Friday, December 27, 2019

Child Development Course Reflection Essay - 1730 Words

Over the past eight weeks this class has not only fulfilled my major requirements, but also made me understand more about the complexity of child development and how I can become a better person as a future parent and educator. Since I am an Education major, the four topics that would benefit me in the future are Erikson’s stages, Induction, Educational Self Fulfilling Philosophy, and Adolescence. I plan to be successful with my career and use what I have learned in Child Development to prepare future’s leaders of tomorrow. Initially, Erikson’s stages described a child’s developmental growth during each period. Learning about Erikson and the limitations of each period made me realize that one has to treat separate children†¦show more content†¦Inferiority stage which also contributes to learning disabilities. I learned that a teacher can not automatically jump to conclusions whenever a student has trouble learning, thus labeling that child with a disease such as ADHD, dyslexic, etc. The best option to do in this situation is to address what are the causes and what can be done to help this child succeed, because every student regardless of disability has the right to be successful in life. There has to be other reasons that cause a student not being able to learn such as laziness, depression, family troubles etc. A teacher does not have the right to point the finger at the child for learning problems. If one does, it shows that the teacher is lazy and unwilling to help studen ts when they need it the most. Teachers have to do whatever is necessary to make that students feel they can succeed whatever situations are in the way. Learning about Industry vs. Inferiority prepared me to be a better future educator, thus doing whatever I can to make that student successful. It also made me realize that labeling students with defective disorders is not the right way to handle problems. People might say that words are meaningless, but if students are labeled with these names it will cause severe psychological problems later on in life. Furthermore, a topic that is along these lines is induction techniques. Before this class, I learned that being an authoritarian was the worst parenting style anyone canShow MoreRelatedChild Observation: Middle Childhood1388 Words   |  6 PagesCHILD DEVELOPMENT CHART: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD (7-11 years) Early Childhood Development YOUR CHILD DEVELOPMENT CHART: MIDDLE CHILDHOOD (7–11 YEARS) SECTION 1: MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS | |[pic] [pic] | |BIOSOCIAL |Brief Description of Example Read MoreMy Effective Practice1197 Words   |  5 Pageschildren making play dough, which I planned would incorporate mathematical areas of development including: numbers as well as space, shape and measurements. The aim of this exercise was for 4 children to be able to measure out different amounts of ingredients and gage as a group the quantities which may be needed to rectify any problems i.e. if the dough is too sticky how many more Tbl sp of flour may be needed. Upon reflection of this activity needed to be improved in several areas. This was an activityRead MoreChild Development Reflection Paper1332 Words   |  6 PagesCourse Reflection In this course, I have learned theories of child development, principles of growth and development, prenatal development, infancy, toddlerhood, three-four-and five years old, six-seven-and eight years old, middle childhood, adolescence: thirteen to nineteen years old, and where and when to seek help. I really enjoyed the adolescence: thirteen to nineteen years old chapter the most because, people tend to forget that even though they in high school their brains are still growingRead MoreAdolescent Relationships with Parents and Peers Essay examples1380 Words   |  6 Pagespositive self-image in which a person feels good about him or herself in a variety of areas that either promote or discourage positive relationship between adolescents and their respective parents. The evidence of the changes in peer and parent-child relationships during early adolescence suggests that early adolescence is a critical period of transformation in childrens relationships. Early adolescents may orient toward peers while distancing themselves from their parents because their peer relationshipsRead MoreThe Professional Development Of A Teacher1631 Words   |  7 Pagesmust also be competent in knowing how and knowing when† (Calderhead and Shorrock 1997) The professional development of a teacher is a lifelong process beginning with initial teacher training and continuing throughout the entire career of a teacher. In basic terms teacher development is described as continuous teacher training. However, I find the following description of the professional development of a teacher much more satisfying. â€Å"The professional growth a teacher achieves as a result of gainingRead MoreProfessional Development Of An Effective Teacher1432 Words   |  6 PagesThere are many factors involved in the professional development of an effective teacher. Drawing on relevant literature, identify and explain four key aspects that are important for teacher development. Thinking about your own professional development, select your personal priority from these four aspects and provide justification for your choice. As an aspiring teacher I feel that it is extremely important to recognise that good teaching methods have a significant positive impact of how studentsRead MoreThe Profession Of Teaching : Candidate Self Evaluation Essay1544 Words   |  7 Pagesthe mission of the Department of Teacher Education is to educate scholar practitioners who build community, engage in critical reflection, and embrace diversity for the promotion of social justice. Our department’s theme â€Å"Teacher as Reflective Decision Maker in a Pluralistic Society† embodies the tenets of our mission statement and enables us to continue our development of distinctive graduates in all program areas. At the conclusion of EDT 110, teacher education candidates are responsible for performingRead MoreReflection Of The Multisystem Family Course1419 Words   |  6 PagesReflection of the Multisystem Family Course The purpose of this reflection paper is portray the knowledge that I have learned throughout this semester regarding the multisystem utilized to identify traits and behaviors associated with the assessments of family members. Marta Lundy’s article gave a brief history of theoretical integration as she describe a multi-systemic, multi-theoretical integrative model for social work practice, even though each reading assignment was associated with a movieRead MoreThe Role Of A Teaching Philosophy Statement1408 Words   |  6 PagesThe Role of a Teaching Philosophy Statement (TPS) Personal development is one aspect of gaining new information to enhance skills, abilities and overall knowledge. The development of a TPS, is a personal analysis of general concepts of teaching, learning, observations and experiences, transferred into the learning environment (Caukin, 2017). Consequently, the statement is intimate, insightful, with an inclusion of personal views of the aspects of teaching, foundation of learning, in addition toRead MoreCritical Aspects Of Social Work Essay1496 Words   |  6 Pagesme while doing this course and before has made me realize that social work is harder than I thought it would be. There are many critical aspects of social work that help us work with clients. One of the biggest things that have stood out for me was that helping people is more complicated than I thought there are so many critical things in the process that work to help others. Therefore it is not as easy as I expected it would be. The main reasons that I wanted to do thi s course was because I ultimately

Thursday, December 19, 2019

The Most Memorable Writing Experience - 949 Words

Most Memorable Writing Experience: My Reflection on Writing I have been writing since I have been in Middle School. I have realized that by college it was easier for me to write down my thoughts in order for me to remember what I have said or done. Writing out my thoughts gives me a sense of recollection, knowledge, and pacification that gets me through my day. I pictured writing to be as simple as jotting down a few sentences, but as I got farther in school I realized that there is more to it than just writing sentences. English has been my most difficult subject I have ever endured, but I have somehow been managing to make excellent grades and achieving all requirements. First in the essay, I will discuss my experiences in the English life that I’ve taken so far up until college. The second part will list my struggles in creating a thesis, a work cited, and properly citing my sources used in the papers. My experience with English has changed drastically from middle school to college. Being in middle school I have really had to do much of a big paper, but as I progressed through college I’ve realized there much more that has to be added. I had always wondered why middle school was so easy but as years went on, I realized that advancing to college there’s a lot more requirements and importance to writing. In middle school, I was young and just starting to really realize what an essay was and after high school I really understood what an essay consists of. No matter howShow MoreRelated The Norton Anthology of World Literature Essay659 Words   |  3 Pagesonly makes available valuable lessons and words of wisdom, but it shares experiences from around the world. These ageless writings allow generations to encounter a heritage of tradition and culture all within the confines of its pages. The anthology’s variety offers multiple characters and ideas to explore, while each selection contains notable and impressionable material. The collection’s most memorable content presents larger than life characters and priceless lessons in GilgameshRead MoreSports : Sports And Sports1092 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent reasons on why they have a passion for sports. Several fans can remember memorable events in sports history that touched their lives. Fans will laugh and cry when they watch the HBO Documentary â€Å"Sport in America† because they will hear incredible stories that will make them think about why they love sports. Sports Illustrated, Endgame entertainment, and HBO asked Americans why different games and memorable moments in sports touched their lives. Thousands of fans responded with their incredibleRead MoreHbo : Sports And Sports1118 Words   |  5 Pagesdifferent reasons on why they have a passion for sports. Several fans can remember memorable events in sports history that touched their lives. Fans will laugh and cry when they watch the HBO Documentary â€Å"Sport in America† because they will hear incredible stories that will make them think about why they love sports. Sports Illustrated, Endgame entertainment, and HBO asked Americans why different games and memorable moments in sports touched their lives. Thousands of fans responded with their incredibleRead MoreThe Most Memorable Piece Of Writing Essay1404 Words   |  6 Pages Understanding the writers purpose will allow you to see different aspects of an essay than the average person would. Many different aspects play into why someone writes what they write, and that’s what makes their essay memorable. Personally, the most memorable piece of writing that I’ve ever constructed was my college essay for the University of Central Florida, and these exact aspects; exigence, context, constraints, and audience are what helped develop my essay. Read MoreJohn Williams818 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Williams has composed over one-hundred film scores of which he has received forty-five Academy Award nominations. He has become a household name through his memorab le music motifs. These themes capture the essence of the film and as one fan summarized: John Williams has composed some of the best known themes and scores ever. You cant deny that the Star Wars scores, for all the movies, especially the Imperial March, are incredible. He invented the famous Jaws theme, which is a standardRead MoreReflective Essay1508 Words   |  7 Pagesintrospection into past experiences or memorable events in our lives. We introspect into these memorable events and reflect over them with regards the emotions and influences they have left in our lives. In simple words a reflective essay is a piece of ‘you’ being presented in words. What is Reflection? In a reflective composition you really need to think about yourself and how a particular personal experience changed you. It is not merely a recollection of your experience but an analysis of theRead MoreNicholas Sparks Essay1094 Words   |  5 PagesNicholas Sparks It’s been almost a decade now that Nicholas Sparks has been writing love stories. He writes love stories and each tale of finding love differs, but each tale is a structure that is worth noting Nicholas Sparks is a truly inspiring writer. His mom was the first to suggest he write a book, while trying to heal his Achilles tendon during college. Eight weeks later he wrote his first book â€Å"The Passing,† although it did not publish. Nicholas graduated with honors and a degree in BusinessRead MoreWalt Disney Mission Statement663 Words   |  3 PagesDisney Company is â€Å" To be the world’s leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world.† COMPONENTS OF MISSION STATEMENT 1. Philosophy Creativity and innovation. This is the basic belief of the company. They believe that with this two values, the company can goRead MoreLearning A Whole New Language And Culture Halfway Through Sixth Grade Essay1487 Words   |  6 Pagestrying to keep me behind the other regular English students. However, those frustrations were never conveyed since communicating with other students, and especially faculty members, seemed even more arduous. Thus, my vocabulary range is not as wide as most other people that speaks English as their first language. This can be shown in the first paper I have written titled â€Å"Faster or Stronger† for the course â€Å"Eng101 English Composition I† instructed by Martha J. Nagel. In this paper, there was a lot ofRead MoreThe Trip That Changed My Life Essay984 Words   |  4 Pagesover the fact that I have traveled to the other side of the world. This school program gave me many memorable experiences, allowed me to learn a lot about the c ulture of Asia, and introduced me to friends that Ill treasure for a life time. I knew that there was a reason I got to go, and while I was there I tried to make the most of such an opportunity. One of my most memorable experiences in Asia was my trip to the doctor. I knew that my slight fever and scratchy throat could be contributed

