On the legacy of Elliot Liebow and Carol Stack: Context-driven fieldwork and the need for continuous ethnography Essay

Ethnographic Research Introduction Reading response            The study reveals that ethnographic research is used to study people’s culture in different geographical locations and or occupations. Most research are concerned with the studies of people in either schools or communities. Hence, it can be concluded that ethnographic research are the major approach to the study groups of people. The studies also revealed that ethnographic studies obtain data using two main research methodologies, which include observations and interviews. Some studies combine both interviews and observations as the tools of data collection for example Duener, (2007). Few studies rely on only one type of data collection tool where interviews dominate. However, the two data collection tools are inseparable in most studies.            Ethnographic research involves studying a group of people or their cultures that can be done in schools or other fields. For example, it can involve studying of the performance of students in school and how they interact during their studies or communities interactions (Valenzuela, 2005; Fine, Centrie, & Roberts, 2000).The study is one of the most preferred research approaches since it allows observe and record data in an interactive session with participants (Gilmore, & McDermott, 2006). As a result, the study generates detailed and accurate data about the study subjects. The research approach is simple and cheap and thus it is suitable to study wide variety of populations and geographical locations.            Ethnographic research involves interactions between participants and researchers. During these interactions, the researchers use various methodologies to obtain data from the participants. Observations and interviews forms the major methodologies used to carry ethnographic research. For example, Heath, (1983) Flowers, (2000) and Fine et al., (2000) uses interviews to obtain information from the study populations. Interviews help the researcher to obtain data from the participant through question and answer session. Duneier, (2007) used observations to obtain data about how kinsmen are brought up during their childhood. According to the observations, the study revealed that family members and not their mothers kept at least one-third of the target subjects, kinsmen. Reflection            The data collected from ethnographic studies may give descriptions of how people lived in the past or in day-to-day life and how explains their behavioural interactions. Hence, it makes it easier to study people in the different communities and their behaviour. The results obtained from these studies gives insight or deeper understanding of the people of a given community. For example, ethnographic study carried out by Duneier, (2007) gave insight on how families and parents relates with their kinsmen. This helps to give broader understanding how the society brings up their relatives. In addition, the data obtained from ethnographic studies can be used to give insights on various social processes in a given field. For example, a number of studies involved data collection from schools and helped the research to understand how various performances are related to other factors that children interacts with for example repeating of classes.            In addition, the ethnographic studies help one to have a deeper understanding of the societies in terms of what they do, how they behave, and how they interact socially. Understanding of such issues is an important factor in developing an area of interest in any field of study. For example, since most ethnographic studies involve groups of people in either school and out of schools field, it would be appropriate adopt ethnographic studies in the field of education and study how children interacts and perform in school. In addition, the interactions between teachers and children may be studied to understand whether there is relationship with their performances. This is because, in a group of people, it would be easier to carry out observations when they are interacting together. Moreover, it would be appropriate to carry out interviews. Description of the final topic            The topic of the final paper will be how children’ behaviour impacts on their academic performance in local schools. The study will involve studying children’s behaviour at school and home and then relating it to the academic performances. Some studies argue that bad behaviour detracts children from academic activities and thus affecting their performances negatively. On the other hand, studies argue that children behaviour has no impact on their academic performance in schools. Hence, the study will try to establish whether there is a correlation of behaviour and academic performance.            The study will involve observations of children in school and homes and their behaviours recorded as good or bad. Some features such as how they interact with other children in schools and homes, obedience, and respect to adults and their teachers will be used as major observational characteristics. In addition, interviews will be conducted to both parents and teachers top evaluate the behaviour of their children. Academic performance will be retrieved from the schools’ achieve databases. This will then be related with the performance of the children and conclusion reached.            The study will help to prove the current contentious findings on the impacts of children’s behaviour on the academic performance. The information obtained from this study will help parents and teachers to understand whether children’s behaviour affects their performances in school. As a result, they will be able to make appropriate decisions and implement appropriate measures. Reference Duneier, M. (2007). On the legacy of Elliot Liebow and Carol Stack: Context-driven fieldwork and the need for continuous ethnography. Focus, 25(1), 33-38. Fine, M., Weis, L., Centrie, C., & Roberts, R. (2000). Educating beyond the borders of schooling. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 31(2), 131-151. Flowers, D. A. (2000). Codeswitching and Ebonics in Urban Adult Basic Education Classrooms. Education and Urban Society, 32(2), 221-36.Gilmore, P., & McDermott, R. (2006). † And This Is How You Shall Ask†: Linguistics, Anthropology, and Education in the Work of David Smith. Anthropology & education quarterly, 37(2), 199-211.Heath, S. B. (1983). Ways with words: Language, life and work in communities and classrooms. cambridge university Press. Valenzuela, A. (2005). Subtractive schooling, caring relations, and social capital in the schooling of US-Mexican youth. Beyond silenced voices: Class, race, and gender in United States schools, 83-94. Source document

