The Earth And It s Peoples - 1068 Words

1. A cosmopolitan civilization developed through increased and farther-reaching trade, connections, conquests, and relocations. This civilization took the form of diverse groups of people with similar technologies and beliefs. The book, â€Å"The Earth and It’s Peoples† says, â€Å"Akkadian became the language of correspondence between governments. The Elamites and Hittites, among others, adapted the cuneiform system to write their own languages†¦ Mesopotamian myths, legends, and styles of art and architecture were widely imitated† (page 72, paragraph 7). The Cosmopolitan civilization was characterized by shared Mesopotamian traits. Whatever the reason for it, Mesopotamian culture spread across the Middle East to create a society with shared†¦show more content†¦The effects of Egypt’s control can be shown in, â€Å"In Nubia, Egypt imposed direct control and pressed the native population to adopt Egyptian language and culture†¦Eg ypt fully participated in the diplomatic and commercial networks linking the states of Western Asia. Egyptian soldiers, administrators, diplomats, and merchants traveled widely, bringing back new fruits and vegetables, new musical instruments, and new technologies†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (page 73, paragraphs 11-12). Egypt used their power to create a sort of â€Å"mini-Egypt†, this caused a rise an Egyptian practices and culture. In addition to spreading their own culture, Egypt also gathered from others. They used their connections, created through their territorial expansion, in order to learn and evolve their civilization. As a result of this, their actions and habits may have changed. It’s important to know how societies may influence and change one another, whether it be through force or trade. 2. In the Aegean world, Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations emerged. Minoan civilization on the island of Crete was influenced by eastern civilizations as shown in the textbook, â€Å"the distribution of Cretan pottery and other artifacts around the Mediterranean and Middle East testifies to widespread trading connections. Egyptian, Syrian, and Mesopotamian influences can be seen in the design of the Minoan palaces, centralized government, and system of writing† page 76,

Phonics Vs. Phonics And Synthetic Phonics Essay - 1597 Words

Phonics are essential to literacy and children’s ability to learn to read and write. Phonics are a system of associating letter symbols with speech sounds (Orton, n.d.). They have an important role in the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority: phonics and word knowledge [ACARA]. There are two main concepts related to phonics they are analytical phonics and synthetic phonics. Diana Rigg (2016) states that â€Å"direct systematic instruction in phonics during the early years of schooling is an essential foundation for teaching children to read† (para. 3). Phonics are used by children to learn to read and to write, they include letter identification, onset and rime, blends and the relationships between blends and phonemic awareness (Hill, 2012, p.259) (Rigg, 2014). There are many teaching approaches that may be implemented to teach phonics effectively. This essay will discuss, critique and analyse phonics their importance and how different teaching approaches may b e implemented to teach phonics to students effectively. It will maintain that synthetic phonics have been proven to be more successful in teaching children than analytical phonics, although it is imperative to use both a synthetic and analytical approach to teaching children phonics. There are many aspects involved in phonics, phonics can be either analytical or synthetic. According to Anne Bayetto (2013) the National Reading Panel highly recommends phonics along with phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary andShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Reading Instruction On The Literacy Development Of Children And How Socioeconomics Restricts These Impacts5473 Words   |  22 PagesOklahoma Abstract This paper explores related research in aspects of language acquisition, specifically, reading instruction and its effect on students who live in low socioeconomic environments. We will review the methods of explicit phonics and whole language to examine what, if any, is the more advantageous method of reading instruction for students who live in poverty. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the impacts of specific reading instruction on the literacyRead MoreHistory And History Of Reading Instruction1576 Words   |  7 Pagesrepetitive text to teach students to read. It was also during this time when slavery was abolished but not all African Americans were given the same educational rights as whites. This caused the Supreme Court to rule that separate is equal in the Plessy vs. Ferguson case dealing with segregation between blacks and whites. From 1910 to 1924 reading changed due to the influences of scientific investigations. Alfred Benet created the Intelligence Quotient test, which schools began to use to determine ifRead MoreTraditional and Alternative Teaching5063 Words   |  21 Pagesincorporation, integration, and redefinition stages in implementing transitional OBE. Transformational OBEs guiding vision is that of competent future citizen. According to Rose (2005), the primary school students taught by a method known as synthetic phonics learn to read faster than those taught by other methods. Alternative Teaching Methods According to Feistritzer(2003), Alternative teacher certification programs (ATEP) refers to non-traditional methods that an individual may use to become licensed

