Dyslexia and the Good Life Essay Example

Dyslexia and the Good Life Essay Example Dyslexia and the Good Life Paper Dyslexia and the Good Life Paper In her book Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level, Sally Shaywitz says, †¦Dyslexia can infiltrate every aspect of a person’s life. It is often described as a hidden disability because it was thought to lack visible signs, but dyslexia is hidden only from those who do not have to live with it and suffer its effects (Shaywitz, 4). Shaywitz says further that dyslexic children are often misjudged on the level of intelligence due to the difficulty of reading. For example, when a child’s progress seems impeded, the blame is usually set on sociological or educational issues. Even though the general public is more aware of dyslexia and its effects, not enough people recognize it in small children. Given the ‘normal’ issues teachers face on the preschool level, sometimes dyslexia will be diagnosed as something else pertaining to learning difficulty (e. g. attention deficit disorder). The purpose of this essay is to engage the reader in the different aspects of this unique condition. It is not uncommon for dyslexic people to be seen as having an attention deficit disorder when the reality is that they are having difficulty seeing the letters the same way as the other children in the classroom. Some letters in a word are reversed or rearranged giving a preschool child an erroneous symbol for specific letters of the alphabet. Other issues accompanying letter distortion include poor organization and introversion due to the ‘difference’ realized in the mind of a dyslexic child. The word ‘dyslexia’ actually comes from a Greek word which means difficulty with words. It includes a wide range of learning difficulties where a person of normal intelligence has persistent and significant problems with reading, writing, spelling and sometimes mathematics and musical notation (Hicks, www. bbc. co. uk/health ). It should be known that people in the past have associated poor parenting as a cause of dyslexia. This could not be further from the truth. Although a cause has not been pinned down yet, there are a number of ways to detect dyslexia in children and adults none of which has to do with the way they are treated. Some of these include phonics, letter identification, and even counting. Since dyslexic people suffer with differing symptoms, helping them to cope with everyday life must be done on an individual level. If detected early enough there are three widely used methods to help dyslexic children overcome this barrier in learning. The first method is called the developmental approach and uses previous methods that are believed to be instructional and helpful and center on the extra time these special children need to learn specific tasks. Because the symptoms vary with each individual, the specific symptom would have to be predetermined in order for the developmental approach to work. A second method uses corrective measures in that it breaks the children into groups and emphasizes special interests and assets of the special child. This method is based on the hope it will give the child to overcome the disability. If used properly, this method could strengthen a child’s resolve to overcome which results in them feeling normal. Specific corrective measures are taken on the child’s initiative which enables the child to understand they have the power to do something about this problem they face. The last approach is a remedial approach. It attempts to overcome dyslexia through education and psychology. It is thought that dyslexia is just a learning disorder that can be overcome through educating the sufferer and psychologically helping them to cope with it. This approach is really the most involved of the three, but it only involves people on a professional level. This could be seen as a detriment to children with dyslexia. The time spent with psychologists and other medical professions takes away from the time they could spend with children their age. With enough interaction on their level they may be able to see their difference, and with the help of the other children psychological help is provided. WebMD states that dyslexia could be genetic in that people who suffer with it usually have someone else in the family lineage that also suffers with it. Genetic disorders are diseases that can be passed from parents to children. Some disorders may be inherited if only one parent has the gene, while others can be inherited only if both parents have the gene (Cooke, http://children. webmd. com/tc/Dyslexia-Cause). Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle-Cell are two samples given by WebMD as being on the list of genetically inherited medical problems. The examples below give a better understanding of the processes in the brain of a dyslexic person. The word sare n otsp aced cor rect ly We spell wrds xatle az tha snd to us Sometimesalltheletterarepushedtogether The brain suffering from the symptoms of dyslexia uses both the left and right sides of the brain to do what the left side does in brains not suffering from dyslexia. The above samples of how dyslexic people see words and sentences demonstrates the level of difficulty just to communicate written messages. Every textbook they encounter will be six times harder to read for them than the other children with the same textbook due to the inadequacy of the left side of the brain. In an effort to demonstrate the efficiency with which normal brains operate and make sense out of words that are collected for the purpose of communication look at these wrds tht are msing lttrs. Se hw esy it bcms to rd smthng lke ths? Imagine words and letters being even more mixed up than this and you have a day in the life of a dyslexic. A University of Auckland study showed mostly left hemisphere brain activity when normal readers were asked to perform three different reading tasks, including a phonics-based reading task where letter strings must be silently sounded-out to get the correct answer. In contrast, the dyslexic adults showed very limited left-brain activity during these tasks, with most activity being in the right brain ( engineering. auckland. ac. nz/uoa/engineering/news/2006/04/dyslexia. cfm). It is the left side of the brain that controls the phonics of words. When the normal brain sees a sentence it recalls the learning process and calls into action the left side of the brain which deciphers the letters and the sounds which