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Tom Clancys Genius Essay Example For Students

Tom Clancys Genius Essay Tom Clancys geniusEnglishTom Clancys geniusThe Cold War and post Cold War eras have brought with them manyinteresting aspects. New technologies initially meant for massdestruction filter down into the civilian world, making current liveseasier. One example of this is the anti-lock braking systems of todayscars. Originally designed to slow fighter-planes on landing withoutskidding, these systems make it safer for parents to take their childrenon vacation. One less noted advancement the eras brought is aconsiderable amount of exciting and forewarning fiction. While mostauthors chose to warn of nuclear and post nuclear holocaust, onesignificant author chose a different approach. Tom Clancy chose towrite of conventional warfare and sometimes unconventional enemies. Between his novel Red Storm Rising and Debt of Honor, Tom Clancy makesevident the changing face of Americas enemies and threats, whilestaying true to issues that keep people interested in his books. Published in 1986, Red Storm Rising is Tom Clancys second noveldealing with the former Soviet Union as a potential enemy. This was atime when Americas finest tank and infantry units went on exercises inGermany fully armed with the expectation that the Russians could attackthem at any time. This was also a time when the Soviets did the sameexercises with the same amount of live ammunition. Therefore there wasreason enough to worry about potential conflicts. Deep within the oceanwaters, submarines played similar cat and mouse games with othersubmarines and surface ships. However some of these submarines weremore dangerous then a whole army because they were fully loaded withnuclear missles. These facts were well know to the American public andmade Red Storm Rising all the more real when it combined land and oceanwarfare in a way that captivated millions of readers. The book begins as the Soviet Unions ability to provide their own oilis cut off by a terrorist attack. Right away it is no ted that two veryfrightening events have just happened. Terrorism, for one, is a majorscare tactic that can and does strike fear into millions. This wasdemonstrated by two suspected attacks in the U.S. recently (Bombing ofFlight 800 and the Olympic Park bombing). Secondly, the threat oflosing petroleum resources is enough to drive governments to drasticmeasures. This fact is evident in the worlds participation in the 1991Gulf War. The leaders of the Soviet Union decided that the only way toprevent the total collapse of their economy and country was to seize theoil rich Middle East. They also realized that the countries that makeup the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in particular theUnited States would not stand for this hostile action. Consequently theSoviets determine that it will be necessary to neutralize NATOconventionally; that is to say without nuclear weapons. Of course, throughout the Cold War the many themes of the U.S.S.R. attacking the U.S are presented by various authors. All of these hadthe same result: nuclear holocaust. One exception is that Red StormRising is the first to present it (theme of U.S.S.R. attacking the U.S.)in a non-nuclear scenario. This is very intriguing to examine thepossibilities which include all the new technological weapons in theAmerican and Soviet arsenals. Red Storm Rising captivates audienceswith its techno-wizardry of smart bombs and satellite guided cruisemissles. ?It was like an arcade game. Big, slow-moving blips denotedthe aircraft. Smaller, quicker blips were the Mach-2 missiles (Clancy178).?This was seen by a radar operator who was under attack duringRed Storm Rising. .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 , .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .postImageUrl , .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 , .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:hover , .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:visited , .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:active { border:0!important; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:active , .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8 .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ueaed0544e66f85aca3640edca611a8e8:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Advantages Of Balanced Scorecard Accounting EssayHowever it is not the high tech gadgets that appeal to audiences of RedStorm Rising. There is a personable feel as the reader becomes betteracquainted with the characters and sympathizes for them and thedecisions they make. This is not the story of machines run byartificial intelligence, these are real people, friends, and neighborsof the reader. Bob Toland was a middle-level analyst at the National Security Agency. Hed left the Navy after six years whey the adventure of uniformedservice had palled, but he remained an active reservist. His work atNSA dovetailed nicely with his naval reserve service. A communicationsexpert wi th a degree in electronics, his current job eas monitoringSovien signals gathered by the NSAs numerous listening posts and ferretsatellites. Along the way hed also gotten a masters in the Russianlanguage (Clancy 55). The description of Bob Toland could apply to anyone in the WashingtonD.C. area or any neighborhood across the U.S.With the ending of world communism, reunification of Germany, andbreakup of the Soviet Union, Tom Clancys books evolved to present moremodern enemies and even several ?What if situations. This is the casewith his latest novel Debt of Honor. This installment of the Jack Ryansaga, Clancys main character, was published in 1994. It takes placemostly on American soil with other parts in Japan and the PacificOcean. This piece of tecno-thiller centers around a possible trade warbetween the U.S. and Japan. This ?What if outlook of Clancys wasseen in real life in the spring of 1995 as a potential trade war withJapan was averted by quick thinking on the part of both governments. The novel is complete with Clancys usual well-timed and interestingplot structure. As one coincidental event leads to another, theantagonist of the story, Mr Yamata, realizes his chance to pay back thedebt of honor he has to the U.S. Yamatas family was dishonored bycommitting suicide on the island of Saipan rather than being captured bythe U.S. during World War II. This historical fact brings the plot tolife as the reader tends to wonder when this will happen. The novel also highlights some very interesting political processesinvolving ambassadors and diplomats. It brings to light the amount ofbargaining and ?give and take? that is required to accomplish an agendain international politics. This is illustrated by an American diplomatand a Japanese diplomat discuss an upcoming treaty. Your help will beinvaluable, Chris, Nagumo said quietly, thinking more rapidly now. ?Ican help you with interpreting our lawsquietly, of course, headded(Clancy 206).?Debt of Honor also brings about the id ea that several enemies mightunite in order to achieve a common goal. The goal happens to be thedefeat of the United States by engineering a computer related crash ofthe entire economic system of the U.S. This thought alone, of acomputer crash, has scared many writers and businesspeople who depend oncomputers for work. The common computer crash has even reached home totouch children and adults alike when the computer ceases to perfom asexpected and even freezes up. The particular crash that disables theeconomy is quite commonly called a virus. Viruses effect Americansalmost everyday in ways they might not even recognize. One of the mostpublicized viruses is the Michelangelo Virus. This virus attacks anyinfected computer booted up on March 6, the birthday of 16th centurypainter Michelangelo. It is obvious how the threat of a virus keepsreaders noses in Tom Clancys books. As the face of world politics change, it is evident that the works ofTom Clancy will change as well. From his beginnings with Red StormRising and his latest novel Debt of Honor, Clancy has kept abreast ofcurrent events and technologies in order to bring to the reader anintriguing and realistic story. He has interviewed admirals, generalsand has even been to the White House to meet the President. His writingmechanics and techniques of reader manipulation keep readers filled withsuspense and compassion for the characters until the books end. Evenat that point, it leaves readers longing for more.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Review On Paul Kennedys Book Essay Example

