Cheating on the SAT Spreads to the United States

Cheating on the SAT Spreads to the United States SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Not again! Allegations of cheating swirl around the latest administration of the SAT on May 2. While recent scandalshave sprung fromAsian countries like China and South Korea, this one is centered on the U.S.-based test, which hundreds of thousands of students took at the beginning of May. It seems that communication technology and time zone differences around the world have punchedholes in the SAT's security. Let's take a look at what's unfolded in this investigation so far. Allegations Around the May 2 SAT Lots of students take the SAT in the spring, many of whom are juniors hoping to hit their target scores in time for college deadlines senior year. This most recent administration on May 2 has allegations of a major security breach. Educational Testing Service (ETS)officials suspectthat students may have had access to the test, or at least to some "live" questions, before test day. This was first reported publicly by a Washington Post writer who received a copy of the May 2 test a day before the official test. The reporter did not report the source, but this release was clearly not approved by the College Board. Thus, an unknown number of students around the country could have had access to this test ahead of time. She was not the only one to report this leak. The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, or FairTest, is committed to ensuring that standardized tests are fair and open. According to its public education director Bob Schaeffer, FairTest was emailed a version of the SAT before it was actually administered to students. Since no one is supposed to see the test before students take it, he and others gathered that this was a major security breach, likely on a global scale. It would be very easy to score a 2300+ score on the SAT with prior access to the test, which would disrupt the rest of the grading scale. SAT test scores are designed to be resistant to fluctuations in tester quality from test to test, but if a single test has an abundance of undetected cheaters, this would disrupt the normal statistics in the exam. Any students whose scores will be withheld should have been notified by this point, but ETS has not yet released any further information about the findings of its investigation. College Board takes security around the SAT very seriously. SAT tests and questions are saved on computers that aren't connected to the internet. They are highly classified and accessible only toETSofficials with clearance for direct access. Test proctors are required to report any suspicious behavior on test day. So given the high security around the SAT, how could live questions have been leaked before test day? The findings aren't known yet. It's possible that a leak happened in the process of shipping tests to test centers, or that an internal staff member at College Board released the test. But there have been clear methods of systematic cheating in the past, primarily in Asia. Global Connections Among Cheating Rings This recent investigation in the U.S. is just one piece of the larger global puzzle. Students scores were actually withheld in Asian countries in October, November, December, and January. In January of this year, all scores were withheld for Chinese students who tested both in China and outside of their country. Because of recent regulations about whichschools can administer the SAT, most Chinese nationals have to travel outside of mainland China, like to Hong Kong or Macao, to take the test. Along similar lines, all scores were canceled in 2013 in South Korea. All of the tutoring centers in Seoul were investigated, and educators were even barred from leaving the country. In 2010, a school in Seoul emailed live SAT questions to two Korean students who lived in Connecticut. When their scores jumped hundreds of points, ETS audited their results and discovered the cheating on the SAT. So what do these cases of cheating in China, South Korea, and other countries have to do with this most recent one in the U.S.? Apparently ETS recycles tests that have already been administered in the U.S. to use internationally, like in China, South Korea, and Australia. Because the U.S. and these other countries are in different time zones, this policy creates a vulnerability that many companies have taken advantage of togain access to live tests and then shareor sellthem to students. According to Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post's "Answer Sheet," this access tothe SAT may be gainedthrough a 5step process. It's a small world after all. The 5 Step "Time Zone" Cheating Process The securityof the SAT has been compromised for a number of reasons, the most important of which aregeographic dispersion, time zone differences of 12 or more hours, recycling of already used tests,and technology that allows people to instantly transmit questions and answers. The following steps illustrate one way thattesting companies seem to be illegally obtaining and selling live questions and answers. People in the U.S. gain access to previously administered SAT tests and share or sell them to overseas "tutoring" and educational companies. These overseas companies keep extensive databases of any and all SAT questions and answers. Because ETS reuses tests in Asia and other countries, manyof these questions are "live" and will show up on future tests. These companies enlist "hired guns" to sit for the SAT. They advertise this on online message boards like QQ, WeChat, and Taobao. When these employees sit for the SAT, often in a time zone hours ahead of China, they share the questions and answers. People have been found with earpieces or taking pictures of their cell phones and sharing the information during breaks between sections. After receiving the questions and answers, the company immediately searches through its database to locate the questions and answers that will be given to students in their time zone soon thereafter. Finally, theyadvertise this information and contact their clients. These companies transmit the information to paying clients, who might put the answers in their cell phones or program them into their