18 Awesome ACT Hacks to Help You Ace the Test

18 Awesome ACT Hacks to Help You Ace the Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Wouldn't it be great if there was a key that unlocked all the shortcuts to success on the ACT? Although that dream might be a little unrealistic, the advice in this article will give you the next best thing in the form of mini-strategies that will cut down on your stress levels and improve your scores. Can You Actually â€Å"Hack† the ACT? To a limited extent, yes. The strategies in this article may lead to a small increase in your scores, but they won’t fix major issues you have with the content of the test.Understanding the format and how to get around some of the trickier parts of the ACT is important, but there’s no substitute for in-depth studying. Consider these tips as supplements to your regular studying rather than cure-alls for your more serious issues with the material on the test.We’ve written a guide on how to study for the ACT that you can check out for more insight into the review process. Overall ACT Hacks Here are some techniques that you can use on all parts of the ACT to earn the best possible score on each section. #1: Skip Hard Questions at First On every section of the ACT, you need to pace yourself carefully to avoid running out of time before you get to all of the questions.If you come across a question that completely stumps you, don’t linger. Struggling with one question for too long can damage your scores because it takes up time you could have used to answer easier questions later in the section.You can always come back to the questions you skipped if you have time, but you shouldn’t prioritize one tricky question over getting through the section before time is called. #2: Fill in an Answer Bubble for Every Question The ACT has noguessing penalty, so it’s in your best interests to fill in an answer choice for every question on the test.Even if there are only 30 seconds remaining in a section and you have five questions left, you should fill in those bubbles at random in case you get lucky.If you do, you’ll earn more points, and if you don’t, your score will be no different than if you’d left the questions blank. #3: Know the Test Structure Since this is a standardized test, you should prepare by becoming familiar with how it’s structured.If nothing on the test comes as a surprise to you, you’ll feel much more relaxed.You'll be able devote all of your mental energy to understanding the content rather than navigating an unexpected test format. This article provides a complete guide to the format of the ACT, including skills tested, number of questions, and length of each section. #4: Use Process of Elimination Process of elimination is the most effective strategy for answering questions on the ACT.It’s much easier for look for reasons to get rid of answers than it is to pick the correct choice out of the lineup right away.Be picky about what it means for an answer to be correct. This is especially applicable to questions in the English and Reading sections.If you can’t find evidence in the passage that definitively supports an answer choice, get rid of it! You don't have to guess what's behind each door - you'll be able to find clues that rule out 3 out of 4 answers. If you answer correctly, you'll get a brand new karaoke machine. Be sure to claim your prize from the College Board. You deserve this. ACT English Hacks Here are a few tricks specific to the English section that will help you find the answers to questions that might otherwise stump you. #5: Choose the Most Concise Answer The essence of good writing is saying what you mean in the most accurate way without any extra unnecessary words. When you’re trying to decide between a few different phrasings for a sentence in the English section, usually the least wordy choice is correct.There are exceptions to this rule, but it’s enough of a common trend that if you’re totally stumped by a question, picking the shortest answer is a fairly safe bet. #6: Tread Carefully With NO CHANGE Answers Many students are either too wary of NO CHANGE answers or too eager to pick them.Always double check before choosing NO CHANGE, but if you genuinely feel that it’s the right answer, try not to doubt yourself too much.NO CHANGE answers make up around a quarter of the correct responses to questions where they’re presented as an option. Don’t assume that a NO CHANGE option is any less likely to be correct compared to the other choices. #7: Read Around the Question Context is important on ACT English because all the questions are based on longer passages.When answering a question about the structure of a sentence, you should always read the entire sentence, not just the part that you’re asked to revise.It might even be helpful to read the preceding and following sentences so that you can get a feel for how the different answer choices affect the flow of the passage.This will help you see that some phrasings sound more awkward than others when considered in a larger context. Context is always important. For all we know, this is just a disembodied pair of arms underneath a pile of clothes. ACT Math Hacks The Math section is the most challenging part of the ACT for many students. Here are some hacks that will help you get through tough problems. #8: Plug In Answers The great thing about multiple choice tests is that the correct answer is always right there in front of you - all you have to do is find it. Thismeans that you can often work backward to find the correct answers to math problems on the ACT even if you’re not sure of the actual solution method.This can take longer than just solving the problem the old-fashioned way, so it shouldn’t be your first move, but if you’re stumped it’s a viable way to solve problems successfully. #9: Use the Diagrams Diagrams on the Math section exist to help you, so make sure you take advantage of them.Diagrams are useful in estimating the correct answer even if you aren’t sure how to solve the problem.If you need to calculate a dimension of a shape, for example, consider how large that dimension looks compared to other parts of the diagram that are already labeled. In doing this, you can ensure that your answer makes logical sense. #10: Memorize Important Formulas The ACT doesn’t give you a list of formulas like the SAT, so you have to know the most commonly used formulas off the top of your head.Make sure you take a bit of time to review this list of formulas before the test. For example, you should know that the cosine of angle B in this image is equivalent to the length of side C divided by the length of side a. ACT Reading Hacks The Reading section involves a great deal of time pressure and high-level reading comprehension skills.These strategies will help you on the road to overcoming these challenges. #: Decide Whether to Skim or Skip You should go into the Reading section with a strategy in mind for how you want to approach the passages.Some people can read the passages normally all the way through and still make it to the end of the section, but for most students, it’s smart to adopt a more efficient alternative approach. One option is to skim the passage before starting work on the questions.This usually means reading the intro paragraph, first and last sentences of each body paragraph, and conclusion paragraph.These parts of the passage usually provide the most critical information about the central topic. Another option is to skip the passage initially and head straight for the questions.You can answer questions about small details by going back and searching for them in the passage.Save the broader questions for last after you’ve already gotten a handle on what the passage is about by putting together the smaller details.Experiment with each of these strategies on practice tests so you know what works best for you and saves you the most time. #12: Read Your Favorite Subject First In the ACT Reading section, the passages are always in the same order with regards to their subject matter.You can take advantage of this by determining the optimal order in which to read the passages beforehand.It’s best to start with the subject matter or writing style that you feel most comfortable reading because you’ll get through that passage faster than the others and probably won't struggle as much with the questions.It would be a bad idea to save the subject you like most for last because you might run out of time before getting to that question set. #13: Always Find Direct Evidence You should never make assumptions to get to your answers to questions on the Reading section.If you think that two answers seem equally valid, reread the relevant part of the passage and carefully analyze the evidence.There is only one irrefutably correct answer, and you'll always be able to point to something in the passage that gives it away. The resigned pain in this child's eyes resembles the attitude with which most students approach ACT Reading passages. ACT Science Hacks Here are a few ACT hacksyou can use to make the science section a little less intimidating and more manageable. #14: Save Conflicting Viewpoints for Last Conflicting viewpoints is the most time-consuming part of the ACT Science section for almost every student.It involves much more reading than the other parts of the section, which mostly consist of data interpretation.It’s best to save conflicting viewpoints for last so youcan get through all the quicker passages first. #15: Visuals Are Your Friends The ACT science section appears complicated because there are detailed explanations of experimental procedures combined with diagrams and charts. However, most of this information only exists to make you freak out about all the stuff you think you don’t understand. You can ignore most of the background information and just focus on the data provided in the visuals when answering questions. These questions are mostly based on logic, not complex science. #16: Don’t Bother Studying Science Terms The Science section on the ACT doesn’t have much in common with the tests that you’ve taken in high school science classes.It’s not necessary to study terms because there won’t be any obscure concepts that you need to understand independently.Anything obscure that you need to know to answer the questions will be defined for you in the passage.Succeeding on the Science section is about getting used to the format and digging down to the logical core of each question. Science is tooooootally tubular. ACT Writing Hacks If you’re taking the ACT with Writing, here are some ways to ensure that you end up with a decent score even if you’re not completely confident in your writing abilities. #17: Include an Introduction and Conclusion Introductions and conclusions are the most important aspects of any ACT essay.The graders pay close attention to the first and last paragraphs of each essay because they provide insight into the quality of the rest of your writing.The introduction is even more critical to your score than the conclusion because it includes a thesis statement, which gives the reader a preview of the rest of your essay.Make sure your intro contains a clear thesis statement that will make it easy for the grader to give you points! #18: Write at Least Two Pages There’s no official length requirement for the ACT essay, but you should aim for at least two pages of writing to ensure that your argument is fully developed.Essays that are less than two pages typically score lower because they don’t include enough details or explain their ideas completely.If you have an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion, making your essay at least two pages probably won’t be an issue. Conclusion: How to Hack the ACT You need to have strong fundamental knowledge of the content to earn a high score, but there are still a few simple ACT hacks you can use to make the test easier for yourself without doing a bunch of extra studying. Here's a consolidated list of all the strategies I've gone over in this article: Overall ACT Hacks Skip Hard Questions at First Fill in An Answer for Every Question Know the Test Structure Use Process of Elimination ACT English Hacks Choose the Most Concise Answer Tread Carefully with NO CHANGE Answers Read Around the Question ACT Math Hacks Plug in Answers Use the Diagrams Memorize Important Formulas ACT Reading Hacks Decide Whether to Skim or Skip Read Your Favorite Subject First Look for Direct Evidence ACT Science Hacks Save Conflicting Viewpoints for Last Visuals Are Your Friends Don't Bother Studying Science Terms ACT Writing Hacks Include an Introduction and Conclusion Write at Least Two Pages These tactics will help you become a more efficient and confident test-taker as long as you use them in tandem with a responsible long-term study plan! What's Next? Are you looking for a reliable guide to preparing for the ACT? Check out ourlist of the best ACT review books released this year. You might not have time to get through a whole review book before you take the ACT. If that's the case, this article has a list of critical last-minute strategy guides that you should read. Feeling ambitious? This guide will tell you exactly what you need to do to work towards a perfect score on the test. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by ACT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Captain John Smith more success than John Rolfe essays

