Morphology Is a Valid Strategy for High School Students Essay

Theoretical Explanation Many researchers have proposed that teaching students word roots unlocks the meanings of unknown words. The majority of words in the English language have origins from Greek and Latin. Ninety percent of English words over one syllable are Latin based, and the remaining 10 percent are Greek based (Rasinski, Padak, Newton, & Newton, (2008, p. 11). Just as phonics teaches word families, Greek and Latin roots will help students sound out words and determine the meanings of words (Padak, Newton, Rasinski, and Newton (2008, p. 29). Nagy & Anderson, 1984, found morphology played an important role in learning vocabulary by allowing students to make semantic connections between related word families. They concluded, â€Å"The ability to utilize morphological relatedness among words puts a student at a distinct advantage in dealing with unfamiliar words† (p.323). While research supports the teaching of word roots, no formalized instruction in roots exists at my high school. Purpose of my study: Students need vocabulary deciphering strategies in high school. Morphology is a valid strategy for high school students to improve vocabulary. Studies also show an increase in reading comprehension and spelling. Third through sixth grade students performed better on reading and spelling with morphophonemic training than with just training in phonics (Henry 1988, 1989, 1993). In the study, â€Å"Contributions of Morphology Beyond Phonology to Literacy Outcomes of Upper Elementary and Middle-School Students,† Nagy, Abbott, and  Berninger (2006) found â€Å"Results showed that when the shared variance among morphological awareness, phonological working memory, and phonological decoding are controlled statistically, morphological awareness contributes †¦at all grade levels to reading comprehension, reading vocabulary, and spelling† (p. 143). â€Å"Corson, a British sociologist, even suggests that it is differences in language ability, more than any other observable factor, that affects children’s potential for success in school. He makes the point that learning the Latin and Greek word roots allows children to begin learning the ‘specialist’ words in contrast to the Anglo-Saxon ‘performance’ vocabulary. He suggests that some social groups do not learn these special words in their natural environment. â€Å"(1985, p.28). The purpose of this study is to develop student morphemic awareness and increase their knowledge of the meanings of word roots including prefixes and suffixes. New avenues of learning roots will be explored. The goal is to improve students’ potential to decipher the meaning of new vocabulary. Learning Targets First, students will be able to divide multi syllable words into word parts or morphemes. On Ellen Gagnà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s level of complexity in human skills, using Discrimination students can identify and separate roots, prefixes, or suffixes in a word. Next, students will learn the meanings of common prefixes, suffixes and roots. Ellen Gagnà © would label Greek and Latin roots Defined Concepts. I hope to show students will be able to determine a word’s meaning based on their knowledge of the word’s parts. Ellen Gagnà © would label this Higher Order Rules. Students will need to apply their previously learned definitions, to form a new definition of a new word. Area of Focus Roots to be studied will be pulled from various resources including: Stauffer, 1942, identified the fifteen most common prefixes from the 10,000 words in the Thorndike Word Book: ab (from) ,ad (to),be (by),com (with),de (from),en (in),ex (out),in (into), in (not),pre (before), pro (in front of), re (back), sub (under), un (not) (pg. 455). â€Å"Brown (1947) noted that 80% of the English words borrowed from other languages come to us from Latin and Greek and make up approximately 60% of our language. He analyzed Latin and Greek word roots and concluded that 12 Latin and 2 Greek roots, along with 20 of the most frequently used prefixes would generate an estimated 100,000 words (see Table 1)†(Henry, 1993).Brown’s fourteen roots: 1.tent, ten, tin, tain 2.mit,miss, mitt 3.cap,capt, cip,cept , 4. 14. scribe,script 5. sat, stat, sist 6. graph,gram 7. log,logy 8.spect 9. plic,pled, 10.ply11. tens,tend, tent 12.duc,duct 13. pos,pon 14. face,tic, fact Padak, Newton, Rasinski, and Newton (2008) identified a series of level 1, level 2, and level 3 roots for primary, intermediate and middle school students (pgs. 12-15). Their lists includes prefixes, suffixes, and bases (roots) from both Latin and Greek. The Least You Should Know about Vocabulary Building by Glazier, Friend, & Knight.  Greek & Latin Roots:Keys to Building Vocabulary by Rasinski, Padak, Newton & Newton. Past Problems Achieving Learning Targets My school does not teach Latin. Also, vocabulary building is not built into the English standards. Students without previous exposure to word roots, suffixes, and prefixes will not get additional exposure at our high school. The school I teach at draws students from 27 different towns throughout northwestern Connecticut. Students do not come with a consistent core of learned roots. Significance Students need to increase their vocabulary to be able to read and comprehend complex texts. Students that can use context clues and knowledge of word origins to decipher a new word’s meaning. Students need to interpret vocabulary for standardized tests, when reading their textbooks, and other daily reading. â€Å"If†¦it is one’s goal top promote generalized vocabulary acquisition by equipping readers with strategies that will enhance their independent vocabulary learning, then instruction in morphemic and contextual analysis becomes the preferred approach† (Baumann et al. 452). â€Å"The language of school, especially in the upper grades, is often driven by content area texts. Most of the speciality words in math, science, and social studies come from Latin and Greek origin† (Henry, 1993). Research Question I am interested to know if students can increase their ability to define unknown words if they have knowledge of dividing words into morphemes and have learned prefixes, suffixes, and roots. Learning Plan Ideas wiki/notebook flash cards/virtual flashcards/app for I touch/I Pad/I Phone i touch applications Resources Baumann, James F. , & Edwards, Elizabeth Carr, Font, George, Tereshinski, Cathleen A. , Kame’enui, Edward J., Olejnik, Stephen. (2002). Teaching morphemic and contextual analysis to fifth-grade students. Reading Research Quarterly. 2, 150-176. Baumann, James F., Boland, Eileen M., & Edwards, Elizabeth Carr, & Olejnik, Stephen, & Kame’enui, Edward J. (2003). Vocabulary tricks: Effects of instruction in morphology and context on fifth-grade students’ability to derive and infer word meanings. American Educational Research Journal. 40, 447-494. Bromley, Karen. (2007). Nine things every teacher should know about words and vocabulary instruction. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. 7, 528-537. Brunner, Brett L. (2006). Word Empire:A Utilitarian Approach to Word Power Brett L. Brunner, M.A. Star Nemeton Educational Innovations, LLC Bryant, Peter, & Hurry, Jane, & Nunes, Terezinha, & Pretzlik, Ursula (2006). Improving literacy by teaching morphemes. New York, NY: Routledge Carlisle, Joanne F, & Stone, Addison C. (2005). Exploring the role of morphemes in word reading. Reading Research Quarterly. 4, 428-449. Fresch, Mary Jo (2007). Word study: Ways to captivate reluctant learners. Adolescent Literacy in Perspective. March, 8-11. Glazier, Teresa Ferster, Knight, Laura, & Friend, Carol. (2004). The least you should know about vocabulary building: Word roots. Wadsworth Publishing Green, Tamara M (2008). Greek & Latin roots of English. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. Haag, E Stern (2003). In search of the benefits of learning Latin. Journal of Educational Psychology 95, 174-178. Henry, Marcia. (1993). Morphological structure: Latin and Greek roots and affixes as upper grade code strategies. Reading and Writing. 2, 227-241. Holmes, Thomas C., & Keffer, Ronald L (1995). A computerized method to teach Latin and Greek root words: Effect on verbal SAT Scores. The Journal of Educational Research. 1, 47-50. Langer, Judith A. (2001). Beating the Odds: Teaching Middle and High School Students to Read and Write Well. American Educational Research Journal 40, 447-494. Menn, Lise, & Peters, Ann M, (1993). False starts and filler syllables: Ways to learn grammatical morphemes. Language. 4, 742-777. Nagy, William E., Anderson, Richard C. (1984). How many words are there in printed school English? Reading Research Quarterly. 19, 303-330. Nagy, William, Abbott, Robert D., & Berninger, Virginia W. (2006). Contributions of morphology beyond phonology to literacy outcomes of upper elementary and middle-school students. Journal of Educational Psychology 98, 134-147. Newton, Rick M., & Newton, Evangeline (2005). A little Latin†¦a lot of English. Adolescent Literacy in Perspective. June, 2-7. Otterman, Lois. (1955). The value of teaching prefixes and word-roots. The Journal of Educational Research, 8, 611-616. Padak, Nancy, & Newton, Rick M., & Newton, Evaneline, & Bromley, Karen (2008). Greek and Latin roots: Keys to building vocabulary. HuntingtonBeach, CA: Shell Education. Padak, Nancy, & Newton, Evangeline & Rasinski, Timothy, & Newton, Rick M. (2008). Getting to the root of word study: teaching latin and greek word roots in elementary and middle grades. In Farstrup, Alan E., & Samuels, S. Jay, What research has to say about vocabulary instruction (6-31). Newark, DE: International Reading Association. Scanlan, Richard, T. (1976). A computer-assisted-instruction course in vocabulary building through Latin and Greek roots. Foreign Language Annals. 6, 579-583. Stauffer, Russell G. (1942). A Study of prefixes in the Thorndike List to establish a list of prefixes that should be taught in the elementary school. The Journal of Educational Research. 6, 453-458.