Introduction to the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things, or IoT, isnt as esoteric as it sounds. It simply refers to the interconnection of physical objects, computing devices and encompasses a wide range of emerging technologies such as virtual power plants, intelligent transportation systems and smart cars. One a smaller scale, IoT includes any smart (internet-connected) household item, from lighting to thermostats to televisions.   Broadly speaking, IoT can be thought of as a far-reaching expansion of  internet technology through an ever widening network of products, devices and systems embedded with sensors, software, and other electronic systems. Belonging to an interconnected ecosystem enables them to both generate and exchange data to make them more useful.   History and Origins In 1990, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee  had just completed work on the critical pieces of technology that formed the foundation of the world wide web: HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) 0.9, HyperText Markup Language (HTML) as well as the first Web browser, editor, server, and pages. At the time, the internet existed as a closed network of computers limited to mostly government agencies and research institutions. However, by the early 21st century, the internet had expanded globally and has become one of the most influential technologies in the world. By 2015, more than three billion people have used it to communicate, share content, stream video, purchase goods and services and more. The Internet of Things is poised to be the next big leap in the evolution of the internet with the potential to transform how we work, play and live.   The Business World Some of the most obvious benefits are in the business world. Consumer goods, for example, stand to benefit from IoT throughout the entire supply chain. Factories that utilize automation will be able to connect various systems to eliminate inefficiencies while the cost of transporting and delivering goods can be reduced as real-time data helps to determine the ideal routes. On the retail end, products embedded with sensors will be able to relay performance details and customer feedback to the shops and manufacturers. This information can then be used to streamline the repair process as well as to refine future versions and develop new products.   The use of IoT is industry-specific. Agriculture companies, for example, have already made use of sensors to monitor crops and environmental changes such as soil quality, rainfall, and temperature. This real-time data is then sent to automated farm equipment, which interprets the information to determine how much fertilizer and water to distribute. Meanwhile, the same sensor technologies can be applied in healthcare to enable providers to automatically monitor patients’ vitals.   The Consumer Experience The Internet of Things is poised to shape consumers experiences with technology for years to come. Many standard household devices are available in smart versions, intended to increase convenience and efficiency while lowering cost. Smart  thermostats, for example, integrate user data and ambient data to intelligently control  indoor climate.   As consumers have begun to acquire a growing number of smart devices, a new need has arisen:   technology that can manage and control all IoT devices from a central hub.  These sophisticated program, often called virtual assistants, represent a form of artificial intelligence with a strong reliance on machine learning. Virtual assistants can operate as the control center of an IoT-based  home. The Impact on Public Spaces One of IoTs most significant challenges is large-scale implementation. Integrating IoT devices in a single-family home or multi-story office space is relatively simple, but integrating the technology into an entire community or city is more complex. Many cities have existing infrastructure that would need to be upgraded or entirely revamped in order to implement IoT technology. Nevertheless, there are some success stories. A sensor system in Santander, Spain enables residents to  locate free parking spaces using the citys smartphone app. In South Korea, the smart city of Songdo was built from scratch in 2015. Another smart city — Knowledge City, in Guangzhou, China — is in the works.   The Future of IoT Despite the rapid development  of the Internet of Things, major  barriers remain. Any device that connects to a network, from a laptop to a pacemaker, can be hacked. Consumers, business, and governments alike share concerns about the risk of security breaches if IoT were to become more  widespread. The more personal data our devices generate, the greater the risk of identity fraud and data breaches. IoT also intensifies concerns about cyber warfare. Still, the Internet of Things continues to grow.  From something as simple as a lightbulb that can be turned on and off with an app, to something as complex as network of cameras that sends traffic information to municipal systems to better coordinate emergency response, IoT presents a variety of intriguing possibilities for the future of technology.