calculators. This allseems like an elaborate plan just to get access to the SAT, but the high level of competition and pressure creates a substantial market for this kind of easy information. While in the past most cheating allegations had to do with impersonation, or with one student sitting in for another, now they zero in onmore advanced operations that take advantage of time zone differences and instant communication through online chats and cell phones. Given these breaches that seem to be happening more and more in the past few years, what security measures does ETS have in place to protect the confidentiality of the SATbefore testing day? Security Measures Tightened As mentioned above, the major vulnerability around the SAT used to be one of identity impersonation. On Long Island, New York in 20, for example, high schoolstudents were found guilty of paying college students to sit in for them and take the test in their stead. Since then, ETS has required students to upload photographs along with their IDs. Besides this, ETS has its testing materials on serious lockdown before the test is administered and is very strict about testing guidelines for students and proctors. However, the time zone changesamong countries and policy of recycling already used tests opens up a window for companies and students to get earlyexposure to the questions. So is ETS going to find a way to close this window? When recycling is not the best policy... Will ETS Stop Recycling Old Tests? FairTest's Bob Schaeffer is adamant that ETS should stop reusing tests given in the U.S. in Asia. According to Schaeffer, it's impossible to keep these tests confidential today given our global connectedness and technology. Perhaps because these types of cheating on the SAT scandals are a relatively recent phenomenon, or because the cost of creating brand new tests is high, ETS has not changed this policy yet. Another small step they might take is to train test proctors to be even stricter about confiscating cell phones and any other devices, as well as having students clear the memory on their programmable calculators. It has yet to be seen what new guidelines and rules will be put in place, but the huge scale of score cancellations and allegations of cheating month after month seem to demand some change be put in place. Without addressing these issues, ETS will surely continue to have controversy around how the SAT can beused as a fair evaluation of students' readiness forcollege around the world. As I talked about above, ETS and FairTest have not shared that they know how many students actually had access to the leaked SAT information. As this and other investigations continue, what does it mean for students who have taken or plan to take the SAT in the future? What Do These Security Breaches Mean for Students? Whileallegations of cheatingon the SAT are relatively rare for the majority of students, they do affect a few thousand each year. ETS has about 2,500 tests flagged each year for suspicious scores, and of these, it might withhold about 1,000 of them. Rather than a highlysynced system of espionage with earpieces and massive databases, these cases are usually much more low-key. ETS does an audit if they see a huge score increase, like a 350+ increase in reading and math combined or a 250+ increase overall. If something about your scores from one test to the next seem unbelievable, ETS could delay your scores. In some cases, they might release them later, or they might require you to send letters on your behalf testifying to your preparation between the two tests. This can be a huge holdup and especially stressful if your college deadlines are approaching, and you don't have much time to retake the test. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, I would recommend taking every SAT you take seriously. You can definitely start early and take the SAT several times to raise your scores, but I wouldn't recommend sitting for the SAT without having done at least 10 hours of prep first, at least to get yourself familiar with the format, instructions, and timing of the test. This is especially important for students who speak a language other than English at home. I worked with an English Language Learner student whose scores were canceled after the proctor saw her flipping through her test booklet. The proctor suspected she was returning to sections after time had been called. It turned out she hadn't fully understood the instructions and didn't know this wasn't allowed. Luckily, she had time to take the SAT again, but only after calling all her colleges and asking them to extend deadlines for her SAT score reports! The moral of the story is thatyou always want to do at least some test prep before sitting for the real test, even if just to ensure that you understand the specific instructions for each section. So what does ETS tell your colleges if it cancels your scores? In most cases, ETS does not specify a reason for cancelled scores, but admissions officers can fill in the blanks. You don't want anything to raise a red flag in your application, least of all an investigated and invalidatedSAT score. Unfortunately, that might just be what's going to happen for students who took the SAT on May 2, as it did for students in China and South Korea in recent years. Time will tell about the results of this investigation. In the meantime, remember that prepping, not cheating, is always the best policy when it comes to the SAT - and leave yourself plenty of extra opportunities to retake the test in case you're unlucky enough to find yourself in the midstof a national cheating scandal! What's Next? Are you planning to take the SAT once? Twice? As many times as College Board will allow? Read about how many times you can (and should) plan on taking the SAT to achieve your target scores. Does the thought of sitting down for the SAT make your stomach turn? This article discusses how mindfulness and simple relaxation techniques can help you calm your nerves and focus on the task at hand. You know that preparing is important for the SAT, but exactly how many hours should you study? Read about a solid test prep schedule for the SAT here. Want to improve your SAT score by 240 points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

