Factors Of Selecting A Destination Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Factors Of Selecting A Destination - Coursework Example Issues concerning the safety of tourists are as engrossing as they are profound. Most studies that examine the relationship between tourism, terrorism and political stability likewise yield issues that arise due to war and crime. The inquiry remains, notwithstanding, whether these studies shed sufficient light on the current understanding of how global tourism survives in political violence or terrorism. Without any doubt, â€Å"even its active and valuable economic impact does not shield global tourism from the vile force of terrorism† (Buhalis et al., 2006, p.33). While many natural or human-caused events can altogether effect the growth of tourism, security issues, and political turmoil scare potential tourists. The relationship between tourism and terrorism involves many aspects: possible interventions to curb security risks, effects of terrorism on tourism demand, and motives of targeting certain tourists. The trepidation of unexpected terrorist activities is not new, but rather the attention it has commanded traces back to ten years ago. In recent events, â€Å"the 1991 Persian Gulf War and other related global worldwide terrorism refocused consideration on the subject† (Sà ¶nmez, 1998, p.1). On various occasions, terrorist assaults have been experienced in other parts of the world. These violence activities have pushed the tourism and travel industry to come up with travel paradigm shifts hence making tourism security a fundamental consideration for all tourists. Vital inquiries remain: how do places characterized political difficulties handle the negative image? How does the tourism industry at large deal with the emergence of political turmoil? By what method would governments use to curb terrorism and political instability? Subsequently, this paper endeavors to discuss factors to be considered by tourists while selecting a destination. Politics is a major risk

Surrealism and the Fashion Industry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Surrealism and the Fashion Industry - Essay Example The essay "Surrealism and the Fashion Industry" talks about the surrealism movement and its connection with fashion industry. The collaboration has made the conjoined elements to form a distinct art form, which has gained recognition among popular art media such as magazines. This is exemplified by Vogue magazine, which has allowed industry players such as Cecil Beaton to explore and expand the limits of their standards. The developmental timeline of the bond between the surrealist cultural movement and the fashion industry began in the early 20th Century. This onset was witnessed when the surrealist movement disengaged from the written statement, which required it to embrace and focus on objects. The change of focus and the use of surrealism in the realm of the fashion industry is explicitly evident in common use of odd art pieces and objects, which are easily transformed to textile print work and jewellery among many other fashion forms. This offers designers freedom to develop â⠂¬Å"art forms† that find replication of form on either sides of the collaboration. The collaboration greatly contributed to the imagination of what lay beneath the art, which was easily transformed to wearable clothing pieces. Initially, fashion was not regarded as an art form and therefore surrealism, which is an art, was thought to be poles apart when considered alongside the fashion industry. However, this transformed when the surrealist movement’s written form of art and canvassed art forms shifted focus.

Human Resources Management Essay Example for Free

Human Resources Management Essay There exist major differences between the Brunei HRM compared to HRM in the western world. In the western world, the governments are mainly democratic. The business or the private sector is not in any way under the direction of the government or an individual. However, the Brunei government is a monarchy where the Sultan is the absolute decision maker both for the private and public sector. Given the differences in the political system, these changes are bound to affect the practices that HRM adapts in either country (Pieper, 1990). However, the differences are not just political; there exist major cultural differences between the western countries and that of Brunei. As previously established, the culture in a country manifests itself in the HR practices. Although the Brunei system is open to some extent, it cannot compare to the level of openness that is practiced in the western world. The Brunei system is one where superiors are held in awe, and their word is final. However, the HRM practice in the west is such that there is a lot of decentralization of power to individuals and to institutions. There are no powerful superiors, and thus the supervisor is almost the equal to the employee. The hiring and firing are also very controlled since employees have unions which are very powerful. In the public sector, the Brunei HRM policies are guided by the circulars from the Sultan. However, western governments public bodies have pre-designed HRM policies. The policies are either set by the board, or the HR manager in consultation with the CEO. Each public body is established through legislation. In the West, the government or the head of state cannot direct a public body on how to recruit or fire unless the legislative arm of government makes such a law (Pichault and Schoenaers, 2003). Another area of divergence is on the level of adoption of technology. Western HR practices have fully adopted technology in their operations. While Brunei HRM struggles to empower their employees on the use of technology, the labor force in the west has already adopted the technology, and is well-versed in the use of it. The HRM in the west is vary familiar with and has incorporated technology in such duties as log-in checker, benefits and loan applications (Laughton, 2012). An employee in the west will just need to log in using a given password and can then access the HR from anywhere in the world. In the western countries, there is a lot of individualism which is reflected in the HRM practices. The Brunei culture is more of collective in form, and this also manifests itself in the HRM practices. For example, there are no strong interpersonal relationships in the western HRM, unlike in Brunei. In Brunei, the family and relationship bonds are very strong, and this often leads to favoritism. The western countries are rarely affected by nepotism (Carr and Pudelko, 2006). The hiring process is extremely monitored and competitive such that only the best are qualified. In most organizations within the west, hiring is done by external professionals who are hired to do the job. Therefore, it means that the hiring company will rarely have any familiarity with the prospective employees, especially at a personal level. However, the Brunei HRM is such that the managers in the company do the hiring. Although the process may be transparent, it is possible for managers to favor a participant if they happen to know him or her (Bond, 1988). Moreover, given the absolute power vested on the Sultan, the Sultan may hire a person informally. In such a case, the HRM would have been left out of the loop, yet they would not have any power over it. The divergence here is that, in a western country, the executive absolutely has no power over the hiring of employees. The HR manager is free to make any decisions within his mandate. In terms of complaints and disagreement, the HRM approaches are very different. The Brunei monarch has absolute powers in all areas of decision making. Employees have no power to contest the decisions of the monarch. Furthermore, although the monarchy sometimes consults the stakeholders in decision making, he does not have to under the law. On the other hand, HRM practices must be in accordance with the law which requires public participation. Employees have the power, through their trade unions to contest any decisions they feel are not made in their best interests (Norihito, 2007). The Brunei monarch is also the head of the judiciary. However, the western countries have industrial courts and the arbitration panel that is impartial. This is aimed at adjudicating on such matters.

