The Most Basic Unit of Matter The Atom

The basic unit of all matter is the atom. The atom is the smallest unit of matter that cant be divided using any chemical means and the building block that has unique properties. In other words, an atom of each element is different from an atom of any other element. However, even the atom can be broken into smaller pieces, called quarks. Structure of the Atom An atom is the smallest unit of an element. There are 3 parts of an atom: proton: positive electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atomneutron: neutral or no electrical charge, found in the nucleus of an atomelectron: negative electrical charge, found circling the nucleus The size of the proton and neutron are similar, while the size (mass) of the electron is much, much smaller. The electrical charge of the proton and electron are exactly equal to each other, just opposite to each other. The proton and electron attract each other. Neither the proton nor the electron is attracted or repelled by the neutron. Atoms Consist of Subatomic Particles Each proton and neutron consist of even smaller particles called quarks. The quarks are held together by particles called gluons. An electron is a different type of particle, called a lepton. proton: consists of 2 up quarks and 1 down quarkneutron: consists of 2 down quarks and 1 up quarkelectron: is a lepton There are other subatomic particles, too. So, at the subatomic level, its difficult to identify a single particle that could be called the basic building block of matter. You could say quarks and leptons are the basic building blocks of the matter if you like.

Rhetorical Analysis of Cultural Baggage Essay - 599 Words

Jenny Stout Professor Bowers English 1102 5 September 2014 Rhetorical Analysis In Barbara Ehrenreich’s Cultural baggage, the topic of ethnic heritage is discussed as the author is responding to an acquaintance asking her what her ethnic background is. Ehrenreich finds her purpose for writing her essay in making readers aware that no ethnic background is in fact a background. She takes on a not so common viewpoint of herself as most people pride themselves in where they came from and the traditions of their culture, rather than feeling almost embarrassed to claim their background. Ehrenreich claims that she has no ethnic background, disregarding her Scottish, English, and Irish heritage. While others â€Å"stand up and proudly reclaim†¦show more content†¦Ehrenreich was finally able to feel a sense of pride knowing that â€Å"the race of ‘none’ marches on.† The author wrote her essay including several references to certain traditions that different cultures practice. The audience is assumed to have some g eneral knowledge of different cultures, but nothing to extensive. The author also assumes that the audience is somewhat well educated due to the higher-level word choices she makes. Ehrenreich is describing her realization of heritage to her audience in the possible hopes that the readers can either relate in some way or share some of the excitement that she does in her own ethnicity, or lack of. Ehrenreich was able to make her point that she does in fact have an ethnicity other than Scottish, English and Irish. It was intriguing to see the progression in the essay from the authors feeling of disconnect with her heritage to a sense of pride in her family that refrains from carrying on cultural activities. She recognizes where she came from and concludes that no tradition is a tradition, rather than trying toShow MoreRelated The Relationship of Photographs, History, and Memory Essay5378 Words   |  22 Pagescontrast to earlier times--has been chronicled by a visual narrative that r elies on the attraction of photographs as means of storing and disseminating information. Photographs emerge as documents of a lived experience, and their presence in the cultural milieu of technologically enhanced contemporary communication practices remains virtually unchallenged at the threshold to the twenty-first century. Photographs are the story-telling companions of time, they direct the gaze of the spectator toRead MoreHuman Resource Essay example3782 Words   |  16 Pagesexpanded and consolidated its agenda in the 1990s, and it has been flourishing explosively in the dozen years since the turn of the millennium (the 2000s so far). We will try to understand the conditions of possibility for the rise of HRM in terms of cultural background, economic and political conditions, and social transformations in North Atlantic societies at the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. HRM’s evolution over time shows that it has become intensified, that it has expandedRead MoreOrganisational Theory230255 Words   |  922 Pagestheory focuses attention on the human issues in organization ‘There is nothing so practical as a good theory’ How Roethlisberger developed a ‘practical’ organization theory Column 1: The core contributing social sciences Column 2: The techniques for analysis Column 3: The neo-modernist perspective Column 4: Contributions to business and management Four combinations of science, scientific technique and the neo-modernist approach reach different parts of the organization Level 1: Developing the organizationRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pageslamentable. Taken together, the key themes and processes that have been selected as the focus for each of the eight essays provide a way to conceptualize the twentieth century as a coherent unit for teaching, as well as for written narrative and analysis. Though they do not exhaust the crucial strands of historical development that tie the century together—one could add, for example, nationalism and decolonization—they cover in depth the defining phenomena of that epoch, which, as the essays demonstrateRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesLine 58 Understanding and Appreciating Individual Differences Important Areas of Self-Awareness 61 Emotional Intelligence 62 Values 65 Ethical Decision Making and Values 72 Cognitive Style 74 Attitudes Toward Change 76 Core Self-Evaluation 79 SKILL ANALYSIS 84 Cases Involving Self-Awareness 84 Communist Prison Camp 84 Computerized Exam 85 Decision Dilemmas 86 SKILL PRACTICE 89 Exercises for Improving Self-Awareness Through Self-Disclosure 89 Through the Looking Glass 89 Diagnosing Managerial Characteristics

Argumentative Essay Topics Free Essays

The Top 10 Argumentative Essay Topics There is no limit when it comes to these contemporary issues that are often ignored in many areas of mass media. Let’s start with the coveted list of hot topics. Abortion – There is no cap on how much controversy the simple word of abortion sparks. We will write a custom essay sample on Argumentative Essay Topics or any similar topic only for you Order Now Ever since the controversial Roe vs. Wade court case, the notion of abortion have spawned many riots, picketing and of course, violence. Pro-Lifers and Pro-Choicers often collide in a venomous war of words that often leads to violence of the highest form. Animal rights and experimentation – there is one acronym that reigns supreme when it comes to the rights of animals and that is PETA. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, is a group that sparks controversy wherever their representatives are. Whether it is dumping red paint on women who wear furs or just simply picketing on the steps of Congress, PETA is definitely at the forefront of controversy. Animal rights and experimentation is one topic that will always ignite raw feelings and a heated debate. Breast Cancer and the effects of chemicals in soaps, deodorants, etc. Where there are pink ribbons there is bound to be controversy. The Susan G. Komen Foundation is at the forefront of creating a bit of a stir when it comes to finding a cure for breast cancer, whether it is through walkathons, or charitable events, the foundation strives for proper education, and continuous research on the eradication of breast cancer as evident in their â€Å"race for the cure† eve nts. Writing an argumentative essay on breast cancer and the possible irritants in everyday things such as soaps, laundry detergents and deodorants as being possible causes of breast cancer will undoubtedly create a bit of a stir. Border Control – With America being the land of the free and the home of the brave, there have been continuous efforts to prevent immigrant entry through closing down the borders of the country. This will always be a hot topic of conversation, arguments and debates because it seeks to answer â€Å"what is an American since this is a country of blended cultures. † The Pharmaceutical Industry – Never have three simple words sparked such explosive debates coast-to-coast and around the world. The pharmaceutical industry has been alleged to be responsible for many things. Ethnic Adoption – This is fast being a hot topic of interest for many people because it explores the notion of couples adopting non-American babies. The Death Penalty – With so many people on death row, people have much to say about how the country handles death row inmates as well as what happens when an inmate is forced to walk the green mile and their number is literally up. Genetic Cloning – There has always been a way to get a rise out of people when the topic of genetic cloning comes into play. It forces people to contemplate the idea of man take on the roles that were meant for God. Plastic Surgery – With the addiction and deaths attributed to a gross fixation on plastic surgery procedures, many people attribute the rise of prescription medicine addiction and deaths to plastic surgery. This is one topic that is steadily gaining momentum when it comes to argumentative essays. Human Trafficking – This is one topic where you just can’t go wrong when looking for controversy. How to cite Argumentative Essay Topics, Essays

Effects of Computer Addiction on the Academic Performance of the Students free essay sample

It is known that we are living in technological era. The computers become irreplaceable tool in everyday life of almost each person. The adult users generally use it for business purposes while youngsters for computer games. Computers became the part of our life and very important component in the spheres of the life is leisure. Nowadays, majority of young people spend their leisure time playing computer games, surfing through the internet. Computer games have become one of the favorite time-spending of young people in all ages, and even some adults and the students. With permanent development of computer technology the quality of people using computer either for working purposes or entertainment purposes is increasing speedily. There are many things that causes addiction to computer games, one reason being, is that most students just need something to occupy their time and these games do that for countless hours. Some students use computer gamings and surfings to escape their reality which can include school, work and possibly personal problems. We will write a custom essay sample on Effects of Computer Addiction on the Academic Performance of the Students or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Computer games also represent students to challenges they can overcome so they can feel a sense of accomplishments in virtual world, mistakes can be undone and time can review itself with the push of a few buttons. Computer has lots of effects on the learning of the students. For most part, research on computer addiction has its effects and disadvantages of the students. Statement of the problem 1. What are causes of computer addiction and its effects on the student learning? 2. ) What are the possible solutions in order to stop this addiction? General Objective * To know the effects of computer addiction on the school performance of the students * To find out the answer on why students get addicted to computers and find possible solutions to stop it. Hypothesis Through other activities and with the proper guidance of the parents the give to their children, their addiction on computers can be lessen Scope and Delimitation The students of the City College of Tagaytay Importance/Significance of the Research Computer addiction is still a fairly new disorder that mental health professionals are studying. Excessive computer use is a problem that can have serious repercussions in both the user and those people around him. This research can provide answers with regards to the problem, and helps to find a way on how to stop or prevent this addiction. With the gathered information, this research will possibly find solutions on the questions related to the research, (Effects of computer addiction on the academic Performance of students) Related Literature Most of our youth and students today are fond of going into internet shop to use computer, without knowledge of their parents what they are up to. They will ask money from their parents telling that they have something to search in the internet for their project or assignments, although others do so, but there are some who just make it as an alibi so that they can compete skills with their peers through playing games online like for example war craft, battle realms, DOTA etc. Since time named the microcomputer their â€Å"Man of the Year† in 1983 there has been a continued drive for public school teachers to become computer literate. A nationwide study concluded that although teachers have increased computer availability in their classrooms, they are not integrating computers into the standard curricula. The present study examined â€Å"technophobia† as an explanation for low levels of computer utilization. Elementary teachers, secondary science teachers and secondary humanities teachers in 54 schools across five urban school districts completed three measures of technophobia and a measure of demographic characteristics, computer/technology experience, computer availability, and current computer use. Results indicated that: (1) computers are available at all schools, but are not being used by many teachers; (2) many teachers are technophobic, particularly elementary teachers and secondary humanities teachers; (3) teachers are most worried about dealing with the actual computer machinery in their classroom, about computer errors, and about learning to use computers. Many people do not know how, or even when computers were first made. Even before the first electronic computers were made, many people believe that computers started with the abacus, a simple counting device. The abacus is believed to have been built in Babylon in the fourth century B. C. The First Generation of computers started in the very late 1930s. These computers were grotesquely slow, colossal in size, created much heat, used hundreds of kilowatts of power, and were about as reliable as a used up match. As time went on, these computers evolved from using vacuum tubes to transistors. Transistors mark the beginning of the Second Generation of computers in 1947.