A Brief History of the Doomsday Clock

A Brief History of the Doomsday Clock In June 1947, almost two years after the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by atomic bombs, the first issue of the magazine Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was printed, featuring a stylized clock on its cover. The clock displayed the time seven minutes to midnight, a symbolic representation of how close humanity was to destroying itself in a nuclear war, at least according to the judgment of the Bulletins editors. Since then, the Doomsday Clock has been an ever-present fixture on the world stage, set back when nations behave reasonably, set forward when international tensions wax, a constant reminder of how close we are to catastrophe. As you can probably infer from its title, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was created by, well, atomic scientists: this magazine started as a mimeographed newsletter circulated among the scientists working on the Manhattan Project, an intensive, four-year effort that culminated in the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. (The Bulletin is still published today, no longer in print form, since 2009, but on the web.) In the 70 years since its appearance, the mission of the Doomsday Clock has been slightly tweaked: it no longer refers specifically to the threat of nuclear war, but now signifies the likelihood of other doomsday scenarios as well, including climate change, global epidemics, and the unforeseen dangers posed by new technologies. The Ups and Downs of the Doomsday Clock One common misapprehension about the Doomsday Clock is that its updated in real time, like a stock-market ticker. In fact, the clock is only changed after meetings of the Bulletins advisory board, which happen twice a year (and even then, the decision is often  taken to keep the time as it is). In fact, the Doomsday Clock has only been set forward or back 22 times since 1947. Here are some of the most notable occasions when this has happened: 1949: Moved up to three minutes to midnight after the Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb. 1953: Moved up to two minutes to midnight (the closest the Doomsday Clock has ever reached this mark) after the U.S. tests its first hydrogen bomb. 1963: Moved back to 12 minutes to midnight after the U.S. and the Soviet Union sign the Partial Test Ban Treaty. (One interesting side note: the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 started, and was resolved, in between meetings of the Bulletins advisory board. One imagines that if the clock had been reset during these seven tense days, it would have displayed a time of 30 or even 15 seconds to midnight.) 1984: Moved up to three minutes to midnight  as the Soviet Union is mired in war in Afghanistan and the U.S., under Ronald Reagan, deploys nuclear-tipped Pershing II missiles in western Europe. The international social fabric is further weakened by the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games and the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Olympic Games. 1991: Moved back to 17 minutes to midnight (the farthest away the clocks minute hand has ever been) after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 2007: Moved up to five minutes to midnight after North Korea tests its first atomic bomb; for the first time, the Bulletin also recognizes global warming (and the lack of firm action to counter it) as an imminent threat to civilization. 2017: Moved up to two  and one-half minutes to midnight (the closest the clock has been since 1953) following Donald Trumps tweets touting the U.S. nuclear arsenal  and the prospect of decreased legislative action to slow global warming. How Useful is the Doomsday Clock? As arresting an image as it is, its unclear just how much of an effect the Doomsday Clock has had on public opinion and international policy. Clearly, the clock had more of an impact in, say, 1953, when the prospect of a Soviet Union armed with hydrogen bombs conjured up images of World War III. Over the ensuing decades, though, one can argue that the Doomsday Clock has had more of a numbing than an inspiring effect: when the world is constantly a few minutes from global catastrophe, and the apocalypse never quite happens, most people will choose to ignore current events and focus on their daily lives. In the end, your faith in the Doomsday Clock will depend on your faith in the Bulletins high-powered advisory board and its network of professional experts. If you accept the evidence in favor of global warming and are alarmed by nuclear proliferation, youre likely to take the clock more seriously than those who dismiss these as relatively minor issues. But whatever your views, the Doomsday Clock at least serves as a reminder that  these problems need to be addressed, and hopefully soon.

Case Study 2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

2 - Case Study Example According to this vision of the WTTC new tourism industry should: have positive impact on natural, social and cultural environments; be more attractive for a skilled workforce; introduce innovations through adoption of new technologies, and stimulate consumer demand for sustainable growth (WTTC, n.d.). There are three strategic priorities identified in the WTTC’s blueprint. There priorities are: The first priority is based on the idea to ensure that people have freedom to travel across the borders in efficient and safe way. This concept means that there should be made focus on smarter visa processes, trusted traveler programs, and more visa waiver agreements (WTTC, n.d.). WTTC states that facilitation of visa is an ongoing priority for the organization as this measure should encourage inbound tourism, create millions of new jobs, and generate billions to national economies (WTTC, n.d.). Thus, for example, according to the assumptions given in the WTTC/UNWTO report 2013, visa facilitation on APEC region could lead to increase of tourists by 57 million and growth of GDP by $89 billion, and add 2.6 million jobs (WTTC report, 2014). Policies for growth can have significant impact on the travel and tourism industry. WTTC promotes creating of a tax regime, as well as campaigns government to plan and invest into infrastructure development. Policies that will make business environment healthy and favorable for private sector will stimulate development of tourism and travel industry (WTTC, n.d.). WTTC reinforces the role of government in this process and focuses on reduction of the tax burden on the tourism sector (WTTC, n.d.). Tourism for tomorrow addresses the challenges which travel and tourism sector is more likely to face because of its growth and development. This third strategic priority implies a necessity to balance three integral elements: people, profits and