Review On Paul Kennedys Book Essay A brief knowledge of Historical events Is useful when reading this book as Individual Wars and Battles are not covered in too much detail because of the vast number of conflicts since the Renaissance period, however a reader with no historical background can read this book and gain a lot of knowledge, It has an easily read neural textbook feel about it, and It Is divided chronologically into three sections: pre-industrial 1500 1800, Industrial 1800 1943 and Today Tomorrow 1943 21st Century, which allows the book to be easily used as reference material for people interested In a particular period. A particularly Interesting feature of this History book Is that Instead of finishing when the author wrote It, Kennedy continues and makes his predictions for the future, he accurately predicted the fall of the Soviet union as well as the relative decline in the American economy with regards to the sis of new Powers such as China and the cooperation of the European states, which helps convince the reader in the 21st century that Kennedy Is somebody who knows what he Is talking about and that his arguments and predictions should be considered! The main line of the authors argument is that the Great Powers strength can only be tested against that of other Great Powers, one is by necessity always stronger than another due to factors such as the constantly differing growth rates, population and resources that each Power has. Kennedy time and again links the Roth or decline of an economy with the respective Powers military capability and eventual rise or fall. Whilst reading the book, backed with the wealth of examples and evidence Kennedy cites giving tables, charts and maps; it is easy to be convinced by Kennedys arguments. After all It makes sense that the bal-polar world of the Austrian and Spanish ended as they overextended themselves, creating the multi polar eighteenth century including Britain, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Kennedy then states that the economical power created by the Countries that were prepared o industrialist created a new series of superpowers: The nineteenth century British Empire then the t wentieth century Soviet union and the united States, and as the growth of these states stagnates and others grow world power will become multi polar once more encompassing five more possible powers; LISA, Russia, China, India and the ELI. We will write a custom essay sample on Review On Paul Kennedys Book specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Review On Paul Kennedys Book specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Review On Paul Kennedys Book specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Personally I agree mostly with what Kennedy says but In my opinion there are several difficulties, firstly he argues that Europe rose to dominate the rest of the world as opposed to because of fragmented states, increasing competition and 1 OFF actors for the decline of the Spanish Empire caused through lack of cohesion When I read this part for the first time, I though that this seemed like a contradiction, but on further thought could Kennedy mean however that these factors are beneficial to the rise of a power, however once they have reached a Great Power status begin to become a burden and can act as a factor in the Powers decline? I also think that an important factor which appears to be understated in the book are the leaders of Powers, I dont want to appear biased towards elite history as opposed to economic story, but using the Spanish Empire example from earlier, Spain did had ineffectual monarchs certainly from the mid seventeenth century, and was the time at which the Empire started to decline, cumulating in the Spanish war of Succession which in effect made Spain a second rate power. If Spain had more capable leaders they would have been in a better position to remain a major world player. In conclusion I would recommend The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, it is easily read, there are maps and charts which help the reader visualize the political boundaries of the time. The main arguments are well backed up, and it is interesting as the focus is constantly changing from state to state. It is a good book for students but anybody with an interest could read and understand it. The Book I am about to review The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers is one of fourteen books written by Paul Kennedy, the author is considered an expert in the fields of Grand Strategy and International Relations, he previously studied under the famous historian GAP Taylor and this is Kennedys best known book to date; it being translated into twenty three languages, reaching no. N the Bestselling Hardcover Books when it was released in 1988 and also winning Kennedy the Williston History Prize for his work. The Book is rather long; owing to the fact it covers five hundred years of World History of the Great Powers, yet focuses largely towards European Powers, as that is where the majority of power lay until the early twentieth century. A brief knowledge of Historical events is useful when reading this book as individual Wars and Battles are not covered in too much detail because of the vast number of conflicts since the Renaissance period, however reader with no historical background can read this book and gain a lot of knowledge, it has an easily read general textbook feel about it, and it is divided chronologically into three sections: Pre-industrial 1500 1800, Industrial 1800 1943 and Today Tomorrow 1943 21st Century, which allows the book to be easily used as reference material for people interested in a particular period. A particularly interesting feature of this History book is that instead of finishing when the author wrote it, Kennedy continues and makes his predictions for the future, he accurately redirected the fall of the Soviet Union as well as the relative decline in the American economy with regards to the rise of new Powers such as China and the cooperation of the European states, which helps convince the reader in the 21st century that Kennedy is somebody who knows what he is talking about and that his arguments and predictions should be considered! The main line of the authors argument is that the Great Powers strength can only be tested against that of other Great Powers, one is by necessity always stronger than another due to factors such as the constantly offering growth rates, population and resources that each Power has. Kennedy time and again links the growth or decline of an economy with the respective Powers wealth of examples and evidence Kennedy cites giving tables, charts and maps; it is easy to be convinced by Kennedys arguments, after all it makes sense that the bi- polar world of the Austrian and Spanish ended as they overextended themselves, creating the multi polar eighteenth century including Britain, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia. Kennedy then states that the economical power created by the Countries hat were prepared to industrialist created a new series of superpowers: The nineteenth century British Empire then the twentieth century Soviet Union and the United States, and as the growth of these states stagnates and others grow world power will become multi polar once more encompassing five more possible powers; USA, Russia, China, India and the ELI. Personally I agree mostly with what Kennedy says but in my opinion there are several difficulties, firstly he argues that Europe rose to dominate the rest of the world as opposed to because of fragmented states, increasing competition and the freedom for merchants to do as they wish, yet he later cites the same reasons as factors for the decline of the Spanish Empire caused through lack of cohesion When I read this part for the first time, I though that this seemed like a contradiction, but on further thought could Kennedy mean however that these factors are beneficial to the rise of a power, however once they have reached a Great Power status begin to become a burden and can act as a factor in the Powers decline? I also think that an important factor which appears to be understated in the book are the leaders of Powers, I dont want to appear biased towards elite history as opposed to economic history, but using the Spanish Empire example from earlier, Spain did had ineffectual monarchs certainly from the mid seventeenth century, and was the time at which the Empire started to decline, cumulating in the Spanish war of Succession which in effect made Spain a second rate power. If Spain had more capable leaders they would have been in a better position to remain a major world player. In conclusion I would recommend The Rise ND Fall of the Great Powers, it is easily read, there are maps and charts which help the reader visualize the political boundaries of the time. The main arguments are well backed up, and it is interesting as the focus is constantly changing from state to state. It is a good book for students but anybody with an interest could read and understand it. The Book I am about to review The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers is one of fourteen books written by Paul Kennedy, the author is considered an expert in the fields of Grand Strategy and International Relations, he previously studied ender the famous historian GAP Taylor and this is Kennedys best known book to date; it being translated into twenty three languages, reaching no. 6 in the Bestselling Hardcover Books when it was released in 1988 and also winning Kennedy the Williston History Prize for his work. The Book is rather long; owing to the fact it covers five hundred years of World History of the Great Powers, yet focuses largely towards European Powers, as that is where the majority of power lay until the early twentieth century. A brief knowledge of Historical events is useful when reading this book as individual Wars and Battles are not covered in too much detail because of the vast number of conflicts since the Renaissance period, however a reader with no historical background can read this book and gain a lot of knowledge, it has an easily read general textbook feel about it, and it is divided chronologically into three sections: interested in a particular period. A particularly interesting feature of this History book is that instead of finishing when the author wrote it, Kennedy continues and Union as well as the relative decline in the American economy with regards to the alps convince the reader in the 21st century that Kennedy is somebody who knows what he is talking about and that his arguments and predictions should be Kennedys arguments, after all it makes sense that the bi-polar world of the Austrian Empire then the twentieth century Soviet Union and the United States, and as the polar once more encompassing five more possible powers; USA, Russia, China, India and the ELI. Personally I agree mostly with what Kennedy says but in my opinion the freedom for merchants to do as they wish, yet he later cites the same reasons as with an interest could read and understand it.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