soc 1500 esaay and proposal guidelines Winter 2019 Essays - Articles

SOCIOLOGY *1500 CRIME AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Department of Sociology and Anthropology University of Guelph Winter 2019 Essay Proposal and Essay Guidelines Criminological theories are often used to understand and explain criminal behaviour and the functioning of the criminal justice system. As you will learn in class, many theories have been developed to uniquely account for, understand, and explain crime. Generally speaking, where biological and psychological theories of crime focus on the individual, classical and contemporary sociological explanations are more interested in understanding the influences of groups and social contexts. For this assignment, you will apply two criminological theories learned in class to help us understand why a crime committed in North America in the last 20 years may have occurred. You will obtain relevant details of the crime from reports published by major North American news organizations or other reputable outlets. Care fully review the following information which inc ludes guidelines for writing essay proposals and essays, important formatting details, and responses to frequently asked questions (FAQ) Formatting and Submission Instructions: Papers (proposal and essay) must be doubled-spaced with 12 point font in Times New Roman. Please include page numbers and word count for your essay. Please use APA referencing format. You may use first-person pronouns if you wish. Please submit your work via the Dropbox on our Courselink. Please submit your proposal and essay in either Microsoft Word or PDF only. Please include a cover page with your essay topic title, your name and your U of G Student ID number. Essay Proposal Guidelines: Value: 10% of your Final Grade. Length: 1-1.5 pages, double-spaced. Please submit via the Dropbox on Courselink Your proposal will provide a brief introduction to the essay you plan to write. It will allow you the opportunity to receive written feedback about your ideas and the theories you plan to use. You may use subheadings in your proposal to organize your work. a. You should begin by providing a one-paragraph description of the crime that you will analyze. At this point your description does not need to be overly detailed, but you should provide enough information for your TA to assess whether the theories you have chosen are the best fit for your argument. b. The crime you select must have occurred in North America within the last 20 years (i.e. the criminal event occurred within the last 20 years, not the trial or appeal) c. Your paper will focus on a specific offence/group of offences perpetrated by an individual/group of individuals. d. You must cite a least 1 news source in your essay proposal. Theories Next, identify the 2 theories you will use to analyze the crime you have selected and briefly explain why these theories may be useful for understanding why that crime occurred. For each theory, you should first describe the theory in your own words (1-2 sentences so we know you understand that theory) and then explain how that theory can be used to help understand why the crime you selected may have occurred (2-3 sentences). Please look through our textbook to identify theories that you might find useful (we likely will not have covered them in class before your proposal is due). Thesis Finally tell us what your essay's argument will be. As a reminder, a thesis sentence is used to convey your argument to your reader. Your thesis must convey an argument; that means it should go beyond a simple statement identifying the two theories you will apply. Please DO NOT use direct quotes in your proposal. Please paraphrase everything (in your own words) so we know you understand the material before you go on to write your essay. Essay Guidelines Value: 25% of your Final Grade Length: 4-5 pages double-spaced 12 point font in Times New Roman Please submit via the Dropbox on Courselink. Your essay will build upon the essay proposal by more fully describing the crime you have chosen to study and by presenting your argument as to how the two theories you have identified may be used to understand why the crime occurred. You must cite at least 3 news sources in your essay. All material that is not your own (any ideas, statements, quotations) must

Free Essays on Animal Rights

Animal testing is a controversial issue having many supporters as well as non-supporters. People have been debating over this issue for years with no avail. Animal rights activists form groups that try to stop animal testing while scientists around the world argue that it is an important procedure that has led to many discoveries. In January two thousand one, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) high production volume chemicals testing initiative. This plan uses animal testing and PETA felt that the EPA was testing the same thing over and over again producing the same result. They were also killing thousands of laboratory animals in the process. This lawsuit was rejected because the EPA stated, â€Å"such mandates would complicate and possibly delay the entire testing program†(Franz 11). PETA also argues that chemical company’s test and retest issues that are unnecessary. For instance, it is a fact that arsenic in drinking water causes cancer in humans. But the EPA tested arsenic enriched water on laboratory animals for over twenty years and killed hundreds of thousands of animals only to prove what was already known. Many scientists prefer animal tests as opposed to non-animal tests even though â€Å"non-animal tests are often faster, cheaper, and their results are less subject to manipulation [†¦]†(Sandler 46). The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) do not endorse non-animal testing because they cannot scientifically â€Å"validate† their relevance to human beings. Unless they can prove that non-animal tests are actually proving that a chemical is harmless to humans, they will not incorporate them into their research procedures (Sandler 46). Gina Solomon from the NRDC does not agree with the over testing of the animals but does accept that laboratory animal testing as well as non-anim... Free Essays on Animal Rights Free Essays on Animal Rights Animal testing is a controversial issue having many supporters as well as non-supporters. People have been debating over this issue for years with no avail. Animal rights activists form groups that try to stop animal testing while scientists around the world argue that it is an important procedure that has led to many discoveries. In January two thousand one, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) high production volume chemicals testing initiative. This plan uses animal testing and PETA felt that the EPA was testing the same thing over and over again producing the same result. They were also killing thousands of laboratory animals in the process. This lawsuit was rejected because the EPA stated, â€Å"such mandates would complicate and possibly delay the entire testing program†(Franz 11). PETA also argues that chemical company’s test and retest issues that are unnecessary. For instance, it is a fact that arsenic in drinking water causes cancer in humans. But the EPA tested arsenic enriched water on laboratory animals for over twenty years and killed hundreds of thousands of animals only to prove what was already known. Many scientists prefer animal tests as opposed to non-animal tests even though â€Å"non-animal tests are often faster, cheaper, and their results are less subject to manipulation [†¦]†(Sandler 46). The World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) do not endorse non-animal testing because they cannot scientifically â€Å"validate† their relevance to human beings. Unless they can prove that non-animal tests are actually proving that a chemical is harmless to humans, they will not incorporate them into their research procedures (Sandler 46). Gina Solomon from the NRDC does not agree with the over testing of the animals but does accept that laboratory animal testing as well as non-anim...

Violence in the Twentieth Century West Research Paper

Violence in the Twentieth Century West - Research Paper Example This report stresses that the forced collectivization of agriculture during the Stalin’s revolution was responsible for the mass killings that followed. The collectivization involved the peasant farmers combining their small farms to form one large piece of farm that would then be operated in accordance with the government’s regulations. The farmers who had heavily invested in their farms like the Kulaks resisted the idea of combining the farms, as they would be disadvantaged when combined with individuals whose lands were of poor quality. Out of brutality and ego centric form of leadership Stalin embarked in what he called the eradication of the whole clan of the Kulaks. He firmly believed that the entire clan was an enemy to his collectivization efforts and he did not see any other way to deal with them apart from eliminating them. The result was violence and political intolerance that resulted to mass killings which when combined with the other fights served to ensur e that millions of death characterized the early twentieth century. This paper makes a conclusion that the number of people who died unnatural deaths in the beginning of the twentieth century mainly from violence and political oppression was large and was mainly attributed to war, which was inevitable. Therefore, during this era war was celebrated by the people and was generally welcomed by majority of the people who did not see any other way they could live at peace apart from through war.

Supply Chain Visual Representation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Supply Chain Visual Representation - Essay Example This informed the decision by the company to relocate the warehouses closer to customers and retailers. Riordan Manufacturing is a worldwide plastic manufacturer owed by the Riordan Manufacturing industries. The Riordan Manufacturing Company has its headquarters in San Jose and this is where the development and research activities of the company are conducted (Baihaqi, 2009). This paper presents a visual representation of the operations of Riordan Manufacturing Company and relates its operations to the knowledge of supply chain operations. Notably, this company has focus in operations is through research, development and the patenting of plastic potentials. The main function of the company is to supply plastic products to various manufacturing companies such as beverage bottlers, aircraft manufacturers, and automotive manufacturers among others (Baihaqi, 2009). The function of Riordan is to provide plastic supply to the manufacturers that depend on this company for raw materials According to Fawcett et al (2007), a good business involves a positive interaction between the customer and the supplier. For Riordan manufacturers they have managed to maintain a long-term relationship with clients as they always provide quality goods since they have a system that has embraced technology and innovation (Baihaqi, 2009). For efficiency of these processes of supplying other manufacturers with raw materials a beneficial relationship must exists between the supplier and the clients (Fawcett, 2007)The maintenance of a supply chain that is beneficial to cost efficiency has enables the company to maintain a good relation with clients With the main headquarters at San Jose, this company has also other operational branches at Hang Zhou China, Georgia, and Michigan (Baihaqi, 2009). These plants add efficiency to the supply chain to clients over the world by reducing the supply cost by cutting on the