Performance-Based, Portfolio, Nonverbal Assessment Strategies Essay

Performance-Based, Portfolio, Nonverbal Assessment Strategies - Essay Example By utilizing informal assessments, educators can target learners’ precise problem areas, adjust instruction, and intercede earlier before it is too late. Constant assessments are mainly significant for English language learners (ELLs). Regular tests in English do not normally echo ELLs' true content abilities or knowledge. However, informal assessments can offer a better-rounded image of their abilities, skills and ongoing progress. The No Child Left Behind act agitates that thorough records should be maintained on the growth of ELLs (Colorado, 2007). Storing these records will make it much easier when questions of grading, program placement and special services arise. There are two normally used informal techniques: portfolio assessment and performance-based assessment. Both techniques make use of typical classroom events to measure growth towards curricular objectives and goals. These actions can be witnessed and recorded by educator observation, as well as student self-asse ssment. This paper will explain at least three informal language proficiency instruments an educator can use in his/her classroom to determine Maria’s level of comprehension.d in classroom instructions, as well as everyday tasks (Tannenbaum, 2009). An educator can utilize performance-based assessments to evaluate ELLs' language proficiency, as well as academic success, through presentations, oral reports, written assignments, demonstrations, as well as portfolios. These assessments can comprise of both products (e.g., group projects) and processes (e.g., numerous drafts of a writing sample). An educator can use observation checklists and scoring rubrics to assess and grade his/her students. These tools can help in aiding ELLs' growth over a short period of time (Colorado, 2007). When using performance-based assessments, it is vital to set up clear and fair criteria from the start. It may be useful to develop these criteria together with other specialists or teachers at the sc hool (Colorado, 2007). Performance-based assessments encourage a broad range of responses. They normally do not generate one single, accurate answer. Hence, evaluation of learner performances and products should be rooted in a teacher’s judgment, using the criteria set for each and every task. An educator can develop assessment actions, which are specified to his/her ELLs' level of English understanding. Performance-based assessment actions can center on reading or oral communication. Some of the activities comprise of: reading in groups, narrating tales, role playing, providing descriptions using visual prompts, telling a tale through a sequence of a couple of pictures, completing dialogue through visual prompts, debating, brainstorming, playing games and completing incomplete stories. When using performance-based assessments with intermediate and beginner English proficiency level, it is advisable to assess less than three items at a time (Tannenbaum, 2009). For instance, d uring role play, an educator might assess the learner’s abilities to reply to "where" and "what" questions; respond to clarification and read telephone numbers or addresses. Portfolio Assessments Portfolios are convenient ways of evaluating student work all through the academic year. With this method, an educator can thoroughly collect evocative

