someone is taking care of you. It would, for them, seem quite cynical to say that miracles are an obstacle to faith. Despite this, I cannot fathom the idea of an arbitrary, indifferent God, saving people based on whimsy. Faith is obviously a very personal thing, but in these enlightened, intelligent times I am forced to conclude that an intervening deity is both illogical and outdated.

Challenges of Raising a Disabled Child Essay Example for Free

Challenges of Raising a Disabled Child Essay Caring for a child with a disability can be challenging due to parenting responsibilities and the difficulties they encounter when interacting with an often unreceptive environment. Consequently, parents can be at increased risk for excessive levels of personal distress which in turn can adversely affect the well being of the child and the entire family unit (Plant Sanders, 2007). Parents of children with disabilities can be at an increased risk for psychosocial distress (Parish, Rose, Grinstein-Weiss, Richman Andrews, 2008; Plant Sanders, 2007). The parenting responsibilities for parents of children with disabilities often require a significant amount of time to complete, can be physically demanding, can disrupt family and social relationships, and can adversely affect caregiver employment (Brannen Heflinger, 2006; Seller Heller, 1997). Perhaps as a consequence of these additional impacts, family caregivers of children with disabilities can be at increased risk to experience depression, physical health problems, and decreased quality of life (Feldman, et al. , 2007; Ones, Yilmaz, Cetinkaya, Calgar, 2002). The added challenges of caring for a child with a disability may lead to more stress and greater physical and emotional health risks for parents and their families (e. g. , increased conflict with spouse; Murphy, Christian, Caplin Young, 2006) compared to families without a child with a disability (Feldman et al. , 2007). This topic is particularly personal for me because I know first hand the psychological affects and challenges that a handicap child could have on parents, family members, and friends. My son was two months when I notice that something just wasn’t right with him. I noticed him favoring one side instead of looking straight ahead. I mentioned my concerns to our family doctor. His doctor didn’t see it as a problem. She said to just continue to watch him. Two months passed and still no change, so at his next appointment I expressed my concern again. I insisted that she run tests on my son immediately. I knew something seemed different; I just couldn’t put my finger on it. I had already had two other boys so something just didn’t sit right with me. The doctor sent my son to be tested at University of Maryland Hospital and my son was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus Dandywalker Malformation with Palsy. He had to have surgery at six months to have a shunt placement to drain the water from his brain. I was devastated. My husband and I went through several defense mechanisms. The first I believe was denial. We didn’t want to face the fact that something was wrong with our child, our baby. He seemed so perfect when he was born just a few months ago. We went through repression, rationalization and intellectualization. We couldn’t wrap our minds around the fact that our child would be different from other children. Nobody wants to believe that something is wrong with their child. I felt a little embarrassed for fear of what people might think about our child or what someone would say. So many things raced around my mind. We wanted to blame the doctors; maybe they did something wrong in my prenatal care. I went over in my mind again and again of every little thing I did when pregnant to ensure that I had did everything I was supposed to do. I didn’t drink, smoke or do drugs. What happened? We tried to search our family history genetics. We just came up empty. My husband and I became depressed, frustrated, and angry. I felt helpless about my son’s condition. I wasn’t sure what to do. Finally, I began to investigate my son’s condition. I read all I could get my hands on. I searched for schools and other medical resources to help me address my son’s needs. In the back of my mind I was still trying to make sense of the fact that my son had a developmental and neurological problem that would affect him for the rest of his life. I wondered what restrictions we would face now and in the future. I still wasn’t sure if I could cope with his lack of development neurologically, physically, mentally or emotionally. I began to question God. I wondered why me. I wasn’t sure if I would have to stop working. I wondered how we as a family would work together to stay a family. I had so many questions, but no answers. I prayed asking God for help and guidance. Later, I began to realize that I had to be strong. I had to accept what the reality was with my son and his disability. It hasn’t been easy. We faced many financial problems, medical issues, several hospitalizations for my son, divorce; daycare issues especially since my son needed twenty four hour daycare. Day care is very expensive as well as diapers and wipes for disabled children. Insurance covers some things but not enough. A person has to be making next to nothing in order to get any assistance from the government; we needed assistance regardless of what we made monetary. I would have never known what disabled families went through to get their voice heard and children’s needs assisted unless I had to face these great challenges myself. So much goes into raising a child with disabilities. There are many variables that factor into taking care of a disabled child. Financial hardships are another important factor that influences parents’ wellbeing. In general families with children with disabilities experience much higher expenditures than other families (Newacheck and Kim, 2005) found that, on average, the total annual health care expenditures for children with disabilities were more than three times as much compared to children without disabilities. The financial strain incurred by families of children with disabilities is likely due to increased expenses related to the child’s needs as well as loss of employment or inability to work because of parenting responsibilities (Murphy et al. , 2006; Parish et al. 2008; Worcester et al. , 2008). Inability to engage in employment can also lead to feelings of isolation, a lack of fulfillment and low self-esteem (Shearn Todd, 2000). Families of children with disabilities often report feeling isolated from the community (Freedman Boyer, 2000; Worcester et al. , 2008). What I’ve learned from researching the challenges of raising a child with disabilities; as well as being a parent of a disabled child is that there is still so much more to be done. There is still research that hasn’t been touched regarding parents and their disable children. We the parents have to be the voices for our disable children. We have to be better informed about what our disabled children rights are. We have to be willing and ready to fight on behalf of our disable children. Parents and state officials have to work to get better laws passed to accommodate disabled children. Disabled children need better health care programs, better schools; a place for them to be themselves. Parents need a place to relax and not have to worry about dirty looks that people who don’t have disabled children give them. Parents shouldn’t have to feel ashamed that they have disabled children. We shouldn’t be looked down upon because our children are different. Our children shouldn’t be bullied or treated like they are worthless. Our children are special. They deserve the best that we can help them to achieve in life. They deserve a chance like the rest of us. We’ve got to come together and help each other to provide a better life for all! The questions we should ask researchers to study are many. One could be what’s being done to assist parents with disabled children? Are there programs to assist parents in child care for disabled children? Normal daycare centers are for infants through 12 years of age. As of today my disabled son is 16 years old and there’s really no day care for children his age. Another question is why do they go according to parents’ income in order to assist with social security disability? A parent shouldn’t have to be jobless in order to obtain assistance from social security disability. Yet a person who walks into social security disability and say my back hurt or that they have a condition can obtain money; work the system while the truly disabled suffer. There are so many people working the disability system and really aren’t disabled. We have to help the programs we have for our disabled children actually help the disabled children. In conclusion caring for a child with a disability can be challenging, but many of these challenges are likely due to a lack of necessary environmental supports. Future research should expand on these findings and policy makers, scientists and providers should give particular attention to the environmental support needs of parents in order to create policies and interventions that are more family centered.