Domestic tourism in India

Domestic tourism in India METHODOLOGY INTRODUCTION This chapter is very essential in enabling the researcher achieve aims and objectives of this dissertation. So first lay down the fundamental aim followed by its objectives. Then go through understanding what research is and discuss the different types of research methods that are used in this study. For instance discussion is carried out on the various accessed secondary research data and primary research data collection method by looking at quantitative research method of survey questionnaire and justifying the choice of selection of the research method. The emphasis on questionnaire design and layout will be considered alongside projecting the significance of pilot testing before the questionnaire is distributed. The chapter also illuminate on substantiate sampling and selected computer software for data analysis. And finally portray the various research limitations. Aim and Objectives Aim of this research is to find out the motivational factors behind domestic tourism in India. And in order to achieve the aim it is important to fulfil the various objectives of this research which are: To examine the several motivational and consumer behaviour studies within the context of the tourism industry. Analysing the trends of domestic tourism in India. To examine the motivational factors/ perceptions and attitudes towards domestic tourism in Mumbai city in India. To compare and contrast the motivational factors underpinning domestic tourism identified within the literature, with those identified by the primary data analysis for India. To examine the implications of the findings of this research for the future of domestic tourism activity in India. Now having looked at the aim of the research and its objectives, it is necessary to differentiate the salient features of the secondary research data with that of the primary research as they form to help analyse the outcome of this research findings. Secondary Research Secondary research data is collection of work that is done and published by some researcher which is available for others researchers to use in their study (Jennings, 2001). Hakim (1982) defined secondary research as further analysis of an existing dataset which presents interpretations, conclusions, or knowledge additional to, or different from, those presented in the first report on the inquiry as a whole and its main results. Secondary data is very important prior to going into primary data as one can avoid repetition of the same data so as to cross check and see to it that the data that is being collected is not already available in secondary resource (Finn et al 2000). The sources of secondary data can be collected from various sources with advice from the concerned subject professor and librarian along with the help of internet, classmates and bibliographies of the literature that is read in various sources like books, journals etc (Silverman, 2005). As Jennings (2001) also poi nted out the key advantages of secondary data collection which consisted of: Easy and quick accessibility to the available information. Quality of data acquired is of high standard when cross referred from peer sources. Information is gathered for a very low cost. Less time consuming process. Provides the opportunity to re-examine the findings. Using the data is convenient. The secondary data used in this study was obtained from various resources affiliated and available through the Bournemouth University library catalogue. So as to represent only authentic data in my study I have used tried to refer and use mostly work and studies done by reputed authors or organisations. The information that has been obtained are of sources ranging from: Books: All the books referred were from the Bournemouth University library and some of which were e books available on internet. The books referred ranged from topic covering tourism, consumer behaviour, psychology, and motivation and research methods. Academic Journals: Journals showcasing several articles published of most recent and authentic information was accessed and utilised which were mostly derived through various online journals like Sage publications, EBSCO host, Science Direct from Athens database. Published documents and reports: Data derived from several reports published by organisations like WTO, Ministry of Tourism (India), Indian Government publications were utilised in supporting my study. Internet and electronic database: While using the internet source the fact of authentic reliability was highly regarded and hence very few information was utilised through internet. Most of the data utilised was obtained from electronic data source on subjects relating to tourism and motivation which was again acquired with the help of Athens Database. But it is also very essential that one realise the threat lying in utilising secondary data for instance Jennings (2001) revealed some issues relating disadvantages like incomplete available data, the reliability factor, and confirmation on validity of information or the data might become out of date. So being aware of the setbacks of secondary data was keenly observed while utilising it for the study and was only used in supporting and guiding to understand the literature behind the topic. Primary Research Primary data is the information that is gathered from the field of research carried out and developed by a researcher for their own research (Burns and Bush, 2000). Cohen et al (2007) described primary source to be items having direct relationship with reconstruction of events which comprise of oral and written testimony collected from the participants. Jennings (2001) pointed out the potential benefits of primary data lie in the ease of studying a large population analysis with out much bias. And there are two major methods of conducting a primary research that are quantitative and qualitative research methods. Quantitative and Qualitative Research Researchers gather first hand information through various methods, then collect and arrange them in order and then analyse them to use in their study. This is popularly known as primary research and hence to carryout that it is very necessary for the researcher to consider the nature of their study and chose the right research method (Jennings, 2001). Primary data collection methods chiefly consist of two types: quantitative and qualitative methods (Finn et al 2000). In order to select the right primary research method for study it is important to understand the differences between the both research methods. According to Jennings (2001) listed the difference between quantitative and qualitative research methods. Where he explained that research approach in quantitative is deductive in nature which means that theories and concepts are already available through the past data using which researcher conducts a hypothesis to test these concepts through data collection and analysis. Qualitative research takes a more inductive approach where the researcher develops theories and concepts through observation and brings out ideas thorough observing the collected data rather than predetermined ideas. Quantitative research undertakes the hypothetical testing by observer to be objective to come to a conclusion with structured, systematic design of the research which can be replicable but whereas qualitative research depends more on the subjective view of the ground reality and the research seems to be unstructured with recent developing changes being applied as they emerge during the course. The focus of the research for a quantitative research is variable when compared qualitative research which depends on specific study themes. While selecting participants to carryout the research quantitative research randomly selects the participants but qualitative research chooses its participants with several considerations being specific to them. The representation of data and findings put forth through quantitative research is numeric in nature which can be statistically analysed with the help of graphic representation like statistical tables and graphs. But qualitative research approach represents data through textual form which is more narrative in nature. And lastly the finding analysis and conclusion is only a representation of the real world in case of quantitative and qualitative research result is a slice of life in the real world. Quantitative research method Having looked at the various differences between the two research methods does not conclude that quantitative research method is better than qualitative or vice versa. Because both have their own advantages and disadvantages depending upon the type of research and study a researcher is undertaking certain phenomenon might be better studied in qualitative and some with quantitative analysis (Muijs 2004). Veals (1997) stated that qualitative study approach which consists of focusing on observation of depth interviews does not support the cause of a study when the researcher aims to project a common statement of analysis regarding large groups of population. Keeping in mind the fact that this study deals with quantifying the several motivational factors for domestic tourist in India and so it would include dealing large population groups to try and assessing their motivational factors. Hence it would be appropriate to utilise quantitative approach towards the study would enable the rese archer to bring out the finds in the form of statistical data analysis. Questionnaire Survey Burns and Bush (2000) referred quantitative research to be a survey research involving usage of structured questions whose responses are predetermined and it involves correspondence of large number of respondents. Saunders et al (2003) highlighted that any kind of research would usually involve some numeric data that can be utilised to respond to the questions arise in the research and Veal (1997) also stated that quantitative analysis is widely preferred and used research method in tourism and leisure industry to gather individual information with help of a designed list of questions which are put through the survey participants. Gillham (2000) showcased some advantages of using questionnaires saying it could be cost effective and can save a lot of time as it helps to gather mass amount of information in a limited and short frame of time. It proves to be more convenient for the anonymously selected survey respondents to answer closed ended questions straight away without any biased reaction towards it unlike interviews which can induce biased opinions at times during the course of the interview. As the designed questionnaire contains the same set of questions repeated for all the respondents to answer so it becomes easier to compare and contrast the responses to asses and analyse the results and its trends. But it is also necessary to understand the possible setbacks which can occur while applying this approach to the study which Gillham (2000) correctly pointed out by explaining that while conducting a survey the researcher would often have to deal with certain negative features which could include issues where quality and accuracy of data cannon be guaranteed if the questionnaire is not properly designed. As the questions should be short and simple for the respondents to understand and reply and sometimes the seriousness of response to the questions is also always an issue of apprehension. Ryan (1995) also stated that it is very essential for a researcher to go through the survey process very circumspectly if it is conducted through a questionnaire because once the responses are collected one can neither refer back to them for understanding their responses nor fabricate or correct the responses if they have been misinterpreted by the respondents. So in order to carryout a research bou nd by time constraints like identifying the various motivational factors of domestic tourism in India does recommend developing a questionnaire to conduct a survey keeping in mind all these potential threats. So the questionnaire should be carefully studied and design layout should be properly done specifically considering the usage of right choice of wording before it is distributed for the survey. Questionnaire Design, Layout and Pilot Testing Having considered the various pros and cons of developing a questionnaire for a survey above it is also very essential to carefully layout a design for a questionnaire. It is very important to review what questions will be addressed in the questionnaire. There can be different types of questions asked so it is very important to asses the type of questions because the outcome of information depends on the collection of data (Brace 2008). Pizam and Ellis (1999) stated that questions obtaining basic profile information form a vital part of the questionnaire along with the other collected information of the respondents attitudes and behaviour. So the online questionnaire which is developed would also asses the demographic information of the participants along with others. The questionnaire would consist of 19 questions and would consist of following sections asking various questions like Personal Information Travel pattern Motivation sources Experience and satisfaction measurement Future activity The designed questionnaire mostly consists of closed ended questions to help and enable respondents to respond to them quickly and not consuming much of their valuable time. Brace (2008) also suggested that researchers analysing behaviour analysis would normally go for closed ended questions and it seems to be a popular option preferred as the respondents have to just tick or select the boxes to respond to the questions which leaves least room for error and confusion and the data can be easily assessed later on. Most of the closed questions in this study included different types of question pattern like checklist, Likert scale and attitude scale to asses the attitude and behaviour of the tourist. And Churchill (1999) identified coding to be more useful and handy while doing questionnaire because if the questions are arranged, designed and laid out properly with wording taken care off with choice of answers being represented in numbers and codes through any computer software then it w ould be very effortless to collect the data and analyse with a computer coding software. To carryout this survey electronic email was chosen as the most suited method to survey considering the fact that the researcher is far away from the country where the survey is going to be conducted and also baring in mind the expenses and time constraints. Sproull (1986 cited Thach 1995) stated that electronic survey can be beneficial particularly in survey research and identified four key characteristics of electronic email which were Speed It much easier and faster to send questionnaires through email to any part of the world in seconds and hence the reply would also be fast once the questions are answered. Asynchronous communication The communication of message can be sent and received at convenience as it gives an option to the participants to reply at their ease when they are free. They can leisurely think and answer the questions. And not be tied down to be replied instantly and make them loose their valuable time. No intermediaries In several cases the mails sent by post or interviews could be rejected or filtered by the assistants and secretaries of the concerned personnel so there are more chances of mails being directly sent to the concerned person and they open it directly. But even this is being monitored in recent changes but there are more chances when compared to the other ways considering the fact that it would reach faster. Ephemerality Ephemerality explains the fact that an online questionnaire can be deleted at any time with ease and hence would have no trace in the form of hard copy of it once it is deleted unless someone saves and prints out on a paper. So when the respondents complete the survey and send them they can delete them at their will and dont need to bother much about it once it is done unlike the posted mails. Pilot testing the questionnaire is very essential before the questionnaire is actually distributed amongst the population. Piloting tests two key features of a questionnaire that are reliability where the questionnaire is considered to be reliable depending upon the amount of consistency that shows in the responses that are received and validity where its considered to be valid if the researcher gets the evaluation right that the questionnaire was originally destined for Brace (2008). This helps the researcher to evidently identify the problems related to respondents leaving out certain questions unanswered and also asses the satisfactory reception of information for the respondents to understand and answer (Bryman, 2001). It also helps in explaining if the respondents understand the wordings and certain terms in the questions and if the questions have a flow of pattern, then the amount of time that is consumed for replying the questions and it gives a clear picture of which approach of data analysis to carryout one the responses are collected Jennings (2001). Hence in order to do the pilot testing the questionnaires were first sent through email to 10 respondents to try and check the quality and understand the responses. Based on the received responses minor changes were done to the questionnaire for fine tuning. Sampling Researchers must carryout sampling well in advance in the course of research as several aspects like time constraints, money expenses and the ease of access to carryout the survey are always certain setbacks and restrictions which reoccur. These prevent the researcher to limit oneself to measuring analysis of only a small and compartment representation of a true population and often not the total population (Cohen et al 2007). In this study it is virtually impossible to carryout the research across the whole of India with its mammoth population representation alongside its diverse culture and languages pertaining to their geographical locations. Hence to make it convenient for the researcher the survey was carried out within the boundary of limitation selecting only one city as the representative. Mumbai city was selected to be the location for selecting sample population as the city is widely popular across the world in spite of not being the administrative capital city of India. Th ough the people of Mumbai city alone does not form the collective attitude and behaviour of the whole country but this could be considered to be the closest that one can get to understanding the behaviour of the Population in India considering the limitations of the research. Data Analysis The data of this research which is collected with the help of quantitative research method of questionnaire will be analysed by going through the responses received and drawing comparisons with the studied literature review. As Ryan (1995) suggested that it is very important to keep in mind the prime aims and objectives of the research while interpreting the data through statistical representation. Quantitative research data analysis is most effective when it represents various variables in the form of statistical and numerical projections (Jennings 2001). Hence this research data is best suited to be analysed with the help of SPSS computer software. Along with this data analysis conclusions will be drawn from the secondary data as well to get an understanding on the behavioural pattern and provide a scope for further study. Having looked at data analysis methods in this section it is also essential to identify the various limitations that hinder the research. Limitation of the Research One of the major limitation for this research is the generalisation of the Indias population as it seems virtually impossible to carryout the survey all the throughout the country. Considering the fact that it is a very huge country with a huge population and even with the best efforts with no time limits can still not bring out the true picture. Hence the survey was restricted to only Mumbai city. Another major constrain for the researcher was the accessibility to information regarding domestic tourism in India. There has been very little research done on the aspect of domestic tourism in India hence to gather information related to concerned topics was very difficult and limited. Part of the information and data was collected from the government publications and several online articles published by various researchers. Considering the fact that the researcher is far away from the geographical location of the survey being conducted and considering the limited time and cost effectiveness in travelling to carryout the survey in person would have been difficult. So the survey was conducted by emailing the questionnaires to the people known to the researcher and there by asking those collective members to distribute the questionnaire across to their contacts to respond. But even the electronic survey systems had their share of problems as Veal (2006) pointed out that the surveys conducted online through emailing the questionnaire have resulted in very poor response rates in the modern trend so keeping in mind the less response rate the questionnaire was sent to as many contacts as possible and it succeeded in collecting 100 responses. Issues relating to the questionnaire design were identified as another limitation as several responses did not respond to all the questions as it entirely depends on the d ifferent educational levels of understanding of the respondents which could have led to misinterpretation and confusion of the questions Chapter Summary This chapter presented the aims of the research to clearly identify the various objectives that are supposed to achieve. Then it talks about the research methods undertaken in acquiring past data and understanding the literature behind the topic through secondary research methods. Also explaining the primary research methods researcher detailed the different approach towards acquiring data collection. In order to do that it also speaks about the questionnaire designing and layout of the questions to be asked. Then it highlights the essentiality of pilot testing the prepared questionnaire and then sampling of the survey and how the collected data was analysed. Finally it showcases the several limitation of this research that was carefully measured. The following chapter will present the main findings and analysis of the data that was collected from the surveyed questionnaire. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cohen, L., Manion, L., and Morrison, K., 2007, Research methods in education, 6th ed. London: Routledge. Brace, I., 2008. Questionnaire Design: How to Plan, Structure and Write Survey Material for Effective Market Research. 2nd Ed. London: Kogan Page [online] Available from http://site.ebrary.com/lib/bournemouth/docDetail.action?docID=10250416 [Accessed on 20th March 2010] Bryman, A., 2001. Social research methods. New York: Oxford University Press. Burns, A. and Bush, R.(2000)Marketing research 3rd ed. London: Prentice Hall Churchill, A. (1999) Marketing Research: Methodological Foundations, 6th ed. Fortworth, TX: Dryden Press. Finn, M., Elliot-White, M. and Walton, M., 2000, Tourism Leisure Research Methods: Data collection, analysis and interpretation. Essex: Pearson Gillham, B., 2000. Developing a questionnaire. London: Continuum. Hakim, C. (1982): Secondary Analysis in Social Research: A Guide to Data Sources and Methods with Examples, London, Allen Unwin. Jennings, G., 2001. Tourism research. Milton: John Wiley Sons Australia, Ltd Muijs, D., 2004. Doing Quantitative Research in Education with SPSS. London: Sage Publications. Available from: http://site.ebrary.com/lib/bournemouth/docDetail.action?docID=10080884p00=quantitative%20research [Accessed 20th march 2010] Ryan, C., 1995. Researching tourist satisfaction: issues, concepts, problems. London: Routledge. Saunders, M., Lewis, P., Thornhill, A., 2003. Research Methods for Business Students, 3rd ed, Harlow, Prentice Hall Financial Times. Silverman, D., 2005. Doing Qualitative Research: A practical handbook. 2nd ed. London: Sage Thach , L. 1995. Using Electronic Mail to Conduct Survey Research. Educational Technology -Saddle Brook NJ. 35 (2), 27 [online] Available from: http://www.ali.iup.edu/DJT/graduatestudy/PDF/usingelectronicmail.pdf [Accessed on 25th March 2010] Veal, A.J., 1997. Research methods for leisure and tourism: a practical guide. 2nd ed. London: Financial Times