Transformative Learning Essay Example for Free

Transformative Learning Essay Transformative learning is defined as â€Å"a process of getting beyond gaining factual knowledge alone to instead become changed by what one learns in some meaningful way.†(Wikipedia).     Michael Tsao, Kasuyo Takahashi, Jamal Olusesi, and Shikha Jain of the University of Georgia, defined transformative learning as, â€Å"learning to purposively question one’s own assumptions, beliefs, feelings, and perspectives in order to grow or mature personally and intellectually (Wikipedia). Transformative learning was introduced by Jack Mezirow in 1978 as an adult education but over the years, Susan Imel noted that it has evolved into a comprehensive and complex description of how learners construe, validate, and reformulate the meaning of their experience. † (Imel as cited by Mark Smith). According to Carrie Paechster, transformative learning does not only focus upon the transmission of existing knowledge but also acknowledges the importance of new knowledge being produced with in workplace communities.† (p8) He noted that â€Å"a role for a theory of instruction as well as the focus on the social processes, relationships, and resources that are needed to support learning.†(p. 68).   Paechter emphasized that â€Å"instruction in this sense involves ensuring that the goals of learning are clear and people are encouraged thinking beyond the immediate circumstances.† (p.68).   Thus, transformative learning has become an important option for individuals to have, and to experience as this could enhance one’s potentiality and the ability to cope with the increasing pressures of the day to day circumstances.   It is quite common that there are circumstances that sometimes difficult to handle especially when encounter engine trouble along the way with no one else to help.   This often poses problem not only in matters of schedule but in physical safety as well. International Association for Continuing Education and Training, Juanita S Stein and Shanan Farmer stated that transformative learning â€Å"opens door to substantial learning experiences that can be cultivated in a life long scope of practice† (p. 199).   They pointed further that transformative learning provides a perspective and can be associated with strategies that will cultivate an approach to reflective practice, cope with change, and create solutions that will be indigenous to the participants† (p.   199). Design and Implementation Since there are not many resources for an established design and implementation of transformative learning in the university context, here is a practical design and implementation of transformative learning in the university context. The university will adopt a non formal yet practical education in basic and practical know-how which offers basic knowledge and skills in the following fields of experience: Car engine trouble shooting, plumbing and basic life saving technique. This course is designed to equip and empower students to handle unexpected problem by them particularly in a situation where help is not possible. This course is a two months program which classes are to be held every afternoon on Saturdays. The concept of this program was derived from an information relates by Fordham University at an international conference in Williamsburg USA in 1967, about a growing â€Å"world educational crises† Non formal Practical education will offer practical education which aim not only theoretically well feed but also practically well rounded. This short-term program has to be adopted by the university as an arm of the university in helping out-of-school youth and adults.   This will be offered free of tuition fee except of miscellaneous expenses.   All applicants of this program must present requirements such as birth certificate, residence certificate, endorsement of the local community officials and good moral character from previous school attended for out-of-school youth.   Those who can complete the program will be given certificates of compliance which he can use in applying for a job and for any purpose it may serve him or her. The classes will be held every Saturday afternoon within the duration of four months during regular classes, and two months during summer classes in which classes are held during Saturdays and Sundays. Critical Discussion of the Design and Outcome Non-formal education is a two-month course designed to provide students a new perspective, a new experience that will help them ‘cope with change and create solutions that will be indigenous to the participants.’ In this course, the experience that the students get will help them realize that they have potentials and they could explore based on this new experience. As they ponder upon their lives, they will come to know themselves in terms of their potentials.   As Jack Mezerow defines transformative learning, â€Å"it is the process by which we transform our taken-for-granted frames of reference† (as cited in Eric Digest).   That is, perspective mindset, habits, and mind to make them more inclusive, discriminating, open, emotionally capable of change, and reflective so that they generate beliefs and opinions that will prove more time or justified to guide actions. By participating in the non-formal practical education, as Nancy Franz stated, â€Å"the goal of transformative learning theory is the empowerment through critical reflection for a more participating learning society; the participants are expected to become socially involved particularly if anyone is need of help.   This non-formal practical education is designed to equip and empower participants with practical know-how.    It means that the participants develop a new meaning or perspective of their experience from a new context derived from triggering events and through conversation with others to assess and justify their own assumptions. Thus, transformative learning has become important thing for every adult individual to have and to experience as this could enhance one’s potentiality. Reflection Most of the students who have undergone non-formal practical education are quite confident and has developed a sense of self-worth knowing that they are not only professional who are experts in office or business related matters.   Confident that in a sense, they knew that within them are the technical skills they have developed out of their new experience. The knowledge that they got from this experience have transformed their minds from a helpless-need help individuals at particular circumstances to-do-it myself attitude.   The transformation of their mindset has enable them to face and to cope up with day to day real life challenges with a sense of pride that they could handle even the worst case scenario. Most of all, the program give the students a hope and an opportunity to gain skills which they can use in order to survive in this world.    Work Cited Franz, Nancy 2007. Adult Education: Theories Informing Cooperative Extension’s Transformation.   Journal of Extention. http://www.joe.org/200/February/a1.shtml. Stein, J Farmer, S. 2004.   Connotative Learning: The Trainer’s Guide to Learning Theories and Their Practical Application to Training and Design. International Association for Continuing Education and Training.   USA: Kendall Hunt    Paechter, Carrie 2001.   Knowledge, Power Learning.   London: Sage Publication    Smith, Mark 2007.   Infed. http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-nonfor.htm ‘Transformative Learning in Adulthood.’ ERIC Digest no. 200. http://www.ericdigests.org/1999-2/adulthood.htm

Kurt Vonnegut - The Only Story of Mine Whose Moral I Know :: Biography Biographies Essays

Kurt Vonnegut - The Only Story of Mine Whose Moral I Know "This is the only story of mine whose moral I know. I don't think it's a marvelous moral; I simply happen to know what it is : We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." "Look out, Kid!" -Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues Vonnegut's work is rife with instances of lie become truth. Howard Campbell's own double identity is a particularly strong example, although Vonnegut's message is subtle. His actions were an attempt to survive, but also an attempt to serve his country. Campbell would no doubt have survived regardless - survival is his special talent - but we aren't given any indication that he would have become a cog in the war machine. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. When approached by Major Wirtanen, his contact with the DOD, he protests that he is not political and will not help the war's progress. He was not an anti-Semite, and does not become one. Furthermore, in at least two passages in the novel he makes reference to a true self that he kept hidden. Campbell's "we are" in his moral cannot be just a reference to personality. Instead, we must take a less psychological view. Campbell pretends to be a man who incites other men to hatred. He becomes that man. It is in Campbell's actions and their effects, along with his societal and legal persecution, that we find the lie that becomes truth. As Mr. Campbell was not the only propagandist at work in Germany in World War Two, it is for the most part impossible to determine what measure of war and genocide guilt he deserves. Nor can we say that he helped win the war in the sense that those who stormed the beaches at Normandy did. But as he became his lie to the Germans, he becomes his lie to Israel and Kurt Vonnegut - The Only Story of Mine Whose Moral I Know :: Biography Biographies Essays Kurt Vonnegut - The Only Story of Mine Whose Moral I Know "This is the only story of mine whose moral I know. I don't think it's a marvelous moral; I simply happen to know what it is : We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be." "Look out, Kid!" -Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues Vonnegut's work is rife with instances of lie become truth. Howard Campbell's own double identity is a particularly strong example, although Vonnegut's message is subtle. His actions were an attempt to survive, but also an attempt to serve his country. Campbell would no doubt have survived regardless - survival is his special talent - but we aren't given any indication that he would have become a cog in the war machine. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. When approached by Major Wirtanen, his contact with the DOD, he protests that he is not political and will not help the war's progress. He was not an anti-Semite, and does not become one. Furthermore, in at least two passages in the novel he makes reference to a true self that he kept hidden. Campbell's "we are" in his moral cannot be just a reference to personality. Instead, we must take a less psychological view. Campbell pretends to be a man who incites other men to hatred. He becomes that man. It is in Campbell's actions and their effects, along with his societal and legal persecution, that we find the lie that becomes truth. As Mr. Campbell was not the only propagandist at work in Germany in World War Two, it is for the most part impossible to determine what measure of war and genocide guilt he deserves. Nor can we say that he helped win the war in the sense that those who stormed the beaches at Normandy did. But as he became his lie to the Germans, he becomes his lie to Israel and