causes the words and letters to make sense. To a dyslexic brain, with little or no left brain activity, the problem arises. The right side of the brain, which is not the center for decoding messages, tries to take up the slack of the left side and therefore hinders the learning process. Doctor Karen Waldie, of the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in an interview stated, The only significant activity in the phonological dyslexic group was in the frontal lobes of the right hemisphere of the brain, she continued. This might be the result of the dyslexic brain trying to compensate for an inefficient left-brain language system a system that might have been compromised during brain development or is simply genetically hard-wired to be a bit different from the norm. † The brain is so complex an organ that to understand how the right side of the brain compensates for the left side not functioning properly is a mystery. In relation to normal activity of the brain, dyslexia causes such a different pattern of activity that there are scientists who believe it is no more than a differing in brain activity and if the effected brain is properly trained it can lead a normal happy life. â€Å"The mental function that causes dyslexia is a gift in the truest sense of the word: a natural ability, a talent. It is something special that enhances the individual,† so says Ronald Davis in his co-authored book on the subject, The Gift of Dyslexia. He lists some well known people that were fortunate enough to have dyslexia; Hans Christian Anderson, Whoopi Goldberg, General George Patton and more. Davis, in an interview on a talk show, was asked if there was a positive side of dyslexia, when he gave her the list of famous people that had it, she was reported to have stated how fascinating it was that these people excelled in life in spite of their handicap. Davis notes in his book that he feels that they are famous as a direct result of their handicap, or as he says ‘their gift. ’ This book and others he has written have helped many people see their handicap as a gift and offers them a solution for their unique way of seeing the world. The brain is such a magnificent part of the human body. Some believe that the average person uses only about ten percent of their brain at any given moment. While this may lead to some fairly wild assumptions, it is clear and measurable that the dyslexic brain uses right brain matter to do what the left brain usually does. If this is the case, then it could be logically concluded that man does not really know what would happen if he was able to utilize more than that assumed ten percent at any given moment. It is a logical assumption (if you can use those two words together) then, that the human brain adapts to its surroundings. If a child is diagnosed as dyslexic the learning process will become different for him than it would be for one without it. When readers are asked to imagine cat without the kah sound, they readily summon at. The MRI photographs show their brains lighting up like pinball machines. When the brain gets it, the light bulbs really do go on. However, the brains of people who cant sound out words often look different on MRI pictures. There is less blood flow to the language centers of the brain and, in some cases, not much activity evident at all. Scientists are not sure why this is or what it means. But simply put, without the ability to sound out words, the brain is stumped (www. healthyplace. com). The main trouble dyslexics have when trying to read is the phonic sounds that the brain hears when it sees a word. According to the 2006 November edition of Scientific America, the dyslexic brain has little or no capability to phonically hear a word and thus has no reference point for the sounding of that word (101). The frustration is in the dyslexic’s ability to understand what they hear but not what they read. It’s like trying to remember something that you have remembered before, but now something is blocking the ability to recall that information again. Therefore people say things like â€Å"Until I remember it, it will drive me nuts! † The major life complication that most physicians will see as pertaining to people with dyslexia is self esteem issues. The fact that a basic fundamental part of everyday life is nearly impossible for them; dyslexic people are more prone to depression, withdrawal and isolation. Overall health can ultimately be affected depending on the depth of the depression or other complications arising as a direct result of being dyslexic. The remedies, for there is no known cure, are more home-grown than anything else. This means siblings and parents should read to them often to help them understand what they see, and should interact with them enough to be sure they feel as they are an important part of the family. Winston Churchill, a man who could move the masses, was dyslexic. Walt Disney, Henry Ford and Cher all dealt with, or in Cher’s case, still deal with dyslexia. The best treatment a dyslexic person can get is the friendly help from people who genuinely care about them. If your child has dyslexia, doctors would recommend that you be very supportive, talk to them about it, and develop study practices that will enable them to function in school. Self esteem goes a long way in children and youth alike. There will always be those who will ridicule, or make some other type of demeaning remark, so all the encouragement they can get will help them become productive members of society. Ronald Davis did something positive when he wrote Dyslexia the Gift, Cher sings and writes music, and there are probably people in your city dealing with dyslexia right now. As long as humans are in control of society, they will always have a way to cope with whatever life deals to them. Shaywitz, Sally, MD. Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level. New York: Random House Publishing, 2003. Hicks, Rob MD. Dislexia. December 2005. 18 April 2007. bbc. co. uk/health/conditions/dyslexia1. shtml Cooke, Kerry V. Genetic Disorders. 27 May 2005. 18 April 2007. http://children. webmd. com/tc/Dyslexia-Cause Faculty of Engineering. Map of the human brain sheds new light on dyslexia. 20 April 2006. 18 April 2007. engineering. auckland. ac. nz/uoa/ engineering/news/2006/04/dyslexia. cfm Davis, Robert D. and Braun, Eldon N. Dyslexia The Gift. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group. 1994. 4 10 Years of Brain Imaging. HealthyPlace. com. 2000. 18 April 2007.