The Legacy Of Louis Armstrong Essay - 1401 Words

Louis Armstrong, one of the most influential figures in jazz music, enjoyed a career that spans across 50 years, and through different eras of jazz. Nicknamed† Satchmo†, â€Å"Pops†, and† Ambassador Satch†, Armstrong could do it all, he sang, occasionally acted, composed music, but was most famous for his cornet and trumpet playing. Although Armstrong is well known for his amazing trumpet play, he also influenced the direction that jazz music during his time was headed. Over the course of this paper I will concisely go over his early life, and focus more on his music career. On August 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to William Armstrong and Mary â€Å"Mayann† Albert. His youth was spent in poverty, in a poor neighborhood nicknamed â€Å"the battlefield†. Immediately following the birth of Louis, his father abandoned his mother and family. His unwed single mother had to often resort to prostituting herself to provide for her family. This left Louis is the care of his grandmother. Louis Armstrong had only attended school until the fifth grade at Fisk School for Boys, until he was compelled to drop out and help provide money for his family. The Karnofskys, a Jewish family, considered Louis as a family member and helped him get a job, â€Å"collecting junk and delivering coal (â€Å"Louis Armstrong Biography†)†. Louis also formed â€Å"a vocal quartet with three other boys and performed on street corners for tips (â€Å"Louis Armstrong - Timeline†)†. During a New Year’s EveShow Mor eRelatedLouis Armstrong : A Leader And His Legacy960 Words   |  4 Pages Louis Armstrong: A Leader and His Legacy Many people don’t think much about how people from the past have influenced their lives. For example, musicians from the past are often ignored by my generation, even though the music they listen to would never be the same without them. Louis Armstrong is a great example. He was an African American musician, born on August 4, 1901 and died in 1971. In his lifetime, he recorded many songs that are still played today with his trumpet solos and gravellyRead MoreThe Most Influential Jazz Artists History And Thee Most Important Figure Essay1347 Words   |  6 Pages Louis Armstrong is to be considered one of the most influential jazz artists history and thee most important figure in jazz history. From the 1920’s all the way through the 1960’s, Armstrong had a very illustrious career. Armstrong was a composer, instrumentalist, arranger and a singer. Giving him many ways to have an everlasting legacy in music. He innovated many different styles and excelled in many di fferent eras of jazz. Armstrong made an abundant of contributions to jazz ranging from new stylesRead MoreLouis Armstrong : The Greatest Jazz Artist1087 Words   |  5 PagesLouis â€Å"Satchmo† Armstrong One of the greatest in Jazz music history Louis Armstrong, a man of many talents and skills his occupation ranging from singer, film star, soloist, comedian, bandleader, and most importantly a jazz trumpeter with his thrilling performances; being recognized as one of the greatest jazz artist in history. Louis Armstrong is considered one of the most influential jazz artists capturing the people’s attention with his â€Å"daring trumpet style and vocals†. Developing his skillsRead MoreComparing Bix Beiderbecke And Louis Armstrong1567 Words   |  7 PagesFrom their time of birth, no two people could have seemed less likely to cross paths than Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong. Coming from radically different backgrounds, both musicians drew upon their influences to make music that revolutionized jazz, creating two separate legacies interwoven among each other in the peak of jazz popularity. Both Beiderbecke and Armstrong used their trumpets and their unique styles of playing, ranging from hot jazz to cool jaz z, to fuel political, cultural, andRead MoreLouis Armstrong And The Harlem Renaissance950 Words   |  4 Pagesartists arose. Louis Armstrong was one of the most well known jazz artist of his time. Louis Armstrong was a trumpeter, bandleader, singer, soloist, film star, and comedian. He was considered one of the most influential artists in jazz history. Louis Armstrong was a famous musician during the Harlem renaissance because of his skills with a trumpet. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised by Mary Albert his mother and not so much by William Armstrong his fatherRead MoreThe Jazz Musici Louis Armstrong1078 Words   |  5 Pagesroadhouses, dance halls and places all over the country. It’s a very fast paced sound that was different than what people had heard of before. Louis Armstrong was a very well-known jazz musician during this time. He played the trumpet and was a very good jazz musician. He was in many bands, played in Broadway and traveled playing jazz for people (Wenning). Louis Armstrong was born on August 4, 1901, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Woog, 15). He grew up in a very poor area nicknamed, â€Å"The Battlefield.