PPD3 Career Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

PPD3 Career Management - Essay Example The second behavioral characteristics depicts a higher consciousness over liking and my personality is displayed as being more authentic and vigilant rather than relying on personal senses over definite vital matters. The third behavioral characteristic that I possess includes modest reasoning over sentiments. This aspect depicts my considerate nature on decision making rather than concentrating on my deeds to straightforward attitudes and self-made perspective. The SHL capability field demonstrates few areas where I have anticipated suitability while the others show major flaws. Decision making, conceptualization and managing are my major flaws areas. To sum up, I need to succeed in the information technology area as I have shown an average score. Despite of being capable of satisfying few applications in IT, I require to show excellence in these areas. I require a great performance scope in this practical field (Wanberg, Kanfer and Banas, 2000). I believe that it is increasingly important to possess certain skills that will help me to get a better job, to accomplish something and to open new horizons which will add to my professional abilities (Sturges, Conway, Guest and Liefooghe, 2005). I have obtained my personal skills from my knowledge, experience and communication. The table below depicts my skills audit results. It shows that I have strong communication skills including listening skills, presentation skills and feedback skills. I also have innovative problem solving skills such as describing an analytical problem, realising reasons of a problem and develop creative option to solve such problems. To sum up, it can be stated that many new technological developments have transformed the personal knowledge management. The personal and professional audit depicts the possibilities of a person and also the equivalent perspectives. Many jobs that offer us the right experience for

