College Fair Essays

College Fair Essays College Fair Paper College Fair Paper Essay Topic: College application College Fair Assignment Q: Students will attend a College Fair and write a 3-5 page paper discussing what they learned from the experience. The college fair as a future school counselor was vastly inspiring. Seeing high school students be excited about their perspective futures brought a sense of contentment. It was also entirely informative on how to guide students towards being able to get the most out of their precious time choosing post-secondary education. The fair put on by Rhode Island Association of Admissions Officers (RIAAO) was exactly set up the way students should be walked through the college process as if they were sitting in a counseling office. First the RIAAO handed out their own pamphlets on the colleges attending and general financial aid information. These included handouts citing recent salaries and life-time earnings corresponding to levels of education. At this point in the hallway before the gymnasium housing the college representatives students and parents would often stop and look through the complimentary bags and became orientated on where the colleges were located. It became obvious that when counseling students, they need to be informed as well as their parents or guardians. The more informed and directed by a counselor prior to the fair the more comfortable they would be recognizing how to guide their growing adults into confidently approaching the college representatives. The college fair was organized but chaotic at the same time, stressing how at times the college pursuit can be entertaining and distracting. With the marketing of colleges seen at the fair it was sometimes obvious that distinguished universities were seen with awe. It is important to be proud of academic accomplishment like the badges of honor they proudly displayed as banners in front of their respective tables. At the same time the best education for a student can occur at any college. Students and parents should be open minded and weigh and contrast the appropriate differences in potential academic environments. Brown University, as an Ivy League school, for example constantly had crowds and noticeably different style of reaching out to students. Compared to The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Brown had a more salesmanship feel to their pitch. The students received earfuls of tradition from Brown and they would keep talking to whatever individual was directly inquiring but still was able to put a pamphlet into everyone’s hand that passed by. RISD on the other hand took a vastly different approach and did not even meet anyone’s eyes except the individual conversation they would enter. The RISD representative gave a very different and personalized approach, creating the feeling that college is a perspective home with people experiencing relevant education together. No student seemed as if they were doing nothing, it was very hard not to get caught up in the enthusiasm there. The college fair also felt like a used car lot as walking in between tables you felt eyes sizing you up. What struck interest was how certain students seemingly by themselves had notebooks and were furiously jotting down the representatives speech. Preparedness was instinctive and important to these individuals but personally notebooks and really in-depth questions over details of education and dorm conditions were a bit of a surprise to come across between tables. It was a rare phenomenon but at the same time brought back home the point that students and parents, who are informed, possibly with help by a school counselor, explored the college fair as a proactive experience and seemed more confident and excited about their application process leaving the fair. At the beginning of the fair the financial aid pamphlets were passed out and should be first to remember and positively not overlooked. Brown at forty-thousand for yearly tuition alone is a very expensive school and still met everyone as a potential student. Stating the cost brings to mind that as a school counselor your students and their parents need to recognize real financial concerns. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) needs to be filled out and possible scholarships and grants identified per student as their high school career nears completion. Finances need to be understood and addressed so that it stands as little in the way as possible to each student’s education so that it does not deter any excitement as they approach the rest of their lives as an adult. As a school counselor, the college fair was reassuring to see that joy and hope about education exist and is a beautiful thing to see in current students. The college process was simplified by seeing the college fair from a different perspective. There are endless amounts of colleges to choose from, and even though just in gymnasium there were a lot of colleges just in that room alone compared to the country. As a counselor these endless options and routes need to be organized and expressed to students in a manageable and enjoyable way like the fair was. Constantly gathering ongoing resources on any perspective college your student can be interested in is important to obtain before the interest is present and that is one way that expresses how counselors should be proactive about getting students proactive themselves.

9 jobs for people who don’t like people

9 jobs for people who don’t like people Some people thrive on human interaction, but this certainly isn’t true of everyone. Perhaps you’re an introvert. Maybe being around people actually makes your skin crawl. Of course, even people who do not like being around other people still need to work. The good news is that not every job requires an excess of human contact. Here are a few potential careers that won’t disrupt your peaceful isolation too much. 1. AuditorPerhaps you don’t mind dealing with people but don’t particularly like them. Well, if you want to be feared- maybe even hated- conducting audits could be a breezy way to spend your workday. Being an auditor is a tough, unglamorous job, but someone has to do it. It’s also ideal for anyone with a careful attention to detail who enjoys working with numbers.2. StatisticianHere’s another one for number crunchers. If you don’t like interacting with people but don’t mind considering them as statistical data th en you might decide to become a statistician. That’s no easy task, since it requires a great deal of education. However, once you earn your degrees, you’ll work alone most of the time. It’ll just be you and the numbers- and they won’t even necessarily involve people. Plus, the pay is great.3. Online Support PersonComputer lovers who not only feel okay about communicating online but actually thrive on it are ideal online support representatives. They help customers and clients troubleshoot via email or online chat systems. Online support reps spend the entire day helping people without ever having to speak out loud to a soul.4. Software DeveloperHere’s another one for people who feel more comfortable communicating via computer than in person. If you love computer work, then you might be cut out for developing software. Many software developers even get to work from home. In fact, a recent survey referenced by CIO.com found that the option to work fr om home was a motivation for 40% of software developers.5. ZoologistIf you don’t have the social skills to deal with people but don’t mind interacting with quieter living beings, you might consider becoming a zoologist. You get to hang with animals for most of your day, and they just want a little love- not necessarily conversation. Plus, they don’t talk back.6. ActuarySpending long hours crunching numbers and assessing risks and benefits in almost perfect solitude is the life of the actuary. Chances are you won’t run into many colleagues when you’re burning that midnight oil at your desk.7. Postal DeliverypersonPostal deliverers may have to visit every house in a community, but they don’t really have to spend much time interacting with the people in that community. It’s you, all by your lonesome, walking or driving all day. And for those of you who are merely shy, you’ll have the gratification of delivering packages to eagerly expectant citizens who can’t wait to see you.8. Data Entry SpecialistIf you can stand the tedium of plugging numbers into spreadsheets all day long, this job might be for you. There won’t be much collaboration or a crazy number of brainstorming meetings or team building sessions. Data entry mostly leaves you with your computer terminal all day.9. SurveyorSo you don’t want to sit in an office all day long, but you really don’t want to talk to anybody? Try being a surveyor. They’re the people on the side of the road in neon outfits surveying terrain. Surveyors spend their days doing precision work in the great outdoors, and they hardly have to say a word.