The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe :: essays papers

The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe Communism is like Prohibition - it's a good idea but it won't work" (Will Rogers, 1927) (1) This essay will give a brief introduction to communism. It will then discuss the various factors which combined to bring about the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. It will examine each of these factors and evaluate the effect of each. Finally it will attempt to assertain whether Rogers' opinion (see above quotation) on Communism is true, that is, whether communism was truly doomed to fail from the start, or whether its collapse was a result of external influences. Communism is based on the ideas and teachings of Karl Marx as modified by Lenin. At its most basic, the ideal of communism is a system in which everyone is seen as equal and wealth is distributed equally among the people. There is no private ownership. The state owns and controls all enterprises and property. The state is run by one leading elite. The Soviet model of communism was based on these ideals. All opposition parties were banned although parties who were sympathetic to communism and who shared the communist ideals were allowed. All power was concentrated into the hands of the Communist party. Free press and civil liberties were suppressed. Censorship and propaganda were widely used. There was state ownership of the economy. No private enterprise was allowed. There was a collectivisation of agriculture. The Communist Party invaded and controlled every aspect of political, social, cultural and economic life. It was a totalitarian state with complete Communist control over all facets of life. In the early years, and up until Gorbachev's "new regime", the use of force and terror as a means of maintaining control was widespread. The first factor which contributed to the failure and eventual collapse of communism was the fact that the Communist party's domination was illegitimate from the beginning. Lenin came to power after a bloody Civil War between those who supported Lenin and those who opposed the Soviet regime. To Lenin, defeat was unthinkable and he was prepared to make any and every sacrifice to win the war and save "the revolution". The forcible requisitioning of food and supplies was approved by Lenin. This could only be achieved by enforcing strict and absolute discipline at every level of society. Terror was to become the chief instrument of power and Lenin was to assume the role of dictator. This was a phenomenon which was to become a symbol of communist regimes throughout their lifetime. This trend was followed when Stalin came to power as leader of the The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe :: essays papers The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe Communism is like Prohibition - it's a good idea but it won't work" (Will Rogers, 1927) (1) This essay will give a brief introduction to communism. It will then discuss the various factors which combined to bring about the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe. It will examine each of these factors and evaluate the effect of each. Finally it will attempt to assertain whether Rogers' opinion (see above quotation) on Communism is true, that is, whether communism was truly doomed to fail from the start, or whether its collapse was a result of external influences. Communism is based on the ideas and teachings of Karl Marx as modified by Lenin. At its most basic, the ideal of communism is a system in which everyone is seen as equal and wealth is distributed equally among the people. There is no private ownership. The state owns and controls all enterprises and property. The state is run by one leading elite. The Soviet model of communism was based on these ideals. All opposition parties were banned although parties who were sympathetic to communism and who shared the communist ideals were allowed. All power was concentrated into the hands of the Communist party. Free press and civil liberties were suppressed. Censorship and propaganda were widely used. There was state ownership of the economy. No private enterprise was allowed. There was a collectivisation of agriculture. The Communist Party invaded and controlled every aspect of political, social, cultural and economic life. It was a totalitarian state with complete Communist control over all facets of life. In the early years, and up until Gorbachev's "new regime", the use of force and terror as a means of maintaining control was widespread. The first factor which contributed to the failure and eventual collapse of communism was the fact that the Communist party's domination was illegitimate from the beginning. Lenin came to power after a bloody Civil War between those who supported Lenin and those who opposed the Soviet regime. To Lenin, defeat was unthinkable and he was prepared to make any and every sacrifice to win the war and save "the revolution". The forcible requisitioning of food and supplies was approved by Lenin. This could only be achieved by enforcing strict and absolute discipline at every level of society. Terror was to become the chief instrument of power and Lenin was to assume the role of dictator. This was a phenomenon which was to become a symbol of communist regimes throughout their lifetime. This trend was followed when Stalin came to power as leader of the

Itchoua Essay -- English Literature Essays

Itchoua In the story of The Three Skeleton Key written by George G. Toudouze it shows many petrifying experiences happening to the characters. Itchoua is a brave, strong Basque who visited an island just off the coast of Guiana for a couple of months. During his visit on the island, Itchoua and his friends faced many dangers and took life threatening risks. He shows many character traits of bravery through his physical description, personality and his actions toward many things. During his act of bravery, he went through many obstacles and hardships while battling the rats. He is a very heroic battler because of what he thinks, says and does in the story of Three Skeleton Key. All the risks Itchoua took while going through danger shows he’s brave by his personality, physical description and his actions. Firstly, Itchoua is a brave veteran who overcame many terrifying experiences while fighting with many vicious rats. Throughout the story, Itchoua proved that he was brave by putting his life at risk for the safety of his friends, persevered even though he was unconsicous and that he has characteristics of a leader. When the chief cried, Itchoua ran immediately not thinking at all and went to help his friend at risk. He sacrificed his life to help his friends from the dangerous rats. He cared for his friends and never only thought about himself. He did what ever he could for the safety of his friends. He used all his strength by trying to kill as many rats as possible an...