Pattern Recognition and Classification Theory

Pattern Recognition and Classification Theory Assignment 2 of Pattern recognition should contain the  classification theory. The topics should cover: Introduction to Pattern Recognition, including; a) The concept of pattern recognition and its applications. b) Basic steps of a typical pattern recognition task. c) Popular techniques used in these steps. d) Various application areas of pattern recognition research. Bayesian classification rule, prior, posterior, loss function, risk, and minimum error rate classification. Discriminant functions, Normal densities and application of Bayesian rule to normal densities with 3 different cases of variances and covariance matrices discussed in book. As the name indicates, the pattern recognition is the classification of a pattern to one of the pre-specified classes. The process of understanding or recognizing the patterns by taking the raw data from a sensor, convert that raw data into some meta data by pre-processing that raw data, producing segments of the data through some sort of segmentation process and the pass those segment through some feature extractor which lead the purification of the raw data to be understood by the Classifier. Based on the feature extracted will classify it to a certain class which is already defined by the decision boundary. The decision boundary is obtained from a series of training data and the cost related to it. In short, the process of identifying object or pattern into some sort of classes based on some features which are been described by the decision rule. A simple example for it the identification of the seabass and salmon fish passing through a conveyer belt. Certain features like the height, width and lightness can be used to develop a decision boundary and put any fish into its respected class (sea bass or salmon). It is the analysis of in what way the machines observe the environment, come to know about the different patterns and make a rational decision about the class of the patterns. A typical pattern recognition system consists of the following components: Physical Environment Data Acquisition/Sensing Pre-Processing Feature Extraction Features Classification Post-Processing Decision Making The above mentioned components are given in the Figure 1. Figure 1 Components of a Pattern Recognition System. How to overcome the insufficiency of vector space? Numerous amount of training data. Anonymous distributions of classes. Unidentified problem complexity. Generalization problems. Evaluation problems. Given below are few of the pattern recognition potential research areas: Adaptive signal processing Machine learning Artificial neural networks Robotics and vision Cognitive sciences Mathematical statistics Nonlinear optimization Exploratory data analysis Fuzzy and genetic systems Detection and estimation theory Formal languages Structural modeling Biological cybernetics Computational neuroscience Pattern recognition has outnumbered amount of applications, some of which are as follows: Image processing Computer vision Speech recognition Multimodal interfaces Automated target recognition Optical character recognition Seismic analysis Man and machine diagnostics Fingerprint identification Industrial inspection Financial forecast Medical diagnosis ECG signal analysis Given below are the fundamental steps involved in pattern recognition: Sensing: The pattern recognition systems require a sensor at the input in order to take raw data from the environment into the system. Segmentation: It is done after the pre-processing step. In some systems this is the pre-processing step used for converting the raw data into some sorted data for the feature extraction. Feature Extraction: Some specific parameters of the pattern are measured in this step like length in the fish example. Classification: The patterns are then classified through some sort of classifiers like Bayesian Classifier. Classification is done for putting the pattern into a specific class or category e.g. sea bass or salmon. Post Processing: This step is done for further improvement of the performance. Figure 2 Steps involved in Pattern Recognition. Classification techniques: Bayes classifier, HMM, Kth Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Training (parameter finding) testing (decoding) etc. Data representation techniques: The compacting technique is used for improving the characteristics features of data using various transformation methods like the Fourier Transform method, WT etc. Dimensionality reduction: Reduce the data dimensions by removing the mutually correlated features which results in the reduction of the common information to produce a set of nearly real informative parameters. e.g. Principle Component Analysis, Linear Discriminant Analysis etc. Transformations: Various transformation techniques are also used like Fourier Transforms, Fast Fourier Transform etc. The following are the potential research areas in the field of pattern recognition: Adaptive signal processing Machine learning Artificial neural networks Robotics and vision Cognitive sciences Mathematical statistics Nonlinear optimization Exploratory data analysis Fuzzy and genetic systems Detection and estimation theory Formal languages Structural modeling Biological cybernetics Computational neuroscience The probability of a state of nature that show how likely is that, that particular state of nature would occur. For example, in the fish example it is given that the prior of the salmon is 0.85. This mean that salmon is 85% more likely to appear than the sea bass. If number of classes are c, then: It is the probability of a specific state of nature given that observables have occurred. Mathematically, Notice that, It shows the cost related to each wrong action or decision we take. Mathematically, The zero-one is the most commonly used loss function. It assigns zero on no loss in case of correct decision while in case of incorrect decision, it takes a uniform unit loss. Mathematically, The expected loss is also called as conditional risk. It is defined as the summation of the product of loss occurred from each decision to its posterior probability. Mathematically: Overall risk is given by: From above equation we come to know that by selecting only those action ÃŽÂ ± (.) that minimize the for all values of x will minimize the overall risk which is directly associated with the error thus minimize the error rate.

To Kill A Mockingbird The Maturing of Jem Finch Essay examples -- Kil

To Kill A Mockingbird   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     The Maturing of Jem Finch   Ã‚  Ã‚   Society is not as innocent to a child as it may appear to be. In fact, when one really understands the society in which he lives he is no longer a child. This is much the same case as found in To Kill A Mockingbird, by Leigh Harper. Although Jem, being a child at the beginning of the novel, is immature and unaware of the society in which he lives, he matures mentally to the point where he sees the evil in society and gains a knowledge of death.   Ã‚  Ã‚   Like most children, at the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird Jem and Scout are both young, play together, and have childhood monsters or fears like other children. Primarily, in To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem is young. Scout states their age when it supposedly all starts: "When I was almost six and Jem was almost ten..." (10). Here Jem is only nine years old and therefore still a moderately young child; it is assumed he is therefore immature. Jem also spends his time playing with his five year old sister. This also occurs very early in the novel: "Early one morning as we were beginning our day's play in the back yard, Jem and I heard something next door in Miss Rachel Haverford's collard patch." (11). As the novel progresses, Jem no longer plays with his sister Scout, but he is doing so at this point and he would appear to anyone as one child playing with his sister. Lastly, Jem has childhood fears like most any child does. All children have their fears or monsters. In Jem's case it i rthur Radley, commonly known as Boo:   Ã‚  Ã‚   " Let's try and make him come out..."   Ã‚  Ã‚   Jem said if he... ...ttacked by the vengeful Bob Ewell:   Ã‚  Ã‚   We were nearly to the road when I felt Jem's hand leave me, felt him   Ã‚  Ã‚   jerk back- wards to the ground. More scuffling, and there came a dull   Ã‚  Ã‚   crunching sound Jem screamed. (265)   Ã‚  Ã‚   Here Jem gains an awareness of his own life, his own mortality. These three deaths each had a their own individual effect on Jem, but Jem definitely gained an accomplished knowledge of death. Thus, Jem is a child at the beginning of To Kill A Mockingbird but does mature, gaining a sense of the society surrounding him and a knowledge, or a mature awareness, of death. Jem doesn't gain these mental developements easily but through much struggling, and this is exactly what To Kill A Mockingbird is all about; a struggle with society and learning by placing one's self in another's shoes.