How to Buy an Used Car free essay sample

First of all, when you find a car that you are interested in, you can ask a dealer or an owner about the VIN to learn more about it. The VIN, vehicle identification number, is a unique serial number for every modern car. Basically, it includes a car’s brand, model, years of car, engine type, and many other things. The first digit of the VIN shows the country number and the tenth digit is the year of the car. For example, if the tenth digit is 9, that car is made in 2009. You can also check the vehicle history report with the VIN. This shows how many people have owned a certain vehicle, accident records, and how many times that car has been maintained. This could be the most important for your decision making process, giving you complete peace of mind about the vehicle you are buying or saving you thousands of dollars in unexpected repair costs down the road. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Buy an Used Car or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is a good idea to look for another car if those cars have been transferred to others too many times or have been involved in major accidents. KBB (Kelley Blue Book) or CarFax are online companies that offer the most reliable information in the U. S. for checking the VIN. Another thing that you might look at before you buy a used car is the car’s body. It is wise to check out both the interior and exterior in detail. For instance, you can examine the windshield wipers, if the body panel colors match, if there are any scratches or dents, and many other things you can see. Sometimes you can’t find any records of accidents with the VIN if the owner fixed his or her car by himself or herself. When you have a chance to look at a used car, its a lot easier to do if the car is clean and dry. If it is dirty, you have to ask the owner to clean it, or you will probably miss something. If the vehicle is clean, you can look at the vehicle from different angles to check if everything looks smooth, straight, and if the paint texture of different panels match. You want to pay a lot of attention to the paint job. Repainting is usually done to remove minor scratches and small areas of cracked paint. It may be found a repair job after a bad accident involving damage. If you are unsure whether or not the car has been repainted, you can simply ask the seller about this problem. If the previous owner or dealer doesn’t give you the answer clearly, you can look for signs such as paint overspray inside door jambs, inside the gas filler cap, on exterior moldings, inside the wheel, on the bumpers, and any other place near the painting spot. However, repainting is not always a sign of previous damage. Some people have their cars repainted for cosmetic reasons, especially if it is an older model. You should not miss that the interior is just as important as the exterior. Take a look at the overall condition of the car. Usually, people will wash the car and vacuum inside of it before they sell it. Even if it is clean, you need to focus on every part that you can see. You might check if there is any water or if there are any oil stains inside. That means there must have been water leaking from the windows, sunroof, or anywhere on the car that is cracked due to rain. It doesn’t look like a big deal, but over time, it will harm a driver’s breathing due to exposure to mold. You also have to be sure all gauges are in the right place and are in working condition. If you notice any part missing, ask what was there and why it was removed. Then, you can turn the ignition to ON† to inspect if all gauges and warning lights are operating properly. After inspecting the dashboard, you can check the accessories; the radio, speakers, tape deck or CD player, air conditioner, defroster, horn, mirror adjustment buttons, washer and wiper, all door and window locks, and any other functions you can see. Pay more attention when examining the windows. It is important to check if the windows slide all the way up and down easily because they do not work properly if there is damage inside the door. Finally, mechanical problems are the most important to check up on before you purchase a used vehicle. There are hundreds of things you have to look at, but it is not possible to check every detail within a short period of time and when you are lacking tools. Not every person has the technical capacity of a mechanic. So it is highly recommended to have a used car inspected by a mechanic before purchasing, but it would be costly to do this for every car you are interested in. If you don’t want to bother your mechanic or don’t want to spend money for vehicle inspection, you can do it yourself. The most important thing you have to know about inspecting mechanical issues is finding leaks. Leaking fluid or oil is the most common and worst problem for older models of cars. You can use a flash light to see under the hood and try to find any leak spots. Engine oil, coolant, refrigerant, brake fluid, and power steering fluid are some examples of fluids that may leak. You would also want to look at any other parts connected either rubber or metal hoses. Buying a used car is stressful. It’s like walking through a mine field. Some people are lucky to buy used cars for a good price without any problems and others have serious problems with their cars as soon as they get them. There are so many things to observe when you’re looking for used vehicles. It is hard to know where to begin.