The 10 Best Books for Freelance Writers

Most writers agree that the best way to improve your craft is to read (and write) often. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or making your freelance writing debut, there are books that can help you write better copy, better manage your client relationships, and find better work-life balance. I’ve combined some of my favorites along with some industry leading titles to bring you the 10 best books that every freelance writer should read. On Starting Out There are plenty of guides available on how to become a freelance writer (I mean, we made one too.) But if you’re looking for a different perspective on becoming a freelance writer, then consider checking out some of these books. 1. Word Work: Surviving and Thriving as a Writer There is plenty of advice around on how to write or how to make money online – instead, this book focuses on how to be a writer. Author, Bruce Rogers, takes readers through various aspects of a writer’s life, such as the managing writer’s block, working towards long-term happiness, and handling both rejection and success. If you’re considering breaking into the freelance writing scene, consider checking out this book first. 2. The Successful Author Mindset: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer’s Journey Many of the struggles writers face on their journey to success are mental. Self-doubt, perfectionism, and fear of failure are common in writers of all types. Joanna Penn approaches these topics and more in this writer survival guide. While the book focuses on more traditional publishing, freelance writers can take value from the read as well. On Creating Content 3. Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously GoodContent If you work in the content writing space, then you know Ann Handley. She is a writing and digital marketing veteran and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author. Content has become a central part of nearly every digital marketing campaign, which means that the ability to write ridiculously good content is more important than ever. Simply put, Everybody Writes is your handbook for creating flat out amazing content. If you spend any time writing for businesses, then I’d suggest checking out The Content Code for its well-referenced and well-thought advice. Written by Mark Schaefer, a best-selling author and prolific business writer, this book will give you hundreds of practical strategies and ideas for creating content that moves. It also covers topics like content distribution and how to articulate a brand through content. On Getting Clients 5. How to Get Freelance Clients This book is a collaborative effort by 3 freelance writing all-stars, Carol Tice, Linda Formichelli, and Chris Marlow and is filled with advice on how to attract and land writing clients. Whether you’re looking to find your first clients or expand your practice, this book can offer some useful advice on finding, approaching, and landing new clients. 6. How Clients Buy: A Practical Guide to Business Development for Consulting Professionals For many freelance writers, sales are the toughest part of the job. But that’s because they’re too focused on selling rather than building relationships. How Clients Buy will reinvent the way to approach and speak with potential clients, focusing more on building rapport and trust before trying to close the deal. On Motivation and Balance 7. The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal Managing yourself is an incredibly important skill for any freelancer to have. While most productivity wisdom focuses on managing your time this book takes a different approach, suggesting that you instead focus on managing their energy. While not specifically written for writers, this book gives you a scientifically based method for better managing your energy – and how many of us couldn’t use a little more of that? 8. A Writer’s Guide to Persistence: How to Create a Lasting and Productive Writing Practice â€Å"Practice. Polish. Persist.† This book’s mantra should be written on a sticky note stuck to your laptop. The journey to becoming a successful freelance writer is far from straight, but this advice can take anyone from beginner to expert, it’s just a matter of time. On Social Media 9. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How to Tell Your Story in a Noisy Social World Freelance writers that can tell a business’s story really, really well are enjoying a lot of success at the moment, and that doesn’t look changing anytime soon. Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is written by social media legend Gary Vaynerchuk and explores how to create content for social media that engages readers and knocks out the competition. While it’s mainly geared toward marketers, writers can definitely take some gems from this book. Bonus 10. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action You might be wondering why I’d include a book on â€Å"great leaders† in this list. Well, let me start with why. The goal of nearly all business writing it to engage readers and inspire them to take an action. Regardless of what that action is, whether it’s to buy a product, book a demo, or schedule a call, how you inspire people is the same. Start with Why breaks down how to make real connections with people by focusing on the â€Å"why† rather than the â€Å"what† or â€Å"how.† While many businesses are focused on what they do and how they do it, many of the most successful campaigns instead focus on why. If you can master this principle and learn how to write copy that truly inspires readers, you won’t have any shortage of eager clients knocking at your door. Well there you have it, the 10 best books for freelance writers. Have you already read any of these books? Any notable omissions? Share your thoughts in the comments! Looking to land your next freelance writing client? Constant Content makes it easy for you to sell articles and land writing clients.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Biography of Sir Winston Churchill, UK Prime Minister