My Favourite Hobby

Good afternoon to all the judges, teachers, fellow contestants and audiences. I would grasp this honor today to tell about my favorite hobby. A hobby is a kind of amusement, an interesting pursuit which fruitfully occupies our leisure hours. There are many kinds of hobbies like collecting things, games and sports, photography, painting, reading or even gardening. Hobbies may be constructive, lucrative or even useful, but what really matters is that they provide constructive and interesting recreation. My favorite hobby is collecting stamps. I have a lovely album in which I fix the stamps.I have separate pages for each country. I also have separate pages for stamps on birds, animals, great leaders, historical movements and others. I have about 4000 stamps in all. My friends and relatives who are not stamp collectors will collect stamps for me. This has helped me to collect stamps from all over the world. I also exchange stamps with my friends. Whenever I get two or three identical sta mps, I immediately try to exchange them for one that I do not have. I have managed to collect some very rare and old stamps. Whenever the postal department issues a new stamp or a commemorative stamp, I will see that I buy them.There are many benefits from stamp collecting. The birds, fishes, dresses, people, buildings and other emblems on the stamps tell us about various countries, their culture, the lifestyles of the people and other things. It thus broadens our mental horizons and gives us a peep into history. Whenever I glance through my stamp album and look at my rare collections, I am filled with a sense of pride and joy. My hobby fills my leisure hours with interest and keeps my mind well occupied. My hobby will continue and with the passage of time, I am sure that I will have an extraordinary large stamp collection.

Dystopia Transcript

Transcript Dystopias are a futuristic, imagined universe which enforce oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological and moral control, such as in the text ‘We' by Yevgeny Zamyatin and ‘2081' by Chandler Tuttle. Often we see in these societies the ways that humanity can be repressed, losing one's individuality and also the ways a hero rises to challenge the Dystopia's laws, only to fail and become a victim to the dystopia, all being common conventions of dystopic texts from which we can learn about our own societies' flaws.After the long campaigns of One State, the world and all its citizens are under the control of this totalitarian society. Through D-503's journal we see that all humans suffer from a loss of individuality and emotion most particularly from the conformist nature of the society where regimentation and oppressive control has rid of the population of freedom and imagination, k ey factors in a human's individuality.The starting statement of â€Å"What I think-or, to be more exact what we think,† immediately when the novel begins, showcases the conformist nature of One State, tying in with the suppression of humane aspects, extrapolated by the motif, the table of hours which is One State's main instrument in controlling the population. This subjugation of citizens and further oppression is also seen in ‘2081,' where the more extraordinary of the population being handicapped to allow fair living.The constant display of the effects of added weights and shock devices linked to those who think too much show to us just how repressed everyone is in the society. Multiple close shots of Harrison Bergeron while he produced his speech about the flaws in their society illuminate to us the oppression and the dark nature of the society while he was dressed in many handicaps. â€Å"They had hoped to destroy in me, any trace of the extraordinary. Harrison's parents also demonstrate this oppression by the quick cuts to fragmented memories which are consequentially destroyed by handicaps and how the only ones without handicaps are the unintelligent, evident by Harrison's mother and the stuttering news reporter, revealing how degraded the dystopia has caused the human population. As in most dystopic fiction, there is a protagonist which rises against the society's laws and then becomes a victim. This is seen in the changes that occur to D-503 in ‘We. ‘ Throughout the beginning f the novel, D-503 constantly praises the â€Å"mathematically perfect† system of One State, evident in the constant inclusion of mathematics in his speech. â€Å"Irrational numbers†¦ I don't want root – 1. † he says as he displays the effect of this conformist society and how the propaganda around has affected him. This comes to change after being introduced to emotion and imagination by I 330, developing a ‘soul'. Howeve r, this causes his downfall as he is then subjected to the great operation, which had permanently taken away his free will and imagination, evident by his sudden indifferent attitude to I-330.From this we can see how the convention of the hero becoming a victim to his/her dystopic society. Similarly, Harrison in ‘2081’ undergoes similar events as the film progresses. He creates a performance revealing what the un-handicapped extraordinary can achieve, revealing what the dystopic society was hiding all while diegetic sound is played, highlighting the importance of his actions which continue onward to past his death at the hands of various security officers, becoming a victim to the regime despite fighting against it.Both dystopic texts follow the various conventions and ideas seen in dystopian societies, outlining to us multiple flaws in the human society and flaws we can create. As futuristic settings, these texts offer to us an understanding from which we can summarize that these dystopic texts are cautionary tales which we should learn from to create a brighter future. By Kevin Dai