Opportunity Cost and Entrepreneurial Strategy

Question: Discuss about a Report on Opportunity Cost and Entrepreneurial Strategy? Answer: Opportunity Cost and its effectiveness in decision making with examples. The opportunity costs are defined as the cost of any decision making that is measured in the context of the next substitute which has been abandoned. In other words, it is the comparison between the policy which was chosen and the policy that was jilted. It can also be explained as the forgone adversary of revenue of not making the best use of the available substitutes. This concept of opportunity cost is significant for the manager while decision making. This opportunity cost or the alleged cost is not exactly incurred by any firm or organization (Marburger and Peterson, 2004). Opportunity Cost is a basic idea in financial matters that applies to all types of choice making. Opportunity expenses possess large amounts of our day by day action and each association succeeds or fizzle taking into account choices taken by its chiefs. A large portion of the key choices concentrate on assembling rare assets and creating important products and administrations (Ojediran, 1996). Finding the genuine open door expenses of assets, e.g. offices, gear, work supply, licenses, copyrights, fund and time) can prompt better administrative choices. At an essential level, open door expense is a straightforward thought. In view of shortage, each activity attempted by an individual or gathering blocks the likelihood of taking certain different activities. By utilizing an asset as a part of one action implies that the same asset can't be utilized all the while as a part of another movement, that is, the exercises are totally unrelated. In this way, if a customer buys a container of squeezed orange, that same cash can't likewise buy bread. On the off chance that an understudy decides to rest, she can't likewise utilize that time get ready for an exam. In the event that the city of London funds another football stadium this year, it may swear off building another healing center at this point. Putting away cash under a sleeping cushion does without the premium give back that may be earned on a bond and, so on. The principal stride to settling on a steady choice is to think about the exchange offs included. At that point, among the accessible choices, distinguish the best one. The open door expense is the chief's net addition throughout the second best decision, if selecting the best option. One ought to pick to do something just if the related net advantage exceeds that of the second best option. The idea of chance expense has pertinence to aggregate social choices and to individual choices (Arora and Nandkumar, 2009). Pondering open door expenses helps us to remember the pervasive impact of lack and need of measuring our choices keenly, on the off chance that we are to boost the worth we acquire from our decisions. Economists and numerous directors endeavor to represent all expenses of utilizing assets in gainful action. The procedure of communicating assets in money related qualities is referred to in financial matters and account as valuation. Price Elasticity of Demand and its significance for the Business Environment, giving two instances of inferior goods. The demand law shows the only change in direction in the demanded quantity of goods in relation to the change in price. The elasticity of demand defines how much and to what extent the demanded quantity of goods would change in relation to the price change. According to Marshall, the famous Economist, the price elasticity of demand can be explained as the percentage change in the quantity demanded divided by the percentage change in price while according to Dooley, another Economist, the price elasticity of demand measures the receptivity of the demanded quantity to the change in its price (Sloman and Sutcliffe, 2003). The formula thus goes like this: Price Elasticity of Demand = Percentage change in quantity demanded/Percentage change in price. The different degrees of price elasticity of demand are: Perfectly elastic demand, Perfectly Inelastic Demand, Unitary Elastic Demand, Relatively Elastic Demand and Relatively Inelastic Demand. Organizations can benefit from the price elasticity of demand for goods and services for setting policies regarding price. The price elasticity of demand demonstrates the customer sensitivity for changing the price which would leave an impact on the volumes of sales, profits and revenues. The optimal pricing policies would result into maximization of profits by actually charging what the market would bear (Boyes and Melvin, 2008). The directors may adjust their strategies regarding pricing on the basis of the changes in the competitive environment and the demand of the consumers. Ideal evaluating arrangement is otherwise called immaculate value segregation, which implies that an organization fragments the business into particular client gatherings and charges every gathering precisely what it is willing to pay. The ideal cost and volume allude to the offering cost and volume at which an organization augments its benefits. Ideal estimating is conceivable just when there is a distinction in value versatility for diverse shopper bunches. For instance, a market chain may value the same thing higher in an affluent neighborhood, in which buyers may be less delicate to value and lower in a common laborers neighborhood, in which customers may be touchier to costs. The variables that influence value flexibility incorporate