Biography of Sir Winston Churchill, UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill (November 30, 1874–January 24, 1965) was a legendary orator, a prolific writer, an earnest artist, and a long-term British statesman. Yet Churchill, who twice served as prime minister of the United Kingdom, is best remembered as the tenacious and forthright war leader that led his country against the seemingly undefeatable Nazis during World War II. Fast Facts: Winston Churchill Known For: Prime minister of the United Kingdom during World War IIAlso Known As: Sir Winston Leonard Spencer ChurchillBorn: November 30, 1874 in Blenheim, Oxfordshire, EnglandParents: Lord Randolph Churchill, Jennie JeromeDied: January 24, 1965 in Kensington,  London, EnglandEducation: Harrow School, Royal Military Academy, SandhurstPublished Works:  Marlborough: His Life and Times, The Second World War, six volumes, A History of the English- Speaking Peoples, four volumes, The World Crisis, My Early LifeAwards and Honors: Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Order of Merit,  Honorary Citizen of the United States, Nobel Prize in LiteratureSpouse: Clementine HozierChildren: Diana, Randolph, Marigold, Sarah, MaryNotable Quote: The mood of  Britain  is wisely and rightly averse from every form of shallow or premature exultation. This is no time for boasts or glowing prophecies, but there is this- a year ago our position looked forlorn, and well nigh desperate, to all eyes but our own. Today we may say aloud before an awe-struck world, ‘We are still masters of our fate. We still are captain of our souls. Early Life Winston Churchill was born on November 30, 1874 at his grandfathers home, Blenheim Palace in Marlborough, England. His father, Lord Randolph Churchill, was a member of the British Parliament and his mother, Jennie Jerome, was an American heiress. Six years after Winstons birth, his brother Jack was born. Since Churchills parents traveled extensively and led busy social lives, Churchill spent most of his younger years with his nanny, Elizabeth Everest. It was Mrs. Everest who nurtured Churchill and cared for him during his many childhood illnesses. Churchill stayed in touch with her until her death in 1895. At age 8, Churchill was sent off to boarding school. He was never an excellent student but he was well-liked and was known as a bit of a troublemaker. In 1887, the 12-year-old Churchill was accepted to the prestigious Harrow school, where he began studying military tactics. After graduating from Harrow, Churchill was accepted into the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in 1893. In December 1894, Churchill graduated near the top of his class and was given a commission as a cavalry officer. Churchill, the Soldier and War Correspondent After seven months of basic training, Churchill was given his first leave. Instead of going home to relax, Churchill wanted to see action; so he traveled to Cuba to watch Spanish troops put down a rebellion. Churchill didnt go just as an interested soldier, however. He made plans to be a war correspondent for Londons The Daily Graphic. It was the beginning of a long writing career. When his leave was up, Churchill traveled with his regiment to India. Churchill also saw action in India when fighting Afghan tribes. This time, again not just a soldier, Churchill wrote letters to Londons The Daily Telegraph. From these experiences, Churchill also wrote his first book, The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898). Churchill then joined Lord Kitcheners expedition in the Sudan while also writing for The Morning Post. After seeing a lot of action in the Sudan, Churchill used his experiences to write The River War (1899). Again wanting to be at the scene of the action, Churchill managed in 1899 to become the war correspondent for The Morning Post during the Boer War in South Africa. Not only was Churchill shot at, but he was also captured. After spending nearly a month as a prisoner of war, Churchill managed to escape and miraculously made it to safety. He also turned these experiences into a book he titled, London to Ladysmith via Pretoria (1900). Becoming a Politician While fighting in all these wars, Churchill decided he wanted to help make policy, not just follow it. So when the 25-year-old returned to England as both a famous author and a war hero, he was able to successfully run for election as a member of Parliament (MP). This was the start of Churchills very long political career. Churchill quickly became known for being outspoken and full of energy. He gave speeches against tariffs and in support of social changes for the poor. It soon became clear that he did not hold the beliefs of the Conservative Party, so he switched to the Liberal Party in 1904. In 1905, the Liberal Party won the national election and Churchill was asked to become the under-secretary of state at the Colonial Office. Churchills dedication and efficiency earned him an excellent reputation and he was quickly promoted. In 1908, he was made president of the Board of Trade (a cabinet position) and in 1910, Churchill was made home secretary (a more important cabinet position). In October 1911, Churchill was made first lord of the Admiralty, which meant he was in charge of the British Navy. Worried about Germanys growing military strength, he spent the next three years working diligently to strengthen the service. Family Churchill was a very busy man. He was nearly continuously writing books, articles, and speeches while holding important government positions. However, he made time for romance when he met Clementine Hozier in March 1908. The two were engaged on August 11 of that same year and married just a month later on September 12, 1908. Winston and Clementine had five children together and remained married until Winstons death at age 90. Churchill and World War I When the war began in 1914, Churchill was praised for the work he had done behind the scenes to prepare Great Britain for war. However, things quickly started to go badly for him. Churchill had always been energetic, determined, and confident. Couple these traits with the fact that Churchill liked to be part of the action and you have Churchill trying to have his hands in all military matters, not only those dealing with the navy. Many felt that Churchill overstepped his position. Then came the Dardanelles campaign. It was meant to be a combined naval and infantry attack on the Dardanelles in Turkey, but when things went badly for the British, Churchill was blamed for the whole thing. Since both the public and officials turned against Churchill after the Dardanelles disaster, Churchill was swiftly moved out of government. Forced Out of Politics Churchill was devastated to have been forced out of politics. Although he was still a member of Parliament, it just wasnt enough to keep such an active man busy. Churchill became depressed and worried that his political life was completely over. It was during this time that Churchill learned to paint. It started as a way for him to escape the doldrums, but like everything he did, he worked diligently to improve himself. Churchill continued to paint for the rest of his life. For nearly two years, Churchill was kept out of politics. Then in July 1917, Churchill was invited back and given the position of minister of munitions. The following year, he was named secretary of state for war and air, which put him in charge of bringing all the British soldiers home. A Decade in Politics and a Decade Out The 1920s had its ups and downs for Churchill. In 1921, he was made the secretary of state for the British colonies but only a year later he lost his MP seat while in the hospital with acute appendicitis. Out of office for two years, Churchill found himself leaning again toward the Conservative Party. In 1924, Churchill won a seat as an MP, but this time with Conservative backing. Considering he had just returned to the Conservative Party, Churchill was quite surprised to be given the very important position of chancellor of the exchequer in the new conservative government that same year. Churchill held this position for nearly five years. In addition to his political career, Churchill spent the 1920s writing his monumental, six-volume work on World War I called The World Crisis (1923-1931). When the Labour Party won the national election in 1929, Churchill was once again out of government. For 10 years, he held his MP seat but did not hold a major government position. However, this didnt slow him down. Churchill continued to write, finishing a number of books including his autobiography, My Early Life. He continued to give speeches, many of them warning of Germanys growing power. He also continued to paint and learned bricklaying. By 1938, Churchill was speaking out openly against British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlains plan of appeasement with Nazi Germany. When Nazi Germany attacked Poland, Churchills fears had proved correct. The public once again realized that Churchill had seen this coming. After 10 years out of the government, on September 3, 1939, just two days after Nazi Germany attacked Poland, Churchill was asked to once again become the first lord of the Admiralty. Churchill Leads Great Britain in WWII When Nazi Germany attacked France on May 10, 1940, it was time for Chamberlain to step down as prime minister. Appeasement hadnt worked; it was time for action. The same day that Chamberlain resigned, King George VI asked Churchill to become prime minister. Just three days later, Churchill gave his Blood, Toil, Tears, and Sweat speech in the House of Commons. This speech was just the first of many morale-boosting speeches made by Churchill to inspire the British to keep fighting against a seemingly invincible enemy. Churchill spurred himself and everyone around him to prepare for war. He also actively courted the United States to join in the hostilities against Nazi Germany. Also, despite Churchills extreme dislike for the communist Soviet Union, his pragmatic side realized he needed their help. By joining forces with both the United States and the Soviet Union, Churchill not only saved Britain but helped save all of Europe from the domination of Nazi Germany. Falls Out of Power, Then Back in Again Although Churchill was given credit for inspiring his nation to win World War II, by the end of the war in Europe, many felt he had lost touch with the daily lives of the people. After suffering through years of hardship, the public didnt want to go back to the hierarchical society of pre-war Britain. They wanted change and equality. On July 15, 1945, the election results from the national election came in and the Labour Party had won. The following day, Churchill, age 70, resigned as prime minister. Churchill remained active. In 1946, he went on a lecture tour in the United States that included his very famous speech, The Sinews of Peace, in which he warned of an iron curtain descending upon Europe. Churchill also continued to make speeches in the House of Commons and to relax at his home and paint. Churchill also continued to write. He used this time to start his six-volume work, The Second World War (1948-1953). Six years after resigning as prime minister, Churchill was again asked to lead Britain. On October 26, 1951, Churchill began his second term as prime minister of the United Kingdom. During his second term, Churchill focused on foreign affairs because he was very worried about the atomic bomb. On June 23, 1953, Churchill suffered a severe stroke. Although the public wasnt told about it, those close to Churchill thought he would have to resign. Surprising everyone, Churchill recovered from the stroke and got back to work. On April 5, 1955, 80-year-old Winston Churchill resigned as prime minister due to failing health. Retirement In his final retirement, Churchill continued to write, finishing his four-volume A History of the English Speaking Peoples (1956-1958). Churchill also continued to give speeches and to paint. During his later years, Churchill earned three impressive awards. On April 24, 1953, Churchill was made knight of the garter by Queen Elizabeth II, making him Sir Winston Churchill. Later that same year, Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Ten years later, on April 9, 1963, President John F. Kennedy awarded Churchill with honorary U.S. citizenship. Death In June 1962, Churchill broke his hip after falling out of his hotel bed. On January 10, 1965, he suffered a massive stroke. He fell into a coma and died on January 24, 1965, at age 90. Churchill had remained a member of Parliament until a year before his death. Legacy Churchill was a gifted statesman, writer, painter, orator, and soldier. Probably his most significant legacy is as a statesman who led his nation and the world during World War II. Both his actions and his words had a profound impact on the outcome of the war. Sources â€Å"The International Churchill Society.†Nicholas, Herbert G. â€Å"Winston Churchill.†Ã‚  Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 26 Mar. 2019.â€Å"Past Prime Ministers.†Ã‚  History of Sir Winston Churchill - GOV.UK.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Journalism, Mass Media and Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Journalism, Mass Media and Communication - Essay Example Journalism is an activity that can be described as one that defines journalists. It is the system in which journalists get to engage the public, and this can be in terms of written, visual or audio material. Journalism is done with the intention of bringing the news to the public. It is about making the community aware of their surroundings. Through journalism, mass media and communication, the public is able to know how the world they live in operates. They have a sense of guidance and cause change in places is needed. The ongoing events in the day to day lives partly depend on the influence of journalists. This is the reason why mass media is a very important tool in any country. They are able to influence what people think, see and hear. They are able to make stories and events known within a short time. The media is an important tool, one which is used to inform on upcoming events that might directly affect the people. Over the years, the mass media has faced criticism, praise an d also ridicule because of the way they have handled themselves. In modern times, the press has been used to make false statements, show false news, hide some information and also reveal some of the worst known secrets. Journalists have been put in the spotlight over the various news that they have written. They have been charged with intimidation, violence and harassment, but all this is because of the temperament of their occupation. There are different forms of providing news to the public. They include broadcasting over the television and radio stations, newspapers, journals, magazines, and the other important one is the internet. In this essay, attention will be focused towards the newspaper section and its popularity and influence in the United States and China. The newspaper section takes up a lot of heat when it comes to the transmission of news to the public (Hallin & Mancini, 2004). A newspaper is a publication that is periodical and contains news that regard the current a tmosphere and events. It covers the diverse features, editorials, and the advertising bit of marketing. The newspaper can be termed as one of the greatest prominent mass media device that exists. This is because they are printed daily, and are relatively cheap and contain a lot of information regarding the current events and happenings of a place. There are millions of newspaper copies that are sold on a daily basis because they do cover a lot of published material. Some of the things published in a newspaper include editorial opinions about the writing, criticism of or for the writing, persuasion publishing and op-ed, obituaries, entertainment facilities and features that include things such as  crosswords,  Sudoku  and horoscopes (Hallin & Mancini, 2004). There are also news about the weather and  forecasts on certain areas and places. There are also the facilities of advice,  food  and other columns such as reviews of ‘radio’, ‘movies’, †˜television’, ‘plays’ and ‘restaurants’. The newspaper also has  classified advertisements that include the ‘radio’ and ‘television’ listings, inserts from ‘local merchants’,  cartoons and comics. These are just some of the facilities that a newspaper carries. It is because of the various facilities that it offers that it gets the popularity. Newspaper popularity in the United States is less pronounced and common than in the republic of China. When looking at the popularity of the newspaper in the United States, it is safe to say that the newspaper industry in the United States supplies fewer newspapers in a day than their Chinese counterparts. Looking at the average of the newspaper circulation between the United States and China, it is safe to say that newspapers are less popular in the United States than in China and Japan (Hallin & Mancini, 2004). There are many factors that can attribute to this. One i mportant factor is the factor that concerns

