Digital forensic incident response Research Paper

Digital forensic incident response - Research Paper Example Digital forensic investigation is important for productive prosecution of the criminals who engage in digital crimes. It is also useful in recovery of misappropriated resources such as finances, important information and others. The investigators should therefore make sure that they obtain quality forensic evidence which the courts of law require in administering justice. As put forth by Selamat et.al (2008), digital forensic investigation is distinct from digital investigation in that the techniques and procedures that the investigator will use allow the output to be applied in a court of law. In this regard, the researcher ought to consider significant steps to carry out a successful forensic investigation. Our evidence is well hidden in images, codes, encrypted files, missing folders and files among others that need to be cracked so as to reveal the misappropriation. The investigator will collect information on: system sabotage; information related on attacks; hijacks on email; sensitive information; selective information on organized and unorganized crimes; cracking and hacking and other important information (International Journal of Advance Research, 2013). The fact that American Marketing Systems hav e suspected that there is something odd happening in the company provides the platform for investigation to verify the basis of these allegations, establish the culprits and reveal the procedures they are using to skim. In this paper, the investigator presents an extensive report of the existence of the skimming, the culprits and the procedure they use. The investigator will perform information analysis, network intrusion, examine malicious file. He will also use tools which have the ability to crack encrypted files and passwords. Most of forensic audit failure is as a result of lack of proper prior planning. Bearing this in mind, the investigator will spend quality time in planning on the devices which

IMC and Customer Satisfaction Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IMC and Customer Satisfaction - Research Paper Example Advertisement strategy of Holden Trucking and its alignment with marketing goals Holden Trucking is an American organization, which deals in several business dimensions. These business dimensions generally comprise transformation of building materials, motor vehicles, construction carrier and farm supplies among others. Being a medium-sized American company, it is observed as operating its aforementioned businesses under the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). When considering its IMC strategies, the organization can be observed as utilizing various advertising tools in order to advertise its products and/or services offered to the customers worldwide. In relation to the advertising strategy of Holden Trucking, these aspects fundamentally comprise official website promotion, seasonal printing advertisements and billboards. Execution of the aforesaid advertising strategies in the form of various advertisement tools further tends to be aligned with its marketing goals i n terms of promoting its products and/or services to around 48 states of the US and Africa (FindThe Best.com, Inc., 2013). Effectiveness of the advertising strategy of Holden Trucking The effectiveness of the advertising strategy, as implemented by Holden Trucking, can be determined in terms of identifying the sales of one of its products i.e. barley in its network joining 48 states in the US along with Africa and the subsequent satisfaction level observed among the consumers residing in those particular regions. It is worth mentioning that proper management and effective exploitation of advertising strategies can facilitate an organization towards marketing its various products and/or services, subsequently attracting the customers towards buying a product. In relation to Holden Trucking, the marketing tools that are utilized by the organization such as billboards, websites and seasonal printing advertisements would eventually impose a favorable impact upon the perceptions of the c ustomers residing throughout its business network. The IMC strategies performed by Holden Trucking will become much effective at the time when the people in all the 48 states and Africa generating greater awareness about the brand and its products and/or services offered. Moreover, selling of the product will also contribute in making the advertising strategy of Holden Trucking much effective. Different promotional strategies that may be used in addition to advertising Apart from the above mentioned IMC strategies aimed to promote the products and/or services offered by Holden Trucking throughout its network comprising all the 48 states and Africa, there are also certain other various promotional strategies that might be used by the organization in order to attract more customers and gain long-run efficiency in its targeted marketing area. In this similar concern, Holden Trucking might use diverse promotional strategies of personal selling, product giveaways and social media among o thers. Theoretically, the promotional strategy of personal selling denotes advancing the interrelation with the customers. In the similar context, product giveaways signify facilitating the potential customers with a product sample, resulting in promoting a new product. The other promotional strategies of social media represents promoting products and/or services in a relaxed business setting through the incorporation of various social media websites such as Google

Knowledge and Assessment Essay Example for Free

Knowledge and Assessment Essay 1. Understand the principles requirements of assessment 1. 1explain the functions of assessment in learning and development Determining level of knowledge understanding †¢ Ensuring that learning is taking place †¢ Checking progress †¢ Adhering to course criteria 1. 2define the key concepts and principles of assessment 1. Explain the functions of assessment in learning and development. Assessment is carried out to evaluate that learning has taken place. It measures the learner’s attainment of knowledge and skills in their particular learning area. Assessment encourages learners to ask questions on anything they have not fully understood, as learners know that they will have to prove their knowledge and understanding during assessment to the standards of the awarding body. The anticipated outcome of assessment is that the learner will complete assessment to City and Guild standards within the time frame stated, with no assistance and show through answering questions that they have full understanding of the subject. 2. Define the key concepts and principles of assessment. Assessment has to remain fair, consistent and valid to ensure all learners have an equal and fair chance of receiving a fair assessment. An assessor cannot be swayed 1. 3 explain the responsibilities of the assessor The role of the assessor is to assess the learner’s knowledge and performance in a range of tasks. This includes, ? Ensuring that the learner has demonstrated competence and knowledge in the assessment to the standard of City and Guilds criteria. ? Assessments need to be planned between the assessor and each learner; the learner needs to be fully aware of his/her responsibilities in the collection and presentation of evidence. ? The assessor then needs to observe the learners performance in their workplace or similar environment and can ask questions to confirm a learners understanding. ? Accurate and constructive feedback needs to be given to the 1. 4 identify the regulations and requirements relevant to assessment in own area of practice 2. Understand different types of assessment methods 2. 1 compare the strengths and limitations of a range of assessment methods with reference to the needs of individual learners 3. Understand how to plan assessment 3. 1 summarise key factors to consider when planning assessment 3. 2 evaluate the benefits of using a holistic approach to assessment 3. 3 explain how to plan a holistic approach to assessment 3. 4 summarise the types of risks that may be involved in assessment in own area of responsibility 3. 5 explain how to minimise risks through the planning process 4. Understand how to involve learners others in assessment 4. 1 explain the importance of involving the learner and others in the assessment process 4. 2 summarise types of information that should be made available to learners and others involved in the assessment process. 4. 3 explain how peer and self-assessment can be used effectively to promote learner involvement and personal responsibility in the assessment of l earning 4. 4 explain how assessment arrangements can be adapted to meet the needs of individual learners 5. Understand how to make assessment decisions 5. 1 explain how to judge whether evidence is: †¢Sufficient †¢Authentic †¢Current 5. 2 explain how to ensure that assessment decisions are: †¢Made against specific criteria †¢Valid †¢Reliable †¢Fair 6. Understand Quality Assurance of the assessment process. 6. 1 evaluate the importance of quality assurance in the assessment process 6. 2 summarise quality assurance and standardisation procedures in own area of practice 6. 3 summarise the procedures to follow when there are disputes concerning assessment in own area of practice 7. Understand how to manage information relating to assessment 7. 1 explain the importance of following procedures for the management of information relating to assessment 7. 2 explain how feedback questioning contribute to the assessment process 8. Understand the legal good practice requirements in relation to assessment 8. 1 explain legal issues, policies and procedures relevant to assessment, including those for confidentiality, health, safety and welfare 8. 2 explain the contribution that technology can make to the assessment process 8. 3 evaluate requirements for equality and diversity and, where appropriate, bilingualism in relation to assessment 8. 4 explain the value of reflective practice and continuing professional development in the assessment process.