The Murder Of Oneself :: essays research papers

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/vaksam/">Sam Vaknin's Psychology, Philosophy, Economics and Foreign Affairs Web Sites Those who believe in the finality of death (i.e., that there is no after-life) – they are the ones who advocate suicide and regard it as a matter of personal choice. On the other hand, those who firmly believe in some form of existence after corporeal death – they condemn suicide and judge it to be a major sin. Yet, rationally, the situation should have been reversed : it should have been easier for someone who believed in continuity after death to terminate this phase of existence on the way to the next. Those who faced void, finality, non-existence, vanishing – should have been greatly deterred by it and should have refrained even from entertaining the idea. Either the latter do not really believe what they profess to believe – or something is wrong with rationality. One would tend to suspect the former. Suicide is very different from self sacrifice, avoidable martyrdom, engaging in life risking activities, refusal to prolong one’s life through medical treatment, euthanasia, overdosing and self inflicted death that is the result of coercion. What is common to all these is the operational mode: a death caused by one’s own actions. In all these behaviours, a foreknowledge of the risk of death is present coupled with its acceptance. But all else is so different that they cannot be regarded as belonging to the same class. Suicide is chiefly intended to terminate a life – the other acts are aimed at perpetuating, strengthening and defending values. Those who commit suicide do so because they firmly believe in the finiteness of life and in the finality of death. They prefer termination to continuation. Yet, all the others, the observers of this phenomenon, are horrified by this preference. They abhor it. This has to do with out understanding of the meaning of life. Ultimately, life has only meanings that we attribute and ascribe to it. Such a meaning can be external (God’s plan) or internal (meaning generated through arbitrary selection of a frame of reference). But, in any case, it must be actively selected, adopted and espoused. The difference is that, in the case of external meanings, we have no way to judge their validity and quality (is God’s plan for us a good one or not?). We just â€Å"take them on† because they are big, all encompassing and of a good â€Å"source†.

The Dark Evil of Racism :: essays research papers

It is much easier to confront the racism of the 1960s than the racial and economic injustices of today. While I'm happy that racist vigilantes such as Edgar Ray Killen have finally been called upon to pay for their crimes, we have work to do in the here and now. Killen's conviction is one of several historical reckonings. In 1994, Byron de la Beckwith was convicted of murdering civil-rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963. Then, just last year, the FBI reopened the 1955 Emmett Till case after finding that as many as 10 more people may have been involved in his abduction and murder. And now Killen will likely go to prison for the rest of his life for his part in the brutal 1964 murders of civil-rights activists Michael Schwerner, Andrew Goodman and James Chaney. These murder cases stayed unsolved for decades, and their resolution may give some sense of closure to the long-suffering families of the victims. But these triumphs are largely symbolic. By congratulating ourselves too much for them, we risk neglecting the challenges of the present. ''There's justice for all in Mississippi,'' state Attorney General James Hood said after the Killen conviction. But the reality on the ground belies Hood's rosy scenario. The lives of black Mississippians, 41 years after the civil-rights murders of 1964, are still mired in poverty and inequality. Yes, there are black elected officials now, but the economic prospects for black people -- and many whites -- is grim. The state suffers one of the nation's highest illiteracy rates. More than 38 percent of the state's black families live in poverty, in contrast to 14 percent of whites, according to the Kaiser Foundation. This doesn't sound like justice to me. Killen and his ilk carried out their crimes under white hoods and the darkness of night.

Power and Authority that affects English Language Essay

All languages change over time, and vary from place to place. In my opinion, English language is the most influenced by the change. I must say lots of factors affect language. It may be because of political or social pressures, such us invasions, imigration and colonisation. It may also change because of latest inventions, such as transport, domestic appliances and industrial equipment, or new sports and entertainment, because they also need new vocabluary. But, language can change by less obvious things. Language changes whenever speakers come into a communication with each other. Every person speaks differently from others, everybody has there own ‘idiolect’. There are no people who speak identically: people from different geographical places clearly speak differently, but even within the same small community there are variations according to a speaker’s age, gender, ethnicity and social and educational background. English language was changing from the days of Roman empire. Then anglo-saxon invasions also affected it bringing every day life words like: woman, house, loaf, then Christian missionary came in, bringing latin language and using some of its words. After that, Vikings came along bringing thousands of new words. Inavasion of William the Conqueror in 1066 brought many new words to English language from French. The 100 year war against France that happened after, also changed English language a lot. As we all know William Shakspeare about 2000 words and phrases. Shakespeare showed the world that English language was a rich and beautiful language, with limitless expressions and emotional power. It was a huge affect on English language was when in 1611 King James made a new translation of Bible so everybody will read and understand it. In 1660’s there were a lot of scientists in England and it brought a whole new words to the language. The English people started to explore the world and travel, where they found new words. Then british went to America and invented new words for new animals and things they found there. Then the new technologies took place. New inventions like radio, television, fridge needed new vocabluary. Speaking of a technology, their role in our lives is astonishing. Its effect on the way we communicate has changed the English language forever. The way we speak today is really different from the way we spoke before the internet became so widely used. Phone calls, to my mind, changed little: we still use the same methods to  greet and say good bye, for example. What is deffinitely different, however, is the way we write today. That is the area where technology has had a HUGE impact. It brought with it a whole new etiquette, as well as new conventions and new abbreviations, such as IMO (in my opinion) and FYI (for your information). And it introduced the idea that WORDS IN UPPER CASE MEAN WE ARE SHOUTING, while lower case writing is the accepted form. Mobile phones has had a much bigger impact. The way we write our text messages is now so widely accepted that it has become a mainstream: OMG (oh my God), idk (I don’t know), Ikr (I know right), and etc. And then we have the sudden rise of blogging. There are now millions of blogs worldwide. Add to that the even-more-baffling growth of the key social networking websites – Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook. So, to sum up: email + texting + blogging + social networking sites = people writing more how they speak and less like they used to write. Writing correctly still happens when it is either for your Boss, parent or a teacher. After people started using Television almost everywhere, language started changing depending on what TV shows are you watching or what channels are you watching. It might be a BBC News or Royal Family News where they all speak RP(recieved pronuanciation) to be more clear to people or it might be for example a cooking programme when people start using cookers terminology. Inventions like radio and iPod also made music more available to everybody. So the type of music you listen will affect on how your language will change. Popular singers are icons mostly for younger generation, so they have the authority to change language. New technologies made it more easier to communicate with outside world: trains, plains, ships made it much easier to travel and communicate with a wide range of different people, which obviously has a different idiolects and diolects. Also our language changes depending on to whom, where and why we speak. Through our interactions with these different speakers, we encounter new words, expressions and pronunciations and integrate them into our own speech. For example when you speak to your parents, your speach is more  formal and correct. But it is much different when you speak to your friends or peers. Your speach and words are more informal and pronouncation of words is different. The type of school we’ve studied in, also affects our language. In private shools, because children are from higher social classes and their background is more wealthy, they speak more posh and ‘correct’. When people from public schools speak more ‘chavy’ and use more slang. Also your ethnicity and the area you live or lived in: urban or city area, has really big affect on our dialect. Ethnicity affects because your dialect changes depending on who your ancestors were and what is your actual language. For example if you are french you have a specific accent and dialect. Also if you live in a city the way you speak is different than if you were from an urban area. Because in city there are much more people more influences, tourists bring different words and traditions, fast pace of life, they have own technical or city jargon, when in rural areas they a kind of country language, things take long time to change. This affects language change. The job or your interests change dialect, the words you use and how you say them. Because different jobs use different terminology and some people may use them in their everyday lifes and create a kind of new slang. Scoial class plays a big role aswell. The higher the person is on the social ladder, the more educated that person is likely to be. With a better education, a person will likely speak more properly. His or her sentences will be well formulated and slang will be at a minimum. The lower person is on a social ladder, the less educated a person is likely to be. And with less education, a person will likely speak with a looser form of a language. But it doesn’t happen always, people can be different. All of this things change our language. Language always changes and Every successive generation makes its own small contribution to language change and when sufficient time has elapsed the impact of these changes becomes more obvious. But will the same things change our language in future, and how fast it will change. Will language be completely different from the one we speak today, or will it change a little. We don’t know what people in future will think how is correct to say and write. Language is the most unpredictable and rapidly changing thing and the way it changes depends on us.