Captain John Smith more success than John Rolfe essays Captain John smith was more important to the success of Virginia by 1630 then John Rolfe.. Like many famous heroes, John Smith was feisty, abrasive, self-promoting, and ambitious. He was an experienced soldier and adventurer, the man who boldly went out and got things done. If not for him, the colony may have failed at the start. John Rolfe is best successful for having introduced tobacco as a commercial crop to Virginia colonists. The production of this valuable commodity shaped the future development of the colony and provided an economic incentive for future expansion and settlement of the New World. Rolfe is best remembered of his marriage to Pocahontas. This marriage brought a much-need period of peace between the Indian and the colonists until Powhatans death. But John Smith was more successful then John Rolfe because of the myths he himself created. Smith promoted the Virginia companys interests in the New World and he provided the leadership necessary to save the colonists during the early years of the settlement. Although many of his narratives seem boastful and swashbuckling, his accounts were intended to lure adventurous new settlers to Virginia. When the colonist suffered harsh winter, lack of fresh water, and the spread of disease made in Jamestown difficult for the settlers. Attacks by the native Indians, hoping that the settlers would give up and leave, raided their camps, stealing pistols, gunpowder, and other necessary supplies. Captain John Smith stepped forward as the leader of the colony when it became apparent that the council of seven was ineffective. He led expeditions into the interior and traded with the Indians for corn. In 1607, Smith and several other colonists left the fort to explore the local area. Unfortunately they ran into an Indian hunting party and were promptly captured by the Indians. Smith was treated kindly and a great feast was prepa ...