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Latin Western European Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Latin Western European Culture - Essay Example In Latin America, people shake hands when they meet someone and again when they part. Latin Americans also like to stay close when talking. The part that time plays in social events also differs. If a person is invited to someone's house in Europe for a meal, he or she should arrive on time. However, in Latin America, he or she should arrive at least one hour late. This is the. case for business appointments as well as for social events. In some countries, 'tomorrow' does not necessarily mean the day after. Americans are always in a hurry. They want to get on with whatever it is. Some other countries like to spend more time with preliminary discussions. Talking, negotiating and bargaining are all parts of the game. In Latin countries, as well as in the Middle and Far East, haggling over prices is expected (Newman and Nollen 1996). Following Hofstede's theory, in Latin America, power distance is high. It is a collectivist culture in which family and family relations play a crucial role. Latin America can be seen as a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics of culture. The main masculine traits are (1) aggressiveness and (2) ambition. The main feminine factors are: close relations and high sensitivity. The power distance of a culture is reflected in the superior subordinate relations in business organizations. A short power distance is an inducement to greater volume and variety of vertical communication and participative decision style(Hofstede 1996). It is common for such countries to advocate participation in the manager's decisions by his or her subordinates; however, the initiative towards this is supposed to be taken by the manager. The status of the individual in the West is tied to education and knowledge and, as mentioned before, in the American type of culture, experts are treated with g reat respect and loyalties to a profession are greater than loyalties to the company. Latin Americans have little experience of working in formal organizations which, combined with belonging to a high-contextual culture, means that much of what goes on as planning, supervising and controlling is more symbolic than substantive, as will be seen. Many Latin American institutions and business organizations are not very efficient, which is one reason why Latin American executives prefer to use personal (family and friendship) ties instead of formal channels and apply a very personalized and informal management style (Owen and Scherer 2002). In business, Latin American managers not only value change relatively highly but also value caution less. This suggests an active or dynamic orientation and a willingness to make risky decisions. Uncertainty of life is accepted as normal, and economic risks are judged by potential rewards. The action culture in Latin America has made available the mass-produced goods the Latin American market wants -- better than anyone else has. Latin Americans consider it almost a right to be materially well off and physically comfortable. They expect convenient transport, a variety of clean and healthful foods and comfortable homes equipped with labor-saving devices. The high value placed on materialism in the culture is sometimes reflected in an ethnocentric attitude towards other individuals,

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Virtues of Saint Monica and Rebekah Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Virtues of Saint Monica and Rebekah - Essay Example Saint Monica of Hippo is a Christian saint and the mother of Saint Augustine (Bohol Philippines Travel Guide). Saint Monica was a Berber descent, the indigenous people of North Africa, but she has never showed an attitude of an unschooled, undisciplined person. Instead, she grew to be virtuous despite the many temptations to be proud and rebellious (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Saint Monica’s virtues were highlighted in her marriage. Although she was brought up a Christian but her parents married her to an older pagan, Patricius, who was also occupying an official position (Pope Hugh). The character of her husband was a true test to her faith. His temper was said to be violent and he was observed to have been of dissolute habits, making Monica's married life far from being a happy one (Pope Hugh). Patricius was also written to have given to adultery while married to Monica. Patricius was written to have been annoyed with Monica’s alms deeds and habit of prayer (Bohol Philippines Travel Guide). Saint Monica also received quite an amount of hurts from her mother in-law who seemed to dislike her (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Monica was living in a society with prevalent domestic violence, but something in Monica made her different from the rest of the women and she enjoined them to follow her steps. What made Monica survive the tests of faith and why she was able to convert her husband and her children to faith in Christianity? During the difficult times that Monica was facing, she did not rebelled against God. Her situation seemed to have brought her closer to God rather than away from him. "Monica attended church daily and cultivated the virtue of patience" (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Her advice to the other advised other wives, who were beaten was to hold their tongues around their husbands, rather than proudly withstand them (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Her virtue was that of submission of obedience, as Saint Augustine, her son said that although domestic violence was prevalent that time, her mother was never beaten by his father because of her obedience (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Specifically, she was quoted saying "If you can master your tongue, not only do you run less risk of being beaten, but perhaps you may even, one day, make your husband better" (Bohol Philippines Travel Guide). These virtues and wisdom, in addition to her sweetness and patience made her exercise a veritable apostolate am ong the wives and mother in her community. Monica bore her burdens patiently that's why even though her husband was causing her pain, their life together was relatively peaceful (Women for Faith & Family). She also continued with helping other people despite the resistance from her husband. It was because she exercised the power of prayer that she was able to withstand the temptations to be in despair and to rebel against her husband. Through much prayer, she was able to convert her husband into Christianity a year before he died. It took her 30 years to pray for her husband (Bohol Philippines Travel Guide). It was such a marvellous victory for Saint Monica. More victoriously, she was also able to win her mother-in law through her gentleness, respectfulness and patience (Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.). Aside from being patient, gentle, obedient, respectful and fervent in prayer, Monica showed persistence in asking help for her son. It was written that Monica asked help from a bishop who also used Manichaean before he became a Christian for several times although she was always rejected. In the end, the bishop consoled Monica saying, "the child of those tears shall never perish" which she took as a sign from God (Women for Faith & Family). Monica's persistence was shown more dramatically when she followed her wayward and dissolute son