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Essay

Being the world’s busiest and most successful nation, America and the people of America need to be kept constantly fueled. Now the country can run on electricity and petroleum but the people need to be kept fed with food and of course with a busy schedule, food needs to be readily available, be efficiently cheap, delightfully tasteful and be hunger-relieving. The fast food industry manages to accomplish the task quite successfully until and unless it’s long term side effects on the body and the effects of it’s â€Å"helping† industries are taken under consideration. Eric Schlosser gives an in-depth view of this rapidly growing industry in his book â€Å"Fast Food Nation† revealing unimaginable facts that could definitely make someone have second opinions before purchasing a burger from McDonalds. The fast food industry first emerged in the 1940’s after World War Two when people started reusing their cars, now more than ever as traveling by road was cut down during wartime to save on fuel. A new chain of restaurants opened up in southern California at this period of time known as the â€Å"drive-ins†. Drive-ins become a popular hangout spot for the young youth with the combination of girls, cars, and late-night food. It was at this time that the McDonald’s came to prominence; it was known for its faster service for the customer and a cheaper production rate for themselves. The meat-producing industries were not matching the demand of meat which was accelerated due to the new fast-food industry. And thus this industry sector was also revolutionized (in the least proper manner) which now packaged cows in small areas where they were fed corn instead of fresh grass to speed up their growth and would then be shipped to slaughterhouses. This industry is still intact alongside the fast-food industry. The most common allusion is that meat products available at fast-food places are unhealthy yet the story doesn’t end there. According to Schlosser, the meat that is normally available at these joints is processed at huge industrial plants in which thousands of cows are packed in small shed where they barely have space to walk (in contrast to the picture we imagine where cows would be grazing in open fields). The working conditions at such places are even worse, for instance on page 165, he states â€Å"we have three odors†¦burning hair and blood, greasy, and the odor of rotten egg†¦It rises from the slaughterhouse waste water lagoons causing respiratory problems and headaches, and†¦damage to nervous system. † Deadly bacteria are just another serving that comes along with this industry. For example (as stated on page 199-200) E. coli O157:H7 that is found at such plants releases a powerful toxin that can soon lead â€Å"hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which leads to kidney failure, anemia, internal bleeding, and destruction of vital organs. About 5 percent of children who develop HSU are killed by it. † Obesity, another common allusion associated with fast-food restaurants, is on the rise. As Schlosser states on page 240 â€Å"More than half of all American adults and about one-quarter of all American children are now obese or overweight†¦The rate of obesity among children is twice as high as it was in the late 1970s. † Globalization also has made an impact in spreading the fast-food industry. Not that it was enough that these unhealthy cultures were already â€Å"helping† the western hemisphere, fast-food restaurants that emerged in the United States such as McDonald’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken went global to Asian countries such as China, India and Japan where for thousands of years, the people consumed a proper healthy diet most of the time. As Schlosser reports â€Å"A decade ago, McDonald’s had about three thousand restaurants outside the United States: today (that number has changed to) about seventeen thousand restaurants in more than 120 foreign countries. (Page 229) The expansion of this cancer also made its way into school campuses in hallways and other areas to attract students towards local franchise. For example, in District 11 during 1993, it began placing ads as a result of the revenue shortfalls. Within a year the district had tripled its revenues. (Page 51) Children are obvious targets as the food tastes better than school lunches and because on occasion, is cheaper to purchase than at school. Opposition has always remained against the idea of eliminating fast food as there are people who are always on the road and would like somewhere where they could grab a quick and cheap meal but it should be noted that health comes first and health is priority whereas the fast-food industry and its food are like cancer. The effects of the fast-food nation include serious environmental as well as personal damages. For now, fast-food joints should compromise their food and upgrade their menu with a decent amount of healthier options.