Managing change Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Managing change - Case Study Example This is because these tenets make managing personal change probable. Before commencing an organizational change; individuals should ask questions such as; what is the organization going to achieve with the change? How and why will they discern that the change is successful? Who will be affected by the change, and what will be their reaction? To what extent can the change be effected with help; and in what areas should assistance be sought? These questions guide the individual effecting change since it makes him or her understand what is being done. This paper shall seek to explain the change management effected in a local insurance company; so that it could be saved from imminent collapse after going bankrupt. The eight stages of change management, as well as three tools of needs assessment, will be used to analyze the change management initiative. Since the local insurance company needs a powerful restructuring plan to save it from imminent collapse, it should consider downsizing some of the high level executive positions. Additionally, it should thin down its organizational chart by laying-off some of the employees conducting programs that are no longer aimed at bringing the company back to its feet. Laying-off workers who have stood by the company for the many years is not an easy task; therefore, it should be done with extreme caution. First and foremost, the underperformers and the underachievers should be the ones to face the axe. This is because they add little value to the company and their dismissal would do the company good. Secondly, while downsizing some of the high level executive positions, it should be noted that some roles done by one executive duplicate to another executive. Therefore, such situations should allow the merging up of two different portfolios that perform almost similar roles. In order to make the change management effective, it is necessary to use Kotter’s eight steps of efficacious change

Practical-Tablet Making Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Practical-Tablet Making - Lab Report Example HPLC assay was also done to assess the actual concentration (correct amount) of paracetamol’s active compound (acetaminophen) present in selected tablets. Table one below shows the two drug formulation used in the experiment, the tables, were tested for appearance, weight, hardness, thickness, diameter, and friability. The tablets were assessed for physical appearance by observing them through a magnifying glass. The size (diameter and thickness), weight, and hardness were determined using micrometre screw gauge, digital balance, and schleuniger hardness tester respectively. The tablets from either of the formulation compositions were found to have a uniform round and white appearance. In addition, formulation 1 b tablets were larger with a matte appearance than those of formulation 2 that were generally small in size and with a glossy appearance. No imperfections (groves) were noted on any of the tablets even after observing them using magnifying glass. A consistent difference in weight and diameter was also noted between the two formulations, with the formulation 1b having a median weight and diameter of 2.961g and 25.66mm respectively. However, there was no difference in thickness noted between tablets of the two formulations. Table 2 and 3 below provides a summary of the average, RSD, minimum and maximum weight, diameter, hardness, and thickness values of the two tablet formulations. In determining friability (percentage loss in weight), the total weight of the five tablets was used in the analysis. The tablets were tested for friability by using the Copley friability tester at a testing speed of 25 revolutions per minute (RPM). The total percentage loss in weight of the five tablets from each formulation was calculated and summarized in table 4 below. It is important to note that formula 2 tablets had a friability

