AC2ID test and REDS2 test of British Airways free essay sample

British Airways has received a lot of media attention as it has undergone several changes in its identity over the years. These changes in its identity have been crucial components to its strategically changes that keeps changing frequently. While some of this changes have received appreciations, some have been censured. This paper will make an attempt to conduct AC2ID test and REDS2 test in order to find out whether there is any identity misalignment, and if any such misalignment is found, then how to correct this. Since early 1980 prior to which BA went through a very appalling phase, the organization has gone through a very dramatic phase. The last three decades have seen various changes which have sometimes been turbulent. Most of the time the changes helped the organization. During this period, BA metamorphosed itself from a loss making government owned organization to a very focused and highly profitable company, then to a less British, more business-focused and relatively lower profit making organization. We will write a custom essay sample on AC2ID test and REDS2 test of British Airways or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Very recently, however, the company has once again reaffirmed its British identity. (Williamson, 1997) By employing AC2ID and REDS2 tests, the paper has identified five crucial phases that the organization has gone through over the last three decades. These periods have been identified as Adjusting, from 1881 to 1983; Appealing, from 1984 to 1987; Adoring, from 1988 to 1996; Astonishing, from 1997 to 2000; and Affirming, from 2001 to the present. These five eras will be analyzed here using the AC2ID test and REDS2 test. AC2ID test and REDS2 test process: AC2ID test reconciles five identity types of corporate brand management of a company. These five identities are actual identity, communicated identity, conceived identity, ideal identity and desired identity. Actual identity refers to the current features of an organization which are shaped by the ownership, leader style, structure of the organization, markets covered by the company’s product/service, the quantity as well as the quality of the product/service, business activities, and overall performance of the company. The key concepts associated with this identity are corporate identity and organizational identity. Communicated identity, on the other hand, is generally revealed through the controllable ways of corporate communication. These channels include company’s relation with public, sponsorship and advertising. The key concepts envisaged in this identity include the identities of corporate communications and the company’s relation with public. Another key identity, known to be as conceived identity simply refers to the perceptions that internal as well as external stockholders hold regarding the company. This conceived identity is related to the concepts of reputation and image of the company. Ideal identity, on the other hand, is typically expressed in terms strategic plans of the company. This identity actually refers to the optimum positioning of the brand in the market within a particular time frame. This identity is usually expressed after completing a careful analysis of the competencies, assets etc. of the company along with predictions regarding the changing industrial, social, ethical, political, economical and technological scenario. The key concepts associated with this identity are company strategy and an analysis of the environment. And finally, desired identity is the vision of the corporate leaders regarding the performance of the organization within a specific time frame. The key concepts associated with this identity are strategy and leadership. (Balmer and Greyser, 2002, pp.72-75; Balmer and Wilson, 1998, pp. 12-31) The corporate management is responsible for managing all these five identities in such a way that they can be widely standardized. If the management fails to do so, there will occur misalignments. (Balmer and Greyser, 2002, pp.72-75; Balmer and Wilson, 1998, pp. 12-31)

Adopting a Start-up Mentality for your Books Reedsy

Adopting a Start-up Mentality for your Books Reedsy Adopt A Startup Mentality For Your Books - By Dr. Sean Wise â€Å"I think I’m the only person who has made the authors into Lego people†At the Reedsy blog, we like to bring together the publishing world and the tech world. We think authors can learn a lot from entrepreneurs (and vice-versa), and today’s interview is dedicated to just that.Dr. Sean Wise is a Canadian entrepreneur, investor, mentor and successful author. He just released his latest book, Startup Opportunities, that he co-wrote with Brad Feld. How do two of the most successful startup investors out there go about marketing their book? Sean shares their secrets on how they engage with readers (careful, it involves Lego figures).He also gives his perspective on the changes the publishing industry is undergoing and on a few startups contributing to its disruption.If you want to see him drive through Toronto in a cab, get out, and walk home - all while chatting with us - just play the video, it’s awesome. Else, the transcript is just below! Dr. Sean Wise, it’s great to have you here. You’re a teacher at Ryerson university on entrepreneurship, are a mentor, advisor and investor, and have been involved with startups pretty much all your life, right? Could you give us a bit of background on that?Absolutely! I was born very, very young, and I grew from there. At 13 I had an experience that confirmed to me that I would never make a good employee and I started my first business. I’m now 43 and I have started 5 of my own businesses, but for the most of my working career I’ve been a venture capitalist. So I’ve been an entrepreneur, a ‘funder’, a founder, a mentor, and all of that has been to accomplish one goal: to help entrepreneurs succeed. Help people fail faster, learn quicker, etc. All of my books to date have been around that topic.That’s fantastic. And talking about your books, you wrote your first book and self-published it in 2007, back when digital publishing almo st wasn’t a thing. Why did you choose the self-publishing route?Well, I think you’d call it self-publishing. I had written a column for the Globe and Mail, which is a national newspaper in Canada, and at the end of a two-year run as a columnist on entrepreneurship, they asked if I’d like to wrap all the articles together, put a cover on it, and publish it. So they published it with me. It was â€Å"self-publishing† because we owned 100% of it, but it was edited and pushed out by a newspaper chain, so it was a very unique experience.My second book was bought by a large publisher called Penguin: it was How To Be A Business Super Hero and it combined my love for comic books with my need to help people understand that business isn’t only about money.For my third book, which came out three years ago, I went back to self-publishing. I published it with a magazine called Profit Magazine, and it’s another book about entrepreneurship called Hot or No t. In Canada (like in England) we have a version of that great TV show called Dragon’s Den (it’s now in 27 countries) and I spent 5 seasons working there to help entrepreneurs get the funding they needed to succeed.Now, full circle for my latest book: FG Press is half self-publishing, half traditional publishing. It’s really a startup publishing brand that is trying to figure out what publishing isn’t doing well at all, and what can be done better.Yes, FG Press is one of these actors that shows how exciting the publishing industry is in its current state. What is it that has changed, exactly, and how do you see it moving forwards?Well, I’m not smart enough to talk about what everyone else is talking about, but I know what I am excited about, so I’ll focus on that. For many many years, the publishing industry has been pretty much like the music industry or the film industry: you had these experts; and these experts, whether they were editors or acquisitions people, were in charge of deciding what the world needed. Without an editor’s blessing, you couldn’t have a book: there was no one to publish or distribute it.But like with most things, the internet has had a dramatic effect on the distribution portion of books. Now that books are digital, we know they’re just like Napster was for music: you can send them over email, you can move them digitally, you can read them on your phone, etc. So it’s made distribution a lot easier. Combine that with Amazon’s self-publishing tools, with Goodread’s ability to engage your authors, with Wattpad that can replace your editor with fans, and you really have eliminated the ability of one superstar sitting there and saying â€Å"your book isn’t good enough†.Now, that’s a double-edged sword. Now that there is no longer some expert that you need to tell, there also is no filter, so the biggest problem with publishing today is that anyone can publish. So how do you get past that?Exactly, and I think that’s a question for all forms of content in general, now that we have user-generated content, right?Absolutely. So it’s not a matter of whether my book is good or not, it’s a matter of whether I can get into people’s funnel: â€Å"can I get them to think about my book, can I resonate with them?† as opposed to â€Å"can I get on the shelves at Barnes and Noble?†.And that’s why it’s so important to build a readership before you publish your book. Which is exactly what you’re doing right now with Brad Feld. You’ve co-authored a book with him, Startup Opportunities, and you’re pretty much everywhere around the world talking about that book!Yes, I’m surprised - but happily so - , it looks like we’re going to have a 20-city book tour. We started last week with 5 cities in Canada, and we’re going to move from there ac ross the US, and who knows, if we’re blessed, we’ll even come to Europe!We’re doing that to build a readership and to engage with our users. It’s very similar if you’re aware of The Lean Startup. That book says that before you sink millions and millions of dollars into building a product, check if anyone cares.So before Brad and I got too deep in this book we started talking to readers, startups, just to ask them questions and to really understand what the need was. So we really based this book, Startup Opportunities, on the idea that people should not start stupid startups, that the problem isn’t just â€Å"how to start a company?†.Before we even launched, we had sold 1500 copies. And I can only hope that that continues and that we’re able to find something that resonates with our readers.What kind of out-of-the box marketing have you done for this book that could inspire other non-fiction authors out there?I think I’m the only person who has made the authors into Lego people. So Brad and I have Lego people that will travel with us, and if people want to tweet a picture of us and them, they’ve got to tweet the little Lego people and whoever tweets that and gets the most retweets, will get their own Lego figures, custom-made for them.I’ve never seen anyone make action figures out of authors and I thought that was kind of fun. So that was pretty unusual. The book tour is pretty standard, the Twitter is pretty standard. We did an infographics and a slideshare, too, which are now also pretty standard.Where do you find your inspiration for all this? I think the greatest thing about the transparency the internet allows, is that everyone can learn from everyone. So I wouldn’t want you to think that all these ideas are mine. I’ve stolen them from other successful authors. In fact, as a professor of entrepreneurship I teach that to my students: â€Å"steal with integrity and pr ide everywhere†. I try to give full attribution: I follow Seth Godin and Guy Kawasaki, they’re sort of my â€Å"author idols†, and I try to see what they’re doing and learn.But as far as I know, I am the only person who has a Lego version of Brad Feld and a Lego version of me.And that’s really really cool. It’s actually the mindset that certain authors in publishing are missing: what could I do that would be cool for my readers, or cool in general?I think, people look at Brad Feld and he’s got 5 or 6 bestsellers, he’s a multi-millionaire, a successful venture capitalist; but they don’t realise that his goal is still the same as every other author: to connect with the readers. All of these new tools are just ways to connect, and I think they’re fabulous because they cut out the middle person.I agree. Talking about â€Å"new tools† if you had to find two startups in the publishing industry that you find partic ularly interesting and are going to follow closely, which would they be? I’m a big fan of Goodreads. I know they’re owned by Amazon right now and that makes them not a startup, but I just think connecting your readers with your authors is so important.If I couldn’t choose Goodreads, I might choose Wattpad. They’ve got about 25 million readers and allows authors to put manuscripts up and get feedback. I’m much more interested in what other founders think about my book than what my father thinks about my book. I want to hear directly from them. Amazing authors who have millions of readers are using Wattpad to engage with them and get their books even tighter. So Wattpad would be one.I’m also another big fan of changing business models. So I found Netflix to be nice because it disrupted Blockbuster. And I think what Scribd is doing with comic books, audiobooks and digital books, this â€Å"all you can eat for $9.99†, is going to impact t he business in a disruptive way. I used to buy my comic books every week at the comic book store. And then I evolved into the digital comic book store, called Comixology. Then, I moved from Comixology, when they got bought by Amazon, to directly purchasing from Amazon.Now Scribd comes along, and it has over 100,000 comic books from Marvel, from Image, and all the things that I love, and instead of paying $30 a month in comic book sales, I pay $9,99. So it caters to another demographic. When I was young, for my birthday, I would always ask for some money for the comic book store. But now I don’t need that, I would ask for a subscription to Scribd, for $9.99.These are part of this bigger ecosystem that’s developing and what I think is most interesting is that it’s developing exactly the same. iTunes is the same as Kindle. Netflix is the same as Next Issue for magazines or Oyster for books or Scribd for comic books.So for me, if I look at the next 5 years, which is what I like to invest on - not companies that are amazing today, but companies that will be amazing in 2020 - I ask myself: what is the next revolution going to be? How do we emulate what’s going on in the music business in the book business? How can I increase my tour sales and keep my book sales up? How do I accept to give an album away for free?Brad and I actually discussed whether we should do a â€Å"pay what you can† model. Radiohead did that for music and they made more money than they would have if they had sold at $9.99. Again, I think these things are still in flux, and we live in an unbelievable time, because every industry is changing, and publishing is just slow because it has very big anchor tenants.Thank you so much for these insights, and for your time, Sean. I look forward to reading Startup Opportunities!Follow Dr. Sean Wise and Reedsy on Twitter:  @SeanWise  and @ReedsyHQWhat kind of out-of-the-box marketing have you  done for your book? How do you build your readership? Which publishing startups do you think are going to succeed? Leave us your thoughts, or any question for Sean, in the comments below!