Techniques For Airflow Rate Measurements

Techniques For Airflow Rate Measurements My company is setting up an experiment to measure the airflow rate in a duct. Airflow measurement techniques are necessary especially in many industries. Some of the common airflow measuring applications include ventilation testing, air balancing, ductwork, air planes and so on. Many research and studies have been put into improving and inventing new equipments to measure air flow. This is so to enable user to get the most accurate result and at the same time using the least cost. This report outlines the different airflow measurement techniques and devices that are available today. There are many different types and ways to measure air flow but I will concentrate on those that are more popular and commonly used. They are the Pitot-tube, Orifice plate, Venturi meter, Cup anemometer, Sphere anemometer and Hot-Wire anemometer. Techniques and devices for airflow rate measurements 2.1 Pitot tube A pitot-static tube is used in wind tunnel experiments and on airplanes to measure the air flow rate. It is also used in many industrial applications. It was invented by the French engineer Henri Pitot in the early 1700s and was later modified to its modern form in the mid 1800s by French scientist Henry Darcy. It is a slender tube that has two holes on it (Figure 1). The front hole is placed in the airstream to measure whats called the stagnation pressure. The side hole measures the static pressure. By measuring the difference between these pressures, we are able to get the dynamic pressure that can be used to calculate the air velocity. By Bernoullis principle, Stagnation pressure = static pressure + dynamic pressure Solving that for velocity we get: Where V: fluid velocity; pt: stagnation or total pressure; ps: static pressure; à Ã‚ : fluid density Figure 1: Pitot-Static Tube The incorporation of sensors to measure the air temperature, barometric pressure, and relative humidity can further increase the accuracy of the velocity and flow measurements. The Pitot tube can also measure the velocity with the use of a pressure transducer that generates an electrical signal which is proportional to the difference between the pressures generated by the total pressure and the static pressure. The volumetric flow is then calculated by measuring the average velocity of an air stream passing through a passage of a known diameter. When measuring volumetric flow, the passage of a known diameter must be designed to reduce air turbulence as the air mass flows over the Pitot tube. To obtain an estimate of the volumetric flow in the duct from a series of pitot-static tube velocity measurements, one must integrate the velocity over the duct area. There are many of different methods for approximating the above integral. One of the methods is to divide the duct cross-section into a number of equal area sectors, and then measure the average velocity at the center of each sectors. For example, we can divide the cross-section of the duct in the figure below: The velocity will be by calculating the sum: 2.1.1 Advantages and Disadvantages The advantages of using pitot-static tube is that it can be inserted in small airstream and it presents little resistance to flow. It is simple, inexpensive and suited for a variety of environmental conditions including extremely high temperatures and a wide range of pressures. The disadvantages would be that if the flow rate is low, the difference in pressures will be too small to accurately measure with the transducer. If the air flow is high (supersonic), assumptions of Bernoullis equation will be violated and thus leading us to wrong measurement. Furthermore, if the tubes are clogged, the reading by the transducer will be inaccurate resulting in dire consequence in the context on airplane. Icing of the pitot tube had caused plane to crash. 2.2 Orifice Plate Orifice plate is used for flow rate measuring in pipe systems. An orifice plate is placed in a pipe containing a fluid flow, which constricts the smooth flow of the fluid inside the pipe. By restricting the flow, the orifice meter causes a pressure drop across the plate. By measuring the difference between the two pressures across the plate, the orifice meter determines the flow rate through the pipe. Figure 2: Orifice Plate in a duct Applying Bernoullis equation to a streamline flowing down the axis of the tube gives, Where, P: pressure à Ã‚ : density of the fluid V: Velocity of the fluid As shown in the above diagram(Figure 2), point 1 is upstream of the orifice, and point 2 is behind the orifice. It is recommended that point 1 be positioned one pipe diameter upstream of the orifice, and point 2 be positioned one-half pipe diameter downstream of the orifice. Since the pressure at 1 will be higher than the pressure at point 2, the pressure difference will be a positive quantity. From continuity equation, the velocities can be replaced by cross-sectional areas of the flow and the volumetric flow rate Q, Where, A: cross sectional area Solving for the volumetric flow rate Q gives, The above equation remains true with perfectly laminar, inviscid flows. As for real flows like water or air, we have to take into account of the viscosity and turbulence that are present .To account for this effect, a discharge coefficient Cd is introduced into the above equation to marginally reduce the flow rate Q, Since the actual flow profile at point 2 downstream of the orifice is quite complicated, the following substitution introducing a flow coefficient Cf is made, Where, Ao: area of the orifice As a result, the volumetric flow rate Q for real flows is given by the equation, The flow coefficient Cf is found from experiments and is tabulated in reference books. It ranges from 0.6 to 0.9 for most orifices. Since it depends on the orifice and pipe diameters (as well as the Reynolds Number), one will often find Cf tabulated versus the ratio of orifice diameter to inlet diameter, sometimes defined as b, The mass flow rate can be found by multiplying Q with the fluid density, There are mainly 3 different types of orifice plates. They are Concentric, Segmental and Eccentric. This is to accommodate for different applications so that the meter has the optimum structure. The density and viscosity of the fluid, and the shape and width of the pipe do influence the choice of plate shape to be used. The concentric orifice is the most common of the 3 types. In this design, the orifice is equidistant. It is generally used for clean liquid and gas flow in pipes under six inches, where Reynolds numbers range from 20, 000 to 107. We will therefore use concentric orifice for our experiment purposes. ( which deals with air). Segmental orifice is similar to concentric orifice with regard to its functioning. The circular section is concentric with the pipe while the segmental part is mounted in a horizontal pipe. This installation helps to eliminate of foreign materials on the upstream side of the orifice. Eccentric orifice plates are designed in such a way that the edge of the orifice is reallocated towards the interior of the pipe wall. It is used in similar manner as the segmental orifice plate. Figure 3 below shows the different types of orifice plates: 2.2.1 Advantages and Disadvantages With no moving parts and a simple design, the orifice is easily machined. It is low lost and can be easily inserted into a duct or an existing pipeline with a minimum alteration to the layout. Therefore orifice plate has been a popular device for flow measurement. The disadvantage is that it creates a rather large non-recoverable pressure due to the turbulence around the plate, leading to high energy consumption (Foust, 1981). 2.3 Venturi meter Most of the unrecoverable loss of pressure with an orifice is due to the sudden change in the cross sectional area. The sudden increase of area after the air passes the section of minimum area: the rapid convergence of the stream on the upstream side contributes considerably to the total loss. We are able to recover most of the pressure by leading the stream with the use of a conical length of pipe, with its smaller end of the same cross section as the jet, and gradually expanding in size along the direction of flow until the full pipe diameter is reached. An arrangement of this kind, with a conical entry is known as a venturi tube. The Venturi effect is named after Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746-1822), an Italian physicist. A venturi meter consists of a cylindrical length, a converging length with an included angle of 20o or more, and short parallel throat, and a diverging section with an included angle of about 6o. The internal finishes and proportions are designed in such a way to enable us to achieve the most accurate readings while ensuring minimum head losses. Assuming that the fluid is inviscid with no losses due to viscosity, the velocity at section 1 and 2 are V 1 and V 2 respectively. The velocities are steady and uniform over areas A 1 and A 2 Applying Bernoullis equation to a streamline passing along the axis between the two sections ( 1 2 ). Where, V:Velocity of the fluid P: Pressure à Ã‚ : density of the fluid Z: Height Using continuity equation, Q = A1 V 1 = A 2 V 2 When real world effects such as fluid friction and turbulence are included a correction factor, called the coefficient of discharge, Cd is introduced into the venturi equation giving For low viscosity fluids C d = 0,98. 2.3.1 Advantages and Disadvantages The venturi tube introduces substantially lower non-recoverable pressure drops (Foust, 1981). Therefore venture tube can be used on more viscous fluid. However it has limited range ability. It must be used only on installations where the flow rate is well known and varies less than 3 to 1. It is rather expensive and should be flow calibrated to provide accuracy into the range of +/- 1.00%, Units are big and weigh more than comparable head devices and thus making it difficult to install and inspect. 2.4 Anemometer An anemometer, also known as wind vane is a device for measuring the air flow rate in a contained flow such as duct or unconfined flow. The term is derived from the Greek word anemos, meaning wind. In around 1450, the Italian art architect Leon Battista Alberti invented the first mechanical anemometer which consisted of a disk placed perpendicular to the wind. To determine the velocity, an anemometer detects change in some physical property of the fluid or the effect of the fluid on a mechanical device inserted into the flow. They are probably best used mounted on light, preferably streamlined, supports and inserted into the airstream from one side. 2.4.1 Cup anemometer This device consists of three or four hemispherical cups mounted at the ends of horizontal spokes which rotates about a low-friction vertical shaft. An electrical device is used to record the revolutions of the cups and measures the air flow rate. (Figure below) As the anemometer is placed inside the flow stream, the concave surfaces of the cups have higher wind resistance than their convex counterparts and thus producing an unbalanced moment with respect to the center axis. This forces the cups to rotate (see schematic). Under steady flow condition, the rotational speed of the anemometer is directly related to the wind speed, that is: V=rw. There are number of fundamental physical parameters and characteristics of an anemometer that affects the cup anemometer performance. They are: rotor arm length cup area rotor inertia drag coefficient on convex face of cup drag coefficient on concave face of cup static, dynamic and parabolic mechanical friction coefficients for temperature range sensitivity characteristic to out-of-plane attack linearised calibration curve. A well designed cup anemometer should have the following characteristics as shown in the Figure 4 below: Let us examine a cup anemometer rotating at speed w in a free wind speed U: The instantaneous aerodynamic torque on the rotor, MA, is given by: where A: frontal area of the anemometer r: the air density Cdv : drag coefficients for the concave faces of cup Cdx drag coefficients for the convex faces of cup In the steady state, there is perfect torque balance (MA=0), and the equation reduces to: defining l and  µ as the speed and drag ratios respectively: allows further re-expression in a quadratic form: Typical values of Cdv and Cdx are 1.4 and 0.4 respectively, giving a value of  µ of 3.5. The above equation predicts that the consequential speed ratio l will be 0.303, meaning the rotor will rotate at about one third of the wind speed. Note that this solution also proves the theoretically linear sensitivity of the cup anemometer to wind speed. It also shows that the speed ratio is dependent on the drag characteristics of the cup and not the size. Furthermore, the rotational speed is inversely proportional to rotor radius. 2.4.2 Advantages and disadvantages The advantages of the cups are their reliability and ruggedness. The disadvantages are the relatively high threshold velocity (the minimum wind velocity needed to start the cups to turn). It is mainly used to only measure the horizontal component of the wind. Another problem with cup anemometry is the different response time for increasing and decreasing wind velocities due to its moment of inertia. This results in an overestimation of wind speed under turbulent wind conditions as present in nature, the so-called over-speeding. Additionally, the rotation of the anemometer causes a wear of bearing and leads to a recalibrations with time. 2.5 Sphere anemometer Many research and studies have gone into the improving of such a device (Cup anemometer). For example, the sphere anemometer. It was developed at the University of Oldenburg. This sphere anemometer, as shown in figure 4 below, is able to measure the air flow rate as well as simultaneous detection of the air flow direction. It eliminates the problem of wear of bearing as encountered in cup anemometer. Figure 5: The sphere anemometer uses the relationship between the point force F acting on the tip of a rod and its resulting deflection s. (1) Where l: the length of the rod E: the elasticity modulus Ja: the second moment of area. In case of the sphere anemometer, with a sphere radius r much bigger than the radius of the rod rR, the force can be assumed to act only on the tip. The second moment of area is then given by (2) Together with the force acting on the sphere (3) where cd: the drag coefficient of the sphere A: the cross section of the sphere ÃŽÂ ¡: the density of air V: the wind velocity Equation 1 becomes (4) Therefore the deflection of the rod is proportional to the drag coefficient cd and the wind velocity squared. For a calibration it is necessary to know how the drag coefficient cd changes with wind velocities. Table 1 below shows the drag coefficient of a sphere plotted against the Reynolds number (Re) (cf [1]). It can be seen that for Reynolds numbers in the range from about 800 to 200000 the change in drag coefficient cd is negligible. For a sphere with a radius r = 40mm this range in Re corresponds to a range in wind velocities from 0.17m/s to 38m/s using where v = 1.51 x 10-5 m2/s is the kinematic viscosity of air. Within this velocity range the deflection s of the rod is directly proportional to the wind velocity squared. With this direct relation it is easy to calibrate the sphere anemometer over a wide range of wind velocities. Table 1: 2.6 Hot wire anemometer Thermal anemometry is the most common method used to measure instantaneous fluid velocity. The technique depends on the convective heat loss to the surrounding fluid from an electrically heated sensing element or probe. If only the fluid velocity varies, then the heat loss can be interpreted as a measure of that variable. Working Principle Its principle application is the measurement of rapid fluctuations, particularly the study of turbulent flow; in this field it is the only instrument with sufficiently rapid response, and the associated electronic equipment lends itself readily to signal processing needed to record directly such properties of a turbulence as r.m.s values, correlation functions, and spectral distributions. Governing equation Consider a thin heated wire mounted to supports and exposed to a velocity U Where, W: power generated by Joule heating (W=I2Rw) Q: heat transferred to surrounding Qi: CwTw=thermal energy stored in wire Cw: heat capacity of wire Tw: wire temperature The wire is heated electrically and placed in the flow stream. The energy balance of the heated wire at equilibrium is (equation 1): Where, I: an electric current Rw: the wire resistance h: the heat transfer coefficient A: the heat transfer area Tw: the wire temperature Tf: the fluid temperature D: wire diameter Kf: heat conductivity of fluid Nu: dimensionless heat transfer In the forced convection regime (0.02 Reynolds number: Re= (where r is the air density and U is the velocity and  µ is the air dynamic viscosity).(equation 2) Where Substituted Eq(2) into Eq(1), There are two types of hot-wire anemometer used in practice but I will touch on Constant Temperature Anemometer which is more commonly used. For a case of Constant Temperature Anemometer Where And The voltage is a measured of velocity U. 2.6.1 Advantages and disadvantages It has good frequency response as it can measure up to several hundred kHz possible. It is able to measure a wide range of velocity. It is small in size and has rapid response.- Thermal anemometry enjoys its popularity because the technique involves the use of very small probes that offer very high spatial resolution. The basic principles of the technique are relatively straightforward and the probes are difficult to damage if reasonable care is taken. However, deposition of impurities in flow on sensor can alter the calibration characteristics and reduce frequency response. Probe may or burnt out easily if not carefully taken care of. It is unable to fully map velocity fields that depend on space coordinates and simultaneously on time. Furthermore, it cannot work well in hostile environment like combustion. The wire diameter needs to be very small of the order of 0.02mm or less. Conclusion In this report, I have touched on the different techniques and different devices for the measurement of airflow. There are many different devices in the market but many use similar techniques with abit of new inventions or add ons here and there. Different airflow measuring devices utilize different technologies and thus, one needs to fully understand the characteristics, techniques and its pros and cons before selecting the optimal one for use. In summary, an ideal device to measure air flow rate should have the following characteristics good signal sensitivity. It should be able to detect output for small changes in velocity. High Frequency Response: to accurately follow transients without any time lag Wide velocity range Create minimal flow disturbance Good Spatial Resolution Inexpensive High Accuracy User friendly