Bajaj auto Essay

The project report entitled â€Å"Strategic Management Cycle of Baja] Auto Ltd † . has been submitted to Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad in partial tultlllment tor the award of degree of Master of Business Administration. I the undersigned hereby eclare that this report has been completed by me under the guidance of Prof. Jignasha mam† (Faculty Member, Shayona Institute of Business Management, Ahmedabad) The report is entirely the result of my own efforts and has not been submitted either in part or whole to any other institute or university for any degree. Date: Place: Ahmedabad PREFACE As it is always said that if you give some-one theory knowledge it will make person understandwell. But if you give some-one theory as well as practical knowledge then it will help the person to understand and remember that always. In the same way to get practical knowledge,the report which we prepare not only make us understand the various functions but also gives us different vision regarding them and along with it gives us experience of practical assignment and manager’s work. By preparing report on Analytical Study on Strategic Management Cycle of Baja] Auto Ltd. we have tried to develop skill to understand well and also how to implement theoretical knowledge work. For this we are thankful to Gujarat Technological University for including such a project as practical studies in the syllabus of M. B. A. Acknowledgement The succession completion of this report would not have been possible without co- operation and support of our professor , friends and our institute. We forward gratitude to respected director of our institute. We are heartily thankful to the management for providing us the opportunity to make a study to practical in their organization. We express our sincere thanks to the company who have given us all the information on-line. We are also thankful our professor out with whose help, this becomes possible and who provided full guidance, co-operation and valuable suggestion bout company report. We are also thankful to our college friends and all those who have helped us directly or indirectly in the preparation of this report. Executive Summary In our project we nave conducted a research on now baJaJ auto ltd works By using stretegic management ; their different moves.. Hence on the basis of the Information we have found out our finding and have done an in-depth analysis on Strategic Management Cycle of Baja] Auto Ltd.. It is followed by recommendations and conclusion. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 . Objective of SM 2. Introduction of ABC Co. 3. History of ABC co. . Strategic Thinking i. Vision i’. Mission iii. Corporate Purpose ‘v. Values: (Standard of Conduct, Law, Employees, Consumers, Shareholders, Business Partners, Community Involvement, Public Activities, the environment, innovation, competition, business integrity etc. ) 5. Strategic Planning i. Strategy adopted by ABC Co. i’. Action plan by ABC Co. iii . Responsibilities of ABC Co. – CSR (Internal as well as External) iv . Michael Porters 5 Forces analysis v. McKinseys7S Model VI. SWOT Analysts of ABC co. PEST Analysts ViiiBCG MATRIX 6. Analysis of Strategies of ABC Co 7. Strategic Implementation i. Resource Allocation 7. Strategic Evaluation i . Balance Scorecar 1. OBJECTIVE OF SM . Statements of vision tend to be quite broad and can be described as a goal that represents an inspiring, overarching, and emotionally driven destination. Mission statements, on the other hand, tend to be more specific and address questions concerning the organization’s reason for being and the basis of its intended competitive advantage in the marketplace. Strategic objectives are used to operationalize the mission statement. That is, they help to provide guidance on how he organization can fulfill or move toward the â€Å"high goals† in the goal hierarchy-the mission and vision. As a result, they tend to be more specific and cover a more well- defined time frame. Setting objectives demands a yardstick to measure the fulfillment of the objectives. If an objective lacks specificity or measurability, it is not very useful, simply because there is no way of determining whether it is helping the organization to move toward the organization’s mission and vision. 2. INTRODUCTION OF BAJAJ GROUP : The Baja] Group is amongst the top 10 business houses in India. I s tootprint stretches over a wide range of industries, spanning automobiles (two-wheelers and three-wheelers), home appliances, lighting, iron and steel, insurance, travel and finance. The group’s flagship company, Baja] Auto, is ranked as the world’s fourth largest two- and three- wheeler manufacturer and the Baja] brand is well-known across several countries in Latin America, Africa, Middle East, South and South East Asia. Founded in 1926, at the height of India’s movement for independence from the British, the group has an illustrious history. The integrity, dedication, resourcefulness nd determination to succeed which are characteristic of the group today, are often traced back to its birth during those days of relentless devotion to a common cause. Jamnalal Baja], founder of the group, was a close confidant and disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. In fact, GandhiJi had adopted him as his son. This close relationship and his deep involvement in the independence movement did not leave Jamnalal Baja] with much time to spend on his newly launched business venture. His son, Kamalnayan Baja], then 27, took over the reigns of business in 1942. He too was close to Gandhi]’ nd it was only after Independence in 1947, that he was able to give his full attention to the business. Kamalnayan Baja] not only consolidated the group, but also diversified into various manufacturing activities. The present Chairman of the group, Rahul Baja], took charge of the business in 1965. Under his leadership, the turnover of the Baja] Auto the flagship company has gone up from INR. 72 million to INR. 120 billion, its product portfolio has expanded and the brand has found a global market. He is one of India’s most distinguished business leaders and internationally espected for his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. 3. HlSTORY OF BAJAJ AUTO LTD Baja] Auto is a $2. 3 billion company founded in 1926. It is fourth largest two- and three-wheeler manufacturer. Baja] Auto has three plants in all, two at WaluJ and Chakan in Maharashtra and one plant at Pant Nagar in Uttaranchal. The company is into manutacturing ot motorcycles, scooters and three-wheelers. In India, Baja] Auto has a distribution network of 485 dealers and over 1,600 authorised services centres. It has 171 exclusive dealers for the three-wheeler segment . lt has total 3750 rural outlets in rural areas. The company has opened 11 retail stores for bikes across the country, exclusive for high-end and performance bikes. It has opened these stores under the name in cities like Pune, Nashik, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, Chandigarh, New Delhi, Faridabad and Mangalore. The Baja] brand is well-known across several countries in Latin America, Africa, Middle East, South and South East Asia. It has a distribution network in 50 countries with a dominant presence in Sri Lanka, Colombia, Bangladesh, Mexico, Central America, Peru and Egypt. It has technical tie up with Kawasaki Heavvy Industries of Japan to manufacture latest models in the two-wheeler space. Baja] Auto has launched brands like Boxer, Caliber, Wind125, Pulsar and many more. It has also launched India’s first real cruiser bike, Kawasaki Baja] Eliminator. Baja] Auto’s has in all three plants, two at WaluJ and Chakan in Maharashtra and one plant at Pant Nagar in Uttranchal, western India. WaluJ – Baja] range of motorcycles and three-wheelers Chakan – Baja] range of motorcycles Pant Nagar – Baja] range of motorcycles Achievement 1945- On November 29 Baja] Auto came into existence as BachraJ Trading Corporation Private Limited. 1948- The company commenced sales in India by importing two- and three-wheelers. 1959- Baja] Auto obtained the licence from the Government of India to manufacture two- and three-wheelers. 1960- The company became a public limited company and conducted Bhoomi PooJan of the Akurdi Plant. 1970- Baja] Auto rolled out its 100,000th vehicle. 971- The company introduced its three-wheeler goods carrier. 1972- The company introduced Baja] Chetak. 1975- Baja] Auto ; Maharashtra Scooters entered into a Joint venture. 1976- The company introduced Baja] Super. 977- Baja] Auto introduced rear engine autorickshaw and achieved production and sales of 100,000 vehicles in a single financial year. 1981- Baja] Auto launched Baja] M-50. 1984- On January 19, the foundation stone laid for the new plant at WaluJ, Aurangabad. 1985- On November 5, the WaluJ plant inaugurated by the erstwhile President of India, Giant Zail Singh. The company commenced production at WaluJ, Aurangabad in a record time of 16 months. 1986- The Baja] M-80 and the Kawasaki Baja] KBIOO motorcycles were introduced. The company produced and sold 500,000 vehicles in a single financial year. 990- The Baja] Sunny was introduced. 1991- The company introduced Kawasaki Baja] 4S Champion. 1994- It launched Baja] Classic. 1995- On November 29, Baja] Auto turned into a 50-year old company. It signed agreements with Kubota of Japan for the development of diesel engines for three- wheelers and with Tokyo R;D for ungeared scooter and moped development. The Baja] Super Excel is introduced while Baja] celebrated its ten millionth vehicle. The same year one million vehicles were produced and sold by company in that financial year. 1997- The Kawasaki Baja] Boxer and the RE diesel Autorickshaw are introduced. 998- The company commenced production at Chakan plant. It rolled out Kawasaki Baja] Caliber from its WaluJ plant. Baja] Auto launched Legend, India’s first four- stroke scooter from Akurdi plant. The same year Spirit was launched. 1999- Caliber motorcycle notched up 100,000 sales in record time of 12 months. 000- The company launched Baja] Safire. 2001- Baja] Auto launched its latest offering in the premium bike segment ‘Pulsar’. The same year Eliminator was launched. 2003- Baja] Pulsar DTS-i was launched. The company sold 107,115 motorcycles in a month. The company launched Baja] Wind 25, The World Bike in India. It launched its Caliber 115 ‘Hoodibabaa! ‘ in the executive motorcycle segment. 2004- B aja] Discover DTS-I, new Baja] Chetak 4-stroke with wonder gear and Baja] CT 100 were launched. Baja] unveiled new brand identity, new symbol, logo and brandline. 005- Baja] Discover, Baja] Avenger DTS-I and Baja] Wave DTS-I were introduced. 2006- Baja] Platina was launched. 2007- RE GDi autonckshaw, Bajaj XCD 125 DTS-Si, Bajaj pulsar 220 DTS-Fi, 200 cc Pulsar DTS-I and Baja] Kristal DTS-i were launched. The company also underwent through revamping of its organisational structure. 008- Baja] Platina 125 DTS-Si was launched. 2009- Bajaj pulsar 150 & 180 upgrade and Bajaj XCD 135 DTS-Si were launched 2011- April, Baja] Records its best year ever of 2010. HISTORY OF RAHUL BAJAJ Rahul Baja] Chairman, Baja] Auto Limited. Mr. Baja] (b. June 10, 38) is recognized as one of the most successful business leaders of India. He heads the Baja] Group of Companies which is a leader in a variety of manufactured products and financial services in India and abroad including motorized 2 and 3-wheelers, home appliances, electric lamps, wind energy, special lloy and stainless steel, cranes, forgings, infrastructure development, material handling equipment, travel, general and life insurance and investment, consumer finance & asset management. Mr. Baja] holds an Honours Degree in Economics from Delhi University, a degree in Law from Bombay University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Baja] is the Chairman of the Board of many companies. He was elected to the Upper House of Parliament (RaJya Sabha 2006 – 2010). Mr. Baja] has received many prestigious awards and recognitions, notable being the award of ‘Padma Bhushan’ by he Government of India in 2001, Alumni Achievement Award by the Harvard Business School and Life Time Achievement Awards from Economic Times, Ernst & Young and CNBC TV18. Mr. Baja] was appointed Knight in the Order of the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic. Mr. Baja] has been conferred Honorary Doctorates by 7 Universities including IIT Roorkee. The Project Report On Strategic Leaders Page 4 Mr. Baja] was the President of Confederation of Indian Industry (Cll – 1979-80/1999-2000). He was President of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers SIAM) and Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry And Agriculture (MCCIA) and Chairman of the Development Council for Automobiles and Allied Industries. Mr. Baja] was appointed by the Government of India the Chairman (1986- 89) of the Government owned domestic carrier, Indian Airlines. Mr. Baja] was nominated by the President of India the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay during 2003-06. Mr. Baja] is a Member & former Chairman of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, Geneva and a Member of Harvard Business School’s Global Advisory Board. He is also a Member of the International Advisory Council of the Brookings Institution, Washington DC and a Member of the Executive Board of Indian School of Business. Mr. Baja] spear-heads the CSR initiatives of the Baja] Group which include Jamnalal Baja] Foundation and Shiksha Mandal and a number of social organizations including Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust and Ruby Hall Clinic, a large hospital in Pune as their Chairman.

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Art, Body and Mind through the Works of Marina Abramovic Essay

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Real estate law- principles of tort - Coursework Example 2011). The most controversial and contentious area of tort is on the obligation of landowners towards persons who make a trip to their land. In common law, land was divided into the areas below: invitees, licensees and trespassers (Claeys, et al 2013). The invitee owes the uppermost duty of care while the lowermost duty is owed by the trespassers (Fordham, 2014). In the UK, the laws of Torts have greatly assisted to solve conundrums ascribed to to land. Prior to delving into the principles of torts, it is essential to first understand the concept of an occupier’s liability and how it is relevant in the UK. The legislative arm of the UK has passed two laws to determine the responsibility of the occupier (Gathii, James. 2015). The first law tackles concerns or matters regarding a visitor. The second law is ascribed to another person who is not a visitor. Mutually, the Occupiers Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984Â  inflict responsibility on occupiers rather than what it places on landowners (Williams, 2010). Only facts can determine whether a person is an occupier or not. However, it greatly depends on the extent of power exercised. The yardstick that is used is that of occupational control. That is because more than one employee may be occupying the premises. According to Kenny (2015), the Occupiers Liability Act of 1957 enforces responsibility on occupiers with regard to lawful visitors. The Occupiers Liability of 1984 enforces a responsibility on occupiers in view of persons other than a visitor (Oliphant, 2013). This statute highlights that there is no duty to trespassers, except inflicting malicious injury upon them (lawgazette.com.sg). This statute gives the landowner reassurance that he/she owns the land but tries to refrain him from injuring any trespassers that he may encounter. The occupier also has a duty to the invitee; this means that any person who he has given legal access to his land

Assigment 1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Assigment 1 - Research Paper Example In such a way, it is the hope of this author that through a careful explanation of what the original understanding for how Congress was to operate, the reader can come to an informed understanding with respect to whether or not the current exhibition of duties and governance, as reflected by the current Congress, continues to affects the ideal and definition that the founding fathers originally specified. Naturally, the broader question that this seeks to answer is whether or not the current Congress is abiding by the rules and principles that it was intended to operate within; even more broadly, a discussion and analysis of whether or not this is taking place has a profound level of tangential understanding with relation to whether or not democracy within the American system of governance continues to be relevant or has like so many other forms of governance become corrupted over time. Rubric of Analysis -Discussion of Terms and Analysis of Key Issues and Measurements to be Applied However, before delving directly into a unit of analysis with regards to whether or not the current Congress continues to abide by the norms and precepts that the founding fathers put forward, it is necessary to define the rubric and key terms, as well as measurements, that this particular analysis will engage as a means of answering the question at hand. The first means whereby the potential differential between the Congress that the founding fathers defined and the Congress of today will be with respect to the historical growth and/or constriction of duties that the Congress was responsible for effecting. Secondly, although it may be tempting, the Congress itself is not a singular entity and must be analyzed via an approach that takes into account both unique and distinct roles and responsibilities of the Senate and the unique roles and responsibilities of the House of Representatives (Zharan 2). Within such a way, the analysis will also seek to determine whether or not a blurring of the lines between these two entities has occurred as a result of the similar nature of the business and governance styles that they must engage. Lastly, the analysis will seek to engage the reader with an understanding and interpretation of whether or not deviation from any of these roles and responsibilities that might be noted as a result of the analysis has effectively created a situation by which governance has been reduced or rendered ineffective. It is the final determinant, as measured on aggregate with the other two determinants that will yield the greatest level of inference with respect to whether or not the governmental structure, as it exists today, has so far deviated from the beliefs and precepts of the founding fathers that it is in fact no longer capable of achieving the goals for which it was intended or whether it continues to function, how be it by different manners, much to the same level and degree that it functions over 200 years ago. Congressional Analysis : It does not take much time at all to realize that one of the key claims that individuals oftentimes reference with regards to the diminished role and corrupted bowing use that Congress exhibits is with respect to the means by which the executive branch has effectively emasculated the Congress since the declaration of war for the Second World War

Definition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Definition - Essay Example Many people have shown the attitude to persevere despite of the difficulties. As a result, they have helped and inspired many to do the same. In this paper, perseverance is defined in three distinct ways: the capability to endure hardships, hard work and committed to the task. Likewise, it will present three famous persons who have shown these characteristics and placed them in the pedestal of success making them good examples to young people. Perseverance is a virtue that entails the ability to endure many adversaries towards the attainment of a goal. This is something Helen Keller showed in her own life journey. We all know that Helen Keller wrote many poems and stories that are widely read by people young and old alike. The inspiring thing about her is that she is blind and deaf. Helen was born on June 27 1880 with the sense of sight and hearing. However, an unknown illness struck her when she was about a year and a half years old. Everyone in her family thought she was going to die. And then unexpectedly, after a few days, she got well. However, her mother noticed that Helen no longer responded to sound (like the ring of the bell) or sight stimuli. They then concluded that the illness has left her a mark which she suffered for the rest of her life. Towards her childhood years, Helen has been very hard to manage particularly when she throws tantrums and screams towards other members of the family. Upon the recommendati on of the family's friend Alexander Graham Bell, Helen's family finally decided to look for a teacher at the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind. Although difficult at first, Helen struggled to learn how to spell words using hand signals. With the efforts of her teacher Ann Sullivan, she continued to improve and master her skills despite of her condition. The highlight of her education happened when Anne brought her to the lake and spelled "water" in Helen's hand and the later immediately understood. From that moment, Helen's improvement was astounding as she could spell thirty new words that day including Anne's name. After this incident, Helen became famous because of an article that was written about her achievement. Eventually, she was also given a teacher to train her how to speak. Helen tried all her efforts to learn how to speak but was unsuccessful because her vocal chords were not fully developed. Still, this didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams. On 1891, she wrote the Frost King as a birthday gift for her friend Michael Agnos. Helen was also recognized as the first deafblind person to enter and finish a Bachelor of Arts degree in a higher learning institution. However, it was not easy for her as tons of school work further led to the deterioration of her eyesight. Helen soon travelled around the world giving lectures about her experiences. She has been an ambassador of faith and determination to many people. Perseverance also shows the spirit of service and commitment to people. Franklin D. Roosevelt is one of the famous American presidents because of the policies and political changes he started. His leadership started just in time when the unemployment rate is high and the economy was in slump. He proposed a program to bring relief to those who are unemployed, recover losses in business and enacted some reforms for the citizenry. Despite of all

Assessments and children Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Assessments and children - Essay Example Teachers in early childhood education should be very committed, as children require extra care and the teacher should be very attentive to ensure that the children really understand what they have learnt in class. Additionally, the teacher should be ready to communicate as he or she has to inform parents about the progress of their children, has to communicate with children to ensure that they understand, and has to report to the school management (Childcare Education Institute Para. 1-7). Teachers use several tools to assess the progress of the pupils and one assessing tool used is a review and reflection tool. This tool assesses and reflects on the progress the knowledge that children have acquired in class and enables the teacher to come with strategies to handle each child. The advantage of this assessment tool is that it makes children to be keen on the things learnt in class and promotes the relationship between the teacher and the child. Additionally, there are high expectations of children understanding the lessons learnt in class through reflections (Flottman, Stewart, and Collette 6-12). In conclusion, early childhood education has been vital in molding children about life and the teachers in early childhood education should be committed and use the right tools to ensure that children understand things learnt in class. Flottman Rachel, Stewart Lucinda and Collette Tayler. Practice Principle 7: Assessment for Learning and Development. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2014.

Marketing Plan - Chancellor University Essay Example for Free

Marketing Plan Chancellor University Essay Chancellor University is a for-profit secondary education institution located in Seven Hills, OH. Grounded in the traditions of business, it has multiple degrees in business and other select professions. Alumni of Chancellor University include John D. Rockefeller and Harvey Firestone. The degree selection ranges from certificates to Masters Programs focusing in business, healthcare management, global comparative studies, and criminal justice. In 2009, Chancellor switched from ground campus to an all-online format, with students spread across the United States and some countries around the world. Chancellor believes that students succeed later in life because they are taught to strive for excellence. Based on previous SWOT analysis, Chancellor has a chance to recover from the economic downturn and help it become viable as a premiere institution. STRENGTHS| WEAKNESS| SOCIAL MEDIA PROGRAM| LOSS OF JACK WELCH MGMNT TO STRAYER UNIVERSITY| COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP| REPORTS OF LOSING ACCREDITATION| HISTORY| LOW STUDENT RETENTION| | | OPPORTUNITIES| THREATS| WORKING CLASS AND FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE ATTENDEES| BAD ECONOMY| CELEBRITY STUDENTS| LACK OF ALTERNATIVE FINANCING|. DEMAND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION| COMPETITORS OFFERING SIMILAR CLASSES AND FORMATS| Recently added to the Chancellor University degree offerings is the Masters and certificate program of Social Media. According to some, this addition as a Master’s Degree is not viable but the certificate program is seen as viable for specializations. The feeling is that most students would already be well versed in social media and that its best to follow a concentration in Marketing and use the social media classes within the Marketing program. The social media certificate program is great to have for the marketing major and will show a specialization of making social media relevant in the business realm. A lot of higher education facilities are starting to add courses and degrees with this specialization, Chancellor is seen as one of the firsts to make it available to their students. Chancellor recently began to offer a â€Å"Study Abroad† program that will aide in the students in getting a well-rounded education with global exposure. Chancellor has also partnered with community colleges to offer students a wider variety of courses and credits toward their Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Chancellor stands to continually lose its footing as a premiere institution considering the lack of alternative education financing due to its for-profit status. It makes it difficult for students to pay or obtain alternative payment plans for their education. Pell Grant is the only grant offered to the students. States cannot award students grants because Chancellor is a for-profit institution, this means that the students will bear the weight of financing and increase their loan responsibility. Reports have been continually floating around of the schools accreditation being at risk from the Higher Learning Commission in Chicago due to poor leadership, financial health, and the quality of the academic programs. Losing accreditation would mean that students could no longer utilize the federal Pell grants for their education with Chancellor. The Jack Welch Management Institute was a top notch addition to the Chancellor curriculum. With its loss to Strayer, Chancellor loses the investment money that came from Jack Welch and the prestige that came with the famous managers name and contributions to their management program. The demand for higher education at an affordable rate continues to rise. Chancellor is not offering it in their current format. Time is taken away from the leadership team developing the curriculum or focusing on the needs of the students to prepare for the commission review. This can turn a lot of students away and the retention rate will decrease. The classes are moderately priced compared to University of Phoenix and Strayer University (based on Bachelor Degree programs). Opportunities exist for Chancellor to expand. Recommendations would include: * Branching out to offer campus sites within the community colleges that they have established partnerships with. This can be obtained by offering professors a stipend to teach courses that are more difficult for students to follow with the online formats, satellite campuses have contributed to the success of Strayer University and University of Phoenix. * Establish a larger presence with social media. Offer the current students the opportunity to blog about their experiences and link the blogs to their social mediums, this increases awareness of Chancellor and their presence on the Internet. * Increase information on the Wikipedia. org page. The article for Chancellor University is more so focused on the history instead of the offerings of the institution. The page describes several changes that Chancellor has been through starting with the Folsoms Mercantile College and can turn potential students away with the constant changes. * Work out, within the partnerships of the community colleges, to offer Chancellor students the option to take their courses as electives. This will increase the amount of electives available for Chancellor students and contribute to the satisfaction of their education experience. * Chancellor should transition back to letting the students pick their own classes, giving them a selection in each category for the general education electives. This way, the students are responsible for their education and can still study subjects of interest to them. Works Cited Chancellor University. (n. d.). Retrieved from www. chancelloru. edu Chancellor University wikipedia. (n. d. ). Retrieved October 24-26, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chancellor_University Magaw, T. (2012, August 6). Crains Cleveland Business. Retrieved Octber 24-26, 2012, from Accrediting body again issues show-cause order for Chancellor U. : http://www. crainscleveland. com/article/20120806/FREE/308069957 Strayer University. (n. d. ). Retrieved October 25, 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Strayer_University Strayer University. (n. d. ). University Tuition Fees and Costs. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from Strayer University: http://www. strayer. edu/financial-support/tuition-and-fees University of Phoenix. (n. d. ). Bachelor of Science in Management. Retrieved October 25, 2012, from University of Phoenix: http://www. phoenix. edu/programs/degree-programs/business-and-management/bachelors/bsm. html#tab=tuition Wecker, M. (2012, March 1). US News Education. Retrieved October 26, 2012, from Avoid Social Media M B As, Some Students Say : http://www. usnews. com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/articles/2012/03/01/avoid-social-media-mbas-some-students-say.

Modern Portfolio Theory and Capital Asset Pricing Model

Modern Portfolio Theory and Capital Asset Pricing Model Introduction The Capital Asset Pricing Model developed by William Sharpe has significant similarities with Harry Markowitz’s Portfolio theory. In fact, the later is rightly considered as the next logical step from the latter, with both based on similar foundations. There are also differences in how each model/theory is calculated, pertaining to risk considerations. This paper’s main objective is to identify these differences while highlighting the similarities as well to put things into perspective. The report will open with an overview of Markowitz’s portfolio theory and explain it further by means of describing the efficient frontier, the Capital Market Line, risk free asset and the Market Portfolio. The report will then switch its attention to the Capital Asset Pricing Model and explain it further through the Security Market Line. The report will then close by outlining the differences between the two with a view of answering the main objective. What will come through in this report is that Markowitz’s portfolio theory uses standard deviation as its risk measure and takes into account all risk in an efficient portfolio, while the Capital Asset Pricing Model uses the beta co-efficient to measure risk and takes into account both efficient and non-efficient portfolios – further more it measures the risks of individual assets within the portfolio. Modern Portfolio Theory Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) was introduced by Harry Markowitz, way back in 1952. At a high level it proposes how rational investors use diversification to optimise their investment portfolios and give guidance on pricing risky assets. MPT assumes that investors are risk averse, i.e. given two assets A and B offering the same expected return, investors will opt for asset A if it is less risky. In effect, an investor who expects higher returns would need to accept more risk. The expected trade-off between risk and return depends on the individual’s level of risk aversion. The implication of this is a rational investor (a risk averse investor) will not invest in a portfolio if another one exists offering a better risk-return profile (Fabozzi Markowitz, 2002). For any given level of risk, investors will opt for portfolios with higher expected returns instead of those with lower returns. Another assumption under MPT is that investors are only interested in the expected return and the volatility of an investment, as measured by the mean and standard deviation respectively. Investors do not consider any other characteristics, for example, charges. In effect, based on the assumptions above, investors are concerned about efficient portfolios. To explain portfolio theory further, let us consider the formula for the expected return and risk of a portfolio under MPT. Suppose two assets A and B formed a portfolio in proportion (X) each, the expected return for that portfolio would be: R(p) = X(a)R(a) + X(b)R(b), where: R(p) = expected returns from portfolio R(a) = expected returns from asset A R(b) = expected returns from asset B The standard deviation or risk of that portfolio would be: SD(p) = √(XÂ ²aSDÂ ²a + XÂ ²bSDÂ ²b + 2XaXbRSDaSDb), where: SD(p) = standard deviation of expected returns of portfolio SDa = standard deviation of expected returns of asset A SDb = standard deviation of expected returns of asset B R = correlation coefficient between the expected returns of the two assets The efficient frontier Under MPT, Markowitz examined the efficient frontier curve. The efficient frontier curve gives a graphic presentation of a set of portfolios that offer the maximum rate of return for any given level of risk (McLaney, 2006). According to Markowitz, an efficient investor will opt for an optimum portfolio along the curve, based on their level of risk aversion and their perception of the risk and return relationship (Fabozzi Markowitz, 2002). Figure 1: Efficient Frontier Source: www.riskglossary.com The curve in the diagram above illustrates the efficient frontier. Portfolios on the curve are efficient – i.e. they offer maximum expected returns for any given level of risk and minimum risk for any given level of expected returns. The shaded region represents the acceptable level of investments when risk is compared against returns. For every point on the shaded region, there will be at least one portfolio that can be constructed and has a risk and return corresponding to that point (www.riskglossary.com) As aforementioned, each portfolio on the efficient frontier curve will have a higher rate of return for the same or lower level of risk or lower risk for an equal or better rate of return when compared with portfolios not on the frontier. It is important to note that the efficient frontier is really made up of portfolios rather than individual assets. This is because portfolios could be diversified, i.e. investors can hold assets which are imperfectly correlated (Fabozzi Markowitz, 2002). This will help to ensure that investors can reduce their risks associated with individual asses by holding other assets – a kind of set-off. The Capital Market Line The Capital Market Line (CML) is a set of risk return combinations that are available by combining the market portfolio with risk free borrowing and lending (www.lse.co.uk/financeglossary). The CML defines the relationship between risk and return for efficient portfolios of risky securities. It specifies the efficient set of portfolios can investor can obtain by combining the portfolio (which contains risk) with a risk free asset. The formula for CML is: E (r_c) = r(f) + SD(c)*[E(r_m)-r(f)]/SD(m) Where: E(r_c) = expected return on portfolio c R(f) = risk free rate SD(c ) = standard deviation of portfolio c E (r_m) = expected return on market portfolio SD(m) = standard deviation of market return The CML indicates that the expected return of an efficient portfolio is equal to the risk-free rate plus a risk premium. Both risk and return increase in a linearly along the CML. Figure 2: Capital Market Line Source: www.riskglossary.com In Figure 2 above, the CML is the line touching the efficient frontier curve. It passes through the risk free rate (assumed to be 5%). The point where the CML forms a tangent with the efficient frontier curve is the point called the super-efficient portfolio. The Risk free asset, Sharpe ratio and the Market Portfolio The risk free asset pays a risk free rate and has a zero variance in returns, e.g. government short-term securities. When combined with a portfolio of assets the change in return and risk is linear. The Sharpe Ratio is a measure of the additional return to be obtained about a risk free rate for a given portfolio compared with its corresponding risk. On the efficient frontier the portfolio with the highest Sharpe Ratio is known as the market portfolio. The CML is the result of a comparison between the market portfolio and the risk free asset. The CML surpasses the efficient frontier with the exception of the point of tangency. The Capital Asset Pricing Model While the CML focuses on the risk and return relationship for efficient portfolios, it would be useful to consider the relationship between expected return and risk for individual assets or securities. The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) would be used for this. CAPM is an extension of Markowitz’s Portfolio Theory or MPT. It introduces the notions of systematic and specific risks. Let us define each: Systematic risk – this is the risk associated with holding the market portfolio of assets Individual assets are affected by market movements Specific risk – this risk is unique to an individual asset and represents that portion of an asset’s return which has no correlation with market movements. CAPM assumes the following (McLaney, 2006, 199): Investors are risk averse and maximise expected utility of wealth The capital market is not dominated by any individual investors Investors are interested in only two features of a security, its expected returns and its variance or standard deviation There exists a risk free rate at which all investors may borrow or lend without limit at the same rate There is an absence of dealing charges, taxes and other imperfections All investors have identical perceptions of each security This lends credence to the assertion that CAPM follows a natural progression from MPT. The assumptions are identical with the main difference being how risks are categorised and treated. This will be explored in detail in a later section. Under CAPM, the market place will compensate an investor for taking a systematic risk but not a specific risk. The rationale for this is that specific risks can be avoided or minimised through diversification. The formula for CAPM is as follows: r = Rf + Beta x (RM-RF), where: r = expected return on an asset Rf = rate of risk free investment RM = return rate of the appropriate asset class Beta is the relative risk contribution of an individual security to the overall market portfolio. It measures the security risk relative to the market portfolio and ignores the specific risk. The beta equation is as follows: Cov (i,M)/(SDm)Â ², where: Cov (i,M) = covariance between market portfolio and security i (SDm)Â ² = variance of the market’s return The betas for all assets are measured in relation to the market portfolio beta which is 1. In effect, if individual beta is greater than 1, then individual asset has a higher risk than the market risk. If individual beta equals 1, then individual asset risk and market risk are the same. If individual beta is less than 1, then the risk of that individual asset is less than the market risk. The value of beta provides an idea of the level or size of the change in an asset’s return when a corresponding change in the returns of an overall portfolio is experienced (McLaney, 2006). Beta has come under criticism from academics and investors who do not appreciate the value of beta as an appropriate risk measure. However, this is somewhat challenged by actual performance of the betas of portfolios and mutual funds. These are regarded as stable and can be used to predict future betas. Security Market Line CAPM can be applied by using the Security Market Line (SML). SML is a graphical representation showing the linear relationship between systematic risk and expected rates of return for individual assets. In the case of the SML, risk is measured by beta. It plots the expected returns on the y axis and the risk as denoted by beta on the x axis. In other words, the SML expresses the linear relationship between the expected returns on a risky asset and its covariance with market returns. Its formula is: Figure 3: CAPM and SML The line in the diagram above is the SML. Differences relating to MPT (CML) and CAPM (SML) To explain the differences, it is useful to consider the relationships between risk and return in the perspective of CML and SML. CML compares the relationship from an MPT perspective, while SML does from a CAPM perspective. The main difference pertaining to MPT’s relationship with CAPM is pertaining to risk. Under Portfolio theory, CML gives an indication of expected returns in comparison with risk. Here the risk is measured in terms of standard deviation of returns. The rationale for this is CML represents the trade-off for efficient portfolios, i.e. the risk is all systematic risk (McLaney, 2006). The SML on the other hand, indicates the risk/return trade-off, using beta as the measure of risk. In this case, only the systematic risk element of the individual asset is taken into consideration. The reason why CML shows no individual security’s risk profile is because all individual securities have an element of specific risk, implying that they are inefficient. CML only looks at efficient portfolios. The table below summarises the main differences between CML and SML Table 1: Tabular difference between CML and SML Summary As has been shown above, CAPM has been developed along the lines of Markowitz’s Portfolio theory. They both use expected returns and risk as the investor’s main determinant of their investment decisions. They both assume that investors are risk averse and do not consider anything else other than risk and returns. However, there are some subtle differences which will now be summarised below: Under Portfolio theory, the CML measures risk by standard deviation or total risk. The SML measures risk by beta or systematic risk under CAPM – it ignores specific risks The CML graph is interested in providing information on efficient portfolios only. The SML graph on the other hand provides insight into both efficient and non-efficient portfolio and securities REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Bodie, et al (2006) ‘Investments’ (7th edition), McGraw-Hill/Irwin, London Elton, E et al (2003) ‘Modern Portfolio Theory and Investment Analysis’, Wiley, London Fabozzi, F. Markowitz, H. (2002) ‘Theory and Practice of Investment Management’, Wiley, London McLaney, E. (2006) ‘Business Finance – Theory and Practice’ (7th edition), Prentice Hall, London O’neill, W.J. (2002) ‘How to Make Money in Stocks’, (3rd edition), McGraw-Hill, London Internet Sources www.lse.co.uk www.riskglossary.com www.wikipedia.com

How Is Inactivity And Obesity Effecting Children Young People Essay

How Is Inactivity And Obesity Effecting Children Young People Essay The rise of inactivity and its consequences The prevalence of sedentary lifestyles is increasing in America and much of the developed world. In the US (our core geographic area of focus for this project) this trend coupled with poor eating choices has notably manifested itself in rising obesity rates across the country over the past two decades as depicted in Exhibit 1. As of 2008, over 68% of Americans were categorized as being overweight, with nearly half of that group being defined as obese or morbidly obesei. Between 1980 and 2002 overweight rates for children aged 6 11 more than doubled from 7% to 16%ii. Today that number is estimated to be closer to 20%iii. Shortened life spans. More than 14% of deaths in the US in 2003 resulted from obesity related conditions; and Diminished motivation to be active. Being overweight or obese makes physical activity more challenging, thus requiring greater commitment and effort to be active compared to a healthy weighted individual. The more overweight people become due to reduced levels of activity the less likely they are to engage in future activity. Furthermore, obesity is often tied to depression which causes individuals to experience lower levels of energy and motivationiv. Teenagers the gateway to addressing rising inactivity levels . The number of years a consumer leads an active life; The variety of sports or fitness related activities the consumer engages in over those years; and The products that the two factors above drive demand for. In order to optimize across all drivers we honed in on teenagers (primarily 13-15) as our focus segment. We view other groups, such as adults and, retirees, and so forth, who have a shorter customer lifetime value and being, as being more set in their ways, both in terms of habit and product affinities. In arriving at this focal segment we have taken the following factors into consideration: According to the Eight Stages of Development, adolescents learn about and define who they are between the ages of approximately 12 and 19. If being athletic, or at least active, is not established as central to ones identity, the probability of prioritizing athletic activity later in life is likely diminished. If more children define themselves as being active during this influential period, the market for healthy, sustainable athletes will likely increase over time. From a commercial perspective, the potential lifetime value of an active teenager is likely to be higher than that of an average U.S. adult. Firstly the cost of acquiring an active youth is lower, as there are fewer barriers to exercise/activity as outlined above. Secondly, the number of years that teenagers have to be active is significantly greater as they not only start younger but may potentially live longer due to their adoption of healthy and active lifestyles. Teenagers generally have lower opportunity costs of activity and learning to exercise than adults. A combination of the greater amounts of leisure time available to them and their propensity to experiment with new things makes teenagers more likely to be comfortable learning about and engaging in activity. Teenagers also tend to have many opportunities to choose to engage in activities. These include physical education (PE) programs, sports teams, community teams, and informal pick-up games. Section 2 of this report presents key underlying influences and trends that currently inhibit and have the potential to further diminish activity levels among teenagers. Section 3 of this report then discusses the selection criteria that potential solutions must satisfy in order to most effectively address the problem of teen inactivity. Finally Section 4 lays out a potential solution aimed at leveraging key influences to encourage more active lifestyles among teenagers. Section 2: Factors underlying teenage inactivity Family influences In order to address the rising levels of inactivity among teenagers, it is necessary to first identify and understand the primary network of influencers that ultimately impact their decision making behavior and involvement in activities. Dual income single parent households Traditionally parents have been one of the strongest sources of influence over teenagers, and have played a crucial role in shaping their overall growth and development. However insights from interviews conducted with families in the Boston area suggest that shifts in the overall structure and composition of the average American family have decreased the amount of influence that parents exert over their children. In particular, the steady increase in the number of dual income earners1 and the rise in the number of single parent households highlight that parents today are facing increasing time constraints. A significant consequence of this phenomenon is that teenagers are increasingly subject to less direct parental oversight, as working parents often outsource the supervision of their children to external parties such as baby-sitters, nannies and daycare centers. While parents have a vested interest in encouraging their children to lead active lives in order to promote overall health and well-being, external parties are more likely to encourage teenagers to engage in sedentary, home-based activities that are easier to supervise. Examples of such activities include watching TV, surfing the internet or playing video games. Decline of parental role models Another implication of parental time constraints is that parents have less face-to-face time with their children and consequently fewer opportunities to educate them on the merits of leading an active lifestyle and adopting healthy eating habits. Given these time constraints parents themselves are also less likely to demonstrate the very behaviors that they aim to instill in their children. Thus, an absence of role models that are leading active lives in the household could further explain why teenagers are tending towards more sedentary lifestyles. Additionally, if parents spend less time prioritizing the on-going supervision and support of their childrens activity levels, teenagers may feel less motivated to participate in sports or other physical activities at school. For example our interviews with parents suggest that parental inability to attend games to cheer for their children or even provide the basic resources that support their childrens involvement in sports, such as providing rides to practice, may result in teenagers being less inclined or able to pursue active lifestyles. Evolution of family dining A further implication of parental time constraints is that working parents are increasingly relying on convenience and on-the-go food solutions for meal preparation. These habits can have a profound impact on the overall health and well-being of their children as evidenced by Child Development research which suggests there is a link between the number of years a working mother spends in the workforce and their childs BMI.v The increase in child obesity has attracted a great deal of media attention which has, in turn, resulted in a heightened sense of awareness of health wellness issues among parents. The observation that child obesity persists in the face of this awareness suggests that parents are precluded from developing solutions because they lack the necessary tools to motivate their children in the face of time constraints. This insight highlights an area of opportunity for Nike to provide tools to: Assist parents in incentivizing their children to lead more active lives; and Assist parents in motivating their children in a way that fits into their busy schedules. Crime parental attitudes An emphasis on helicopter parenting2, which has gained popularity in recent times, combined with the persistent coverage of criminal activity in the media has resulted in a heightened sense of paranoia around crime levels and neighborhood safety among parents. The implications of helicopter parenting are straightforward. As parents become more concerned about the overall safety of their neighborhoods they are more likely to only allow outside activity with adult supervision. However, due to their personal time constraints, they often encourage their children to stay indoors or commute to school by car, rather than engage in outdoor activities or walk, for example. In this case, parents appear to be prioritizing the short term benefits of child safety over the long term risks of obesity and other future health problems due to reduced activity levels Friend influences Increasing prominence of friends as influencers Siblings, particularly older ones, have traditionally been a powerful source of influence over teenagers. Younger siblings generally tend to emulate the behavior and habits of their older siblings, especially if there is a positive relationship between the two. However as the size of U.S. households continue to decline, the average teenager is growing up with fewer siblings to rely on and learn behaviors from. As a result of teenagers being exposed to fewer siblings and busier parents, peers and friend groups have gained more prominence in the influence and authority they have over teenagers lives. School influences In light of the factors discussed above, such as the limited amount of time parents spend with their children; external environments can serve as important influences on teenagers. Schools are not only a physical representation of where teenagers spend most of their time outside the home, but are also the arena within which their social networks converge. Teacher attitudes resource constraints Given that teenagers are highly exposed to their social networks at school, their fear of failing at physical activities can often overshadow their desire to try something new or different to shine in front of their peers causing them to shy away from any activity. For example, a school that has a reputation for being a leader in a certain sport, say basketball, may place significantly more emphasis on winning than inclusion. In such environments, children have less room to fail, that is to say, not to be good at basketball. Such overtly competitive situations can lead to divisions (ball players vs. non ball players) which amplify less skilled students feelings of inadequacy. Teachers serve as de facto parents in the school environment. Their attitudes towards general wellness and encouraging teenagers can be powerful drivers of childrens sustained engagement in activities. However, the continuous budgetary pressures schools face often result in understaffing, which causes teachers to stretch themselves very thinly across large student bodies. In these situations, teachers may not be able to provide the level of encouragement and personal attention necessary for children to enthusiastically engage in activities. If a child does not enjoy participating in an activity, the child is unlikely to engage in that activity again in the future. Tension between academics activity Teenagers are increasingly living in an achievement-oriented society, wherein the results of their efforts today can have a profound impact on their future options. In light of this, parents are getting their children involved in an array of extracurricular activities, such as debating clubs and honors classes, in order to increase their childrens chances of getting into good colleges. This additional competition on teenagers time often leads to reduced levels of activity. City influences Rural vs. urban settings The natural resources and climate of a region can impact activity levels depending on the type of sports they encourage. For example, hiking is an activity that requires minimal financial resources to participate and would likely encourage higher levels of activity. However, the relatively higher cost of participation in skiing may deter people from adopting the sport and therefore drive lower levels of activity. Media Technology influences Celebrity influence Proliferation of media distribution channels Celebrities and pop culture icons have become significant influencers of social behavior as children spend less time with their parents. The emergence of distribution channels such as Twitter has increased teenagers ability to gain direct access to celebrities. Given parents limited ability to monitor their childrens internet and mobile phone usage, teenagers are now accessing messages of varying quality. For example, children are no longer confined to watching PBS, which has focus on activity and wellness. They can now watch the latest craze on YouTube or access celebrity gossip on other outlets, which typically place a premium on glamorous lifestyles over healthy ones. Such messages can have a great degree of influence on children, who are particularly impressionable. Addictive characteristics of technology Perpetually connected to the internet and their mobile devices, teenagers today have become attuned to interacting with their environments using technology. Activity which requires them to disengage from electronic devices may be seen as dull and involve de-addiction from perceived high stimuli technology driven experiences. Physical vs. virtual interaction The advent of mobile phones and online social networks has reduced teenagers need to meet in person, as they can rely on the immediacy of virtual communication. The increased usage of these platforms has fundamentally changed the ways in which teenagers interact with one another by allowing them to remain socially engaged without needing to physically walk or bike over to see a friend.

Book Report On Cover Up Essay -- essays research papers

Cover-Up The assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy Jr. was a very emotional time in our nation's history. This horrifying incident occurred on November 22, 1963, in a motorcade procession in Dallas, Texas. At 12:30 in the afternoon the procession was going down Elm Street in Dealy Plaza, when shots were fired. One struck President Kennedy in the throat and moments later a bullet tore apart his head. At 1:00 p.m., President JFK was pronounced dead. That same afternoon, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested as a suspect of murder. Oswald however, pleaded his innocence by stating, " I'm just a patsy." This caused many suspicions and questions. Was he a lone assassin? Was he innocent? Was there a conspiracy against the president? These questions called for Lyndon B. Johnson, the new president, to form the Warren Commission specifically to investigate the assassination. It was named for the Chairman, and the Chief Justice of the United States, Earl Warren. This commission, after ten mon ths of investigation, presented their report to President Johnson. The 26 volumes of testimony and exhibits, " overwhelmingly supported the conclusions that the assassination was no conspiracy, but the work of one unhappy man, Lee Harvey Oswald." (New York Times) However many Americans continued to believe there was a conspiracy to assassinate President John F. Kennedy. The book Cover- Up, by Stewart Galanor, is a great description of the facts and fictions of the investigation. The shots the president received were both incredibly fatal. The first shot to the neck was seen to be an entrance wound, however this seems to be impossible if the assassin was behind him 6 floors up. However, like usual, the Warren Commission performed a test and proved the shot to indeed be an exit wound. The test was performed using a goatskin to show that entrance and exit wounds are similar in appearance, when they really are not. The Warren Commission stuck to their beliefs, although it was obviously a false idea. The fatal wound was also discussed and questioned. Many doctors thought there really was no fatal blast to the head, just a small exit wound. However, two Parkland doctors described the head wound to be extremely fatal. One doctor stated, "As I took position at the head of the table, I was in such a positi... ...ottom of the decade's greatest mystery. As for the Warren Commission, they were really doing the same thing, except they were just looking for the easiest way out, not the truth. They should have known that one day all of their hidden evidence would be found. And it was, which caused great distrust, by the majority of Americans, in their own leaders, their government. The people in this book who went on record showing a part of the "cover-up" are very brave people, and they should be the people who the world looks to for the truth in the investigation. The information in this book was very interesting and attention grabbing. It really focused on the evidence of a conspiracy or cover- up. This book really taught me that some people will do anything to satisfy themselves, no matter what they have to do to others. All the people directly involved in the investigation seemed to give up or take over something to keep things as simple and secretive as possible. Even though th e world still went on and there were more conflicts to deal with, I think the most plaguing question of the average American in this decade was, "Who killed JFK?"

The Influence of Lord Henry in The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wil

In analyzing Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, concepts such as influence and the origin of evil in Dorian Gray play an exceptionally valuable role in understanding the motives of the characters. Although some critics argue characters such as Lord Kelso significantly influence Dorian’s corruption, Lord Henry Wotton’s toxic personality undeniably impacts Dorian the most. Throughout the course of the novel, Lord Henry remains the ultimate source of evil and uses deception and persuasion to poison Dorian from a naà ¯ve boy to a destructive monster. Shortly after meeting Dorian for the first time, Lord Henry calmly declares, â€Å"to influence a person is to give him one’s own soul† (20). In these few words, Lord Henry foreshadows the entirety of his relationship with Dorian throughout the novel. By sharing his unique thoughts about the scientific view of influence, Lord Henry captures Dorian’s curiosity and attention, opening the door to the beginning of Dorian’s evolution Lord Henry continues to bruise Dorian’s perfection on page 21 when he lectures Dorian about the key to a rewarding life through means of the senses. In response to these dangerous regarding influence, sensation, temptation, and beauty, Dorian commands Lord Henry to stop speaking as he absorbs the new light shed upon him: For nearly ten minutes he stood there, motionless, with parted lips, and eyes strangely bright. He was dimly conscious that entirely fresh influences were at work within him. . . The few words that Basil’s friend had said to him – words spoken by chance, no doubt, and with willful paradox in them – had touched some secret chord that had never been touched before, but that he felt was now vibrating and throbbing to curious puls... ...n goes on to murder Basil in a moment of pure hatred, allowing Lord Henry to ultimately succeed in his aims of winning Dorian’s soul. Careful examination of Dorian’s initial susceptibility to influence, willingness to commit sin, and interactions with other characters prove Lord Henry plays the biggest role in transforming Dorian from pure to vicious. With his cunning theories and brainwashing comments, Dorian cannot muster the strength to resist Lord Henry’s dominating nature, showing there are no limitations in relationships when it comes to influence. The topic of which character primarily influences Dorian to turn to a dishonest lifestyle is undeniably significant in understanding the purpose of the characters as well as the deeper meaning of the text. Work Cited Wilde, Oscar. The Picture of Dorian Gray. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., 1993.

Shakespeare?s 10 things Essay -- essays research papers

1. Betrayal and revenge 2. Metaphors of death-King Lear, Merchant of Venice, Othello 3. Humor- A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It 4. Pastoral settings- Ling Lear, A midnight Summer's Dream 5. Madness and insanity- Othello, Midnight Summer?s Dream, King Lear 6. Reversal- the main character falls from a high place 7. Letters- King Lear, Merchant of Venice 8. Things are not as they appear- King Lear, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer Night?s Dream 9. The Father/Daughter Conflict-Midsummer, King Lear, Merchant of Venice 10. Justice- King Lear, Merchant of Venice The Father/Daughter Conflict- In Midnight Summers Dream, Egeus commands Hermia, his daughter, to wed Demetrius, whom she does not love. Against the advisement of the Duke Theseus, who recommends that, ''To you your father should be as a god", (Act I, Scene I, Line 48). Hermia wishes to marry Lysander. Egeus threatens his daughter with the penalty of death or exile. In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock?s daughter, Jessica, denies her faith and steals from her father in order to marry Lorenzo, a man of whom she is unequally yoked. In King Lear, the title character, ruler of Britain, attempts to divide his kingdom according to the profession of love by his three daughters: Goneril, Regan and Cordelia. Goneril and Regan profess undying love choosing the most melodic words, while Cordelia is speechless at the task, stating:..........Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave .....................My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty .....................According to my bond; nor more nor less. (Lines 93-95) King Lear becomes angry with Cordelia and banishes her. The other daughters begin to treat him viciously, Goneril slapping him at one point. Letters- Shakespeare uses letters as characters in the plays that serve to tie key factors together for cohesion and clarity. In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare uses a letter from Antonio to bring the culmination of events to a head at the end of the play, setting the stage for the courtroom scene. Antonio writes, "my ships have all miscarried"(314) He tells his friend of his troubles and beckons him to come see him one last time as he ultimately gives his life for his friend?s debt. If Bassanio does not go to the court proceedings, then his wife Portia has no cause to be in the court scene, which leads to A... ...ia?s life without her father would have been an unhappy one. She reflects in the first scene that it is this love and attachment that kept her celibate for so long. With the newly revived relationship and her father?s final recognition of Cordelia, she would not have been able to bear losing him again in the event of his demise. Although the image of Lear holding Cordelia seems horrific, it is actually quite pleasant to see that final image of him cradling Cordelia as a father would a beloved daughter. Shylock?s ill deeds do not go unpunished in The Merchant of Venice. The climactic courtroom scene where Portia tricks the Jew into submission give credence to Shakespeare?s theme of justice throughout each play. As the audience stomachs through each act, watching Shylock?s moods shift from rage to self pity and eventually to the brink of lunacy, they anticipate justice being served to the ill-famed character. The fact that Shakespeare uses a woman to mastermind and in effect hand over the sentence, cemented by the male judge, is another part of justice being served in that Jessica, Shylock?s daughter, was unable to stand up to her father and speak against his will.

The Issue of Lowering of Legal Drinking Age

Cody Schisnewski Final Draft 09/29/09 Period 1 A number of States in the U. S. are considering legislation to lower the legal drinking age from the current age of 21 to 18. The move would defy a generation of federal law and public opinion in America which is strongly opposed to lowering the drinking age. In 1984, congress set the legal drinking age to 21 from 18, threatening to cut highway funding to states which did not comply, mostly to cut down on drunk driving deaths caused each year by drinking and driving. But advocates argue teenagers are going to drink anyway even if changed. Should the drinking age be lowered? In my opinion, the drinking age doesn't need to be reduced to 18, the drinking laws need to be changed completely. I think there should be a public drinking age of 18, and a private or supervised drinking age of 12. This way, children (young adults) can be taught how to drink socially and responsibly from a young age, so alcohol isn't such a mystery and there would be less attraction or desire to being able to drink when they turn 21 with there friends. Children need to be taught how to drink responsibly by there parents, and not by some irresponsible friends. And most parents wouldn’t have to worry about criminal charges or D. U. I. ’s because they chose to teach there children about drinking responsibly when they where younger. I have two very different opinions from two different people. Joel who is pro Age 21, from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving or MADD states â€Å"Back in the late 1960s and early 70s a number of states lowered their drinking age from 21 to 18. In many of these states, research documented a significant increase in highway deaths of the teens affected by these laws. After the law changed back to 21, many of the states were `monitored to check the difference in highway fatalities. Researchers found that teenage deaths in fatal car crashes dropped considerably in some cases up to 28% when the laws were moved back to 21. † (redblueamerica. com) Another person, Ben who is pro Age 18, from Radley Balkdo/Reason Group, has his own opinion, stating â€Å"It makes little sense that America considers an 18-year-old mature enough to marry, to sign a contract, to vote and to fight and die for his country, but not mature enough to decide whether or not to ave a beer. People that are for the drinking age of 21 primary argument is the dramatic drop in the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities since the minimum age first passed Congress in 1984. † (redblueamerica. com) In conclusion, drinking, no matter what age, needs to be treated responsibly. To keep you and the life’s of others out of harms way. And never to drive while under the influence which can lead to serious property damage, other or self injury or in some cases even death. And like I said in the beginning, why don’t we look more into just changing are drinking laws to something completely different, if anything schools should start classes teaching students the danger of underage drinking and driving. This is a very complex argument and both side state very strong opinion and facts, who knows which one is right and which one is wrong, but what I do know is deaths cause by irresponsible drinking is very wrong and we should put all of are minds together to try and stop it from happening.

Iron Crowned Chapter 8

There was a long pause as I waited expectantly. Volusian was enjoying this, I realized. He wasn't going to elaborate until I asked because he wanted to draw out the agony. â€Å"Damn it! Tell me what happened!† Volusian got this pleased look on his face that I suspected was the closest he ever came to smiling. â€Å"The Oak King is †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I held my breath. â€Å"†¦ alive.† â€Å"Thank God.† Of course, thinking of my own wounds, â€Å"alive† might not mean much. â€Å"Is he hurt?† â€Å"He is well and uninjured.† I sank gratefully onto my bed, knowing I wore my emotions all over my face. I hated to ever show anything like that in front of Volusian. I wanted to maintain an image of power. This situation was too important, though. Fear and worry for Dorian and the battle had been a knot within me, one I only just now dared to loosen. â€Å"What about the others? Who won?† â€Å"Your forces, mistress.† Again, relief flooded through me. We had won. Dorian was okay. â€Å"Casualties?† â€Å"Inevitable, of course.† Volusian didn't seem particularly concerned, but then, he was never concerned about much. â€Å"Death and injury on both sides. The Oak King's lands and towns remained untouched.† That last part was good news. But death and injury? No, I didn't like that. I wanted to know numbers, but for now, that was irrelevant. One death was too much. I'd get all the stats I needed from Dorian soon enough. I started to thank Volusian, but that wasn't the way our relationship worked. â€Å"Go back to the Oak Land. Tell Dorian I'll be there shortly.† Volusian gave a small nod of acknowledgment. I expected him to vanish instantly, but he paused, eyes narrowing slightly. â€Å"My mistress has also been in a battle tonight.† I shifted slightly, becoming aware of the bandages covering my shoulder and back. â€Å"Yeah, I fought a fetch.† â€Å"Who inflicted great injury.† â€Å"It would appear so, wouldn't it?† â€Å"But not enough to kill you.† The look I gave him was answer enough. â€Å"Pity,† he said. He vanished. â€Å"Damn it,† I muttered. I stayed where I was, staring off into space. I needed to cross to Dorian's land soon, but for now, I allowed the news to percolate in my head for a few moments more. Only, a new distraction presented itself. Otherworldly magic washed over me seconds before a voice spoke. â€Å"You could end it easily, you know.† I jumped up from my bed as the ghost from the mountains appeared before me. Silently, I cursed myself for having packed up my weapons. Since my queenhood, attacks at home had dropped off, lulling me into a false sense of security. It was lazy of me. Foolish. With no care for the other carefully packed items, I upended my bag, dumping everything out. I grabbed my wand, expecting the ghost to attack. Instead, she just hung in the air, face blank. â€Å"You shouldn't have come back,† I said, wand ready and pointed. Weary as I was, banishing magic tingled within me. â€Å"You should have stayed away.† She stayed motionless, uncaring of the threat I presented. â€Å"I told you. I can't. I need your help.† â€Å"And I told you, I can't help you.† â€Å"I can help you,† she said. â€Å"I can help you find the Iron Crown.† The magic welling within me paused and then I dropped it altogether. I eyed her warily. â€Å"How do you know about that?† She gave a weak shrug. â€Å"I've been following you.† I began the banishing again, quickly working out her words. Of course she could follow me. She was a strong ghost, one who could likely flit between this and the Otherworld as easily as I saw her move around here. The magic of the Otherworld, which concealed so many spirits, would make her harder to detect there. Following – and spying – would be easy. â€Å"We're done with this,† I said. Power coursed into the wand. Still, she didn't flinch. â€Å"The Iron Crown,† she repeated. â€Å"I know where it is. I can lead you.† Again, I paused the banishing and recalled something Dorian had said. â€Å"The way is blocked to spirits.† â€Å"Yes,† she agreed. â€Å"But I know the starting point. You don't even know that. I can take you there, and you can go the rest of the way on your own.† â€Å"I don't believe you. I have no reason to. You could just get me mucked up in your little investigation and then disappear.† This finally brought about emotion. Anger flickered in those pale eyes. â€Å"‘Little investigation?' This is my family! Their lives! They mean everything to me.† â€Å"Meant,† I corrected. â€Å"You need to cut your ties to this world.† Her lips flattened into a straight line, as though she fought to control her temper. â€Å"I'll take you there first. After you have the crown, you'll help me. I'll be the one taking you at your word. You have nothing to lose.† â€Å"Nothing except my life,† I muttered. â€Å"A crown that does nothing except lead me on some lethal journey is a big gamble. I don't even believe Masthera's crazy logic.† â€Å"Other spirits say it can do what she says,† the ghost said. â€Å"They're old. They remember it.† Well, that at least answered one of my questions. The dubious nature of the crown aside, I understood how a ghost like this would know about something so ancient. The grief that bound her to this world might make her strong, but she struck me as a new ghost, one that would hardly know about some legendary artifact. â€Å"It's all ridiculous,† I said. â€Å"It's time for you to go.† â€Å"It is,† she agreed. â€Å"Think about my offer. Summon me when you're ready. My name is Deanna.† And as easily as she'd come, she disappeared, beating my banishing. Admittedly, it had less to do with my skill than with my own doubt. Her words had struck something in me. A tiny spark of wonder, wonder that maybe there was some wacky way to end this war. If the legends were true. If Deanna wasn't lying. If I didn't die setting out alone on a treacherous journey. Shaking my head, I once more chastised myself for letting her go. Next time. Next time I'd banish her to the Underworld as soon as I saw her face. For now, I had to go to Dorian. I'd wasted too much time. Hastily, I repacked my bag and went on my way. Tim and Lara still sat in the living room. Recognizing what the bag meant, Tim again muted the TV, an uncharacteristic look of concern on his face. â€Å"Eug †¦ don't you think going over to Never Never Land is a bad idea after getting your ass kicked tonight?† â€Å"You should see the other guy.† I shifted the bag, careful to keep it on my good shoulder and away from my back. â€Å"Besides, sad as it is, I think I'm safer there than here.† He sighed, and I couldn't help a smile. I glanced at Lara. â€Å"I'll be back as soon as I can.† Her face was as grave as Tim's. â€Å"I don't think we're charging enough.† I laughed. â€Å"Probably not.† I left them for a gateway that opened up near Dorian's. I had an anchor in his castle too, and crossing over nearby pulled me to it. I appeared in a small, empty chamber that he reserved purely for the anchor. Even injured, I'd had no difficulty making the transition. A long time ago, I couldn't even cross in human form. I'd come over as my spirit's totem: a dark swan. Now, coming here was as easy as stepping through a door. My power had indeed grown, something that Kiyo and my parents feared. I didn't get very far down the adjacent hall before I was spotted by a servant. â€Å"Your Majesty!† he sputtered, managing a clumsy bow. â€Å"The king has been expecting you.† â€Å"Then take me to him,† I said. Dinner had long since ended, and Dorian was in one of his posh sitting rooms, surrounded by a handful of counselors and generals. To my surprise, Masthera sat there too, off in a corner where she observed rather than participated in the meeting. Dorian's face was calm and collected as he spoke to the others, but his expression broke a little when he saw me. â€Å"Eugenie!† In a few strides, he was across the room. Something cracked inside of me too, something that was so, so glad to see him alive and well. Despite Volusian's report, I'd needed to see Dorian alive for myself. My heart swelled, and I let go of my aversion to gentry customs. I dropped the bag and wrapped my arms around his neck, seeking his lips before he could hardly even get his hands on me. He gripped my hips as we kissed, the power of that kiss sweeping my body and filling it with heat as I pressed against him. It was suddenly easy to understand why gentry sometimes felt the need to have sex in public. No such option was given to me because Dorian's hands slid up my waist, freezing when he touched the bandages. He pulled away abruptly, studying me with astonishment. I still wore my tank top, giving a full view of the hospital's handiwork. â€Å"Good grief, woman,† he exclaimed. â€Å"What happened?† I gave as unconcerned a shrug as he might. â€Å"I got in a fight. With a fetch.† He stared. â€Å"She threw a table at me.† Dorian peered beyond me, over at the servant who'd escorted me to the room. â€Å"Get a healer.† â€Å"No, don't,† I said. The guy hesitated, glancing between us, torn between two commands. â€Å"You need your healers for the armies. This looks worse than it is.† That wasn't entirely true. The painkillers I'd been given were wearing off, making the scratches itchy and sore. Yet, I couldn't shake Volusian's words about death and injury. I wouldn't take any healers away from the armies. I gave Dorian a warning look. â€Å"It's fine.† He returned my look, locking us in a brief battle of wills. â€Å"Fine,† he repeated. He glanced over at the servant. â€Å"She says it's fine. Far be it from me to question my lady. Come join us, dear. I assume your despicable little pet gave you the essentials?† A chair was quickly brought over to me, and I joined the meeting. The details of it were a blur. I was no strategist, not for this kind of war. One-on-one fights were my thing. Mostly I listened to the group, not always understanding, as they studied maps and discussed army movement and strategic targets. Borders and areas with resources – like my copper mines – seemed to be a protective priority, which was about the only part I truly understood. The part that really stuck with me was the recap of this battle. It had been long, even though our superior numbers had ensured victory almost from the beginning. The towns and our food were safe. The number of casualties were recounted briefly. Dorian and his advisors seemed pleased by them, considering them low. I supposed, as far as percentages went in the army, they were. Still †¦ people had died. Gentry or not, it didn't matter. They had families, people who loved them. People who would mourn. I felt sick to my stomach. The meeting closed with plans for our next move, plans I agreed to automatically when consulted. Everyone left, off for bed, except me, Dorian, and Masthera. The pleased, laconic look Dorian had worn for his team vanished once the last person was out of our sight. He turned on me, outrage in those beautiful eyes. â€Å"What were you thinking? I was the one who was supposed to be facing an army today. Not you.† â€Å"I didn't,† I countered. â€Å"It was just a fetch. Did I mention the table?† â€Å"You're making a joke out of this.† â€Å"No more than what you usually do.† I frowned. â€Å"And this is nothing †¦ nothing compared to what you and the others faced.† His blase expression returned. â€Å"We had a great victory.† â€Å"We have different ideas of victory,† I said sadly. My eyes landed on Masthera, who watched us intently. â€Å"What are you doing here?† She seemed to read my question as an invitation and moved to a nearer chair. â€Å"Waiting for you, Your Majesty. I sensed that you would come.† I scoffed. â€Å"Volusian came and said I was coming.† The comment didn't bother her. â€Å"You've come to discuss the Iron Crown.† â€Å"Hardly.† Yet, I found myself frowning as crazy thoughts swirled in my head. Dorian arched an eyebrow of surprise. â€Å"Is that true? You made your feelings clear on that last time.† â€Å"They haven't really changed,† I admitted. â€Å"I still don't see it as a convenient end to all of this. Except †¦ well, a ghost came to me today.† â€Å"Ghosts are always coming to you.† â€Å"Yeah, yeah. But this one claimed she could lead me to the crown. Or rather, the place surrounding it. She needs a favor and offered this in return.† Masthera's eyes widened, and she leaned forward. â€Å"This is it! What I've seen. This will bring you to the crown.† â€Å"Presuming this ghost isn't part of some elaborate plan to kill me,† I said. â€Å"Wouldn't be the first time.† â€Å"No, no,† she said. â€Å"This is real. I feel it. I've had a vision of you crowned.† Dorian gave her a sharp look. â€Å"Enough. It doesn't matter if this ghost is telling the truth. I'm not sending Eugenie off into a nightmarish landscape.† â€Å"Hey, you don't send me anywhere,† I retorted. He rolled his eyes. â€Å"Please. Don't start with the mock wounded pride over your capabilities. You're a great warrior; I accept that. You defeat fetches and tables and all other sorts of fiends. But this †¦ no. The risk is too great, and I couldn't help you.† â€Å"But Your Majesty!† exclaimed Masthera. â€Å"You see the opportunity. An end to the war. The power. The fear this would inspire among others.† â€Å"My own fear is more than enough, thank you,† he said dryly. An end to the war. An astonishing thought struck me. â€Å"Gentry would suffer in the iron fields †¦ but I'm not the only half human. I could take Jasmine with me.† Jasmine was almost as unaffected by iron as I was. Touching it caused her no pain, and it was only her cuffs' tight binding that stunted her magic. Otherwise, to my knowledge, simply being near iron wasn't enough to dim her power. â€Å"No,† said Dorian swiftly. â€Å"Absolutely not. I wouldn't have your unstable sister go anywhere near that crown.† â€Å"The queen is right, though,† said Masthera. â€Å"Storm King's younger daughter might be protected by her human blood.† I expected another refusal from Dorian, but he remained silent. He was actually considering this, I realized. Jasmine would be a safe companion – or not. â€Å"No,† he repeated at last. â€Å"If she somehow returned in control of the crown †¦ Well, I wouldn't want to see that. She craves power too much.† â€Å"I thought the crown didn't have power in and of itself,† I said suspiciously. â€Å"It doesn't – but if she possessed it, others would believe she was the daughter to fear. Right now, you carry that honor. I'd like to keep it that way. You can't go with such a dangerous companion.† â€Å"Your Majesty – † attempted Masthera again. â€Å"Enough,† said Dorian, standing up. â€Å"It's late. The discussion is over, and I want to go to bed. You're dismissed.† Masthera looked upset but didn't contradict her lord. After a brief curtsey to each of us, she scurried away. We left as well, staying silent as we walked through the halls, past stationed guards. As soon as we were alone in Dorian's room, I turned on him. â€Å"You have a lot of fucking nerve! Don't ever talk to me like that in front of someone – like you've got the power around here. We're equals in this, remember?† He smiled and took off his cloak and shirt. â€Å"Of course we are. And equals sometimes trade power. When it comes to you making foolish choices, I wield the power.† â€Å"When it comes to making foolish choices, I – never mind. Look, if there's a chance to end this with as little bloodshed as possible, I want it.† â€Å"As do I.† He stood before me and ran a gentle finger along the side of my neck. â€Å"But not at the cost of your life or reputation. Find a better option, and you can go.† He moved his hands down and caught the edges of my shirt, carefully lifting it over my head without disturbing the bandages. â€Å"There you go again,† I growled. â€Å"Acting like you control this.† â€Å"I do. Just as I control this.† He grabbed hold of my waist and jerked me to him, his lips crushing mine in a fierce kiss, one that left me gasping when I managed to pull back. â€Å"You don't control anything,† I said. Yet, that kiss and his closeness made me ache with arousal. Maybe it was my anger or the residual adrenaline from all my fights today. Maybe it was just relief at seeing him, no matter how much he annoyed me now. Whenever I returned from battle, sex was his way of truly confirming I was alive and safe. Today, I shared that. He was alive. I wanted him, and he knew it. â€Å"You see?† His lips moved to my neck, and I felt the edge of his teeth. â€Å"I've got the power here †¦ and you like that †¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I †¦ that is †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Forming coherent words was difficult for obvious reasons. His mouth was too distracting, as was the rest of his touch. He moved his lips up near my ear, his hands cupping my breasts. I pushed down his pants, feeling how hard he was as my hands slid over him. â€Å"I know you, Eugenie. I know what you want †¦ and here? You want me in control. Really, those wounds you insist on keeping are all that are stopping me from throwing you against the wall or the bed.† The rest of our clothes fell off, piece by piece, while we still attempted some sort of debate. â€Å"Guess you're not as in control as you think,† I said. We were pressed together, bare skin against bare skin. We managed to stay wrapped up with each other as we moved toward the bed. His hands slid up over my breasts, lingering briefly on my nipples. Then – again avoiding any wounded areas – he gripped my shoulders, and I expected him to throw me onto the bed anyway. Instead, he pushed me down onto my knees, so that my back was barely an inch from the bed, and he stood right in front of me. The tip of his huge swelling erection was right against my lips, just like the last time we'd been together, save that I'd been on my back then. â€Å"I still have the control. I can make you do all sorts of things,† he murmured. â€Å"Now, are you going to do this on your own? Or will I have to make you?† There was no coercion needed. I parted my lips and took him into my mouth. Just like the last time we'd had sex, he felt so large and long that I could barely fit him as I sucked and slid my lips along that shaft. He realized I was holding back and tsked disapproval. â€Å"You can do better than that.† His hands were tangled in my hair, and he pulled my head closer, forcing more of him into me, more than I thought I could take as I felt him touch the back of my throat. â€Å"More †¦Ã¢â‚¬  he breathed. â€Å"Take more †¦ or I'll make you†¦.† I increased my speed and intensity as I took him into my mouth over and over. It was as much as I could do, and he knew it, but that didn't matter. This was a game, a game of power. Deciding where I went and who I fought? No. He couldn't do that. But here? He could play master. â€Å"Still not good enough,† he said. He took over from me, and just as he had last time, he thrust into my mouth as steadily and hard as he might have my thighs. His hold on my hair tipped my face up and made me look into his eyes, just as I was forced to take as much of him into my mouth as he chose. â€Å"I wish we'd done this downstairs. Should have taken you †¦ the instant you walked into the room †¦Ã¢â‚¬  He still had that smooth, controlling tone to his voice, but it was cracking a little as the pleasure of this began to take over. â€Å"I wish the whole court could see this. You're so beautiful †¦ so beautiful with your mouth full of me †¦ more beautiful still when I pour my seed into you †¦Ã¢â‚¬  I shivered, making a small groan of desire. He was pumping harder now, almost uncomfortably so for me, yet it was giving me a thrill of my own. â€Å"That was †¦ what you †¦ wanted, wasn't it? Last time?† His voice was low and strained, his whole body suddenly tensing. â€Å"This?† He came, and warm liquid exploded in my mouth. Although he slowed, he still continued sliding in and out as he released himself into me. Then, he pulled out, finishing his orgasm and spilling onto my lips and breasts. I coughed slightly, and he slid a finger across my lips. â€Å"Swallow,† he hissed. â€Å"Swallow it all.† I did, surprised that he'd been able to come so much both in my mouth and on me. The finger toying with my lip slid along my face and down to my breasts, rubbing in his semen. When his finger returned to my lips, I knew what he wanted. I took it into my mouth and licked his finger, sucking on it until there was nothing left. Smiling he helped me up to the bed and laid me down on my side, where he continued massaging my sticky breasts. â€Å"Wasteful,† he said at last. I knew what a big concession it was for him to forgo intercourse. â€Å"Wasteful, but enjoyable.† â€Å"Seeing as this was what I wanted, maybe I had the power here after all,† I teased. â€Å"Hush, woman,† he chastised good-naturedly. He shifted me again, so that my head rested on his chest. His hand slid down my body, his fingers moving between my thighs as deftly as they had under the table. He groaned when he felt how wet I was. â€Å"Wasteful, I say.† I laughed, shifting up to kiss him. â€Å"I've told you before, it doesn't – ah †¦Ã¢â‚¬  Taunting thoughts faded away, and soon all that consumed me was his fingers stroking me harder and faster. He brought his lips back to mine so that we were locked in a kiss when I came. Agonizing pleasure radiated through my body at his touch, and my cries were swallowed into that kiss. He released me only when my shaking stopped and breathing calmed, again letting me rest against his chest. One hand stroked my hair while the one that had just got me off moved to rest on my bare lower back. We both sighed in contentment, and I closed my eyes, exhaustion from the day's battles finally catching up with me. I was nearly asleep – and thought he was too – when quiet words brought me back to consciousness. â€Å"Masthera is right. The crown could solve a lot of problems.† Yes, I was definitely awake now. â€Å"I thought you didn't believe that.† â€Å"Oh, no. I believe it could end this war. I believe it would make Katrice cower in fear.† He sighed. â€Å"I just don't want to risk you. I couldn't cope with losing you.† My heart tightened at his words. I didn't know what to say and simply brushed my lips against his chest. â€Å"And you're both right,† he continued. â€Å"That if I can't †¦ if I can't go with you, then a half-human companion is the ideal choice.† Now I was really surprised. I lifted my head, hardly believing what I'd heard. â€Å"So, what are you saying? I should take Jasmine after all?† â€Å"No. That's still a horrible idea. But not quite as horrible as this one.† He gave another sigh, one that seemed to cause him pain. â€Å"You should bring the kitsune.†