the accessibility of substitute items and the extent of discretionary cash flow needed to purchase certain item. The value versatility will be high if buyers can purchase elective items or on the off chance that they need to pay a lot of their pay ( Friedel, 2008). Inferior goods are the goods for which the demand diminishes as income of the consumer increases. So in this case the income elasticity of demand would be negative. Individuals and households tend to purchase less of poor quality products that are associated with living in poor communities as incomes would be rising. In some cases even firms that are operating under limited budgets might spend more on low quality paper which is an inferior good (Hildenbrand et al., 2001). Better instances are inter-city service of buses and consumption of cheap junk food like hamburger, frozen meat, etc. So in general it can be concluded that with changes in income would lead to shift in the demand curve as there would be changed in the quantity demanded at any level of price. Expansionary Fiscal Policy and its relationship with Automatic Stabilizers in the case of UK. The Expansionary fiscal policy occurs with the increase in spending of the government in terms of purchasing of goods and services along with the decrease in taxes for increasing the aggregate demand at the time of recession. Expansionary Policy is a valuable instrument for overseeing low-development periods in the business cycle, yet it likewise accompanies risks. First and chief, financial specialists must know when to grow the cash supply to maintain a strategic distance from causing reactions like high swelling. There is additionally a period slack between when a strategy move is made, whether expansionary or contractionary, and when it meets expectations its way through the economy. This makes up to the minute examination about outlandish, not withstanding for the most prepared business analysts (Caballero and Krishnamurthy, 2004). The system of automatic stabilizer naturally grows monetary strategy amidst economic retreats and contract it amidst economic booms are one type of countercyclical financial arrangement. In UK, Unemployment protection, on which the administration spends additionally amid subsidences when the rate of employment is low, is an instance of an automatic stabilizer. Essentially, on the grounds that expenses are generally relative to compensation and benefit, the measure of charges gathered is higher amidst an economic boom than amidst an economic retreat. In this way, the duty code additionally goes about as an automatic stabilizer, The difference between the government expenditure multiplier and the tax multiplier and the most preferable one in the economy. The government expenditure multiplier is the impact of an adjustment in government use on products and administrations (G) on total interest. An increment in government expenditure on commodities and services boost the cumulative expenditure, which gets under way the multiplier procedure (Barro and Redlick, 2009). The formula is: Government Expenditure Multiplier (g) = (1)/ (1-MPC), MPC is the marginal propensity to consume. The tax multiplier measures the adjustment in total creation activated by a self-governing change in government charges. This multiplier is valuable in the examination of monetary arrangement changes in duties. The tax multiplier contrasts from the expenditure multiplier in view of how the independent change influences total uses. The tax multiplier mirrors the way that a given self-governing change in expenses does not bring about an equivalent change in total consumptions. Expenses change extra cash, which causes changes in both utilization of the consumption expenditure and total saving (Chahrour et al., 2010). In the case of UKs economy, the tax multiplier is the most suited one. The tax multiplier impact happens when an introductory infusion into the economy results into a greater last increment in the national wage. For instance, when the UKs government expanded spending in terms of 1 billion, there will be a starting increment in a cumulative demand of 1 billion. Nonetheless, if this infusion in the end created genuine GDP to increment by 2 billion, then the tax multiplier would be having an estimation of 2.0. Tax or Fiscal Multiplier (k) = Real GDP change (Y) / Variation in Injections (J). Injections would include the government expenditure, investment and export. The tax multiplier effect also is relevant in terms of a tax deduction which doesnt have any effect on the government expenditure but it should affect the spending of the consumer, such as the UKs government cut the Value Added Tax from 17% to 15. Therefore, a cut in the rate of tax would increase the spending of the consumer and it may result into entirely rise in the aggregate demand in the economy. This implies that organizations would get an increment in the demand and sell more commodities. This increment in yield, would urge a few organizations to employ more employees to take care of higher demand. Along these lines, these employees would now have higher earnings and they would be spending more. Thats the reason there is a tax multiplier impact and additional advantages of spending of others in the economy. The key factors affecting the demand and supply for currency and its impact on the international trade. There are few main economic factors that affect the demand and supply of any nations currency, as in the case of Pound Sterling for UK. In gliding swapping scale frameworks, the business