Assessment on English for Cambodian Textbook Uses

Assessment on English for Cambodian Textbook Uses The fall of the Pol Pot regime in 1979 contributed to a new step toward introducing new foreign languages-Vietnamese, and Russian, in Cambodian education system. However, at the end of cold war in late 1989, French and English were reintroduced once again at lower secondary school education after a long period of prohibition of teaching the two languages toward the end of Lon Nol regime in 1975 (Igawa, 2008). Although French and English have been taught ever since that time, English has become the first foreign language owing to the fact that there has been a switching allocation of language resources from French to English (Clayton, 2006). Since English becomes more and more influential language in Cambodia, high attention has been drawn to make this language more and more communicable among school girls and boys at basic education level from grade 7 to grade 12. Meanwhile, the main the purpose of Lower Secondary School (LSS) is to have students fully participate in the society and become a productive citizen. In this regard, the objective of teaching foreign language at that level is set to serve basic communicative competence for the students (MoYES, 2004). To serve the above objective, in Lower and Upper Secondary school levels from grade 7 to grade 12, MoEYS employs the book series named English for Cambodia to teach students, which was initially piloted in 1996-1997 academic year (MoEYS, 1999). Before the publication of English for Cambodia (EFC) series, many textbook series such as Headway, English for Today, and streamline, to name but a few, were utilized to teach Cambodian Secondary School students. Shortly after several projects had been conducted to develop an appropriate English textbook for Cambodia, EFC textbook series were published with six levels in which one level is confined for the whole academic year of each grade at both Lower and Upper Secondary schools in Cambodia (Vira, 2002). In grade 7, students are to take the first level of the book named English for Cambodia: Book 1. The book is written in English including the explanatory part in the first section. The textbook content is organized on the grammar basis containing a number of chapters which each is subdivided into 4 or 3 units to explain the target grammar, some drills using the grammar, short dialogues with questions to check for comprehension, and reading texts. From the content, each chapter subsequently orientates students towards communicative goal (MoEYS, 1999). English for Cambodia, book one, was developed in forms of teachers guide and student book in respect to MoEYS Textbook Master Plan (1996) and cooperated with Cambodian research institutions. This textbook was designed on the basis of MoEYS English Syllabus for grade 7 students and accompanied by the teaching methodology developed by teacher trainers during training course for Lower Secondary English trainees. In particular, the main features of teaching methodology in this book is characterized as: enhancing 4 language skill practices namely listening, speaking, reading, and writing; practicing grammatical structure and vocabulary and introducing systematic and appropriate means of communicative language function; various effective teaching and learning technique presented in each unit; and regular interaction between students and teachers (MoEYS, 1999). 1.2 Research Problem Three tables below show that teaching English is started at lower secondary school from grade 7. This means that from grade 1 to grade 6 Cambodian students who solely take primary education at state schools are not familiar with any of Basic English Alphabets. Table1: (Curriculum for grade 1-3) Table2: (Curriculum for grade 4-6) Table3: (Curriculum for grade 7-9) (MoEYS, 2004) On the other hand, from observation on teachers and students, the majority of them seem to be out of their interests in the learning and teaching English due to the fact that content of textbook does not suit well with students language learning ability. As demonstrated in three tables above, teaching foreign language begins in grade 7. However, the textbook that is used for grade 7 students tends to be higher in language introduction than real students language learning abilities are. For instance, in the first chapter of ECF1 textbook, it begins with short dialogue and straight away gets students to introduce themselves to their friends in the classroom (English for Cambodia: Book1, chpt: 1). This significantly drives grade 7 students attention away from learning English at school. Paul Morris suggested that the best criteria for content selection shall respect to learners ability. However, this criterion is not carefully considered (Morris, 1996). Particularly, Cunningsworth (1995) proposed that best criteria for selecting a good textbook is to analyze if the textbook content responds to learners needs and also the objective of language program (Cited in Richards, 2001). In this regard, there comes the question, Does English for Cambodia book 1 fit well with and correspond to grade 7 students needs and their learning abilities? 1.3 Objectives of the Study (Research objectives) To refine the current EFC textbook content, this study aims at evaluating both strengths and weaknesses of the existing textbook and shed light on how to improve the textbook contents by employing some theories of textbook evaluation from previous studies abroad to build up logical frameworks for the research findings. Moreover, this study will compare textbook content used in Cambodian lower secondary school to some other English textbooks used in some other private institutions-whether the textbooks contain the element of communicative language teaching objective set by the Cambodian Ministry of Education. In this regard, the refined qualities of textbook can be developed to help grade 7 students who learn English to improve their language performance in Cambodian high schools. 1.4 Research Questions What are the strengths and weaknesses of EFC 1 textbook perceived by teachers and students in grade 7 English classes? Are there any significant differences of English textbook content used in Cambodian secondary school and those used in private schools? 1.5 Hypotheses Strengths and weaknesses of EFC 1 textbook are perceived by teachers and students in grade 7 English classes. There are significant differences of English textbook contents used in Cambodian secondary school and those used in private schools. 1.6 Significance of the Study This study will contribute to establishing guideline for grade 7 textbook review aiming at enhancing qualities of the existing EFC textbook series. This study will serve as a tool to facilitate grade 7 students with appropriate learning English as second language materials at Cambodian lower secondary school. The result from this study will offer recommendation to curriculum developer to reconsider the current textbook content in the view to making it relevant to the Cambodian grade 7 students and adherent to general objectives of foreign language teaching curriculum set by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports in Cambodia. 1.7 Definition of Key Terms The assessment on EFC1 textbook will be done through examining the internal features and external features of the book. The term internal features refer to physical appearance, layout, pictures, and printing quality, while external features specify the language contents and skill development of the book. 1.8 Proposed Chapter Organization This research study is organized in five chapters. Chapter 1 is introduction dealing with background information of the study, problem statement, research objective, research question, significance of the study, and proposed chapter organization. Chapter 2 is literature review which makes use of many studies oversea to construct a logical framework for textbook evaluation. This review of literature will lead to structural features of textbook evaluation consisting of internal and external features, and draw up some characteristics to achieve the goal of communicative language teaching. Chapter 3 is research methodology which deal with research design, instruments for data collection, setting, data collection procedures, plan for data analysis, ethical considerations, and limitation of the study. Chapter 4, finding and discussion, will present the findings related to the strengths and weaknesses of EFC1 textbook, and pose recommendation for textbook review to make it an appropriate material for grade 7 students in Cambodian lower secondary school. Chapter 5 is conclusion. CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW Since there are limited previous studies concerning textbook evaluation in Cambodian context, this study will base largely on related studies oversea to draw the theoretical framework to textbook assessment. And the review of literature begins with the description of general features of textbook evaluation, and is followed by textbook content evaluation for communicative purposes, related study in EFC textbook evaluation, and finally conclusion. 2.1 General Feature of Textbook Design Evaluation Textbooks are teaching materials generally used in many teaching programs. In order to measure the strengths and weaknesses of any textbooks used in Second Language Teaching program many criteria have been set to carry out the framework of evaluation. In 1982, David William in his position as Senior Lecturer and the head of Language Art Section at Ahmadu Bello Unversity of Nigeria proposed the evaluative scheme through his work: Developing Criteria for Textbook Evaluation. His evaluative scheme is based on four criteria namely linguistic, pedagogical, general, and technical principles. These principles provide up-to-date teaching methodology to teachers, especially those whose native languages are not English, to benefit from appropriate guidelines introduced by a particularly chosen textbook. Moreover, the needs of second language learners shall be carefully considered especially when pupils in the same class have many different backgrounds of English capacity. Whats more, introduci ng vocabulary and grammar shall be conducted in respect to students socio-cultural norms so as to relate students native language with the introduced target language. As the result of these principles, David William suggested a checklist in which ESL textbook should be included such as guideline for teaching language items and skills, supplementary materials for pronunciation, provision of variable techniques for teaching grammar and vocabulary, guideline for teaching reading comprehension and writing, and technical aspects of language presentation textbook should have such as appropriate pictures, diagrams, table (William, 1983) Cunningworth (1995), on the other hand, proposed four criteria for textbook evaluation. First, textbook should correspond to the need of learners and fit well with the aims and objectives of the programs. Secondly, textbook shall shape students learning purposes for effective language learning outcome. Thirdly, they should facilitate students with learning process, hence increasing a good flow of learning-teaching activities. Fourth, textbooks should serve as a supporting tool to accommodate students learning and target language. In addition, Cunningsworth also recommended a checklist for textbook evaluation which bases on 9 categories: aims and approaches, design and organization, language content, skills, topic, methodology, teachers guide, and practical consideration (Cited in Richards, 2001). Another systematic evaluation proposed by Byrd (2000) also recommended practical textbook analysis before putting it into use for English class. He addressed the three fits that can be the keys to assessing an effective textbook use in general: the Fit between curriculum and text, the Fit between students and text, and the Fit between teacher and text. The first fit analyzed the consistency between curriculum set and materials used in order to reach the commonly achievable goals. The second fit served as a link between students needs and textbook. For this purpose, textbook should combine three key elements including content explanation, examples, and exercise or tasks. The three keys should be of students interest and use, of appropriateness to target students to be explained, and of help in explaining to them about what they need to know in order to learn. More, different kinds of students should get benefit from varied activities the book presents in order to meet their own needs. And of course, to enhance the three key elements textbook should employ physical make up including graphics, arts, print size, as well as attractive illustration. Last but not least, the third fit provides benefit to teachers in which he/she can make use the teaching textbook to help them solve problem related to teaching language within their classrooms. From the textbook teachers should be equipped with guidelines, extra materials, activities, and methods to extend their language teaching in their assigned classroom (cited in Celce-Murcia, 2001). Although no textbook is perfect in language teaching class, there are universal characteristics of textbook that can be used as format for textbook reviews. In a journal article by Hansan Asary and Esmat (2002), they drew up universal features of textbook analysis by selecting 10 ESL/EFL textbook evaluation schemes and 10 ESL/EFL reviews as collections to develop their study. From their analysis, the authors come up with universal characteristics of EFL/ESL textbooks which are outlined as: 1) approach which is related to theory of nature of language and learning; 2) content presentation referring to purpose and objective as well as sequences of presentation and consideration on students part as well as teaching syllabus; 3) physical make-up which refers to the appropriate layout, pictures, and publishing quality; and 4) administrative concern which involves cultural and social aspects of the texts (Ansary Babii, 2002). To assess the quality of textbook of grade 6 English Language class in Saudi Arabia, Abdulrahman Ali M. Alamri (2008) conducted one research study to evaluate the newly published textbook, named Sixth Grade English Language, which was used in Saudi Boys Schools. The selected criteria to evaluate the textbook in question was similar to what have been mentioned in the above theories of textbook evaluation including the general appearance, design and illustration, accompanying materials, objectives, topic appropriateness, learning components, socio-cultural contexts, skills development, teachability, flexibility, teaching methods, and practice and testing. The result from this study showed that Sixth Grade English Language Text really satisfied all 104 participants, but there were some comments suggested by the author in order to improve quality of textbook include adding appropriate glossary to facilitate teachers and learners, incorporating attractive illustration to encourage more cr eativity, encouraging more critical thinking through interesting topics, introducing more authentic themes to get students more active in class, including life-like interaction to encourage more flexibility of language practices, and finally providing more effective teaching methods that make students more communicative in class (Abdulrhman, 2008). 2.2 Textbook Content for Communicative Goals In general principle, Communicative Language Teaching consists of two key components. The first component is based on the idea that language is not solely pieces of grammars, but is involved with language functions. Therefore, students should learn how to use language appropriately in a context of (formal, informal, tentative, technical) writing and speaking. Second component stems from the idea that learning language can take place only if students have adequate chance to expose to language use (Compiled by Rath Hok, 2002). In this regard, textbook shall integrate skill development, language function, and appropriate topic for authentic language use (Cunningsworth, 1995; Sharma, 2005; Madhi, 2006; Abdulranhman, 2008) To assess if textbooks serve as communicative language teaching tools in junior high school of Japan, one research study conducted in Japan by Bal Krishna Sharma (2005) attempted to analyze textbooks series used in Japanese junior high school on two broad criteria: physical feature and internal feature. From internal feature, Bal Krishna Sharma posted criticism on textbook design for Japanese junior high school that the textbook emphasized more on grammar, hence lacking of communication skills, various tasks and activities (Sharma, 2005). Similarly, in order for the textbook content become more communicative in lower secondary school, textbook content shall emphasize more on communicative role of language rather than more on structural methods. In a research report conducted in 2006 by Mahdi Dahmardeh in an effort to expand the constructive change in communicative textbook design in Iranian Lower Secondary school and to carter for teachers and students needs and expectation, he analyzed the current textbook use in Iran by categorizing it into 7 aspects: teaching vocabulary, reading comprehension, speaking out and write it down, language function, pronunciation practice, teaching listening and writing, and teaching culture. From these categories the author found that Iranian textbook design for lower secondary school cannot meet learners and teachers needs owing to the fact that the textbook still emphasized more on structural methods and ignored communicative roles of language (Madhi, 2006). Social cultural aspect of language also plays important role in extending the authentic language function. In Cunningsworth checklist of textbook evaluation, topic selection for textbook design shall be various to expand students awareness and experiences, meet the students language level, and represent the socio-cultural context which related to students way of life (cited in Richards, 2001). Moreover, Abdulranhman (2008) also stressed the importance of socio-cultural aspect which is familiar by students. Students are likely to instill positive attitude with the language they learn. In this case the term lingua franca starts to take its effect in teaching language, which means that language is adopted widely to make its communicable among the speakers whose native languages are different from each other. It is, therefore, concluded that foreign language taught in a particular country shall insure its variety to make it learnable and teachable. 2.3 EFC textbook evaluation in Cambodian Secondary School Though there have not been many studies concerning Cambodian textbook evaluation, Neau Vira (2002) conducted his study on English Language Teaching in Cambodian Secondary school in his effort to seek significant domain in renovating successful teaching profession. However, one section of his study covered EFC textbook evaluation which he sought the answer to the quality of EFC textbook through questionnaire, and in-person interview. 39 participants were selected to express their judgments on the currently used textbook quality. Surprisingly, all the respondents expressed their satisfaction on the EFC textbook because this textbook series was interesting, appropriate to students levels, relevant to Cambodian daily lives, and various in activities for students to practice in their class (Vira, 2002). 2.4 Theoretical Framework From frameworks found in the above articles, it can be concluded that two broad criteria should be categorized to measure the strengths and weaknesses of EFC textbooks: external features and internal features. External features refer specifically to physical make-up of textbook including font size, layout, quality of printing, weight and size, and illustration. On the other hand, internal features take underlying teaching approach and language content into consideration. The latter features examine the language skills, presentation of grammar and vocabulary, language function, teachable language activities, teaching methods and objectives, and topic appropriateness. Moreover, the previous finding concerning EFC Textbook evaluation cannot cover broad array of textbook evaluation criteria mentioned above. Therefore, further study need to be analyzed to assure more valid result. CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design To discover general perceptions of teachers and students on the strengths and weaknesses of EFC textbook, as well as comparing EFC textbook content with those of textbooks used in private language school, this study will use quantitative method. Since the purpose of this study intends to assess the perception of students and teachers on strengths and weaknesses of textbook contents in question, this type of research is classified as survey research (Gay, Geoffrey, Peter, 2009). In this regard, a number of teachers and students will be allowed to voice their personal judgment on the targeted areas of textbook qualities the study focuses on. 3.2 Research Instrument This research study will employ checklists of textbook evaluation from previous studies. These checklists are incorporated into a single questionnaire which categorized into 2 major areas of textbook evaluation: internal and external qualities. In external quality evaluation, 7 items of statements will be included to measure overall appearance of textbook design such as quality of cover page, pictures, table of contents, layout, and printing. Anyway, to assess external quality, 20 items of statements under the internal quality are used to get general perceptions of teachers and students on textbooks aims and objectives, content organization, language content, skills, topics, and teaching methodology. All items in questionnaire are organized in Likert-like scale in which all participants are to respond to a number of statements on scale values ranking from: 1) strongly agree, 2) disagree, 3) agree, and 4) strongly agree. In addition, to ensure clear content of questions and to be easily answerable by participants, questionnaire needs to be translated into Khmer to suit grade 7 students learning competence, while teacher can answer the questionnaire with their own choice in Khmer or in English version. Moreover, pilot testing needs to be carried out one month before the real survey begins to guarantee the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. From this pilot testing, it can help improve questionnaire contents and its prospective score results. 3.3 Population and Sample Site of this study is small, which cover only on the target area of Phnom Penh where a number of both state and private schools are located. Questionnaire will be used as a survey to get personal judgment from target population of 60 Grade 7 students and 40 teachers of English who teach them in 10 different secondary schools. Other 20 teachers from 5 different private language schools will be also invited to answer the questions related to the features of beginner textbook content used in their institutions. The sampling design for this population follows clustering procedure in which 60 students and 40 teachers will be randomly selected from 10 secondary schools where EFC1 textbooks are used in Phnom Penh, and 5 private language schools where their particularly chosen textbooks are used. First among each 10 secondary schools, all number of grade 7 classes are selected. Then only 2 or 3 classes will be selected for the questionnaire participation. Teachers who teach in those classes are asked for answering the questionnaires. Meanwhile, around 6 to 10 students of those teachers classes are also selected to answer the questionnaires. For private language schools, all number of beginner classes are selected. Then only 1 or 2 teachers who teach beginner classes are requested for their participation. 3.4 Description of Variables Derived from the Research Tools EFC textbook content is judged through the teachers and students perception with questionnaires. The participants involved will rate a series of statements in scale value ranking from number one (the most disagree) to number four (the most agree). To seek the answer to the first question of this research, students and teachers perception on strengths and weakness of textbook contents are assessed with each statement in the questionnaire. Item 1 to 7 under external quality section are used to evaluate the overall textbook appearances, while item 1 to 20 under internal quality section are used to evaluate textbook content organization, language content, skills, topics, and teaching methodology. To find the differences of textbook contents employed by some private schools and those used in Cambodian secondary school, the answers from questionnaires that will have been given by all participants are compared and contrasted to discover commonalities and differences of all textbook contents being assessed. Therefore, from the survey, if higher percentage of participants rate on the higher scale of each statement, this will tell that textbook contents being assessed have their strengths. In contrast, if higher percentage of participants rate on the lower scale, it will interpret that textbook contents have their weaknesses. 3.5 Data Collection Procedure In order to have access to the target population, permission need to be sought from school principles for a number of available grade 7 teachers and students at each school. After having accessibility to the school, all grade 7 classes will be selected. But we need to limit the number of students to get involved in answering the questionnaires. This means that only roughly 2 to 3 students that represent the whole class will be chosen to answer the questions. Meanwhile, to assess the qualities of textbook used in private language schools, permission is also sought for one beginner teacher from several private schools. This means that 5 different textbooks from 5 different private schools will be assessed. Additionally, the detail explanation needs to be made at the target areas just in case the participants have any misunderstanding over the questions. We will keep doing with this procedure until 25 target participants can be assessed. 3.6 Plan for Data Analysis Data analysis is conducted in the follow steps: First step: collect all answers from the participants involved in answering the distributed questionnaires. Second step: analyze respondents answers if their answer is bias or non-bias on the ground of textbook contents. Third step: prepare for data entry Fourth step: the data will be analyzed using SPSS to see the percentage of respondents who agree or disagree on the EFC 1 textbook design quality. Fifth step: present the result and discussion. 3.7 Ethical Consideration All participants will be informed in advance that schools, teachers, and students names will not be revealed to ensure validity and reliability of their answers. Before conducting the survey, the participants need to be ascertained that their answers do not harmfully affects their current teaching careers, their school reputations, or students learning process. The participants should be clearly informed that their answers will be kept confidential and will not be used for other purposes. All data collected will be used for the purpose of this research finding only. Moreover, their contribution of answers will be worthwhile to the development of effective teaching materials for beginner language learners. 3.8 Limitation This study will target at the population in Phnom Penh where all selected private language schools and public high school are located. With time and financial limit this research can not reach the target population in the rural area, hence having difficulty getting the answer that represent the whole country demand for EFC 1 textbook evaluation as needed.