Not Just For Kicks: Expressing Difficult Content Using Comics Essay

A common description of comic books comes from their appearance in cartoons and comic strips, where a teacher catches a child reading a comic book tucked between the pages of their schoolwork. Prevailing attitudes formed off of this kind of perception render the idea of the comic form as a diversion, lacking serious content, and perhaps immature. However, the comic form uses many techniques to explore subject matter that is difficult to deal with in traditional educational ways. This paper will look to examine how immersion and symbolism within the comic form can be an effective tool to reproduce these otherwise difficult situations, concepts, and ideas by using examples of texts from our class that make excellent use of these techniques, in particular Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Photographer, and Bound by Law. The graphic novel is grounded in stereotypes that belie their true expressive power, and the deconstruction of those stereotypes is the first step in accessing concepts that are misconstrued and difficult. As Scott McCloud states in Understanding Comics "Sure, I realized that comic books were usually crude, poorly drawn...but they don't have to be" (McCloud 3), something we have witnessed through the sophistication of our texts this semester. By investigating how the comic form interacts with the reader, we can find many benefits that often position comics as an optimal vehicle for delivering informative and educational content where other mediums only barely suffice. However, separating the medium of comics from the content widely associated with them is a difficult task, and one that can only be changed by effective content delivered with effective comic technique. The main benefits of the graphic novel and... ...red towards delinquent children. While difficult material can be expressed in other methods than comics, these examples prove that with proper use of techniques and an awareness of the content itself, comics can provide a much deeper and enriching experience than just text or visual representation alone. Works Cited McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: William Morrow Paperbacks/HarperCollins, 1994. Print. Miyazaki, Hayao. Nausicaa of the Valley of Wind. Volume 1. San Francisco, CA: Viz Communications, Inc., 1995.2nd Ed. 2004. First published by Nibariki/Tokuma Shoten, Japan, 1994. Print. Guibert, Emmanuel, et al. The Photographer: Into War-Torn Afghanistan with Doctors without Borders. New York and London: First Second, 2009. Print. Aoki, Keith, James Boyle, Jennifer Jenkins. Bound by Law. Duke Law School. 2006. Print.

The boken fountain :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Broken Fountain   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This story told about a man who travels to Naples, Italy. It is a first person narrative, almost like a diary of the person’s life in Italy. He was looking for a new society, and the reason for his travels is because he feels he should see how the people from that specific society live. He did not know anyone, or have anyone with him, nor did he speak the language. He doesn’t know where anything is or about the complicated customs. Even though in the beginning he didn’t understand these things, when he left, he had been molded into a new man.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first few chapters are just describing the place he lived, and about a man he met who taught him Italian. He lived in a run down dirty apartment building with rates. He spent his first few days worrying about where he lived, and how he was going to adjust to his new life. He then talks more about the man who teaches him to speak, and how the man showed him around and introduced him to people in society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He was introduced to Lorenzo and Stefano through this man. These two people quickly became the author’s friend, and they showed him how to survive in Italy. They were compassionate toward the fact that he was an outsider, and didn’t understand their culture. They were there to help him adapt to his new life, and to help him feel comfortable. They showed him the community where they lived, and how it was overall a bad group of people. People were always getting raped and robbed, and almost every night something else would happen. This was how people survived in this community. This made people unwelcoming of new people, and why it was hard fro him to meet people in the beginning.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He would occasionally travel to Europe, and observe the societies there. He wrote down lots of notes about the culture and the way of life. The people in Europe were welcoming of him, and it really made him think of his outlook on the people in Italy where he lived. He quietly observed a criminal who had been allowed to move in with him, because he did not want the thief to die.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  At the end he opened his eyes and saw that the society was a complete mess.

Anosognosia for Hemiplegia: A Window into Self-Awareness :: Stoke Medical Essays

Anosognosia for Hemiplegia: A Window into Self-Awareness You wake up in a hospital bed, scared, confused, and attached to a network of tubes and beeping equipment. After doctors assault you with a barrage of questions and tests, your family emerges from the sea of unfamiliar faces surrounding you and explains what has happened; you have had a stroke in the right half of your brain, and you are at least temporarily paralyzed on your left side. You wiggle your left toes to test yourself; everything seems normal. You lift your left arm to show your family that you are obviously not paralyzed. However, this demonstration does not elicit the happy response you expect; it only causes your children to exchange worried glances with the doctors. No matter how many times you attempt to demonstrate movement in the left half of your body, the roomful of people insists that you are paralyzed. And you are, you just do not know it. How is this possible? You are suffering from anosognosia, a condition in which an ill patient is unaware of her own ill ness or the deficits resulting from her illness (1). Anosognosia occurs at least temporarily in over 50% of stroke victims who suffer from paralysis on the side of the body opposite the stroke, a condition known as hemiplegia (1). Patients with anosognosia for hemiplegia insist they can do things like lift both legs, touch their doctor's nose with a finger on their paralyzed side, and walk normally (2). These patients are much less likely to regain independence after their stroke than patients without anosognosia, primarily because they overestimate their own abilities in unsafe situations (3). However, the implications of the illness go far beyond those for patients who suffer from it; anosognosia brings questions of the origin of self-awareness to the forefront. How can someone lose the ability to know when she is or is not moving? Is this some type of elaborate Freudian defense mechanism, or is this person entirely unaware of her illness? How is self-awareness represented in the brain, and is this representation isolated from o r attached to awareness of others? Though none of these questions are fully answerable at this time, research into anosognosia has provided scientists and philosophers with insight into some of these ancient questions of human consciousness. The question of "denial" versus "unawareness" is at the heart of debate between psychologists and neurologists about the origin of anosognosia (3). Anosognosia for Hemiplegia: A Window into Self-Awareness :: Stoke Medical Essays Anosognosia for Hemiplegia: A Window into Self-Awareness You wake up in a hospital bed, scared, confused, and attached to a network of tubes and beeping equipment. After doctors assault you with a barrage of questions and tests, your family emerges from the sea of unfamiliar faces surrounding you and explains what has happened; you have had a stroke in the right half of your brain, and you are at least temporarily paralyzed on your left side. You wiggle your left toes to test yourself; everything seems normal. You lift your left arm to show your family that you are obviously not paralyzed. However, this demonstration does not elicit the happy response you expect; it only causes your children to exchange worried glances with the doctors. No matter how many times you attempt to demonstrate movement in the left half of your body, the roomful of people insists that you are paralyzed. And you are, you just do not know it. How is this possible? You are suffering from anosognosia, a condition in which an ill patient is unaware of her own ill ness or the deficits resulting from her illness (1). Anosognosia occurs at least temporarily in over 50% of stroke victims who suffer from paralysis on the side of the body opposite the stroke, a condition known as hemiplegia (1). Patients with anosognosia for hemiplegia insist they can do things like lift both legs, touch their doctor's nose with a finger on their paralyzed side, and walk normally (2). These patients are much less likely to regain independence after their stroke than patients without anosognosia, primarily because they overestimate their own abilities in unsafe situations (3). However, the implications of the illness go far beyond those for patients who suffer from it; anosognosia brings questions of the origin of self-awareness to the forefront. How can someone lose the ability to know when she is or is not moving? Is this some type of elaborate Freudian defense mechanism, or is this person entirely unaware of her illness? How is self-awareness represented in the brain, and is this representation isolated from o r attached to awareness of others? Though none of these questions are fully answerable at this time, research into anosognosia has provided scientists and philosophers with insight into some of these ancient questions of human consciousness. The question of "denial" versus "unawareness" is at the heart of debate between psychologists and neurologists about the origin of anosognosia (3).