sector estimation of a coin is controlled by the interest for and supply of currencies. Most money managing is theoretical yet exchange and venture choices likewise have a part to play Some key components that can influence currency of UK are as per the following: Balances of Trade: A nation like UK, that have solid exchange and current record surpluses tend to see their monetary standards acknowledge as cash streams into the roundabout stream from fares of merchandise and administrations and from venture salary. This builds the interest for currency and realizes comprehension in its quality. Determined exchange deficiencies can prompt cash devaluation. Portfolio Investment: More exchange of currency is utilized to back cross-fringe portfolio speculation, for instance financial specialists putting their trusts into stocks and shares, government securities and property. Solid inflows of portfolio speculation from abroad can bring about a coin to appreciate (Gillespie, 2009). Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): An economy that draws in high net inflows of capital venture from abroad will see an increment in money interest and a rising swapping scale. Differentiated Interest Rate: In the event that a nation's advantage rates are higher than rates on offer in different nations then ceteris paribus we hope to see an inflow of money into banks and other budgetary organizations. The higher the interest rate differential, the more prominent is the motivating force for trusts to stream crosswise over global limits and into the economy with the higher interest rates. Nations offering high premium rates can hope to see hot cash streaming over the coin markets and bringing on a valuation for the conversion scale (Reinhart, 2005). For carrying out effective global trade, under the system of international exchange of foreign currency, the currency of UK, that is Pound Sterling is being converted in to the another countrys currency through Foreign Exchange Market. It would also cater to the increase in export and import of goods and services. The exchange rate of currency is identified by the forces of demand and supply. Hence, if for some specific reason there is increase in demand of the currency then the price of the goods would increase leaving the provision of the supply being stable. On the other hand, if the supply increases then the price would reduce leaving the provision that the demand is stagnant. The factors involved in pushing up house prices in the context of inflation theory. Inflation means there is a supported increment in the value level. The primary driver of inflation is either overabundance of total interest financial development too quick or expense push components that is, supply side variables (Phelps, 1999). Rising house costs don't specifically bring about inflation, yet they can bring about a positive riches impact and empower shopper drove monetary development. This can by implicated by the reason of demand pull inflation. Ascending of house cost is intensely reflecting change between the trends of demand and supply. The factors considering that impact the ascent of house cost are (i) Fluctuations in lodging business sector, (ii) Rise in development expenses of lodging, (iii) Population development over lodging, (iv) Expanding interest on lodging, (v) Long term benefit of lodging, (vi) GDP development, (vii) Declining in supply of new lodging, (viii) Transfer charge and tariff of lodging, and (ix) Lodging quality, house appearance and open offices (Bekaert and Wang, 2010). Generally in the case of demand pull inflation, if monetary development is over the long run pattern rate of development. The long run pattern rate of financial development is the normal economical rate of development and is dictated by the development in efficiency. In the 1980s, the economy of UK experienced fast financial development. The administration cut interest rates furthermore cut assessments. House costs ascended by up to 30% fuelling a positive riches impact and an ascent in purchaser certainty. This expanded certainty prompted higher spending, lower sparing and an increment in getting. In any case, the rate of monetary development came to 5% a year - well over the UK's long run pattern rate of 2.5 %. The outcome was an ascent in swelling as firms couldn't take care of demand. It additionally prompted a present record shortage. The impact of currency values on: The demands of the products we produce - The domestic products of GDP can be defined as the cumulative production measure that is equivalent to the sum of the total value added products produced by all the firms that is engaged in production which includes taxes and deduction any subsidies (Sahin, 2009). If the value of the currency depreciates then the demand of the domestic products will rise as the price of the products would reduce. While on the other hand if the value of the currency appreciates then the price of the domestic products would increase leading to the demand of the products to fall down drastically. But also it can be pointed out in the case of currency depreciation, when the demand of the products would rise it might be difficult for the domestic producers to cope up with the supply increased demand of the products, so then there might be a situation of the price of the domestic products to rise. Likewise in the context of currency appreciation, the demand of the products would fall then there might be a situation that the producers might reduce the price to a little margin. The domestic producers