King Pakal of Palenque

King Pakal of Palenque Kinich Jahahb Pakal (Resplendent Shield) was ruler of the Maya city of Palenque from 615 A.D. to his death in 683. He is usually known simply as Pakal or Pakal I to differentiate him from later rulers of that name. When he came to the throne of Palenque, it was an embattled, destroyed city, but during his long and steady reign it became the most powerful city-state in the western Maya lands. When he died, he was buried in a glorious tomb in the Temple of the Inscriptions in Palenque: his funeral mask and finely carved sarcophagus lid, priceless pieces of Maya art, are only two of the many wonders found in his crypt. Pakals Lineage Pakal, who ordered the construction of his own tomb, painstakingly detailed his royal lineage and deeds in finely carved glyphs in the Temple of the Inscriptions and elsewhere in Palenque. Pakal was born on March 23, 603; his mother Sak Kuk was of the Palenque royal family, and his father Kan Mo Hix came from a family of lesser nobility. Pakals great-grandmother, Yohl Iknal, ruled Palenque from 583-604. When Yohl Iknal died, her two sons, Ajen Yohl Mat and Janahb Pakal I, shared ruling duties until both died at different times in 612 A.D. Janahb Pakal was the father of Sak Kuk, mother of the future King Pakal. Pakals Chaotic Childhood Young Pakal grew up in difficult times. Before he was even born, Palenque was locked in a struggle with the powerful Kaan dynasty, which was based in Calakmul. In 599, Palenque was attacked by Kaan allies from Santa Elena and the Palenque rulers were forced to flee the city. In 611, the Kaan dynasty attacked Palenque again. This time, the city was destroyed and the leadership once again forced into exile. The Palenque rulers set themselves up at Tortuguero in 612 under the leadership of Ik Muuy Mawaan I, but a breakaway group, led by Pakals parents, returned to Palenque. Pakal himself was crowned by his mothers hand on July 26, 615 A.D. He was barely twelve years old. His parents served as regents to the young king and as trusted advisors until they passed away decades later (his mother in 640 and his father in 642). A Time of Violence Pakal was a steady ruler but his time as king was far from peaceful. The Kaan dynasty had not forgotten about Palenque, and the rival exile faction at Tortuguero made frequent war upon Pakals people as well. On June 1, 644, Bahlam Ajaw, ruler of the rival faction at Tortuguero, ordered an attack on the town of Ux Te Kuh. The town, birthplace of Pakals wife Ix Tzak-bu Ajaw, was allied with Palenque: the lords of Tortuguero would attack the same town a second time in 655. In 649, Tortuguero attacked Moyoop and Coyalcalco, also Palenque allies. In 659, Pakal took the initiative and ordered an invasion of the Kaan allies at Pomona and Santa Elena. The warriors of Palenque were victorious and returned home with the leaders of Pomona and Santa Elena as well as a dignitary of some sort from Piedras Negras, also an ally of Calakmul. The three foreign leaders were ceremoniously sacrificed to the god Kawill. This great victory gave Pakal and his people some breathing room, although his reign w ould never be completely peaceful. He of the Five Houses of the Terraced Building Pakal not only solidified and extended Palenques influence, he also expanded the city itself. Many great buildings were improved, built or begun during Pakals reign. Sometime around 650 A.D., Pakal ordered the expansion of the so-called Palace. He ordered aqueducts (some of which still work) as well as the expansion of buildings A,B,C and E of the palace complex. For this construction he was remembered with the title   He of the Five Houses of the Terraced Building Building E was built as a monument to his forebears and Building C features a hieroglyphic stairway which glorifies the campaign of 659 A.D. and the prisoners which were taken. The so-called Forgotten Temple was built to house the remains of Pakals parents. Pakal also ordered the construction of Temple 13, home of the tomb of the Red Queen, generally believed to be Ix Tzak-bu Ajaw, Pakals wife. Most importantly, Pakal ordered the construction of his own tomb: the Temple of the Inscriptions. Pakals Line In 626 A.D., Pakals soon-to-be wife Ix Tzak-bu Ajaw arrived at Palenque from the city of Ux Te Kuh. Pakal would have several children, including his heir and successor, Kinich Kan Bahlam. His line would rule Palenque for decades until the city was abandoned sometime after 799 A.D., which is the date of the last known inscription at the city. At least two of his descendants adopted the name Pakal as part of their royal titles, indicating the high regard the citizens of Palenque held him even long after his death. Pakals Tomb Pakal died on July 31, 683 and was entombed in the Temple of the Inscriptions. Fortunately, his tomb was never discovered by looters but was instead excavated by archaeologists under the direction of Dr. Alberto Ruz Lhuiller in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Pakals body was entombed deep in the temple, down some stairways which were later sealed off. His burial chamber features nine warrior figures painted on the walls, representing the nine levels of the afterlife. His crypt contains many glyphs describing his line and accomplishments. His great carved stone sarcophagus lid is one of the marvels of Mesoamerican art: it shows Pakal being reborn as the god Unen-Kawill. Inside the crypt were the crumbling remains of Pakals body and many treasures, including Pakals jade funeral mask, another priceless piece of Maya art.    Legacy of King Pakal In a sense, Pakal continued to govern Palenque long after his death. Pakals son Kinich Kan Bahlam ordered his fathers likeness carved into stone tablets as if he were leading certain ceremonies. Pakals grandson Kinich Ahkal Mo Nahb ordered an image of Pakal carved into a throne on Temple Twenty-one of Palenque. To the Maya of Palenque, Pakal was a great leader whose long realm was a time of expansion of tribute and influence, even if it was marked by frequent wars and battles with neighboring city-states. Pakals greatest legacy, however, is undoubtedly to historians. Pakals tomb was a treasure trove about the ancient Maya; archaeologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma considers it one of the six most important archaeological finds of all time. The many glyphs and in the Temple of the Inscriptions are among the only surviving written records of the Maya. Sources: Bernal Romero, Guillermo. Kinich Jahahb Pakal (Resplandente Escudo Ave-Janahb) (603-683 d.C) Arqueologà ­a Mexicana XIX-110 (July-August 2011) 40-45. Matos Moctezuma, Eduardo. Grandes Hallazgos de la Arqueologà ­a: De la Muerte a la Inmortalidad. Mexico: Tiempo de Memoria Tus Quets, 2013. McKillop, Heather. New York: Norton, 2004.

Improving Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Improving Decision Making - Essay Example The company's defence that the price was part of a "random price test" and could be refunded solidified the suspicion further it was into dynamic pricing activity, as similar instances were far too many. Just like the company offered $51 less by Amazon than its own usual price on a dedicated bargain website (ramasastry, cnn.com). An analysis can be done from figures provided as quarter wise sales data, of a particular book sold through this portal, (Niles, R., ojr.org). It shows that the company had skimmed high earnings through a dynamic pricing policy in the first quarter sales. Eleven and twelve copies of the same book were sold at the prices of $11.02 and $11.50 each respectively while in the second quarter the same book sold sixteen and eleven copies each at the prices of $11.02 and $11.70 respectively meaning a highly elastic nature of the book's demand can be computed at a elasticity demand- coefficient of two, which is greater than unitary. It may be noticed here that there was an increase in sales of the books even when the prices charged were higher. If total earnings based on variable pricing quarter - on - quarter are considered , then they range from 15% to almost as high as 40%. This is where the marketers like Amazon.com have the opportunity to maximize their earnings from unsuspecting custome rs through their dynamic pricing strategy as even against a higher price Amazon sold more number of copies. The remaining quarters also showed a similar effect. Benefits & disadvantages The benefits of dynamic pricing comprise of stimulating demand which helps to churn inventory quicker translating into more revenue and greater margins. The new focus is on target pricing, with technology profiling the price sensitivity of customers to determine the selection of groups which can be discriminated on pricing. . It is believed by the company to help in maximizing the total revenue for the company. The associates and partners of Amazon even share historical data of their dynamic pricing. (Liquid commerce, information-age.com). The disadvantages are also quite a few such as customer loyalty start disappearing once regular customers find out that they are being overcharged in contrast to a new customer offered a lower promotional price . This could drive customers to bargain counters where everyone is treated fairly and there is no discrimination through dynamic pricing. The other drawback of this method may be a legal threat incase it appears that the firm is violating an titrust laws or not having a fixed price policy. Conclusion However, it may be an end of an era of list prices where the product life cycle is short, (Strategic interactive marketing, managing change.com), the distance minimized and delivery lead times lessened with the help of technology and modernization. Industry experts have reportedly observed dynamic pricing to be a boon to high fixed and low marginal cost industries and also as a necessity for e commerce (Weiss, R., M. & Mehrotra, A., K.,