Compare and Contrast Lamb to the Slaughter And The Speckled Band :: English Literature

Compare and Contrast Lamb to the Slaughter And The Speckled Band As Murder Mysteries When many people think of a murder mystery, they think of a dark and stormy night, a large forbidding house, a gunshot heard by everyone yet seen by no one, and the phrases "you're probably wondering why I called you all here", "The butler did it", and of course not forgetting "elementary, my dear Watson". In the end, the intelligent and very observant detective solves the case, and justice, sometimes through the courts and sometimes poetic is served. 'Lamb to the Slaughter' and 'The Speckled Band' are both stories based around a suspicious death. Roald Dahl wrote 'Lamb to the Slaughter' in 1954. Roald Dahl is famous for writing children's stories, like George's Marvellous Medicine and James and the Giant Peach. Roald Dalh also writes stories for adults. They are usually about ordinary people doing strange things. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote 'The Speckled Band' in 1892. His stories are about the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. Before readings this story I knew that Sherlock Holmes was a famous detective working with fellow college Doctor Watson and Scotland Yard. Because of the times when they were written, the language is different also. Conan Doyle uses the Victorian style of language. His writing is more complex. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's language is more descriptive. It takes him about half a page just to describe the setting of the story. Conan Doyle sometimes uses phrases, which can now be quite tricky to understand such as 'knock you up'. This is archaic language, which is not regularly used nowadays. Roald Dahl uses short but sharp sentences, and writes as if he is talking to a friend. The two stories are both classed as murder mysteries, however when comparing these two stories the styles of writing and the way in which the stories are presented is completely different. An example of this would be the chronological order of each of the stories. What I mean by this is the traditional order of murder mysteries would be body, a motive, a weapon, a death, a suspect, an alibi and detectives. Both 'Lamb to the Slaughter' and 'The Speckled Band' have all of these and so are no exception to these 'guidelines'. However, 'The Speckled Band' follows this order and is a very traditional murder mystery. 'Lamb to the Slaughter' on the other hand does not follow the conventional style of murder mysteries and follows its own order. This order is; a motive, a weapon, a death, a killer, an alibi and detectives. In changing the traditional order of murder mysteries I

A Down-to-Earth Approach Essay

The postindustrial revolution is defined by computer technology. Since 1950, a third technological transformation has been unleashed by the development of the computer. The crucial technology of a postindustrial age concerns information. Computer technology forms the core of an Information Revolution. And, just as the Industrial Revolution did, the Information Revolution is now generating a host of new, specialized occupations. From a worker’s point of view, in the same way that the acquisition of technical skills held the key to success in the past, now workers must enhance their literacy skill as that is valued in the marketplace. The economic reality is that people unable to speak, write, or otherwise communicate effectively face declining economic opportunity. Computer technology has reduced the role of human labor in production. But to those that are able to rise to the challenge of the Information Age, however, the coming decades will bring new opportunities. The information Revolution is changing not just what people do but where they do it. The last economic revolution centralized the work force in factories, a pattern demanded by energy sources and the enormity of the new machinery. Today, however, consultants, salespeople, architects, writers, and other employees in â€Å"new cottage industries† can work virtually anywhere so long as they are equipped with computers, facsimile (fax) machines, electronic notebooks, and other new information devices that are increasingly lightweight and portable. Today’s more educated and skilled workers also no longer require-and often do not tolerate – the close supervision that marked yesterday’s factories. Further, the Postindustrial economy, a productive system based on service work and high technology is by nature an ongoing process. REFERENCE Henslin, James M. (2006). Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, Core Concepts (2nd ED). New York: Allyn & Bacon.

Designing With Feng Shui in Mind

Designing With Feng Shui in Mind Feng shui (pronounced fung shway) is a learned and intuitive art of understanding the energy of elements. The goal of this Chinese philosophy is harmony and balance, which some people have compared with the Western Classical ideals of symmetry and proportion. Feng is wind and shui is water. Danish architect Jà ¸rn Utzon combined these two forces of wind (feng) and water (shui) in his Australian masterpiece, the Sydney Opera House. Seen from this angle,  says Feng Shui Master Lam Kam Chuen, the whole structure has the quality of a craft with full sails: when the energy of the Wind and Water move together in certain directions, this ingenious structure draws that power to itself and to the city that surrounds it. Designers and decorators claim that they can feel the surrounding, universal energy called chi. But architects who incorporate the Eastern philosophy are not guided by intuition alone. The ancient art prescribes lengthy and complex rules that may strike modern homeowners as quirky. For example, your home should not be built at the end of a dead-end road. Round pillars are better than square. Ceilings should be high and well-lit. To further confuse the uninitiated, there are several different ways to practice feng shui: Use a compass or Lo-Pan to establish the most beneficial placement of roomsDraw on information from the Chinese horoscopeExamine the surrounding land forms, streets, streams and buildingsUse high-tech equipment to examine environmental health hazards, such as electromagnetic radiation and toxic materialsUse feng shui principles to help sell your houseUse some variation of a tool called the Ba-Gua an octagonal chart outlining the most favorable placement for roomsManipulate surrounding chi with appropriate colors or objects like a spherical sculpture Yet even the most baffling practices have a basis in common sense. For example, feng shui principles warn that a kitchen door should not face the stove. The reason? A person working at the stove may instinctively want to glance back at the door. This creates a feeling of unease, which can lead to accidents. Feng Shui and Architecture: Feng Shui teaches us how to create healthy harmonious environments, says Stanley Bartlett, who has used the centuries-old art to design homes and businesses. The ideas date back at least 3,000 years, yet a growing number of architects and decorators are integrating feng shui ideas with contemporary building design. For new construction, feng shui can be integrated into the design, but what about remodeling? The solution is the creative placement of objects, colors, and reflective materials. When the Trump International Hotel in New York City was remodeled in 1997, feng shui masters Pun-Yin and her father Tin-Sun installed a giant globe sculpture to divert the roundabout traffic energy from Columbus Circle away from the building. In fact, many architects and developers have enlisted the expertise of feng shui masters to add value to their properties. Everything in nature expresses its own energetic force, says Master Lam Kam Chuen. Recognizing this is essential to creating a living environment in which Yin and Yang are balanced. Despite the numerous complicated rules, feng shui adapts to many architectural styles. Indeed, the clean, uncluttered appearance may be your only clue that a home or office building was designed according to feng shui principles. Think of the shape of your house. If its square, a feng shui master may call it Earth, child of Fire and controller of Water. The shape itself expresses the supportive, secure, and stable quality of Earth, says Lam Kam Chuen. Warm tones of yellow and brown are ideal. Fire Shapes Master Lam Kam Chuen describes the famous triangular design of the Sydney Opera House in Australia as a Fire Shape. The irregular triangles of the Sydney Opera House lick the sky like flames, observes Maser Lam. Master Lam also calls St. Basils Cathedral in Moscow a Fire building, filled with an energy that could be as protective as your mother or as fierce as a mighty enemy. Another Fire structure is The Louvre Pyramid designed by Chinese-born architect I.M. Pei. It is a superb Fire structure, writes Master Lam, drawing down intense energy from the heavens- and making this site a prodigious attraction for visitors. It is perfectly balanced with the Water structure of the Louvre. Fire buildings are generally triangular in shape, like flames, while Water buildings are horizontal, like flowing water. Metal and Wood Shapes The architect shapes space with materials. Feng shui integrates and balances both shapes and materials. Round structures, like geodesic domes, have the energetic quality of Metal moving consistently and safely inward- the ideal design for shelters, according to Feng Shui Master Lam Kam Chuen. Rectangular buildings, like most skyscrapers, express growth, expansiveness, and power typical of Wood. Wood energy expands in all directions. In the vocabulary of feng shui, the word wood refers to the shape of the structure, not the building material. The tall, linear  Washington Monument may be described as a wood structure, with energy moving every which way.   Master Lam offers this assessment of the monument: Its spear-like power emanates in all direction, affecting the Capitol building of the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White house. Like a mighty sword raised in the air, it is a constant, silent presence: those who live and work within its reach will often find themselves subject to internal disturbance and their ability to make decisions blocked. Earth Shapes and the Smudgers The American Southwest is an exciting juxtaposition of historic pueblo architecture and what many people consider tree-hugging modern ideas about ecology. A vibrant, local community of ecothinkers- people whose environmental thoughts direct their behaviors- have been associated with the area for decades. Frank Lloyd Wrights Experiment in Desert Living is perhaps the most famous example. It seems that this region has an unusual number of architects, builders, and designers committed to ecoversity- energy-efficient, earth-friendly, organic, sustainable design. What we call Southwest Desert Design today is known to combine futuristic thinking with a profound respect for ancient Native American concepts- not only building materials, like adobe, but also feng shui-like Native American activities such as smudging being incorporated into everyday life. Bottom Line on Feng Shui: So, if you are stuck in your career or have trouble in your love life, the root of your problems may be in the design of your home and the misguided energy that surrounds you. Professional feng shui design suggestions can only help, say practitioners of this ancient Chinese philosophy. One way to get your life in balance is to get your architecture in balance. Learn More: Feng Shui Handbook: How to Create a Healthier Living and Working Environment by Master Lam Kam Chuen, Holt, 1996The Architecture of Happiness by Alain De Botton, 2006Understanding Architcture by Robert McCarter and Juhani Pallasmaa, Phaidon, 2012 Sources: Feng Shui Handbook by Master Lam Kam Chuen, Holt, 1996, pp. 70-71, 33-37, 79, 90; Meet Donald Trumps feng shui master by Sasha von Oldershausen, The Guardian, September 13, 2016 [accessed January 14, 2017]