How to Describe Yourself Essay

You could ask a hundred people to describe themselves and what they like least and most about themselves, and I bet you would get the same answer every time. People would say they are caring, sweet, loving, forgiving, nice, and respectful. The thing is though not everyone is what they say they are. Some people say they are forgiving but the still hold grudges and other may say they are truthful but tell that one white lie. So how can I describe myself to you? I would have to start with being honest about who I really am. I would describe myself as being honest, caring, loving, nurturing, forgiving, and a lot of other things. But I am not completely honest or completely loving or forgiving, no human being is. I tell that one white lie every now and again like: no that top looks great on you, or no you don’t look fat in those jeans. And to say that I am completely loving is not true either. There are some things I hate in life such as: tomatoes, bad hair days, and snow. Finally to say that I am forgiving would be a lie, I hold grudges longer than most people, and if you cross that certain line there’s no coming back and there is no forgiveness for you. So to say I am completely truthful, loving or forgiving would be a lie in itself. The qualities I would like to see flourish and whither about myself are the same qualities everyone has. I would like to see my bad habits of biting nails, or eating when I’m bored to wither away. But some of my best qualities I would like to see grow and expand are, being caring, putting others before myself, or helping someone in need whether my needs are more important or not. This entire thing comes back to what I describe myself as and how I really am. Some qualities about myself I want gone in a second but others I wouldn’t trade for the world. It all depends on how you view yourself. The qualities I like about myself the most are the fact that I can overlook whatever a person has done in their life and still see the good in them that’s trying to break free. Also no matter when or where if someone needs help and I know I can help them I will do it no matter what the cost. On the other hand the qualities I don’t like about myself are just like everyone else’s. I don’t like that fact that I have low self-esteem, or that I don’t have the same characteristics of other people. Also I don’t like that I sometimes judge a person just by looking at them and then I have my mind made up. But these are the qualities that make us human. Over all everyone has a good and bad quality about themself, no matter what race, religion, ethnic background ,everyone has something in common and that is the thing that makes us unique and separates us from each other. I wouldn’t trade any of my best characteristics or my good qualities. I would however change some of my bad qualities, or at least try to improve them. I as a human being have my ups and downs and have my flaws but that’s what makes me so special and so unique. So asking me to describe myself as a human being is really a trick question because it’s all a matter of my own opinion mixed with how the world sees me.

Is Bigger Always Better? Essay

For centuries, a plump figure was considered attractive in both men and women.   Full figures suggested a life of ease and luxury.   Still today, children are taught that an older man in a red suit with a rounded midsection is jolly and approachable.   Some may even feel that a little fat around the belly is not such a bad thing.   Sadly, far too many people have more than a little.   Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic that affects individuals psychologically, socially, economically, and physically.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Obesity can strongly affect an individual psychologically and socially.   Just as prejudices against race, sex, and religion are common all across the world, so is prejudice against obese people.   The AORN Journal states that obese individuals â€Å"often are considered lazy overeaters without will power or motivation [†¦] are slothful, have poor personal eating and exercise habits, are of limited intelligence, and lack self-control (Shortt).   Such prejudices have even been seen in physicians who are obesity specialists.   According to a study found in Psychology Today, some physicians â€Å"associated fat people with laziness and stupidity and connected them to words like ‘bad’ or ‘worthless’† (Allen).   The fact that healthcare professionals have such strong biases reinforces how widespread â€Å"the stigma of obesity is in our society† (Allen).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Unfortunately, prejudice and discrimination carries on into everyday life for the obese individual.   Economic hardship may ensue.   Employment opportunities may be affected.   â€Å"Employers often presume that people who are obese are lazy and have poor work habits: (Allen).   This misconception results in job opportunities being denied or limited to the obese.   Employers also â€Å"want their companies to be perceived as ‘young, dynamic, and energetic’ so they avoid putting people who are obese in visible positions, erroneously believing that the obese person will not be quick or alter to the public’s needs† (Allen). Although employment opportunities may decrease, expenses related to obesity are on the rise.   Clothes and shoes cost more because the items may have to be especially made and ordered.   Medical bills for associated health problems begin to pile up.   Finding a seat to fit in becomes an added difficulty.   For example, many airlines are now requiring obese individuals to purchase two seats to accommodate their wider size.   Added expenses pose a serious dilemma, since income rates are lower and poverty rates are higher in families with obese members (Raman).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Emotional suffering, however, may be one of the most painful effects of obesity.   Society subtly teaches that attraction equals thin.   The pressure from peers does not help either.   Obese individuals, especially children and adolescents, are often subjected to endless teasing and ridicule.   It is of little wonder that not so thin men and women think of themselves as fat and unattractive.   These individuals may start to believe the prejudices about them are true.   Such feelings of low self worth lead to depression in many individuals. Thus, depression is often linked to obesity.   Concerning children, and article in Psychology Today states, â€Å"The longer a child is over weight, the more he or she is at risk for depression and other mental disorders† (Lawson).   Without intervention, these problems can carry on into adulthood.   Obese children and adults are at risk for serious emotional problems.   The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy states, â€Å"Problems include disparagement of body image, a condition in which persons feel that their body is grotesque and loathsome.    They believe that others view them with hostility and contempt, which makes them self-conscious and impairs social functioning† (Beers 60).   Sadly, these emotional problems may affect personal achievements and relationships.   According to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, then umber of years of education and marriage rates were lower among women who were obese in childhood and adolescence (Raman).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the psychological, social, and emotional effects of obesity are significant, the physical effects of obesity are far more profound.   In fact, the physical effects of obesity are life-threatening.   According to the AORN Journal, â€Å"a person who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as a person of average weight† (Shortt).   The article continues by stating, â€Å"In 2000, obesity due to poor diet and inactivity cause 16% of all deaths (ie, 400,000), making it the number-two killer after tobacco use (ie, 435,000 deaths)† (Shortt).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Obese individuals are at an increased risk for many chronic medical conditions.   The AORN Journal lists type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and some forms of cancer as conditions related to obesity (Shortt).   Concerning the increased risk of cancer, Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing states, â€Å"Obesity is associated with endometrial cancer and possibly postmenopausal breast cancers.   Obesity may also increase the risk for cancers of the colon, kidney, and gall bladder† (Smeltzer 321). The text also correlates obesity and back injuries due to increased stress in the â€Å"relatively weak back muscles† (2051).   Several other physical effects of obesity are noted in the Merck Manual of diagnosis and Therapy including orthopedic disturbances of weight-bearing and non-weight bearing joints.   The text also states, â€Å"Skin disorders are particularly common; increased sweat and skin secretions, trapped in thick folds of skin, produce a culture medium conducive to fungal and bacterial growth and infections† (Beers 60).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Everyday tasks become a burden to the obese.   Climbing a set of stairs, walking to the mailbox, tying shoelaces, and playing with their own children are all considered strenuous activities.   The onset of shortness of breath, increased heart rate and blood pressure, seating, and fatigue quickly bring any type of physical activity to an end.   The increased stress to the heart due to obesity can eventually lead to chronic heart failure and even death.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The expression â€Å"bigger is better† is true for many things.   Weight is not one of them.   As waistbands continue to expand, human lives are being endangered.   Obesity is a worldwide crisis that brings long-term psychological, social, emotional, and physical effects.   A closer look at obesity proves that bigger is not always better. Works Cited Allen, Colin. â€Å"Obesity Doctors Are Weight Biased.† Psychology Today.   29 Sept 2003. Beers, Mark and Robert Berkow.   The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy.   17th ed.   West Point: Merck, 1999. Lawson, Willow.   â€Å"The Obesity – Depression Link.†Ã‚   Psychology Today.   27 May 2003. Raman, Rita.   â€Å"Obesity and Heatlh Risks.†Ã‚   Journal of the American College of Nutrition.   21 (2002). Shortt, Janet.   â€Å"Obesity – A Public Dilemma.†Ã‚   AORN Journal. Dec 2004. Smeltzer, Suzanne and Brenda Bare.   Brunner & Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical – Surgical Nursing.   10th ed.   Philadelphia:   Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.