Learn About the Geography of the Middle Eastern Country of Pakistan

Learn About the Geography of the Middle Eastern Country of Pakistan Pakistan,  officially called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is located in the   Middle East  near the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. It is bordered by  Afghanistan,  Iran,  India,  and  China. Pakistan is also very close to Tajikistan, but the two countries are separated by the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan. The country has the sixth largest population in the world and the second largest  Muslim population  in the world after Indonesia.  The country is divided into  four provinces, one territory, and one capital territory for local administration. Pakistan Basic Facts First, here are the basics: Population: 204,924,861  (July 2017 estimate)Capital: IslamabadBordering Countries: Afghanistan, Iran, India,  and ChinaLand Area: 307,374 square miles (796,095 sq km)Coastline: 650 miles (1,046 km)Highest Point: K2 at 28,251 feet (8,611 m)Largest cities:  Karachi (15.4 million), Lahore (11.7 million), Faisalabad (3.3 million), Rawalpindi (2.2 million),  and  Gujranwala (2.1 million)Language: Urdu (official language) but English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Baloch, Hindko,  Barhui,  and Saraiki are also spokenLife expectancy: 66 years for men and 70 years for women Geography and Climate of Pakistan Pakistan has a varied topography that consists of the flat, Indus plain in the east and the Balochistan plateau in the west. In addition, the Karakoram Range, one of the worlds highest mountain ranges, is in the north and northwest part of the country. The worlds second highest mountain,  K2, is also within Pakistans borders, as is the famous 38-mile (62 km) Baltoro Glacier. This glacier is considered one of the longest glaciers outside of the Earths polar regions. The climate of Pakistan varies with its topography, but most of it consists of hot, dry desert, while the northwest is temperate. In the mountainous north,  though, the climate is harsh and considered  Arctic. Economics and Land Use in Pakistan Pakistan is considered a developing nation and as such it has a highly underdeveloped economy. This is largely because of its decades of political instability and a lack of foreign investment. Textiles are Pakistans main export, but it also has industries that include food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer,  and shrimp. Agriculture in Pakistan includes cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables, milk, beef, mutton,  and eggs.  Resources include natural gas reserves and limited petroleum. Urban vs. Rural Just over one-third of the population lives in urban areas (36.7 percent), though that number is increasing slightly. Most of the population lives in the areas near the Indus River and its tributaries, with Punjab the most densely populated province.   Earthquakes Pakistan is situated above two tectonic plates, the Eurasian and Indian plates, their motion making the country primarily a site of major strike-slip earthquakes. Earthquakes above 5.5 on the Richter scale are relatively common. Their location in relation to population centers determines whether there will be extensive loss of life. For example, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake January 18, 2010, in southwest Pakistan, didnt cause any fatalities, but another in the same province that came in at a 7.7 in September 2013 killed more than 800. Four days later another 400 were killed in the province in a 6.8 magnitude quake. The worst in recent memory was in Kashmir in the north in October 2005. It measured 7.6, killed 80,000, and left 4 million homeless. More than 900 aftershocks rolled on afterward for almost three weeks.   Sources Central Intelligence Agency. CIA: The World Factbook: Pakistan. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pk.html. Dawn. Timeline of major earthquakes in Pakistan: 1971-2018. https://www.dawn.com/news/1215521.

Chain Reaction Definition in Chemistry and Physics

Chain Reaction Definition in Chemistry and Physics In science, a chain reaction is a series of reactions where the products contribute to the reactants of another reaction without outside influence. The idea of chain reactions was introduced by German chemist Max Bodenstein in 1913 in reference to chemical reactions. Chain Reactions Examples A nuclear chain reaction is a fission reaction where the neutrons generated by the fission process go on and initiate fission in other atoms. The chemical reaction between hydrogen gas and oxygen gas to form water is another example of a chain reaction. In the reaction, one hydrogen atom is replaced by another as well as two OH radicals. The propagation of the reaction can lead to an explosion. Chain Reaction Steps A typical chain reaction follows a sequence of steps: Initiation: Active particles form that serve as the basis for the reaction.Propagation: Active particles react with each other and may serve as catalysts to perpetuate the cycle.Termination: The active particles lose their activity, slowing and ending the reaction.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Studying at University Essay