Week 3 Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Week 3 Discussion Questions - Essay Example For lenders, an adjustable rate mortgage is more beneficial if the current interest rates are high, because interest rates are likely to return to lower rates in the future. On the other hand, when interest rates are low, fixed mortgages are particularly advisable for home buyers as they have been in the past year. For example, the United States Federal Reserve in December 2008 slashed interest rates to their lowest level on record in an unprecedented attempt to combat a prolonged recession (Pykett, 2008). Hence, it is favourable for home buyers at this time to consider a fixed rate mortgage, as they are able to lock in to a favourable rate. I consider the Federal Reserve Bank an institution in a dilemma, because its goals frequently conflict. For example, should the monetary policy implemented by the Federal Reserve Bank give priority to price stability or to full employment? Although price stability can help achieve optimal sustainable output growth and employment over the longer term, a move to restrain inflation would further aggravate slowdown in the economy (Mankiw, 2003). On the other hand, a bid to combat unemployment would aggravate inflation. In such situations, the Federal Reserve Bank is in a dilemma and must determine whether to concentrate on battling increasing prices or on supporting the loss of employment and output. 3. Explain the impact current Federal Reserve Banks policy is having on your 1) personal decisions and 2) the decisions of your organization. Provide at least one example. (I work in the meat processing industry) The Federal Reserve Bank determines the federal funds rate at a level it believes will promote financial and monetary conditions consistent with attaining its monetary policy objectives, and it adjusts that goal in line with evolving economic conditions. An alteration in the

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AMERICAN MUSIC AND POLITICS on rapper Jay-Z - Research Paper Example From the beginning of genres such as jazz, gospel, soul, blues, up to the era of hip-hop and rap, it is noticeable how most of the well-known music that are the products of black culture are deeply-rooted in the ideals of spiritual, intellectual, cultural and aesthetics (Banfield 4). The need for reinvention as well as an innovation of artistic expression within the Black culture bore youth art forms such as rap and hip-hop out of necessity (Banfield 38). Also, by reading between the lines of songs from these genres, how the artists interpret the society can be seen through their eyes (Banfield 5).Within the past two decades of society, the rise of hip-hop, modern rhythm and blues or just R&B, as well as rap became the updated means of expressing their anguish and sufferings, even though they have considerable freedom compared to previous generations. The selling point of genres such as hip-hop and R&B were their availability in the streets, their independence from most large music labels, as well as the fact that their core is the embodiment of the nation’s historic racial struggles (Watkins 4). Another is that aside from the music, other art forms such as break-dancing and graffiti art became synonymous with it in promoting the modern Black culture (Harris and Terborg-Penn 188). Fueled by the disruption of neighborhoods such as the black community in the Bronx, most of the messages of the disruption of peace and the corruption of culture were expressed into an art form of vernacular and activism-like protest (Banfield 43). Thus it is noticeable why most well-known hip-hop and rap are not only explicit but also emotional. Also, there is an objectification of human experiences, struggle, reason, inquiry and expression in contemporary form that makes hip-hop a valuable and extremely relevant part of the African-American cul ture in the suburbs (Banfield 45). At the start of the

Designing Compensation Systems and Employee Benefits Research Paper

Designing Compensation Systems and Employee Benefits - Research Paper Example Therefore, job evaluation attempts to document the shared and general characteristics of a job. Hence, in a job of driving a car, job evaluation would be attempting to determine the proficiency of the driver in driving the car or how well the person is aware of the roads. Job evaluation thus determines how well a person is handling each of the constituent tasks of the job. Employees receive compensation from companies for their work, however there’s a difference between compensation and pay. Compensation basically includes all types of financial rewards and tangible services which the company provides to the employees. For making the compensation internally consistent, the employees must be convinced that the jobs are being paid for by the employer according to its worth. There are certain jobs within the company which have more scope for contributing to the overall welfare of the company than other jobs. Hence such jobs are the ones which receive a higher pay. For example, in a hospital, the nurses are the ones who contribute greatly to the care of patients; hence the nurses are paid more than the orderlies. Determining the value of each and every job in an organization is very important since it assists in making the pay rates of an organization internally consistent. This value determination of jobs is called job evaluation. Some criteria used for job evaluation include the effort required to perform a job and the difficulty of a particular job. Compensations should also be developed which are market competitive. If for example the pay is low compared to the market, the company would encounter turnover and recruitment problems. If the pay is higher than the market, the company would potentially experience problems with the budget which may result in layoffs. The companies which pay above the market are termed as market leaders while the companies paying below the market rates are