Brain Computer Interfaces Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Brain Computer Interfaces - Term Paper Example entists have always speculated that EEG might prove helpful for a completely different kind of purpose, which is infact another way of sending messages to the brain, and instructions to the outside world. Until this discovery, the control and communication system solely depended on the muscles and nerves. But with EEG, communication with out the use of muscles and nerves is achieved with the help of brain computer interface. â€Å"Brain computer Interfaces a new communication and control option for individuals for whom convenient options are ineffective.†Ã‚   It provides a way of communication and control for those people who are disabled, for whom the normal way of communication is literally impossible. The goal of the BCI system is to listening to the brain, understand its intent, and then to materialize that intent without the involvement of muscles. This is the reason why BCI s is also termed as â€Å"mind reading technology† (Wolpaw, R & Birbaumer, Niels p.603). The BCI system reads the â€Å"Electrophysiological signals reflecting brain activity, and they are acquired from the scalp, cortical surface or from within the brain† (Wolpaw, R & Birbaumer, Niels) . They are transferred to measure certain signals which help in knowing the intent of the user. These signals are converted into commands. These commands, in turn, fulfil the user intent like operating a machine, speaking something, walking in a particular direction etc. The interfaces which are Invasive are directly implanted in the brain. These are normally used in blind or paralyzed patients. The interfaces which are semi invasive are implanted inside the brain but not within the brain of an individual. Non invasive interfaces â€Å"record the brain signals through a neuro-imaging procedure† (Brain Computer Interfaces). Brain Computer Interfaces still have a long way to go. Researches are being conducted to understand brain functioning and to map it efficiently to an electronic device. There is no doubt

Discussion Summary-Assignment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion Summary- - Assignment Example Fellow classmates have provided a raft of examples and the corresponding lists of examples supporting each of the four proximity levels. Bishop Pearce provided the example of the Waterbrooke Assisted facility, located in Elizabeth City, NC. The facility provides personalized care including three meals and snacks a day, physician and psychiatric services. On environmental proximity, he identified each of the four levels drawing the work by (Sigh, 2010) to be the foundation on which he drew the four levels on proximity. The work drew a number of replies, most notably Kathleen, who wanted to know if the facility were next to hospital, would it have been a source of hindrance or help. Yvette De Leon, on the other hand cited the Arbors of Port Warwick Facility that is in Newport News, VA. The hospital provides 24 hours services to the residents, though only a meal day is provided. Just like the first contributor, Yvette cited (Singh, 2010), when updating the four Environmental Proximity Model. Kathleen Almeda, on the other hand, gave Dominion Village at Williamsburg that is owned by Five Star Senior Living. Â  Dominion Village offers assisted living, memory care, outpatient rehab services, and respite/short-term stays. Felisa Artis provided the example of the Consulate Health Care as the facility of choice, which specializes in post-acute care, operating 200 centers in 21 states. However, her focus is the one that is at Norfolk, VA. She explicitly provides the examples to match the four levels of proximity and a discussion ensues between the classmates and her. Jennifer Supples provides an example of a facility located 15 minutes from his place of residence, Willows at Meadow Branch which is part of the Consulate facilities. However, he does provide examples on the environmental proximity models. The level of services provided in the facilities were also different, for example, Paola Williams mentioned that Hopkins center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare,