The Life And Hard Times Of Grantly Marshall :: essays research papers

The Life and Hard Times of Grantly Marshall Could anyone imagine having no money, few friends, and no chance to succeed in life? Well, for one individual this situation is all too real. Grantly Reed Marshall, a 18-year-old high school student from Franklin Square, Ohio, had big dreams but little money. Grantly had reached a crucial time in his life. He desperately wanted to attend college. Grantly's siblings were much smarter than he was, as were his parents. None of his classmates expected Grantly to amount to anything, but this made him more determined. Grantly's family was very different. They had one light bulb in their entire house. Grantly got his name when his mother read the book Childbirth Without Pain, by Dr. Grantly Reed. His father ran for president in 1928 under the Communist Party. During this period in his life when they usually excluded him from the other kids, and was the poorest he would ever be, Grantly wanted most of all to go to college. The best things Grantly knew how to do was act and recite poetry. He would memorize poetry with more than twenty stanzas in a week and recite them to anyone who would listen to him speak. Finally, with scholarships, student aid and multiple jobs Grantly fulfilled his dream of attending college. Majoring in theater Grantly graduated Kent State University in 1972 with honors. After he graduated, Grantly did act in local theaters for a few weeks and then decided to do to the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Just weeks before he was to leave Grantly's father fell ill and died shortly there after. Grantly knew his father would want him to go to the Olympics anyway so off he went to Germany. Because he was such a passionate speaker Grantly could speak many languages and had no problems in Europe. A few people Grantly did know and was friends with began to wonder about him after the Summer Games ended and he did not return. Then, one day Gary Johnson, one of Grantly's only friend's received a phone call. It was none other than Grantly. It ended up that Grantly loved Germany and he got a job as a German Postal Worker. Gary had many more long talks with Grantly. These talks did not cost either of them a cent because Grantly always called from the post office. This did make Gary cautious but, they were never caught. Grantly, once again started acting and reciting poetry. People began to notice how good he was and Grantly began to make friends with more important people in Munich.

Nature’s Work (Anaylsis of a Blizzard Under Blue Sky)

Houston seems to be an extremely talented writer. It comes as no surprise that â€Å"A Blizzard under Blue Sky† is a truly compelling short story (despite the fact that it only spans four pages). The reason Houston is able to draw readers in is because she opens by introducing the underlying topic of the piece, than puts the topic on the back burner to make room for a fascinating narrative, and in the end ties the theme and the tale together without making the connection seem forced.Based on her writing structure, the three key points of â€Å"A Blizzard under Blue Sky† seem to be identifying her problems/treating depression, persevering through a near death experience, and then realizing how the two are intertwined. Houston opens the story by detailing what has got her down in life: there are bills to pay, work to be done, and uncommitted men. The combination of this, and maybe even the haze of winter, made it so that â€Å"the machine that drives you is broken† (Houston 284).In the story, the doctor suggested medication to get her functioning correctly again, but Houston was adamant that she would never fix her depression with pills. She came up with an alternative solution: winter camping. From here, Houston drops basically all discussion about her depression. As a result, the reader almost forgets why she was going camping in the first place. Instead of dwelling, she immerses herself in nature hoping to get the same results as a prescription would have achieved artificially.One quote in particular perfectly describes her healing journey through nature, â€Å"when everything in your life is uncertain, there’s nothing quite like the clarity and the precision of fresh snow and blue sky† (Houston 284). Although her initial accounts of winter camping seem jovial and fun (she even mentions that the clarity and the sereneness feels like the fourth dimension). Houston’s experience quickly takes a turn for the worse. The sun creeping behind the mountains amplifies her lack of experience and her lack of supplies.Accordingly, she is faced with a fourteen hour sleepless night where her only concern is survival (for both her and her dogs). When the sun came up on House’s snow cave the next day, she describes a feeling of pure joy and relief based on the fact that she is alive. â€Å"For the first time in many months I was happy to see a day beginning† (Houston 287). She forgot about the bills, the man, and about the depression. Life and happiness because synonymous.The final key point of â€Å"A Blizzard under Blue Sky† is the first two key points combined: experiencing nature is an excellent way to deal with depression because it allows one to have â€Å"remembered about joy†. Houston asserts that nature forces you to step outside of your problems and embrace simplicity. Her story is tangible (maybe a little extreme) example of this, but it undoubtedly encourages the readers to use the natural world as a resource to facilitate â€Å"hopefulness†. I thought â€Å"A Blizzard under Blue Sky† was a wonderful story and achieved exactly what it intended to.It provoked happiness, maybe even amazement based on the fact that upon setting out Houston was initially skeptical about the healing power of the natural world, and in turn found how revolutionary an extreme experience can be. What’s most interesting is that Houston immediately turned down anti-depressants. Most people would be thrilled at the prospect of a pill filling the void in their lives. Pam Houston had a different view, â€Å"one of the things I love most about the natural world is the way it gives you what’s good for you even if you don’t know it at the time† (Houston 284).The important thing to note here is that she did not know how nature would heal her, but she had an unwavering faith that it would even in extremely harsh conditions. Prior to reading this story, my experiences with nature have not been all that rewarding; I have never had a life changing experience as a direct result of the natural world. Houston helped me to identify why I have never stumbled upon such an organic change before. While she experienced joy by letting go of everything but the prospect of life, I have always gone into the environment with expectations and goals. I intend to change this.In the terms of the big picture, this story ties directly with all her other writings I have read in my free time (Cowboys are my Weakness, Waltzing the Cat, Sight Hound). What we can gather from this story, is that nature is a powerful tool for contemplation, introspection, and healing. It is no coincidence that nature retreats are popular and powerful experiences. One can undoubtedly experience God, and do some meaningful soul searching while experiencing God’s creation first hand. I think that this piece of literature is getting at a very important point: emotio nal fluctuations are inevitable but they don’t have to be debilitating.In her story, Houston is going through a very difficult time, and her problems are very universal: love, work, and money. The natural journey that she consequently details prove that sorrow is curable (medication is not needed). In terms of my life, I intend to take the lessons taught by Houston and apply them to my life. With that being said, I don’t have the time to go camping on a regular basis, nor do I have the desire to, but I will seize any opportunity I can to expand my natural boundaries.This might include exploring a national park on a weekend instead of going to a movie, or it might mean vacationing to the wilderness of Utah instead of defaulting back to the same beaches I have always gone to. Whatever my wilderness emersion ends up being, rest assured that I will go out of my way to seize it. Maybe I will experience a life or death situation and come out with a new found conception of jo y, but even if I don’t, I will soak up whatever nature has to offer me.

Hamlet’s Deception Essay

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a play full of dishonesty and betrayal. Deception is the central theme in this play. Hamlet, in a state of emotional turmoil, deceives everyone by acting insane for a number of reasons. First, because he is deeply angry at his mother and at Ophelia. Second, because the opinions of his peers will need to be influenced. The last reason is so no one will notice he is trying to avenge his father’s murder. While some believe he fell victim, deception ultimately leads to the fulfillment of Prince Hamlet’s death wish. Not only is Hamlet deceptive, but so are the other characters. Horatio, Claudius, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Fortinbras, and Laertes are all simultaneously manipulating each other as well as Hamlet. Deception is evident in the opening act of the play. Hamlet portrays himself as someone who detests lies, corruption, and deceit. He explains that his grief is real and not simply a facade to feign his madness. He is adamant that his feelings are genuine. Throughout the entire play, Hamlet is manipulative, wise with his words and actions, and convinces everyone he is insane. He does these things because he is obviously grief-stricken with the news of his father’s murder and is angry at the person who did it, his uncle and his father’s murderer. He is also confused and hurt that his mother would marry his uncle, especially in such a short time after King Hamlet’s death. Not to mention he feels it is incestuous that his uncle is now his step father. He refers to his mother as the â€Å"good mother,† or step mother. He lies about his mental state to refrain from arousing suspicion and to create a distraction. While Hamlet gathers evidence against Claudius, he reveals to Horatio his plan to feign insanity: Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, How strange or odd soe’er I bear myself, As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition on, That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumber’d thus, or this head-shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, As ‘Well, well, we know’; or ‘We could, an if we would’; Or ‘If we list to speak’; or ‘There be, an if they might’; Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me: this is not to do, So grace and mercy at your most need help you. (187-199) Hamlet tells this to Horatio in confidence. He tells him nothing specific, but he does let him in on the fact that he’s trying to deceive everyone so they won’t know he’s trying to gather evidence against Claudius. Horatio swore his allegiance to Hamlet. A rational person would not be able to exlpain this to someone. He understands every situation and knows there will be consequences for his actions. These reasons further prove that Hamlet was being deceitful. When Hamlet meets his mother, Gertrude, in her chamber, his plan is to â€Å"speak daggers† to her for what she has done, but has no intention of being physically violent. If Hamlet were actually insane, he would have murdered his mother without a second thought. Irrational people cannot control their actions. They do not know right from wrong. Gertrude blames Hamlet’s behavior on the fact that he is obviously insane and feels a great amount of pity for him. An act of deception takes place when Hamlet stages the murder of Gonzago in the re-enactment of the Mousetrap play at the suggestion of the ghost. This re-enactment is to try to manipulate Claudius into feeling guilty about murdering the king. It worked. Claudius did feel guilty. This was a signal to Hamlet, but he unfortunately did not act immediately to avenge his father’s murder. In one of the events he concocted to discover the truth, Hamlet unknowingly kills Polonius, thinking it was Claudius. Because of Polonius’ death, Claudius is now afraid of Hamlet. Losing her father at the hands of her lover caused Ophelia to go mad. It only made Laertes seek revenge. Because of Hamlet murdering Polonius, he is exiled to England. I believe it was more so for Claudius’ safety than an actual punishment. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern accompany Hamlet to make sure he arrives where he’s supposed to. King Claudius ordered Hamlet’s death, but he does not know it. Hamlet is being deceived until he figures it out and turns the tables. He switched his name on the death warrant with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s name. They die in his place. Without deception, the plot would be at a standstill. Hamlet would not have his â€Å"antic disposition.† Claudius would be a flat character. Hamlet’s â€Å"to be or not to be† soliloquoy probably would not exist. If Hamlet had killed Claudius without debating it and weighing the pros and cons, I would not have enjoyed this play. Ultimately, deceit caused many unnecessary deaths. Polonius should not have died, but did because of a simple mistake. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern died because of Hamlet’s trickery. Ophelia kills herself because she cannot live with the dilemma of making everyone else unhappy. I am sure Hamlet telling Ophelia he never loved her (even though he did) also played a huge part in her suicide. Gertrude and Laertes unknowingly drink the poisoned wine that was meant for Hamlet. Claudius dies because he was stabbed by Hamlet with a poisonous sword. And finally, Hamlet dies because Laertes stabs him with a blade that has also been poisoned. Throughout Hamlet’s emotional turmoil, he remained sane. Outside forces influenced his behavior. His father’s murder set up a domino effect for Hamlet to lie, betray, and become filled with murderous rage. Hamlet got his revenge by killing Claudius, which is what he set out to do, but it came with a price. Hamlet fell victim to the deception he created.