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

Macroeconomics - Essay Example The industry generates a lot of revenues for the United States, but the amounts of jobs created by these companies are limited and specialized. According to the article innovation and economic growth are two correlated concepts. An organization that has done a good job in promoting medical innovation is the National Institute of Health. In order for more innovation to occur in the United States across different industries the federal government and the academic community have to get more involved. The federal government can finance innovative projects by providing research grants to organizations. The government can also perform their own research in-house in order to promote innovation. In 2010 the government showed that its involvement can affect the private industry directly. The US government took over GM Corporation to safeguard the company from bankruptcy in to protect a car company that is currently one of the most innovative players in the auto industry. One of the showcase p roducts developed by GM is the Chevy Volt, a care capable of giving over 230 miles per gallon. The network of private and public universities in the United States is a big contributor to innovation in this nation. Universities receive funds from both the private and public industry in order to perform research. ... Exposing students to the research environment is the best way to get more students interested in pursuing careers dedicated to research. The colleges of this nation have to develop more scientist and engineers so that there won’t be a shortage of talent in the private industry. Basic research is often what economist called a ‘public good’ which offers economic returns for years to come (Leonhardt). An issue identified by the author of the article which is hurting the long term ability of the United States to get involved in innovative projects is the fact that our basic educational system is flawed. There are many students graduating from high school that do not have the capabilities and basic knowledge in math and science in order to perform research in innovative projects. Innovation is something that is not created out of thin air. People must provide the ideas needed to create innovative projects. The US Congress has to rethink its strategy concerning our chil dren’s educational system. More teachers need to be hired these teachers need better training in order to better prepare students for the realities of the working world. In high school teachers should encourage students to participate in events such as the science fair which promote innovation. The US government has to increase its educational budget to provide teachers and students access to better materials. A topic that was discussed by the author which has tremendous implication in the development of innovation is the use of clean energy. There has to be greater innovation in the green movement in order to develop alternative sources of energy that are not based on petroleum. Our society has to realize that the dependency on crude is not

Microbiology Module Essay Example for Free

Microbiology Module Essay 1.) This article was published March-April, 2001. 2.) The two main type are resident flora and transient flora. 3.) Hand hygiene is used to prevent the colonization of transient flora. It includes hand washing and disinfection. Hand washing refers to washing hands with an unmedicated detergent and water or water alone. Its objective is to prevent cross-transmission by removing dirt and loose transient flora. 4.) Hand disinfection refers to use of an antiseptic solution to clean hands, either medicated soap or alcohol. 5.) Alcohol is the agent that has excellent activity. 6.) Propanol is the most effective alcohol and ethanol the least. 7.) In several hours resident flora are completely restored. 8.) The type and duration of patient care influenced the amount of bacteria found on the caregivers hands. 9.) The factors for noncompliance include: insufficient numbers of sinks; low risk for acquiring infection from patients; belief that glove use obviates need for hand hygiene; and ignorance of or disagreement with guidelines and protocols. People also incur skin irritation. 10.)Reasons reported by health-care workers for the lack of adherence with recommendations include skin irritation, inaccessible supplies, interference with worker-patient relation, patient needs perceived as priority, wearing gloves, forgetfulness, ignorance of guide-lines, insufficient time, high workload and understaffing, and lack of scientific information demonstrating impact of improved hand hygiene on hospital infection rates 11.)Lack of knowledge on the topic is the key barrier. 12.) Highest compliance was ICU, and the lowest compliance was open ward. 13.) Hospitals should provide their workers with alcohol based hand rubs, and free lotions and antiseptics. They should also educate and stress the importance of hand hygiene to their workers. Hospitals should set up a framework and make good hand hygiene a part of the culture of their hospital

Sun Also Rises and Decline and Fall :: Free Essay Writer

Sun Also Rises and Decline and Fall Poverty is an issue which society faces each day. It is a constant struggle that cannot be ignored. Defeating poverty would take great efforts and contributions from all. Canada and the third world are examples of countries which are experiencing poverty, yet each differ in different ways. Once seeing the multitudes of condominiums, expensive restaurants, and streets jammed with cars, one would never see Canada as a place suffering from hunger, lack of food or clothing. Yet poverty exists. Poverty in Canada cannot be compared to that of a 3rd world country, since many of the poor have access to transportation and television. What people lack is ability to see the inadequate nutrition overcrowded housing and chronic unemployment. â€Å"A visitor to Canada from Africa or Asia, if told if told that there is a widespread poverty in this country, might find the statement hard to credit.†(Schlesinger 89) In most places, the poor are thought to be isolated, away from shopping zones a s well as residential areas. They are seen as a crowded cluster, living in shantytowns drinking a bottle of whisky, uselessly lying there in search for a job, or some method of employment. This is just one of the stereotypes given to the poor person, we must first define poverty. Individuals and families whose financial resources and/or other resources (including educational and occupational skills, the condition of the environment at home and at work, and material possessions) fall seriously below those commanded by the average person or family in society, are in poverty. (Schlesinger 105) The â€Å"poverty line†, is a method used by the government to determine the number of poor people living in a certain area. It is based on an individual’s income. Anyone below the annual level of income is classified as being poor. Who Are Our Poor? The Special Senate Committee on Poverty, using a poverty line, calculated that â€Å"approximately five million Canadians live in poverty† (NCW 10) Studies show various groups in society tend to be poorer in comparison to others. Over 1 million Canadians who work are poor. The working poor are usually employed in service sales, farming, fishing and clerical jobs characterized by low pay, limited opportunities for advancement, and instability. It is said â€Å"1 person in every eight who lives alone is member of the working poor.† (NCW 6) The second highest group is individuals that live in poverty are the elderly.