Separation of Power in U.S. Government Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Separation of Power in U.S. Government - Essay Example for the elaboration of the ground rules on which the American state had to be based, that the concentration of all powers in a single pair of hands was not acceptable and could possibly lead to usurpation of power. Thus, the framers of the American Constitution began their work on this monumental document having regard to the above. In 1748, long before the United States of America gained independence in 1776, The Spirit of the Laws, a book written by the Baron de Montesquieu, laid down conditions of separate branches of power with different tasks and responsibilities (Vile, 1967). This doctrine was used by the framers of the American Constitution. In 1786 twelve states of the USA slated 74 delegates who had to participate in the creation of the Constitution. The constitutional process was initiated by the Federal Convention that took place in Philadelphia in December of 1786 and the first half of 1787. Some of the delegates never arrived to Philadelphia to take part in the Convention and put a priority on other issues of state formation. A State of Rhode Island, for instance, did not send its representatives to the Convention taking with a grain of salt the constitutional process per se for some reasons (Carey, 2009). Hence, out of 74 registered delegates only 55 attended the Federal Convention. Those who took active part and contributed greatly to the creation of the Constitution of the United States of America shared the principles of the separation of powers and adhered to this doctrine all the way down. The separation of powers in the American Constitution is based on a simple concept, according to which there must be three independent branches of the government with different functions. Thus, under the Constitution of the USA the government consists of the legislative, executive and judicial branches that have limited functions and balance each other in order to avoid the accumulation of powers within one authority. This concept is one of the cornerstones