† Armstrong’sRead MoreThe Music Of New Orleans Jazz1223 Words   |  5 Pagessimple instruments to create a distinctive musical sound. Two distinguished musicians, Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, rose to fame with their musical talents in the jazz community around the world. These two musicians born below the Mason Dixon line would acquire their popularity by performing nationwide, but their childhood, musical careers, and legacies would be totally different. Daniel Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in the early 20th century. Being born into povertyRead MoreLouis Armstrong s Life, His Music And Influence On Others1565 Words   |  7 Pagesdo my project on is Louis Armstrong. I chose Louis Armstrong because I wanted to do my project on a singer as well as a musician. I chose him because he was one of the few people that I knew about, also because I did some research on him and listened to his music and I thought that he was interesting to write about. My main three things that I’m going to discuss about Louis Armstrong will be his life, his music and influence on others. I’m going to describe how and where Louis Armstrong’s grew upRead MoreThe Most Popular Instrument of All Time: The Trumpet Essay892 Words   |  4 Pagesprobably the most popular instrument of all time. With talented musicians like Louis Armstrong and Miles Davis, the trumpet has been able to endure. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the careers of Armstrong and Davis, and how the trumpet became their way into Jazz. Louis Armstrong was born on August 4th 1901 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Louis had a hard and painful childhood. In 1922 at the age of 21 Louis moves to Chicago to play cornet in a band lead by Joe Oliver. In September 1924Read MoreEssay about Bix Beiderbecke986 Words   |  4 PagesBIX BEIDERBECKE The virtuoso Leon Bix Beiderbecke was born in 1903 and died young in 1931. Though his life was short, Bix’s legacy was long-live. He was raised in Davenport, Iowa, by his mother Agatha and father Bismark. He was the youngest of the German middle class family, his father owned a lumber amp; coal company in east davenport while his mother was a pianist. As a boy, Bix Beiderbecke had a few piano lessons, but he was self-taught on cornet and developed an unorthodox technique by playing

Ikea Global Sourcing Challenge Essay - 2099 Words

Ikea Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor IKEA and Marianne Barner are facing a very challenging issue. Because they were blind sided by the child labor issues with their supplier, they had to scramble to respond to the issues in a quick and appropriate manner. IKEA sent a legal team to Geneva to seek input and advice from the International Labor Organization on how to deal with the problem and to find out more about the child labor issues. They also hired a third party agent to monitor child labor practices in India and Pakistan and to conduct random audits to ensure there were no children working. They had all their suppliers sign a legal document stating that if a supplier employed children under legal working†¦show more content†¦Because their employees understand the culture they will be more comfortable in ambiguous situations and know how to choose the right decision and even if it is a difficult social or ethical decision they know the company will support them. IKEA also needs to teach employees to fo llow the business goals as well as the organization goals; they need to learn how to make sure they are tied together in the best possible way. Without the companies guidelines on code of conduct and possible limitations, the employee can end up being confused and not know how to make the best possible decisions. IKEAs corporate strategy comes directly from their vision statement To create a better everyday life for the many people. There strategy was to provide a low cost product for their customer. In order to achieve this goal they had a management process that stressed simplicity and attention to detail, a willingness to assume responsibility and to help as evidenced by the formaldehyde and the child labor issues. Because of their willingness to admit fault, IKEA stepped up to the plate to try to monitor and maintain the relationship with their supplier. India is the largest purchasing source for carpets and rugs, because of this Barner did not initially feel she should just cancel the contract with the offending supplier. She researched the issueShow MoreRelatedIkea Global Sourcing Challenge2551 Words   |  11 PagesIKEAs GLOBAL SOURCING CHALLENGE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The IKEA Group, one of the world’s top furniture retailers, has emerged as the fastest-growing furniture retailer in the US. Its unique business strategy has given it its strengths for its success today. However, like all strategies, IKEA’s strategy has its own flaws that can pose as weaknesses. IKEA also has a lot of opportunities in the marketplace such as expansions of their company and threats such as competitors in the same industryRead MoreIKEA Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor1176 Words   |  5 PagesProposal Case: IKEA Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor Summary In this case, it is known that IKEA s procurement model is the mode of global sourcing. IKEA products are shipped to the 26 distribution centres from the trade area after procurement, and then delivered to the shopping malls in the world. IKEA s procurement philosophy