Benefits and Drawbacks of Studying at University - Essay Example Most of the employed graduates have shown to have medical insurance covered by their subsequent employees. University graduates are perceived to engage in a healthy lifestyle, then the high school counterparts. According to the statistics, the level of health increases with higher education. For instance, statistics shows that more than 70 percent of university graduates with income between $35,000 and $54,000 are in better health condition than those high school graduates in the same income bracket and age. Also among the graduates, the level of heath increases with the level of degree attained.The incarceration rate has been seen to be higher in adults with high school education than those with university or college education. Increase in incarceration rate increases the amount government spends on prison costs per an individual inmate. Though this takes us back to the economic benefits of higher education, this finding is more tagged to the effects on the society. Statistics confi rm that, in 1997, 1.2 percent of those incarcerated were adults with no graduate education, but only 0.1 percent of them had higher education. This shows that increased level of university education tends to decrease the potential and characteristics to get involved in crime. Academic success is also viewed as a factor that reduces the likelihood to commit crimes (Cunningham, 2008, p. 1). Studies have revealed high cognitive skills in children of educated mothers than those of the high school graduates.... 16). Incarceration rate The incarceration rate has been seen to be higher in adults with high school education than those with university or college education. Increase in incarceration rate increases the amount government spends as prison costs per an individual inmate. Though this takes us back to the economic benefits of higher education, this finding is more tagged to the effects on the society. Statistics confirms that, in 1997, 1.2 percent of those incarcerated were adults with no graduate education, but only 0.1 per cent of them had higher education. This shows that increased level of university education tends to decrease the potential and characteristics to get involved in crime. Academic success is also viewed as a factor that reduces the likelihood to commit crimes (Cunningham, 2008, p. 1). School readiness Studies have revealed high cognitive skills in children of educated mothers than those of the high school graduates. These children are able to take more education task s and are more informed than those of mothers with lower education background. This means that attainment of higher education will bring forth future benefits of a more informed and learned society. According to research children between the age of 3-5, more than 36 per cent among them whose mother had university education could recite all letters of the alphabet, compared to less than 19 percent of those of high school graduate mothers (Hill, 2005, p. 1.). Ninety per cent of children from graduates’ mother read to not less than 3 times per week, in comparison with the 76 percent of those with high school mothers. Teachers of these children confirm that children from graduate mothers are more

Organizational Change Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Organizational Change - Essay Example Poor communication and lack of strategic vision are the main problems faced by the Tech Division of CF&F. Most employees become dissatisfied when opportunities for meaningful achievement are eliminated and they become sensitized to their environment and began to find fault. Also, in CF&F performance deficiencies result from motivational problem which is closely connected with lack of skills. The weakness of the division is low trained staff and authoritarian leadership, poor communication and decision making process. Most employees are frustrated with the lack of progress and effective management. The threat is absence of coordination and unity between executives, and differences as for perspectives of power of top management. Many managers suppose that they need to dominate subordinates. The focus of power is with the manager, and all interactions within the group move towards the manager. The manager alone exercises decision-making and authority for determining policy, procedures for achieving goals, work tasks and relationships, control of rewards or punishments (Durant, 1999). The success or failure of a current strategy depends not only on decisions made in the past but also on how those decisions are being implemented now by people employed by the organization. It is therefore important to questions about who, how and why people are doing what they are doing and what they should do in strategic implementation. This situation shows that the Tech Division of CF&F needs a strong leader to be ruled. Nepotism is one of the main negative features which reduce effective promotion and communication between employees. Without the direct participation and support of an institution's leadership, power cannot be pushed to its full potential. Leadership requires many of the characteristics common to all leaders, but also requires special abilities to manage any organization in today's rapidly changing environment (HRM Guide, 2006). Lack of training and promotion is another problem faced by employees. In this very case, lack of training decreases the level of individual and organizational competence. It prevents employees to reconcile the gap between what should happen, and desire-targets and standards of performance; and what is happening and levels of work performance. A significant and disturbing feature of the Tech Division of CF&F is the negative attitude towards the benefits of training shown by Frontline Supervisors. Too often training is seen as a necessary expense to achieve output targets. It is not seen as providing long-term benefits or improving organizational performance. A common view of training is an activity undertaken by large corporate bodies who can afford it. Lack of people-centered approach results in low motivation of employees and management staff (Frontline Supervisors). Too many managers appear to attempt to manage through the use of rules, systems, procedures and paperwork, rather than with and through people. Managers should have a highly developed sense of people perception, and understand the feelings of staff, and their needs and expectations. It is people who are being managed and people should be considered in human terms. A genuine concern for people and for their welfare goes a long way in encouraging them to perform well. For many hourly employees, grief