Similarities Between Iranian And Malaysian Culture Religion Essay

Similarities Between Iranian And Malaysian Culture Religion Essay In this document some similarities between Iranian and Malaysian culture have been illustrated. Since both Iran and Malaysia are Muslim countries, there are many similarities between Iranian and Malaysian culture. For example I start with the Malaysian and Iranian universities. All of the universities in Iran are Islamic universities while there are a few none Islamic universities in Malaysia. There is a mosque in all Iranian universities which is located at the center of the university. Recently Iranian Islamic government has decided to separate males and females in the universities in which some universities only register males and other universities only register females. I dont think separating males and females in the university be a good idea because in this situation boys and girls wont be able to see each other and choose their future partner but in Malaysian universities boys and girls have the opportunity to make friend to each other and select their future partner. There are 3 different type of mosques in Malaysia namely Vernacular Mosques, Colonial Mosques, Modern Mosques. The third model is very similar to Iranian mosques and the following is a brief description of Modern Mosques in Malaysia: Many local architects were involved in the design of new mosques in Malaysia since independence. The architectural styles of the modern mosques have changed gradually in parallel with the development in structural advances, construction methods, contemporary designs of mosques as well as increased local interests toward Islamic architecture. With the advent of science and technology, modern mosques are constructed in a larger scale to accommodate the increasing number of Friday congregations. Concrete, bricks, steel, stone and marble are commonly used in the construction of modern mosques. Onion-shaped or top-shaped domes, tall minarets and high ceilings are common features found in the modern mosques. The modern mosques usually incorporate well-designed landscape elements including plants, water features, patterned pavements, garden lightings and signages. The Putra Mosque in the early morning The architectural styles of the modern mosque can be classified into two categories. The first category is the modern styles which emphasise the advancement in building technology and engineering. For example, the National Mosque in Kuala Lumpur has a minaret of 245 feet in height and an umbrella-like roof. The mosque was constructed of reinforced concrete faced with Italian marble. Its main prayer hall can accommodate more than 3,000 people for prayer at one time whilst its surrounding galleries, topped with numerous small domes, can hold an additional of 5,000 people. The mosque also has a number of rooms used for various functions such as a library, offices, royal guest rooms, Imams room and store rooms. The second category of modern mosque is the Islamic influences which incorporate the styles of many mosques found in Islamic countries including Turkey, the Middle East and Northern Africa. For instance, the design and colour of the Sultan Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam, Selangor was reflective of the infamous Ottoman mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque has four high minarets at the four corners of the building surrounded by well-kept landscape. Another example is the white-colour Ibai Mosque at Kuala Terengganu which was built on water and its architecture bears a resemblance to the Northern African mosque. Examples of modern mosques with modern structures are Sultan Ahmad I Mosque, Kuantan, Pahang (1964), National Mosque, Kuala Lumpur (1965), State Mosque, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan (1967), State Mosque, Kangar, Perlis (1972), Sultan Idris Shah II Mosque, Ipoh, Perak (1978), State Mosque, Penang (1980) and KLCC Mosque, Kuala Lumpur (1998). Examples of modern mosques with Islamic influence are Al-Malik Khalid Mosque, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang (1975), Sultan Abdul Aziz Mosque, Shah Alam, Selangor (1989) and Ibai Mosque of Kampung Cendering, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu (1994). 2-2 Iran From Cordoba to Delhi, from Sarajevo to the Niger, the mosque (masjid in Persian and Arabic) or house of prayer is the outstanding symbol of Islam, the focus of worship, and contemplation, the meeting place of man with man, and of man with God. Its forms are more varied and its uses more widespread than those of the Christian cathedral or church. While primarily a place of worship, it is also an assembly hall, often a religious college, sometimes a court of .justice, even, to some extent, a poor mans club. The majority of Iranian mosques conform, in whole or in part, to a plan that in Iran must be regarded as the norm. It consists of a an open central court, sometimes large enough to be planted with trees or flowers, with a large portal or ivan, on the side facing towards Mecca, which leads into a domed sanctuary. On the other three sides of the court there are arcades and altars and in the center of each side another, though smaller, ivan. To the left and right of the sanctuary there may be arcaded halls, and in addition balconies (often reserved for the use of women worshippers) from which a view of the mihrab can be obtained. In the grander mosques the south ivan, leading into the sanctuary, and sometimes also the north ivan, which is frequently the main entrance to the mosque. Minarets: The earliest minarets were square, at least in their lower stories, but few of these survive in Iran today. The round minaret originated in north-east Iran and was built of brick, tapering towards the summit. Until at least the thirteenth century, minarets were almost invariably single and placed in the north comer of the mosque. Since the fifteenth century minarets have generally been covered with mosaic or colored tiles, in the taste of the period. In general, Iran, compared with, say, Turkey; is markedly deficient in minarets. Only at Esfahan do they occupy a prominent place in the landscape. Shrines: Nearly every town in Iran has its quota of shrines, and the village or wayside shrines are a recurring feature of the Iranian landscape. In general they are modest, circular, four-sided or octagonal buildings, surmounted by a cone or dome. Many have charm but no great architectural merit; the famous shrines, rambling structures which have received additions from generations of the devout, are among the most splendid, and in some cases the most opulent, buildings in Iran. The lesser shrines, unlike the mosques, have a distinct re2jonal character. Tombs: Secular tombs fall into two clearly marked architectural categories -the domed mausoleum and the tomb tower. The former has certain affinities with the larger shrine. It is frequently octagonal rising through squinches and galleries into a circular dome. It is built for show, inside and out. meant to be visited. the last resting place of a chieftain who may have had no claim to sainthood, but expected to be duly revered when he was dead. Tomb towers, which are mainly confined to northern Iran. were conceived in a different spirit. They were gaunt, remote, solitary resting places, not meant to be frequented by admirers in generations to come. Palaces: There are substantial remains of Achaemenian and Sassanian palaces, impressive both in size and in detail, some of which, as at Persepolis, have been almost miraculously preserved; but when all is said they are ruins. Of Seljuk and Mongol royal residences, however, all trace has disappeared. It is only from Safavid times that royal houses have survived intact, and even then the crop is disappointing. For practical purposes, Safavid palaces are confined to Esfahan. Bridges: More essential for the maintenance of communications than caravansaries, the building of bridges, which where both sturdy and a pleasure to the eye, continued until recently. Well-constructed hump-backed bridges of ancient dates are to be found in many parts of the country -the outstanding examples of which you will see at Esfahan: the Allah Verdi Khan (1629) and the Khaju (1660). These two mighty structures are among the most impressive monuments in Esfahan, and are two of the most remarkable bridges in the world, of their kind, and still in service. MARRIAGE, FAMILY, AND KINSHIP 3-1 Malaysia Since both Iran and Malaysia are Muslim countries, marriage in both countries are influence by Islam therefore there are many similarities between these two countries. The following shows the marriage in the Malaysian style and then marriage in the Iranian style will be illustrated after that. Marriage. Even with significant changes in marriage practices, weddings reveal the sharp differences in Malaysian society. There are two ways to marry: registering the union with the government; and joining in marriage before a religious authority. Christian Malaysians may marry Buddhists or Hindus answering only to their families and beliefs; Muslim Malaysians who marry non-Muslims risk government sanction unless their partner converts to Islam. Marriage practices emphasize Malaysias separate ethnic customs. Indians and Chinese undertake divination rites in search of compatibility and auspicious dates, while Malays have elaborate gift exchanges. Malay wedding feasts are often held in the home, and feature a large banquet with several dishes eaten over rice prepared in oil (to say one is going to eat oiled rice means that a wedding is imminent). Many Chinese weddings feature a multiple-course meal in a restaurant or public hall, and most Indian ceremonies include intricate rituals. S ince married partners join families as well as individuals, the meeting between prospective in-laws is crucial to the success of the union. For most Malaysians marriage is a crucial step toward adulthood. Although the average age for marriage continues to increase, being single into ones thirties generates concern for families and individuals alike. The social importance of the institution makes interethnic marriage an issue of considerable stress. Domestic Unit. Malaysian households have undergone a tremendous transformation following the changes in the economy. The shift from agricultural commodities to industrial production has made it difficult for extended families to live together. Yet as family mobility expands, as a result of modern schedules, efforts to maintain kin ties also increase. Improved telecommunications keep distant kin in contact, as does the efficient transportation network. A dramatic example of this occurs on the major holidays when millions return to hometowns for kin reunions. Inheritance. The critical issue of inheritance is land. With the importance Malays place on land ownership, it is rarely viewed as a commodity for sale, and the numerous empty houses that dot the Malaysian landscape are testament to their absentee-owners unwillingness to sell. Gold is also a valuable inheritance; Malaysians from all groups readily turn extra cash into gold as a form of insurance for the future. Kin Groups. The crucial kin distinctions in Malaysian culture are between ethnic groups, which tend to limit intermarriage. Among the majority of Malays, kin groups are more horizontal than vertical, meaning that siblings are more important than ancestors. Those considered Malay make appropriate marriage partners; non-Malays do not. These distinctions are somewhat flexible, however, and those that embrace Islam and follow Malay customs are admitted as potential Malay marriage partners. Greater flexibility in kinship practices also appears among immigrant groups amid the fresh possibilities created by diasporic life. A striking example is the Baba community, Chinese who immigrated prior to British rule and intermarried with locals, developing their own hybrid language and cultural style. These dynamics point to the varied kinship arrangements possible between the different ethnic communities in Malaysian society. 3-2 Iran Marriage. In Iran women control marriages for their children, and much intrigue in domestic life revolves around marital matters. A mother is typically on the lookout for good marriage prospects at all times. Even if a mother is diffident about marriage brokering, she is obliged to clear the path for a marriage proposal. She does this by letting her counterpart in the other family know that a proposal is forthcoming, or would be welcome. She then must confer with her husband, who makes the formal proposal in a social meeting between the two families. This kind of background work is essential, because once the children are married, the two families virtually merge, and have extensive rights and obligations vis-Ã ¡-vis each other that are close to a sacred duty. It is therefore extremely important that the families be certain that they are compatible before the marriage takes place. Marriage within the family is a common strategy, and a young man of marriageable age has an absolute right of first refusal for his fathers brothers daughter-his patrilateral parallel cousin. The advantages for the families in this kind of marriage are great. They already know each other and are tied into the same social networks. Moreover, such a marriage serves to consolidate wealth from the grandparents generation for the family. Matrilateral cross-cousin marriages are also common, and exceed parallel-cousin marriages in urban areas, due perhaps to the wifes stronger influence in family affairs in cities. Although inbreeding would seem to be a potential problem, the historical preference for marriage within the family continues, waning somewhat in urban settings where other considerations such as profession and education play a role in the choice of a spouse. In 1968, 25 percent of urban marriages, 31 percent of rural marriages, and 51 percent of tribal marriages were reported as endogamous. These percentages appear to have increased somewhat following the Revolution. In Iran today a love match with someone outside of the family is clearly not at all impossible, but even in such cases, except in the most westernized families, the family visitation and negotiation must be observed. Traditional marriages involve a formal contract drawn up by a cleric. In the contract a series of payments are specified. The bride brings a dowry to the marriage usually consisting of household goods and her own clothing. A specified amount is written into the contract as payment for the woman in the event of divorce. The wife after marriage belongs to her husbands household and may have difficulty visiting her relatives if her husband does not approve. Nevertheless, she retains her own name, and may hold property in her own right, separate from her husband. The wedding celebration is held after the signing of the contract. It is really a prelude to the consummation of the marriage, which takes place typically at the end of the evening, or, in rural areas, at the end of several days celebration. In many areas of Iran it is still important that the bride be virginal, and the bedsheets are carefully inspected to ensure this. A wise mother gives her daughter a vial of chicken blood just in case. The new couple may live with their relatives for a time until they can set up their own household. This is more common in rural than in urban areas. Iran is an Islamic nation, and polygyny is allowed. It is not widely practiced, however, because Iranian officials in this century have followed the Islamic prescription that a man taking two wives must treat them with absolute equality. Women in polygynous marriages hold their husbands to this and will seek legal relief if they feel they are disadvantaged. Statistics are difficult to ascertain, but one recent study claims that only 1 percent of all marriages are polygynous. Divorce is less common in Iran than in the West. Families prefer to stay together even under difficult circumstances, since it is extremely difficult to disentangle the close network of interrelationships between the two extended families of the marriage pair. One recent study claims that the divorce rate is 10 percent in Iran. For Iranians moving to the United States the rate is 66 percent, suggesting that cultural forces tend to keep couples from separating. Children of a marriage belong to the father. After a divorce, men assume custody of boys over three years and girls over seven. Women have been known to renounce their divorce payment in exchange for custody of their children. There is no impediment to remarriage with another partner for either men or women. Domestic Unit. In traditional Iranian rural society the dinner cloth often defines the minimal family. Many branches of an extended family may live in rooms in the same compound. However, they may not all eat together on a daily basis. Sons and their wives and children are often working for their parents in anticipation of a birthright in the form of land or animals. When they receive this, they will leave and form their own separate household. In the meantime they live in their parents compound, but have separate eating and sleeping arrangements. Even after they leave their parents home, members of extended families have widespread rights to hospitality in the homes of even their most distant relations. Indeed, family members generally carry out most of their socializing with each other. Inheritance. Inheritance generally follows rules prescribed by Islamic law. Male children inherit full shares of their fathers estate, wives and daughters half-shares. An individual may make a religious bequest of specific goods or property that are then administered by the ministry of waqfs. Kin Groups. The patriarch is the oldest male of the family. He demands respect from other family members and often has a strong role in the future of young relatives. In particular it is common for members of an extended family to spread themselves out in terms of professions and influence. Some will go into government, others into the military, perhaps others join the clergy, and some may even become anti-government oppositionists. Families will attempt to marry their children into powerful families as much for their own sake as for the son or daughter. The general aim for the family is to extend its influence into as many spheres as possible. As younger members mature, older members of the family are expected to help them with jobs, introductions, and financial support. This is not considered corrupt or nepotistic, but is seen rather as one of the benefits of family membership.