and assessment of suppliers mainly include four aspects: continuous price improvement; strict supplier performance and service levels;Read MoreIKEA S Global Sourcing Challenge Case Questions Essay813 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor (A) and (B) Questions to the (A) case: 1. Marianna Barner should decline the invitation for IKEA to have a representative appear on the upcoming forecast of the German video program. The producers of the documentary invited them to take part in a live discussion during the airing, and while this offer does sound beneficial for IKEA to educate the public and the producers of the current efforts taken to fight child labor, it would notRead MoreIkea s Global Sourcing Challenge Indian Rugs And Child Labor1532 Words   |  7 PagesIKEA’S GLOBAL SOURCING CHALLENGE INDIAN RUGS AND CHILD LABOR In 1995, Marianne Barner, IKEA’s manager for carpets, faced a difficult situation when one of their Indian rug supplier apparently was involved with the use of child labor in the manufacture of its products for IKEA. Even though they had a contract where IKEA explicitly forbid the use of child labor. These Allegations generated mixed opinion regarding the future of all the Indian carpet suppliers and the company was studying the futureRead MoreIkea’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor1548 Words   |  7 PagesIKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor Ethics in Business and Society Professor Stephen Griffith Otis West Tuesday, November 6, 2012 IKEA is the world’s largest furniture store that offers well-designed, functional home furnishing products at low prices. The store offers home furnishings to meet the needs of everyone. The company vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Ikea is able to back their vision with their products and prices. In additionalRead MoreCase Study of Ikea1445 Words   |  6 PagesCase Study of IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge In 1995, IKEA met a problem that its main supplier, Indian rugs, used the child labor to produce products, although they had signed an attachment of the contract to ban employing child labor. In addition, a German documentary maker was about to broadcast the problem of child labor on German television and also invited an employee from IKEA to have a live discussion in the TV program. Marianne Barner, the leader of IKEA, must find a great solutionRead MoreIkeas Global Sourcing Challenge1241 Words   |  5 PagesIKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge IKEA, one of the world’s largest specialized furniture retailers, has been presented with a large issue within their operations. In 1995, a German TV station released an investigative report which exposed one of the suppliers for IKEA rugs for exploiting child labor in their factory. A recent addendum was signed by all IKEA suppliers which forbid the use of child labor (Bartlett amp; Sjoman, p. 1, 2006), so this incident has called the company to make an actionRead MoreIkea Case Study Essay1076 Words   |  5 PagesIKEA Case Study IKEA Case Study The founder of IKEA, Ingvar Kamprad, established the IKEA brand in Sweden when he was only 17 years old. It was 1943, and the IKEA brand started its enterprise journey by selling items such as seeds from Kamprad’s family’s farm and Christmas magazines. By 1948, the IKEA furniture line came to life. Kamprad’s concept was â€Å"good furniture could be priced so that the man with that flat wallet would make a place for it in hisRead MoreOutline Of A Business On Ikea1094 Words   |  5 Pages IKEA Aimee Valdes Palm Beach State College Chapter 1: Research Proposal and Introduction Introduction Corporate name, founding date, founding leaders. IKEA, one of the most successful retailers in the world, was established by Ingvar Kamprad, in 1943, in Sweden (Hill, Jones Schilling, 2015). Essential events and critical incidents. In 1948, after adding furniture to IKEA’s product line Kamprad published the first catalog which is distributed free to this day (Hill et.alRead MoreIkea Children Labour6495 Words   |  26 Pages9-906-414 REV: NOVEMBER 14, 2006 CHRISTOPHER A. BARTLETT VINCENT DESSAIN ANDERS SJÃâ€"MAN IKEA’s Global Sourcing Challenge: Indian Rugs and Child Labor (A) In May 1995, Marianne Barner faced a tough decision. After just two years with IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, and less than a year into her job as business area manager for carpets, she was faced with the decision of cutting off one of the company’s major suppliers of Indian rugs. While such a move would disrupt supply and

Radioactive Decay, Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion free essay sample