Can Nuclear Power Ever Be Completely Safe?

Dear Editor, In response to the article „After Fukushima, people ask: Can nuclear power ever be completely safe? â€Å" by Moya Irvine in „Read onâ€Å" April, 2011 I would like to state my opinion. I think that the nuclear power plants are on the one hand very effective, but on the other hand so dangerous, that they could destroy our whole planet. But what would we do without nuclear energy? We have to find some alternative, renewable energies to get an alternative solution to the atomic power plants. When we look back to the nuclear incidents like Chernobyl, Windscale or Three Mile Island we see, that this energy is too dangerous. Such a failure, which happened in Chernobyl circa 20 years ago, also could happen in every other nuclear power plant and so we have to find other renewable energies, that we do not have to use nuclear power plants. Another problem is the nuclear waste, which is produced by the power plants. This issue is till this day not solve. Because of this, we shouldn’t support a technology, which isn’t full developed. The only thing that the atomic power industry is doing, is to store the nuclear wast only temporarily. Until there is no final solution, I think atomic power is not a perspective for the future. Summing up, in my opinion, we should not finance such a dangerous and hostile system. Nuclear power is also not the solution for the climate change. So I appeal to all of the people- let’s stop nuclear power plants and save our kids future, because some day there will may be another Fukushima or Chernobyl. My name

Dell Computer Technology essays

Dell Computer Technology essays Dell was founded in 1984 by Michael Dell. Dell has a broad product development scope, ranging from home PCs to products for businesses, such as notebooks, network servers and workstations. The market for PCs targeted for all ages such as kids, teenagers, corporate and institutional customers. The company was based on a simple concept that Dell could best understand customers needs and efficiently provide the most effective computing solutions. The key components of its strategies are quick-moving, direct distribution channels and build to order, customization concept. As far as this particular strategy plan is concerned, Dell will develop and provide various choices for different customers to cater their needs and satisfactions. THE STRATEGIES OF DELL COMPUTER CORPORATION Dell has a number of distinctive competences. Dell was the first PC manufacturer to cut out the middleman and sell PCs directly to consumers. The strategy of Dell is using direct sales as the channel of distribution. This is necessary to keep the cost of the product down as per the strategy of Dell. In addition, the ability to continue to improve infrastructure (personnel and information systems) has made Dell to continually increase its operational efficiencies as the so-called Price for Performance. This superior design attracted many consumers and also other competitive rivals like (IBM, Compaq and Hewlett Packet. Dell utilizes the Internet (E-Commerce) for procurement, management, and distribution. More importantly, Dell is the low price leader in the PC market, Dell can consistently under price rivals by reducing its value chain and also support programs tailored to customer needs such as customization, service and support, and latest technology. The competitive advantage of Dell is the ability to bring to the market the computer system that is desired by the cus ...