And the Fraud Continues

1. ) Discuss the Internal control weaknesses that existed at MCI that contributed to the commission of this fraud: MCI biggest internal control weaknesses at was Pavlo. Pavlo was able to manipulate MCI account receivable system which he helped to create and develop. When the same employee is able to receive and update payments, the chance of manipulation and embezzlement of funds is very high. By one person being able to record accounts receivable, or even reconcile the company's bank account, he/she may be able to embezzle money from the company. This is what happens to MCI with Pavlo, through the following: a. By writing off a companies account receivables and converting them into notes receivable, Asset are created on the balance sheet. When customers are unable or may not pay their debts, companies may be able to write-off bad debts on their income tax returns. Companies’ accounts receivable can present a problem when only a few employees are available to manage company fi nances. By allowing the same employee to receive payments, update accounts receivable records, and reconcile the company's bank account, he/she may be able to embezzle money from the company. b. Unapplied cash was used for the bad debt and slow payments. By allocations of delinquent or bad receivables, made the expenses related to the write off of the receivables will not be entered on the income statement. c. Credit Holds was used. MCI called customers in regards to their past due account receivables. MCI were told by the customer that they were sending a payment immediately, MCI credited their receivables before receiving the cash. By Pavlo’s manipulating the account receivable it helped him delayed the inevitable. The recognition of bad debt and uncollected receivables that have to be expensed on the income statement. . Identify and justify the approach you would take if you suspected fraudulent activity within an organization where you work: Should I suspect fraudulent activity within an organization. I would investigate the suspected activity and reporting the suspected activity to the correct personnel. The Internal Auditor’s Office should coordinate investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse. Employees shall not de stroy any document or record of any kind that may be relevant to a past, present, or future investigation of fraud, waste, or abuse. The application of professional skepticism is essential any audit investigation. Professional skepticism in auditing implies an attitude that includes a questioning mind and a critical assessment of audit evidence without being obsessively suspicious or skeptical. Don’t make matters worse by getting into legal liability by the way you handle the matter. Do not speak to anyone about the person that's suspected of committing the fraud before reporting it to management. By speaking to someone other than management you could be sued for slander. Consult an attorney who specializes in employment-related matters. When an employee has knowledge of fraud, waste, or abuse has good reason to suspect that such conduct has occurred should adhere to the procedures in the Organization’s Policy. When suspected fraudulent activity, waste, or abuse is observed by, or made known to an employee. The employee should immediately report the activity to his/her direct supervisor. If an employee believes that their supervisor are involved in the activity, he/she should immediately report the activity to the supervisor’s manager as well as the CFO and CEO. If an employee believes that the supervisor’s, management and/or the CEO may be involved with the activity, the employee should either contact the Internal Auditor directly or file a report via the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Referral System also known as the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Hotline, (McMullen, A. (2012). When an employee is suspected of any activity, he or she should not make any attempt to investigate the suspected activity prior to reporting it. The Internal Auditor’s Office will coordinate investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse. The employee should not destroy any document or record that he or she knows may be relevant to a past, present, or future investigation of fraud, waste or abuse. Employees that suspect violation or who have questions, complaints or suggestions, should share their concerns with someone who can address them properly. Thus, it's a myth that fraud is a big scheme that should be uncovered sooner and easy to detect. Most all fraud starts small and then gets bigger and bigger, until something becomes noticeably different or unusual. Once fraudulent activity has been noted, someone should take action to investigate the situation and determine if a fraud has been committed. Being aware of these activity are only step one and is usually not enough for the organization. Once these activity are identified, you must take action to determine its effect. Evaluating the fraudulent activity may be accomplished by financial analysis, observation or by any other technique that tests an apparent weakness. Once the analysis is complete it’s time to move on to correct the situation (Wells, 2012). . Critique the ethical nature of Pavlo’s actions in this case: Walt Pavlo, the Credit Collections Manager at MCI Telecommunications, Inc. Falsified MCI accounts receivables and stole $6 million from MCI, spoke of greed, opportunity, and culture. His testimony and facts, however, provides a far different view. This was a willful, active fraud involving a very small group of customers, executed by a very small group of peo ple. As a Fraudsters and white-collar, he acted deliberately, out of greed, power and perhaps even stupidity and ultimately got caught. These perpetrators exhibited many typical fraud behaviors. White-collar criminal that involves embezzlement and breach of trust being the prevalent modes involved. Pavlo had to collect on debts owed to MCI by large corporate clients. Pavlo's job was not easy. MCI extended large amount of credit to high-risk customers and refused to write-off receivables as bad debt. By doing this, MCI was in violation of accounting principles. Pavol was desperate to keep his job, he began to employ suspect accounting techniques to hide the unpaid debt. By falsification of accounting record in contravention of Pavlo, also found a way to siphon off $6 million for personal aggrandizement (Pavlo Jr. and Weinberg, 121). Pavlo claim of trying unsuccessfully to get MCI to take a $180 million charge blatantly conflicts with the facts. In a 2002 article, Pavlo had claimed the number was $88 million. Either inflation has increased his number or he didn’t review his earlier stories! Pavlo’s actions was illegal which would be characterized by deceit, concealment, or violation of trust. Which are not dependent upon the application or threat of force or violence. Pavlo action was a self-centered and motivated by his own greed, without regard for ethics or fiduciary duty to co-workers, and stakeholder (Pavlo Jr. and Weinberg 121). When it comes to Walter Pavlo Jr. and the choices he made. The phrase â€Å"power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely† is false. Having power alone does not have the ability to corrupt, but it does provides one of the three elements necessary for a person to commit a fraudulent act. Trusted persons sometimes become trust violators. When they conceive themselves as having a financial problem which is non-sharable, are aware these problem can be secretly resolved by violation of the position of financial trust and are able to apply to their own conduct which enable them to adjust their conceptions of themselves as trusted (Coenen 2009). Regardless of what moral code may be in place. Corruption occurs when a person breaks the moral code or principle that pertains to him or her. Which is