Marketing environment Essay Example for Free

Marketing environment Essay Product Offerings Kellogg’s is in the breakfast cereal market. It principal products are related to ready-to-eat cereals. In addition to this the company also manufactures and sells many convenience foods such as crackers, cereal bars, veggie foods, frozen waffles, toaster pastries, fruit snacks cookies etc. As of 2009, the manufacturing of these products took place in 19 countries across the world and were sold in over 180 countries. The company’s brands include Kellogg’s, Keebler, Cheez-It, Murray, Austin and Famous Amos. The company also has several brand names attached to its products such as: Apple Jacks, Mueslix, Pops, Corn Pops, Cruncheroos, Bran Buds, Cocoa Krispies, special K, Smacks etc in US; Suchrilos and related products and Zucharita and related products in Latin America; Vive and Vector in Canada; Optima, Choco Pops, Muslix, Honey Loops, Country Store, Ricicles etc in Europe; Cerola, Sultana Bran, BeBig, Chex, Frosties etc. in Asia and Australia (Kellogg’s Investor Information). Following is the market share for the different cereal brands over the past 14 years. Fig – 12 Most Popular Cereal Brands (Topher, 2008) Target markets Customers Kellogg’s has separated its business into two segments: North America and International. The company generates two thirds of its revenues in North America which consists of United States and Canada. These are shown in the figure below. Fig – 13 Kellogg’s market sales by region, in millions (wikinvest, 2009) In United States, the biggest retail consumer of Kellogg’s are the Wal-Mart Stores that accounts for about 20% of its net sale. In fact no other consumer accounts for more than 10% of its net sales. Kellogg’s revenue in North America is further divided into different sections based on product types such as cereals, snacks and frozen and specialty categories. This is shown in the figure below. Fig – 14 Kellogg’s sales by Product Category (wikinvest, 2009) Competition The company faces competition for sales of all of its principal products in its major markets, both domestically and internationally. The Companys products compete with advertised and branded products of a similar nature as well as unadvertised and private label products, which are distributed at lower prices, and also with other food products with different characteristics. Principal factors for competition include new product introductions, product quality, composition, and nutritional value, price, advertising and promotion (Kellogg). The primary competitors of Kellogg’s are General Mills and Kraft which sells breakfast cereal under the Pos brand. Among this the revenues of Kraft are triple as compared to the other two brands with its leading segment being snacks. However, both Kellogg’s and General Mills receive more of their revenues from the cereal segment. The table below shows the company comparison. Company Net Revenues (in millions) International Revenues as % of sales Gross Margin % Kellogg’s $ 10,906 32. 6% 44. 2% General Mills $ 12,442 17% 36% Kraft $ 34,356 32. 4 36. 1% Table – 15 Company Comparison (wikinvest, 2009) Supply chain As mentioned, Wal-Mart accounts for about 20% of the company’s product sales in United States. The company uses both its sales force as well as business arrangements with brokers and distributors to sell its products. The products are eventually resold to consumers in retail stores, restaurants and other food service establishments (Kellogg’s Investor Information). The figure below gives the different types of distribution channels of the company. Fig – 16 Kellogg’s distribution Channels (http://www. docstoc. com/docs/3584505/Kellogg%EF%BF%BDs-Marketing-Strategy-and-Marketing-Plans ) Market position Product Sales Regardless of the bad moments it has faced over the year, especially thorough the 1990s, Kellogg’s still the market leader in the US cereal market. Despite increasing competition Kellogg’s has slowly increased its share in the market and control about 1/3rd of the market. This is followed by General Mills and Quaker and Post. In addition to this, Kellogg’s controls as much as 50% of the market for new cereals in the United States with the introduction of more new cereals than either of its competitors. The figure below shows the 2008 US cereal market. Fig – 17 US Cereal Market Share (wikinvest, 2009) The figure below shows the market share trends for the top cereal producers over the past 10 years. Fig – 18 Market share trends for the past 10 years (Topher, 2008) Employment Financial statistics The company employs about 32400 employees worldwide which its latest figures as of 2009. It has generated about 12. 8 billion in net worldwide sales of which its earning were $ 1. 1 billion. The company keeps low sales targets for its internal net sales since it is a mature market. The figures are between 1-3 %. The company exceeded this target with a net sales growth of 9% in the year 2008 and a growth rate of 5. 4. The targets for internal operating margins are between 4-6% which the company achieved by reaching a figure of 4. 5%. The net earnings per share target for the company is between 7-9%. The company achieved a diluted earning per share grew by 8% which the currency neutral EPS grew by 10% which was more than its target. The figure below shows the financial highlights of the company for the past 3 years. Fig – 19 Kellogg’s 2008 financial highlights (Kellogg’s Investor Information) Since one of the major draws of the company is the innovation of its products,, the company sets aside a considerable budget for RD. The expenditure figures for this head were $181 million in 2008. The corresponding budget was $ 171 million in 2007 and $191 million in 2006. Marketing Advertising The company has an excellent marketing team which has used varied channels for sales and promotion of its products. These include: Mass Advertising – popular characters like Tony the TigerTM and Snap! Crackle! Pop! TM, on TV; Direct Promotions: Coupons; Trade Promotions: In-store displays, Samples; Personal Selling: Prime-account reps, Area reps; Penetration Chain stores, Independent wholesalers; Sales Channel Brand equity; Logistics Finished goods warehouse centers or independent warehouses (Kellogg’s Company – Products).

Physical and Environmental Effects of a Nuclear War :: science

Physical and Environmental Effects of a Nuclear War Imagine the heat of millions of degrees, the immediate destruction of thousands of acres, and the deaths of hundreds of thousands of lives. Now imagine all of that times a thousand. There you have a nuclear war, the explosion of a thousand or more nuclear bombs on the earth. That is what is estimated would be a nuclear war. All of that power packed in relatively small(considering the power they unleash) bombs. The results of a nuclear war would be devastating. It would be devastating to the health and lives of people, and to the environment in which we live. The world wouldn't fully recover for hundreds of years. How a nuclear weapon works In a modern nuclear bomb, commonly called a thermonuclear bomb or a H-bomb, fusion is the power behind the explosion and destruction. Fusion is the fusing of the nuclei of two atoms, which produces an extreme amount of energy(about 40 times that of a fission reaction). For fusion to occur, though, an extremely high temperature and pressure must first be reached, and this is achieved by fission(splitting of the nucleus of an atom). The detonation of a fusion weapon begins with the detonation of a conventional explosive that sets off a fission reaction explosion. Plutonium and uranium are used to create fission. The atoms fused are those of the isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium or tritium. The fusion and fission from a thermonuclear weapon result in large amounts of radiation that can be fatal to humans and animals and can also cause many other effects. Short-term physical effects One short-term effect of a nuclear war would, of course, be the deaths of millions of people. It has been estimated that an attack on U.S. populations centers by 100 one-megaton nuclear weapons would kill up to 20 percent of the population immediately through blast, heat, ground shock, and instant radiation effects. Also, and attack with 1,000 one-megaton nuclear weapons (which many say is more realistic than just 100 weapons) would destroy immediately almost half the U.S. population. Those that do survive the initial explosions would be far from out of the clear. Those estimates above do not include the additional deaths from fires, starvation, or the lethal fallout showering to the ground downwind of the explosion. Skin burns, acute radiation sickness(which includes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever), and noticeable blood changes are just a few of the effects of radiation on the body.

Do Gender Role Stereotypes exist in children(TM)s fairy tale stories?