jeremiah healy :: essays research papers

Jeremiah Healy is the award-winning author of the John Francis Cuddy private-investigator series and the Mairead O'Clare legal-thriller series, both set primarily in Boston. Born in Teaneck, New Jersey on May 15, 1948, he graduated from Rutgers University in l970, got his JD at Harvard Law School in l973, and passed the Massachusetts Bar in 1974. He was an associate with a Boston law firm, from l974 to 1978, gaining a lot of courtroom experience. (Michaels, 2003) The Army ROTC helped pay for his education, and Healy served as a military police officer, leaving the Army in 1976 as a captain. He married Bonnie M. Tisler on Feb. 4, l978, the same year he began teaching at the New England School of Law in Boston. His first novel, Blunt Darts written during the summer of 1981, was rejected 28 times before it was published in 1984. The book is dedicated â€Å"To Bonnie, who is Beth.† Healy has served as President of the Private Eyes Writers of America for two years, and is a past Awards Chair for the Shamus. In October 2000, he was elected President of the International Association of Crime Writers (IACW). Books of his have been translated into French, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, and German. He was toastmaster at the 1996 World Mystery Convention (Bouchercon) and will be International Guest of Honor at Bouchercon 2004 in Toronto. (Michaels, 2003) Healy has written seventeen novels and over sixty short stories. Fifteen of these works have won or been nominated for the Shamus Award. The Mairead O'Clare legal thrillers are UNCOMMON JUSTICE, JUROR NUMBER ELEVEN, and A STAIN UPON THE ROBE, which has been optioned for Hollywood by Flatiron Films (producer of PAY IT FORWARD, starring Helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey). Healy's later Cuddy novels include RESCUE, INVASION OF PRIVACY, THE ONLY GOOD LAWYER, and SPIRAL. A stand-alone private-eye thriller, TURNABOUT, appeared in December, 2001, and the second collection of his Cuddy short stories, CUDDY PLUS ONE, was published in the summer of 2003. The first collection of Healy's non-Cuddy stories, OFF-SEASON AND OTHER STORIES, appeared from Five Star in June, 2003. (Cincinnati Media, 2005) Healy’s most recognized character, private investigator John Francis Cuddy, is more moral than religious, a man who believes strongly in representing his clients, keeping his promises, and ferreting out the truth. He stays sexually faithful to the memory of his dead wife; waiting until he finds someone he thinks can replace Beth in his life.