what Pavlo did. According to the fraud triangle, in every instance of fraud three elements are present: motivation, opportunity, and rationalization (Coenen 2009). This theory was developed to help identify possible fraud, a name given to corruption within a business, it also applies to corruption in general. In order for corruption to happen, an individual or group of individuals, must have motivation, opportunity, and significant rationale to justify committing a fraudulent act. Because three elements must harmoniously combine to create an environment in which one may act corruptly, only one of the three elements needs thwarting to break the triangle and prevent corruption (Wells, 2012). All element of the fraud triangle must be present to break a moral code. The first element necessary where corruption may occur is motivation. Motivation can include a financial need, such as the need to take care of an ill parent who is quickly accumulating medical expenses far beyond what his or her family can pay. But motivation to commit a corrupt act can include perceived need also. When a person may be earning enough money to cover all of his or her needs, but he or she may feel driven to commit a corrupt act by a strong desire for a higher standard of living than he or she can not afford. A person may also come motivated by non-financial pressure to commit a corrupt act. A person can also be motivated by non-financial pressure to commit a corrupt act (Pavlo Jr. and Weinberg 121). The second element which must be in place to commit a corrupt act is rationalization. Humans have the complex ability to think deductively, inductively, and process large amounts of information to make rational decisions. Unfortunately, one’s ability to â€Å"employ reason† (rationalize) may or may not lead him or her down the right path. Pavlo’s story provides an excellent example of poor reasoning. Pavlo rationalized stealing from MCI by telling himself that MCI was committing much more heinous crimes than he was. He believed that MCI was so crooked that it could not come after him for doing the much lesser crime of stealing a few accounts receivables (Pavlo Jr. and Weinberg 257). Pavlo’s opportunity to pilfer accounts receivables was granted to him by MCI’s poor control environment. Pavlo often engaged the accounts receivable department in a practice known as accounts receivable lapping, posting payments received from one customer to another’s account to make overdue accounts appear current, in order to meet corporate bad debt expense goals (Pavlo Jr. and Weinberg 101). MCI’s management encouraged and rewarded Pavlo for accounts receivable lapping and many other inventive and extremely illegal acts that helped MCI reach its projected financial numbers. MCI’s flagrant desire to illegally hide its bad debt gave Pavlo the opportunity to conceal the accounts receivable he was thieving within the constant myriad of lies that constituted MCI’s financial department (Wells, 2012). He was involved in asset Misappropriation: Asset misappropriation schemes are frauds in which the perpetrator steals or misuses an organization’s resources. Common examples of asset misappropriation include false invoicing, payroll fraud, and skimming (Kranacher, Riley, and Wells, 2010). Corruption: In the context of occupational fraud, corruption refers to schemes in which fraudsters use their influence in business transactions in a way that violates their duty to their employers in order to obtain a benefit for themselves or someone else. For example, employees might receive or offer bribes, extort funds from third parties, or engage in conflicts of interest. Financial Statement Fraud: The third category of occupational fraud, financial statement fraud, involves the intentional misstatement or omission of material information from the organization’s financial reports; these are the cases of â€Å"cooking the books† that often make front page headlines. Financial statement fraud cases often involve the reporting of fictitious revenues or the concealment of expenses or liabilities in order to make an organization appear more profitable than it really is (Kranacher, Riley and Wells, 2010). It is fact that during 1996, MCI wrote off $120 million of carrier receivables and recognized even more exposure by adding to bad debt reserves. So, his claim that MCI â€Å"hid† bad debt expense is just bogus. He further claims â€Å"his bosses† said the maximum that could be written down would be $15 million, and that is also senseless (Pavlo Jr. and Weinberg 257). 4. Apply one (1) theory related to crime causation to this case: No one theory of crime explains all criminal activity and most theories are complementary to one another. You should approach crime causation with a multidimensional view because of the vast complexities involved in human actions and interactions. With that in mind, let’s take a look at one of the prominent theories that appears to relate to Pavlo’s fraud case. Social engineering/Social learning theory causation: They learn to engage in crime, primarily through their association with others. They are reinforced for crime, they learn beliefs that are favorable to crime, and they are exposed to criminal models. As a consequence, they come to view crime as something that is desirable or at least justifiable in certain situations. The primary version of social learning theory in criminology is that of Ronald Akers and the[pic] description that follows draws heavily on his work. Akers's theory, in turn, represents an elaboration of Edwin Sutherland's differential association theory. The Sociological school of crime causation defines that social disorganization is a major factor in criminal behaviors. Specifically the Sociological Theories theorize that the impact of individuals with the surroundings, groups, and social environment can dictate criminal behavior. Under this school of crime causation crime can be the growth of subgroup relationships (McMullen, 2012). According to Weinberg’s research, white-collar criminals are not just ordinary people; they are smart, well-educated and ambitious. They often start as wide-eye fresh graduate’s at large corporations of which profit-driven culture infiltrates all levels within. Why do they turn out to be the thieves stealing from the economy $2. trillion per year? Weinberg argues that these people like Pavlo, do not just wake up one day and decide to commit in a greed-inspired fraud. In fact, only 7% of perpetrators have prior conviction. They operate business under the performance pressure from investors, and stockholders, which present opportunities for companies to hide flaws and falsify earnings at multiple levels. Wei nberg presents a triangle of Need/Incentives, Opportunity, and Rationalization as a combined force triggering ordinary people to commit extraordinary crimes. In his book, he suggests that by pushing ethics education at school and setting the right tone at the top, we can reduce the damages caused by corporate frauds (Kranacher, Riley, and Wells, 2010). The connection between fraud and the â€Å"tone at the top† of an organization has received international attention over the last few years. Tone at the top refers to the ethical atmosphere that is created in the workplace by the organization's leadership. Whatever tone management sets will have a trickle-down effect on employees of the company. If the tone set by managers upholds ethics and integrity, employees will be more inclined to uphold those same values. However, if upper management appears unconcerned with ethics and focuses solely on the bottom line, employees will be more prone to commit fraud because they feel that ethical conduct is not a focus or priority within the organization. Employees pay close attention to the behavior and actions of their bosses, and they follow their lead. In short, employees will do what they witness their bosses doing (McMullen, 2012).