I am currently working on a piece of sociological coursework which requires me to explore the relationship between children's fairy tale stories and gendered roles. From birth biological differences exist between males and females. Sociologists refer to this as sex differences. As we grow older these differences between males and females involve more than biology; they are gendered. Gendered roles are learned. They guide us to behave and perform in ways which fulfill our gender role stereotype. This is achieved via the process of socialisation. When talking in relation to the nature vs. nurture debate, sociologists believe that our gender roles are nurtured by our parents, societal expectations and media influences. The main aim of my coursework is to find out if gender role stereotypes exist in children's fairy tale stories. I aim to do this by looking at the ways in which fairytale images transform into guided behaviours. My additional aims in which I will investigate include: * Being able to find out what massages fairytale stories send to youngsters from a sociological point of view. I have decided to investigate gender role socialisation because I am extremely interested in the role played by society in the development of this. Furthermore, I would like to find out what makes these stereotypes so common and how fairy tale stories portray gender roles in relation to the images it presents to young children. Sociological research also concerns the roots of gender role within society. Therefore, it would make sense to see how these sociologists have expressed their views on this specific topic. For example, Teya Cherland is a sociologist who researched the topic of gender role stereotyping in fairytale stories and, she made it clear that the insecurities evolving around many young children is growing as they watch and read more and more fairytales. Sociologists believe that we aren't born to be boys and girls; we learn our gender roles as we grow older. This is a very sentimental point because in my coursework I want to explore gender role stereotyping from a Nature vs. Nurture perspective. My Secondary Sources I have decided to focus on some secondary sources in order to find out what other sociologists think about my chosen topic. The following sources will help me to gather some crucial information to help me meet my overall aim which is to find out if gender role stereotypes exist in children's fairytale stories. I also want to understand this topic from a sociological point of view and therefore, I will also be using these sources to find out if what I have discovered pairs up to other sociologist's discoveries. My first results came from an article called Ecclectical. The article was written by a sociologist called Teya Cherland and was publicised in April 2006. In it, Teya explained that young boys and girls hide themselves away from reality because fairytales make them feel insecure of the true beauty that exists within them. Other than this, she outlined that boys and girls find it hard to distinguish reality from the so-called â€Å"dream world† that they visualise from watching T.V. She said, â€Å"Children's literature plays a key role in shaping a child's perception of those around her/him and the world they live in.† She then carried on saying â€Å"it is vital to understand how they view real life† This made it clear, her belief was that fairytale stories deliver wrong messages to young kids and make them feel a certain way which can build on their insecurities. This links in with my aim because in my coursework I want to involve some sociological processes and this article brings up the issue of the Nature vs. Nurture debate and helps me to find a way how to link young children's influences into my query. My second source came from an article titled â€Å"Sex Roles†. This particular article was written by Angela M. Gooden and was publicised In July 2001. In the article it was outlined that children's books are served as a socializing tool that passed to the next generation. To explain, in her article she said the following, â€Å"Children's books have the potential of altering perceptions and possibly helping to change lives† This relates back to my investigation because the article explains the fact that children are influenced by societies teachings and, one of my smaller aims are to be able to find out if children are influenced by the images they see and the things they hear when watching fairytales. My third and last source came from a text called Gender identities. This text was written by a sociologist named Ruth and the year of its publication was 2006(April 21st) Ruth investigated on different sociologists own thoughts about gender role and found out that according to the 1990s, boys and girls are directed to different subjects from an early age. She found that from some people stick to the idea that, Teachers pay more attention to boys than girl in the classroom and that the term â€Å"girl power† Ignores continuing structures of inequality. Much of her information supported the idea that the way in which boys and girls are brought up affects they way they feel about â€Å"gender role stereotyping† when their older. The following quote was mentioned in the article. â€Å"Murdock (1949) and Parsons (1955), who were functionalists, both thought that women and men had inbuilt differences that made women more suitable to be carers and men to be breadwinners.† This links in with my investigation because in order to find out whether gender role stereotypes exist in children's fairytale stories, I need to understand the true meaning of the term â€Å"gender role† and how society portrays it which is provided for me in this source. Overall, all of my chosen sources have enhanced my understanding on my chosen ton topic. I am now able to use this information to help me to answer and evaluate my essay title.