Why Is Recycling Important Environmental Sciences Essay

Recycling is a procedure where waste or used merchandises are reproduced into new merchandises. A merchandise which has served its ain intent will be discarded, and recycling is an attempt to widen the usage life of a merchandise, therefore conveying a batch of benefits to humanity and the female parent Earth. Most points around us are reclaimable, although there are specific techniques used to recycle different stuff, including metal, plastic and paper. The full procedure of recycling involves 3 basic stairss. The used stuff has to be collected, and so sorted harmonizing to its stuff. The 2nd measure involves bring forthing useable goods from the sorted points. After the goods were produced, the last measure requires selling of the reproduced goods to the general mass, consumers or a specific market. As the reproduced goods are sold and reused, the full procedure of recycling is complete and will do manner for another rhythm to come.Why is recycling of import?Recycling helps continue the environment in add-on to supplying more useable objects to people without the demand for excess resources. Its importance can be seen in multiple ways. Below are the grounds in which recycling can be good: Recycling Saves the Earth Recycling a stuff can assist continue the environment. For illustration, recycling the paper can ensue in paper production without extra tree falling. By recycling more paper and selling it to consumer, more documents can be used without farther damaging the forest than its current rate of tree falling. Recycling Saves Energy Recycling a stuff takes less energy than to bring forth an point from virgin stuffs. For illustration, an aluminium merchandise uses both the aluminium and the immense sum of energy to bring forth it from natural ore. Therefore by recycling an point made of aluminium, we can recycle the metal once more and besides salvage on the immense energy which helps continue the environment. Recycling Helps Mitigate Global Warming and Reduce Pollution One of the biggest benefits of recycling is salvaging energy. Energy salvaging consequences in less emanation of C or nursery gases which are a byproduct created by energy production, which are damaging and harmful to the environment if released to the ambiance. Recycling Reduces Waste Products in Landfills Waste which are non recycled normally ends up in the landfill. It is here that the waste are left to decompose or decomposed, and this may take many old ages of even coevalss to to the full break up. More and more waste are being sent to the landfills, and if recycling does non take topographic point, the landfill may be right behind our places in the hereafter. Recycling Helps you Save Money Recycled merchandises normally cost less. Using bing stuff and a batch less energy, recycled merchandise can be sold for a fraction of the same point created utilizing virgin stuffs. Apart from that, selling waste for recycling intents converts refuse into utile hard currency. Recycling can besides be done at place, and taught to the kids as a good wont to be nurtured. Biodegradable waste can be used as fertiliser for workss. Creativity goes a long manner in salvaging money and salvaging the planet Earth. Recycling becomes progressively of import in a universe where the population is dining. More and more merchandises are being churned out to consumers. If these merchandises are non recycled at the terminal of the merchandise life, it will take coevalss to interrupt down or break up.Applications of Recycled MaterialsApplication of Recycled GlassMan has found ways to recycle glass. This in fact, is extremely recommended and good to the fabrication line as it is easier to bring forth and be less. Crushed glass known as cullets, thaws easier and faster and cost less than the natural stuffs used to bring forth glass. This pattern is endorsed by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a better and greenish manner to bring forth glass. Common Non-container Uses Harmonizing to Glass Packaging Institute, recycled spectacless are best to be used for its initial intent before it was being sent for recycled. For illustration, glass bottles are best recycled to be made into glass bottles, and those which does non measure up in the container fabrication criterions can be channeled to other uses such as fibreglass. ( See References 2 ) Aggregate Materials Recognize it or non, we ‘re driving over glass every twenty-four hours in our lives. Parking tonss and concrete paving has grounded glass composing. Grounded glass as an effectual base stuff enhances the public presentation of the crushed rock in the mix, and sometimes is independent of other stuffs when used as a base. Glass-phalt is a stuff applied to doing roads, including airdrome tracks and main roads, doing the surface to hold higher clash coefficient, less slippy and less likely to check. Glass-phalt is made of recycled glass. Recycled glass is besides used to do glass beads, which in bend is used to do brooding pigment on the route. Abrasive Media Harmonizing to the Clean Washington Center, the use of recycled glass as scratchy media is known as â€Å" basal burden market † . It is verified that recycled glass has equal or better quality than traditionally used scratchy media, such as aluminium oxide or walnut shell. This makes recycled glass extremely competent in the surface readying of fabricating equipment constituents and even ships. Furthermore, less recycled glass is required to bring forth the same occupation when compared with use of traditional mineral. Furthermore, glass has the advantage of being non-detrimental to wellness with no silicon oxide exposure dust. Landscaping Green-scaping is a term used for landscape merchandises which are manufactured utilizing recycled glass. Glass does non absorb wet unlike its wooden opposite number, therefore bettering H2O bringing. It besides comes in assorted colourss to take from. Manufacturers use crushed porcelain in concrete slab in add-on to the recycled glass to adorn tracts and terracesApplication of Recycled PaperPuting the paper in the recycle bin helps re-create paper from bing resources. This diverts the waste meant for landfills into useable merchandises which uses less energy, H2O and stuff to bring forth. How Much Paper is Recycled? How much paper is really recycled? Research shows that the sum of paper being recycled has reached record degrees. Harmonizing to the Paper Industry Association Council, â€Å" In 2008, 57.4 per centum of the paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling. This impressive figure peers 340 lbs for each adult male, adult female and kid in America. † Limits on Paper Recycling Documents are limited by the fibre it contains. As paper is recycled each clip, it breaks down into mush. This can be done for a maximal six or seven times. The fibre so will be shortened each clip until it is non useable. Office Grade Paper Office class documents are the highest quality documents in the rhythm of recycling. Its quality and firmness plus its hardy fibres, this type of paper are frequently recycled back into its initial class. However, decoloring is required to reproduce its whiteness. Newspaper Documents used for newspaper are frequently low choice paper, therefore it can non be recycled into better quality paper. As paper can non be upgraded through recycling, the paper used for newspaper are frequently recycled back into its initial use or lesser class Cardboard Cardboard, whether corrugated or pressboard, is made of the lowest quality paper. If it ‘s of all time recycled, it can be used for packaging. Producing boxes or cartons is ideal, as the colour or brightness dulls overtime as it is recycled, and boxing boxes like cartons seldom considers colour as an of import factor. Tissue Tissue can be a signifier of recycled merchandise. Since strength of paper is non an issue, unserviceable fibres are normally used for bring forthing tissue. Other Uses for Recycled Paper There are many other merchandises that are produced utilizing recycled paper: java filters, nappies, egg cartons, shoe boxes, serviettes or insularity.Application of recycled PlasticRecycled plastic can be used in many applications and merchandises, such as packaging, building or car constituents. Boxing Recycled PET or HDPE is chiefly used in packaging by retail merchants. Household names such as Coca Cola, The Body Shop or M & A ; S normally use recycled plastic in some of their merchandises. Use of recycled plastic helps show a trade name image towards committedness to sustainable resource usage. Construction Recycled plastic is used a batch in building stuffs, such as drainage pipes, ducting or flooring. It is innovated into scaffolding boards or curbstones, where its lastingness and weight has superior benefit to Health and Safety intents. Landscaping Landscaping utilizations recycled plastics to be made into paseos, breakwaters, pontoons, Bridgess, fencings and marks. Durability, low care, vandal opposition, and its opposition to decompose are all cardinal grounds for plastic being used. Textile fibre / vesture Polyester fleece vesture and polyester filling for eiderdowns is often made from recycled PET bottles ( e. g. soft drink and H2O bottles ) . Polyester fibre is the biggest individual market for recycled PET bottles worldwide. Street furniture Street furniture, seating, bins, street marks and plantation owners are often made from plastic. They are cost competitory and immune to hooliganism. Local governments and schools are able to show recycling in action by stipulating recycled merchandises. Bin liners/ garbage pokes Plastic movie from beginnings such as palette wrap, bearer bags, and agricultural movie are made into new movie merchandises such as bin line drives, bearer bags and garbage pokes on a big graduated table.Application of Recycled MetalThe maps of metals like steel, Cu, and aluminium was revealed 1000s of old ages ago. Their belongingss and features of strong, lasting, ductile and high conduction are extremely of import in a broad scope of merchandises today. However, metals are resources of the Earth which has finite measure and non replenish-able. Metallic element sedimentations are non-renewable resources that will run out if it is continued to be mined at the current rate. Therefore, it is extremely of import to recycle metals. Metallic elements can be recycled without losing any their key belongingss. Inefficient recovery of metals from industrial and consumer waste increases the force per unit area on the non-renewable resources of the Earth from which they are extracted. Discarding metal is bad for the environment due to the release of metallic atoms in the ecosystem. Recycling and metal recovery from the waste watercourse is indispensable in continuing valuable resources and the environment. Recycling metals are effectual because they can be recycled for infinite times, doing them highly friendly to the environment. Metallic elements differ from polymer plastics in a manner that the features are maintained irrespective of the physical or chemical signifier, although it might be dearly-won. Aluminum The extraction of aluminium from its ore requires immense sum of energy. To pull out aluminium from aluminum oxide is a complex procedure. Recycling aluminium merely takes about 5 % of the energy used compared to bring forthing it via excavation, and therefore merely releases 5 % of the CO2 emanation. This in add-on decreases the sum of waste being transported to the landfill. A recycled aluminium can salvage adequate energy to run a telecasting set for 3 hours. For illustration, recycling 1kg of aluminium saves up to 6kg of bauxite, 4kg of chemical merchandises and 14 kWh of electricity. Steel Iron is extracted from Fe ore which is common and extremely abundant. Normally found in a combined signifier with O or other elements like sulfur or C. Huge sums of energy required to pull out the Fe from the ore. Over 11 million dozenss of Fe and steel bits are produced every twelvemonth. From this sum 70 % are recovered. Of the staying measure, 60 % is sent to the landfill. Every ton of steel recycled can salvage 1.5 dozenss of Fe ore, 0.5 dozenss of coal, 40 % of the H2O used in production, 75 % of the energy required to pull out steel from the natural stuff, 1.28 dozenss of solid waste, lessening in air pollution emanation of up to 86 % , and decrease of H2O pollution release by 76 % . Recycling Metallic elements / Other Metallic elements to Look Out For Copper, Ni, brass, lead, gold, Ag, etc. can all be recycled. Since these metals are all rather valuable merely a smaller measure is in circulation. The recovery of these metals is sometimes ignored particularly when they are used in families and these points are disposed of by the homeowners.Application of Recycled OilDid you cognize? That used, second-hand oil can be farther re-refined into base stock for lubricating oil? And besides, if you recycle merely 2 gallons of used oil, it is sufficient to bring forth electricity to run the mean family for about 24 hours. Cars, like many transit vehicles, are an indispensable portion of life for many of us. What is done with the used oil, whether to dispose of it or to recycle it plays a important function in equilibrating our desire for convenient transit with our hope for a clean and healthy environment for our kids? We are all familiar with recycling newspapers, aluminium tins, glass and plastic bottles, but many of us are non even cognizant of the attempts carried out by elephantine crude oil industry to advance used motor oil for recycling, for illustration, supplying convenient aggregation sites for the intent of maintaining used motor oil out of our H2O supplies and doing certain that the oil goes back into the recycling rhythm. Curiously plenty, even after it has been drained from an engine, motor oil retains some of its value. The oil collected can be recycled to salvage energy. Many establishments, schools or workss process the used oil for electricity coevals. Some workss even process it to be used for engine oil once more. As consumer, we can direct our used oils for recycling by taking it to the aggregation centre. If our autos are taken to the auto service centre, we can be reasonably certain that the oil will be recycled after they change. Additionally, we can do a difference by recycling the oil from our auto, truck, bike, boat, recreational vehicle or lawnmower. By dropping off our used motor oil today we help forestall pollution and conserve energy for a safer and healthier tomorrow Recycling used motor oil maintain oil out of landfills and ensures that this oil is available for re-use, reconditioning, recycling or re-refining. In fact, the best oil for the interest of environment is the longer permanent oil, doing certain that less oil is generated. Equally much as over 380 million gallons of used oil is recycled every individual twelvemonth harmonizing to the U.S. EPA, which is tantamount to over 50 per centum of all motor oil purchased yearly. Currently, used motor oil can be re-used or recycled in one of the three known ways – reconditioning, recycling or re-refining. Re-refining With modern and sophisticated method, refinement can be done with accurate provender and rigorous quality control. Used motor oil can be processed to take any drosss so it can be reused as a base stock for the new lubricating oil. This efficaciously extends the lifetime of the oil, doing it reclaimable for many times without directing it to the landfill. At the present, less than 15 % of used motor oil is refined and the consumer demand for refined used motor oil is low, doing it difficult to prolong for concern. It is of import to observe that the purchased refined used motor oil comply with the oil specifications as set by the vehicle maker. Reconditioning In some industries, oil is filtered or clean in commercial graduated table machine. Although it may non change over the oil back to its premier quality, it can take drosss and cardinal additives can be added to widen its life and maps. Re-Use and Reprocessing Both motor oil and fuels are petroleum merchandise. As lubricator, when the oil has ceased operation, it can be reused to be burned as fuel without the demand for farther intervention. Water and certain atoms may necessitate to be removed earlier before the oil can be burn for electricity coevals. 74 % of all oil recycled in the United States of America is for the intent of fuel burning in turbines, incinerators, power workss, cement kilns and fabrication installations. An extra 11 % of used motor oil is burned in specifically designed industrial infinite warmers. This creates a valuable signifier of energy, which helps our economic system by avoiding the demand to polish new commercial warming oil from imported petroleum oil.Decision