High Schools Students Essay

No Child Left Behind mandates placed tremendous pressure on schools throughout the country to succeed in helping our students achieve. School leaders are spending time and money to find ways to improve their schools. Many leaders have chosen to restructure their everyday scheduling format. Schools need to explore if this is beneficial or not. The purpose of this study is to determine if block scheduling has an effect on student achievement of high school students who are enrolled in block scheduling classes versus those enrolled in traditional classes. The block format will consist of four 90-minute classes. The traditional format will consist of six 50 minutes classes. To examine student achievement, the researcher will explore three critical areas. They are academic achievement, student discipline, and student attendance. The sample population will consist of students, teachers and administrators. The students of this population will be students enrolled at a high school that uses the block format and students enrolled at a high school that uses the traditional format. To examine academic achievement, only students who have completed their 11th grade year and taken the social studies portion of the Georgia High School Graduation Test will be used. To examine discipline and attendance, the teachers, administrators and some students will be randomly selected. The case study will consist of interview questionnaires and data from the students’ records to determine if there is a difference with block scheduling compared to traditional scheduling. The research will explain and explore if block scheduling versus traditional scheduling is a wise decision for school leaders throughout the country. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1. 1 Statement of Problem It is no secret that schools in the United States have come under much fire lately for their failure to meet the basic educational needs of students. Globally, students in the United States lag far behind those of other countries. Education reform is a catch phrase on the lips of politicians and educational researchers alike. Dobbs reports that in a global math skills test, the United States ranked 24th out of 29 wealthy, industrialized countries. Approximately 5500 students in 262 high schools were studied; their poor performance suggests a widening gap between US students and their counterparts in Europe and Asia (Dobbs, M. , 2004). In addition an International Math & Science Study reported the high school seniors were out-performed by 90% of other tested nations in math and by 76% in science (Hodges, 2003). In reading, students are equally unprepared. The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that nearly 6 million middle and high school students do not read at grade level. In addition, over half the students entering college scored at unacceptable levels on college entrance exams in reading, and these trends seem to cross gender and racial lines (Aratani, 2006). The current debate about school reform came in response to the report, A Nation at Risk (2004) which made the above statistics and their implications public to the nation. The National Commission on Excellence in Education remarked that if a foreign power had attempted to impose our current education performance on any nation, it would have been deemed an act of war. In a nutshell, schools in America were characterized as failed systems (Finn, 1997). The No Child Left Behind Act (NCBLA) by the current Bush Administration is one of the most groundbreaking educational reforms in years. Approved by Congress in December 2001 and signed into law on January 8, 2002, this legislation expanded the federal government’s role in the operation of public schools and imposed new obligations on all school districts. The NCLBA’s basic reform principles feature stronger accountability of the schools, administrators and teachers, increased flexibility and local control of funds from the federal government, expanded options for parents in choosing schools, and an increased emphasis on successful teaching methods (No Child Left Behind Act, 2001). Policymakers are also accountable not just for the enhanced consumer satisfaction of the parents who have an active role in school choice, but also for the overall improvement of opportunity and performance for students who have only a limited role in school choice (Leckrone & Griffith, 2006). To combat these downward trends and to provide for the new obligations and standards in the NCLBA, public education reform has turned to a revision of the structure of the school day. This included changing the schedules from a traditional six or seven period day which consisted of 45 to 55 minute classes that met daily for an entire school year to a block schedule. Block schedules take many forms, but basically, the class times per period doubles to about 90 minutes each and the number of classes taken is reduced from six or seven to four per semester. 1. 2 Statement of Purpose Since the trend toward block scheduling began several years ago, and reports have been mixed as to whether block scheduling has been beneficial or deleterious in solving some of the problems of US high schools. Many factors are involved when it comes to student achievement. These include, among other things, school climate, teaching practices, familial support, motivation and resources. This study seeks to determine the effectives of block scheduling on the academic performance of high school students with regard to the discipline, attendance and test scores. 1. 3 Definitions For the purposes of this study, the following definitions will be used: †¢ 4 x 4 Block Scheduling – Four classes, approximately ninety minutes in length, every day for the first semester. Four completely different classes, again ninety minutes in length, every day for the second semester. Each class equals one credit (The Change Process and Alternative Scheduling, 1996). †¢ A/B Block Scheduling – Four classes, approximately ninety minutes in length, meeting every other day (â€Å"A† days) for an entire school year. Four completely different classes, again ninety minutes in length, meeting on alternate days (â€Å"B† days) for an entire year. Each class equals one credit (The Change Process and Alternative Scheduling, 1996). †¢ Combination Block Schedule – A combination of 4 x 4 and A/B block schedules (The Change Process and Alternative Scheduling, 1996). †¢ Flexible Schedule – A combination of 4 x 4 and A/B block schedules, but class length varies from day to day. One example: On three out of every five days throughout the school year, each class could be 90 minutes in length. On the other two days, designated as Advisement/Resource Days, each class is 75 minutes in length. An Advisement/Resource Hour is 60 minutes in length (The Change Process and Alternative Scheduling, 1996). †¢ Traditional Format – six (or more) 50-minutes classes per day †¢ FMS – the Flexible Modular System designed by J. Lloyd Trump which introduced alternative scheduling options and provided for differing times for classes depending on the needs of the student and the content of the particular course. †¢ GHSGT – The Georgia High School Graduation Test which must be passed by all seniors in public high schools in Georgia. †¢ Carnegie Unit – 120 hours of class or contact time with an instructor over the course of a year at the secondary school level †¢ No Child Left Behind Act – NCLBA, 2001 legislation which tightened federal control over the standards and processes of American public schools. 1. 4 Assumptions of the Study This study assumes that all schools and students and teachers polled are enrolled or teaching in schools that follow the typical formats discussed above, that they have no previously diagnosed mental disabilities or learning problems and that the school is not participating in any additional enrichment programs which may distort the results of the study. 1. 5 Significance of the Study This study is important for anyone interested in improving education in American high schools. This study is significant in that it provides to the body of research that determine a) if the block scheduling concept is perceived by teachers and students as efficient and advantageous and b) if the block scheduling concept is actually responsible for improved academic achievement based upon variable factors of attendance, disciplinary records, and achievement test scores. 1. 6 Limitations of the Study This study is limited by the existence of several variables which cannot be tested by these researchers or that cannot be completely controlled. First, the research obtained is limited to those participants who willingly elect to complete the surveys and questionnaires in their entirety. All personal data to be collected is limited by the veracity of the respondents. Because of the small scope of the research, it is difficult to statistically proportion the number of respondents from necessary categories such as gender, race, income level, and college plans. It can also not take into account existing problems in the schools unrelated to scheduling such as teacher turnover, violence, etc. 1. 7 Summary The problems faced by high schools in the United States are wide-ranging and diverse. No one change will provide an instant cure for all that ails the education system. The NCLBA mandates and the general demise of educational achievement has prompted several new methods of teaching, administrating and funding education in America. The issue of scheduling may hold promise as to improving some aspects of academic performance. CHAPTER TWO REVIEW of the LITERATURE 2. 