A Study in Adaptation Essay

Among the monographs found in the Culture and Ecology in East Africa Project is that of the work of Walter Goldschmit, entitled â€Å"The Sebei: A Study in Adaptiona. † It is among the ethnographic studies conducted to shed light on a particular community, which is that of Sebei. The project previously mentioned to which the monograph belongs is that of the University of California in Los Angeles which also carries the research design that was followed by the entire project (Mead 938). It has become important to evaluate this study because of the important role it plays in the field of ethnography and in the lives of the Sebei people. This paper will include the synopsis, a critique of the book, and the relationship with the materials and discussions found in the class. Synopsis of the Book The book primarily focuses on the people of Sebei, the socio-economic modes followed by the people there, and the adaptations which has happened throughout the existence of the community. People from Sebei speak Nilotic and have a connection with the Nandi and Kipsigis (MacGaffey 110). These people lives in the southeastern portion of Uganda and the elements of this community which has been discussed include the â€Å"history, environment, policy, social organization, animal husbandry, agriculture, a cash economy, sexual roles and marriage, child rearing, initiation, and the Sebei belief system† (Beidelman 542). The wide variety of the factors that have been covered in the study has been instrumental to the focus of the book, which is that of the ways of living of the people and how they have economically survived the environment they lived in. There are two environments which have been considered in the book to show the adaptive processes of the community under study. One is the area which is well-watered and is situated in the slopes of the mountains and the second is in the dry lands of the plains. With the conditions found in the said communities, there are also adaptive measures which have been taken by the people in terms of the production of their food and ways of living. One community concentrated on the hunting and gathering means of production because of the factors in the environment which makes this the most acceptable form of gathering food and sustaining the needs of the community. On the other hand, it is agriculture which has become the primary mode of economic production followed because of the availability of fertile soil that could be used for crops. Moreover, access to water is available that makes this a better option for the people. More so, it is seen to be the most effective in consideration of the available resources and conditions for the people. Economics-wise, this is the best methods for the respective communities discussed. Through time, it has been proven that Sebei people have the capability to adapt easily to changes in their environment and new situations which they are placed in (Mead 938). It has been shown in the book that the people have been able to be in contact with the Europeans when this group has been in a point where they are trying to adapt with the demands brought about by intra-African connections. The flexibility in adapting to such cultures has been carried out by the group by following the previous methods which have been used before by the group. It has been proven to be an effective pattern for the people since their first interaction with other cultures. Critique of the Book This particular book can be considered as one of the best monographs that have been written of an Ugandan community because of its succinctness and thoroughness. The ability of the author to present facts and data near what is real is considered to be a vital element of the author’s work. The author’s ability to record and research the past of the community has been helpful. The author, himself, has done quite an extensive job in proving the authenticity of his claims where there are primary evidences, such as photos, that has been shown together with the narratives provided. In writing a book, the ability of the author to provide evidences, especially in the field of ethnography, is considered to be vital in establishing the credibility and authenticity of the monograph. In a sense, this adds to the ability of the monograph to convince its readers that what is being said and shown in the account is true. Moreover, the book has shown one community but the picture that has been drawn and what has been learned over the discussions made of the particular community studied can be used in order to understand the African perspective. More so, the means of adoption that has been studied can be taken to a larger picture where it is also seen to exist in other areas and in different times. It has been found that the general perspective that can be used in order to interpret that of the Sebei culture is that â€Å"the maladies of the social system seem to outweigh their strengths† (Goldschmidt 338). With this particular statement, the author is then able to show that he has been able to observe the communities with a keen eye and relate it to the rest of the elements in the environment that surround the community. The author does not simply focus on what can be found within the community but also observes how it relates to the different links formed. More so, there is judgment that is found for these relationships from where a strong conclusion can be made. This monograph serves as a very good reading material for the members of the academic institutions and the epistemic communities from a wide variety of fields. Where field observations and thorough data collection has been done, there is the worthiness of examining the material and using it as a foundation of different researches. More so, an understanding of the different elements of the community can be easily derived through a reading of this material because of the substantial data that can be found here. This is not only for the purpose of studying communities but can also be taken by people from different fields such as psychology, economics, policy-making, sociology, and others in order to make researches and decisions. Relation to Class Materials and Discussions Understanding the book has been made easier because of the foundation laid by the class discussions and materials. The concepts that have been clarified in relation to culture, communities, and globalization has become an integral part of understanding how and why the Sebei communities had to adjust to the changing setting of the world and the communities which belong to it. It is difficult for a reader to understand the complex parts of the monograph if one would not take into consideration the aspects which relate the community to the changes in its surroundings. If the reader would not have the respective concepts and ideas, he/she might be limited to understanding the community in isolation and forget to relate it to the world outside the said community. There are factors which might be missed by the reader in understanding the community, in this case, and forget about the other forces that could change communities. Works Cited Goldschmidt, Walter. Culture and behavior of the Sebei: A study in Continuity and Adaptation. Berkeley, Los Angeles: University of California, 1976. MacGaffey, Wyatt. â€Å"Review. † ASA Review of Books 4 (1978): 110-111. Mead, Margaret. â€Å"Review. † American Anthropologists 79. 4 (1977): 938-939.

Free Essays on Gender Roles in the Work Place

Within the â€Å"Western† culture of North America, gender is socially constructed as a â€Å"new culture† that influences people’s lives in various different aspects. Society creates the rules for what constitutes being a man or women, which create different experiences for both sexes socially, economically, and politically. In this essay, I will argue that the structure, processes, and operation of corporations are affected by gender ideologies that are established and reinforced by society. As a result, being a male or female has its advantages and disadvantages when working in the labour force. Moreover, women have always been seen at a disadvantage compared to men in terms of labour market related aspects such as, promotions, wage increases, and respect! More importantly, I will analyze this issue of gender and organization in relation to the Gendered Organization Theory and my personal experiences at my work (Future Shop) to provide a theoretical and practical understanding of this issue occurring within society. Currently, I work for Future Shop as a sales associate in the Communication Department. I have been employed with the company for almost a year and have observed and experienced different situations that have been influenced by gender ideologies created by society. More importantly, many of these experiences have provided myself a better understanding of how gender has become an important tool of control for organizations that create different work inequalities between men and women. One author Joan Acker, discusses the issue of gender and organizations by arguing that there are 5 Interacting Processes of Gender Segregation which can be found in most corporations. The author argues that corporations are not gender neutral and explains how gender, the body, and sexuality, are all part of the processes of control in corporations/organizations. Acker (1990) states, â€Å"Images of men’s bodies and mascu... Free Essays on Gender Roles in the Work Place Free Essays on Gender Roles in the Work Place Within the â€Å"Western† culture of North America, gender is socially constructed as a â€Å"new culture† that influences people’s lives in various different aspects. Society creates the rules for what constitutes being a man or women, which create different experiences for both sexes socially, economically, and politically. In this essay, I will argue that the structure, processes, and operation of corporations are affected by gender ideologies that are established and reinforced by society. As a result, being a male or female has its advantages and disadvantages when working in the labour force. Moreover, women have always been seen at a disadvantage compared to men in terms of labour market related aspects such as, promotions, wage increases, and respect! More importantly, I will analyze this issue of gender and organization in relation to the Gendered Organization Theory and my personal experiences at my work (Future Shop) to provide a theoretical and practical understanding of this issue occurring within society. Currently, I work for Future Shop as a sales associate in the Communication Department. I have been employed with the company for almost a year and have observed and experienced different situations that have been influenced by gender ideologies created by society. More importantly, many of these experiences have provided myself a better understanding of how gender has become an important tool of control for organizations that create different work inequalities between men and women. One author Joan Acker, discusses the issue of gender and organizations by arguing that there are 5 Interacting Processes of Gender Segregation which can be found in most corporations. The author argues that corporations are not gender neutral and explains how gender, the body, and sexuality, are all part of the processes of control in corporations/organizations. Acker (1990) states, â€Å"Images of men’s bodies and mascu...