Radioactive Decay, Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion When elements undergo radioactive decay the atoms of one element are changed into the atoms of another element when an alpha or beta particle is emitted from an unstable nucleus. When a nucleus disintegrates and emits an alpha particle it is alpha decay, the alpha particle emitted contains two protons and two neutrons which is equivalent to a helium nucleus being released. Alpha decay occurs because there are too many protons, which causes excessive repulsion within the nucleus, and in an attempt to reduce the repulsion the helium nucleus will be emitted from the atom. The helium nucleus is constantly colliding with the walls of the nucleus and due to its mass and energy it will tunnel out of the nucleus. Alpha reaction Beta decay occurs when there are too many neutrons compared to protons, which makes the nucleus unstable. In basic beta decay the neutron is turned into a proton and an electron, the electron is then emitted. We will write a custom essay sample on Radioactive Decay, Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The resulting element will have one more proton than the original element. Beta reaction Beta decay also happens when the neutron to proton ratio is too small, this happens by positron emission. In this beta decay a proton is turned into a neutron and a positron, the positron is then emitted from the nucleus. When the proton to neutron ratio is too small there can also beta decay by electron capture where an electron is captured by the nucleus and turns a proton into a neutron. Nuclear Fission reactions differ from natural radioactive decay both in how the reactions are started and also the products that are formed. Radioactive decay happens when the nucleus is unstable due to the number of protons and neutrons within the nucleus. The nucleus is made stable by the emission of particles from the decaying nucleus. In nuclear fission a neutron is fired at an atoms nucleus, if the neutron has given the atom enough energy it will enter an excited state and begin to oscillate. When these oscillations become unstable the nucleus will split into two smaller nuclei which are similar in mass, more neutrons are emitted and these neutrons can cause further fission to surrounding nuclei. The chain reaction which can be caused by nuclear fission makes the products from the reaction different to that of natural radioactive decay. In natural radioactive decay there are two products formed, in alpha decay a helium atom and also another atom with two less protons and neutrons will be formed and in beta decay an electron and an element with one more proton than the original element will be formed. In nuclear fission reactions the products formed are two atoms of similar masses and when a chain reaction is created there can be many products formed from the reaction. Nuclear fission reaction Chain reaction Hydrogen and helium nuclei are simple elements in which heavier elements are made from. These heavier elements are made from the simple chemical elements by different processes which collectively are called nucleogenesis. In the sun hydrogen is converted into helium by nuclear fusion reactions Hydrogen to He reaction As stars evolve hydrogen is used to make more helium atoms which is then used in a series of fusion reactions. Helium nuclei react to form beryllium, oxygen, carbon, magnesium and neon and in the following reactions: Reactions All of the reactions give out energy which reaches the earth as heat and light. There are two ways in which lithium forms in stars. The first involves the fusing of helium nuclei with tritium which is an isotope of hydrogen. The second involves helium-4 and helium-3 colliding with a Beryllium atom and an electron causing a change in the nucleus and the formation of 7Be. The proton number decreases by 1 and the structure is altered.

The First Appendectomy free essay sample

Period 5 7 September 2012 Writing Assignment #1: Author’s Purpose When composing a literary selection, an author has a point he or she wants to put across. There is a purpose, whether it be of the conscious or subconscious mind, almost every time an author composes. In Dr. Nolen’s case, he crafted this selection, â€Å"The First Appendectomy†, to inform the reader of the challenges of a young surgeon. To begin with, it is shown in many different ways that Dr. Nolen wanted to inform his reader of the issues a young doctor faces. Dr. Nolen writes with an urgency and a sense of a ticking clock, as shown in his frequent usage of measurements of time. â€Å"He could have tied off all the vessels in two minutes. It took me twenty. † (149) Therefore, the reader can infer from the selection, that the work of a surgeon is difficult and stressful, as a surgeon is racing against time as he or she is operating. We will write a custom essay sample on The First Appendectomy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The dangers of going over time are prominent enough to extract much needed confidence, for an efficient surgery, from the heart of an amateur. Dr. Nolen wants to inform the reader on the challenges a young surgeon faces, such as forgetting how to perform a certain task, stressing over how much time is left and trying to impress a senior advisor. Dr. Nolen forgets how to perform this simple appendectomy. â€Å" for the life of me could not decide where to make the incision. (147) It is apparent, that Dr. Nolen wanted to exhibit the obstacles of a first-time surgeon. Having a purpose to compose a selection is very important for an author, for it sets the tone of the piece. Dr. Nolen decided to inform readers on how a young surgeon struggles in his first surgery. Many people do not quite realize how stressful and nerve-wracking a surgery can be, and Dr. Nolen writes this piece to show to the public exactly that.