Attention

Attention Defining the phenomena that are related to human psychology is not an easy task; even though there are certain ways to define the existing psychological disorders, with most of their symptoms, as well as their consequences, some of the aspects of the disorder will still be left out.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The Basic Information in a Nutshell specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As Gregg and Deshler explain, â€Å"A major problem [†¦] involves the eligibility criteria used to operationalize disability definitions† (Gregg Deshler, 2011, 39). The above-mentioned is especially characteristic of such a phenomenon as ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Robin and Barkley were two of the psychologists who managed to pinpoint the specifics of the ADHD: â€Å"Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a heterogeneous disorder of unknown etiology.† This is the opening line of a major review of the literature medication for treating ADHD by one of the leading child psychiatry research teams in the country [†¦].To this line, we could easily add the phrase â€Å"and of highly changeable definition.† (Robin Barkley, 1998, 13) Therefore, to properly represent the specifics of the ADHD disorder and to define the phenomenon, one will have to incorporate several definitions. Once the disorder is described from several viewpoints, it will be represented in a more adequate way. To put it the way Gregg and Deshler did, â€Å"professional institutions should provide the specific definitions used to construct their documentation guidelines and eligibility criteria† (Gregg Deshler, 2011, 39). Therefore, as the authors claim, â€Å"no definitions [†¦] are included in the regulations for these statuses, unlike the definition of ‘specific learning disabilities’† (Gregg Deshler, 2011, 39). Howeve r, it would be a far stretch to claim that ADHD cannot be defined – the phenomenon still has a lot of characteristic symptoms. Moreover, it is also worth mentioning that not only children, but adults as well can have ADHD. In the case with adults, however, the definition of the disorder will be quite different from the one which is provided for a child ADHD. Speaking of a more or less traditional definition of ADHD, the one offered by Echeverri can be considered rather precise: â€Å"Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurobiological condition involving behavior dysfunctions and cognitive distortions† (Echeverri, 2008). When it comes to defining neurological diseases, psychological disorders, or other health issues which influence the work of a human brain rather than any other part of body, finding the appropriate definition for the phenomenon in question is rather hard. Likewise, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder is quite hard to define.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Since its symptoms have not been studied well enough yet and the factors of its development have not been fully discovered, it is not simple to define the disorder. One of the key problems, thus, is that the people who research the issue in question are not quite sure what they are exploring. Moreover, some of the researchers argue that ADHD, in fact, does not exist. With that in mind, one can see why ADHD does not have a full-fledged definition yet. ADHD is mostly known for affecting children; however, adults can also display the symptoms of ADHD, according to the existing evidence concerning the issue. Since the issue of child ADHD and the instances of ADHD symptoms among students have been strongly emphasized in the media quite recently, one might have thought that there is a relation between the age of a person and his/her age. According to the data provided by Buitelaar, Kan and Anderson, with a person getting older, the risks of his/her developing an ADHD syndrome decrease. As Buitelaar, Kan and Anderson explain, the peak of an ADHD threat in women appears at the age of 6; the same goes for men, while at the age of 18-20 for men and 16-18 for women, the threat of developing ADHD shrinks rapidly. Nevertheless, it is necessary to mention that adults can also develop ADHD, though not as rapidly as children do. Another essential detail about ADHD which is worth bringing up is the statistics on the ADHD records and the patients’ gender. In the given case, it is not as easy to figure out the relations between the two issues as in the previous one. As Buitelaar, Kan and Anderson explain, Although there is a general agreement that gender-related differences exist in comorbid conditions, these differences have been described in clusters: boys have been found to have more â€Å"externalizing† disorders, and girls have be en described as tending to have more â€Å"internalizing† disorders such as anxiety and depression. (Buitelaar, Kan Anderson, 2011, 18) Therefore, judging by the existing evidence, there is little to no correlation between the gender and the possibility of developing ADHD among adults. However, when considering the instances of children developing an ADHD syndrome, one will discover a completely different picture. As the research says, boys are subjected to the risks of developing an ADHD syndrome to a much higher degree than girls. Mostly explained by the specifics of boys’ psychological development, this is an inevitable scientific fact: In childhood, boys are three times as likely as girls to have A.D.H.D. Boys with the disorder tend to be more hyperactive and impulsive and are more likely to develop oppositional behavior, conduct problems and later delinquency than girls, though girls, too, can develop these problems.   (Barkley, 2011)Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The Basic Information in a Nutshell specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More According to the authors, the fact that boys are more subject to the ADHD syndrome can be explained by the specifics of upbringing and the emotional development, namely, the fact that boys are not encouraged to express their feelings in the open and, hence, are under much more strain than girls are. Therefore, when boys set their emotions loose, the consequences are much bigger and the boys’ hyperactivity level is much higher than the one of the girls. â€Å"With ADHD represent a more significant proportion of adults with ADHD than has been previously recognized. (Buitelaar, Kan Anderson, 2011, 18).Therefore, it can be considered that the chances of men developing ADHD are only slightly higher than the ones of women. As it has been stated above, the symptoms of ADHD have not been fully explor ed or described yet; there are only vague assumptions as for what a person with ADHD might behave like and in what way his/her behavior might differ from the rest of people. However, one can hardly demand more in the case when even doctors are not quite sure whether ADHD exists or it is another excuse for the lack of willingness to concentrate. Nevertheless, some of the specifics of behavioral problems which people with ADHD display have been described in a rather exhaustive manner, which gives another reason to reconsider these symptoms. However, in the given case, it is necessary to keep in mind that there is a child ADHD syndrome and an adult one. Since the two groups are on different levels of psychological development and have different emotional specifics, the symptoms of the ADHD development in each group are going to vary. To start with, as the research results say, the key symptoms of ADHD in adults are: Problems with becoming organized Inability to concentrate Family issu es Problems with relaxation Inability to find a way to start working on something Constantly being late on something Outbursts of rage Troubles with priorities (Tuckman, 2007). As for children, ADHD symptoms are quite similar. According to Everett and Everett, there are two key signs that a child is developing an ADHD syndrome: The child is hyperactive and cannot focus; The child is dreamy and cannot focus (Everett Everett, 2001). As it can be easily spotted, the two symptoms are quite opposite to each other; the child can be either too active or, on the contrary, lack activeness. However, in both cases, the inability to focus is represented. Therefore, the key symptom of ADHD is the inability to concentrate.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More However, when diving deeper into the specifics of ADHD development in children, one will see that there is more than just the inability to pay attention that children with ADHD suffer. As Everett Everett explain, the problem is even more complicated – children with ADHD often fail to understand, start and/or complete the task which they are offered, disregarding the task complexity. Therefore, it can be assumed that the problem goes beyond lacking focus; ADHD obviously decreases the students’ motivation, leaving them lacking any interest in the activities which they used to enjoy (Everett Everett, 2001). Therein lies the difficulty of the problem – incorporating the biological and the psychological issues, it needs a complex solution that will help defeat the disorder not solely on the neurological level, but also on the physiological one. Like any other disorder, ADHD can be explained from a biological point of view. Since there are several perspectives from which the given phenomenon can be explained, it is most reasonable to consider each. To start with, there is a neurological theory concerning where the ADHD syndrome comes from and what factors it is induced by. As Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann and Weiss explain, â€Å"Neurological dysfunction or damage has always been considered an important determinant of ADHD† (Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann Weiss, 2010, 28). Indeed, there are sufficient reasons to consider ADHD primarily a brain dysfunction, since people with ADHD display obvious differences from the rest of the people in their behavior and process of thinking. As it has been stated before, the key symptoms of an ADHD syndrome are memory malfunction and the inability to concentrate, which serve as strong indicators of something going wrong on a neurological level. However, calling ADHD a â€Å"minimal brain damage† (Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann Weiss, 2010, 28) would also mean defining it from a strictly neurologica l point of view, since it is not only the brain, but also the nervous system that suffers. Therefore, apart from a neurological one, there must be another explanation of the ADHD phenomenon. Despite the fact that the phenomenon of ADHD is rather well-known and often researched, its true origins are still a mystery. As Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann and Weiss claim, there is a reason why the neurological theory of ADHD is so popular among most doctors: Many of these theories are used to support treatments that are profitable to providers, but costly to patients in terms of both delaying effective treatment and of unnecessary dollars spent. More recently, researchers have tended to put more of their effort into investigating causes of ADHD that are supported by empirical data. (Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann Weiss, 2010, 29) Therefore, there are reasons to search for some explanations of ADHD other than the neurological one. As Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann and Weiss assert, the factors w hich enhance development of ADHD are much more diverse than most researchers used to think and involve not only neurological, but also social aspects and the aspects of genetics: â€Å"Our knowledge of ADHD has increased through study of genetics, neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, risk factors associated with pregnancy, and other environmental influences† (Weiss, Trokenberg-Hentchmann Weiss, 2010, 29).Hence, it can be considered that the factors inducing the development of ADHD are not only neurological, but also environmental. As it has been mentioned previously, not only children suffer from ADHD – adults are also disposed to developing the given psychological disorder. However, it is worth mentioning that, in case of an adult developing the symptoms of ADHD, the treatment methods are going to be considerably different from the ones which are usually offered for curing ADHD in children. As a rule, adults are usually prescribed with specific medicine, such as stimulants. If considering some of the most advanced strategies of curing ADHD, one will find out that MAO inhibitors are the most popular medicine for adults. Buitelaar, Kan and Anderson claim that there are several ways of pharmacological treatment acceptable for adults. One of the most common methods is prescribing the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. However, when it is necessary to cause an agonist effect in the patient, norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors, such as Buropropin, can be chosen for an efficient treatment (Buitelaar, Kan Anderson, 2011). In certain cases, however, combined therapy is used. Still, medicine alone will not help – it is only with efficient therapy that one will be able to return to one’s normal state. Speaking of the medicine which is typically prescribed for the children who were diagnosed with an ADHD disorder, one has to mention a comparatively recent scandal concerning Ritalin, its use and its actual effect on children. There are serious concerns that Ritalin is overprescribed and that, when overused, Ritalin can cause even more problems than ADHD disorder, making children more passive. The medicine could actually seem rather innocent and efficient – as a matter of fact, it does have a positive effect on the patients; however, it is still necessary to check whether the game is worth the candles and whether the positive effects of Ritalin are more numerous than the negative ones. If considering the properties of Ritalin as they are listed in the instruction for the medicine, one will not find anything suspicious about Ritalin at all. To paraphrase Palank, Ritalin, the medicine is best known for its ability to make the patients focus (Palank, 2000, 60). Enhancing people’s ability to pay attention and making their memory work in a proper way, Ritalin can be considered a rather decent medicine for curing ADHD. As Palank explains, there has been a record of positive effects of Ritalin: â€Å"The me dication Ritalin is known to enhance a person’s ability to focus† (Palank, 2000, 60). As Palank explains, Ritalin â€Å"is helpful for many people with this disorder† (Palank, 2000, 60). It seems that Ritalin has stood the test of time, which means that doctors have the right to make Ritalin a number one medicine for ADHD. However, what seemed to be an obvious solution might actually turn out another misconception. As Palank confesses, â€Å"There is no evidence that this medication will enhance concentration or focus in individuals without ADD who have normal chemistries† (Palank, 2000, 60). Hence, the question concerning how exactly Ritalin makes the children with ADHD return back to their normal state remains open. Geographically, one can hardly draw any pattern of ADHD development – it seems that the disease cannot be referred to specific regions and affects children and adults disregarding their nationality. It is rather the environment that ma tters for developing ADHD symptoms. Therefore, UAE should not have any outstanding records on the number of ADHD instances in the state. However, checking on the statistics of the ADHD instances will help understand the way the UAE handle the problem of ADHD among children and adults. According to the results of the 2011 research conducted by Khamis, Results indicated that 12.5 % of the children had ADHD symptomatology, and that the prevalence ratio varied across the three ADHD subtypes, with the following rates; 1.5 % for the combined type, 7.5 % for the inattentive type, and 3.5 % for the hyperactive-impulsive type. (Khamis, 2011, 28) Judging by the statistical data offered above, the rates of ADHD among the UAE children are quite high. Therefore, it can be considered that the given type of disorder is rather common in the United Arab Emirates. Determining the key causes of ADHD among the UAE children, Khamis suggested that the family background must be the key factor: â€Å"Rese arch in the Arab world [†¦] has recently indicated that family environment and parental style of influence may be a key cause of ADHD† (Khamis, 2011, 29). Therefore, it can be considered that for UAE, ADHD is quite a topical issue. Reference List Barkley, Dr. (2011, February 11). Men, women and ADHD. The New York Times.  Retrieved from https://consults.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/11/men-women-and-a-d-h-d/ Buitelaar, J. K., Kan, C. C., Anderson, P. (2011). ADHD in adults:  characterization, diagnosis, and treatment. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Echeverri, L. E. V. (2008). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Web. Everett, C. A., Everett, S. V. (2001). Family therapy for ADHD: Treating children,  adolescents and adults. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Gregg, N. Deshler, D. D. (2011). Adolescents and adults with learning disabilities  and ADHD:  Assessment and accommodation. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Khamis, V. (2011). Attention-def icit and hyperactivity among school-age United Arab Emirates children. International Journal of Special Education, 26(3), 28-35. Palank, E. (2000). The god doc: Health, humor and insight to improve your game.  Toronto, CA: Jones Bartlett Learning. Robin, A. L. Barkley, R. A. (1998). ADHD in adolescents:  Diagnosis and  treatment. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Tuckman, A. (2007). Integrative treatment for adult ADHD:  A practical, easy-to-use  guide for clinicians. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications. Weiss, M., Trokenberg-Hentchmann, L., Weiss, G. (2010). ADHD in adulthood: A  guide to current theory, diagnosis, and treatment. Baltimore, MD: JHU Press.