How important is performance space to performance? Essay

The question of performance space’s importance in conveying meaning and guiding audience response is complicated. First we must define the term â€Å"performance space†. In a broader sense, it can refer to venue, which in the case of site-specific artists such as Shunt, means performance space is indeed central to the construction and context of meaning. Venues also come with their own sets of conventions and coding, which may alter the reading of a performance. On a smaller scale, it is a defining of areas between audience and performer, therefore having a more proxemics based analysis. There is a tendency throughout history to establish a norm of performance space. This has meant in general, a designated space solely for performance, with audience spectating from a separate area. How separate an area it is has shaped audience response in a cultural sense. The peaks of audience participation have arisen in times when there is close proximity to the stage, encouraging the spectator to feel like another performer. The use of performance space can be an unconscious one. Performers, particularly professionals, must devise or present or work within the performance space that have obtained funding for. The audience member is often not conscious of the use of performance space, focusing instead on the overtly designed aspects of the production. This lack of open awareness is, in my opinion a reason why performance space has a profound effect on meaning. By becoming a subconscious signifier, performance space create an ambience through which we filter all of the overt signs and symbols before decoding, its influence pervades all Within modern performance, venue involvement and performer/audience relationships are gaining wider attention as means to shape meaning and reception, by working with or subverting our cultural norms or coding of found spaces. The rise of the site-specific movement shows both performers and audiences are acknowledging the key role of a performances surroundings. It is also interesting that non site specific work being performed in less traditional surrounds in order to democratize theatre and performance away  from the bourgeois connotations of established theatre spaces (the Edinburgh Fringe Festival has seen several productions performed in lavatories,) In a venue sense, the performance of Winter; The Triumph of Time, in the George Wood theatre emphasised the importance of performance space in contextualising the piece. The performers later indicated that they had expected the audience to leave during the stillness at the â€Å"end† of the piece, as it was intended to become an installation art work, which the audience would in their own time tire and move on from. The vast majority of audience members remained in their seats, showing that they were adhering to the learned conventions of modern theatre attendance; they stayed quietly in their seats until indicated by the performers (through curtain calls, for example) or their technical staff (by opening the exit doors, turning up the house lights or giving cue for applause) that the performance was over. Winter was read as a theatre piece, solely due to its performance space. Venue can also engage senses that are otherwise hard to stimulate. During the performance of Tropicana , I was acutely aware of my sense of touch ;the walls were damp, and often crumbled slightly to the touch. The venue also had distinctive smell of mould. The slimy, unpleasant feelings these created were consciously used within the piece and added to the sense of sensory overload the work was trying to create. These senses are rarely triggered by the performers themselves, leaving venue alone as the main stimulation for two out of five senses. Audience response to work is also influenced by the relationship between audience space and performance space. Rigidly defined performance/spectator areas can lessen the effect of the audience being â€Å"involved† in the piece. This is mainly a question of proxemics; the creation of distinct areas often involves physical distance in order to clarify boundaries. During Winter, due to the design of the George Wood theatre’s auditorium and the performers use of the area behind the proscenium, the audience were about 10†² away from the performers. I found this made me lose a lot of the detail in the  performance, the nuance of the paint cracking and solidifying was lost on me  for example. The distance also created a sense of â€Å"receiving† the production,. I was more inclined to intellectually analyse and consciou1sly deconstruct than to â€Å"feel† the performance and become absorbed by its journey. Tropicana redefined its performance space on several occasions, often with no distinction between audience and performance space. being within the performance, in a sense as a performer oneself, left the audience unsure how to react. Many of the piece’s early comic moments were not laughed at, as the audience were unsure of their role. When , in the second half, we were directed onto conventional tiered seating, the audience were much more willing to laugh at jokes, to â€Å"aaah† at the rejection of one of the characters and to talk amongst themselves, due to the return to theatre norms. Exactly how important a tool performance space is varies considerably with the objectives of the work; Shunt actively seeks to reflect venue through performance, and the piece performed in any other setting would produce far different decodings and responses than were originally intended. With less site-specific works, the link between audience and performance space is less obvious in a venue sense. Yet there is no space that does not add some coding to work performed within it. Even contemporary â€Å"black box† spaces convey colour symbolism and expectations of post modernism. Performance space is indeed important to performance. The venue and proxemics employed for each performance becomes central to the mise-en-scene of the piece, framing the work both literally and contextually. It can convey its own set of conventions and alter the way in which a performance is read. However, these ideas relate mainly to live performance. Performance over other mediums such as film of television would have the added consideration of not only original performance space,but the connotation of how it is received. Bibliography: Tropicana Devised and performed by the Shunt theatre company, 9th Oct 2004 Winter: The Triumph of Time- Cleanliness is next to godliness explored Devised and performed by Helen Spackman and Ernst Fisher 10th Nov 2004

Narrative Feeling Essay

1. Identify three quotes from the dialogue that show how Bryce progressed in ethically identifying his emotions. The first quote from the dialogue shows how Bryce progressed in ethically identifying his emotions is â€Å"After a year of applying, interviewing, jumping through all the hoops, I finally realized nothing I did mattered. I just couldn’t take another rejection. The bottom line is, no one wants me.† The second quote that shows how Bryce progressed in ethically identifying his emotions is â€Å"I don’t know. I think they might leave me. We’ve run through our savings. We’re behind on the mortgage. I’m going to lose everything. I feel bad, but I can’t do anything about it.† The third quote that shows how Bryce progressed in ethically identifying his emotions is â€Å"Really? What did you do? I mean, I know you moved away.† See more: how to start a narrative essay 2. Identify and explain, using concepts from the text, at least one example of an obstacle to communicating emotions in the situation.  One example of an obstacle to communicating emotions in the situation is self-protection. Bryce stated that he hasn’t want to talk to anyone in a while which can be an indication that he may not want to express his feelings, in fear of others having information that could affect how they perceive or act towards him. (Wood, 178) 3. Identify and explain at least two examples of irrational beliefs that Bryce holds. Two examples of irrational beliefs that Bryce holds from the dialogue would be when he states â€Å"The bottom line is, no one wants me.† And â€Å"I feel bad, but I can’t do anything about it.† I feel that these beliefs are irrational because they are not true, though Bryce believes they are. He feels that no one wants him, but the case may be that someone else may have been a better fit for the position instead of him. This does not mean that he was not just as qualified as the next applicant. Bryce stated that he stopped looking for jobs about 6 months ago, but if he would have remained dedicated, he may have run into a job by then. He stated that he can’t do anything about this but truthfully, he could have still continued to search for jobs instead of sitting back and doing nothing. 4. Explain, using concepts from the text, how Bryce could use surface acting and deep acting to better align his emotions and behavior with the needs of his job search. Even though Bryce feels that finding employment is hopeless, his body language and facial  expressions will definitely show that. Bryce needs to learn how to effectively control his outward appearance because it will benefit his job search. A positive attitude always helps gain desired results. Showing an outward appearance of drive and determination to gain employment will be more beneficial than his defeated attitude. Bryce could also align his emotions and behavior with the needs of his job search by controlling his feelings of hopelessness and defeat. He should learn that by possessing these feelings, he is already lessening his chances to produce the desired results that he is looking for. 5. Based on the textbook’s guidelines for communicating emotions effectively (p.182– 187), identify and explain at least three ethical strategies Bryce could use to improve his interpersonal communication in this situation. One strategy that Bryce could use to improve his interpersonal communication in this situation is identifying his emotions. The text states that â€Å"recognizing the existence of both feelings allows you to tune in to yourself and to communicate accurately to others what you are experiencing.† (Wood, 182) Bryce needs to separate his feelings of hopelessness and the fact that he feels that no one wants him. Another strategy that he can use is choosing whether or how to express emotions. Bryce seems to be very erratic when it comes to his feelings toward finding a job. Once he can actually determine where his frustration lies and not let it consume and discourage him, he can then decide to or not to communicate his emotions in order to keep them private. Lastly, he can also use the strategy of monitoring self-talk. This would be very helpful to Bryce because he can talk himself into having a more positive outlook regarding his job search, He won’t feel so low when he is turned down for a job opportunity because he will have coached himself to keep searching and continue his drive. Wood, J. (2012). Interpersonal communication: Everyday encounters. Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