Preparing Students for the Testing Season

Preparing Students for the Testing Season Spring  is traditionally the  season  of beginnings, and for middle and high school students, spring is often the beginning of the testing season. There are district tests, state tests, and national tests for students in grades 7-12 that begin in March and continue through the end of the school year. Many of these tests are mandated by legislation.   In a typical public school, a student will take  at least one  standardized test  annually. Those high school students who enroll in college credit courses  may take even more tests. Each of these standardized tests is designed to take a minimum of 3.5 hours to complete. Adding up this time over the course of  the six years between grades 7-12, the average student participates in standardized testing for 21 hours or  the  equivalent of  three full  school days. Educators can first provide the information that helps students better understand the purpose of a specific test. Is the test going to measure their individual growth or is the test going to measure their performance against others?   Two Kinds of Standardized Testing for Grades 7-12 The  standardized tests  that are used in grades 7-12 are either  designed as norm-referenced or as criterion-referenced tests. Each test is designed for a different measure. A norm-referenced test is designed to compare and rank students (similar in age or grade) in relation to one another: Norm-referenced tests report whether test takers performed better or worse than a hypothetical average student Norm-referenced tests usually are simple to administer and easy to score because they are usually designed as multiple-choice tests.    The criterion-referenced  tests are designed to measure student performance against an expectation: Criterion-referenced  tests and  assessments  are designed to measure student performance against a fixed set of predetermined criteria or  learning standards Learning standards are descriptions by grade level of what students are expected to know and be able to do.  The criterion-referenced tests used to measure learning progress can also measure gaps in student learning.   Preparing Students for the Structure of Any Test Teachers can help prepare students for both  kinds standardized tests, both norm-referenced  tests and criterion-referenced  tests. Educators can explain to students the purpose of both criterion referenced and  the norm-referenced test so students will have a better understanding when they read the results. Most importantly, they can expose students to the pace of the exam, to the format of the exam and to the language of the exam. There are practice passages  in texts and online from different tests that will allow students to become more familiar with  the format of the test. To prepare students for the pace of the exam, teachers can offer some practice testing under conditions that mimic the actual test. There are released tests or materials that mimic the test that students should be encouraged to take independently. A timed practice text is particularly helpful is giving students the experience so they will know how fast they have to move to answer all the questions. Multiple practice sessions for timed essay writing should be offered if there is an essay section, for example, like the AP exams. Teachers have to coach students to determine a pace that works for them and recognize given how much â€Å"average† time they will need to read and answer an  open-ended question. Students might practice how to survey the whole test at the beginning and then look at the number of questions, point value, and difficulty of each section. This practice will help them to budget their time. Exposure to the format of the exam will also help student distinguish the amount of time that might be needed in reading multiple choice  questions. For example, one standardized test section requires students answer   75 questions in 45 minutes. That means students have an average of 36 seconds per question. Practice can help students adjust to this speed. In addition, understanding the format can help students negotiate the layout of a test, especially if the standardized test has moved to an online platform. Online testing means a student must be proficient in keyboarding, and also know which keyboarding feature is available for use. For example, the computer-adaptive tests, like the SBAC, may not allow students to return to a section with an unanswered question.   Multiple Choice Preparation Educators can also help students practice with how tests are administered. While some of these remain pen and paper tests, other tests have moved to online testing platforms. A part of test preparation, educators may offer students  the following multiple choice question strategies: If any part of the answer is not true, then the answer is incorrect.  When there are identical responses, then neither is correct.Consider no change or none of the above as a valid answer choice.Students should eliminate and cross off those distracting answers that are absurd  or obviously incorrect.Recognize transition words that  describe relationships between ideas in choosing a response.  The stem or start of the question should agree grammatically   (same tense) with the correct answer, so students should quietly read the question aloud to test each possible response.Correct answers may offer relative qualifiers such as sometimes or often, while incorrect answers are generally  written in absolute language and do not allow for exceptions. Before taking any tests, students should know if the test gives a penalty  for incorrect responses; if there is no penalty, students should be advised to guess if they dont know the answer.    