Free Essays on Pennies

Pennies†¦ who needs em? When was the last time you put some extra pennies in a charity bin at Dairy Queen? How many do you have saved in that old piggy bank or jar sitting in your closet. Pennies are a waste of copper, they are a waste of time, and they are worthless. First of all, they are a waste of good copper and zinc. The two metals could be used for something useful like lawn ornaments or those neat sprinklers that spin around. One other good thing about them is you can put them in hydrochloric acid and they will become hollow which is pretty cool. But otherwise, I don’t think they should be in circulation. Next, they are a waste of time. I was buying a coke at 7-11 the other day with my friend. The clerk gave me 2 quarters 1 nickel and 4 pennies. I threw the pennies away and my friend said, â€Å"why do you throw good money away?† I replied, â€Å"Pennies are not money, they are a waste of time. Years ago, a penny had value. When you could go to a Dodgers game for 50 cents and candy bars costs 4 pennies. But lets face it. It’s the 21st century and they are simply a waste of time. Last, they are completely worthless! Instead of giving you 7 cents back.. 2 pennies and nickel, they should give you a nickel back because all you were going to do was throw them in the street for some toddler to find. They need to round everything to the nearest nickel.. why were at it, lets do it to the nearest dime. We are just going to surpass that in a few years anyway. Within a few decades, well drop the whole coin concept completely. Well do everything in either bills or we will have some kind of universal credit card. The only role pennies have is to appease our financial obsession for accuracy. That’s what happens when you let accountants run the world. Look at it this way, if you had 300 dollars of pennies in a barrel, it would probley cost you 400 dollars just to hire a forklift to drag it to the bank. Then when you get to the ban... Free Essays on Pennies Free Essays on Pennies Pennies†¦ who needs em? When was the last time you put some extra pennies in a charity bin at Dairy Queen? How many do you have saved in that old piggy bank or jar sitting in your closet. Pennies are a waste of copper, they are a waste of time, and they are worthless. First of all, they are a waste of good copper and zinc. The two metals could be used for something useful like lawn ornaments or those neat sprinklers that spin around. One other good thing about them is you can put them in hydrochloric acid and they will become hollow which is pretty cool. But otherwise, I don’t think they should be in circulation. Next, they are a waste of time. I was buying a coke at 7-11 the other day with my friend. The clerk gave me 2 quarters 1 nickel and 4 pennies. I threw the pennies away and my friend said, â€Å"why do you throw good money away?† I replied, â€Å"Pennies are not money, they are a waste of time. Years ago, a penny had value. When you could go to a Dodgers game for 50 cents and candy bars costs 4 pennies. But lets face it. It’s the 21st century and they are simply a waste of time. Last, they are completely worthless! Instead of giving you 7 cents back.. 2 pennies and nickel, they should give you a nickel back because all you were going to do was throw them in the street for some toddler to find. They need to round everything to the nearest nickel.. why were at it, lets do it to the nearest dime. We are just going to surpass that in a few years anyway. Within a few decades, well drop the whole coin concept completely. Well do everything in either bills or we will have some kind of universal credit card. The only role pennies have is to appease our financial obsession for accuracy. That’s what happens when you let accountants run the world. Look at it this way, if you had 300 dollars of pennies in a barrel, it would probley cost you 400 dollars just to hire a forklift to drag it to the bank. Then when you get to the ban...

PEDE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

PEDE - Essay Example Ethical decision making is the very cornerstone of the Professional Mission Statement and may very well be the guiding principles of the entire document. As you progress through the OLS program of study, you will increase your knowledge, crystallize your beliefs and expand your skills. Therefore, you will keep modifying and perfecting your mission statement during the next few months and years. A mission statement should enable you to attain unsurpassed excellence, inspire you to lifelong honesty and ethical behavior, and serve as your continuous guidepost during difficult personal and professional times. Many leaders put their mission statement on their business cards, display it in their offices and/or keep a copy in their homes. The first step in writing your mission statement is to do some reflecting, soul searching, and imagining. This is often called harnessing the potential of your creative imagination and mobilizing allied forces of concentration. The sequence is: The first step in the process of developing a Personal Mission Statement is to outline your various roles in life and describe how you desire to be in each of those roles. You have roles in maintaining total well-being, in your family, at work, with friends, in the faith community, in lifelong learning, and in your community. It is important to maintain â€Å"life balance† in these areas. How you define each of your roles is up to you. The life roles are in the left hand column and the question about how you would like to be described in each role is in the right hand column. Please complete this worksheet: After defining your roles in the seven areas, it is time to expand on your personal and professional role. The answers to the following questions may serve as the basis for the development of your mission statement: I want to become supportive and at the same time a participative kind of

Describe the differences (and any similarities) involved in the Assignment

Describe the differences (and any similarities) involved in the following contracts - Assignment Example In this case the contract can be said to be implied because no prior arrangements were made to make agreements but it is implied that the owner of the vehicle will pay for the parking service provided. Boilerplate or bank card holders’ agreements are standard form contracts by virtual of bearing the characteristics of standard form contracts. For this reason, boiler plates are standard form contracts because like many other standard form contracts such as insurance contracts the cellular provider has total authority over the contract with the subscribers that they can either take it or leave it and often contain fine detail details that form part of the contract terms (â€Å"Types of contracts† n.d.). Similarly, the bank has total control in its contract with the credit card account holders. They can either choose to agree to the terms and conditions or forfeit owning the cards altogether (â€Å"Types of contracts† n.d.). This is an implied or verbal contract. As demonstrated in the contract, the benefit of having the order taken by the waiter is enjoyed but it cannot be considered as a gift because it will have to be paid for implying a consideration has been given. Therefore, given a contract is formed and there is no written evidence or terms for service, the contract is implied or verbal because the order is orally made (â€Å"Types of contracts† n.d.). A formal contract is a written agreement, which follows the prescribed format and incorporates standardized conditions and provisions in its body, therefore making it legally enforceable. This kind of contract could mainly be a contract under seal where the seal is a symbol of total acceptance of its legal effect and consequences by the parties involved (Gale, 2007). The contract can also be regarded as a period contract since it is valid for a given duration of time as agreed by the involved parties (â€Å"Types of contracts† n.d.). Contracts B and D are contracts which must be in writing and are

Database Inventory Computer Sciences Research Paper

Database Inventory Computer Sciences - Research Paper Example The types of interactions can be categorized into four main groups. These are; data maintenance, data definition, data retrieval, as well as data control. So many factors are at play when choosing which type of database system to use when developing a system. The article we look at highlights some of these factors; which will form the basis for the discussion on database systems of this paper. EXPLANATION OF PAPER Database Buyer's Guide Conclusion: Which Database Is Best for You? (2011, October 27). Retrieved March 4, 2012, from Database Journal: http://www.databasejournal.com/features/which-database-is-best-for-you.html This article is a form of guide to be used by customers looking to find the best database to use or to implement a system on; it highlights the pros as well as the cons of the different types of relational database management systems. From the pros and the cons, the customers are able o gauge which relational database management system best suits their needs as well as preferences as far as database management system is concerned. It lists a complete range of database management systems; from web enabled database management systems, desktop DBMSs, cloud DBaaS, and other open source database management options. There are server options as well. ... It then went on to provide a summary of the pros and cons; the advantages and the disadvantages of having or opting for the certain types of the given types of database systems in the market today. The beginning of the article highlights desktop databases and the people who use them. As indicated in the article, this type of databases are mainly popular with small enterprise businesses. This is because they are cheaper than the other types of database systems and are also suitable for the non-interactive, and also the single user batch processes for web applications. The main players in this niche of the databases market are Lotus Approach, FileMaker Pro, and lastly, Microsoft Access. The advantages of these types of database systems is that they are not expensive; they are estimated to cost somewhere in the hundreds of dollars. This is much unlike the other types of database systems which go for as much as thousands of dollars. Additionally, they have graphical user interfaces for e asy interaction with the users. They are also easy to scale in the future; if the need ever arises. As for the cons, they are said to be lacking in security, they do not also work well when users become many; they are easily overloaded and crash under this kind of pressure. Next, the article looks at the pros and cons of server databases. These are the heavy-duty type of servers. These work well with applications like electronic commerce sites. These are multi-user applications. Microsoft and Oracle databases companies mainly sell these types of database systems. They are Oracle databases, and Microsoft SQL Server. The main advantage for this category of databases is that they store a huge chunk of data; as much as millions of terabytes of data. They