Principles of Social Crime Prevention Practices

Principles of Social Crime Prevention Practices This essay shall evaluate the impact of Social Crime Prevention Principles on the Development of Effective Crime Prevention Practices. However, it has been suggested that the underlying Principles of Social philosophy of Crime Prevention have little to offer either towards the Development of Effective Crime Prevention Strategies or the actual Prevention of Crimes. There have been various arguments on this matter however, this essay will re-evaluate various and valid theories to establish the above argument while focusing on such effects on Youth Offending in the UK. Crime is an act or omission that violates the law and is punishable upon conviction. It includes Criminal Code offences against a person or property, drug offences, motor vehicle offences and other provincial or federal statute offences. This definition has also been buttressed by the definition from Oxford dictionary as. An action or omission which constitutes an offence and its punishable by law or an action or activity considered to be evil, shameful or wrong: (Online Oxford English Dictionary, 2010:n.p.). However it has been further explained in the Criminal Justice Reform of British Columbia that not every act could be classed as Criminal act. For instance, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Disorderly behaviour such as aggressive panhandling, public urination and sleeping in the street are not necessarily criminal acts, but they do affect communities by a gradual erosion of the quality of life. (Criminal Justice Reform, 2010:n.p.). Therefore, it will be important to mention here that some factors have to be present in order to establish weather a Crime has been committed or not. These factors are; suitable target, motivational offender and non availability of capable guardian. (Clark Eck, 2003). Meanwhile, Social Crime Prevention is a Crime Prevention strategy that could adapt to the changing Social environment rather then the physical environment. This strategy involves engaging the offending age in various community based activities which invariably bring together children, youths and some marginalised groups in the community. The term Social Crime Prevention can simply implies the introduction of any program which endeavour to change patterns of behaviour, social conditions, self-discipline or values in order to reduce the possibility of offending. One could argue that amongst some of the viable social crime prevention initiatives are parental support programs, early childhood training such as personal discipline and self respect, publicity programs to change male thoughts about the use of violence in resolving domestic disputes, supports for disadvantaged families and provision of good, relevant education such as inclusion of black history month and extra curriculum support for the children. Social Crime Prevention can be categorised into the following areas; 1. Prevention which focuses on institutions such as schools and employers rather than on individuals. 2. Preventative Diversion programs for at risk groups. 3. Community Development approaches. 4. Media and other publicity aimed at changing Social Values. 5. Early childhood or Developmental Prevention. The aim of Social Crime Prevention is to support community relationships by increasing the levels of informal Social Control, and consequently deterring determined or potential offenders. Social Crime Prevention could centre on making those who are at risk of offending feel more reckon with in the community. For instance, a Youth Social club and activity group. On the other hand a scheme such as Neighbourhood Watch could be designed to strengthening unofficial protection in the community as a way to fight Youth Crime in which community members are keeping an eye out for one another, increasing surveillance. Social Crime Prevention measures also have significant benefit in areas other than Youth Crime. For instance, in encouraging young people to stay at school which reduces truancy, in setting up support networks for people which addresses issues of loneliness and safety. Neighbourhood watch is generally understood to be a community-based activity supported by local police that is directed towards crime prevention. It involves residents becoming more responsive to the risk of crime and taking action to protect their own and their neighbours property. (Heal et al, 1988). Youth offending is not just a question of rational choice by young people, it is also the result of lack of structural opportunities for young people in terms of education, employment, housing, adequate income and construction of leisure opportunities. (Barry McNeill, 2009). Considering various strategies to control Youth offending, Community-focused Prevention programmes could be classified as follows: i) Community organisation This typically build community based associations, and linkages to local schools, churches, etc. which however can provide effective socialisation for young people, to include local adults as positive role models. (Hope, 1995). ii) Community defence This approach is targeted at preventing victimisation by deterring of offending by the people who are not members of the community. For example, this may include housing authorities cordoning and restricting access to problematic estates to residence only. Other crime prevention strategies could be brought to bear through environmental design (CPTED), defensible space measures, and the purposeful organising of community close watch through Neighbourhood Watch; iii) Theory of broken windows which could also be called zero tolerance seeks to control both physical disorder like graffiti, litter, vandalism; rowdy street behaviour and threatening neighbours. iv) Risk based programmes are relatively recent approaches that seek to identify risk factors amid the entire community populations, to identify those most at risk, and to deliver preventive resources specifically for them. However, the pattern and believe behind this concept is that changes in community can be brought about by changing individuals rather than vice versa. This is contrarily to the earlier crime prevention strategies. These strategies include approaches targeted on victimisation, e.g., strategies aimed at the protection of victims and the deterrence of repeat victimisation and those aimed at the improvement. (Home Office Research Study 187, 1998). Structural change has a similar concept to community development. These strategies see the core changes in society with the utmost consequences for crime diminution as stemming principally from the operation of more overall level policies in economic improvement, employment, housing markets, education, health provision, and the delivery of welfare, benefits and other social services. In this view, much of the space for action against community level social dislocation to include crime depends on the interaction of social policies which even though experienced locally may not be agreeable to amend at the local level. (Home Office research, 1998). Crime Prevention through Social Development or Social Crime Prevention as contained in the UN Guidelines 2002 could be; promote the well-being of people and encourage pro-social behaviour through social, economic, health and educational measures, with a particular emphasis on children and youth, and focus on the risk and protective factors associated with crime and victimization. (Para, 6a). It is progressively more known that modernization and adaptation of initiatives are essential rather than modification, if they are to be relevant to solving problems faced in developing contexts, the resources available, and the capacity of the local state or civil society. International organizations in particular have stressed the scale of the challenges presented for developing countries. Young populations, rapid socio-economic changes, lack of education and/or sufficiently good quality and relevant training, inequality of opportunity, poverty and social exclusion, rapid urbanization and globalization, have all contributed to high rates of offending among young people, and on a scale beyond that experienced in the North. (Shaw Travers, Ed. 2007). The nature of interventions that can be integrated into social and educational crime prevention may include those that are of general programmes, or those targeted specifically to areas or individuals, long or short term programmes, one-off events such as education or training programmes, and could also be targeted on family, community or schools or institution-based. However, many early-intervention schemes have afterwards been introduced in other countries e.g. Nurse Family Partnerships in the US, the Netherlands (Every opportunity for every child-youth and family programme 2007-2011); and the UK (Pilot schemes were extended to 20 sites in 2008); The Healthy Families programme in the USA, Canada; Switzerland; Germany and the Czech Republic. (Crime Prevention Strategy 2008-11). It is believed that children who are given clear standards of behaviour and have positive social bonding with adults are less likely to get involved in crime. (Crawford A, 2007). Sports, cultural and learning have long been integrated into crime prevention strategies. International organizations such as UNESCO, UNODC and UN-HABITAT have all sustained such initiatives in recent years. The use of youth sports and leisure activities in the prevention of crime has a long history, and that it has sometimes been criticized or dismissed as unsuccessful or that is limited when considering the long-term value it has in preventing offending. Much of the criticism was as a result of failure to evaluate programmes, and simple assumptions that playing basketball at midnight will by some means keep young people out of violence. It has been observed in a recent study of sports and leisure industry in the UK, that most councils and local agencies have commissioned sport and leisure activities targeted to at risk groups, rather than providing universal activities. (Audit Commission, 2009). The review stressed the need for coordinated long-term national and local funding of such activities in areas of high deprivation, and for young people to be consulted in the planning of activities to ensure that they are accessible and relevant, as well as attention to evaluation (only 27% of the schemes could be evaluated). Beyond their objective of diverting youth from the temptation of committing a crime, sports and cultural activities are seen to encourage self expression and esteem, life skills and social skills, and education, as well as providing diversionary activities to reduce opportunities for offending, or exposure to risks of offending. Examples included programmes developed by local authorities or services, which aim to reduce the risk of street gang recruitment Projet Les Couleurs de la Justice,Montreal, Canada.