Is AP Biology Hard An Expert Discussion

Is AP Biology Hard An Expert Discussion SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips AP Biology is a popular AP class, and many students are curious about the challenges it presents. Is AP Biology hard? Will you spend hours upon hours studying for the class? Are you likely to fail the exam? Or are AP tests much easier than they seem? In this article, I’ll look at statistics, course material, and student perceptions to present you with a clear picture of the difficulty level of the class and exam. I'll also give you some tips to help you figure out how challenging AP Biology will be for you based on your academic strengths and weaknesses. What Factors Go Into Determining the Difficulty of an AP Class? There are a few indicators we can look at to make judgments about how hard a particular AP class might be. Here's a list of key considerations that I'll explore in more detail for the AP Biology course later in this article. Factor #1: Passing Rate The passing rate for an AP class is the percentage of students who earn a 3 or above on the exam. If the passing rate is on the lower side, it may indicate a more difficult class. However, the passing rate can also be a deceptive statistic. Sometimes, passing rates in the most difficult subjects are very high because only the most dedicated students take the class. A smaller pool of more serious students will be a better-prepared group overall. Factor #2: 5 Rate The 5 rate is potentially a better metric for determining the difficulty of AP classes. The 5 rate is the percentage of students who earn 5s (the highest possible score) on the AP test for the class. If the 5 rate is on the lower side, it may indicate that the material is more difficult to master (or even to understand reasonably well, since the 5 cutoff is around 70 percent correct on many AP tests). A low 5 rate also sometimes happens with very popular classes because the proportion of students who are prepared for an AP test tends to decrease as the number of students taking it increases. Factor #3: Content Difficulty The complexity of the curriculum is one of the most important factors that goes into determining the difficulty of an AP class. This essentially boils down to the amount of material the course covers and how advanced that material is. Some courses have high 5 and passing rates because their content is extremely challenging and only very driven students will take them, not because they are easy classes. Factor #4: Student Testimonials What do students say about the class? This can change from high school to high school, but there should be some consistency based on the fact that everyone is supposed to be learning the same curriculum, and everyone ends up taking the same test. Student feedback can provide more information about the day to day challenges of the class and whether the workload is especially daunting. Factor #5: Timing of the Class A final factor to consider is which year of high school students tend to take the class. The classes that students take later in high school will be more difficult overall though some students may perceive them as being easier than other AP classes that they took when they had less experience. The reverse is true of classes that students take earlier in high school. If you are one of the lucky few to earn a 5, you should get one of these candles, put it in a cake, and eat the entire thing by yourself. Only then will you truly possess the top score. What Do Statistics Say About the AP Biology Exam? Let’s take a look at the passing rate and the 5 rate for the AP Biology exam. The passing rate for the AP Biology exam in 2018 was 61.5 percent. This is a middle-of-the-road passing rate as compared to other AP exams, so we would assume from it that the AP Biology exam has a medium level of difficulty. The 5 rate, however, was only 7.2 percent. This is one of the lowest 5 rates out of all the AP exams. From the 5 rate, we would assume AP Biology to be a very difficult test. What’s actually going on here? Based on these statistics, is the AP Biology exam medium-difficulty or very challenging? We have to keep in mind that AP Biology is one of the more popular AP classes. This means that a large number of students take the class, which tends to increase the proportion of students who are underprepared for the test. Still, the 5 rate is so low that it can’t be completely attributed to the volume of students. It's clearly very challenging to get a high score on the test even if most students pass, so from this we can assume that the exam is difficult. Behold, statistics. Is the AP Biology Content Difficult? There’s no question that the breadth of content covered in AP Biology is extensive. It requires memorization of complex processes along with a deep understanding of how biological concepts and themes connect with one another. There are also many lab assignments that teachers have to schedule around lectures, so it ends up being a heavy workload overall. The AP Biology exam could also be considered more challenging than other AP tests because of its format. The multiple choice section also includes six â€Å"grid-in† math problems related to biological concepts. The free response section has eight questions (two long response and six short response), which is more than most other AP exams. The test requires extensive knowledge of many different topics as well as a lot of stamina. Do Students Think AP Biology Is Hard? Personally, I found AP Biology to be one of the most difficult classes I took. There was just so much information to remember. Studying for tests took much longer than it did in any of my other classes, and I still forgot stuff. This coupled with lab assignments made the class extremely challenging. Then again, I didn’t take an introductory bio class before taking AP Biology, and it was my first-ever AP class. It’s a good idea to take a basic biology class beforehand if you have the opportunity so that you get a basic foundation for advanced concepts covered in the AP class. The most common way that students describe AP Biology (based on College Confidential threads) is that it’s very, very memorization-heavy. The test and curriculum were redesigned in 2012 to try and mitigate this a little, but it still covers a ton of conceptually difficult material. Most students take AP Biology their junior or senior year. This makes the claims about the difficulty of the class even more valid. Students have had a chance to adjust to the demands of high school academics and compare their experience in AP Biology to other high-level classes, and they still find it challenging. Since students see AP Biology as a hard class, it’s less likely that unmotivated or unprepared students will take it. This makes the low 5 rate on the test all the more daunting. Your lab assignment is to take this cutie for a walk! If only... Will AP Biology Be Hard for You? Since schools and students are different, I can’t say for sure whether AP Biology will be as hard for you as it might be for other students. To decide whether the class will be a challenge, you should: #1: Ask Reliable Sources About the Class The best way to learn what AP Biology is like at your school is to question people who are familiar with the class or have already taken it. If you know any older students or have siblings, you might ask them what they thought of the class. You can also speak with your current teachers (probably your science teacher is the best person to ask) and see what they say about AP Biology at your school. Since they know your academic abilities and have observed how similar students performed in the class, they might be able to give you a more accurate idea of how hard it will be for you. The same goes for your guidance counselor. He or she is probably very familiar with the grades that students earn in AP Biology and how people have performed on the exam in the past. Your guidance counselor may also be able to give you perspective on how challenging the class will be for you based on the grades you’ve earned in high school thus far. #2: Take Your Academic Strengths and Weaknesses Into Account As I’ve said, AP Biology is memorization-heavy, but it's also important to have a solid understanding of basic science and experimental design to succeed. There's a small mathematical component to the class as well, although it doesn’t go beyond algebra, geometry, and graphing skills. If math and science aren't typically your strong suits, AP Biology may be more difficult for you than it is for some other students. If, on the other hand, you've always done well in these types of classes, you might find AP Biology to be less challenging. Still, AP Biology incorporates skills from many different subject areas. Since there’s a lot of memorization involved, the actual study skills that you need to succeed are somewhat similar to those required in social studies classes. Well-rounded students may actually have the biggest advantage in the class because it draws on skills from a variety of subject areas but requires you to implement them in a scientific (and sometimes mathematical) context. #3: Consider Your Schedule If you have the opportunity to take an introductory biology class before you take AP Biology, you might find the AP class less challenging. You'll also be able to manage AP Biology better if your schedule isn’t loaded up with other difficult, memorization-heavy classes. For example, if you’re thinking about taking AP Biology and a class like AP US History at the same time, you should understand that both classes could end up being more stressful because of the time you’ll have to spend studying the material (which is extensive and complex in both cases). If you take too many intense classes, it can create a perfect storm of stress. Conclusion: So, Is AP Biology Hard? AP Biology is one of the more difficult APs based on its challenging curriculum, the low rate of students who earn 5s on the exam, and the consensus from students on the demanding nature of the class. Ideally, you should take an Intro to Biology class before you take AP Biology so that you’re fully prepared. It's a challenging class for most students, but it should be manageable if you’re aware of what you’re facing. What's Next? Want to get a taste of what you'll be learning in AP Biology? Find out what an enzyme is, what the differences between homologous and analogous structures are, and three tenets of cell theory. If you're already a biology pro, don't sweat- we have a few more in-depth articles for you, too. Review with our articles about the functions of the endoplasmic reticulum and cell membrane and what the photosynthesis equation is. Thinking about signing up for AP Biology? Read this article on how to register for AP classes and exams. You can also check out this article to learn which additional AP classes you should take in high school. Looking for an easier AP class than Biology? Learn which AP classes tend to be the least challenging for students. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Autocorrelation (Econometrics)