Robin Hood Case Study Essay Example for Free

Robin Hood Case Study Essay 1) Create a basic organization chart for Robin Hood and his men. Robin Hood organization has a centralized top-down management style structure. Robin Hood is the CEO of the organization; his four lieutenants are directors of specific departments which are responsible for providing research and gathering information, finances, training, and provisioning. 2) What problems does Robin Hood have? What top 4 issues need to be addressed? * Misalignment of goals of the top executives and the subordinates (Robin Hood’s primarily goal is the personal vendetta with the Sheriff, while the main purpose of the majority of Merrymen is to reallocate wealth from rich to the poor or simply to gain profits) * Obsolete strategy to generate revenues (Travelers started to avoid the forest not to have their goods confiscated) * Food shortage (the growing band started to exceed food capacities of the forest) * The growing strength of the rivals (The Sheriff was growing stronger and becoming better organized) 3) Do Robin Hood and the Merrymen need a new mission and plan? Is continuing with the present course of action an option or is that now obsolete? The old mission of the Robin Hood has become obsolete due to certain changes in the internal and external environment. The old ways to generate revenues do not yield the expected results any longer as the travelers started to avoid the forest. There is mounting evidence that the old strategy is not working as the organization is facing a financial crisis. The declining vigilance and discipline of the Merrymen represent a growing problem that need to be addressed immediately. The shared enmity against the Sheriff which united the Merrymen of the organization has become of secondary importance to the new members leading to misalignment of goals. Therefore, Robin Hood and Merrymen need a new mission in order to respond to both internal and external changes. 4) Do you think make sense to impose a fixed transit tax to counter the decline in revenues? Why or why not? Imposing a transit tax on the travelers as a part of a new strategy of the organization can yield numerous benefits to its members. The flow of customers will increase as rich members will prefer to pay a tax and reach their destination faster going through the Sherwood Forest. They will not be afraid to have their goods confiscated. Transit tax will help to generate constant revenues and provide sustainable income to the group. The problems of insufficient funding and scarce resources will be solved. In order to convince the Merrymen that it is a good idea and not to lose farmers and townspeople as the allies, tax collection should be given a good cause. The part of the imposed taxes can be donated to raise the ransom for popular king Richard. 5) What is your opinion about expanding the band’s operations to a larger area around Sherwood Forest as a way of solving these problems? Why or why not is this a good idea? Expansion of the raiding area is a good tactical move as it can solve some problems associated with financing, scarce recourses, and even discipline. Since travelers are avoiding the forest, the scope of the operations needs to be extended outside of the forest in order to generate revenues. The gang needs to be broken down into smaller units in order to cover the extended area. Consequently it will be easier to train, organize, an enforce discipline in smaller units of Merrymen supervised by managers. 6) Should they try and end the campaign by killing the sheriff? Why or why not? Killing the Sheriff would only satisfy the thirst for Robin Hood’s revenge; however, it is unlikely to solve all the problems that organization faces. In fact it could also worsen the matter. The Prince would appoint the next Sheriff who would be just as bad if not worse. The friends and allies of the Sheriff would seek revenge and put more efforts into capturing Robin Hood. One of the common goals that united Merrymen which is the shared enmity and hatred against the Sheriff will be lost with the death of the Sheriff. 7) What are the pros and cons of accepting the offer of the Barons to assist in securing King Richard’s release from prison? There are numerous advantages in accepting the offer of the barons: * The gang will be granted amnesty and will not face persecution from the authorities any longer. * Robin Hood and Merrymen will eventually end the campaign against the Sherriff. * If the rescue is successful, they will return their law abiding life, become national heroes, and will enjoy the benefits of the new position such as generous rewards and protection from the new king. * By putting a fair and intelligent king on the thrown, Merrymen will help to improve the socio-economic conditions of the population of England. However, accepting the offer is a dangerous and risky venture. * Robin Hood and Merrymen will face a very powerful rival, Prince John, who has an army of trained soldiers, numerous spies, and abundant recourses. * In case of failure of the new campaign, the revenge of t he Prince John can be detrimental and can put an end to Robin Hood and his organization. 8) What course of action of the above choices would you recommend to Robin? Be specific about why you chose this and how it addresses the problems you identified in question 2. Robin should accept the offer of the barons to help to rescue King Richard. As mentioned above the new strategy of the organization will provide numerous benefits and help to solve many existing problems. New mission will align the goals and objectives of the top executive and other members of the group, ensuring consistency in overall strategy. Imposing a transient tax to raise money for the ransom will help to achieve financial strength of the organization. The travelers, farmers and townspeople who are interested in overthrowing Prince John will be willing to help Robin Hood and provide them with provision and financial resources, resolving the problems of the food shortage. Forming strategic alliance with the baron will help to gain competitive edge over the rivals. 9) How should Robin implement your recommended strategy? Make a list of the top five specific action steps (tactics) that he needs to take in order to implement this plan. * Meet with the barons (Inform the barons about accepting the offer, obtain details about King Richard captivity) * Enforce security within the organization (Stop recruiting new agents and improve internal control over Merrymen not to let the spies of Prince John find out about the new plan) * Send spies to Prince John’s court to be aware of rivals’ actions * Introduce a transient tax in order to raise money for ransom * Form a team that will deliver ransom and free King Richard 10) Show a new organization chart for Robin Hood and his men, based on whatever new course of action you recommend in question 8.