1 Historical Background of Block Scheduling Students of the 20th century spent nearly all of their high school time in 45 to 55 minute class periods, six or seven classes a day. During the 1960s, some experimental ideas emerged, notable the model of J. Lloyd Trump, who proposed creating classes of varying lengths depending upon the course. Science courses with lab requirements could meet for 100 minutes while lectures could be scheduled for 40 minutes and tutorials for 20 minutes. This system was called the Flexible Modular System (FMS). Later, a similar type of scheduling was dubbed the Copernican Plan which resulted in a reported benefit of improved graduation rates (Carroll, 1995). The plan gives students an extra chance each year to pass a semester class that they may have failed. In 1984, John Goodlad warned education leaders that the traditional school structure spends way too much time on six or seven class changes and does not allow â€Å"for individualized instruction, for extended laboratory work, or for remediation and enrichment† (Queen, 2000). Eventually, the extreme flexibility of time produced discipline issues, scheduling headaches and teacher planning problems, and FMS’s popularity began to wane (Dobbs, W. , 1998) Nonetheless, the importance of this system has not been overlooked, and it is generally regarded as the precursor to the modern block scheduling system. Tradition has always played a role in high school scheduling. The Carnegie Unit became a standard for determining a students required yearly course load. Most critics of the traditional system likened the Carnegie Unit to simply amassed seat time (Canady and Rettig, 1995). This point was reiterated in the National Education Commission on Time and Learning’s publication of A Prisoner of Time. It states that Learning in America is a prisoner of time. For the past 150 years, American public schools have held time constant and let learning vary. The rule, only rarely voiced, is simple: learn what you can in the time we make available. It should surprise no one that some bright, hardworking students do reasonably well. Everyone else—from the typical student to the dropout—runs into trouble. Time is learning’s warden. (National Education Commission on Time and Learning, 1994, p. 7) â€Å"The pace is grueling† (Irmsher, 1996). A student will spend nearly seven hours a day in seven to nine locations pursuing seven to nine different lessons and activities which produces an impersonal and inefficient approach to instruction. â€Å"The pace is grueling† (Irmsher, 1996). Unfortunately, many administrators, teachers and parents resisted any type of change to the system that they had experienced themselves. This resistance was challenged with the report A Nation At Rise was published in 1983 which revealed the American educational system was not up to par with international systems. Thus, restructuring schools became a focus in improving educational achievement (Queen, 2000). 2. 2 Summary of Current Knowledge and Theory Relevant to Block Scheduling 2. 2. 1 Overview of Perceived Advantages to Block Scheduling Several researchers (Dobbs, W. , 1998; Hurley, 1997; Zepeda, 1999; Staunton, 1997; Staunton and Adams, 1997; Pisapia, and Westfall, 1997; and Eineder and Bishop, 1997) reported the following perceived strengths and advantages by both students and teachers to block scheduling: †¢ Increased teacher preparation time (in both teams and as individuals). †¢ Double the class time for certain core subjects such as language arts and math. †¢ Half as many students for teachers per semester †¢ Additional elective class choice for 9th grade students; more choices for upperclassmen, including options of Advanced Placement and other higher level coursework †¢ More time for completion of labs, incorporating technology, class trips, and other various applications of learned material †¢ Improved school climate and decreased disciplinary referrals †¢ More time to do homework and for guided practice under the direction of the teacher †¢ Improved academic achievement by students †¢ Ability of students to accumulate enough credits to graduate early. †¢ More one-on-one time between teachers and students In general, surveyed students liked the block scheduling. They claimed to be getting better grades, to have time for more in-depth study, and got more attention from the teachers. They said their lives were less stressed and they liked having a fresh start each semester. Nearly all students asked said they would not want to return to the traditional schedule. One of the greatest effects of the 4 x 4 schedule is that students report having less homework. Of the 37 students interviewed, 20 said they had less homework, 7 said they had more, and 6 said they had about the same. If you don’t like the teacher, you don’t have to deal with him all year, or if you don’t like the subject. When the semester ends, it’s like a new school year. You’re not bogged down. Clearly, these students reaped academic benefits from the change to the 4 x 4 schedule. Both college preparatory and general students reported they were learning more and receiving more individual attention (Hurley, 1997). Surveyed teachers indicated that they enjoyed lecturing less and spending more time one-on-one with students. Teachers teaching in block scheduling used more of a team approach and allowed them to experiment more in the classroom (Staunton, 1997; Staunton and Adams, 1997). Teachers also reported that their teaching methods and practices changed as block scheduling was implemented. They used a wider array of strategies and activities. In one Florida study of over forty high schools on block scheduling, â€Å"forty percent of the teachers reported less stress at school, one-third reported increased common planning time, and 80 percent noted that they preferred the block schedule to their previous schedule† (Deuel, 1999). There seem to be several perceived advantages associated with block scheduling. 2. 2. 2 Overview of Perceived Disadvantages to Block Scheduling Several researchers (Dobbs, W. , 1998; Hurley, 1997; Zepeda, 1999; Staunton, 1997; Staunton and Adams, 1997; Pisapia, and Westfall, 1997; and Eineder and Bishop, 1997) reported the following perceived weaknesses and disadvantages by both students and teachers to block scheduling: †¢ Additional costs in hiring teachers. †¢ Additional costs in adding space for teachers or the need for teachers to ‘travel’ which means he has no permanent classroom †¢ Difficulty in making up work from absences because missing one day equivalent to missing two classes †¢ Some classes clearly benefit from meeting every day (i. e. performing arts classes) †¢ Need for teachers to commit to using new teaching methods †¢ Ninety minutes is a long time to hold the attention of students †¢ Uneven schedules in which the harder classes all end up lumped into one semester making it too difficult and the next semester too easy. †¢ The possibility that there will be a long gap in between sequential courses if they are not taken in back-to-back semesters. The primary disadvantage given by surveyed students is that the classes are too long. Students particularly gave this as a weakness when their teachers lectured for nearly all of the time period. Others noted that â€Å"bad classes are really bad when they are held for 90 minutes† (Hurley, 1997). Surveyed teachers voiced concerns about interruptions of sequential material from one semester to the next and consistency issues with students. However, teacher opinion seemed to be mixed about this issue. Some foreign language teachers feared a sequential break between levels (Scheduling Foreign Languages on the Block, 1998). Other researchers found that some schools actually showed an increase in foreign language test scores because students could take level I and level II courses in back-to-back semesters (Schoenstein, 1996). Some teachers felt more comfortable with the lecture approach and had little comfort with experimentation of teaching methods (Staunton, 1997; Staunton and Adams, 1997). 2. 2. 3 Actual Advantages to Block Scheduling via Research Studies. A Temple University study found that block scheduling had distinct advantages in academic achievement. Students who made the honor roll at the three schools studied rose from 22% to 31%. SAT scores rose by an average of 14 points. In addition, the number of detentions declined while student attendance increased (Evans, Tokarczyk and Rice, 2000). Most recently, a 2006 study indicated a variety of advantages to block scheduling. Five Connecticut high schools were studied to determine what, if any, positive outcomes would result. The researchers used test scores and surveys as a means of data collection from school guidance counselors, teachers, administrators and students. The study found that gains in math rose significantly over a two year period, achievement test score averages rose in a statistically significant manner over three years, and PSAT and SAT scores increased within the first three years but then leveled off. (Wilcox, 2006). This study is one of the few longitudinal studies available. This study also stressed the importance of time as a factor in determining the success of block scheduling. â€Å"Almost all of the results which indicated significant differences were shown after two or more years† (Wilcox, 2006). Clearly some time is necessary in order for students and teachers to become accustomed to the changes. Some of the school studies Wilcox (2006) examined had been operating on a block schedule for as long as ten years. Unfortunately, not all the schools had baseline data for years before the block schedule or had opened with a block schedule. The study further stresses the level of support by the staff can be a determining factor as to the success of any type of block scheduling, which seems to correlate, at least on surface examination of the results, with training procedures and teacher confidence. 2. 2. 4 Actual Disadvantages to Block Scheduling via Research Studies A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study studied achievement in reading and mathematics of students in a high school which ran a tri-schedule. This schedule consisted of a traditional schedule, a 4 x 4 schedule and hybrid schedules which all operated in the same single school. The NC state mandated tests in reading, language and math were used to determine achievement. For reading and language test results, there was no statistically significant difference based on the types of schedules. There was, however, a statistically significant difference in math computation subtest. The traditional schedule saw slightly higher scores in understanding and retention of mathematical computation for tenth grade students. Thus, this study â€Å"supports the importance of daily instruction and contact time to student achievement in mathematics as distinct from other academic skills† (Veal and Shreiber, 1999). Another study tested students in the Wilmington area of North Carolina. It, too, found that students on traditional schedules scored higher on tests of algebra, English, biology and history than did students on a block schedule (Lawrence and McPherson, 2000). 2. 2. 5 Studies that were Inconclusive in Determining the Efficacy of Block Scheduling in Increasing Academic Achievement. A third North Carolina study, this one undertaken by the Department of Public Instruction, compared End-Of-Course (EOC) test scores in five areas (English I, Algebra I, Biology I, US History, and Economic, Legal and Political Systems (ELP)). It sample scores from schools that operated on block schedules and on traditional schedules for 1993 to 1996. It mentions at the outset that the first schools to adopt block schedules in NC were those that had lower achievement scores to begin with. These schools’ scores were adjusted for the purpose of this study. The overall results were inconclusive. Some blocked schools showed some improvement in some years but then lower scores in other years. â€Å"At present, there are essentially no significant differences between groups of blocked and corresponding non-blocked school groups in terms of student performance in state EOC Tests† (North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, 1997).