Autocorrelation (Econometrics) Free Online Research Papers Autocorrelation can be defined as correlation between the variables of some observations at different points of time if it is about a â€Å" time series data†, or it will be correlation between the variables of some observations at different space if it is about â€Å" cross sectional data†. The classical linear regression model (CLRM) according to the regression context does not exist in the error (ui) this can be written in this form E(uiuj) = 0 i ? j The classical model have an assumption saying that the disturbance of a certain observation does not change or be effected from the disturbances of any other observations, but if the equation was like this: E(uiuj) ? 0 i ? j then in this case the disturbance in a certain observation can be affected by the disturbance in other observations. When the autocorrelation is calculated, the number that results can fall between +1 and -1. When the result is autocorrelation of +1 this means that perfect positive correlation which explains that an increase that happens in one time series will result an increase proportional to the other time series, while if the result was -1 this means that perfect negative correlation occurs and this explains that if an increase happened in one time series the results will be proportionate decrease in the other time series. This type of value can be used in a useful way for computing for security analysis. For example, â€Å"if you know a stock historically has a high positive autocorrelation value and you witnessed the stock making solid gains over the past several days, you might reasonably expect the movements over the upcoming several days (the leading time series) to match those of the lagging time series and to move upwards.† There are some consequences if we used OLS while the presence of autocorrelation, the estimators of the OLS will be still linear unbiased as well as â€Å" consistent† and â€Å"asymptotically† normally distributed, but they will not be efficient any more, the same thing also happens with the heteroscedasticity. There are four methods to detect the autocorrelation which are: Graphical Method The Runs Test Durbin-Watson d test A general test for autocorrelation: the Breusch-Godfrey or (BG) test Let’s talk about each one separately The first is the graphical method: â€Å" the assumption of non autocorrelation of the classical model relates to the population disturbance ut , they are not directly observable, but instead of them we have their proxies ?t which we can obtain by using the normal OLS steps.† There are a lot of ways to examine the residual, the easiest is that we can plot them against time and this is called â€Å" Time sequence plot† also we can plot the â€Å" Standardized Residual† against time, the standardized residuals are not the real residuals they are the samples which are made like this â€Å"?t â€Å" their values are always pure numbers and we can make a comparison between it and the standardized residual of another regression. The second is the â€Å" Run Test† and sometimes it is called â€Å"Geary test which is a â€Å" test that we make no assumption about the distribution from which the observations are drawn or it is called a non parametric test† : this occurs when the set of data that we are working on is divided in to negative and positive observations, then in this data we will find several residuals that are positive and another several residuals that are negative. The run is defined as â€Å" an un interrupted sequence of one simple† which means that for example if we have in the observation ten positive numbers under each other then they are in a set alone and then we had eleven negative numbers they will be in a set alone and then we had another five positive numbers so this will be another set and not added to the other positive set they are written like this: (++++) () (+++++++) The runs length is determined through the number of elements inside every set for example in the example here we have three runs the first is containing four pluses the second is containing six minuses and the third run is containing seven pluses. â€Å" One can derive a test of randomness of runs, by examining how runs behave in a strictly random sequence of observations.† We must look to the number of runs that we have for instance in the previous example they are consisting of three runs and seventeen observations. â€Å" we must look if this is too many or too few compared with the number of runs expected in a strictly random sequence of seventeen observations.† â€Å" if it is consisting of too many runs it means that the residual changes signs a lot so the indicates negative serial correlation, and if they were containing of very few runs they may suggest positive auto correlation.† There are some shortcuts that are done to make things become easier which are: â€Å" N: Total number of observations = N1+N2† â€Å" N1: Number of the plus residuals† â€Å" N2: Number of minus residuals† â€Å" R: Number of runs† â€Å" Under the null hypothesis the successive outcomes are independent and we make an assumption that N1 > 10 and N2 > 10† â€Å" Mean: E(R) = (2 N1N2 )/N+ 1† â€Å" Variance: ?_(R= (2N_(1 N_(2 ( 2 N_1 N_2-N)) ))/((?N)?^2 (N-1)))^2† The third is the â€Å" Durbin Watson d test† it is the most known test for getting the serial correlation and it is defined in the following equation: d = (?_(t=2)^(t=1)(?t-t ?_(-1))^2 ?)/(?_(t=1)^(t=n)t ?^2 ) This equation is the â€Å" ratio of the sum of squared differences in successive residuals to the RSS† the number that we get from the numerator of the â€Å" d statistic† equation is â€Å" n-1†. There is a great advantage of the â€Å" d statistic† which is that it is â€Å" based on the estimated residual, which are calculated in the regression analysis.† There are six assumptions used in the d-statistic which are: â€Å" The regression model includes the intercept term. Sometimes it is not presented as in the case of the regression through the origin, it is essential to rerun the regression including the intercept term to obtain the RSS† â€Å" The explanatory variables are non stochastic or fixed in repeated sampling.† â€Å" The disturbance are generated by the first order autoregressive scheme: ut = put-1+?_t. Therefore it cannot be used to detect higher order autoregressive schemes. â€Å" The error term ut is assumed to be normally distributed.† â€Å" The regression model does not include the lagged values of the dependent variable as one of the explanatory variables.† â€Å" There are no missing observations in the data.† There is a line that is from 0 till d From o till dL â€Å" Reject Ho evidence of positive autocorrelation.† From dL till dU â€Å"Zone of indecision† From dU till 2 and from 2 till 4-dU we do not reject H0 or H0* or both From 4 – du till 4 – dL: â€Å" is called the zone of indecision. From 4 – dL till 4 reject H0* evidence of negative autocorrelation. There is a rule that says H0: No positive autocorrelation and H0*: No negative autocorrelation. There are some rules that we have to define from it:Type equation here. p ?= ((U_(t ) ) ?(U_t ) ?-1?)/((U_t^2 ) ? ) By using the previous equation we can say that d?2(1-p ?) There is another equation says -1 ? p ? 1 implies that o ? d ? 4 any estimated d value must lie between these limits. In the first equation if p ? = 0, d = 2, this is only in the case if there is no serial correlation, then d is expected to be 2, if d was 2 in an application then there is an assumption that can be made that â€Å" there is no first order autocorrelation, either positive or negative, if p ? was +1 this indicates perfect positive correlation in the residuals. When d is closer to zero this means that the evidence of positive serial correlation is great, and if there is autocorrelation the residuals will be bunched together and their differences will therefore tend to be small, and as a result of this the numerator some of squares will be smaller in comparison with denominator sum of squares, if p ? was -1 this means that there is a negative correlation among successive residuals, d?4 the closer the d to 4 the greater the evidence of negative serial correlation. After we assume the assumptions that are listed above then we can go in the procedures of Durbin Watson test correctly which are: â€Å" Run the OLS regression and obtain the residuals.† â€Å" Calculate d from d = (?_(t=2)^(t=1)(?t-t ?_(-1))^2 ?)/(?_(t=1)^(t=n)t ?^2 ) and this is a step that most of the computers do.† â€Å" For the given sample size and the given numbers of explanatory variables find out the critical dL and dU variables.† The fourth and last one is the Breusch Godfrey or (BG) test: It is a test that is made to not do the wrong things that happened in the Durbin Watson test of autocorrelation, and this test allows â€Å" no stochastic repressors such as the lagged values of the regressand, and higher order autoregressive scheme.† Y = B1 + B2Xt +Ut Assume that the error term (Ut) is as follows: Ut =P1Ut-1 + P2Ut-2 ¬ + †¦+ PpUt-p + ?t The Ho that is going to be tested is P1 = P2 = †¦ = Pp = 0 The Breusch Godfrey test steps is like this: â€Å"Estimate Y = B1 + B2Xt +Ut by OLS and obtain the residual.† â€Å" regress Ut on the original Xt.† â€Å" if the sample size is large (BG) have shown that: (n – p)R2~ X2p There are many tests for autocorrelation because there is â€Å" no particular test has yet been judjed to be unequivocally best and thus the analysts are still in the unenviable position of considering a varied collection of test procedures for detecting the presence or structure or both of autocorrelation.† There are some steps that we have to do when we find autocorrelation the first is to try to find out if the autocorrelation is â€Å"pure autocorrelation† and not as a result of mis-specification of the model, the second thing is that it was â€Å"pure autocorrelation appropriate transformation of the original model can be used, because in the transformed model we do not have the problem of pure autocorrelation, the third thing is â€Å" in a large sample we can use the newly west method to obtain standard error of OLS estimators that are corrected for autocorrelation.† The fourth and last thing is that â€Å"in some situations we can continue to use the OLS method† Research Papers on Autocorrelation (Econometrics)Research Process Part OneStandardized TestingIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayThe Fifth HorsemanThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenDefinition of Export QuotasInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of Self

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