The Godfather and the Meaning of Family

The Godfather A family is a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, and is considered a group, whether they reside together or not; the traditional family, which usually consists of family values and beliefs. In American literature family serves as a base in our society which can be shaped and molded into many different forms. Mario Puzo’s The Godfather demonstrates family as a successful business, with strict and traditional Italian roots. The story is focuses on the Corleone family, a very close knit traditional Italian-American family, who all live on the same cul de sac and are neighbors to each other.Their business is based on the family’s mafia operations. They live their lives in the midst of crime. Some takes the law into their own hands, by avenging a crime to protect the weak while others use it to rise into a position of wealth and power. The executive or head of the Corleone family is the decision maker or â€Å"shot caller;† he is like the â€Å"Robin Hood† of the Sicilians people. To all those who have proven their loyalties to him are entitled to help from their â€Å"Godfather. † He is willing to help anyone who calls them his friend; because he believes that â€Å"Friendship is everything.Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family† (Puzo 38). The executive or head of the Corleone family is Don Vito and after his death, Michael; his youngest son, who later takes the role. In a sense, both in the novel and film begin and ends with â€Å"the Godfather† and some may call him â€Å"the Don. † Through they both have very different experiences, they are believed to be â€Å"infinitely more intelligent and less obviously corrupt than any of the other characters† developed in the story (Williams 77).Both are willing to accommodate their competitors, take a step back, and not get involved unless necessary, for they beli eve to never hate your enemies because it affects your judgment and to keep their friends close and their enemies closer However, they are considered to be the most powerful organized crime family in the United States. â€Å"Great men are not born great, they grow great, and so it was with Vito Corleone. †¦ Vito Corleone made the final step from a quite ordinary, somewhat ruthless businessman to a great Don in the world of criminal enterprise.It did not happen in a day, it did not happen in a year, but by the end of the Prohibition period and the start of the Great Depression, Vito Corleone had become the Godfather, the Don, Don Corleone† (Puzo 213). A family of organized crime that is sometimes portrayed as so caring and helpful, that we don’t always think of them as bad guys per say. They have respect and are behaved in a way that is very elegant. But of course there are times when they must take action upon themselves even if it is against the law.It is a known that the main focus of a stereotypical Mafia family is centered around the use of violence. For instance, in both the novel and film, Connie Corleone; the daughter of the Don Vito gets married to an abusive and gets beaten down while pregnant, which later becomes one of the reasons for his death. Aside from that we also see many deaths cause by the vengeance and business. Another example is the opening of the movie, when Bonasera states â€Å"I believe in America. America has made my fortune. And I raised my daughter in the American fashion.I gave her freedom, but — I taught her never to dishonor her family† as he tells Don Vito, his grief about what had happen to his daughter (The Godfather). The family is cruel yet respectable, violent yet sophisticated and heartless, but not without rules. We as a viewer or a reader can overlook the evil and come to sympathize with the Corleone family. The Godfather permits an audience to support the mafia lifestyle and the sins th ey’ve commit. We overlook what is supposed to be right and sympathize with the lifestyle of these mobsters.We side with Corleone’s crime because of such quotes like â€Å"A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man,† when Don Vito Corleone says this, we as the audience find ourselves liking a character they might not otherwise like. In America we tend to sympathize with people who are compassionate and are family oriented. Those who make their family priority number one, who shows and express true respect and defines a man by the amount of time he spends with those he loves. The Godfather narrative was able to supply the idea of a â€Å"strong and benevolent father to take care of both family and an unimpeded business life,† as stated in the MELUS Article, â€Å"The Godfather and American Culture: How the Corleones Became ‘Our Gang’† by Mary Ann Mannino. This simple image of a genuine family value allows for anyone to relate and understand the character even though at times the character may be immoral. Towards the end, Michael states â€Å"if I can die saying, â€Å"Life is so beautiful,† then nothing else is important.If I can believe in myself that much, nothing else matters. He would follow his father. He would care for his children, his family, his world. But his children would grow in a different world. They would be doctors, artists, scientists. Governors. Presidents. Anything at all. He would see to it that they joined the general family of humanity, but he, as a powerful and prudent parent would most certainly keep a wary eye on that general family† when family again is reconfirmed (Puzo 411). Works Cited Mannino, Mary Ann. The Godfather and American Culture: How the Corleones Became ‘Our Gang. ‘. † MELUS 28. 3 (2003): 218-232. Literature Resource Center. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. Puzo, Mario. â€Å"The Godfather. † Greenwich: Fawecett, 1969 . Print. Simon, William. â€Å"Analysis of the Structure of The Godfather, Part One. † Studies in the Literary Imagination 16. 1 (1983): 75-90. Rpt. in Contemporary Literary Criticism Select. Detroit: Gale, 2008. Literature Resource Center. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. The Godfather. Dir. Francis Ford Coppola. Perf. Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. Paramount Pictures. 1972. DVD.