Retailing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Retailing - Assignment Example Dynamic economic conditions have compelled the leading retailers to re-evaluate the strategies related to the marketing channels. The varied altering trends in grocery retailing have created various opportunities for the suppliers and the manufacturers. With reference to the competitive market scenario, the retailers have enforced certain strategies and advanced plans as regards to the consumers’ behaviour (Memedovic, 2010). Company Information Tesco is considered to be the one of the biggest retailers in the global perspective. In the year 1997, it had established itself as the one of the prominent and trusted names in the field of grocery retail. Tesco represents the largest online grocery business; it targets its customers on the basis of purchase behaviour. The opportunities provided by Tesco within the websites facilitate to meet the requirement of its target consumers comprising the younger audience as well as the wealthy family audience (Datamonitor, 2004). J Sainsbury plc represents the parent as well as the host company of Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd. It represents the third largest supermarket chain within the United Kingdom. It has implemented and executed certain strategies along with plans that ensure the sustainability within the competitive market scenario. Sainsbury’s vision is to be a trusted retailer (Irish Food Board, 2011). In accordance with the retailing business, the objective of the study is to compare and contrast between Tesco and Sainsbury with respect to their performance in various areas. The respective areas include store format, store design, advertising and promotions, customer segmentation and multi-channel platform. In this study, Mehrabian and Russell's approach-avoidance model will be applied. This model represents the effects of the store environment upon the consumer behaviour. In accordance with Mehrabian and Russell's approach-avoidance model, it has been further revealed that it lays emphasis upon n onverbal responses related to environmental factors that act as a major determinant of change in behaviour. Comparison and Contrast of Tesco and Sainsbury’s Performance Store Format The store format of an organisation has profound impact on the purchasing decisions. In several instances, store atmosphere, interior design and overall store environment determine the reaction of customers with respect to product purchase and consumption. The store environment comprises certain indications, messages and propositions to the customers. It can enhance the positive feeling and direct the anticipated consumer behaviour such as high inclination to purchase or longer time to stay in retail store (Gilboa & Rafaeli, 2002). Store atmosphere is a vital component of image of an organisation. For several retailers, aspects such as store layout, colour, lighting and music among others help to influence the buying behaviour of customers. They determine the selection of customers about the store to patronise. However, since the