The Host Chapter 37: Wanted

There was a pattern to the wins. If Jared and Kyle played together, they won. If Jared played with Ian, then that team would win. It seemed to me that Jared could not be defeated, until I saw the brothers play together. At first it seemed to be a strained thing, for Ian at least, playing as teammates with Kyle. But after a few minutes of running in the dark, they fell into a familiar pattern-a pattern that had existed since long before I'd come to this planet. Kyle knew what Ian would do before Ian did it, and vice versa. Without having to speak, they told each other everything. Even when Jared pulled all the best players to his side-Brandt, Andy, Wes, Aaron, Lily, and Maggie as goalie-Kyle and Ian were victorious. â€Å"Okay, okay,† Jeb said, catching Aaron's goal attempt with one hand and tucking the ball under his arm. â€Å"I think we all know the winners. Now, I hate to be a party pooper, but there's work waiting†¦ and, to be honest, I'm bushed.† There were a few halfhearted protests and a few moans, but more laughter. No one seemed too upset to have the fun end. From the way a few people sat down right where they were and put their heads between their knees to breathe, it was clear Jeb wasn't the only one who was tired out. People began to drift out in twos and threes. I scooted to one side of the corridor's mouth, making room for them to pass, probably on their way to the kitchen. It had to be past time for lunch, though it was hard to mark the hour in this black hole. Through the gaps in the line of exiting humans, I watched Kyle and Ian. When the game was called, Kyle had raised his hand for a high five, but Ian had stalked past him without acknowledging the gesture. Then Kyle caught his brother's shoulder and spun him around. Ian knocked Kyle's hand away. I tensed for a fight-and it seemed like one at first. Kyle threw a punch toward Ian's stomach. Ian dodged it easily, though, and I saw that there was no force behind it. Kyle laughed and used his superior reach to rub his fist into Ian's scalp. Ian smacked that hand away, but this time he halfway smiled. â€Å"Good game, bro,† I heard Kyle say. â€Å"You've still got it.† â€Å"You're such an idiot, Kyle,† Ian answered. â€Å"You got the brains; I got the looks. Seems fair.† Kyle threw another half-strength punch. This time, Ian caught it and twisted his brother into a headlock. Now he was really smiling, and Kyle was cussing and laughing at the same time. It all looked very violent to me; my eyes narrowed, tight with the stress of watching. But at the same time, it brought to mind one of Melanie's memories: three puppies rolling on the grass, yapping furiously and baring their teeth as if their only desire was to rip out their brothers' throats. Yes, they're playing, Melanie confirmed. The bonds of brotherhood go deep. As they should. This is right. If Kyle really doesn't kill us, this will be a good thing. If, Melanie repeated morosely. â€Å"Hungry?† I looked up, and my heart stopped beating for a slightly painful moment. It seemed that Jared was still a believer. I shook my head. This gave me the moment I needed to be able to speak to him. â€Å"I'm not sure why, since I've done nothing besides sit here, but I'm just tired.† He held out his hand. Get a hold of yourself, Melanie warned me. He's just being courteous. You think I don't know that? I tried to keep my hand from shaking as I reached for his. He pulled me carefully to my feet-to my foot, really. I balanced there on my good leg, not sure how to proceed. He was confused, too. He still held my hand, but there was a wide space between us. I thought of how ridiculous I would look hopping through the caves, and felt my neck get warm. My fingers curled around his, though I wasn't really using him for support. â€Å"Where to?† â€Å"Ah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I frowned. â€Å"I don't really know. I suppose there's still a mat by the ho-in the storage area.† He frowned back, liking that idea no better than I did. And then a strong arm was under my arms, supporting my weight. â€Å"I'll get her where she needs to go,† Ian said. Jared's face was careful, the way he looked at me when he didn't want me to know what he was thinking. But he was looking at Ian now. â€Å"We were just discussing where exactly that would be. She's tired. Maybe the hospital†¦?† I shook my head at the same time Ian did. After the past horrible days spent there, I didn't think I could bear the room I'd once misguidedly feared. Especially Walter's empty bed†¦ â€Å"I've got a better place for her,† Ian said. â€Å"Those cots aren't much softer than rock, and she's got a lot of sore spots.† Jared still held my hand. Did he realize how tightly he was gripping it? The pressure was starting to get uncomfortable, but he didn't seem aware. And I certainly wasn't going to complain. â€Å"Why don't you get lunch?† Jared suggested to Ian. â€Å"You look hungry. I'll take her wherever you had planned†¦?† Ian chuckled, a low, dark sound. â€Å"I'm fine. And honestly, Jared, Wanda needs a bit more help than a hand. I don't know if you're†¦ comfortable enough with the situation to give her that. You see -â€Å" Ian paused to lean down and pull me quickly up into his arms. I gasped as the movement tugged at my side. Jared didn't free my hand. My fingertips were turning red. â€Å"-she's actually had enough exercise for one day, I think. You go on ahead to the kitchen.† They stared at each other while my fingertips turned purple. â€Å"I can carry her,† Jared finally said in a low voice. â€Å"Can you?† Ian challenged. He held me out, away from his body. An offer. Jared stared at my face for a long minute. Then he sighed and dropped my hand. Ow, that hurts! Melanie complained. She was referring to the sudden lance of pain that shot through my chest, not the return of blood to my fingers. Sorry. What do you want me to do about it? He's not yours. Yes. I know that. Ow. Sorry. â€Å"I think I'll tag along,† Jared said as Ian, with a tiny, triumphant smile hovering around the edges of his mouth, turned and headed toward the exit. â€Å"There's something I want to discuss with you.† â€Å"Suit yourself.† Jared didn't discuss anything at all as we walked through the dark tunnel. He was so quiet, I wasn't sure he was still there. But when we broke out into the light of the cornfield again, he was right beside us. He didn't speak until we were through the big plaza-until there was no one around but the three of us. â€Å"What's your take on Kyle?† he asked Ian. Ian snorted. â€Å"He prides himself on being a man of his word. Usually, I would trust a promise from him. In this situation†¦ I'm not letting her out of my sight.† â€Å"Good.† â€Å"It will be fine, Ian,† I said. â€Å"I'm not afraid.† â€Å"You don't have to be. I promise-no one is ever going to do something like this to you again. You will be safe here.† It was hard to look away from his eyes when they blazed like that. Hard to doubt anything he said. â€Å"Yes,† Jared agreed. â€Å"You will.† He was walking just behind Ian's shoulder. I couldn't see his expression. â€Å"Thanks,† I whispered. No one spoke again until Ian paused at the red and gray doors that leaned over the entrance to his cave. â€Å"Would you mind getting that?† Ian said to Jared, nodding toward the doors. Jared didn't move. Ian turned around so we could both see him; his face was careful again. â€Å"Your room? This is your better place?† Jared's voice was full of skepticism. â€Å"It's her room now.† I bit my lip. I wanted to tell Ian that of course this wasn't my room, but I didn't get a chance before Jared began questioning him. â€Å"Where's Kyle staying?† â€Å"With Wes, for now.† â€Å"And you?† â€Å"I'm not exactly sure.† They stared at each other with appraising eyes. â€Å"Ian, this is -† I started to say. â€Å"Oh,† he interrupted, as if just remembering me†¦ as if my weight was so insignificant that he'd forgotten I was here. â€Å"You're exhausted, aren't you? Jared, could you get the door, please?† Wordlessly, Jared wrenched the red door back with a bit too much force and shoved it on top of the gray one. I now really saw Ian's room for the first time, with the noon sun filtering down through the narrow cracks in the ceiling. It wasn't as bright as Jamie and Jared's room, or as tall. It was smaller, more proportionate. Roundish-sort of like my hole, only ten times the size. There were two twin mattresses on the floor, shoved against opposite walls to make a narrow aisle between them. Against the back wall, there was a long, low wooden cupboard; the left side had a pile of clothes on top, two books, and a stack of playing cards. The right side was completely empty, though there were shapes in the dust that indicated this was a recent occurrence. Ian set me carefully down on the right mattress, arranging my leg and straightening the pillow under my head. Jared stood in the doorway, facing the passageway. â€Å"That okay?† Ian asked me. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"You look tired.† â€Å"I shouldn't be-I've done nothing but sleep lately.† â€Å"Your body needs sleep to heal.† I nodded. I couldn't deny that it was hard to hold up my eyelids. â€Å"I'll bring you food later-don't worry about anything.† â€Å"Thank you. Ian?† â€Å"Yeah?† â€Å"This is your room,† I mumbled. â€Å"You'll sleep here, of course.† â€Å"You don't mind?† â€Å"Why would I?† â€Å"It's probably a good idea-best way to keep an eye on you. Get some sleep.† â€Å"Okay.† My eyes were already closed. He patted my hand, and then I heard him get to his feet. A few seconds later, the wooden door clunked softly against stone. What do you think you're doing? Melanie demanded. What? What did I do now? Wanda, you're†¦ mostly human. You must realize what Ian will think of your invitation. Invitation? I could see the direction of her thoughts now. It's not like that. This is his room. There are two beds here. There aren't enough sleeping areas for me to have my own space. Of course we should share. Ian knows that. Does he? Wanda, open your eyes. He's starting to†¦ How do I explain it so that you'll understand right? To feel about you†¦ the way you feel about Jared. Can't you see that? I couldn't answer for two heartbeats. That's impossible, I finally said. â€Å"Do you think what happened this morning will influence Aaron or Brandt?† Ian asked in a low voice from the other side of the doors. â€Å"You mean Kyle getting a bye?† â€Å"Yeah. They didn't have to†¦ do anything before. Not when it looked so likely that Kyle would do it for them.† â€Å"I see your point. I'll speak to them.† â€Å"You think that will be enough?† Ian asked. â€Å"I've saved both their lives. They owe me. If I ask them for something, they'll do it.† â€Å"You'd bet her life on that?† There was a pause. â€Å"We'll keep an eye on her,† Jared finally said. Another long silence. â€Å"Aren't you going to go eat?† Jared asked. â€Å"I think I'll hang out here for a bit†¦ How about you?† Jared didn't answer. â€Å"What?† Ian asked. â€Å"Is there something you want to say to me, Jared?† â€Å"The girl in there†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Jared said slowly. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"That body doesn't belong to her.† â€Å"Your point?† Jared's voice was hard when he answered. â€Å"Keep your hands off it.† A low chuckle from Ian. â€Å"Jealous, Howe?† â€Å"That's not really the issue.† â€Å"Really.† Ian was sarcastic now. â€Å"Wanda seems to be, more or less, cooperating with Melanie. It sounds like they're almost†¦ on friendly terms. But obviously Wanda's making the decisions. What if it were you? How would you feel if you were Melanie? What if you were the one†¦ invaded that way? What if you were trapped, and someone else was telling your body what to do? If you couldn't speak for yourself? Wouldn't you want your wishes-as much as they could be known-respected? At the very least by other humans?† â€Å"Okay, okay. Point taken. I'll keep that in mind.† â€Å"What do you mean, you'll keep that in mind?† Jared demanded. â€Å"I mean that I'll think about it.† â€Å"There's nothing to think about,† Jared retorted. I knew how he would look from the sound of his voice-teeth clenched, jaw strained. â€Å"The body and the person locked inside it belong to me.† â€Å"You're sure that Melanie still feels the -â€Å" â€Å"Melanie will always be mine. And I will always be hers.† Always. Melanie and I were suddenly at opposite ends of the spectrum. She was flying, elated. I was†¦ not. We waited anxiously through the next silence. â€Å"But what if it were you?† Ian asked in little more than a whisper. â€Å"What if you were stuffed in a human body and let loose on this planet, only to find yourself lost among your own kind? What if you were such a good†¦ person that you tried to save the life you'd taken, that you almost died trying to get her back to her family? What if you then found yourself surrounded by violent aliens who hated you and hurt you and tried to murder you, over and over again?† His voice faltered momentarily. â€Å"What if you just kept doing whatever you could to save and heal these people despite that? Wouldn't you deserve a life, too? Wouldn't you have earned that much?† Jared didn't answer. I felt my eyes getting moist. Did Ian really think so highly of me? Did he really think I'd earned the right to a life here? â€Å"Point taken?† Ian pressed. â€Å"I-I'll have to think about that one.† â€Å"Do that.† â€Å"But still -â€Å" Ian interrupted him with a sigh. â€Å"Don't get worked up. Wanda isn't exactly human, despite the body. She doesn't seem to respond to†¦ physical contact the same way a human would.† Now Jared laughed. â€Å"Is that your theory?† â€Å"What's funny?† â€Å"She is quite capable of responding to physical contact,† Jared informed him, his tone suddenly sober again. â€Å"She's human enough for that. Or her body is, anyway.† My face went hot. Ian was silent. â€Å"Jealous, O'Shea?† â€Å"Actually†¦ I am. Surprisingly so.† Ian's voice was strained. â€Å"How would you know that?† Now Jared hesitated. â€Å"It was†¦ sort of an experiment.† â€Å"An experiment?† â€Å"It didn't go the way I thought it would. Mel punched me.† I could hear that he was grinning at the memory, and I could see, in my head, the little lines fanning out around his eyes. â€Å"Melanie†¦ punched†¦ you?† â€Å"It sure wasn't Wanda. You should have seen her face†¦ What? Hey, Ian, easy, man!† â€Å"Did you think for one moment what that must have done to her?† Ian hissed. â€Å"Mel?† â€Å"No, you fool, Wanda!† â€Å"Done to Wanda?† Jared asked, sounding bewildered by the idea. â€Å"Oh, get out of here. Go eat something. Stay away from me for a few hours.† Ian didn't give him a chance to answer. He yanked the door out of his way-roughly but very quietly-and then slid into his room and put the door back in its place. He turned and met my gaze. From his expression, he was surprised to find me awake. Surprised and chagrined. The fire in his eyes blazed and then slowly dimmed. He pursed his lips. He cocked his head to one side, listening. I listened, too, but Jared's retreat made no sound. Ian waited for another moment, then sighed and plunked down on the edge of his mattress, across from me. â€Å"I guess we weren't as quiet as I thought,† he said. â€Å"Sound carries in these caves,† I whispered. He nodded. â€Å"So†¦Ã¢â‚¬  he finally said. â€Å"What do you think?†