September 11 Conspiracy

September 11 Conspiracy Free Online Research Papers It was a beautiful day outside in New York City on September 11, 2001 though all of that changed. At approximately 8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center (WTC) north tower. The plane hit between floors 94 and 98 (CNN). The ground shook and not one person could have seen something this devastating happen. When the airliner hit the tower, no one really thought the United States was under attack, but that it was just a mistake by the pilot. Those thoughts rapidly changed when 17 minutes later United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the WTC. The plane banked between floors 78 and 84 (CNN). A massive evacuation occurred in both towers and the surrounding buildings. People in the south tower found a stairwell that was unblocked but covered with smoke which led those people to go mistakenly toward the rooftop for a rescue that never came. There were a total of four planes that were hijacked on September 11th. Two of the planes crash into both the north and south tower of the WTC. At 9:43 a.m. American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon (Umminger). The fourth hijacked plane United Airlines 93 crashes in a rural area in Pennsylvania. At 9:59 a.m. the burning horrific south tower stands for 56 minutes 10 seconds before it finally collapses (Umminger). Then at 10:28 a.m. the north tower collapses (Umminger). Both towers’ collapses are viewed live by millions of people, they all watched in awe. Now the citizens of the United States understood that we were in fact under attack. We all remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. The majority of us believed it was the work of Bin Laden and the al-Qaida. Was 9/11 really the work of terrorists? How can a commercial airliner bring down a 110-story building? Did the United States Government do this just to go to war? Nine years later there are still questions that have been left unanswered on that fateful day of 2001. How could we automatically blame the al-Qaida without any forensic investigation? We were told that the Twin Towers collapsed because of a commercial airliner hitting it at about 500 mph. Was it really a commercial airliner? How can a plane that is made mostly out of aluminum pierce through steel? We were also told that United Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. But how could a Boeing 757 whose dimensions are from nose to tail 155ft 3in, wingspan 144ft 10in, and a height of 44ft 6in (Kleist) create a hole 16ft big? We all saw the explosion that the planes made in t he Twin Towers; we all saw them collapse by a single airplane. So if a commercial airplane can melt steel then how come the same explosion and fire damage was not seen at the Pentagon? In July 1945, a B-25 bomber that was lost in the fog had crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building. Of course the Empire State Building did not collapse. In designing the World Trade Center, Leslie Robertson one of the designers, considered the scenario of the impact of a jet airliner, the Boeing 707, which might be lost in the fog, seeking to land at JFK or Newark airports (Loose Change 9/11). Design Engineers made both towers strong enough to withstand this scenario and not collapse but be able to repair the steel. There has never been a modern steel building collapsed by fire, before or after September 11. The melting point of steel is 2,800 °F. Jet fuel can only reach a maximum heat of 1800 °F. We all saw the big black clouds of smoke; those billowing black clouds in fact indicate that the fires were oxygen starved fires. The heat of the fire in the towers was estimated at 500 °F (911 Ripple Effect). Underwriters Laboratory certified the steel to last up to 3 hours before weakening. We were all told that the fire weakened the steel and collapsed the building. How could a commercial airliner collapse this steel reinforced 110-story skyscraper? If a commercial airliner could not have brought down the Twin Towers then what did? There are many theories involving controlled demolitions, that they were planted in the towers to help bring it down and bring it down so perfectly. Well these theories are pretty farfetched, but there is much evidence to support it. â€Å"Ben Fountain, a financial analyst who worked in the WTC complex told People Magazine that in the weeks before 9/11 there were numerous unannounced and unusual drills where sections of both the twin towers and building 7 were evacuated for quote ‘security reasons’. This was obviously the perfect opportunity to place those explosives† (Loose Change 9/11). So if explosives were the cause of the collapse of the Twin Towers, then how did they get in there? A December 2000 assessment of the WTC recommended immediate renovation work on the steel columns contained within the elevator shafts of both Twin Towers (Avery). Turner Construction, a company located on the 38th floor of the north tower was selected to do the job. Turner’s CEO at the time was Tom Leopard, who had personal ties to George W. Bush and Carlos Gutierrez, secretary to the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce is in charge of NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). Turner Construction also did fire proofing work on the very floors that were struck by Flights 11 and 175 (Avery) All the documents pertaining to Turner’s work were destroyed on September 11. In addition, President Bush’s brother, Marvin was on the Board of Directors at Securicom from 1993 until fiscal year 2000. Securicom was an electronic security company which provided security for United Airlines, Dulles International Airport and from the early 1990’s up to September 11, the WTC. So a company with ties to the government agency, which eventually investigated the collapse, was responsible for doing renovation work inside the Twin Towers. And the building’s security was run by a company with family ties to President Bush (Asquith). And we have no records to prove what they did inside the building. Does anything sound suspicious here? Were the Twin Towers brought down by a single airliner, or was it by the help of a controlled demolition? The WTC complex was composed of seven buildings, three of which completely collapsed on the day of the attacks. Not many people remember that there were in fact three buildings from the WTC complex to actually collapse. World Trade Center 7, a 47-story steel-frame skyscraper became the third building to collapse completely. Unlike the Twin Towers, the collapse of WTC 7 had been anticipated for several hours and the building had been evacuated (Questioning the 9/11 attacks). World Trade Center 7 collapsed that day with only visual evidence of five fires in the building and no plane hit it. The reports tell us that the fires weakened the steel and collapsed the building. How can a few fires that started from falling debris of the Twin Towers reach 2,800 °F to melt the steel and collapse the building? Larry Silverstein the lease holder of the World Trade Center stated in a PBS interview and I saidmaybe the smartest thing to do is, is pull itand they made that decision to pull and the n we watched the building collapse† (Questioning the 9/11 attacks). To pull a building is a demolition term. It means to demolish or to bring down by controlled demolition. This building fell the same way the Twin Towers fell, which according to the evidence was brought down by controlled demolition. So are not both of these incidents related to each other? The Pentagon is the most interesting building that was hit on September 11. There are plenty of questions to ask, so I’ll begin with what we were told. We were told that American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. However, the evidence and the pictures of the Pentagon do not indicate at all that a Boeing 757 hit the Pentagon. There was never any wreckage at all that was found from the plane besides a few pieces of debris that were no bigger than the size of your hand. There was no tail, nose, fuselage, wheels, luggage seats, engines, nothing. What really hit the Pentagon? We all witnessed the damage at the Twin Towers. However, the damage at the Pentagon is inconsistent with the damage seen at the Twin Towers. At the World Trade Center we were told that the fire was so intense that it fatigued the steel and collapsed the buildings. However, the pictures taken after the roof of the Pentagon collapsed shows the inconsistency. The left side of the Pentagon shows little heat or smoke damage. There is a file cabinet with a computer monitor on it, both completely intact. There’s also a wooden desk that is perfectly intact and a wooden stool with a book laying open on it, the pages and book are not even singed (911 in Plane Site). All four planes that were hijacked were embarked on transcontinental flights, meaning they will have a majority of their fuel left after landing. About 8,600 gallons of fuel would remain, meaning that 8,600 gallons of fuel would have been ignited at the Pentagon. 8,600 gallons of fuel has a BTU rate of 86 million. A BTU, short for British thermal unit, is a basic measure of thermal (heat) energy. That amount of fuel would’ve reduced that section of the Pentagon to rubble and it would have burned for days. Also, a fuel spill of 8,600 gallons would have posed a large soil removal and disposal project under title 40 code of regulations of the Environmental Assessment Association (911 in Plane Site). The hole after the collapse of the section of the Pentagon was 65 feet across and 73 feet tall. Now how can a Boeing 757 whose dimensions are from nose to tail 155ft 3in, wingspan 144ft 10in, and a height of 44ft 6in (Kleist) create a hole after the collapse that size? As noted earlier, the hole was 16ft, but that was the initial hole that was made before the collapse which brings up the same question. Also, there were no scratches or markings on the lawn. Plane crashes leave huge marks on the grass with signs of the fire torching the lawn. However, the lawn at the Pentagon was perfectly intact. We were also told that the fire completely vaporized the jet which the government had to have said considering nothing from a Boeing 757 was found. So how could forensic investigators correctly identify 184 out of 189 people found at the pentagon? The man who hijacked flight 77 was Hani Hanjour. The government told us that on September 11 Hani Hanjour was able to execute a 330 degree turn at 530 mph, descending 7,000ft in two minutes and 30 seconds (Loose Change 9/11). That maneuver is absolutely impossible without the plane stalling and falling out of the sky. He went to Freeway Airport in Mitchellville Maryland to fly small planes. He already had his pilots’ license and he was merely going there to get checked out in the aircraft (Loose Change 9/11). He went on three test runs and he couldn’t control or land the small plane. The instructor stated that he was an average to below average pilot. Since he was not a very good pilot, how could he have executed an impossible maneuver? The Pentagon is the nerve center for the United States Military. Are we supposed to believe that the military had no anti-aircraft defenses to protect their own headquarters? Shouldn’t the Pentagon be under 24 hour video surveillance? Well in fact, the Pentagon has over 80 surveillance cameras that were running on the day of September 11. Not one has been released. However, a gas station, a Sheridan Hotel, and the Virginia Department of Transportation all captured the events (Loose Change 9/11). In minutes after the attack on the Pentagon the FBI took the tapes with a warning not to discuss what they’ve seen. Instead the FBI released 5 frames, none showing a 757. There were satellite photos taken 4 days before the attack. They show a white line marking the exact trajectory of whatever hit the pentagon 4 days later. The gas station and the Sheridan Hotel videos were finally released in 2006, (Questioning the 9/11 attacks) but none show a clear photo of anything happening on September 11. If the government has nothing to hide, then why are they so afraid to answer a few questions or release the video surveillance taken that day? By now you are probably asking yourself, why would the United States Government do something like this? There are hundreds of government contractors in Iraq right now with countless contracts. Here is one contract that was awarded to Halliburton. The Houston Chronicle reported that 82,000 gallons of liquid propane fuel were to be transported to Bagdad. It wasn’t going to be transported from the United States to Bagdad, but from Kuwait to Bagdad, a distance of about 300 miles. Now it would take about ten trucks to transport this much fuel 300 miles. It would cost about one dollar per mile per truck, for a total of about $3,000. Though, if it was a government contract the charge would be around two or three times that amount, or around $10,000. However, Halliburton was awarded 27.5 million dollars to do the very same job (Lewis). How much of your tax dollars went to paying for this job? Would it not have been cheaper to have ten privates drive those trucks that distance? Is thi s a war really a war on terror, or a war for profit? The number one question that people ask is, if the plane didn’t hit the Pentagon then where did it go? If the plane that hit the south tower wasn’t Flight 175, then where did it go? Where are all those people? Giving my opinion would make this paper a conspiracy theory, instead of just a conspiracy. However, consider the following scenario. Let me say that you have to put a loved one on a bus bound from New York to Boston. You put them on a Greyhound bus and watch them leave, waving to them. A couple hours later there’s a news report claiming that the Greyhound bus skidded out of control crashed and exploded. A couple weeks later, someone who just happened to have a camcorder shows up with a video tape of the event. When you examine the video you see that the bus in the video says Trail Ways on the side of it. So then where did the Greyhound bus go? If your loved one was on that bus, you would want to know. So should we laugh and ridicule the people who ask where the Greyhound bus is? That is where we are with the September 11 conspiracy. We may never find out what happened to Flight 77 or Flight 175. However, the evidence screams that we need to reinvestigate what really happened on September 11, 2001. Research Papers on September 11 ConspiracyNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This Nice19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationTwilight of the UAWBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XGenetic EngineeringPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMind TravelPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyDefinition of Export Quotas

TV Nation

TV Nation TV Nation Towering from their podiums, Bush and Gore stand their ground as they answered the arsenal of political questions presented. Gore, quick to answer every time, displays to the public a sense of determination and intuitiveness only a man ready to lead would. Sadly though, he made a vital mistake. Gore wore a blue tie when Bush knew to where a red one. being no dummy, we as the public all know that a real leader whereas a power tie such as red. Bush my not have a lot of solid answers but he shirr looks like an authority on TV with that beautiful tie presenting him as "smart, conning, and by God powerful!" This might have been Gore's poorest judgment call, even though he made a lot of sense with what he was saying. The public needs a leader that is smart, and looks good on TV. By the end of the election it is no wonder that Bush won.Bush's LimoHe was simply the best looking in the media's eyes. Unfortunately this is not far from the reality of this year's election. As the publi c was captured by which man seemed to love his wife more on TV, most missed the importance of the issues at hand. Some people called this the 'feminization' of our media, personally for a while now it would be a stronger argument to say that TV is the 'dummyfication' of our important political business. Taking a look at the history of TV, more examples and the effect it has had, it's safe to say that TV has destroyed how we conduct our important matters.It used to be that people used societal "junk" as a means to get away from the important stuff. In the 30's during the Great Depression people were...