Wilson Murder Trial, Huntsville 1992

Wilson Murder Trial, Huntsville 1992 At almost exactly 9:30pm on the evening of May 22, 1992, Huntsville police were notified by the 911 dispatcher of a possible burglary in progress with an injured victim at the scene. The location was Boulder Circle, an affluent neighborhood nestled among the mountains overlooking Huntsville, Alabama. Murder Within minutes of arriving on the scene, police discovered the body of a male, identified as Jack Wilson, lying in the upstairs hallway. He had been brutally murdered, apparently with a baseball bat that was found lying nearby. Homicide detectives began searching every square inch of the house and grounds and a police dog was brought in to sniff out possible evidence the police might overlook. As they began the tedious task of trying to determine what had happened, none of them realized they were about to become involved in the most notorious murder case in Huntsvilles history. The Scene By talking to neighbors and reconstructing the events, the police determined that Wilson had left his office around 4 p.m. He changed clothes and went outside to his front yard where neighbors reported seeing him using a baseball bat to drive a campaign sign in the ground. This was at approximately 4:30 p.m. Apparently, he then took a stepladder from the garage and carried it to the upstairs hallway where he removed a smoke detector from the ceiling. It was later found lying on the bed, disassembled. At this point, police theorized Wilson was surprised by someone who was already in the house. The unknown assailant grabbed the baseball bat and began beating the doctor. After the doctor collapsed to the floor, the assailant stabbed him twice with a knife. Though the crime had originally been reported as a possible burglary, it had none of the typical signs. There were no open drawers, ransacked closets and overturned furniture usual in most burglary cases. The whole case was beginning to look more like an â€Å"inside job.† Suspects The widow, Betty Wilson, was too distraught at the time to be questioned, but later investigation revealed she had lunch with her husband that day around 12 p.m. After he returned to his medical office, she spent much of the day shopping in preparation for a trip they planned for the next morning. Later that evening, after attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, she returned home at about 9:30, where she discovered her husband’s body. She went to a neighbors home and they called 911. By using credit card receipts and eyewitnesses, the police were able to verify Betty Wilson’s whereabouts for the whole day, except for one 30-minute period at around 2:30 p.m., and between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Other family members were checked out but they all appeared to have alibis. Break in the Case The first break for the investigators came when the Shelby County Sheriffs Office passed on a tip they had received the week before. A woman had called, concerned about a friend of hers: James White, whom while drunk, had talked about killing a doctor in Huntsville. The whole story was garbled, but what emerged was that White was supposed to be infatuated with a lady by the name of Peggy Lowe, who had recruited him to murder her twin sisters husband in Huntsville. The lady admitted that she doubted the story. â€Å"White liked to talk big when he was drinking and lately he had been drunk almost all the time.† Never the less she decided to pass it on to the police. After the Huntsville Police learned of the tip it took only minutes to establish that Peggy Lowe was Betty Wilson’s twin sister. Investigators decided it was time to pay Mr. White a visit. Follow Up James Dennison White was a 42-year-old Vietnam veteran who had a history of mental disorders and antisocial behavior caused largely by drug and alcohol abuse. He had been in a number of mental institutions as well as serving time in jail. While serving time for selling drugs he escaped and was captured almost a year later in Arkansas, where he was involved in kidnapping a man and his wife. One of his last mental evaluations described him as suffering from delusions and unable to separate fact from fantasy. At first, as White was being questioned by the detectives, he denied everything. Slowly, as the evening and night grew longer he began to contradict himself, spinning a web of half-truths, lies, and fantasies. He denied knowing Peggy Lowe, then admitting it. He denied knowing Betty Wilson, then said he was going to do some work for her. Gradually a pattern emerged. As he would get caught in one contradiction, he would admit it but deny everything else. The detectives were used to this type of behavior though- almost every criminal they interrogated did the same thing. They understood from experience that it was going to be a long drawn out process in getting White to tell the truth. The Truth Finally, just as the sun was peeking over the horizon, White broke down. Though it would take another several months, and numerous different confessions to get him to tell the whole story, he basically confessed to being hired by Peggy Lowe and Betty Wilson to kill Dr. Jack Wilson. He claimed to have met Peggy Lowe at the elementary school where she worked and where he had done some carpentry work. After he did some work at her house, according to White, Mrs. Lowe became infatuated with him and spent hours talking to him on the phone. Gradually she began to talk about her husband and hint that she would like to see him killed. A short time later, though, she dropped the subject of her husband and began talking about her sister who wanted to hire a â€Å"hit† man. White pretended to play along, saying he knew someone who would do it for $20,000. Mrs. Lowe told him that was too expensive; her sister was almost broke. Finally, they agreed on a price of $5,000 of which Mrs. Lowe gave him half, in small bills, in a plastic bag. Gradually, as his story evolved, it included phone calls between him and the sisters, the twins giving him a gun, a trip to Guntersville to pick up expense money inside a library book and meeting Mrs. Wilson in Huntsville to get more expense money. On the day of the murder, he claimed Mrs. Wilson met him in the parking lot of a nearby shopping center and drove him to her home where he waited for two hours until Dr. Wilson arrived home. He was not armed at the time. He stated later that he had not liked guns ever since Vietnam. Instead, he carried a long rope. White said that although he remembered struggling with Wilson over the baseball bat, he did not remember killing the doctor. After the murder, Mrs. Wilson returned to the house, picked him up and drove him back to his truck at the shopping center. He then drove back to Vincent and went out drinking that night with his brother. To prove his story he led the police to his home where a gun was found that was registered to Mrs. Wils on and a book from the Huntsville Public Library. White was unsure about dates, times and specific events but the detectives expected that. It would take time to sort the whole story out but in the meantime where was enough evidence to arrest the twin sisters. A source close to the case described White after he was brought back to Huntsville, as being in â€Å"physical agony, almost climbing the walls and begging to be given his medicine.