would face difficulty if the currency value goes up in the context of carrying out the global trade. The prices of the products we buy - Despite the fact that the impacts can require some serious energy, changes in the currency value can have a major effect on the economy and on our own particular way of life and buying force. There is frequently banter about whether a nation ought to have a high or low rate of exchange of currency. At the point when the value of a currency raises it implies it expanded in worth in respect to another coin; when the value falls then it implies debilitated or fell in quality with respect to other currency (Twomey, 2012). The value of currency plays a significant role for the nations import and exports of raw materials, such as, if the value of the currency falls down then it would make the domestic products cheaper and therefore the exports would be cheaper leading to the benefit of the exporting firms in the country. If the value of the currency raises would make the price of the domestic products increase hence making the exports expensive and would diminish the competitive nature of the firms involved in exports. References Arora, A. and Nandkumar, A. (2009). Cash-out or flame-out! Opportunity Cost And Entrepreneurial Strategy. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research. Barro, R. and Redlick, C. (2009). Macroeconomic effects from government purchases and taxes. Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research. Bekaert, G. and Wang, X. (2010). Inflation risk and the inflation risk premium. Economic Policy, 25(64), pp.755-806. Boyes, W. and Melvin, M. (2008). Microeconomics. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Caballero, R. and Krishnamurthy, A. (2004). Fiscal policy and financial depth. Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research. Chahrour, R., Schmitt-Grohe, S. and Uribe, M. (2010). A model-based evaluation of the debate on the size of the tax multiplier. Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research. Friedel, E. (2008). Price elasticity. 8th ed. Gillespie, A. (2009). Foundations of economics. 4th ed. Hildenbrand, W., Debreu, G., Neuefeind, W. and Trockel, W. (2001). Economics essays. Berlin: Springer. Marburger, D. and Peterson, R. (2004). Economic decision making using cost data. 4th ed. Ojediran, B. (1996). Opportunity cost. Ibadan: Onibonoje Press Book Industries (NIG). Phelps, E. (1999). Microeconomic foundations of employment and inflation theory. 9th ed. New York: Norton. Reinhart, C. (2005). Fiscal policy, the real exchange rate and commodity prices. 6th ed. [Washington, D.C.]: International Monetary Fund. Sahin, K. (2009). Measuring the economy. Hauppauge, N.Y.: Nova Science. Sloman, J. and Sutcliffe, M. (2003). Economics. Harlow, England: Prentice Hall/Financial Times. Twomey, B. (2012). Inside the currency market. Hoboken, N.J.: Bloomberg Press.

Michael Phelps free essay sample

That Is Michael Phelps In Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers he expresses that, â€Å"It makes a difference where and when we grew up. The culture we belong to and the legacies passed down by our forebears shape the patterns of our achievement in ways we cannot begin to imagine† (Gladwell 19). He believes that there are other factors besides hard work and ambition that contribute to a person’s success. There are the rare cases, like Oprah Winfrey, who rose from nothing and worked hard her whole life to be who she is today. Although, most of today’s successful individuals were given opportunities that no one else had. Michael Phelps is a prime example. He was not born an Olympic swimmer; he was constructed from an early age to be an Olympic swimmer. His family, the opportunities that he was given, and the 10,000 hour rule all play an integral part in his success. We will write a custom essay sample on Michael Phelps or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To begin with, his genetics were engineered for swimming. He has a long torso which is good for decreasing drag. It allows him to glide effortlessly through the water. His arm span is over six feet. A large arm span enables him to cover a longer distance with each stroke he takes. His legs are short compared to his arm span, but that makes it easier to generate power with is legs. His size fourteen feet act as flippers, they propel him through the water (Kennedy). But it takes much more than genetics to make a great swimmer. The culture and environment that Michael Phelps grew up in is what started young Phelps on his road to gold. His influence to swim came from his sisters Whitney and Hillary. Whitney has won a National Championship and served on the United States National Team. She tried out for the Olympics, but did not succeed. Hilary was on the University of Richmond swim team (North Baltimore). As a younger child he sat on the pool deck watching and cheering on his sisters. When Phelps was younger he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. He had difficulty following instructions, paying attention in class, and always had an abundance of energy. His mother quickly began working with Phelp’s doctor to counteract the ADHD symptoms. They decided on a combination of medication and sports (Hahn). His mother decided that swimming should be his sport just his like sisters. She chose swimming because she understood that children with ADHD needed structure and somewhere to channel their pent up energy (Hahn). Swimming was the perfect sport for Phelps to work out his superfluous energy