Friday, November 15, 2019

Mentor Impact on Student Nurse Experience

Mentor Impact on Student Nurse Experience Explore the impact of the mentor on the learning experience of the student nurse The current study reports the findings of a systematic literature review of research regarding the mentorship of student nurses. Mentorship was evaluated in terms of its development, implementation, outcomes and wider effects and the identified research was presented and critically analysed with reference to each of these areas. It was found that although mentorship was based on policy and standards, the mentor role and mentorship relationship still remain unclear and requires further clarification. A need was also identified for the supervision and monitoring of both mentors and student nurses to be expanded with mentors being more available and the whole process being more regularly audited. Mentorship was found to indirectly enhance skill development through support, socialisation and the provision of opportunities to gain clinical experience. By creating appositive learning environment and mentorship relationship the mentor can maximise the probability that their student nurses will acquire the skills necessary to be an effective nurse. The effect of mentorship on patient care was identified as a complex issue with it being difficult to make confident conclusions regarding the size of any effect. It does appear that mentors can indirectly improve patient care by enhancing nursing skills in their students. Finally, the mentor can play a role in creating the learning environment and mentorship relationship which can help to ensure that the student nurses have a positive learning experience. The limitations which are associated with the methodology which was employed within this research are discussed along with the implications of the findings of this research for practice and future research projects in this field. It is concluded that mentorship has the potential to have a number of benefits for student nurses but that further research and improvements are required in each of the evaluation areas such that the effectiveness and feasibility of student nurse education can be maximised along with the quality of the care which is subsequently provided to patients. 2.0 Introduction The world of nursing has gone through a period of significant change over the last ten years. In the acute nursing environment, nurses arousing increasingly more complex health care interventions and have to incorporate the use of advances in both medical technology and disease management. Within primary care, nurses are required to face the burden of chronic disease and to facilitate patients beginning to self-manage their own health. S uch changes have been made as a result of Governmental policy and strategic approaches. For example, a Governmental economic review conducted by Winless (2002 and 2004)advocated changes to how services are organised and delivered. Such changes have resulted in there being a range of extra demands being placed upon the nurse, both during and after their training. The Royal College of Nursing (2004a and 2004b) acknowledged the change which is occurring and stated that nurse education needs to be assessed and adapted to meet the changing role of the nurse. Nurses are now required to undertake tasks which were traditionally performed by doctors. These developments have ensured that the issue of the effectiveness of a nurse’s training is of up most importance. Through these changes the need for effective mentorship within nursing has become ever more salient. As a result of the potential effects which mentor/student nurse relationship can have on the student’s learning, their experience of training, their subsequent performance on the training course, their future effectiveness as a nurse and ultimately on the quality of the care which is provided by the nurses, it is an important topic to consider within the field of adult nursing. Thus the mentor/student nurse relationship needs to be evaluated. People have been interested in relationships throughout history. As far back as the ancient times, Aristotle and Cicero were commenting and theorising about relationships (Poulakis 1997). In more recent years, novelists, play-writes, biographers and clinicians have all been interested in the study of relationships in terms of why they matter, how they work and how one can improve their effectiveness and efficacy(Wood and Duck 1995). However, it has only been in the last 50 years that researchers have started to empirically investigate inter-relationships between people. Such work has been undertaken from wide variety of perspectives including anthropology, child development, cognitive science, communication, social psychology, sociology, psychiatry and psychotherapy to mention just a few (Hinde1997). The focus of such researchers has started to address the issues regarding relationships between staff within the health care industry. This systematic review will focus on addressing the relationship between a mentor and a student nurse. Whenever one is considering these of a given intervention within a health care setting, any conclusions must be based upon the scientific research which has investigated its effectiveness and efficacy via methodologically sound techniques. Any such analysis will need to consider four key aspects, each of these will be the focus of this systematic review. The first key element of evaluation concerns the development of the intervention. Therefore this review will consider research which has assessed the theoretical and conceptual foundation of mentorship within nursing. This section will include a discussion of whether the mentoring of student nurses is based on policy or a set of standards. The second area of focus for this review relates to the implementation of the intervention. Clearly whenever one is analysing the effectiveness and efficacy of an intervention, one must consider the way in which the intervention is operationalized and implemented as this will be likely to significantly affect the ultimate success of the intervention. This section will address the way in which mentorship is employed for student nurses and whether or not sufficient measures have been put into place to ensure that the benefits of mentorship are maximised and that any potential drawbacks are minimised. The extent to which this mentoring is adequately supervised, monitored and audited will be assessed and critically analysed. The third key aspect of any evaluation process concerns the outcome of an intervention. Clearly an intervention can be assessed with regards to a wide range of outcomes such as economic factors, staff perceptions and customer perceptions. With regards to mentorship, it is important that it is evaluated in terms of the perceptions of the mentors, the student nurses and the patients such that a comprehensive evaluation of its outcomes can be achieved. As well as the perceptions of those involved, this section will address whether or not mentorship improves nursing skills and hence whether it helps to improve the care which is received by patients. The fourth and final area of evaluation which will be addressed by this systematic review concerns the wider impact of the intervention. As well as focussing on the direct effects of a strategy, it is also important to consider the effect which the intervention has on other relevant issues. In terms of mentorship in nursing, this will relate tissues such as whether or not a rewarding learning experience is related to the quality of the relationship that a student nurse has with their mentor. Although the focus of mentorship may be on improving the student nurses’ skills, it is important to critically evaluate the effect which mentorship has on the student nurses’ experiences of their training programme as this could influence their subsequent career choices. The following review will first provide some background information regarding the topic of mentorship and student nurses. The methodology which was employed within this systematic review will then be outlined. The findings of the systematic review will then be critically analysed in terms of the key evaluation aspects of development, implementation, outcomes and wider impacts The main findings of this research will then be summarised before the limitations which are associated with this research project are outlined and discussed. Finally the implications of the findings of this research will be considered along with the areas which should be the focus of future research projects within the field of mentorship and student nurses. 3.0 Background A significant amount of research has Been conducted regarding adult learning and mentorship within nursing (Bernard 1990). The teaching of student nurses has undergone significant changes in the past 20 years. These changes have particularly taken place as a result of Project 2000which changed the education of pre-registration nurses (United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting 1986). The previous diploma level system was replaced by the Common Foundation Programme which is comprised of the four branches of Adult, Child, Learning Disability and Mental Health. Through this process, registered nurses took responsibility for the learning of student nurses. The role of the nurse is adapting to incorporate these responsibilities with the Royal College of Nursing (2004a and 2004b) calling for a particular focus upon Quality, Flexibility and Diversity. Much has been written about the practitioner as facilitator, supervisor, assessor and role model, and the overlay of role functions (Bailey 1992, Clarke et al1986, Heron 1977, Mason 1987, Myrick and Wane 1988, Windsor 1987.Despite this, there is still a lack of consensus within the literature in terms of a clear definition of what is meant by the term ‘mentor’(Hearty 1986, Morel 1990 and Phillips et al 1996). It has been argued that the task of defining the term mentor is made more complicated byte fact that other terms are used, such as assessor, facilitator and supervisor, to describe the same role (Phillips et al 1996). As result of the wide range of aspects of the role which is played by mentor, it can be stated that a definition of mentor can only be general description as anything more specific would run the risk of excluding important elements of the position (Davies et al 1994). Forth purposes of the following review, the definition of mentor which was provided by Woolskin (1982) will be adopted: ‘Mentorship is a relationship which is aimed at guiding the novice towards an established place within the profession’ (Woolskin 1982) In the nursing profession the aims of the mentor will be to form relationship with their student nurses which helps the student to be successful in their training programme and to go on to be effective nurses in the future. Jarvis (1995) emphasised that it is important to focus on the mentor’s role as a function and as a relationship with the student nurse rather than being about them as a teacher or practitioner. Through this role the mentor can help to narrow the gap between theory and practice (Arbitrage and Bernard 1991). Indeed some have argued that mentor is in fact the wrong term to use within the health care industry as it is not equivalent to other industries in which the term mentor is used (Donovan 1990). However one conceptualises mentorship, the benefit of having a good mentor has been reported by student nurses within previous research. Ina longitudinal study, Gary and Smith (2000) interviewed 10 student nurses at five different points throughout their three year training programme. The participants also kept a diary as part of the research. It was reported that the students noted the importance of having mentor which represented a good role model. They also thought that it was important to recognise the likes and dislikes of the mentor as this had the potential to significantly impact on their assessment outcomes. The role of the mentor was found to be particularly beneficial at the beginning of the training process. As the training progresses the students felt that they grew in confidence as they became more competent. This ensured that they were more independent and that they placed a reduced demand on their mentor. Although their continued support was said to help the students finish the course and to choose longer term career in nursing. Therefore it does appear that through effective mentorship, the chances that a student nurse completes their training programme can be increased. Research has investigated the reasons why student nurses fail their training programmes. Two key areas of reasons have been identified. The first relates to the student nurse’s inability to cope with the demands and standards required by the course (Ehrenfeld et al1997 and Fulbrook et al 2000). It could be that a mentor can help to provide support and guidance for the student nurse to improve the chances that they can meet the requirements which are placed upon them and hence complete the training course successfully. The second key area of reasons for failure are those relating to personal factors(MORI 2003 and Royal College of Nursing 2001). This includes a range of possible factors such as financial, health or a change in circumstances. The mentor could also play a role here to help the student nurse manage their problems and to cope with them more effectively. The methodology which was employed within this research will now be outlined. 4.0 Method A systematic review aims to integrate existing information from comprehensive range of sources, utilising a scientific replicable approach, which gives a balanced view, hence minimising bias (Clarke Oman 2001, Hart 1998, Muldrow 1994, Oman and Goat 1993). Another words, a scientific approach will help to ensure that research evidence is either included or excluded based upon well-defined and standardised criteria. This should ensure that the possible effects of researcher bias should be kept to a minimum. Berkley and Glenn (1999)also states that systematic reviews provide a means of integrating valid information from the research literature to provide a basis for rational decision making concerning the provision of healthcare. 