† The medicine, supposedly Lithium, was withheld because it was in a different bottle than what it came in and White did not have a prescription for it. Arrest The news of Betty Wilson’s arrest for the murder of her husband exploded like a bombshell in Huntsville. Not only was she a well-known socialite, but her husband’s estate was rumored to be worth almost six million dollars. Adding fuel to the flames was the report that she had helped host a fundraiser for a popular political figure the night before the murder. Huntsville is a small town, especially during political seasons, where rumors and gossip can be passed around so quickly that the daily newspaper is already dated when it hits the streets. By piercing the juicy tidbits of gossip together a portrait of a cold-blooded murderess began to take shape. She was rumored to have always been a â€Å"gold digger† and has been heard cursing her husband. Most of the talk, however, centered on her alleged numerous sexual encounters. When the news media caught up with the story they pursued it with a vengeance. Reporters seemed to be competing against one another to see who could come up with the juiciest story. Newspapers, magazines and television shows from all across the country began following the story the whole affair also took on political overtones as members of the D.A.’s office and the sheriff’s office began leaking information to the press and trying to use the case for political advantage. The case became even more political when the D.A. agreed to a controversial plea bargain for White, which would give him life, with parole possible in 7 years, in exchange for helping convict the sisters. Pundits later claimed the plea bargain spelled the end of the D.A.s political career. Murder Charge At the hearing, the prosecution successfully argued that because Betty Wilson was a beneficiary to her husbands will and the fact she had sexual affair was enough to prove the motive. A tape-recorded confession of James White provided the evidence. After a brief hearing, both sisters were ordered to stand trial for murder. Peggy Lowe was granted bond and released after her neighbors in Vincent put their homes up for security. Betty Wilson was denied bond and remained in the Madison County jail until her trial. A short time later family members of Dr. Wilson filed suit to deny Betty Wilson access to his estate. Despite the posturing going on from all sides, many legal analysts began to doubt if the prosecution really had enough to build a case on. There was no one who ever saw James White and Betty Wilson together at any time and there was no physical evidence linking White to the crime scene. Also, a major headache for both sides was Whites constantly changing stories. He would describe events one day and have a completely different version the following week. New Information Perhaps James White was sitting in his cell thinking about the same thing because suddenly he recalled a fact that he had not remembered before. He had changed clothes in the house and placed them in a plastic bag, along with the rope and knife, and hid them under a rock a few feet from the swimming pool. The bag was supposed to be the same one he received the money from Mrs. Lowe in. Officials later explained the clothes not being found during the initial search by saying the police dog had an allergy. Although the clothes and bag were found exactly where White said they would be, the forensic people were never able to establish if they had been bloodstained, or if they actually belonged to White. The clothes were to become one of the biggest mysteries of the case. No one seriously believed the clothes had been missed during the initial search. Privately, even members of the Huntsville Police expressed skepticism. Many people believed that White had gotten someone to place the clothes there in an attempt to bolster his credibility and escape the electric chair. By this time the case of the Evil Twins had captured national attention. The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times and People Magazine ran lengthy articles and television tabloid shows such as Hard Copy and Inside Edition ran features stories. When two national television networks expressed an interest in making a movie, agents descended on Huntsville buying the movie rights from most of the people involved. Trial As summer wore on, even the most impartial observers began to take sides. Never in the history of Huntsville had a case generated so much controversy and news coverage. Because of the publicity, the judge ordered the trial moved to Tuscaloosa. When the trial finally began, the case boiled down to one simple question. Who was telling the truth? The prosecution argues it was a murder for hire. The defense claimed the fact that White did not carry a weapon with him made the story unbelievable.The prosecution argued Whites testimony was credible. The defense argued he had changed his confessions so many times it was unbelievable and he had fitted his testimony to fit the prosecutions case in order to escape a possible death sentence.The prosecution argued Whites testimony was collaborated by records of phone calls and the library. The defense argued there was another explanation.The prosecution argued the gun was given to White by Betty Wilson and Peggy Lowe. The defense claimed he stole the gun and offered the fact that the empty box the gun came in, along with shells, was found in the home afterward.The prosecution offered a witness who claimed to have seen James White and Betty Wilson near the murder scene within thirty minutes of one another. The defense argued the witness was not credible because she had been unable to pi ck White out of a lineup. The prosecution claimed the timeline proved their case. The defense argued the timeline did not fit.The prosecution offered a witness who claimed Mrs. Wilson had talked about wanting to kill her husband. The defense argued the story was not credible because it had happened almost 6 years earlier and the woman had continued to be friends with Mrs. Wilson.The defense offered a witness who stated she had received a message from Dr. Wilson on her answering machine after the alleged time of death. The prosecution argued the call could have been made earlier. Regardless of the hard evidence, everyone agreed that a central theme of the prosecution’s case was to paint Betty Wilson as a cold and immoral woman who wanted her husband dead. To prove this the prosecution paraded a stream of witnesses who testified about hearing her curse and belittle her husband. Other witnesses testified to having knowledge of Mrs. Wilson taking men to her home for sexual liaisons. Perhaps the most dramatic part of the trial came when a black former city employee took the stand and told of having relations with Mrs. Wilson. Although the prosecution denied playing the racism card, observers of the trial all agreed it had the same effect. The case went to the jury at 12:28 on Tuesday, March 2, 1993. After deliberating the rest of the day and much of the following day the jury returned with a guilty verdict. Jurors later revealed that the deciding factor in their decision was the telephone records. Betty Wilson was sentenced to life imprisonment, without parole. Aftermath Six months later, Peggy Lowe stood trial for her alleged part in the murder for hire. Much of the evidence was almost a repeat of her sister’s trial, with the same witnesses and the same testimony. New to the case, however, was testimony by expert witnesses who stated that two people may have been involved in the murder. Citing the lack of blood splatters on the walls, the experts theorized the murder probably occurred some other place than the hallway and was caused by something other than a baseball bat. For the defense, the most crucial moment probably occurred when White testified that Betty Wilson picked him up at the murder scene between 6 and 6:30 p.m. on the day in question. This was an hour later than he had previously testified. If the jurors believed White’s story, it would have been impossible for Mrs. Wilson to have participated. The biggest difference in the trials, however, were the people being tried. While Mrs. Wilson seemed to be the reincarnate of everything evil, her sister portrayed the image of a virtuous and compassionate church-going woman who was constantly helping people less fortunate. Though it had been difficult to get people to testify in Betty Wilson’s behalf, Mrs. Lowe’s jurors heard a steady parade of witnesses extolling her virtues. The jury deliberated for only two hours and eleven minutes before finding Peggy Lowe not guilty. The jurors cited James White’s lack of credibility as the major factor. The prosecutor explained the verdict by saying he was â€Å"fighting God.† Although Peggy Lowe can never be tried again, the fact remains that it is impossible for one sister to be innocent and the other guilty. Betty Wilson is serving life without parole at the Julia Tutwiler prison in Wetumpka, Alabama. She works in the sewing department and spends her free time writing her supporters. Her case is being appealed. James White is serving a life sentence at an institution in Springville, Alabama, where he is attending trade school and receiving counseling for drug and alcohol abuse. In 1994, he recanted his story of the twins’ involvement but later took the Fifth Amendment when questioned about it in court. He will be eligible for parole in the year 2000.