and it was a sport that required little focus. All he had to center his attention on was swimming up and down lanes. His mother signed him up for swimming at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, which is where it all began (â€Å"Michael Phelps†). North Baltimore Aquatic Club is no stranger to Olympic swimmers. Its swimmers have won nineteen Gold Metals, sixteen World Records, and thirty five American Records. Michael was immersed into the Olympic world of swimming at a young age; he knew Anita Nall and Beth Bosford who both won gold in the early 90’s from NBAC (Phelps 10). Michael grew up around swimming and it was the only thing he knew. His access to the pool and the opportunities that NBAC provided give Phelps the competitive edge to succeed. It takes an expert to become a great swimmer. A person cannot it do it alone, they need someone on the pool deck watching and critiquing their every move. At age eleven Phelps was no expert, so he needed someone to teach and mold him. NBAC was crawling with coaches eager to raise an Olympic swimmer, including Bob Bowman whom Phelps has been working with for over twelve years now. When Bowman was younger he was on the Florida State swim team. After graduating with a degree in child psychology he immediately started coaching instead. He has been all over the country coaching from Florida to Las Vegas, but never stayed in one location for more than two years, until he stumbled upon Michael Phelps at NBAC. Bowman was the perfect choice to undertake Phelp’s swimming career. He handles every aspect of Phelps’ swimming; he plans his, â€Å"warm ups, warm downs, stretching, messages, calorie intake, and meal times† (Forde). There is not much mental ability that Phelps’ has to put into his swimming career. All he has to do is provide the muscle and Bowman takes care of everything else. Michael believes that, â€Å"I don’t think I could be where I am today with any other coach† (Forde). Neurologist Daniel Levitin has found that, â€Å"Ten thousand hours of practice is required to achieve the level of mastery associated with being a world-class expert† (Gladwell 40). From composers to athletes this rule applies. Preparation, instead of solely natural talent plays an important role in determining a person’s success (Gladwell 38). All the opportunities in the world do not make a difference unless a person logs ten thousand hours of practice. It is then and only then that one can achieve mastery. Bob Bowman and NBAC are responsible for giving Michael Phelps the opportunity to learn how to be an expert swimmer. Since Phelps started training with Bowman at NBAC from a young age he got an early start on his training. That gave Phelps a competitive advantage over other swimmers. Bowman was able to mold Phelps’ strength, power, and endurance from a young age. They are key aspects of muscle performance and without them Phelps’ muscles would not be able to sustain such a demanding lifestyle (Freudenrich). NBAC’s pool was equipped with high tech cameras that followed Phelps up and down the lane above and below the water. The camera allowed Bowman to critique Phelps’ every stroke (Valdes). From age eleven to fifteen Phelps practiced six days a week, swimming three times a day; totaling five hours of practice a day (Valdes). Five hours of practice a day multiplied by six days a week equals thirty hours of practice in a week. At age fifteen Phelps had logged 7,800 hours of practice. That same year Phelps was the youngest person to compete in the Sydney Olympics (â€Å"Michael Phelps†). It is not surprising that he did not win in Sydney, because at that point he had only accrued 7,800 hours of practice. From age twelve onward Bowman had Phelps practicing seven days a week for five hours a day (Valdes). The extra day of practice allowed Phelps to achieve ten thousand hours of practice by the time he was seventeen. He later accumulated well over ten thousand hours of practice by the time he competed in the 2004 Olympics, where he won six gold medals (â€Å"Michael Phelps†). There is more to success than determination, even though it is clear that Michael Phelps’ dedication to his craft is a huge factor to his success as an Olympic swimmer. He has been dedicated to his sport since he was eleven years old. Not many kids would have sacrificed their play time to spend several hours a day, three times a day. His perseverance is relentless, but there are other contributing factors to his success. There were a flow of opportunities that were presented to Phelps to aid in his success. He just so happened to be born into a family of swimmers, so he was exposed to swimming at such a young age. He was given the extra ordinary opportunity of being exposed to world class coaches at NBAC. If it were not for his mother enrolling him at NBAC, he would have never met Bowman, whom Phelps says he owes a lot of his success to. If Bowman pursued his child psychology degree instead of coaching he would have not been a coach at NBAC. Michael Phelps’ surroundings and the opportunities that were afforded to him allowed him to transpire. Currently Phelps is training for the 2012 Olympics in London; it will be his fourth Olympics. Works Cited Forde, Pat. â€Å"Intense? Insane? Maybe, but Bowman is the architect of Phelps’ quest. † ESPN. 14 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Freudenrich, Craig. â€Å"How Exercise Works. † Discovery Health. 11 Apr. 2011. Gladwell, Malcolm. Outliers: The Story of Success. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Print Kennedy, Mike.