Health And Safety In Spa Environment Management Essay

Health And Safety In Spa Environment Management Essay Evaluate the health and safety risks associated with the Spa/ Salon environment All staff have to take responsibility for health and safety and understand the implications if it is not followed. As an Operations Manager, you will have key duties and responsibilities for the health and safety of the spa and you will have to perform various assessments to comply with legislation. For your assessment, you are required to build a portfolio documenting all of the relevant health and safety checks and procedures that you have conducted within a commercial spa. Once you have completed all of the forms, an action plan needs to be designed based on an evaluation of your findings. As a minimum requirement, the portfolio should include: a detailed risk assessment for all areas of the spa, a COSHH assessment manual handling assessment electrical assessment pool testing (spa only) Assessment guidelines When planning your portfolio consider the following: Pay particular attention to the portfolio format. Introduce the portfolio. Make suitable references throughout to back up your statements and assessments. End with a summary or conclusion. Above all remember that your portfolio should demonstrate the following learning outcome Evaluate the health and safety risks associated with the Spa environment. In each section, you will have accessed official documents and websites. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THESE NEED TO BE REFERENCED. Poor referencing will have an impact on your grade for this assignment. To each section you may want to add: Photographs to demonstrate hazards or good practice Web links for references Documents such as your completed risk assessment form (it may be better to attach this as a PDF) The main headings are: Introduction Introduce yourself and your workplace. Introduce your current role in relation to health and safety. Risk Assessment A risk assessment has to be carried out as specified in the Management of Health Safety at Work Regulations What is risk assessment? The first part is to look at all situations within the area and identify all hazards. Who might be affected by these hazards? Staff and public. Can these hazards be eliminated, reduced or isolated? Are there currently control procedures in place? Are they effective? These assessments should be recorded and reviewed every year or sooner if there is a major change in the working environment. Identifying risks gives you a Risk Factor. What is the chance of occurrence = Probability Factor. These two RF PF = Assessment Factor. The higher the assessment factor the greater the need for action to be taken, whether it be changing procedure, issuing PPE or stopping activity altogether. Each area should have its own risk assessment carried out by a competent employee. Each hazard should be identified and then eliminated or isolated by control measures. Each of these assessments should be recorded and monitored at regular intervals. They should be available to all staff. All incidents should be recorded that occur in the area and these should be cross referenced against risk assessments to ensure that the control measures in place are being followed and if inadequate procedures are reviewed. Risk assessment should be carried out by a designated competent person, preferably having that one person doing all so that consistency is maintained in all risk monitoring. You can download the risk assessment form here. Once you have completed it you can add it to your blog in this section. COSHH Assessment Here you will conduct a COSHH assessment of the products and materials you are using. You may already have a COSHH assessment that you are able to refer to. Dont just replicate the information here, think about the issues and concerns that it raises you need to demonstrate that you understand the implications of this assessment. You can find out more about COSSH assessment here Manual Handing Assessment What do you know about manual handing procedures and do you apply them? Here you need to look at how you and your colleagues go about your work on a regular basis and discuss issues and concerns. You can find out more about manual handing procedures and risk here Electrical Assessment What checks need to be done in relation to electrical safety? Are you happy with the standard or electrical safety? Here is a comprehensive guide prepared by the HSE. Pool Testing As a day spa you may not have a pool, but these regulations apply to spa pools too. If you have neither a pool or a spa pool you will need to demonstrate that you understand the basic safety guidelines and that you could competently support health and safety when using a pool or spa pool. For those of you with a pool, you will already have a set of regulations to follow, consider these regulations, are they followed? Do they need updating? This is a good website for additional information Summary, conclusion and recommendations (approximately 1000 words) Having studied all these area of health and safety, you need to draw some conclusions about the regulations already in place, whether they are sufficient or need updating, whether you are your colleagues follow these regulations and if you have any specific concerns. You will also need to reflect on your time in the environment and make recommendations for improvements to working practice. For any concerns it is useful to write a SMART action plan. Detailing the issues and when you would like them to be resolved. Bibliography Reference List Please include a complete bibliography with your portfolio. A sample portfolio has been provided for you to look at in the study materials area. HEALTH AND SAFETY PORTFOLIO 1.Introduction   Before 1974 approximately 8 million employees had no legal safety protection at work. Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA 74) provides the legal framework to promote, stimulate and encourage high standards of health and safety in places of work. It protects employees and the public from work activities. Everyone has a duty to comply with the Act, including employers, employees, trainees, self-employed, manufacturers, suppliers, designers, importers of work equipment. (Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, 1998) Any company with more than five employees is legally obliged to possess a comprehensive Health and Safety policy.   (Safety Policy UK, 2006) The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA) aims to:    ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To provide and maintain safe and healthy conditions, with the legal requirements defining the minimum,  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To provide training and instruction to enable members to use the facilities safely and efficiently,  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To make available, as necessary, safety devices and protective equipment and to supervise their use,  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To maintain a constant and continuing interest in Health and Safety matters including Accident Prevention and Safe Working Practices,  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To impress a Duty of Care on all members. (Dr Ian Plummer, 2004)     I carried out my Health and Safety assessment in  XXXXXXXXXX. It is a club Spa located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. The Spa has a  strong focus on Sports Therapy; they also offer a range of treatments such as Swedish massage, Deep Tissue Massage and Beauty Therapies. XXXXXXXXXXXXX  carry out their Health and Safety Assessment bi-annually or after a substantial change in the work area as well as after a notifiable or near miss accident as required by the The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Please find attached the completed risk assessment form.RISK ASSESSMENT FORM.doc On the whole I found that (apart from some minor safety issues that we addressed straight away in the spa) the spa was identified as a low risk area. During my evaluation I took several pictures of issues that I thought were possible health and safety issues.   Here you can see that a candle has been left on some towels, although the candle was not lit, it was still warm and there was a potential for the wax to be spilt. Note that these pictures had to be resized before I could upload them. After taking the pictures and saving them as jpeg, I used paint to resize the pictures down to 10% otherwise the pictures would have been too large to upload. Here you can see that the shower head has been left on the floor. This is a potential for both slipts and trips.   In this image you can see that a cotton compress has been left on a radiator. Firstly, this is un hygenic as the heat will encourage bacterial growth, secondly, it is unadvisable to put anything on radiators.   In this final image, you ca see that a rug has been lifted but not replaced properly. This is a potential for trips. Any hassards like this need to be spotted straight away and dealt with by therapists to ensure the safety of their clients. 2.  Risk Assessment   A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures. (Five steps to Risk assessment, 2006) I assessed all areas of the Spa as it is not big, and after the assessment i was able to identify the following overall factors:   Risk Factor = number of persons who experienced accidents                 (Lenn Evan Goodman (2003), Islamic Humanism, p. 155)                                                                                          Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   number of persons ro risk                            = 16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Ã‚   100 ( average number of people who regularly visit the Spa)                            = 0.16 Probability Factor = number of persons who experienced accidents                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       number of risk occurence                                          =   16                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           5                                       Ã‚   =3,2 therefore,                      3.2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   100   ( 3 out of 100 people are at risk)                                       Ã‚   = 0.032 Assessment Factor = Risk Factor + Probabilty Factor                                              = 0.032 + 0.16                                              =0.192 From the Assesment factor  I am able to deduce that the need to take action against the Risks within the Spa is considerably Low, because the lower the Assessment factor, the less need to take action.   Please find attached a COSHH assessment for a cleaning product that we used in the spa.  COSHH_Assessment.docx Whilst conducting my assessment I noticed that a tub of chlorine tablets had been left on a table without the lid on. I could smell the chlorine and therefore I believed that it had been left open for a while. I replaced the lid and stored the chlorine tablets away in the store cupboard. Chrlorine is a respiratory irritant therefore the lid must be replaced as soon as the product has been used. Therapists should be cautious about breathing in the chlorine fumes. 3. Control  of Substances Hazardous  to Health Regulations  (COSHH) Assessment Using chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put peoples health at risk, causing diseases including asthma, dermatitis or cancer. (Health and Safety UK, 2006)The COSHH regulations require employers to control substances that can harm workers health. The management must ensure that, before any work using a substance hazardous to health is begun, a suitable and sufficient assessment is made of the risks to health created by that work and of the steps that need to be taken to meet the requirements of the  COSHH Regulations, and that the assessment is recorded. (University of Leicester COSHH assessment, 2008). COSHH covers chemicals, products containing chemicals, fumes, dusts, vapours, mists and gases, and biological agents (germs). If the packaging has any of the hazard symbols then it is classed as a hazardous substance.  (Health and Safety UK, 2006) However, it doesnt cover lead, asbestos and radioactive substances because these have their own specific regulations. (Health and Safety UK, 2006) The  following   link consist of  various COSHH symbols:   http://www.proshieldsafetysigns.co.uk/signs/4452_Warning_signs_COSHH_symbols.html   4. Manual Handling   Incidents associated with manual handling activities account for 34% of all UK workplace injuries which lead to absences from work of 3 days or more.  The annual national cost to employers from manual handling accidents is estimated at  £90 million.  The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 was introduced to ensure that employers took steps to reduce the risks of manual handling injuries, require that hazardous manual handling is avoided whenever it is reasonably practicable to do so. (Manual Handling, University of Kent, 2005) In the Spa industry manual handling is as important as any other workplace, because the work involves lifting and moving stock. Also working at poorly designed workstations may cause back injury or muscular strain. Therefore, on a regular basis the Spa Staff:   Ã‚            must avoid lifting items which are too heavy,   Ã‚            must use Trolley and lift   Ã‚            must be  trained in proper lifting techniques,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and also  chairs which can be adjusted depending on the size of the  client and therapist is provided (XXXX Spa Therapy Manual Handling, 2009) My only concern with  XXXXXX Spa is that workstations should be designed to ensure staff have sufficient room to move around when working as the space is confined within the Spa. 5. Electrical Assessment   No matter where you work, under the law, therapists and their employers have a number of health and safety responsibilities especially where electrical equipment is concerned. Therefore it is essential that all spa equipment is tested and serviced annually. In return, an electrical compliance certificate for insurance purposes; extended warranties; and effective and safe treatments is received (Electrical engineer-Malcolm Clark, 2005).   Ã‚  5.1  Equipments required to be tested and inspected   Portable appliances   Movable equipment   Hand-held appliances or equipment   Stationary equipment   Fixed equipment Appliances/equipment for buildings Information technology equipment (business equipment) Extension leads (Sasha Lill, 2008)   Ã‚  5.2 Tests requires by the regulation Electrical and mechanical safety Insulation Earth continuity Isolation from mains power sources Control systems and devices Correct fusing Intermittent faults Connection of plugs, leads and electrodes Calibration where equipment produces an output the regulations requires this is serviced  and calibrated in accordance with the manufacturers original specification. (Sasha Lill, 2008) PAT testing needs to be done annually in a Spa as part of the requirements set by the IEE (Institute of Electrical Engineers), according to Electricity at Work Regulations (EWR) were introduced in 1989. PAT is the abbreviation for Portable Appliance Testing an electrical device that tests appliances and equipment for electrical safety. There are three stages to PAT testing:   The first test checks the appliance is securely earthed inside the equipment, mains plug and cable known as earth continuity. The second test sequence checks the electrical insulation of the appliance. A fault can often occur inside equipment (such as vaporisers and appliances like kettles). (PAT testing advice Centre) The third test sequence measures the load or consumption of the appliance, indicating any possible fault/s. Faulty equipment may take more or less current than it was designed to do. ( PAT testing Advice centre, 2003-as amended) The Electrical check in Relax body therapy club spa is carried out annually and all equipments are services annually in compliance of Health Safety At Work Act 1974,and the electrical safety within the spa is satisfactory. 6.  Ã‚  Pool Testing   Swimming pools are a popular facility within the Spa industry and provide an added attraction for Spa users.   Poor maintenance of the pool may lead to low levels of disinfectant (chorine) and clogged filters that may place swimmers at risk for diarrheal diseases and skin, ear, and upper respiratory infections.   (Swimming pool health and safety presentation, Gary Barnes RS, 2000) Follow the following link for guidance of Pool maintenance and testing.   http:// http://www.zodiac.com.au/testing-your-pool-water.aspx It is therefore essential that swimming pools are operated and maintained in a safe manner, not only to prevent these incidents but also to provide a defence, particularly in these days of litigation, and in order to comply with the relevant sections of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.  ( UK Health and Safety-Devononline,2002) Whilst each swimming pool has to be taken on its own merit, certain aspects are common to all. A swimming pool should satisfy the following criteria: Provide a lifebuoy and rescue pole. Provide and display suitable safety notices and depth markings. Provide an adequate means of supervision or control. Provide a means of raising the alarm. Formulate operating and emergency procedures. ( UK Health and Safety-Devononline, 2002) The Basic safety guidelines may include:  Ã‚     Ã‚           SUPERVISION- Adult supervision is a key element in getting the maximum, safest enjoyment from your pool. Never let children under the age of fourteen swim         unsupervised in a pool. Setting pool rules and sticking them is also very important.   Ã‚           SWIMMING ABILITIES-Always find out whether or not guests can swim. Supervise guests who cant swim the way you would a child.   If youre uncomfortable with  someones swimming abilities, make sure they stay in the shallow water area and watch them closely.   Ã‚           MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS- Keep these basic safety items by the pool at all times: i.e. Life preserver, First aid kit including written instructions on how to  administer  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)   Ã‚           Trained staff in CPR should monitor the swimmers.   Ã‚           WATER CLEARITY Clear water aids in identifying soakers and swimmers in distress, helps swimmers avoid collisions and is an indicator that the sanitizer,  circulation, and filtration systems are functioning.   Ã‚           Safety doors should be installed in all pool cleaner wall suction lines. (Pools Safety Guidelines, 2008)   7. Summary and Conclusion To sum up, a Health and Safety Policy is the essential framework for the successful management of the health and safety function. Successful management of health and safety is a vital  requirement for any business. Having a clear policy, with strong management, commitment, staff involvement and competent people should be a very high priority. Failure can be extremely costly in human, financial, and reputational terms. (Health and Safety Briefing No.8, 2009) Considering the fact that XXXXXX Spa   is reasonably small, with less than 10 employees and not more than 100 clients per month, the Health and Safety regulations in place  are easily followed and well  adhered to both by the staff and the clients. The regulations are also well managed. However, these need updating as far as Risk assessment   for disabled persons and clients with conditions like claustrophobia  are concerned. Confined Space within the Spa does not accommodate wheelchairs and it also put Claustophic people at high Risk. Therefore, I recommend the Spa to replace unnecessary bigger furniture with Smaller and portable furniture; I also recommend that they  move their workstations opposite each other instead of next to each other thus creating more space within the Spa. The above mentioned changes can be made effective at the beginning of the Spas next financial year, without incurring a great financial cost. 8. Bibliography and Refrencing     Ã‚  8.1. Health and Safety UK. (2006). Health and Safety Policy. [online].London. Profesional Health and Safety consultants. Available from http://www.hse.gov.uk/business/policy.htm.         [Accessed: 05 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.2   Label Source. (2008). COSHH Signs. [online]. Cardiff. Available from:  http://www.labelsourceonline.co.uk/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=87. Accessed: [11 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.3 PAT testing advice center. your guide to PAT testing and portable appliance testing. London. Available from:  http://www.pat-testing.co.uk/. Accessed: [16 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.4 Sasha Lill (2008). Health and Safety: Electrical Equipment. [online].   Derby. Available from:  http://www.healthandbeautysalon.com/blog/health-safety/. Accessed: [16 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.5   University of Kent (2005). Manual Handling. [online]. Kent. Available from:  http://www.kent.ac.uk/safety/mhpolicy.html. Accessed: [21 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.6   Zagers pools and Spa (2008).  Pool safety Guidlines. [online]. Holland. Available from:  http://www.zagerspoolspa.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?      Screen=CTGYStore_Code=ZPASCategory_Code=SAFETY. Accessed: [20 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.7   Devon-online (2003). UK Health and Safety. [online]. Devon. Available from:  http://www.devonline.gov.uk/index/information_and_services/environmental_health/eh-healthandsafety-      intro/eh-hs-guidance/eh-hs-swim.htm. Accessed: [20 November 2009]   Ã‚  8.8 Gary Barnes (2000). Swimming pool Health and Safety. [online]. Available