How to Write a Perfect Thesis

How to Write a Perfect Thesis How to Write a Perfect Thesis What is a thesis statement Key features of thesis statement Considerations before writing a thesis How to write a strong thesis statement Tips on how to write a proper thesis Revising thesis statement: Tips on thesis revision Thesis sample (Crime and Punishment Essay Thesis) Example of a good thesis statement What is a thesis statement Essays or research papers always have the main idea, central message or main point. All the discussions, arguments and elaborations center on the main idea which captures the position of a writer. Therefore, a thesis statement is a view of an essay writer that captures the theme of the whole essay or research as well as the central message on the discussion. In most cases, thesis statements have one to two sentences that present the topic of the paper as well as comment on the position of the student about the subject of discussion. Therefore, it gives the reader a snapshot of what the paper is about besides giving guidance to the author to remain focused on the topic. Key features of a thesis statement The thesis statement is argumentative: when students write a thesis statement, they should bring out the contentious aspect of the central message hence should not have a factual statement that is irrefutable. The thesis statement is specific: the central message of an essay or a research paper is usually specified what the essay is about for the students to elaborate and prove the argument adequately. The thesis statement is engaging: students ensure that the central message of the essay usually attracts interest. Thus, the thesis statement is provocative and pulls the audience into the whole essay. Thesis statement alludes as well as support the stand of a writer: writers indicate thesis statements that support or alludes to support their points of argument. Thus, the statements appear to have some positive aspect besides giving a clear position of the writer. Considerations before writing a thesis Before writing a thesis statement, students should consider various aspects that entail thesis. For example, students should be aware of the arguable claims that they are about to put across. Besides, students should consider the content of the paper that the thesis statement will control. Separately, authors should think of the best structure of the paper before developing a thesis statement. Elsewhere, writers delve in the best way of summarizing the entire paper before developing a thesis statement since the statement gives a summary of the whole paper. On another note, writers ensure that thesis statements appear in the middle or the end of the first paragraph. Besides, they provide that it is precise and clear, gives the purpose of the paper and gives guidance to the journal. How to write a strong thesis statement Strong thesis statements have three parts that include the argument, the reason for discussion and the opposing views. Consequently, it gives a research paper a clear direction and scope that the writer will cover. Also, it informs a reader on the items that the author will cover within the paper. Therefore, students ensure that a strong thesis statement is narrow, summarize the entire paper, and develops a claim. Besides, it provides the position of the writer, the reason for the position and the opposite view. Also, writers ensure that the statement is complete, guides the writer on the essay and peculiar to the length of the paper and should be debatable. Tips on how to write a proper thesis Students who write research works are aware of the different tips when making strong thesis statements. Therefore, students should: Break the topic into three portions namely the position of the writer, the reason for the stance and the opposing view. Students should ensure that the statement forms a complete sentence and summarizes the authors view. Ensure that the thesis statement captures the purpose of the essay and mentions the most important points that the author will discuss. Students should elaborate thesis statement in a way that guides the paper. Ensure that the thesis statement answers the question in the entire paper. Revising thesis statement: Tips on thesis revision When reviewing a thesis statement, writers should note that the statement is a complete sentence that is simple and meets the requirement of the assignment. Besides, it should answer the research question in either explanatory or argumentative point of view and has a defined idea. Separately, students should ensure that the thesis statement challenges the reader to think and hold the attention of the reader. Also, they should make sure that the report gives new information regarding the topic and avoids mere announcement of the subject as well as stating an obvious idea. Thesis sample (Crime and Punishment Essay Thesis) ‘At least 25 percent of the first-degree murder crimes committed in America pass death penalties’. Example of a good thesis statement ‘American government should spend more than 30 percent of its budget on control of pollution, research on best alternative sources of energy gives a reason for the stance, is engaging and reforestation’. The thesis statement is narrow and debatable, summarizes the paper, gives the position of the student, provides a claim on the solution and highlights the scope of the paper. Example of a bad thesis ‘Crime is detrimental to the society. The thesis stamen is broad and vague. The reader cannot tell what is entailing n the category of offense. Also, the user is unable to understand how crime is detrimental. Besides, the author does not give clarity on the scope of the paper and the area whether it is in USA or Canada, the statement is general and lacks engagement to the reader besides not argumentative.

Buddist Materiality and How it compares to Vimalakirti Essay

Buddist Materiality and How it compares to Vimalakirti - Essay Example The paper provides an analysis of the Vimalakirti Sutra, and the social material lifestyles in Dunhuang during the fifth through to the fourteenth century. This paper argues that during the fifteenth to the nineteenth century, the Buddhists used social, material lifestyles to describe their social lifestyle. Vimalakirti is an ordinary individual and not a learned scholar. One realizes that his spiritual level is high and his knowledge is profound as he debates with a number of disciples of Buddha and bodhisattvas. His spiritual level is supposed to be at par with Buddha. So, the issue is defined in clear terms in the sutra that enlightenment does not depend on initiation. Vimalakirti belonged to Licchavi, one of the ruling clans of ancient India, and he commanded high respect from all. The second chapter makes a reference to his illness. There is passing reference to his feigning illness but the fact is he probably has taken the illness of one of his devotees upon himself. People come to enquire about his welfare and Vimalakirti takes that opportunity to preach the finer aspects of dharma and many of them are blessed with enlightenment. In the ensuing chapters Lord Buddha advises his disciples and bodhisattvas to visit Vimalakirti as well. But they are disinclined to go and make pretexts, because in the past they had all been overwhelmed by Vimalakirtis loftier understanding of the ultimate spiritual truth. Vimalakriti owns extraordinary spiritual talent. Evan Manjusri, bodhisattva of wisdom, is no match for him. When he agrees to visit Vimalakriti, a galaxy of Buddha’s disciples, bodhisattvas, gods and goddesses decide to follow him to avail the opportunity to watch the two great spiritual giants conversing with each other. All of them know that it would be an astounding and illuminating experience. Soon the room where Vimalakirti is convalescing becomes the spiritual dispensation center. A large number of people

Gendering Social Work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Gendering Social Work - Essay Example As a social worker, it is my duty to extend maximum possible help to Iona. The needs of the older people are often neglected by the societies all over the world and UK is also not an exception. Most of the societies look seriously at the needs of the younger generation because of the possible contribution the society may receive from younger people in future. For example, child health and education are some of the major areas in which the society has no hesitancy to spend more. On the other hand, the needs of the older generation are often neglected by the society because of the concerns about the spending in non-productive sector. Older people have already contributed heavily to the society and it is ethically wrong to neglect them when they need the social support badly. â€Å"Social workers cannot avoid the contradictory nature of their role but sometimes they need to take a stand and show which side they are on† (Searing, 2008). The need of Iona for a sexual relationship even at the age of 82 is difficult for me to digest. But as a social worker, I cannot keep a hatred feeling towards Iona as my primary aim is to help Iona in all possible means. Probably the desire put forward by Iona cannot be fulfilled and it is not my duty to help her in this regard. But, I should accept the fact that different people may have different needs irrespective of their age and they have every right to follow their life philosophies. Dench et al (2006) have argued that the culture of entitlement in contemporary Britain may itself need to be reconsidered if further breakdown of order is to be avoided. Not only it is working against the legitimacy of the welfare state, but it may be working against the integrity of the society (Dench et al 2006 p.7). The culture and life philosophies are changing day by day based on the advancements in thinking, life styles. It is difficult for the current generation to follow the traditions, customs