Tips for Working on a College Group Project

Tips for Working on a College Group Project Group projects in college can be great experiences or nightmares. From other people not carrying their weight to waiting to the last minute, group projects can quickly turn into an unnecessarily large and ugly problem. By following the basic tips below, however, you can work to ensure that your group project leads to a great grade instead of a massive headache. Set Roles and Goals Early It may seem silly and basic, but setting roles and goals early will help out immensely as the project progresses. Specify who is doing what (research? writing? presenting?), with as much detail as possible and with dates and deadlines when appropriate. After all, knowing that one of your group members is going to complete part of the papers research wont do any good if he completes it after the project due date. Allow a Time Cushion at the End of Your Schedule Lets say the project is due on the 10th of the month. Aim to have everything done by the 5th or the 7th, just to be safe. After all, life happens: people get sick, files get lost, group members flake. Allowing for a little cushion will help prevent major stress (and a possible catastrophe) on the actual due date. Arrange for Periodic Check-ins and Updates You may be working your you-know-what off to finish your part of the project, but not everyone may be as diligent. Arrange to meet as a group every other week to update each other, discuss how the project is going, or even just work on things together. This way, everyone will know the group, as a whole, is on track before it becomes too late to fix the problem. Allow Time for Someone to Check the Final Project With so many people working on a project, things can often seem disconnected or confusing. Check in with a campus writing center, another group, your professor, or anyone else who may be helpful to review your final project before you turn it in. An extra set of eyes can be invaluable for a big project that will have an impact on so many peoples grades. Talk to Your Professor if Someone isnt Pitching In One negative aspect of doing group projects is the possibility that one member (or more!) is not pitching in to help the rest of the group. Although you may feel awkward about doing so, know that its OK to check in with your professor about whats happening (or not happening). You can do this midway through the project or at the end. Most professors will want to know and, if you check in midway through the project, they might be able to give you some advice about how to move forward.

Effects of Smoking on the Human Body Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effects of Smoking on the Human Body - Essay Example Once inhaled, carbon monoxide reaches the blood stream through the lungs and alveoli, it binds to the hemoglobin portion of the red blood cells, forming a stable compound called carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb). The stability of the compound is due to the fact that hemoglobin has a 200–250 times higher affinity for carbon monoxide than it has for oxygen. Thus, the oxygen-carrying capacity of the hemoglobin is reduced, limiting oxygen supply to cells and tissues. The diseases caused by limited oxygen in the blood include cardiovascular disease, stroke, and circulatory problems. Tar on the other hand, accumulates in the lung, causing the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the bronchi, the trachea, and the bronchioles, damages the lungs, reduces the size of the airway. Smoke thus interferes with the functioning of the respiratory system and causes chronic bronchitis and persistent cough. Tar also damages the cilia on the upper portions of the respiratory system and increases phlegm production. Finally, the chemicals in smoke damage the lungs, reduce lung surface area and affect the alveoli’s’ functionality. Lung cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), mouth and throat cancer, and increased asthma symptoms are the other respiratory effects of smoking (National Cancer Institute, 2008). ... One of the mechanisms by which smoking leads to elevated CO2 levels in the blood is that the harmful chemicals in the smoke damages the alveoli of the lungs. This damage implies that the CO2 formed in other parts of the body and transported to the lungs for elimination is not efficiently eliminated at the alveoli surfaces, leading to increased levels of CO2 in the blood. How Smoking Affects other Organ Systems Besides the respiratory system, smoking affects other organ systems such as the circulatory system. In this system, smoking causes the blood clotting, blockages and narrowing of blood vessels, increased risks of strokes and heart attacks, increased blood pressure, palpitations. These conditions cause various infections that might require procedures such as amputation. The nervous system and the brain are also affected by tobacco smoking, which decreases oxygen supply to the brain as hemoglobin combines with carbon monoxide. The normal functioning of the CNS is affected as delic ate nerve endings are damages and blood supply interfered with (The New York Times, 2002). Additionally, smoking causes attention deficit and memory problems. The immune system is also affected by the tobacco toxins that enter the body via smoking so that the functioning of the white blood cells is impaired. Thus, the body becomes vulnerable to infections. The reproductive system is also not spared by smoking, which may cause erectile dysfunction, impotency, sterility, menopause, and low weight births. Correlating Cellular Respiration with the Respiratory System The correlation between cellular respiration and the respiratory system is rather clear. For instance, minus cellular respiration in the lungs,