If there is a difference in the point value of a question, students should plan on how they will  spend time on the more weighted sections of the test. They should also know how to split their time between multiple choice and essay answers if that is not already separated by section in the test. Essay or Open-Ended Response Preparation Another part of test preparation is  teaching students to prepare for essays or open-ended responses. Students to write directly on paper tests, take notes or use the highlighting feature on computer tests in order to identify sections that can be used for evidence in essay responses: Follow the directions by looking carefully at keywords: Answer A  or  B vs.  A  and  B.Use facts in different ways: to compare/ contrast, in  sequence or to provide a description.Organize facts  based on headings in informational texts.Use transitions with enough context in a sentence or paragraph to make the relationships between facts clear.Suggest that  students answer easiest questions first.Suggest students write on only one side of the page.Encourage students to leave a large space at the beginning of a response, or to leave a page  in between,  in the event a student ends up with a different thesis or position or would like to add or to change details later if time permits.   When time is limited, students should draft an outline by listing key points and the order they plan to answer them.   While this would not count as a complete essay, some credit for evidence and organization may be credited.   Which Tests Are Which? Tests are often better known by their acronyms than why they are used or what they are testing. To get balanced data  from their assessments, some states may have students take  norm-referenced tests as well as  criterion-referenced tests in different grade levels. The most familiar  norm-referenced tests  are those designed to rank students  on a  bell curve The  NAEP  (The National Assessment of Educational Progress)  reports  statistical information about student performance and factors related to educational performance for the nation and for specific demographic groups in the population (e.g., race/ethnicity, gender);The SAT  (Scholastic Aptitude Test and/or  Scholastic Assessment Test);  Scores on the SAT range from 400 to 1600, combining test results from two 800-point sections: mathematics, and critical reading and writing.  The following states  have opted to use the SAT as a high school  exit exam:  Colorado,  Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Idaho* (or ACT), Illinois, Maine*, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island*. (*optional)  PSAT/NMSQT  a precursor to the SAT.  The test is composed of four sections: two Math Sections, Critical Reading, and Writing Skills used to determine eligibility and qualification for the  National Merit Scholarship Program.  Students in grades 8-1 0 are the target audience for the PSAT.  The  ACT  (American College Test) is four  content area tests  scored individually on a scale of 1–36, with the composite score as the whole number average. The ACT does have elements of  a criterion-referenced in that it also compares how a student performs compared to ACT College Readiness Standards which are regularly reviewed.  The following states  have opted to use the  ACT  as a high school  exit exam:   Colorado,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Tennessee,  Utah. ACT Aspire  tests map learner progress from elementary grades through high school on a vertical scale which is anchored to the scoring system of the ACT. Challenges to the tradition of norm-referenced testing came with  the expansion of  criterion-referenced tests in 2009 when tests were designed to measure  the impact of the  Common Core State Standards (CCSS).These  criterion-referenced  tests determine how college and career ready a student is in English Language Arts and in mathematics.   While initially embraced by 48 states, the two testing consortiums have the remaining states committed to using their platforms: The  Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers  (PARCC) in the following states  Colorado,  District of Columbia,  Illinois,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  New Jersey, New Mexico,  Rhode IslandThe  Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium  (SBAC)  The states that use this  SBAC computer adaptive testing include:  California,  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Hawaii,  Idaho,  Iowa,  Michigan,  Montana,  Nevada, New Hampshire,  North Carolina,  North Dakota,  Oregon,  South Dakota,  U.S. Virgin Islands,  Vermont,  Washington,  West Virginia The College Board  Advanced Placement (AP)  exams  are also criterion referenced. These exams are created by the College Board as  college-level exams in specific content areas.  A high score (5) on the exam may award college credit. At the conclusion of the spring testing season, the results of all these tests are then analyzed by different stakeholders in order determine student progress, possible curriculum revision, and in some states, teacher evaluation. The analysis of these tests can guide the development of a schools educational plan for the following school year. Spring may be the season for testing in the nations middle and high schools, but preparation for an analysis of these tests are a school year long enterprise.