Important Initiatives in the Promotion of Public Health

Important Initiatives in the Promotion of Public Health Introduction Health initiative programs are global phenomena. They are as old as humankind. Continued government support has shown that alls of health promotion initiatives include Michelle Obama’s Lets Move program in America, Living Longer Living Better initiative, and Headspace initiative. The last two are in Australia. Let’s Move Health Initiative Obesity in America is an old problem. Thirty three percent of American children are overweight or obese. The condition leads to complications like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer (Batan, Li Scanlon 2010). Almost forty percent African American and Hispanic children are affected by the problem. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, is determined to solve the obesity problem in America. To this end, she launched the â€Å"Let’s Move† campaign. A letter was written to President Obama by Melody Barnes on behalf of the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity. The letter detailed an action plan to solve the obesity problem. It led to the launch of Michelle Obama’s initiative (Batan et al. 2010). Priority areas were identified by the task force. The areas include empowering parents and guardians, as well as providing the children with healthy food in schools. In addition, the task force recognised the importance of enhancing access to healthy foods in the country. Finally, the task force advised for the promotion of physical activity in school (Batan et al. 2010). The task force spent three months reviewing available research. More than 2500 people were interviewed by the task force. Twelve federal agencies supported the ideas of Lets Move program. Today, the initiative is one of the most comprehensive and well-funded programs that are effectively addressing the age old problem of obesity. By merging all-inclusive strategies and common sense, Michelle Obama is helping to raise future healthy children. Obesity is a condition where the body has excess fat. It is represented in terms of body mass index [BMI] (Chung et al. 2008). Grown-ups whose BMI is between 25 and 29 are regarded as unhealthy. Individuals whose ratio goes beyond 30 are regarded as obese (Nestle 2010).Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In children, BMI varies with gender and age. Children with a BMI greater than 95 percentile on the sex-and-age growth chart are regarded as obese. The condition increases the risk of contracting diseases like diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and heart conditions (Chung et al. 2008). Children with obesity tend to develop into obese adults. Pregnant women who use tobacco products or who are overweight are likely to give birth to obese children (Nestle 2010). In addition, women who are diabetic are at risk of giving birth to obese children. Let’s Move initiative recognises that no single action can reverse childhood obesity. The initiative ad opts some important approaches, which include improving eating habits and increasing physical activities among children. It also advocates for control of tobacco consumption. The initiative identifies material incentives as major risk factors that contribute to obesity. Some of these incentives include the cost of food and social norms. Others include nutritional and physical activities among peers and family members. The surrounding environment, such as availability of playground or fast food stores, is another contributing factor (Chung et al. 2008). The program advocates for the provision of information to parents and caregivers to help them provide nutritious foods to children. Let’s Move advocates for the elimination of â€Å"food and play ground deserts† (Chung et al. 2008, p. 34). The First Lady’s initiative advocates for more opportunities to engage children in physical activity. One of the findings made in the program is that physically active children have improved motor skills. Such skills are necessary for children to attain developmental milestones (Nestle 2010). Michelle Obama’s initiative targets the participation of every person in the society. Parents, healthcare personnel, government officials, and caregivers participate in the initiative. States have formulated policies regarding activity and provider training. Portable and fixed play equipments are a common sight in schools. The program has influenced the amount of physical activity children engage in while in school (Nestle 2010). Research by Nestle (2010) shows that public programs like Lets Move greatly improve the nutritional value of the food given to children. Children in early childhood care centre are also healthier. Pupils under the Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) eat healthier food compared to those who bring meals to school. Let’s Move program has taken the lead in providing healthier foods and implementing evidence-based activities. The activit ies promote healthy eating and encourage â€Å"developmentally-appropriate† physical activities (Chung et al. 2008, p. 23).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Important Initiatives in the Promotion of Public Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As ambitious as it looks, Let’s Move has not performed very well. The number of children meeting the guidelines for physical activity is not clear. Surveys show that only high school students follow the physical activity guidelines. Another setback is the recommendation by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Children under two years are not allowed to view television. In addition, those over two years must limit their television exposure to two hours (Wisdom et al. 2010). However, in spite of this initiative, 44% of children below two years watch television daily (Wisdom et al. 2010, p. 12). The negative impacts that obesity has on public health and the econo my justify Let’s Move initiative by Michelle Obama. Research findings show that obesity affects the lifestyle of a given population. Let’s Move is a successful public health initiative. Its ability to institute various programs and attract the support of players from different sectors of the community is laudable. Living Longer Living Better Initiative The gradual increase of the ageing population in Australia is a phenomenon that has greatly affected social balance. The scenario demands for shift in society’s beliefs about the old people (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012a). Man has fought so hard over the centuries to increase his life span. Australians are now enjoying an extended period of healthy existence (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009). Older people in Australians still have the energy, knowledge, insight, and experience to contribute to the development of the country. Their contribution in the fields of business, education, and communal partici pation is of great importance to the entire country. Their contribution calls for creative ways of encouraging and supporting them. Old age does not diminish dreams and aspirations (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012b). The government has found it necessary to initiate programs that take care of the changing needs of the ageing population. Such initiatives include the Living Longer Living Better program (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009). Living Longer Living Better is an amalgamation of different packages that help improve the living standards of the older generation. In this program, the government aims to build â€Å"nationally consistent aged care programs† (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012c, par. 16). The initiative has provided a total of four billion dollars over the last five years (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012d).Advertising Looking for report on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Out of the total allocation, 995 million dollars was set aside to help the aged to stay at home. The money was used to finance the acquisition of new homecare packages. The initiative regulates arrangements for home care packages for the aged (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009). Another allocation includes the 54 million dollars set aside to help support the aged in their careers (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012c). Seven hundred million dollars was used to deliver better housing facilities for the aged population in the country. 1.2 billion dollars was used to support the working class among the old age population. The remaining part of the allocation went to consumer support and research. The aim was to empower the aged through advocacy and networking. The project has improved the living standards of the older population in Australia. It is a public health initiative since it addresses both psychological and sociological needs. The initiative has direct impacts on the healt h status of an individual. Majority of senior citizens in the country prefer to spend their last days at home. By 2015, the initiative aims to introduce a number of programs with the help of government. One of them is the Commonwealth Home Support Program (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012d). One of the demerits of the Living Longer Living Better initiative is high taxation rate on the entire population. Current exemptions with regards to accommodation payments among the aged are a burden to the tax payers. In conclusion, Living Longer Living Better initiative has shown that old age programs are critical in tackling health issues that are important and sensible to the aged. The initiative focuses more on the health of the aged, largely because of the high mortality rate among the group and huge medical bills incurred by them (Kumanan Keelan 2009). The welfare of the aged has improved greatly in the last twenty years as a result of the initiative. Headspace Initiative in Australi a Headspace is an initiative of the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. It was launched in 2006 (Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing [AGDHA] 2007). It is part of the Australian government’s obligation to the Youth Mental Health Initiative (AGDHA 2007). The main aim of the initiative is to promote and expand access to mental health services. It also aims at improving social and economic security among the youth. The initiative targets those aged between 12 and 25 (Hardey 2008). Headspace provides holistic services via Communities of Youth Services [CYS] (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006). It creates community awareness as far as young people suffering from mental complications are concerned (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006). One of the components of the initiative that helps it achieve its mandate includes the Headspace National Office (HNO). It is a research and information dissemination arm of the organisation. An independent evaluation of Hea dspace was conducted in 2008 by the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC). The centre rated the program positively. A longitudinal evaluation, which included a mixed methods research, was conducted. The evaluation made use of qualitative and quantitative data from different sources. Headspace has continued to provide mental health services to young people in the country. Some of the positive impacts of the program include improved governance of clinical services to the youth. It has come up with effective mental health policies and procedures (BeyondBlue 2006, par. 4). To ensure that the program achieves the envisaged objectives, those tasked with the responsibility of implementing the Headspace initiative have come up with a number of strategies (Wisdom et al. 2010). The program has come up with campaigns aimed at increasing community awareness. The management has also introduced youth-friendly services and centres accessible to the youth. The initiative has increased the number of young people seeking and accessing mental health services in the country. Current research shows that the program has provided services to more than fourteen thousand young people. An evaluation of Headspace program unearthed some limitations and recommended that the period of setting up centres be increased to twelve months. The duration would allow enough time to recruit qualified members of staff, as well as refine policies and procedures (BeyondBlue 2006). Another limitation identified involves the number of times that one can access psychiatric services. Psychiatric services should be increased to improve the mental health of young people in Australia. It is evident that Headspace has managed to achieve its objectives of addressing the mental health issues among the youth. The initiation of similar programs will go a long way in improving mental health among the Australian population. References Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006, Mental health in Australia: a snapshot, 2004- 05, abs.gov.au/ausstats/[emailprotected]/mf/4824.0.55.001. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2009, Survey of disability, ageing and carers, Australia 2009, http://carersaustralia.com.au/storage/Economic-Value-Informal-Care-Oct-2010.pdf. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012a, Caring for children: gender indicators, Australia, abs.gov.au/ausstats/[emailprotected]/Lookup/by+Subject/4125.0~Jan+2012~Main+Features~Caring+for+children~4120. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012b, Labour force status by sex 15-64 years, abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[emailprotected]/DetailsPage/6202.0Jun%202012. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012c, Labour force status aged 15 years and over, abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/[emailprotected]/DetailsPage543/6202.0Jun%202012?. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012d, Caring in the community, Australia, abs.gov.au/ausstats/[emailprotected]/cat/4436.0. Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing 2007, National mental health report 2007, Sidney, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Batan, M, Li, R, Scanlon, K 2010. Is child care providers’ support for breastfeeding associated with breastfeeding duration?, American Public Health Association, New York. BeyondBlue 2006, BeyondBlue: about us, beyondblue.org.au/about-us. Chung, M, Raman, G, Trikalinos, T, Lau, J, Ip, S 2008, ‘Interventions in primary care to promote breastfeeding: an evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’, Annals of Internal Medicine, vol. 149 no. 8, pp. 565-82. Garrett, L 2007, ‘The challenge of global health’, Foreign Affairs, vol. 86 no. 1, pp. 14-38. Hardey, M 2008, ‘Public health and Web 2.0’, Perspectives in Public Health, vol. 128 no. 4, pp. 181-189. Kumanan, W Keelan, J 2009, ‘Coping with public health 2.0’, Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 180 no. 10, p. 1080. Nestle, M 2010, Health care reform in action: calorie labelling goes national, NEJM.org. Wisdom, J, Downs, J, Loewen stein, G 2010, ‘Promoting healthy choices: information versus convenience’, Applied Economics, vol. 2, pp. 164–178.