4.1 Reviewing Process Whenever one reviews or compares research reports, it is important that clear set of criteria are established upon which the evaluations can be made. Table 1 below outlines the global process which was used to conduct the literature review. This process was based upon that employed by Berkley and Glenn (1999). Each selected article was reviewed with reference to a number of different issues using a Table which was also based on Berkley and Glenn (1999). This review table is displayed in Appendix 1. Once obtained each article will be filed and stored appropriately. A computer-based list will be maintained of the articles which had been reviewed. Table 2: Core Principles Used in Reviewing Selected Research Articles (adapted from McInnis 2004) Systematic reviews Adequate search strategy Inclusion criteria appropriate Quality assessment of included studies undertaken Characteristics and results of included studies appropriately summarized Methods for pooling data Sources of heterogeneity explored Randomised controlled trials Study blinded, if possible Method used to generate randomisation schedule adequate Allocation to treatment groups concealed All randomised participants included in the analysis (intention to treat) Withdrawal/dropout reasons given for each group Cohort All eligible subjects (free of disease/outcome of interested) selected or random sample 80% agreed to participate Subjects free of outcomes on interest at study inception If groups used: comparable at baseline Potential confounders controlled for Measurement of outcomes unbiased (blinded to group) Follow-up sufficient duration Follow-up complete and exclusions accounted for ( 80% included in final analysis) Case control Eligible subjects diagnosed as cases over a defined period of time or defined catchment area or a random sample of such cases Case and control definitions adequate and validated Controls selected from same population as cases Controls representative (individually matched) 80% agreed to participate Exposure status ascertained objectively Potential confounders controlled for Measurement of exposure unbiased (blinded to group) Groups comparable with respect to potential confounders Outcome status ascertained objectively 80% selected subjects included in analysis Cross-sectional/survey Selected subjects are representative (all eligible or a random sample) 80% Subjects agreed to participate Exposure/outcome status ascertained standardized way Qualitative Authors position clearly stated Criteria for selecting sample clearly described Methods of data collection adequately described Analysis method used rigorous (i.e., conceptualised in terms of themes/typologies rather than loose collection of descriptive material) Respondent validation (feedback of data/researchers interpretation to participants) Claims made for generalizability of data Interpretations supported by data 4.2 Sources of Data The methodology employed within the research will involve obtaining data from three key sources: Computerised searches, Manual searches, and the Internet. Each of these data sources will now be considered in more detail. 4.2.1 Computerised Searches The methods used in this research will include a detailed computerised literature search. Multiple databases, both online and CD–Rom will be accessed to retrieve literature because they cite the majority of relevant texts. (Loy 2000 Ford 1999) The computerised bibliographic databases are:- †¢ MEDLINE †¢ EMBASE †¢ CINAHL †¢ PSYCHINFO †¢ British Nursing Info BNI †¢ Cochrane †¢ Science Direct (All Sciences Electronic Journals) †¢ Asia †¢ DETOC †¢ HMIC However because articles may not be correctly indexed within the computerised databases, other strategies will be applied in order to achieve a comprehensive search (Sindh Dickson 1997). 4.2.2 Manual Searches A manual search will be performed to ensure that all relevant literature is accessed. The manual searches will include:- †¢ Books relevant to the topics from university libraries and web sites†¢ Inverse searching- by locating index terms of relevant journal articles and texts †¢ Systematically searching reference lists and bibliographies of relevant journal articles and texts 4.2.3 The Internet The internet will provide a global perspective of the research topic and a searchable database of Internet files collected by a computer. Sites accessed will include:- †¢ Department of Health †¢ National Institute of Clinical Excellence †¢ English National Board of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting †¢ Google 4.3 Identification of Key Words The selection of key words is an important task as it will have significant impact on the articles which are identified in the search. One must choose appropriate words which maximise the chance that the most appropriate research evidence can be found. Databases use controlled vocabulary of key words, in each citation. To assist direct retrieval of citations techniques Boolean logic will be applied using subject indexing, field searching and truncation to narrow the topic focus (Loy 2000, Hicks 1996, Goodman 1993). As part of this approach, key words will be based on the components of the review question. An imaginative and resourceful technique of searching electronic databases will be used including recognising the inherent faults in the indexing of articles. Misclassification and misspelling will be included in the searches with searches utilising keywords and the subheadings, (Hicks 1996). Based on these principles, the following search terms will be used in different combinations: †¢ Mentorship †¢ Mentor †¢ Student †¢ Nurses †¢ Training †¢ Evaluation Further search terms may be used within the methodology if they are identified within some of the initial search items. Whenever one is searching literature ‘sensitivity’ and ‘’specificity’ are important issues when conducting searches of research on a database. The searches need to be as ‘sensitive’ as is possible to ensure that as many of the relevant articles are located. This may be a particularly salient issue with regards to the evaluation of mentorship in student nursing as the number of appropriate entries may be limited. Thus an attempt to locates many of these articles as possible becomes a more relevant and important objective. Furthermore, the search needs to be ‘specific’ Another words, it needs to be efficient where appropriate so that higher number of the articles identified through a database search can be included and hence the time allocated to reviewing articles which are ultimately of no relevance, can be kept at an acceptable level. 4.4 Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria In order that a manageable quantity of pertinent literature is included in this study, it is essential that inclusion and exclusion criteria are applied. In order that a diverse perspective of the topic is examined broad criteria will be used. (Benignant 1997). However, it is important to note that a balance needs to be achieved through which the scope of the inclusion criteria is sufficiently wide to include relevant articles whilst also being sufficiently specific such that the retrieval of an unmanageable set of articles is avoided. 4.4.1 Inclusion Criteria The articles which are highlighted within the proposed searches will be assessed in terms of whether or not they meet the following criteria. Each article will need to be viewed as appropriate with regards to all of these constraints if they are to be included in the final analysis.>From the pool of data which is obtained, the most appropriate articles which meet these inclusion criteria will be selected for use within the review. †¢ A literature review encompassing all methodologies will be applied ( Pettigrew 2003) †¢ International studies will be included †¢ Available in English †¢ Relate to the evaluation of mentorship within health care †¢ Relate to the training of student nurses †¢ Centre on the elderly population 4.4.2 Exclusion Criteria The articles highlighted by the searches will also be assessed in terms of whether or not they fulfil the following exclusion criteria. If a potential relevant article meets one or more of these criteria then they will be immediately excluded from the data set and will not be included within the analysis stage of the methodology. †¢ Articles relating to mentorship in industries other than health care will not be included †¢ Literature in a foreign language will be excluded because of the cost and difficulties in obtaining translation. †¢ Research reported prior to 1985 will not be included within this review. 4.5 Consideration of Ethical Issues Any research involving NHS patients/service users, carers, NHS data, organs or tissues, NHS staff, or premises requires the approval of ankhs research ethics committee (Department of Health 2001) A literature review involves commenting on the work of others, work that is primarily published or in the public domain. This research methodology does not require access to confidential case records, staff, patients or clients so permission from an ethics committee is not required to carry out the review. However, it is essential to ensure that all direct quotes are correctly referenced. Permission must be sought from the correspondent before any personal communication may be used. All copyrights need to be acknowledged and referenced. The researcher will also act professionally when completing this report and ensure that research is identified, reviewed and reported accurately and on scientific basis. The following set of chapters will now outline the research which has addressed the different aspects of the debate regarding mentorship and student nurse education. The following analysis will be conducted regarding the four different aspects of evaluation. As outlined by Kirkpatrick (1979) it is important to address each stage of any training intervention when conducting an analysis. Therefore, the development, implementation, outcomes and wider impacts of mentorship in student nurse education will all be considered. The most appropriate research regarding each of these four aspects will be critically analysed and compared to other relevant research findings. 5.0 Evaluation of The Development of Mentorship Programmes Whenever one is evaluating a health related intervention, it is important to first consider the policies, standards and theoretical perspectives which underpin the approach. In terms of mentorship, one must address the questions regarding the framework and structure which they are developed in conjunction with and to determine whether or not the approach was developed in an appropriate way. The policies and structures which underpin pre-registration nurses’ education has undergone significant changes in the last twenty years. This was particularly as a result of the introduction of Project 2000 (United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting1986). The transformation was centred around the introduction of a Common Foundation Programme which was comprised of four different branches: Adult nursing, Child nursing, Mental Health nursing and the nursing of people with learning disabilities. This replaced the previously used diploma level education system. Through these policies, a set of standards were established for the preparation of people who are going to teach nursing, midwives and specialist public health workers. A booklet which outlines these standards was produced by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (2004). This also sets out the guidelines for the qualifications which are recommended and required for these teachers. The English National Board has suggested that mentorship should be key part of the Project 2000 courses (An forth 1992). It is also suggested that there should be a policy to emphasise five key aspects of the role of a mentor in their relationship with their student nurse. These are Assisting, Befriending, Guiding, Advising and Counselling(An forth 1992). They also argue that the role should not include supervising, assessing or facilitating. The following discussion within this section will now move on to consider the mentorship role which has been derived based on these relevant policies and standards. The extent to which this derivation was appropriate and how the mentorship role is subsequently perceived will be outlined and critically analysed. This evaluation will now be conducted from the perspectives of theorists/researchers in this field, the student nurses and the mentors involved. In broad terms, these policies and standards appear to be appropriate in terms of providing a framework to govern mentorship within student nursing. However, one needs to look past the theoretical perspective and address the practical aspect of the development of mentorship. The extent to which these policies and standards are adequate when viewed during their application merits consideration. Researchers and theorists in this field have argued that despite these policies and standards, the role of mentor remains unclear as there are a number of models and frameworks which exist and which can be applied (Andrews and Wallis 1999). Furthermore, Andrews and Wallis (1999) also go on to suggest that many mentors attend short, local training courses which are not standardised. Although they may adhere to the appropriate standards, there still remains sufficient scope for mentors to receive different types and levels of training when becoming mentors of student nurses. Also, as a result of the continued use of the terms mentor, supervisor and assessor to describe similar roles, it is argued that this continues to contribute to the confusion within this field(Wilson-Barnett et al 1995). The policies and standards require a more specific focus such that more standardised definitions, roles and training programmes can be established and agreed by all of the key stakeholders in this debate. One of the more obvious stakeholders to consider are the student nurses themselves. The extent to which the mentorship of student nurses is appropriately grounded in policy and standards needs to also be assessed from the student nurses’ perspective. It needs to be seen to have logical foundations such that the students can have confidence in the system and that they can understand the purpose and objectives of the relevant policies and standards. One study which has addressed this topic was conducted by Watson (1999). A sample of 35 student nurses were interviewed using a semi-structured approach. The student nurses reported to key findings. Firstly they reported that the mentorship process was not sufficiently defined by the English National Board. They stated that although there were standards in place, they did not result in there being a clear understanding of what the role and purpose of a mentor actually was designed to be. The second key finding was that the student nurses perceived that the mentorship process was not clarified within their internal organisation. Irrespective of the over-riding standards outlined by the English National Board, the internal organisation could have put into place a clear structure and understanding of mentorship to ensure that its role was understood byte student nurses. Therefore, from the student nurses’ perspective, the presence of the appropriate policies and standards was not accompanied by an appropriate application and implementation of such guidelines. Having said this, the sample used in this study was relatively small and so the extent to which the findings can be generalised to the UK as a whole is questionable. Other similar explorative research has been conducted which has focused on the perspectives of the mentors The introduction of Project 2000 has placed a responsibility on many registered nurses to mentor student nurses. Although the relevant standards provided by the English National Board do address this area, again they do not appear to be standardised across the country. For example, Cahill (1996) found that there were a range of mentor selection procedures as well as a range of preparation and function definitions. Further research was conducted by Near (1997 and 2000).It involved collecting data from 155 mentors. They reported that these of the terms mentor, assessor and supervisor did result in them being confused over their role as a mentor. They were also unclear regarding their relationship with their student in terms of the nature which it should take and the extent to which they were supposed to help them. This in turn was said to lead to difficulties with regards to competency assessment as they were not sure what was expected of them and their students. Therefore, this section has demonstrated that policies and standards regarding mentorship have been provided by the English National Boards part of Project 2000. However, questions still remain regarding the extent to which these policies and standards have