Effective Strategies to Maximize Student Learning Time

Effective Strategies to Maximize Student Learning Time Time is a precious commodity for teachers. Most teachers would argue that they never have enough time to reach every student, particularly the ones that are below grade level. Therefore, every second a teacher has with their students should be a meaningful and productive second.   Successful teachers establish procedures and expectations that minimize wasteful downtime and maximize engaging learning opportunities. Wasted time does add up. A teacher who loses as little as five minutes of instructional minutes per day due to inefficiencies wastes fifteen hours of opportunity over the course of a 180-day school year. That extra time would likely make a significant difference for every student, but particularly those who are struggling learners. Teachers can utilize the following strategies to maximize student learning time and minimize downtime. Better Planning and Preparation Effective planning and preparation are essential in maximizing student learning time. Too many teachers under-plan and find themselves with nothing to do for the last few minutes of class. Teachers should get in the habit of over-planning- too much is always better than not enough. In addition, teachers should always have their materials laid out and ready to go before students arrive. Another important- and often overlooked- component of planning and preparation is practice.  Many teachers skip this essential element, but they shouldnt. Independent practice of lessons and activities allows teachers to work out the kinks beforehand, ensuring that minimum instructional time will be lost. Buffer the Distractions Distractions run rampant during school hours. An announcement comes over the loudspeaker, an unexpected guest knocks on the classroom door, an argument breaks out between students during class time. There is no way to eliminate every single distraction, but some are more easily controlled than others. Teachers can evaluate distractions by keeping a journal over the course of a two-week period. At the end of this period, teachers can better determine which distractions can be limited and formulate a plan to minimize them. Create Efficient Procedures Classroom procedures are an essential part of the learning environment. Those teachers who operate their classroom like a well-oiled machine maximize student learning time. Teachers should develop efficient procedures for every aspect of the classroom. This includes routine activities such as sharpening pencils, turning in assignments, or getting into groups.   Eliminate â€Å"Free Time† Most teachers give â€Å"free time† at some point during the school day. It is easy to do when we may not be feeling the best or we under-plan. But we know when we give it, we are not taking advantage of the precious time that we have with our students. Our students love â€Å"free time†, but it is not what is best for them. As teachers, our mission is to educate. â€Å"Free time† runs directly counter to that mission. Ensure Quick Transitions Transitions occur every time you switch from one component of a lesson or activity into another. Transitions when poorly executed can slow a lesson down tremendously. When done right, they are practiced procedures that are quick and seamless. Transitions are a major opportunity for teachers to gain back some of that valuable time. Transitions may also include changing from one class to another. In this case, students must be taught to bring the correct materials to class, use the bathroom or get a drink, and be in their seats ready to learn when the next class period starts. Give Clear and Concise Directions A major component in teaching is providing your students with clear and concise directions. In other words, directions should be easy to understand and as simple and straightforward as possible. Poor or confusing directions can stymie a lesson and quickly turn the learning environment into total chaos. This takes away valuable instruction time and disrupts the learning process. Good directions are given in multiple formats (i.e. verbal and written). Many teachers select a handful of students to summarize the directions before turning them lose to get started on the activity. Have a Backup Plan No amount of planning can account for everything that could go wrong in a lesson. This makes having a backup plan critical. As a teacher, you make adjustments to lessons on the fly all the time. Occasionally, there will be situations where more than a simple adjustment is needed. Having a backup plan ready can ensure that learning time for that class period will not be lost. In an ideal world, everything will always go according to plan, but the classroom environment is often far from ideal. Teachers should develop a set of backup plans to fall back on should things fall apart at any point. Maintain Control of the Classroom Environment Many teachers lose valuable instructional time because they have poor classroom management skills. The teacher has failed to gain control of the classroom environment and establish a relationship of mutual trust and respect with their students. These teachers are continuously having to redirect students and often spend more time correcting students than teaching them. This is perhaps the most limiting factor in maximizing learning time. Teachers must develop and maintain effective classroom management skills where learning is valued, the teacher is respected, and expectations and procedures are set and met beginning on day one. Practice Procedural Steps With Students Even the best intentions fall by the wayside if students do not truly understand what is being asked of them. This problem can be easily taken care of with a little practice and repetition. Veteran teachers will tell you that the tone for the year is often set within the first few days. This is the time to practice your expected procedures and expectations over and over. Teachers who take the time within the first few days to drill these procedures will save valuable instructional time as they move throughout the year. Stay on Task It is easy for teachers to get distracted and veer off topic from time to time. There are some students who, frankly, are masters at making this happen. They are able to engage a teacher in a conversation about a personal interest or tell a funny story that captivates the classes attention but keeps them from completing the lessons and activities scheduled for the day. To maximize student learning time, teachers must maintain control of the pace and flow of the environment. While no teacher wants to miss out on a teachable moment, you dont want to chase rabbits either.

Global Civilization Formal Essay on So Called Primitive Accumulation Research Paper

Marx's Explanation for the Capitalist Transformation and Jared Diamonds Argument of European Domination of the World - Research Paper Example The private property of the laborer is his means of production that he could use to form a petty industry important in the development of social production and independence. These kinds of modes were in practice in serfdom and slavery and have since transformed into classical forms especially where the laborer owns the means of production. The new form excludes the concentration of production on the forces of nature or the development of social productive measures. The transitional process has decomposed the whole society and further expropriated private proprietors. Today, labor is turned into capital and expropriation is accomplished through laws that centralize on capitalism. These results in the expropriation of many capitalists by a few connected capitalists who transform the instruments of labor into a system economizing the means of production and that entangle all people in the world market bringing the capitalistic regime to the international realm. The owners of capital usu rp and manipulate the advantages accrued from the transformation process creating exploitation, oppression, and degradation, which evokes revolt from the working class. The working class consists of the majority of people organized and united by the capitalistic system. The monopoly of capital becomes a mode of production and the socialization of labor and centralization of the means of production become an unmatchable creating conflict. The expropriator has become the expropriated. Marx traces back the expropriation to different instances in history claiming that it took different forms in different countries and went through different phases in different historical epochs (Marx 876).