(National Crime Prevention Strategy, Public Security Ministry, Quebec). In Brazil, young people have themselves set up innovative initiatives, such as the AfroReggae Cultural Group, Brazil. This group seeks to improve relations between police and young people in disadvantaged areas, teaching the police about reggae, drumming, break dancing and graffiti art. The results have been positive, and have led this group to work in partnerships with other countries such as Haiti and the UK to develop similar projects (e.g. Afro Reggae Partnership, UK). (http://www.favelarising.com/about-afroreggae.html). There is considerable diversity in the aims and provision of sports and cultural projects. In any way, causes of Youth Offending motivational factors shall also be looked into in this context. Quantitatively, there is no single cause of youth crime that can be pointed out. However, researches in a number of countries have consistently identified factors in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood that could increase the risk of a young person offending. These risk factors can be categorised under the following sub-categories; Family When the parents are involved in criminal activities; Or poor parental supervision and control; Neglect from parents and those acting in the capacity of guardianship, Exposure to erratic discipline or being treated harshly Low family income or partial isolation from the community; Family conflict and domestic violence; School Lack of motivation and commitment to go to school Truancy in school without the knowledge of parents Disruptive behaviour at school (including bullying) Low achievers as role models Expulsion from school due to attitude or behaviours Community Lack of unity amongst the dwellers in the community Conspicuous opportunities for crime Easy access to drugs and weapons High children population densities Personal Their personality Lack of sense of belonging in matters that concerns or affects the society Early participation in irrational behaviour Associating with peers that are involved in anti-social behaviour Exposure to hanging out with friends unsupervised. Early adulthood They have no academic or vocational qualifications They have no work experience or any tangible skill Unemployment or on a low income They receive no advice or support or lack of mentoring Homelessness, or are threatened with homelessness However, is worth mentioning here that the list is far more comprehensive that this but have limited the extract to just a few for the purpose of this essay. (Bienhart et al, 2002). Effective monitoring of the youth justice system is necessary for a successful delivery of the aim of preventing offending by children and young people. It is very essential to understand the patterns of youth crime, its causes and the success of different strategies of intervention in preventing further offending which can help in planning youth justice services, target resources and inform sentencing decisions. Amongst the duties of Youth Justice Board is monitoring the function of the youth justice system and the work of youth offending teams across England and Wales. Local monitoring and the sharing of monitoring information locally are also important. Local agencies need to have an accurate measure of local youth crime and the related risk factors. The basic test must be are we reducing youth crime (Home Office document, 1998). There are various Youth crime prevention strategies which are backed by government and organisations. However, Government plans to build on and support existing initiatives such as Grants for Education Support and Training which was aimed at providing  £1.5 million to support drug education and crime prevention programmes between 1997-1998. There is Home Office-sponsored Safer Cities programmes and Crime Concerns, Youth Crime Prevention work, including Youth Action Groups which entails using young people to tackle problems such as bullying, graffiti, vandalism and drug misuse. Crime Concerns work is partly funded by an annual Government grant of  £750,000. However, work with the National Neighbourhood Watch Association and the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders to encourage young people to be part of the solution to crime, not part of the problem. (Audit Commission, 1996. ISBN 1862400075). It was considered by the government that it will be necessary to reform the criminal justice system in England and Wales to enable them have more constructive outcomes with young offenders. Its proposals for reform build on ideology underlying the concept of restorative justice which is restoration, reintegration and responsibility; Restoration involves young offenders apologising to their victims and making amends for the damage they have done while Reintegration is all about young offenders paying their debt to society, putting their crime behind them and integrating into the law abiding community. The responsibility of the consequences of their offending behaviours lies in their hand and their parents who need to ensure that further offending is prevented. Meanwhile, the new approach is intends to ensure that the most serious offenders continue to be dealt with in a criminal court to provide punishment, protect the public and prevent re-offending. Also, provide an opportunity for less serious offending to be dealt with in a new non-criminal panel, enforced by a criminal court. It aims at allowing young people to be actively and effectively involved in decisions about themselves by encouraging them to admit their faults and face the consequences of their behaviour in whatever way it comes. This also involves the victim in proceedings, but only with their active permission; and Concentrate on preventing offending. (Mirrlees-Black et al, 1993). Television and movies have made popular the cult of heroes, which promotes justice through the physical eradication of enemies. Many researchers have concluded that young people who watch violence behaviours or acts tend to behave more aggressively or violently, principally when annoyed. This is mainly characteristic of 8- to 12-year-old boys, who are more susceptible to such influences. Individuals are brought into violence by the Media in three ways. First, movies that show violent acts which excite viewers and the belligerent energy can then be transferred to everyday life, causing an individual to be involved in physical doings on the streets. This type of influence is momentary, which could last from several hours to several days. Secondly, television can portray ordinary daily violence committed by parents or colleagues or peers. It is very common nowadays to find television shows that do portray such patterns of violence, because viewer endorsement of this type of programming has ensured its continuation. As a result, children are repeatedly exposed to the use of violence in different circumstances and the number of violent acts on television appears to be ever-increasing. And lastly, violence depicted in the media is illusory and has a surrealistic quality but the real pain and agony resulting from violent actions are very hardly ever shown. The penalties of violent behaviour often seem negligible. Over time, television causes a shift in the system of human values and indirectly leads children believe and think violence as a desirable and even courageous way of re-establishing justice. It has been concluded by The American Psychological Association that television violence accounts for about 10 per cent of violent behaviours among children. (APA Commission on Violence and Youth, Washington, D.C., 1993). In conclusion, it appears there are disparities among the theoretical nuances uttered through the various Social and developmental based programmes propounded by the academics with vested political enterprise such as the succession of theories provided by the home office intelligentsia and the perpetual re-offending by some Youths especially in deprived Communities. Although vast sums of tax payers money have been thrown on such initiatives without much to show for it in terms of impeding the tide to re-offending it appears therefore especially in recessionary times such as this when the government is concerned more about savings than anything else, one could perhaps take solace on Lord Judge the Lord Chief Justice contentions that re-offenders should be brought to justice without considering the costs which could undermine the rule of law.

Medicine an Elusive, Tempestuous Creature :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

Admissions Essay - Medicine an Elusive, Tempestuous Creature    We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of our exploring Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first time T.S. Elliot Four Quartets Medicine has proven to be an elusive, tempestuous creature. It has appeared to me in visions nightmarish and calm, despairing and joyous. My pursuit has been an odyssey, taking me farther into my heart than I ever dreamed possible. However, before I could even begin to approach the emotional, physical and Intellectual demands of a physician's life, I had to gain a better understanding of myself, my identity and beliefs. Only with this stronger sense of self have I felt the confidence to give my best and my all, and to make my contribution to society.    My first in-depth exposure to medicine was as a high school Intern at the Children's Cancer Research Institute (CCRI) In San Francisco. It was a disturbing, If fascinating, Introduction to oncology. I witnessed a holocaust from within --pain, fear and horror in patients my own age and younger. The Internship compelled me to reconsider my commitment to medicine, and persuaded me to resolve my feelings about death and dying and perhaps investigate other careers. At the same time, the patients so inspired me, and I felt so glad to be alive after I left CCRI, that I could never really forget. It became an image seared into my memory, a standard by which I judged all other experience.    In college, opportunities for travel and exploration beckoned me away from medicine. I researched and wrote about America's heartland and the California coastline for Let's Go: USA. My interest in Americana led to an Internship at Common Cause In Washington DC, where I organized citizens' lobbying efforts. I found Journalism and law pleasant diversions, but under no circumstances would I wish to remain. Though extremely worthy professions, they did not suit my particular tastes. Nonetheless, they did give me a firm grasp of my stand on political and social Issues, and further piqued my Interest in travel and exploration.    During my junior year in England, I did some serious introspection. My British friends, though in a friendly manner, challenged my most basic assumptions, and by doing so, challenged me. Everything, from the way I held my dinner fork to my egalitarianism, was fair game.

How to Establish and Maintain a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment Essay

‘’A suitable learning environment is crucial for effective learning to take place. This involves not only the venue and resources used, but also your attitude and the support you give to your students’’ ( Gravells A 2012, pg 24). In providing an ideal learning environment, you might have to be creative and work with the settings you are provided with. You must consider your student’s health and safety needs, and work within the boundaries of your organisation policies. Should there be any concerns about health and safety you must inform your organisation’s designated personnel. At no time should your learner’s health and safety be compromised. To establish purposeful learning in your given environment you must arrange the physical space to be conducive to discussion, and you as the facilitator should be easily seen by your learners. The toilet facilities should be clearly accessible, and any disable needs are met. When food and drink are provided, it should be suitable for everyone. For example the vegetarians, kosher and halal preferences, should be catered too as far as possible. If you have a break time it is good practice to let your learners know when this will take place. Knowing this can help your learners focus on their learning. Delivering your sessions with passion can help to motivate your learners. It is your responsibility to be prepared; making sure your environment is clean, and at the right temperature. If it is too hot, be considerate and open doors or windows- do try to solve or manage the problem. Also the quality of your lesson, tells your learners, you are professional and serious about your job. In such an environment your learners can feel ‘’safe secure, confident, and valued’’ (Gravells A 2012 pg25). This safety first approach is reflective of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, which states if one’s basic needs are met, and one feels comfortable, then one can feel a sense of belonging, which positively affects self esteem, this in turn can have a positive effect on learning Maslow 1987. (Gravells A 2012 pg 42).

Passed vs Past

Passed vs Past Passed vs Past Passed vs Past By Ali Hale Sandi from Inspiration for Writers wrote to ask: â€Å"Can you do a segment on Past vs. Passedif you havent already? Too many get these words mixed up.† Very happy to oblige, Sandi! Past – relates to location The word past locates something in time, and sometimes in space. It can be used as an adjective, noun, or adverb. Past as an adjective The first definition which the OED gives for past as an adjective is â€Å"Gone by in time; elapsed; done with; over.† For example: â€Å"The days for mourning are now past.† When attributed to a group of people, past can also mean â€Å"Having served ones term of office; former.† (OED) All past presidents of the United States were male. And in grammar, we have more examples of past being used as an adjective, such as in â€Å"past tense† and â€Å"past participle†. Past as a noun The main meaning for the noun form of past, given by the OED, is â€Å"The time that has gone by; a time, or all of the time, before the present.† In the past, standards were higher. â€Å"We cannot live in the past.† Past as a preposition As a preposition, past can mean: â€Å"Beyond in time; after; beyond the age for or time of; (in stating the time of day) so many minutes, or a quarter or half of an hour, after a particular hour.† (OED) It is almost half past five. It can also be used for location: â€Å"Beyond in place; further on than; at or on the further side of; to a point beyond.† (OED) My house is the one just past the turning. Past as an adverb The first meaning the OED cites for past being used as an adverb is â€Å"So as to pass or go by; by.† For example: The ball sped past the goalkeeper. Passed – a verb in the past tense Passed is the past participle of the verb â€Å"to pass†. It can be an intransitive verb (one which doesn’t require an object) or a transitive verb (one which requires both a subject and one or more objects). â€Å"To pass† means â€Å"To proceed, move forward, depart; to cause to do this.† (OED) This can refer to movement forwards in time, in space, or in life (such as â€Å"to pass an examination†). For example: The weeks passed quickly. (Intransitive: subject â€Å"the weeks† and no object). I passed all my exams! (Transitive: subject â€Å"I† and object â€Å"my exams†.) He passed the ball well during the match earlier. (Transitive: subject â€Å"He† and object â€Å"the ball†.) When do â€Å"past† and â€Å"passed† get confused? Often, writers muddle the words past and passed in sentences such as: â€Å"The heroes passed a village on their way towards the mountains.† It’s common to see this written as: â€Å"The heroes past a village on their way towards the mountains.† But the word should be passed, as (in this sentence) it’s the past participle of the verb â€Å"to pass†. An easy way to tell is to rewrite the sentence in the present tense, as though you’re describing something which is happening currently: â€Å"The heroes pass a village on their way towards the mountains.† or â€Å"The heroes are passing a village on their way towards the mountains.† However, if you wrote: â€Å"The heroes walked past a village on their way towards the mountains.† It’s correct to use past. The verb in this sentence is â€Å"walked†, and the â€Å"past† is acting as an adverb. Unusual uses of the word â€Å"passed† Most of the time, passed is a verb, as described above. There are a few occasions when it can be used as a noun or an adjective, though. For example: â€Å"Don’t speak ill of the passed.† (noun) This comes from the phrase â€Å"passed-away†. â€Å"A passed pawn† (adjective) Term used in chess. â€Å"A passed ball† (adjective) Term used in baseball. â€Å"A passed midshipman/fireman/surgeon† (adjective) Someone who has passed a period of instruction and qualified through examination – apparently this usage arose in the navy. Have you come across any other unusual uses? Are there still any cases where you’re not sure whether to use passed or past? Share your examples with us in the comments below! Why Do People Confuse â€Å"Past† and â€Å"Passed†, Anyway? The words â€Å"past† and â€Å"passed† are homonyms (or homophones): they sound alike, but they’re two different words. This makes it easy to confuse them when writing – just like people often confuse the words â€Å"there†, â€Å"their† and â€Å"they’re†. It doesn’t help that â€Å"past† and â€Å"passed† have quite similar meanings, each referring to movement relating to a fixed point (in time, space, or even life). This means it’s a lot easier to muddle them up than it is with some other homonyms with very different meanings, like â€Å"blue† and â€Å"blew†. For a whole list of homonyms that commonly get confused, check out 25 Confused Homonym Pairs. Quick Rules of Thumb When Dealing With â€Å"Past† and â€Å"Passed† If you’re still struggling with â€Å"past† and â€Å"passed†, remember, â€Å"past† can’t be used as a verb. If you find it hard to identify a verb, try replacing â€Å"passed† with the words â€Å"went by†, and see if your sentence works: The heroes passed a village on their way towards the mountains. The heroes went by a village on their way towards the mountains. Time passed slowly that afternoon. Time went by slowly that afternoon. (This won’t work in every case – e.g. â€Å"He passed his exams† won’t sound right as â€Å"He went by his exams† – but it’ll help you a lot of the time.) Alternatively, as mentioned above, you can rewrite the sentence in the present tense, as though it’s happening right now. Right/Wrong Examples of the Use of Past and Passed Sometimes, it’s helpful to take a look at some examples so you can double-check if you’re using â€Å"past† and â€Å"passed† the right way: Right: He ran straight past the bus stop. (â€Å"Past† is acting as a preposition here and could be replaced with the word â€Å"by†) Wrong: He ran straight passed the bus stop. (â€Å"Passed† can’t be a preposition.) Right: He passed the bus stop on his run. (â€Å"Passed† is a past-tense verb here and could be replaced with â€Å"went by†.) Wrong: He past the bus stop on his run. (â€Å"Past† can’t be a verb.) Right: She passed the time by reading a novel. (Here, â€Å"passed† is a transitive verb and â€Å"time† is the direct object.) Wrong: She past the time by reading a novel. (â€Å"Past† can’t be a verb.) Right: It is past the time you should be home. (â€Å"Past† is a preposition here. You could replace it with â€Å"after† or â€Å"beyond†.) Wrong: It is passed the time you should be home. (â€Å"Passed† can’t be a preposition.) Hopefully this helps clear up any â€Å"past† vs â€Å"passed† confusion for you. Past vs Passed Quiz For each sentence, select whether past or passed is correct. 1. The time [past/passed] slowly that afternoon. passed past 2. If I had a time machine, Id rather travel to the future than the [past/passed]. passed past 3. The bus will arrive at half [past/passed] six. passed past 4. My friend [past/passed] all her exams. past passed Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of HumorFor Sale vs. On SalePresent Participle as Adjective

American Political system

Not to long ago the American Political system under went a major transition. One of the many controversies that are still shadowing this transition is the acts or misacts of the former President. Just recently he announced that he had chosen a location in Harlem to be used as his post-presidential office. Most people reacted to this decision by saying hes deceiving African-Americans in Harlem to cover up his burdens when he left the White House... the pardons or the gifts that were taken from Whitehouse. The article I will be analyzing is by Jay Nordlinger about the recent move to Harlem by Ex-President Clinton. Nordlinger is an editor for the National Review whos been covering the Clintons for a couple of years. Published by The Weekly Standard: a very conservative magazine, Nordlinger tries to explain the recent move as an attempt to put out the fire that have erupted the Clintons since leaving the White House. From what I perceived reading this article the main issue Nordlings is trying to prove is that whether our former president is using African-Americans to talk to White people? Meaning does Clinton do what he does because he wants to help the African-American society or just to improve Americans impression about him? Nordlinger undoubtedly states that the ex-president misleads the African-American society and he does everything for a purpose: to get out the many controversies that follow him day to day. He says Clinton does it over and over: runs to black people when he gets into a jam. According to Nordlinger the former President knows his relationship with black people is terrific, so he has a habit of using black people as props. The article even relates Clintons with Fidel Castro. Sometime in 1960 Fidel Castro publicly changed his expensive midtown hotel a hotel in Harlem to show commonality with the people there. So when Castro came back to New York for the U.N. gathering he was ...