Maillard Reaction and Why Foods Brown

Maillard Reaction and Why Foods Brown The Maillard reaction is the name given to the set of chemical reactions between amino acids and reducing sugars that causes browning of foods, such as meats, breads, cookies, and beer. The reaction is also used in sunless tanning formulas.  Like caramelization, the Maillard reaction produces browning without any enzymes, making it a type of non-enzymatic reaction. While caramelization relies solely on heating carbohydrates, heat is not necessarily needed for the Maillard reaction to occur and proteins or amino acids must be present. Many foods brown due to a combination of caramelization and the Maillard reaction. For example, when you toast a marshmallow, the sugar carmelizes, but it also reacts with the gelatin through the Maillard reaction. In other foods, enzymatic browning further complicates the chemistry. Although people have known how to brown food pretty much since the discovery of fire, the process was not given a name until 1912, when  French chemist Louis-Camille Maillard described the reaction. Chemistry of the Maillard Reaction The specific chemical reactions that cause food to brown depend on the chemical composition of the food and a host of other factors, including temperature, acidity, the presence or absence of oxygen, the amount of water, and the time allowed for the reaction. Many reactions are occurring, making new products that themselves begin reacting. Hundreds of different molecules are produced, changing the color, texture, flavor, and aroma of food. In general, the Maillard reaction follows these steps: The carbonyl group of a sugar reacts with the amino group of an amino acid. This reaction yields N-substituted glycosylamine and water.The unstable glycosylamine forms ketosamines through the  Amadori rearrangement. The Amadori rearrangement signals the start of the reactions that cause browning.The ketosamine may react to form reductones and water. Brown nitrogenous polymers and melanoidins may be produced. Other products, such as diacetyl or pyruvaldehyde may form. Although the Maillard reaction occurs at room temperature, heat at  140 to 165  Ã‚ °C (284 to 329  Ã‚ °F) aids the reaction. The initial reaction between the sugar and the amino acid is favored under alkaline conditions.

The Best SAT Math Practice Tests and Questions

The Best SAT Math Practice Tests and Questions SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips For SAT Math prep, no matter your strategy- whether you’re doing self-study, taking a prep class, or working with a tutor- you need to be working with real SAT Math practice materials. The SAT Math test will be different from any other math test you’ve taken. You need to work with the real material to get used to the pacing and style of this unique test. In this short guide, I’ll show you where to find official SAT Math practice tests and questions, and go over what materials to avoid. Best SAT Math Practice Tests, Free and Official All of the following SAT Math tests are completely free. We've gathered together all of them in one place for your convenience. There are currently 10 official practice tests. You can download them here or take them online at Khan Academy (see next section for more details). Math Practice Test 1 Pages 34-56 Math Practice Test 2 Pages 32-53 Math Practice Test 3 Pages 32-55 Math Practice Test 4 Pages 30-54 Math Practice Test 5 Pages 38-65 Math Practice Test 6 Pages 42-67 Math Practice Test 7 Pages 34-59 Math Practice Test 8 Pages 36-61 Math Practice Test 9 Pages 458-482 Math Practice Test 10 Pages 332-353 You can find the scoring guides and answer explanations onthe official College Board website. The official SAT prep bookis not worth purchasing because it's all available for free online. The only reason you might want to buy it is that it includes eight of the practice tests listed above in print form so you don't have to print them out yourself (it's missing tests 2 and 4). Official Math SAT Prep at Khan Academy If you want a little extra prep (which you likely will since there aren't many official practice tests), there are a bunch of official Math practice questions available as part of Khan Academy’s free SAT prep.To access them, you’ll need to sign up for an account, but it's free and tracks your progress over time. On Khan Academy, the SAT lessons and practice questions are divided by type, so they're very helpful for more targeted studying.There’s a lot of math content, which can help you brush up on concepts you might have missed or forgotten. You can see a sample Math question below: Math Practice Questions on the Official SAT Website Finally, the College Board offersa short SAT Math practice sectionon its website. This feature includes30 calculator questionsand18 no-calculator questions. These are all different from those in the 10 practice tests above, so if you'd like more SAT Math practice, this is a great resource to use. The only drawback to these online SAT Math questions is thatthey're not given in a practice test format- rather, you'll be shown the correct answer after every question. Nevertheless, the quality of these questions is unbeatable. Additional SAT Math Materials In general, I recommend against any SAT Math practice tests that were not written by the College Boardas it won’t be realistic practice.You want to use real practice materials so that you can ensure you’re taking tests that reflect the actual content and difficulty of the SAT. If you take practices tests made by other companies, they might be more or less difficult and might not include all the content on the actual SAT Math section. That said,unofficial tests can still be great for practicing math skills- just not for practicing SAT-style questions. SATMath, more than any other section on the test, is based on knowledge, so having plenty of materials to practice the different math skills required is important (and poor or inaccurate formatting doesn't always matter as much). Check out our massive collection of SAT study material for a list of both official and unofficial SAT practice tests. If you still want more SAT Math study material- and don't mind spending a little cash- look at our guide to the best SAT Math prep books. Get your study on! How to Use SAT Math Practice Tests Effectively: 4 Tips Since you have a limited number of full-length SAT practice tests (with a total of 10 Math practice tests), each one is a precious commodity. You need to make sure you get the most out of each one. Here are my top four tips to best use your SAT Math practice tests: Tip 1:Take Full-Length Practice Tests Under Realistic Testing Conditions Take each full-length SAT practice test in one sitting with accurate timing and realistic testing conditions. That means sitting for about four hours (if you're including the Essay in your practice). Only allow yourself the prescribed time per section; the time allowed is listed at the beginning of each section. Use a watch to time yourself. You need to get used to the timing of the SAT and learn to pace yourself.Don’t give yourself any extra time on a section.If you do, you might be able to answer extra questions and therefore artificially inflate your score. Remember, you want these practice tests to be reliable indicators of your real SAT score, so no cheating! I recommend taking each official SAT practice test in one sitting (in other words, don't sit for the Math tests one day and then taking the Reading and Writing tests another day).The SAT is a marathon, and you won’t be fully prepared for it if you don’t take the practice tests in one go. If you don’t have time to take each of the official practices tests in one sitting (one sitting will be about four hours per test), then you can split the sections over multiple days, but make sure you take at least one full section each day (e.g., you complete the whole Math No Calculator section). NOTE:Realistic testing conditions means obeying all test rules. On the SAT Math section, be sure to only use your calculator on the calculator-permitted Math section (section 4)- and do not use your calculator on the No Calculator section (section 3). You need to get used to doing mental math! Don’t cheat in your practice or you won’t be prepared the day of the SAT. Use a watch, not a phone! Tip 2: Review Your Practice My second tip is toreview your practice tests!When you finish, score your practice test.Then, look at the in-depth answer explanations for every question you got wrong. Try to figure out where you went wrong.Do not skip this step! If you do, you're not going to learn from your errors, and you'll continue making them. Spend at least an hour reviewing your SAT practice tests (or at least 15 minutes per section). While it might seem like a lot of study time wasted, I promise it’s not. It’s the most valuable time spent because it’s the time where you’ll learn from your mistakes. If you don’t have a lot of study time, I recommend taking two SAT practice tests with detailed review, and then at least four SAT Math practice tests with no review. Tip 3: Practice Skills Between Tests Some students see the improvement they want by simply taking practice tests and familiarizing themselves with the pace and style of the SAT. However, most students need to review math concepts that they forgot, never learned, or never quite mastered. In-between practice tests, I highly recommend that youread our individual SAT Math content guides. These guides address the specific content areas (i.e., Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry, Systems of Equations, etc.) that you need to master to do well on SAT Math. After taking your first practice test, see whether you can figure out why you got thosemath questions wrong.Did you skip a step? Did you misread the question? Or did you not know the content needed to solve a question? If you didn't know how to solve a question, then you need to review that content! Tip 4: Get Help If You Need It If you’re not improving with each practice test, look for extra help: consider supplementing the SAT practice tests with a tutor, class, book (such as the ones above) or program.While some people might be able to learn from their mistakes on practice tests through self-study, most need outside help to identify their weaknesses and to help them improve. Whatever prep you choose, know that a good prep program should be personalized to your specific needs,focusing on your area of weakness while not wasting your time covering topics you’ve already mastered. What’s Next? Interested in testing yourself with the hardest SAT Math questions out there? Check out our 13 toughest SAT Math question guide. Running out of time on the SAT Math section? Our guide will help you beat the clock and maximize your score. Aiming for a perfect SAT score? Check out our guide on how to get a perfect 800 on the SAT Math section, written by a real perfect scorer. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial: