AIDS on Family care givers in a Home Setup The WritePass Journal

The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Family care givers in a Home Setup Abstract The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Family care givers in a Home Setup ) Zimbabwe, in particular, has been worst hit by the HIV epidemic with more than 27% of the adult population diagnosed with HIV in 1997. Currently though, the prevalence rates have reduced significantly to 14% of the adult population (National AIDS Council, 2012). However, this decline is largely attributed to the significant number of deaths of people with HIV. Persistent political turmoil and the resultant economic decline have further contributed to the literal collapse of the Zimbabwean health care system. The failure of the Public health care system has cast the major burden of health care provision to private agencies, NGOs and Home based care has become the indispensible and only feasible model under the prevailing circumstances. Statistics suggest that of the 35,000 children in the country that needed ‘Antiretroviral Therapy’ (ART) only 17,000 have had access to the drugs (UNICEF, 2009). Though the availability of ART has vastly improved from just 15% in 2007 to around 80% by 2010, (National AIDS Council, 2011) there is still a huge unmet demand. Zimbabwean government’s opposing attitude towards NGOs and its accusations about the NGO funds being used for anti governmental activities has further limited the already strained financial aid flowing into the country for AIDS care.   Amidst these tiring circumstances, family based care giving has become the central strategy for the national HIV/AIDS management programs.   This paper attempts to study the impact of HIV/AIDS care delivered in the family based setting and how such care provision affects the care giver.   In particular, this paper strives to highlight the issues such as the psychosocial impact on caregivers and using the caregiver’s views assesses their coping and support mechanisms. Home Based Care A brief outlook into what constitutes home based care is appropriate before we proceed further. The World Health Organization defines home based care as â€Å" a programme that through regular visits, offers health care services to support the care process in the home environment of the person with HIV infection. Home visits may be the only service provided or be part of an integrated programme which offers the patient and his/her family services in the home, hospital and community†. Ministry of Health and Child Welfare,(2004). From the definition it is clear that home based care is considered a holistic care solution that addresses the needs of both the care receiver as well as the care giver. This understanding is crucial for the successful implementation of the home based care delivery model. Literature Review Family based care provision is proving to be the important model in the delivery of care to chronic illnesses such as AIDS. Particularly in Zimbabwe, where decades of political and economic turmoil have weakened the health care system, the role of family based care provision could not be more emphasized. The political friction between the West and the Mugabe government, and the accusations about the political motives of the NGO operations in the country, led to a sharp decline in the active healthcare interventions in the country.   NGO funding to Zimbabwe for its healthcare programmes reached a record low in 2006. During this year, the average aid money for HIV care per person in Zimbabwe was limited to $ 4 which when compared to the average aid money allotted per person in Zambia ($184) is a meager amount (Matimba, 2010). However, since 2008, the aid to Zimbabwe is again on the rise with the USAID and DFID being the two key contributors. The USAID contributed 26.4 million in 2008 while the DFID pledged in 2010 to contribute $40 million over a five year period. Despite this the total aid money that Zimbabwe received for its HIV healthcare operations during this period is just one tenth of the aid money received by neighboring Zambia and one fourth that of the aid amount received by Namibia in the corresponding periods (AVERT, 2012). These statistics project the grim scenario from the financial standpoint in delivering HIV care in Zimbabwe where HIV has assumed endemic proportions. HIV being a chronic condition, patients have to undergo continuous care for a protracted period of time and the hospital setting cannot handle the enormous demand. Statistics suggest that in Zimbabwe roughly 70% of all hospital admissions are connected to HIV care.   Statistics also suggest that even a 5% increase in the number of HIV patients would result in a 25% increased demand for hospital beds. The figures indicate that hospitals, as care provision centers, for a country such as Zimbabwe where there is a swelling HIV population, is a highly unviable model and therefore community and home based care provision assume great significance.   The policy stance of the Zimbabwean government to promote home based care provision could be understood based on these ground realities. The Zimbabwean government has been actively promoting care giver training by employing community nurses as trainers for these family care givers. With funding limitations, even the training and support prov ided by the community nurses to the family care givers has been affected making them vulnerable to the enormous pressure of managing the care provision all by themselves (Matimba, 2010). National Community Home-Based Care Standards (2004)   The enormity of the HIV problem and the limited nature of the government health care resources forced the home care system of care delivery in Zimbabwe. However, the quality of life of the HIV infected patient depends a lot on quality of the home care givers. In most cases these home based care providers have absolutely no training at all and even lack the knowledge to protect themselves from accidental exposure to HIV infection. To improve the quality of home based care delivery, support services must also be improved. With this in view the government of Zimbabwe set up the ‘National Community Home-Based Care Standards’ in 2004 that included the following important features Care and Support for patients and Family Team Service Provision Governance and Management Training , information and Education Monitoring and evaluation The main objective of establishing the standards for home based care delivery is to change home care from being perceived as a third rate care provision by improving its overall quality. It should be noted that Home care is not just about the patients but also about the care giver. The national standards for Home care therefore lay this stress on providing holistic care support through an established standard. The process involves training, education, monitoring and continuous evaluation.   The National Community Home-Based Care Standards (2004)  neatly defines its purpose as â€Å"Provision of a support system through the development of strong partnerships with the community, family and patient, home-based caregivers, and the health system, thus assuring patients an acceptable quality of life until death†. (Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, 2004). The definition also considers the aspects of support provided for the carer and other family members including   † emotional, spiritual and other psychosocial support, bereavement counseling, and other appropriate assistance that meets their special needs† (Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, 2004).   Psychosocial Impact of Caregiving Literature is abound with studies that analyze the impact of care giving for a HIV patient, on the care-giver. Almost all of these studies indicate that care giving results in enormous psycho social impact on the provider. Typically, the family care giver maybe overcome with emotions ranging from , depression, anxiety, fear, anger , helplessness along with the overwhelming financial burden that is involved with HIV care provision. Lindsey et al., (2003) explored the effects of care giving on older and younger women in Botswana who were caring for family members with chronic HIV. The authors of the study identified that older women, in particular, were overwhelmed with the physical and mental demands of care giving. These women had to manage demanding tasks such as caring for the patient with frequent episodes of vomiting, incontinence and confusion. Care giving family women had to do all this along with their household chores and this creates enormous physical hardships not to mentio n the emotional drain. Furthermore, in many cases, care providing women are subjected to economic strains when the productive member of their family is affected by HIV (Lindsey et al., 2003). Another study by Ssengonzi (2007) explored the impact of care giving on Ugandan older women. The results of this study also chimed in with the findings of the previous study with the elderly Ugandan women reporting that care giving left them financially affected due to three main reasons The ill relatives and the consequent loss of family income the negative effect of care giving on the employment opportunities of the care provider Expenses incurred on procuring medicine for the patient under their care The care giving women also expressed social isolation as a result of their inability to participate in the usual social activities (Ssengonzi,2007). One study by Thomas F (2006) that assessed the impact of home based care giving for HIV patients in Namibia again reported that financial constraints due to care giving is a serious problem. This study collected information from both the patient as well as the care giver in the form of solicited diaries. The study found that the inability to provide for family created severe emotional strain for the care giver.   Significantly, the study also reported that the quality of care provision is affected over time when the worsening financial situation in the household coupled with the lack of recovery of the patient lead to escalating tensions and emotional upheavals in the house (Thomas F (2006). One urban study conducted in Kinshasa, the capital of the republic of Congo, involved self reported health and emotional status of 80 spouses and caregivers of HIV infected men in the region. What surprised the researchers was that despite this being an urban study with better hospitals and home care support networks, around 94% of the women caregivers expressed that care-giving was very difficult for them and 99% reported that it affected their social lives. Importantly, 90% of these women care givers stated that they were stigmatized by friends and their husband’s employers. This study clearly highlights that the stigma of AIDS care could further contribute to the emotional strain of HIV care.   As a revealing study on the psychosocial impact of care giving, this research found that 48% of these care providing women were so unhappy with their circumstances that they lost interest in their life and expressed the lack of interest and energy to continue. Furthermore, 94% of t hese women had some form of physical ailment including frequent headaches, fatigue, body pain, lack of appetite, anorexia, etc (Kipp et al., 2006). Studies done elsewhere in the developed countries also reflect similar feelings from the care givers. For instance one earlier study by Flaskerud Tabora (1998) based on low income female care givers in California who provided care for heterosexual and homosexual HIV patients attested to the findings from the African studies. These women expressed the same concerns as the previously listed studies including depression due to poor functional outcome of the patient, loneliness due to uncooperative and unsupportive friends and relatives, etc. Around 59% of the care giving women also reported that their physical health was affected considerably due to the prolonged period of care giving. Worn out by their care-giving duties these women were moody and even expressed their anger at the patients as their irresponsible behavior put them in this place. Last but not the least, the women subjects of this study welcomed being interviewed for the study as it provided an emotional vent for them to lay out their feelings which they could not so far share with anyone due to the absence of an appropriate support network. (Flaskerud Tabora, 1998). One recent South African study by Hlabyago et al. (2009) focused on one of the important problems faced by care givers of terminally ill HIV/AIDS patients. This problem is the caring for the orphaned children of the parents who succumbed to HIV. As per 2010 data, more than a third of the 50 million or more orphaned children in Sub Saharan Africa lost either one or both their parents to HIV.   Given the huge scale of the problem, this study by Hlabyago assumes great significance in terms of policy formulations and also with respect to assessing the impact on family caregivers. The researchers of this study employed one on one interview technique which sought answers to the following important question from the care givers – â€Å"Would you please tell me your experiences as a family caregiver concerning your care of the orphans?† (Hlabyago et al., 2009). The Interviews were conducted for nine subjects who were home caregivers recruited from the Hoekfontein Clinic in So uth Africa. The demographic details of the subjects were noted down.   Six out of the 9 (63%) care givers were grand mothers, 2 of them were aunties and one of them sister to the orphaned children. Thematic analysis of the data resulted in the observations that are listed in the following table. As could be inferred from the above results table, financial constrain is a major problem for care givers affecting 77% (7 out of 9) of the study subjects.   However, one concern that is uniformly expressed by all the care givers involved in the study was that of the existence of Bureaucratic difficulties and the lack of social support services. Though the government has programs to support orphans in the form of orphan grants, accessibility problems and processing delays and the lack of proactive approach within the social works departments hinder the outreach of such programs to the people. For instance, one of the caregiver, who was the grand mother of the orphaned child, expressed her helplessness stating, â€Å"I got the heart to help this child by applying for this orphan grant. I am still waiting for the money because it is not yet released. I sent the documents a long time ago. The social worker has since told me that they will send someone at home and I am still waiting. I wish that money can come so that I can save some for him (the orphan) because I am old – anytime I can die, you see†. (Hlabyago et al., 2009). The study also revealed that lack of support from family members is a pressing issue. One of the care giver subjects who were interviewed for the study reported that she received little support from her husband in taking care of the orphaned Children. â€Å"The day Johanna died he came and found me struggling with her, he came into the room and walked out, and when he came back again the child was already dead† (Hlabyago et al., 2009). Some of the care givers expressed concern about the rebellious attitude of the orphaned kids while some of them expressed concerns about the growing family conflicts due to the care giving. â€Å"I decided to take him in and care for him. I think that she (the orphan’s biological grandmother) is thinking that because I am receiving this child’s orphan grant, she is not sending anything for this child who is basically her responsibility† (Hlabyago et al., 2009).   The literature reviewed so far clearly highlighted that care giving for HIV patients could be a stressful event and debilitate the care giver in the absence of suitable support mechanisms. Methodology The following sections will revolve around a questionnaire based primary study in which 15 subjects who were care providers for HIV patients in Zimbabwe were provided with 6 questions with various choices and their answers analyzed for themes.   The choice of questionnaire was due to its informal nature and usefulness in gaining valuable data. The use of open ended questions helps in ascertaining more information from the subject whenever appropriate.   Though initially I had sent my questionnaires to 15 recipients only 10 of them returned the completed information. All the 10 subjects were properly apprised of the nature of the study. Though the respondents knew that the study was purely for academic purposes they were delighted in providing the valuable information for the study. All the subjects were assured of the confidentiality of their responses and that their responses would be used purely for academic knowledge improvement purposes. Thematic analysis was employed to disc ern useful themes and patterns about the various aspects of caregiving. Results The data from the questionnaires answered by the 10 subjects who participated in the study were analyzed to identify the emergent themes. In all, six questions with varied responses to each question were provided to the subjects. These questions were particularly relevant to understanding the wide impact that care giving has on the home based care providers. The results revealed some of the important psychosocial aspects of caregiving. The repetitive themes that were identified from the data attested to the key findings reported in the literature review early in this paper. These common themes suggest the need for urgent action. Care giving challenges The data from the questionnaires revealed some demographic profile about the subjects. Most of the carergivers in the study were relatives of the HIV Patient and on an average care provision period lasted between 2 and 3 years. 80% of the caregivers were elderly females. Economic difficulties dominated the challenges that were reported by the caregivers with almost 90% of the subjects reporting financial constrains as a serious issue involved in prolonged caregiving for the HIV patient.   As discussed earlier in the paper this may stem from loss of income if the patient was a productive member of the family. Caregivers are also constrained by the fact that they could not be gainfully employed when they are tied down with caring for the patient. One other important aspect pertaining to caregiving at home was the lack of adequate transport services. 80% of the caregivers opined that they find transporting the patient to the hospital during times of emergency a huge problem as the Ambulance services are not prompt. Subjects also complained that the ambulance services charge them for the fuel costs.  Ã‚   Most of the subjects stated that they took the responsibility of caregiving out of love and compassion to the patients. When asked about the support services that could have helped them a lot with their care giving almost all the subjects mentioned transportation as an important feature. 30% of the subjects felt that providing food care for the patients and opportunities for part time employment for themselves would have been greatly helpful.   40% of the caregivers also expressed their concern that the scarcity of water in rural Zimbabwe added more problems to them as they could not walk several kilometers to fetch water leaving their sick patients at home. This is a very relevant issue as Zimbabwe is one of the African countries that is hard hit by water crisis, and more often than not, functional borewells that are the only nearby sources of water would be several kilometers away. There were also concerns about the medication supply with 40% of the caregivers complaining about shortage and availability of ‘Anti retroviral Drugs’ at the local dispensary. The continuous availability of ART is critical for HIV patients in order to prolong their life. It was also interesting and informative to note down that 7 out of the 10 subjects felt that this small questionnaire project, though it was done for educational purposes, provided them with an opportunity to discuss the problems involved in care giving.   The seven care providers felt that the questionnaire provided them an emotional purge as they hsd not had a chance to discuss their difficulties with anyone else. They all felt that there was a complete lack of support mechanisms available for carers and that this made them feel helpless and emotionally dissipated time to time.   Conclusion Caregivers undergo enormous stress during the protracted period of care giving that is involved in managing a chronic HIV patient. Just as care givers provide so much of love, effort and care to the patients they look after, their needs should also be looked after. The psychological, spiritual and financial support that caregivers require are however largely unfulfilled. Especially when there is political and economical turmoil in a country, such as that seen in Zimbabwe, the needs of the home based care provider is more likely to be ignored. As the numerous studies that were discussed in the paper reported care givers are mostly women and predominantly elderly women. Reeling under enormous financial strain, compounded by the lack of support network, African women are forced to singlehandedly manage care delivery for the HIV patient and are stretched to breaking points. Stigmatization and social isolation that arise out of HIV care giving make them even more isolated and overwhelmed. The present study based on the information gathered from caregivers in Zimbabwe clearly highlights the plight of the caregivers. It is very clear that financial woes are among the most important to the caregiver, followed by the lack of support services. Zimbabwean government is unstable and social welfare programs are hardly functioning. Even for those support services that are maintained and run by the Government, bureaucratic difficulties have made them inaccessible and out of reach of the poor caregiver. Counseling support services for caregivers are distinctly lacking. Based on the opinion gathered from the study and other relevant literature, it is clear that holistic care as advocated in the National Community Home-Based Care Standards (2004) is still far from reality.   There is clear indication that support networks do not exist or are inaccessible. Based on these findings this paper concludes that family based care givers are struggling without access to support services. A collaborative action involving government, NGOs and other health agencies is required to correct the defects. Home based carers should be trained, supported and counseled, and policy level initiative must be practically implemented. Only then could the quality of life for the patients as well as for the carers improve. Bibliography AVERT, (2012), HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe, viewed Jan 1st 2012, avert.org/aids-zimbabwe.htm#contentTable5 amfAR, (2012), Statistics Worldwide, viewed January 1st 2012 amfar.org/about_hiv_and_aids/facts_and_stats/statistics__worldwide/ Hlabyago KE Ogunbanjo GA (2009), The experiences of family care givers concerning their care of HIV/AIDS Orphans, SA FAM PRACT Vol 51, no 6 pg 506-511. Kipp W, Matakula Nkosi T, Laing L, Jhangri GS, (2006), Care burden and self-reported health status of informal women caregivers of HIV/AIDS patients in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. AIDS Care, Oct; 18(7):694-7 Lindsey E, Hirschfelf M, Tlou S, Ncube E. (2003), Home based care in Botswana: experiences of older women and young girls. Health Care for Women International; 24: 486-501 Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, (2004), National Community Home based Care Standards, viewed Jan 1st 2012, jsieurope.org/docs/national_community_hbc_standard.pdf Natsayi Matinba, (2010), The Psycho Social impact of Care-Giving on the Family Care-Givers of Chronically ill AIDS/HIV Patients in Home based Care. Research Report, University of Witwatersrand, SA. National AIDS Council, (2011), UNAIDS highlights Zimbabwes progress in response to AIDS, viewed January 1st 2012, nac.org.zw/news/unaids-highlights-zimbabwe%E2%80%99s-progress-responding-aids-0 Ssengonzi R. J. (2007), The plight of older persons as caregivers to people infected/affected by HIV/AIDS: evidence from Uganda. J Cross Cult Gerontol; 22: 339-353 Thomas F. (2006), Stigma, fatigue and social breakdown: Exploring the impacts of HIV/AIDS on patient and carer well-being in the Caprivi Region, Namibia. Social Science and Medicine 63: 3174-3187 UNICEF, (2009), HIV and AIDS Issues, viewed January 1st 2012, unicef.org/zimbabwe/hiv_aids.html

8 Special Little Words in English Grammar

8 Special Little Words in English Grammar To be accurate, its not the words themselves that are special; its how theyre sometimes used in sentences. Linguists have assigned names to these distinctive (and sometimes controversial) ways of using eight very common words in English: it, there, should, anymore, be, we, they, and eh. For additional examples and more detailed discussions of the terms, follow the links in bold. Dummy ItUnlike an ordinary pronoun, dummy it refers to nothing at all. In sentences about time and weather (e.g., Its six oclock, Its snowing) and in certain idioms (Its obvious youre having a tough time), it serves as a dummy subject. (For a related use of this personal pronoun, see Anticipatory It.)Existential ThereAnother familiar type of dummy subject is the existential there. In contrast to the deictic there, which refers to a place (e.g., Lets sit over there), the nonreferential there simply points out the existence of something (There is a problem with the network).Putative ShouldUnlike the mandative should, which expresses a command or recommendation (e.g., You should stop complaining), the putative should emphasizes an emotional response to a presumed fact (Its sad you should feel that way). Putative should is heard more often in British English than in American English.Positive AnymoreIn Standard English, the adverb anymore is usually limited to negative or interrogative co nstructions (e.g., She doesnt sing anymore). But in some American, Canadian, and Irish dialects, anymore is also used in positive constructions to mean now or at this time (They go to Maryland on their holidays anymore). Invariant BeA feature of African American Vernacular English (AAVE), invariant be is often misinterpreted as an all-purpose substitute for am, is and are. In fact, because invariant be (as in She be busy all the time) has the special function of marking habitual or repeated activities, AAVE makes a distinction that Standard English cant make by verb tense alone. (See No Time Like the Present Tense.)Inclusive WeIn contrast to the exclusive we, which deliberately leaves out the person whos being addressed (e.g., Dont call us; well call you), inclusive we uses a first-person plural pronoun to evoke a sense of commonality and rapport between a speaker (or writer) and his or her audience (We shall never surrender).Singular TheyMost handbooks still decry the use of they, them, or their to refer to a singular noun or an indefinite pronoun (e.g., Somebody lost their keys). But this is probably a losing battle: singular they has been in widespread use since the 14th century. Narrative EhThough strongly associated with speakers of Canadian English, narrative eh isnt exclusively Canadian. This little discourse marker or tag (described by one linguist as virtually meaningless) most often shows up at the end of a sentencelike this, eh?

Classroom of the future Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 6

Classroom of the future - Essay Example This research tells that classroom is an important environment affecting students in many fields. Studies have proved that the there is a relationship between the student performance and the classroom facilities. Classroom facilities affect students’ attendance and academic performance, so taking care of classroom facilities improve the level of student performance in the classroom. Additionally, the classroom often reflects the correlation between the students and their teacher. It’s important to understand not only what’s coming next but also where it all started. Classrooms throughout history have passed much of the technological changes. So, the purpose of this paper is to describe those changes and then visualize the future changes in the classroom. The classroom has changed a lot in the past. There are three main periods from the early days that helped build the education system we have now. The colonial period was first from the 1600’s to the 1700â €™s, the next period would be from the American Revolution to the civil war which was approximately a 70 year period from 1791-1861.The Information age came next from the mid-1900s to the very early 2000s. In the colonial period, the classroom was very minimal only consisting of a one-room building most likely with log walls, a dirt floor, and wax windows. For chairs, they would split a log in half and attach branches to the bottom to create a chair. Educational supplies were very scarce and expensive, most were homemade consisting of quill pens and boil down bark to make ink. Between the American Revolution and the civil war, the classroom experience got a lot better because classrooms had blackboards, slates, and maps. The furniture and architecture were also greatly improved even though at first during this period many communities didn’t have school buildings because if the revolutionary war, instead they had large rooms until the building was able to be rebuilt.

Answer the 4 Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Answer the 4 Questions - Essay Example The best part about the company was also that it had good electrical engineers that paid attention to providing the customers with good quality finished products. However, most of the machines were a little non-user friendly which led to a lot of complaints faced by the dealers. These factors thus represent vital strategic resources for the company in their own ways as mentioned. Answer 2: In the projector market, Sony had secured for itself a firm foothold as well. Sony was the main player in the projector market and had an estimation of about 50% of its units being sold. The main reason by which it was able to generate high levels of revenue was because it had a worldwide network of captive commercial video distributors who in turn worked with about 1,500 dealers worldwide. It had built a reputation for itself in terms of high reliability and cheaper prices with the dealers and that is why the more preferred brand in terms of projector purchases. However, when one looked at its ele ctrical engineers, the ones from Barco were better equipped to handle machines and produced better projectors. Thus the only strategic resource that Sony has in the projector market reverts back to its strong distribution system or line of promotion and physical networking. Answer 3: Barco made a decision of entering a new activity only if it had in depth research of the technology that was required and only if it could hold an estimation of being one of the top three manufacturers of the product in the world. It also put in about 8% - 10% of its annual turnover into research and development for the same. This led to the company facing a vast number of hindrances because due to this, the company only relied on the knowledge that it had gained, and Sony took over the market slowly with the introduction of new and improved technology at lower prices. Had the company changed its vision about not delving into unknown surroundings, it could have done better and provided fierce competitio n for its competitors as well. Answer 4: Sony’s strategic plan was to launch the Superdata projector at the Siggraph show in Boston. This product seized the first place as the industry’s highest performing projector from BPS’ BG400. Sony also planned to price it at a level that was about 20% – 40% below the actual market price that had been established in the projector sector. Thus this lethal combination of having such a low price for a high end and high performance yielding product proved great competition for Barco and threatened not only to lead to a collapse of its traditional market segmentation but also drop the prices of its products to a very low amount. This led to a downturn in the company’s working and functioning. Works Cited 1. Moriarty, Rowland T. â€Å"Barco Projection Systems (A): Worldwide Niche Marketing†

Global economic development Essay Example for Free

Global economic development Essay If Gwlad want to achieve any economic growth and attain a strong economy as its neighbors in Western Europe it must carry out detailed SWOT analysis. Such an analysis involves determining the country’s strength, weakness, opportunities and threat. One of the major strength that Gwlad enjoys as a country is it strategic location. Being close to the most developed nation in the world then it will be easier to access and export goods abroad to a market which is willing and able to buy. The second strength is the relative peace that the country enjoys and that of the surrounding nation which means that foreign investors will be willing to set up businesses (Anderson, 2007). One of the main weaknesses in this country is low level of industrialization which will translate to low out put and therefore less export compared to other country in the surrounding. Also with a population of just 3 million people it means that the aggregate demand is very low and for multinational who want to venture into such country and market their produce, the low demand expected for their products may discourage them. Furthermore this country seems to be expecting poor infrastructure and this raises the cost of doing business which discourage foreign direct investment (root 2006). The low level of services may be another hindrance to foreign direct investment. Foreign investors Global economic development 2 values a strong financial system that is able to allocate capital efficiently, mobilizing saving, monitor firms, share and diversity risk with the low level of GDP the consumers’ purchasing power is weak and therefore this further reduces the aggregate demand and output levels in the country. Also the country relies on few sectors to support the economy and there is a need to expand on such areas (Carroll, 2006). One of the major threat that the country faces is competition form rivals who are well established and their industries have become stable such that they are able to supply goods in the global market at low cost. Secondly since the country is not a member of European Union then members may impose both tariff and non tariff barriers to trade from goods exported from Gwlad which will increase the prices of good exported on members country. High prices will discourage consumers’ consumption of such goods which will ultimately reduce export and affect the country’s balance of payment. The country should take steps to proceed with privatization of most public corporations since such move encourage foreign direct investment and also improves on transparency and good governance of such companies (ridout, 2005). Since the financial system play a pivotal role on the growth of an economy the government should implement policies designed to streamline the sector. To encourage investment in the country then it is also vital to revise its taxation policies and develop a scheme geared towards benefiting foreign business. Entry of multinationals in the domestic market have some adverse effects in that some of the domestics firm are not strong enough to compete favorably with foreign firms such that they require protection from the government. Therefore the government Global economic development 3 should develop policy geared towards protecting domestic firms and also protecting capital flight which mostly affect the balance of payment of the country if not taken into consideration. To ensure that employment level in the country rises and that multinational does not take advantage of lack of employment policies to bring in expatriate even in areas where local can work then labor policies should be drawn which includes issues of minimal wages to be paid. Regional trading blocks such as the EU and others aid international trade by reducing or eliminating both tariff and not tariff barriers to trade therefore incase Gwlad want to participate more in the global market then it should realign its foreign policies which will enable it to be accommodated in such trading blocks. Active signing of both bilateral and multilateral agreement is necessary in improving penetration to foreign market thereby improving on export which translates to a higher GDP (melchet, 2005). CASE STUDY 2 Though strategic location and the issue of wages rate are considered by a foreign investor in determining whether to invest in a certain country or not, there are other major factors which are first considered. The availability of energy and associated cost are given priority in manufacturing industries since energy cost comprises a huge percentage of manufacturing cost hence one of the main determinants in making investment decision. The level of infrastructure is also considered by business. The possibility of growth and political stability should also be an integral part of such a marketing strategy since these two factors will determine whether a business will grow in foreign market. Through most of the study conducted it has also been proved that vibrant financial system Global economic development 4 also plays a major role in encouraging FDI (zedillo, 2005). On marketing Gwlad I would include such issues as tax system which benefit inventors e. g. tax allowance on investment. To increase foreign income from tourism then issues such as beautiful scenery and variety of wildlife have to be included. Further more technology play a major role in global market and therefore a mention of the technological achievement and possible advancement in technology should be included in the countries marketing strategy as firms currently rely on technology in performing it core business. Case Study 3 Technology advancement have led countries like china and Japan to be the most industrialized and leading exporters in the global Market. Consequently their economy have grown and a country like china with a population higher than the whole of Africa have been able to support its citizen and even offer loans and grant to other nations. Though technological advancement is key to economic development it has to be matched with good governance and visionary leaders who are able to inspire their people to reach new height (Polanski, 2004). In developing the economic policy there are others sectors which should be considered. This includes, health, financial sector which includes among other banks, insurance market, and the capital market and aerospace and automotive sectors in the transport industry. Case Study 4 One of the major strength of developing domestic companies is that it protects capital Global economic development 5 freight which adversely affects the balance of payment and the exchange rate. Domestic companies mostly employ people from within the country which reduces the level of unemployment. The income generated by domestic firms is usually re invested back thereby improving in economic growth. Some of the other income which is distributed as dividend to the owner increases the level of aggregate demand and saving levels due to increase in disposable income. Where aggregate demand increases business will be forced to produce more goods which lead to their growth and expansion (McDonnell, 2003). As saving levels increase businesses will have available capital for investment and through the multiplier effect where investment increase the GDP will also increase therefore accelerating the economic growth of the country. If steps are taken to develop domestic companies then they may grow to a level of being multinationals which will generate foreign income to the country. One of the major threats in developing domestic companies is that in case of harsh economic condition they may not withstand and therefore collapse. There are also possibility of political interference in the management and operation of such firms. Due to the limited fund available it may not be possible to avail all the required capital for expansion which means that such business will be operating below capacity and there will be under utilization of resources. Further more the economy can grow at a very low rate if only the domestic business are relied upon to accelerate growth. Lack of competition will be another weakness in that business will not improve on core area of performance such as technology therefore products will be of low quality and higher Global economic development 6 price with inability o compete in global market. Where competition lack then there is low level of creativity and innovation in products and service development therefore the economy will lag behind (Coparosa, 2004). Where the country is able to attract foreign direct investment then it is able to improve on technological advancement since such investors transfer technology to the host country. Further more since the country is experiencing a capital rationing this foreign firms do not require any form of financing from government and the funds available could be used to develop other sectors where foreign companies are unwilling to invest. Furthermore this foreign firm introduces competition which forces business to produce goods effectively and efficiently. The major threat of encouraging multinationals to invest in the country is that they can kill local industries incase where such firms are not able to compete favorably. Some of the multinational which occupies a greater stake in the economy sometimes dictate or influence the policy made by government to their advantage since where e government fail to comply they threaten to withdraw. One of the main weaknesses of using FDI is the issue of capital flight. Most usually send the profit generated from its operation back to it parent company which adversely affect the economy. However such businesses are able to sustain harsh economic condition and also improve the level of infrastructure in the host country. In using combination strategy the government ensures that domestic firms grow while at the same time attracting foreign direct investment which steers the economic growth. There should be a balance between protecting domestic firms and maintaining Global economic development 7 environment which enables foreign firms to compete fairly with domestic firms (Roca, 1983) Due to shortage of funds that the country experience and other benefits that accrue from having FDI it is advisable that the country employs a combination of strategy if it aim to achieve faster economic development. Case study 5 In persuading multinationals to develop local supply chain then the country have to change policies on taxation of this foreign firms. Issues such as tax allowance on investment can encourage such multinational to set up business to take such advantages of allowance. Also policies that streamline the financing system are also important since the financial system is a factor considered by multinational before venturing into any market. To encourage multinational to undertake research and development in the country then the country should have a well designed policy concerning copyright, trade marks or use of intellectual property. Also where commercial services such as advertising, local research firms and professional service are established and well regulated then multinational can be motivated to use such services. Furthermore policies concerning regional integration are important since it assist business to supply it commodity to other international market without barriers to trade both tariff and non tariff therefore improving on it competiveness in the global market. In addition the transport system is necessary for efficient operation of any supply chain therefore policies should be designed to improve such systems. Global economic development 8 CASE STUDY 6 Where a country is a member of the EU then there is no obstacle on free movement of goods, people and capital therefore the country can easily market and export its goods to members countries thereby improving on its balance of payment. Through the European social fund then the country will be able to improve on its level of employment thereby raising the standard of living of its citizen. The creation of European investment bank will facilitate the economic expansion of the country through creation of new resources. The EU has also developed a well established system of ensuring that competition is fair in the common markets which will therefore means that weak members states such as Gwlad are not exploited or taken advantage of by other strong and developed nations. However being such a member of EU then you have to adopt a common custom tariff and common commercial policy towards non members which may therefore reduce the country aggressiveness to participate in the global market. Countries such as China, Brazil and Australia are the new fastest growing economy in the world hence they provide a ground on which new market can be found. Further more bilateral and multilateral agreement with such country can be more beneficial than joining a trading block for a country with a weak economy (godison, 1988). For a country like Gwlad which need to achieve faster economic development it need to develop free trade agreement with this growing economies as they present a better opportunity for growth than a trading block. CASE STUDY 7 Global economic development 9 One of the merit of having a cluster development policy is having a balanced economy in that you do not allow foreign firm to dominate the local market but also give chance for domestic business to grow and reach a level at which they can compete in the global market . having both local and foreign firm present multinational from influencing government policy with threat to with draw since their position will be taken up by local firms. One of the problems inherent in such a cluster development policy is development of policy which attracts foreign entity while at the same time ensuring protection to domestic firms. The best option of organizing sector development is having specific policies that take special need of each sector rather than general policies which just give a general outlay instead of specific guideline for sector development (madon, 1997). CASE STUDY 8 As the company is ready to employ 30,000 people this will be a great boost to the economy as it will reduce the level of unemployment and ultimately increase the GDP. However where foreign suppliers are contracted to supply good rather than local suppliers this will lead to loss of business and capital flight from the country. Furthermore the demand by this firm that the country liars with the host country of these suppliers to request for a tax break may be an added cost to the country as they may in return ask for other favors which may hurt the economy. The government should agree to give research and development grant but not succumb to demand of allowing foreign supplies to be contracted as this will erode most of the benefit generated. Global economic development 10 References Anderson, AT 2007, Developing m-services: lessons learned from the developers perspective, Communication of AIS, VOL. 2007, issue 20. Carroll, M 2006, An interview with Prime Minister Lee, Institutional Investors, vol. 40, issue 9. Caporaso, J 2004,Dependence, dependency, and power in the global system: a structure and behavioral analysis, International Organization, Vol. 32 Issue 1. Emerging Markets Debt Report 2000, Political risk: Thumbs up for Brazil, Stormy Clime in Vennie, Vol. 13 Issue 4. Godison, N 1988,Londons place in the global securities market, International Affairs, Vol. 64 Issue 4. Madon, S 1997,Information-Based Global Economy and Socioeconomic Development: The Case of Bangalore,’ Information Society, Vol. 13 Issue 3. Melchet, L 2005,The Age of Environmental Impasse? Globalization and Environmental Transformation of Metropolitan Cities, Development Change, Vol. 36 Issue 5. Global economic development 11 McDonnell, I Lecomte 2003, Public Opinion and the Fight against Poverty, DAC Journal, Vol. 4 Issue 2. polenske, K 2004, Competition, Collaboration and Cooperation: An Uneasy Triangle in Networks of Firms and Regions, Regional Studies, Vol. 38 Issue 9.

Nietzsches Superman Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Though when most people think of superheroes they think of the type with super powers, the original idea of the ‘superman’ was developed by Friedrich Nietzsche in the 1800s. The ubermensch (literally overman in German) never had extra-ordinary powers and wasn’t developed as the protector of man. Instead, the superman is a person who has overcome all the flaws of mankind and is essentially ‘perfect.’ This idea, though it was thought of as an ideal goal that all people should strive for, has almost completely been used for less-than-good agendas. The details of what Nietzsche’s superman is supposed to be and how that compares with how it was used to the advantage of many dictatorships and other oppressive leaders is amazing and in many ways disgusting. What Nietzsche tried to create with his idea of the superman was human perfection, but what it actually created was fuel for evil in the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) developed his idea of the superman after many years of studying and teaching philosophy. It was a culmination of many ideals that Nietzsche felt were the ideals a person should follow to lead a perfect life. The superman is essentially his own society, determining his own values, finding his own happiness, and finding joy in being the one to control all of this himself. He doesn’t believe in a God or a soul or an afterlife, and therefore makes the most out of his life since he has no one else’s morals to follow. One interesting aspect of Nietzsche’s superman is his lack of compassion for the weak. Nietzsche believed that any pity felt for the less-abled only hindered the growth of the superman. This is very much like survival of the fittest that has allowed animals to evolve into better and better creatures. Though it seems uncaring and thoughtless, in some sense the idea makes sense because the superman is a ty pe of evolution of man. Without the need to support the weak, the superman can rise above the common man and evolve into a greater being. These ideas are strictly philosophical and were most likely not meant to be used in the real world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are many people and societies, however, who believed that Nietzsche’s writings should be followed strictly. These include Adolph Hitler, National Socialism, Fascism, and even the rock star Marilyn Manson... ... the highest virtue is to be true to yourself; sexuality must be included in a healthy, rounded life; the goal of life should be to find yourself; a high self-esteem is needed for good growth; the mind and body make up a single whole; you can't love someone else if you don't love yourself; and challenge yourself and don't live passively. These beliefs, especially in the last fifteen to twenty years, have shaped America and many other cultures into what they are today. Nietzsche was in some ways a very modern thinker and can be credited at a minimum with creating change in the world. His idea of the ubermensch was very revolutionary from the ideas at the time put forth by the Christian church and other facets of society. Though it seems extreme, many of the ideas about how the superman should be are built into the core of modern societies. None-the-less, men such as Hitler used his ideas against the rest of the world and caused much mayhem and destruction based on these ideas. It is hard to say whether Nietzsche’s idea of the superman had an overall positive or negative impact on the world, but it is for sure that society would not be where it is today if it were not for Nietzsche.

Dear Members of the Academic Standing Committee

I am so sorry but I cannot attend the Academic Standing Committee Meeting because of an unfortunate circumstance. A family emergency requires me to move out of town and I will be gone for a few days.I regret that I may not be able to attend the meeting but I am assuring the committee that I now have an academic plan that would help me succeed in schooling.Should I be re-admitted to school, I will be putting my studies at the top in the list of my priorities. I am now working a job and I will be quitting this job as soon as I receive the news that I have been readmitted. This will be crucial since the job might cause conflicts between my class schedules and study habits.Without the hindrances attached with having a job, I can devote as much time as needed in my academics. My focus will be purely on school matters.I will also be moving closer to the campus. I am currently residing at Orange County but I will be moving to an apartment just across the campus once my readmission has been approved. This translates to a more convenient travel from the house to school.Moreover, I will get tutoring services for better study habits and I also plan to make full use of the student resources center which would be of great help in my academicsI will commit myself to being successful with my studies. It will help that I am really passionate about the new major that I will be taking which is Graphic Design. I have now set my goal to graduate with this field as my specialty and I know that this major would influence the rest of my life.I want to let the school know that I will be doing my best and I will really study hard to prove that I deserve to be readmitted.Sincerely,

Malansang Isda by Rosalinda Olsen Essay

†Ang hindi nagmamahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa malansang isda† is one of the most often quoted of Rizal’s writings. Why, then, did he write his two novels, Noli me tangere and El Filibusterismo in Spanish? In his dedication of theNoli me Tangere, Rizal wrote, â€Å"I will strive to reproduce thy condition faithfully, without discriminations. † Surely, the national hero of the Philippines was not somebody who said one thing and did the opposite. Both novels portrayed the social and political conditions of the time through characters that represented a cross section of Philippine society—the natives who were called the Indios, the Peninsuslares or the Spanish who were born in Spain, and the Filipino or the Spanish who were born in the Philippine Islands—immortalized in the characters of Crisostomo Ibarra and his beloved Maria Clara, Elizas, Padre Damaso, Dona Victorina, and the sinister Padre Salvi. These characters represented the ideal and the despicable, the funny and the tragic, the truly comic and the merely ridiculous. There was enough in the novel to satisfy the Filipinos’ appetite for a good laugh and a love story–the more sentimental, the better—serving as a thin layer to hide the bitter satire. It can be said that Rizal’s two novels awoke the slumbering political passion of his countrymen so successfully that it quickened the birth of the Philippine Revolution. If this were Rizal’s aim, which most decidedly was not, he would have written the novels in Tagalog. Not only would this have been understandable to most people in Luzon, it would have hidden the revolutionary intent from the Spanish. As it was, the novels had to be distributed in secret among the Indios because the Spanish authorities banned those books. Which leads to the question of whom his target audience was in, order to answer the first question of why he wrote the Noli me tangere and theEl Filibusterismo in the language of the Spanish colonizers. So much has been written about Rizal’s extreme reluctance for revolution as the solution to the social cancer that was destroying his country, in contrast to his passionate advocacy of education and political reform. Evidently, the Spanish colonizers were Rizal’s primary target audience, hence, he wrote in their language. The Indio could have been a secondary target audience, perhaps in the hope that the ilustrados would fight for the socio-political reforms that were clearly indicated in the novels. There was no need to reproduce the social conditions of the time to the Indio who knew it only too well and constantly suffered from it. Rizal wrote the novels in Spanish because that was the appropriate language for his intent. Language is basically a tool, a means to express ideas and to communicate these, but before being a tool, language is first a reflection of one’s objective reality. Language is a symbol that represents the material objects in one’s environment. If an object does not exist in one’s material universe, one would have no word for it. For example, a person in search of gold in a certain area might show the natives a gold piece and ask what the natives call that metal and where he could find it. If there is no word for gold among the natives, it either means there is no gold in the area or the natives have not seen or heard of that metal before. When Rizal wrote the famous lines â€Å"Ang hindi nagmamahal sa sariling wika ay masahol pa sa malansang isda†, he was not referring to language merely as a communication tool but as an expression of one’s identity, of one’s individual and social consciousness. In the novels, Dona Victorina represents the type of Filipino who rejects her identity as Indio and who would do everything to deny it in every form, particularly in mannerism and language. More than a hundred years have passed since Rizal wrote his two novels but the social and eco-political structures remain basically the same. Only the ruling class has been changed, Filipinos have replaced the colonial masters. At the tip of an inverted pyramid is the very small minority of the power class that consists of the affluent and the Catholic hierarchy. At the top of this pyramid is about 80% of the population that have been assessed by the World Bank-IMF as living below poverty level. Between these two main groups is the middle class that shows no sign of increasing in number. Only a miracle would keep this unnatural pyramid from toppling over, but that belongs to another article. Undoubtedly, Pilipino (supposedly the expanded and enriched form of Tagalog) is not the language of the power class. Most of them speak English and some prefer to speak Spanish. The masses can read and speak Pilipino, as it is a required subject in school, but chances are, they speak their cradle tongue among themselves and most of the time, which would be any of the major languages and the numerous dialects. The language of the middle class is an odd mix of English, Pilipino, and their radle tongue. Since language is a reflection of one’s identity, could we then say that the Filipinos have one national identity? Without a common identity, there could be no real sense of nationhood. This is what Rizal meant by that famous quotation that is often quoted but only the surface level. Pilipino is the national language but the preferred working language of government, business, and education as well as the mass media remains English. There would be nothing amiss with this if it were not for the great majority of the population whose knowledge of English is not functional. It is not surprising that government can get away shamelessly with graft and corruption because the masses have little understanding of what is going on. Clearly, language in Philippine contemporary society is the one big wall that divides the powerful from the masses of poor people, notwithstanding all the calls for people empowerment. One would think that the entertainment industry, specifically the movies and the television, might be a vehicle for uniting the people because the movies are still affordable and one could always go to the neighbor’s to watch television. Just take a quick look at the commercials; most of them are in English. Noontime and evening variety shows are probably the worst because the language used by the hosts and participants reflects the jargon of the â€Å"lost tribe† aka Manila people, which is a horrible porridge of English and Pilipino with an even more horrendous lack of grammar or logical syntax. So much for the local role models, let’s take a look at the school system. According to a DECS ruling, Pilipino should be the mode of classroom instruction. So far, this has worked, in some fashion, in the elementary grades and to a lesser extent, in the secondary and the tertiary levels. Textbooks in Pilipino have been published and used in the schools, but all the references remain English. In fact, teachers find it impossible to use Pilipino in teaching mathematics, algebra, chemistry, or physics, philosophy, etc. Not surprisingly, the pupil is subjected to a kind of mental lobotomy and eventually their soul is truncated, amputated, or dichotomised. Brave souls who perhaps wanted to â€Å"make a difference â€Å" in the academe, have attempted to write their undergraduate or graduate thesis in Pilipino. Some succeeded, but one can’t help wondering if their theses would ever be taken down from the library shelves to be read and enjoyed. Few would have the courage to admit that they would rather read Rizal’s novels in English, not just because it would be easier for them but because the Pilipino translations are so antiquated that one would read it only under duress, which is to say, only because the school requires it. The Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia got their independence from their colonial masters at about the same time. All three countries created a national language that would be the expression of the national soul and, thus, be a unifying element. Sadly, Pilipino has not succeeded in being the language of the government and the governed, in contrast to how Indonesia and Malaysia has used their respective national languages. Indonesia does not use Dutch as the language of government, education and commerce. Neither do the Malaysians use English as their working language. An anecdote would illustrate this. A friend was on holiday in Kuala Lumpur. One day, she took a cab and, naturally, spoke to the taxi driver in English. In polite but cold tones, the driver asked her, â€Å"Madam, why do you talk in English? We are all Malaysians. † Nonplussed, she said she was Filipino and the taxi driver apologized and explained that she looked Malaysian. It might be an excellent thing for Philippine politicians to have experienced this, but then again, they would be more likely to hire a limousine (at Filipino taxpayer’s expense, of course) and lose the chance of being told to speak the national language by a lowly taxi driver. Is the Filipino then a â€Å"malansang isda†? Using the â€Å"isda† analogy, the Filipino might well be like a fish out of water, in the sense that Filipinos are supposed to be living in one country—the big sea—that has become an alien territory to citizens whose ties have remained regional or tribal rather than national. A fish out of its natural habitat would quickly die and stink. Rizal did not have all the answers to Philippine problems, but he has practically said it all. For the young, he collected folk stories and legends. For the more mature, he wrote the novels, Noli me tangereand El Filibusterismo, the two long essays â€Å"The Indolence of the Filipino† and â€Å"The Philippines a Century Hence† as well as poetry and countless articles. Jose Rizal is the national hero and his portrait is in the lowest denomination of Philippine paper money. Every Filipino knows Rizal, but do they understand him? Those who have read his novels remember only the love story of Ibarra and Maria Clara, the antics of Dona Victorina, and the pathetic Sisa. High School and college graduates are obliged to take the Rizal course as a requirement for graduation, but how many of them understand the two long essays relative to what is happening in the Philippines today, if they read it at all? Rizal has been iconized and even idolized by a sect that calls themselves â€Å"Rizalistas†, but the Filipino has yet to realize and actualise his relevance.

Free Essays on Australia And International Business

INTRODUCTION The Commonwealth of Australia is located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean in Oceania. Its capital is Canberra which is located in the state of New South Wales. Today, the country consists of six states and two territories. It is the sixth largest country in the world, however, the smallest of all the continents. In spite of its small size, Australia has proven itself to be one of the worlds leading countries in terms of economic standing. By analyzing Australia’s culture, political structure, legal system, economy, and trade and investment policies, it is possible to discuss the implications of doing business in Australia as a local operation. AUSTRALIAN CULTURE Australia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. Its population is near 20 million people, with the majority of them living in the few major urban areas through out the country. Currently, Australia has a population growth rate of 0.93% . The age structure of Australia is as follows: (these numbers are based on 2003 est.) 0-14 years, 20.2% (Male 2,045,783 and female 1,949,864), 15-64 years, 67.1% (male 6,680,531 and female 6,553,141), and 65 years and over, 12.7% (male 1,099,275 and female 1,403,309). In general, Australians are very outgoing and friendly. They have a tendency to warm up to people quickly. From the onset, an Australian will trust you, but will change their view point immediately, if you give them any reason to be suspicious. When having a conversation with an Australian, it is always better to be modest. Avoid talking about your rank, achievements, education, or any other topic that will make them believe you are trying to make them feel inferior. When it comes to doing business in Australia, there are some cultural issues to be aware of in order to make business transactions go smoothly. First, it is imperative to extend a hand of friendship to them. It is very valuable to Australi... Free Essays on Australia And International Business Free Essays on Australia And International Business INTRODUCTION The Commonwealth of Australia is located between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean in Oceania. Its capital is Canberra which is located in the state of New South Wales. Today, the country consists of six states and two territories. It is the sixth largest country in the world, however, the smallest of all the continents. In spite of its small size, Australia has proven itself to be one of the worlds leading countries in terms of economic standing. By analyzing Australia’s culture, political structure, legal system, economy, and trade and investment policies, it is possible to discuss the implications of doing business in Australia as a local operation. AUSTRALIAN CULTURE Australia is one of the most urbanized countries in the world. Its population is near 20 million people, with the majority of them living in the few major urban areas through out the country. Currently, Australia has a population growth rate of 0.93% . The age structure of Australia is as follows: (these numbers are based on 2003 est.) 0-14 years, 20.2% (Male 2,045,783 and female 1,949,864), 15-64 years, 67.1% (male 6,680,531 and female 6,553,141), and 65 years and over, 12.7% (male 1,099,275 and female 1,403,309). In general, Australians are very outgoing and friendly. They have a tendency to warm up to people quickly. From the onset, an Australian will trust you, but will change their view point immediately, if you give them any reason to be suspicious. When having a conversation with an Australian, it is always better to be modest. Avoid talking about your rank, achievements, education, or any other topic that will make them believe you are trying to make them feel inferior. When it comes to doing business in Australia, there are some cultural issues to be aware of in order to make business transactions go smoothly. First, it is imperative to extend a hand of friendship to them. It is very valuable to Australi...

Transition Questions on ACT English Strategies and Practice

Transition Questions on ACT English Strategies and Practice SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Transitions are one of the most common and trickiest rhetorical topics tested on the ACT English section. However, there are a couple simple rules that can make answering these questions much easier. In this post, I'll cover everything you need to know to approach all three types of transition question: Types of transitional relationships Transitions between sentences Transitions between clauses Transitions between paragraphs Key strategies for transitions on ACT English questions Feature image credit: Justin Kern, via Flickr, under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 3 Types of Transitions The ACT covers three basic transitional relationships: addition, contrast, and causation. Understanding how these relationships work will be very helpful for the test. Addition: Words like "also" and "moreover" that indicate continuation of or elaboration on a thought. Contrast: Words like "however" and "still" that introduce a conflicting point or idea. Causation: Words like "so" and "because" that indicate a causal relationship. Let's look at some examples in context: Addition: Dorian Gray couldn't be killed. In addition, he never aged. Contrast: Vanessa knew Ethan was a werewolf. However, she was unconcerned. Causation: Frankenstein's monster threatened to hurt him if he didn't build the monster a mate, so Frankenstein did as he was told. Keep in mind that not every transition falls into one of these categories. They're more what you'd call guidelines, than actual rules. Nonetheless, thinking about transitions in these terms can help you pick out the right answer on ACT English questions, as you'll see below. Transitions Between Sentences The most common type of transition question on the ACT deals with picking the correct transition word to place between two sentences. For example: Malcom and Sam were best friends. Even so, they spent every moment of the day together. Something about this transition doesn't quite make sense. "Even so" is a contrast transition, but these to sentences aren't opposed to each other: if Malcom and Sam are best friends, it makes perfect sense that they would spend every day together. Instead it would make more sense to use a causation transition, or even drop the transition word completely: Malcom and Sam were best friends. As such, they spent every moment of the day together. Malcom and Sam were best friends. They spent every moment of the day together. We're going to cover a step-by-step approach, key transition words, and some helpful ACT English tips for questions about connecting sentences. Step-by-Step Approach Let's got through how to approach sentence transition questions step-by-step: #1: Cross out the underlined word. Always start by crossing out the word that’s there. Otherwise, if it's not obviously wrong, you may be biased in favor of the original phrasing. #2: Read to the end of the sentence. You should be doing this on every question, but it's especially important here to make sure you understand how the two sentences are related to each other. #3: Does anything seem obviously necessary/correct? Sometimes you'll read the two sentences and immediately recognize what word you would use- that specific transition may not be a choice, but you can look for synonyms. #4: What type of relationship is it? Addition, contrast, or causation? If you're not sure, it can be helpful to think about whether you would connect the sentences with and (addition), but (contrast), or so/because (contrast). #5: Narrow down your choices. Once you have a sense of what you're looking for, rule out any answers that don't make sense or that aren't grammatical. #6: Plug answer into sentence to check. When you think you have the answer, plug it into the sentence and make sure the transition is logical. We'll walk through this process with an example shortly, but first let's go over some key words and strategies that you need to know. Key Words Transitions between sentences are generally conjunctive adverbs, like "however" and "furthermore," or prepositional phrases, like "for example" and "on the other hand." You can see the most common ones below, sorted by type. Introducing Sentences Addition Contrast Causation Also However Thus Moreover On the other hand As such In fact Nonetheless Therefore Furthermore Nevertheless Consequently In addition Still As a result Similarly Instead Indeed Despite this In conclusion Meanwhile In other words Finally Next Likewise Then For example As I mentioned above, not every question will involve these types of transitions. Occasionally, you'll see other phrases or adverbs, like "in general" or unfortunately," or constructions that are specific to the context. You may also see options that are grammatically incorrect. These will generally be coordinating or subordinating conjunctions (see the chart below for examples), which can't be used immediately before a comma to introduce a complete sentence. Helpful Tips Beyond the basic concepts we've discussed, there are some ACT English-specific tips that can really help you approach transition questions. If two choices are synonyms, neither is correct. If two of the words mean the same thing (they must be synonyms, not just belong to the same category), there's no way to choose between them, so neither can be correct. When you see two choices that are synonyms, rule them both out. If one of the choices omits the transition word altogether, that's usually the correct answer. Always check any answer that leaves the transition word out first- if the paragraph works without it, that's the right answer. Transition words don't necessarily come at the beginning of the sentence. Sometimes, for example, you'll see them moved into a sentence like this one. keep in mind that they must be surrounded by commas and can't be used to connect two independent clauses without a period or semicolon. Don't panic if the three categories don't apply. Not every question deals with transitions that fit into the categories outlined above. Simply use the rest of the strategy (thinking about how the two sentences are related, narrowing down choices that don't make sense, and then plugging in the answer you think is right to check) to pick out the best answer. Watch out for questions that ask for the LEAST acceptable option. Make sure to use process of elimination to rule out any answer that does work. Real ACT Practice Question We've covered a lot of material on transitions- let's put it into practice on a real ACT question. This example is a case where the transition has been shifted into the sentence, but we'll approach it in the same way. The first step is to look at the two sentences without the transition: Snowflakes form from tiny water droplets, following a specific process of chemical bonding as they freeze, which results in a six-sided figure. The rare "triangular" snowflake confounded scientists for years because it apparently defied the basic laws of chemistry. Does an obvious transition jump out at you? Not really. On to the next question! How are these sentences related to each other? The first sentence describes how snowflakes are formed. The second brings up a seeming exception to that rule. This relationship is contrasting. Rule out answers that don't work. "Additionally" and "similarly" are too similar to choose between, so both must be wrong. "For example" doesn't make sense, since the second sentence is actually about an exception to the rule laid out in the first, not an example of it. Plug in the remaining choice. We have only "however," which is a contrast transition, left. Let's try it out in context: Snowflakes form from tiny water droplets, following a specific process of chemical bonding as they freeze, which results in a six-sided figure. The rare "triangular" snowflake, however, confounded scientists for years because it apparently defied the basic laws of chemistry. That transition makes sense, so J must be the correct answer. Image credit: Arjan Almekinders, via Flickr, under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Transitions Between Clauses Questions dealing with transitions between clauses are very similar to those about transitions between sentences, so you can use the same approach. However, these questions involve a different set of transition words: coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. Connecting Clauses Addition Contrast Causation And But So Yet Because Unless Since While As Though Such that Although Whereas Otherwise You may see questions that mix up the different types of transitions and attempt to use a conjunction for connecting clauses to introduce a sentence or a conjunctive adverb to connect two clauses- these answers will be incorrect. Issues with transitions between clauses may also be tested in conjunction with correctly connecting independent clauses, so watch out for punctuation as well. (For more details on connecting independent clauses, check out our post on run-ons and fragments.) Let's use the strategy above to answer a real ACT example that asks about transitions between clauses: First we have to look at the underlined word and answer choices and recognize that these subordinating conjunctions, so this a question about connecting clauses and not sentences. Next, let's cut out the current transition word and break the sentence into its two component clauses (I'm also going to eliminate the descriptor at the end for simplicity): There's not much chance that a seven-year-old just learning the game can hit a pitched baseball The umpire puts the ball on top of a stationary tee Does an obvious transition jump out at you? I would use "so" or "because" to connect these two ideas. How are these sentences related to each other? Those transitions jump out at me because the idea in the first clause (that a seven-year-old can't hit a pitched baseball) clearly leads to the solution in the second (putting the ball on a tee). This connection is a causal relationship. Rule out answers that don't work. Neither "while" nor "although" can work because they're interchangeable (and both contrast transitions). "Unless" doesn't make sense. Plug in the remaining choice. Process of elimination leaves only "since," which is a causation transition. Looking at the sentence as written, we can see that it makes sense, so A is the correct answer. Transitions Between Paragraphs The final type of transition question deals with transitions between paragraphs. Rather than asking about a specific word or phrase, these usually deal with full sentences and will be phrased similarly to the following examples: Given that all of the choices are true, which one would most effectively introduce the main idea of this paragraph? Which of the following sentences offers the best introduction to this paragraph? The exact phrasing may vary, but these types of questions always ask about "transition" or "introduction." Step-by-Step Approach Because it's impossible to predict the content of an entire paragraph, it's vital that you use process of elimination for questions that ask about transitions between paragraphs. Here's a step-by-step approach to help you narrow down your choices. #1:Pay attention to what the question is asking for. Though many of these questions simply ask for the sentence that provides the best transition or introduction, some may give a more specific. Make sure to read the question carefully and think about what it's asking. #2: Read into the paragraph at least a couple of sentences. Ideally, you'll read the whole paragraph before answering transition questions, but you absolutely must read at least one sentence after the first to get a sense of the context. #3: Keep in mind types of transitional relationships. Though most of these questions don't involve transition words, it can still be helpful to consider whether there's a clear contrasting or causal relationship. #4: Look for anything that needs to be introduced because it's referred back to later in the paragraph. In the subsequent sentences, look out for pronouns like this and these that reference ideas or nouns that need to be introduced in the first sentence. This will often be the best hint for the correct answer. #5: Narrow down the choices. Rule out answers that don’t make sense or don’t fit with the general tone of the passage. #6: Plug in the sentence you think works best. When you've eliminated three choices, read the last answer in context and check that it makes sense. Not all of these steps will apply to every question- the important thing is to think about these ideas as you work to rule out choices. Real ACT Practice Question Let's walk through how to approach a paragraph transition question from a real ACT. What is the question asking for? The best transition between the paragraphs. Read both paragraphs. The first paragraph describes Quezada's discovery of and interest in the ancient pots. The second paragraph details his attempts to recreate them. Is there anything referenced later in the paragraph that needs to be introduced? The sentence that currently opens the paragraph mentions "the clay" without really explaining which clay it's talking about. Narrow down choices. We can immediately rule out F, because it's about the town and not the pottery, which is the topic of these two paragraphs. G and J are both relevant to the topic of the ancient pottery, but neither makes sense as a transition. The patterns are initially described earlier in the passage, and Quezada's painting doesn't come up until later in the second paragraph. Plug in the remaining option. Let's look at the passage with H, the only remaining option, plugged in. Fascinated by geometric designs, Quezada wondered if he could make pots like these. Quezada began working with clay from the mountains. He dug the clay, soaked it, and tried to shape it into a pot. The underlined sentence makes sense as a transition, so H is the correct answer. Image credit: Carlos Bryant, via Flickr, under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Summary of Key Strategies for Transitions on ACT English Though transition questions can vary pretty widely, you should always use process of elimination to narrow down the possibilities. I've rounded up the most important tips from the in depth discussion above. Consider the type of transitional relationship. Thinking about how the sentences or paragraphs are related to each other is key to understanding how best to transition between them. Read the question carefully. Any time there's a written out question, make sure you know what it's asking for- don't make assumptions. Similarly, make sure you always read enough of the passage to understand the context. Use multiple choice to your advantage: If two answers are synonyms, neither is correct. If one answer has no transition word, that’s usually the correct one. Plug in the answer you think is best to check. Always make sure that an answer makes in context. If nothing else, this technique will help keep you from picking answers that indicate the right type of transition, but don't fit into the sentence grammatically. What's Next Transitions are sometimes tested in conjunction with sentence structure and punctuation, so make sure you read our complete guide to commas and our post on other punctuation marks. If you're struggling with the rhetorical skills questions, take a look at our guides on redundancy and author technique. For more big picture strategies, be sure you know the best way to approach ACT English passages and the 5 critical concepts you need to ace the test. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this English lesson, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

The Basis of Sex Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Basis of Sex Education - Essay Example What is important here is how well the politicians and celebrities keep their profiles in an easily identifiable manner and what they are doing to make sure that their acts are given the proper leverage that they would like to receive at the hands of the common man and woman on the street. The debate has more feet than one can think of. This is because the people at the helm of affairs within the imparting of sex education have not been able to decipher the true representation and depiction of this form of knowledge which the children of present times should have for their respective personal careers. This would keep them aware of how others can take undue advantage of them and what they must do to make sure that the negativities remain at a fair enough distance from them. This debate has weight because the role played by the politicians and celebrities is not a good one since they are indulging in acts of a sexual nature, which would in return mean that the teenagers would not mind getting into the same as well. There has to be a dis-associative feeling attached with such a notion in order to bring the debate under wraps and to find a solution in the end. There is a great amount of evidence available which suggests that sex education should be kept at a safe distance from the shores of the schools and colleges, which is indeed a much debatable aspect of the subject at hand. This is because sex education domains have only helped the students to grow and develop as a whole. It has asked for their continuous improvement in terms of mental levels and understanding of sensitive issues which they might know come across if they were not subjected to education ranging from a sexual nature. The sex education realms are therefore very closely attached with how well the celebrities and politicians manage their respective selves. If they do not concentrate on hiding their respective sexual acts and involve within such acts, it would mean there are problems of a magnanimou s nature and the sex education debates would continue to exist in the coming times as well.     Ã‚