What does 'mixed' mean in contemporary Britain Essay

What does 'mixed' mean in contemporary Britain - Essay Example When individuals become mixed in their identities and lifestyles, social (national) identity too by default become mixed. The prevailing practice of multiculturalism and the corresponding intersection of identities, based on race, nationality, ethnicity and sex, have led to the mixing of identities in the present day society in the United Kingdom. Mixedness is quite often wrongly attributed to the different heritage of individuals and communities. It is only partially true as mixedness is also the product of the contemporary society which actively mixes the identities of both individuals and communities which previously existed exclusive of each other. One could easily argue that mixedness is essentially a question of the present as it is constantly (re)produced in the present society. Mixedness happens in the present and strengthens itself through the present. For instance, when people marry persons from other communities, they actually (re)create mixedness. In other words, mixednes s is always in the making. Mixedness is not simply an ascribed status of people have hereditary status of coming from what is traditionally known as interracial mixed families. Mixedness could also be derived from the present in a vibrant multicultural society. Mixedness is constantly produced in the multiple avenues opened up by the practice of multiculturalism and an existing multiracial multicultural environment. Here, the identities are not constant and permanent. It exists in constant flux and always becoming fluid. Therefore, mixedness is not a marginal phenomenon occurs with some marginal mixed group. It is the general state of affairs of the contemporary British society. Mixedness is no more simply a question of the existence of a mixed race in the United Kingdom. The mixed groups are usually defined in terms of their commonalities, which are defined by shared inheritance, culture and beliefs. But, the idea of mixedness does not stick to mixed groups alone. Mixedness is the mainstream. In other words, the mainstream has gone mixed and it is increasingly being more mixed by a variety of social, economic and political forces. It characterises the mainstream society as everyone gets mixed in a multicultural society in one way or another. Many research studies, according to Song (2010), have proved that no mixed group in the United Kingdom is coherent both as a community and in lived-in experiences. Identity, Lifestyle and Representation The passage from modernity which was characterised by colonialism to postmodernity, defined in terms of postcolonialism has changed the outlook of British society forever. At present, â€Å"the demise of colonialism as an explicit political formation has given rise to understandings of postcoloniality and, perhaps ironically, an increased recognition of the role of colonialism in the formation of modernity† (Bhambra , 2007, p.878). In Bhambra’s scheme, the old British society was characterised by the ‘W hite malestream’ vis-a-vis the marginalised colonial subjects. The White British society existed as the product of modernity and was predominantly characterised by a homogenous White culture. But, the increased immigration from the postcolonial societies to the United Kingdom is altering the British social landscape in an unprecedented manner wherein the Whiteness did not exist as pure or as the founding culture of the British nation. The identities of British people are no more constructed against nationality, ethnicity, race or sexuality. The mixed identities of the British people are self constructed. And, it is possible to argue that the socially and culturally determined self construction of new mixed identities is induced by the

RUINED Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

RUINED - Essay Example The play is an amalgamation of both harrowing and shocking experiences brought together by Kate Whoriskey’s ensemble, sets by Derek McLane and scintillating music by Dominic Kanza. In her 2007 play Nottage paints shocking and evocative portraits of the lives of African Americans while portraying the horrific sufferings and brutalization suffered by them during the decade long civil conflict that took place in the Congo. The clear message of Nottage was to bring about an awareness among the people about the atrocities meted out to the minorities of African Americans and to put an end to such practices in the future. Through the darkest moments of ‘Ruined’ there emerges and shines out awe inspiring nobility and profound tenderness that melts the heart. ‘Ruined is the kind of play that serves as a homage to all those resilient women who have to pull themselves together and lead a new life after they have been ‘ruined’. The primary aim of the playwr ight was to bring a problem that seemed too far away, right into the midst of contemporary society. According to what Nottage states -   "But I wanted to create an emotional bridge, so that when people are reading those articles, they feel that they're connecting with living, breathing human beings, not just statistics." (Lynn Nottage, 2007) The central theme of the plot revolves around the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, and traces a young woman’s nightmarish journey to a business savvy woman running a brothel called Mama Nadi during the thick of the Civil War. The director, Seret Scott, was quite capable in unifying the whole act together as a lot of trouble was taken for the costumes, lighting and the setting of each scene. For example, most of the scenes were set in a bar or brothel that was located in a mining area in the Congo rain forest. The regular clients were rustic rebels, miners and government officials who were in charge on that particular area o n any given day. These people were rough and with no sympathy. According to Nottage, â€Å"Rape has become a weapon of war† and these women were raped and mutilated in the most callous manner. The characters in the play each played their part very well and I am sure that their performances would have helped many people identify with them. Though I disliked the character of Mama Nadi, yet I liked the way she performed as the mistress of the brothel house. The reason why I disliked her character was because even though she was a woman herself, she had no sympathy for the other women who were so brutally treated. She goes by rules that are to be followed and everything is business for her. One of the characters that I like in the play is that of Christian played by Oberon K.A. Adjepond, who supplies Mama Nadi with whatever she needs for the house. Christian is a decent character who loves poetry and spontaneously recites a few lines of poetry throughout the play. The reason why I like this character is because he is quite reliable and trustworthy, especially when considering the type of people he is surrounded with. He tries to lend support to the ladies when the bad guys come and argues with them, but it is rather surprising that he somehow gets away with what he says. Sophie is another character that I like in the play. I feel sorry for the way she was brutally raped. Even Mama Nadi who is considered to have a cold heart, is seen to show some understanding and tenderness towards Sophie and this understanding can be