Contributions Of Max Webers Bureaucracy To Public Administration

Contributions Of Max Webers Bureaucracy To Public Administration Introduction This assignment is a discussion on the topic of bureaucracy as described by Max Weber. The discussion looks at the theory in general and its effects in public administration in terms of advantages and disadvantages. It will be argued in the discussion that the approach is characterized by hierarchical distribution of power and authority in both public and private sector organizations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Contributions Of Max Webers Bureaucracy To Public Administration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The major advantage is that it ensures that jobs are done only by those employees who are qualified to do them; that is, the employees are selected purely on merit. Its major short coming in public administration is that it is too rigid especially when it comes to making decisions. This delays the delivery of services as well as the efficiency and effectiveness of public organizations. The Bureau cratic Approach This theoretical approach was formed by Max Weber in 1947.The approach conceptualizes organizations as being guided by hierarchical chains of command, in which decisions are made based on the top down approach. Those who are at the top management positions are responsible for making the decisions while their juniors are responsible for the execution of those decisions. In the hierarchy, each position is composed of specific roles and responsibilities as well as some amount of authority to make decisions or to command other workforce down the hierarchy (Rainey, 2009). The approach conceptualizes organizations as being characterized by division of labor and specialization. Each position in the hierarchy is held by specialized individuals or bureaucrats who have acquired education and training on that particular position. The specializations are accompanied by some specific authorities depending on the position in the hierarchy (Shafritz, 2011). The approach views organ izations as being guided by formal regulations and rules which are formed and communicated well within the organization (Fry, 2008). There are the rules of conduct in the work place which govern things like working hours, holidays, offs, the language to be used, communication protocols within the organization based on the hierarchy, and the communication channel regarding assignments for specific positions in the hierarchy.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These rules and regulations govern the procedures and the processes of the organization so as to give it an identity as well as stability and make it possible to predict the output of the organization because everything is planned in advance and followed to the letter without failure or compromise (Fry, 2008). The approach views organizations as being characterized or guided by rationality. Employees are selecte d not on the basis of friendship but on merit and their qualifications. The approach does not encourage the mixing of friendship or family issues with organizational business. All employees are therefore selected in a transparent and competitive process which is free from any bias. The same applies to employee remunerations. Each and every employee is remunerated as per his or her position, qualifications, and rank in the organization, meaning that those who are at the top get higher remunerations than those who are at the bottom in the hierarchy. In terms of responsibilities, those at the bottom are more involved with organizational activities while those at the top are mostly concerned with policy issues and public relations activities and are less involved in the daily running of the organizations (Hamilton, 1991). The approach recognizes positions in the hierarchy by their designations but not by the individuals who hold them. This is to say that there is no personification of r anks within the organization which ensures that authority is respected and reduces subjectivity as it increases objectivity in organizational undertakings. This idea of addressing positions by their designations in the hierarchy also ensures that there is no conflict of interest or unnecessary arguments or exchanges between various officials in the chain of command, which in turn increases efficiency in the organizational business (Hamilton, 1991). Advantages of approach In Public Administration Bureaucratic theory is characterized by clearly defined rules and procedures in the work place. These rules make work easier for the employees because there is no ambiguity and therefore each and every employee is able to focus on his or her duties and responsibilities on the required time.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Contributions Of Max Webers Bureaucracy To Public Administration specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The cl ear chain of command also ensures that there is good communication because every employee knows where to receive commands from; which reduces conflict of interest between various levels in the organizational structure (Hamilton, 1991). The recruitment of employee is also based on merit and professional qualifications which ensure that the correct people are employed for the correct jobs. This ensures that there is efficiency and high quality production in the organizations or businesses. The separation of employees’ personal issues and those of organizations makes employees focus solely on their duties and responsibilities (Naidu, 2005). Disadvantages of bureaucratic approach in public administration The theory has however been described by critics as being too rigid. It has also been accused of losing rationality especially in the issue of decision making, which its critics argue that it takes a lot of time before the bureaucrats in the chain of command procure a decision, w hich in turn compromises the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization. Other critics argue that the approach tends to build empires within organizations which discourage creativity and innovations of junior employees thereby hindering organizational progress and growth (Hamilton, 1991). Bibliography Fry, Brian. 2008. Mastering public administration: from Max Weber to Dwight Waldo. (2nd ed.). New York, NY: CQ Press. Hamilton, Peter. 1991. Max Weber: critical assessments 1, Volume 1; Volume 3; Critical Assessments of Leading Sociologists Series. New York, NY: Routledge. Naidu, S.P. 2005. Public Administration: Concepts and Theories. Andhra Pradesh.: New Age International.Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Rainey, Hal. 2009. Understanding and Managing Public Organizations; Essential Texts for Nonprofit and Public Leadership and Management. (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. Shafritz, Jay. 2011. Classics of Public Administration. (7th ed.). New York, NY: Wadsworth Pub Co.

Oedipus Rex and Conventional Families Essays

Oedipus Rex and Conventional Families Essays Oedipus Rex and Conventional Families Paper Oedipus Rex and Conventional Families Paper In Oedipus Rexes and Conventional Families Oedipus Rexes, a tragic play based on dysfunctional families, Is a unique situation compared to dysfunctional families today. Incest, royalty and belief in gods is what caused dysfunction during Oedipus? time. A dysfunctional family, according to an online dictionary source, Is ? ¦one In which adult caregivers are unable to consistently fulfill their family responsibilities. ?o This is the type of family where buses and conflict occur on a regular basis; this leads the children growing up in it to believe that It is normal to have such occurrences In a family life. Oedipus was a child, who although was born into a royal family, grew up as an adopted child to another royal family. This happens because when Oedipus was born, Apollo, who was one of the many gods, tells Oedipus?w birth parents that he will kill his father when he gets older. After hearing this, birth parents leave him in Situation, a mountain range near Thebes, to die. Fortunately for baby Oedipus, a shepherd finds IM and brings him to the King and Queen of Corinth, who adopt and raise him as their own child. This shows that fortunate events can result in misfortune. In a time when wealth and power was triumphed over truth and justice, dysfunctional was a result of Immoral practices. In Oedipus Rexes, the readers come to see the blind sighted nature of Oedipus which leads him to murdering his biological father with the ultimate goal of marrying his biological mother, Coast. As the tragedies play progresses, the readers discover that Apollo has made clear that whoever has ordered Also must be ? ¦killed or exiled. ?o (Lines?:) This leads too townspeople, Chorals, to introduce Oedipus to Terrifies, who is a holy prophet that has knowledge of all the occurrences In Thebes. Telesales avoids telling Oedipus the truth of who the murderer is, but Oedipus wants to know the truth. As the conversation progresses, Oedipus becomes furious by Terrifies when he is informed that he Is the murderer of his biological father. King Also_ But before Telesales leaves, he says to Oedipus, ?:The man you have been looking for all this time, The damned man, the murderer of Also, That man Is In Thebes. To your mind he freeborn, But it will soon be shown that he is a Thebes, A revelation that will fail to please. ?:To the children with whom he lives now he will be Brother and father-the very same; to her Who bore him, son and husband-the very same Who came to his father?was bed, wet with his father?s scene ?: Lines 233-236, 240-243) When Terrifies says this Oedipus, we, as the readers, know that it is Oedipus who kills his biological father but Terrifies also Informs Oedipus that he will sleep with his mother. This explains to us that his wife Is most likely his biological mo ther as well. When Terrifies tells Oedipus that his mother is also his wife and his children are also his siblings, this portrays the dysfunctional toy 2 Tanat was present aurally appease TTL when opuses Tints out Trot a messenger that the child that Accost gave away many years ago was he, he cannot deal with the horror of knowing that his wife is his biological mother. So when Accost hangs herself, he pokes his eyeballs out with her dress ornaments and self- exiles himself. ?:And there he saw her hanging, her body swaying From the cruel cord she had noosed about her neck. ?: For the King ripped from her gown the golden brooches That were her ornament, and raised them, and plunged them down Straight into his own eyeballs, crying, ?cent more, No more shall you look on the misery about me, The horrors of my own doing! Too long have you known The faces of those whom I should never have seen, Too long been blind to those for whom I was searching! Sophocles scene?: Lines 38-39, 42-29) The situation fac ed by Oedipus compares to the situations faced by society today because no matter what generation or year it may be, whatever the parents do it will affect the characteristics and behavior of the children later in their lives. In a dysfunctional family today, the parents probably will not kill themselves or blind themselves, or look to other extreme measures, such as Oedipus did, but abuse and incest may occur. When a scenario such as the one in Oedipus Rexes occurs, it affects his daughters?w futures negatively. Some of the problems that can occur would be he complications associated with marriage, being raised by foster parents (Croon), and inferiority complex, the condition of not knowing who he or she truly is. In a dysfunctional family today, many children go through many types of abuse and that results in complications with alcohol and drug abuse, which could lead them to be rapists and murders, and with females, complications in pregnancy. Abuse within a family can cause complications in later generations. ?cachet problems that the dysfunctional families face tend to be chronic rather than temporary, the needs of he family members (particularly the children) are inconsistently met, and the negative patterns of parental behavior tend to be dominant in their children?was lives (Texas Womans University, no page). ?0 Compared to Oedipus Rexes, the effects of a dysfunctional family are different, yet not so different. The situations present in this tragedy are very unlikely to occur in the present day, but the idea of these situations may occur. Society may not go to the extremes as Oedipus did, but similar situations, although not as morbid, are comparable to that time period.

Every AP Literature Practice Test Available Free and Official

Every AP Literature Practice Test Available Free and Official SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When you’re studying for your AP Literature Exam, you’re going to want to use practice tests and questions to hone your skills. But where can you find AP literature practice tests? And are all practice exams equally useful for you? The real exam has 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions, but there are practice tests with every conceivable number and combination of question types. In this article, you’ll learn where to find every official College Board AP English Literature and Composition practice exam, free unofficial tests, and paid practice test resources. You’ll also find out which tests are high-quality and how you can best use different practice exams to fulfill your studying needs. Official Free AP Literature Practice Tests The gold standard of AP English Literature practice tests and AP English Literature practice exam questions are College Board released materials. That’s because the College Board administers the AP exams, so their practice questions are most like the actual AP questions you’ll see on the test. There are three different kinds of resources offered by the College Board: complete released exams from past years, released free-response questions from past years, and sample questions from the â€Å"AP Course And Exam Description.† Official Released College Board Exams There are three official released College Board Exams. However, only the most recent one (from 2012) is complete. The 1999 and 1987 exams have the standard 55 multiple-choice questions, but both are missing parts of the three question free-response section. You can still use them as complete exams if you supplement them with released free-response questions from past years which we recommend since official multiple-choice problems are hard to come by. 2012 AP English Literature and Composition Exam This is the best AP Lit practice test available. It's the most recent exam released by the College Board, and it follows the format of the current test with 55 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions. Definitely make use of this test! 1999 AP English Literature and Composition Exam This test excludes the poetry and prose analysis questions of the free-response section and only has the student choice question.So, to take itas a complete exam, you’d need to supplement it with questions 1 and 2 from the released free-response questions below. You can actually getquestion 2for the 1999 test from the official free-response questions bank, but the excerpt for question 1 can’t be reprinted, so you’ll need to supplement with another poetry analysis question. 1987 AP English Literature and Composition ExamFor reasons that are not totally clear, this exam excludes the third essay question, the poetry analysis. If you want to take this as â€Å"complete† exam practice, use a free-response poetry analysis prompt from the bank of free response questions linked to below. Or supplement with this tree-poem. Official Free-Response Questions There may not be very many complete released exams, but there are tons of free-response questions available from previous administrations of the test. These are great practice, not just for practicing complete essays, but for practicing writing thesis statements, outlines, and so on. What’s also great about these is that most of them come with sample response and scoring guidelines, so you’ll be able to see exactly what makes a high-quality AP essay by College Board standards.Be aware, though, that some of the prose and poetry excerpts can’t be reprinted due to copyright concerns. Below isthe link to all the free-response questions available.The questions go all the way back to 1999, and since there haven't been many changes to the free-response part of the exam, all of these questions can be useful during your studying. AP English Lit Free Response Questions 1999-2019 Sample Questions From the Course and Exam Description The AP English Literature Course and Exam Description has practice multiple-choice questions and free-response questions. They don’t add up to a complete testthere are only 46 multiple-choice questions and a whopping six free response (enough for two tests!)but they are great for simple practice. Your Teacher Your AP teacher may have access to copies of old AP exams that you can use for practice. She probably can’t let you take them out of the classroom, but she may be allowed to loan them to you in a supervised setting. This is because teachers can purchase resources directly from the College Board that students can’t. Asking your teacher may not bear fruit, but it’s worth a try. Why are you asking me for AP lit practice tests? I'm your econ teacher! Free Unofficial AP Literature Practice Tests In addition to the free College Board resources, there are also several places online where you can get free, unofficial practice tests. Be aware that, because these resources aren’t College-Board created or approved, they are of variable quality. For each of these resources I’ll describe what’s offered and how it compares to official College Board tests. Barron’s Books Free Practice Test Barron’s, those distinguished makers of review books, also offer a complete free practice test with multiple choice and free response.They provide the author and name of the work, but not the date. All of these free resources probably credit the authors for copyright reasons, but you won’t have this information on the actual exam. You can take the test timed or in â€Å"practice† mode.While answers are provided for the multiple-choice questions, no scoring guidelines are provided for the free-response prompts. This isn’t an official resource, but the questions are high quality and a good option when you’ve run out of official material. If you combined the multiple-choice questions with some official released free-response questions (with scoring guidelines and sample essays) you could geta pretty good approximation of a complete practice test. Varsity Tutors AP Literature Practice Tests This site has practice multiple-choice quizzes divided by conceptthings like â€Å"interpreting the passage,† â€Å"claims and argument,† and â€Å"interpreting excerpts.† The questions aren’t worded exactly the same way as AP test questions, but they are still okay for testing your passage-interpretation skills. Basically, the questions test for similar skills, but don’t necessarily mimic AP test questions in style. Also, the site provides the date, title, and author of each work, which is not something you’ll receive on the AP exam.You can make a free account at the site to track your scores, but it’s not necessary to be able to take the tests. Kittens not included with free practice tests, unfortunately. Albert AP English Literature Quizzes Albert offers multiple-choice quizzes divided into prose, poetry, and drama categories. You are given the title, date, and author of the workwhich you will not receive on the real AP exam. Like the Varsity Tutors quizzes, Albert offers questions that test similar skills as the AP exam, but the questions are worded differently. High School Test Prep Tests This site offers three short multiple-choice practice tests. You’re given the title and author of the work. The questions for these tests are fairly surface-level, so I would only use these if you are working on your reading comprehension skills. CrackAP English Literature Quizzes CrackAP has over 40 short AP Lit quizzes. Each quiz gives a passage then has 15 multiple-choice questions on it. The questions are somewhat easier than you'll find on the real AP exam, but if you need some quick practice, this can do the trick. Practice Quiz AP English Literature This site offers a 20-question multiple-choice quiz on two passagesone poetry, and one prose. The passages are extremely basic, however, so again, I would only use this resource if you are working on your reading comprehension skills. 4Tests AP English Lit Test This site offers 35 multiple-choice questions. However, there are lots of ads, the questions are poorly written and vague, the interface is clunky, and the passages are very long. Overall, I do not recommend this site. College Board SAT Literature Materials While they aren’t identical by any means, you can definitely use SAT Literature Subject Test practice questions to hone your skill in answering multiple-choice questions about passages. The SAT Subject Test in Literature focuses a little more on the meaning of words and phrases in context and less on making inferences and describing the author’s purpose, but they can still be a useful resource simply for reading and answering high-level, in-depth questions on prose and poetry. You can get sample SAT Literature questions online hereor in the â€Å"The SAT Subject Tests Student Guide† booklet released by the College Board. The queens of AP Lit practice give you their blessing. Paid Unofficial Practice Tests There are also several paid resources that offer unofficial practice questions. Shmoop This is a subscription service with questions for tons of different testsSAT, ACT, AP exams.They also have videos and other review resources. I can’t really speak to the quality of the questions because the entire service is behind a paywall of about $25 a month. Review Books Most, if not all, review books contain practice tests and questions. These will vary in quality depending on the quality of the review book, so be sure to look for reviews online of any book before you buy it. In general, Barron’s and the Princeton Review are fairly reliable review book sources. I definitely advise paying for all of these resources with whatever loose foreign change you have lying around. How to Use AP Literature Practice Tests How to use a given practice test depends somewhat on the resource itself. I’ll offer some recommendations here on how to best use different resources. Complete Official Released Tests The best way to use a complete official practice test is to do a practice-run for the exam. So find a quiet room, bring a timer or watch so you can time sections, and get to work! This will help you get familiar with the exam experience so you’ll feel more comfortable on exam day! Since there are two complete AP Lit practice tests, it makes sense to take one early on in your studying time, and one later. You can get a parent, tutor or teacher to grade the exams. The early test will help you figure out what you need to work on, and the later test will show you how you’ve improved! Since the AP English Literature test is more skills-heavy than content-heavy, you shouldn’t feel totally lost taking a practice test even in the middle of the school year. Official Released Free-Response and Sample Questions Official resources that aren’t complete tests are best for practicing individual sections of the test. The sample multiple-choice questions in the â€Å"Course and Exam Description† make for great AP English Literature multiple-choice practicethey’ll help you get familiar with the style of the questions and practice close-reading. The wealth of released free-response questions are great resources for building your timed essay-writing skills. You can practice complete essays ordevelop essay outlines. Unofficial Practice Tests and Resources Since unofficial practice tests aren’t going to be quite as similar to the real AP exam as official College Board materials, they won’t be quite as useful for preparing for the format of the exam or its questions. However, they can be very valuable close-reading practice. And since that’s a critical skill for the exam, it’s still worth it to use unofficial resources. Be very quiet. She's close-reading. Key Takeaways Practice tests and questions are a hugely important resource as you prep for the AP Lit exam. The gold standard of practice resources are those that come from the College Board, but there are many other places where you can get practice questions that will help you hone your close-reading skills for the exam.Most of the resources listed in this article are free, but a few are paid. When you’ve assembled a stable of practice resources, you might not be quite sure how to use them. Official College Board practice tests are best for simulating the exam experience. College Board questions are good for focused preparation for individual sections of the examespecially the essays. Unofficial resources are best for further honing your close-reading skills. Now that you know where to find these resources,you’ll have even more time to prep for the AP Literature exam by completing practice questions! What's Next? Wondering what you should be reading for AP Lit? Check out our list of 127 great books to help you prepare for the AP Literature exam. Need more study guidance for your APs? See my five-step AP prep plan.Or see our guide on when to start studying for your APs. If you're looking for practice tests for other AP exams, see our assembled practice tests for AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP World History, and AP Psychology. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: