Effects of stress on undergraduate academic performance

Effects of stress on undergraduate academic performance Studies have identified that the sources of stress, which influence the performance of students, change because of the wide extent of stressors whilst at university. Stress is one of the most common emotions that are experienced by human beings (Alansari, 2006). There can be a number of reasons why students develop stress, personal factors that are unique to the individual are categorised by the demographic classification. Students can have an increase in stress because of the year in which they are in (Naidu et al, 2002) (Sanders et al, 1999)) this may relate to the increased workload from the progression of the course. Age can be another contributing factor, with older students having more pressure to achieve a higher standard of academic performance when compared to younger students (Naidu et al, 2002), (Sanders et al, 1999)). When starting university there may be changes taking place that are new to the individuals thus leading to stressors that can include an impact upon the health of the individual. According to Liu, Shono Kitamura (2009), The concept of well-being refers to optimal psychological functioning and experience. This shows that when a person has a positive wellbeing, it will reflect in their day-to-day living, such as doing housework, maintaining good personal hygiene and completing tasks on time. Naturally, if a person is not in optimal mental shape, they will not be performing to their best potential, possibly having a negative effect on their lives. If this happens during University, there will be a high amount of risk of failure. People attend a University to better themselves academically so they can be successful in the future, providing a safe environment in terms of money and lifestyle. University is also a big financial obstacle in modern times, so adverse grades would ultimately b e a waste of money. An increase in depressive students in counselling, in the UK has led psychologists to wonder whether the financial hardship that some students face, may be severely influencing students mental health (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2003). In a study by Andrews Wilding (2004), nearly 10% of the first year students, who had answered the survey, became depressed during their first semester, whilst 20% became anxious during their studies. The prime reason for these depressive episodes was due to financial difficulties and relationship problems (separated from significant other). This ultimately led poor performance during the end of term examinations. The personal factors that students experience can have adverse effects on their health through stress. These include the financial implications that can arise from the nature of being independent at university (Garbee et al, 1980), (Grandy et al, 1989) which can relate to the social class (Fredericks et al, 1967). Family issues have been proven to contribute towards the stress of students whilst they are staying away from home if a problem occurs (Garbee et al, 1980). An increase in depressive students in counselling, in the UK has led psychologists to wonder whether the financial hardship that some students face, may be severely affecting students mental health (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2003). In a study by Andrews Wilding (2004), nearly 10% of the first year students, who had answered the survey, became depressed during their first semester, whilst 20% became anxious during their studies. The prime reason for these depressive episodes was due to financial difficulties and relationship problems (separated from significant other). This ultimately led poor performance during the end of term examinations. Sell Robsons (1998) study into student life at the prestigious Oxford University found that out of the 318 respondents to the Questionnaire, a third felt that they were discriminated against due to their social class (not being invited to balls) ,despite enjoying the overall experience. In addition, 1/3 of female undergraduates had been sexually harassed or discriminated against during their time at university. Their overall learning experience had been stopped abruptly due to differences in gender, which would be an extremely troubling experience. The study also found that there was a large prevalence of Class A drug taking and overuse of Alcohol during the respondents time at university, providing a possible solution to stressful experience or a route provided by peer pressure (Kosviner, Hawks Webb, 1973) If the student is from another country there may be a language barrier can cause stress through an increased workload, a lowering of the conceptual understanding of the learning content and being unfamiliar with processes (Acharya et al, 2003). Although, in Li, Lin, Bray and Kehles 2005 study, it was clear that the some of the reasons for stress may vary cross culturally. Their study found that the main cause of Anxiety among Chinese undergraduates was because of competition with other students and inadequate learning facilities, where as the factors affecting American students usually were due to relationship problems between the student and their significant other or parent. The poor learning resources provided to some Chinese students would of course impair learning, yet is overshadowed by the constant need to perform better than any other student is. This shows that possibly in eastern cultures, money and time management are not as central to learning as in the West. The housing where the student resides can influence health by introducing stress because of financial worries ((Naidu et al, 2002)). Some studies do report that stress is higher amongst those who live away from home (33) as opposed to those who live with parents. Yet on the other hand, other studies show that people who live at home are more stressed (Omigbodun et al, 2006). The academic factors which contribute towards the stress of students can vary depending on the personal factors indicated above including the lack of confidence that the student will perform to their full potential (Heath et al, 1990), (Acharya et al, 2003) this can be influenced by the competition which is within and between peer groups (Rosli et al, 2005), (Goldstein et al, 1979). Examinations can influence the amount of stress that a student is exposed to (Rosli et al, 2005), (Sanders et al, 1999) and the general fear of unemployment after graduating, especially within the current economic climate (Al-Omari et al, 2005), (Morse et al, 2007) A 2007 study by Henry Chow measured the achievement and psychological well-being of students from the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He found that the most common factors affecting academic performance were the amount of time spent studying, the physical health of the student and the struggle to attempt a balance between their social life and work time. Chows study found that those students who were of good physical health (regular exercise/ good diet), were financially secure and set out goals for the future fared better during their undergraduate years. In regards to the latter statement, the fact that the students knew what they were aiming for academically, meant that they were not preoccupied during their work, thinking about their forthcomings. The academic factors, which influence the levels of stress of students, can fluctuate according to their level of study (Naidu et al, 2002), (Sanders et al, 1999). However, the main factors remain significant in their contribution towards stress. These factors include the fact that during examination periods students are under more pressure to perform to their full potential (Rosli et al, 2005), (Sanders et al, 1999), yet on the contrary the opposite can occur because of the influence that stress could have on memory. The influence that stress has on memory is that the Hippocampus is extremely vulnerable to long term stress, due to the high numbers of Glucocorticoid receptors. It is also extremely vital in terms of memory consolidation. During a stressful period, the Hippocampus is bathed in Cortisol, shrinking it, which will impair memory retrieval, particularly of facts. For example, if an individual needs to hastily remember a lot of information for an exam, but has left it to the last minute, they will probably be fairly stressed. In turn, this will mean that any revision that they will do the night before will be not remembered, due to the deactivation of the hippocampus. The Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum, which are vital for remembering skills, will not be affected, meaning day-to-day activities such as driving or showering will not be impaired during stressful times. Although, social matters do not necessarily always affect Students stress levels; it is possible that the course itself is the cause of anxiety. An Australian study into the academic performance of nursing students (Lo, 2002) found that the main cause of stress during study was because of the challenging medical curriculum. Finance, family issues and healthy living surprisingly followed this. In addition, it was found that depression was much more prevalent among second year students, than first or third year undergraduates were. Likewise, a similar study into medical undergraduates in Pakistan found that stress was linked to curriculum, but also to parental expectations. This shows that there may be a possible link to stressful periods with high academically demanding degrees i.e. doctors and nurses being associated with being more academic than others, thus providing a level of honour among families (Shah, Hasan, Malik Sreeramareddy, 2010). Jones, Dean Los (2002) study found that physical inactivity resulted in the students who were more anxious developing high blood pressure, due to the stress from university. Although, it can be seen that due to the high amounts of anxiety, the student would be less likely to take up exercise, possibly due to financial difficulties or simply just a lack of time. Chapel, Blanding, Silverstein, Takahashi, Newman, Gubi McCann (2005) examined specifically Test Anxiety and its effect on academic performance through high or low Grade point averages. It was found that females with low-test anxiousness had significantly higher average grades than females who are highly stressed around the exam period. Out of the 4,000 undergraduate sample used, females had significantly higher grades than male undergraduates did. Although, it was found that females also had the highest amount of test anxiety in the run up to the examination period. A 2008 study by Bayram Bilgel focused on a recent international concern that the mental health and general wellbeing of students was rapidly becoming more negative. Using a 1,617 Turkish student sample, they found that first and second year undergraduates reported the highest amounts of stress. In the questionnaire (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale), students were asked to rate the level of satisfaction they had with the course. The majority who were very satisfied with the course also had a low depression level. Similarly, Chambel Curral (2005) gave 825 Portuguese students a questionnaire designed to measure the levels of academic work, amount of peer support and satisfaction with academic life. It was found that levels of overall happiness had a direct impact on positive or negative academic performance. If a person is not satisfied with their course, their future options may be constantly on their mind, diverting their attention away from their current studies. The symptoms that stress has on student academic performance can be explained through a number of pathways. These different pathways include Anxiety (Grandy et al, 1984), (Heath et al, 1990) Depression (Grandy et al, 1984), (Heath et al, 1990) Sleeplessness (Tisdelle et al, 1984) which can lead to Memory problems (Davis et al, 1989).The Hippocampus is extremely vulnerable to long term stress, due to the high numbers of Glucocorticoid receptors. It is also extremely vital in terms of memory consolidation. During a stressful period, the Hippocampus is bathed in Cortisol, shrinking it, which will impair memory retrieval, particularly of facts. For example, if an individual needs to hastily remember a lot of information for an exam, but has left it to the last minute, they will probably be fairly stressed. In turn, this will mean that any revision that they will do the night before will be not remembered, due to the deactivation of the hippocampus (Rosli et al, 2005). The Basal Ganglia a nd Cerebellum which are vital for remembering skills will not be affected, meaning day to day activities such as driving or showering will not be impaired during stressful times (Ng et al, 2003). Conclusion

Imperial Tobacco Company Analysis

Imperial Tobacco Company Analysis Introduction International business is a term used to collectively describe all commercial transactions (private and governmental, sales, investments, logistics, and transportation) that take place between two or more nations. Usually, private undertake such transactions for profit; government undertake them for profit, as well as political reasons. Multinational corporations (MNC) are the primary players today in the worlds most dynamic industries and the driving force behind the global economy. Multinational corporations, once made vulnerable to the expropriation of property or blockage of funds, and forbidden to trade with hostile countries and to buy and sell freely the latest high technology and scarce commodities, are now more likely to guide foreign policy than follow it. Every year, the financial flows of international organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) diminish in importance relative to the hefty direct and portfolio investments that private investors pour into emerging markets. Many forces, from technology to political ideas, are keeping the global bullet train of consumerism and privatization running. About the company The company chosen to research is Imperial Tobacco (Imperial). The Imperial Tobacco Company was created in 1901 through the amalgamation of thirteen British tobacco and cigarette companies comprising W.D. H.O. Wills of Bristol (the leading manufacturer of the time), John Player Sons of Nottingham and 11 other independent family businesses, which were being threatened by competition from the United States in the form of James Buchanan Duke and his American Tobacco Company. In 1902 the Imperial Tobacco Company and the American Tobacco Company agreed to form a joint venture: the British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. [2] The parent companies agreed not to trade in each others domestic territory and to assign trademarks, export businesses and overseas subsidiaries to the joint venture. American Tobacco sold its share in 1911 but Imperial maintained an interest in British American Tobacco until 1980. Imperial Tobaccos corporate headquarters are in Bristol, England. The Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. The marketing mix, which consists of the 4 Ps; product, price, place and promotion, has been extended to the 8 Ps. This is due to the effect of globalization, which has been used to better accommodate specific aspects of marketing. The elements which have been added are process, people, profit and packaging/physical evidence. The marketing mix was designed as a simple way to focus on the main elements of marketing for a business and to create a marketing strategy either at business, product or campaign level. The marketing mix was designed as a simple way to focus on the main elements of marketing for a business and to create a marketing strategy either at business, product or campaign level. By utilizing the Ps, a MNC can gain competitive advantage over competitors by meeting the customer wants and needs profitably. Product Imperial is focused on manufacturing high quality tobacco products. The portfolio for Imperial consists of international strategic brands, which cater to a variety of international target markets, such as Davidoff, which is sold in over 100 countries worldwide and is particularly strong in Taiwan, Greece and the Middle East, Gauloises Blondes which is a key mid-price brand and can be found in markets worldwide and is an important addition to Imperial Tobaccos international cigarette portfolio. Also, the global brands are complemented by regional and local brands, for example, Classic, aregional cigarette brand in the value segment. It is the number 2 volume brand in Ukraine and also performs well in Turkey. There is also Excellence, which is a well-established cigarette in the sub-Saharan Africa region. The US also is a targeted market of Imperial, with the brands Sonoma and USA Gold being distributed. Lastly, targeting the lower income bracket customers, Imperial developed Windsor B lue, which operates in the economy sector of the UK cigarette market. Thus Imperial has targeted markets worldwide, varying taste and price to gain a higher segment of the market. A major competitor for Imperial is the mega-company British American Tobacco Company (BAT). They are the worlds second largest quoted tobacco group by global market share, with brands sold in more than 180 markets.With over 300 brands in BAT Companys portfolio, they hold robust market positions in each of our regions and have leadership in more than 50 markets. Some of their successful brands are du Maurier (Canada and Trinidad), Craven A (Jamaica) and Black Allen (Germany). Price Price is the generating element amongst the 4 Ps. The price of Imperials products, both for the UK, as well as other countries are suited to do one purposeful thing, satisfy the specified target market profitably. In the UK, the price of the fine cut tobacco, Drum is  £2.85 for a 12.5 gram pouch and a 25 gram pouch is  £5.37. Windsor Blue goes at  £1.75 for a 12.5 gram pouch and a 25 gram pouch goes for  £4.75 for a 25 gram pouch. In the Caribbean, More cigarettes are sold. They are not a famous brand but they sell for  £3.25 (TT $42.25) for a 12.5 gram pack. As mentioned, BAT is the main competitor in the industry. They offer their brands to both the UK and the Caribbean as well. In the UK, they market the brand Dunhill. A 12.5 gram pouch sells for  £3.10 while a 25 gram pouch sells for  £6.15. In the Caribbean, duMaurier sells for  £1.54 (TT $20.00). Place Imperial products reach customers worldwide from their different subsidiaries. Their main method of distribution is indirect, where intermediaries are used. Imperial products are sold in over 160 countries worldwide. Within these countries, there exist over 100 intermediaries in each country, which would supply Imperials economy brands, including super markets, other retailers, different wholesalers, vending machines, clubs, bars and pubs. Thats more than 16,000 middle men, which proves that Imperial uses the method of intensive distribution. However, for the higher end tobacco products, Imperial may choose to use selective distribution, as they are more premium and those products are only for a specific segment of the market. Such products would also be marketed in certain countries, such as Germany, France, the US and Spain. Promotion Imperial uses different forms of promotion to create awareness in the customers for their products and peak their interests. Promotion also helps create that desire for a certain product and finally the purchase. The three main concepts of the promotional mix that Imperial may use are advertisements, sponsorships and sales promotion. Advertisement Imperial uses a high degree of advertisement to create awareness and transfer information to the target market. The degree of advertisement would vary with different countries and cultures. Some countries are more technologically advanced than others. For instance, in India, the cigarette brand Benson Hedges is advertised via flyers, low-budget television ads, radio, billboards and newspapers. However, in the UK, high-tech advertising is utilized in the form of electronic billboards, internet, blimps and subways. BAT uses similar advertising methods, for the brand Wills, which is distributed in both the UK and in India. The methods of advertising for both Imperial and BAT are similar, due to the fact that cigarettes and tobacco products sell to the same markets at relatively the same price. Sponsorships John Player Specials (JPS) is a brand manufactured by Imperial. JPS has always been associated with theLotusFormula Oneteam, andNortonmotorcycleracing team.JPS also sponsored theForsythe Championship Racingteam inChamp Carracing until tobacco advertising in automotive series was banned in 2004. The tobacco brand Winfield, which is manufactured by BAT Australia, sponsors a different sport. They sponsor rugby as well as golf. Winfield has been the title sponsor for theNew South Wales Rugby League premiershipfrom 1982. Sales promotion Both companies, Imperial and BAT, do the same type of sales promotion for their brands, as there is little that can be done to pull persons to buy a product with negative externalities. However, they still offer giveaways, where customers get free items with their purchases. Recently, BAT brought out the new giveaway where winners were getting a trip to London. Imperial are yet to retaliate with a giveaway of their own. It can be noticed that both Imperial as well as the competitor BAT have similar promotional techniques. This is so, as the tobacco industry has no real positives other than giving back to society in the form of money and giveaways. People Customers The target market for Imperial products would consist of adults (persons over the age of 18 in most countries). The products are segmented for taste, income social class and choice. (Mild to light cigarettes, expensive such as Drum, while cost effective, as the Windsor Blue, cigars such as Golden Virginiafine cut tobacco, and lastly, the wide product portfolio that Imperial has, with products internationally sold to satiate the choice of customers. What Imperial does Produce high quality products Work in partnership with our customers to deliver the right product at the right time and at the right price Provide high standards of customer support Stand up for the freedom of our consumers to enjoy our products. Employees The Board of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, which meets at least five times a year, currently comprises a Non-Executive Chairman, a Non-Executive Deputy Chairman, seven Non-Executive Directors and four Executive Directors, with a clear separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive to ensure an appropriate balance of power and authority. Imperial ensure that employees understand the corporate strategy and business goals, and how each and every one can contribute to the overall success. Imperial values individuality and hard work, looks after its people, creating opportunities for them to develop both individually and as part of a team treats each worker with respect, fairness and understanding Has developed a culture based on openness, trust and integrity; encouraging genuine two-way communication through constructive and honest debate, and placing emphasis on building relationships and sharing information. Process This is the procedure, mechanisms and flow of activities by which services are consumed (customer management processes) are an essential element of the marketing strategy. The final products for Imperial are consumed by adults and are B2C products. Tobacco products are consumed via smoking. The target market is informed of the product via advertising, or word of mouth. Tobacco products contain nicotine, a drug that induces addiction. Before a consumer uses the products of Imperial, there is a certain process that has to be undertaken. First the customer would decide on wanting a certain brand and product. After making the choice on which product to purchase, the buyer would then receive a bill showing the product and the price allocated, which would be received by the customer and paid for. This process would be continued most likely when the consumer wished for more products. Physical evidence This refers to the material aspects of a product. For Imperial, this may refer to the packaging, such as the packets, which carries the companys logo. Imperials webpage also uses the color red, which is their main color. The brochures, and invoices handed out by Imperial also may be evidence of theirs, as their logo would be imprinted on the bill/brochure. Future recommendations Imperial is a company that is doing well in the tobacco industry, but some recommendations can be made, so that more can be achieved. Further increase the volume of cigarettes made, to achieve even a greater market share, revenue and profits. Develop new products, to gain new market share and higher profits. Such products could be a new brand of cigarettes, or going into the new market of snus. Increase means of promotion, as presently, the company is lacking in substantial promotion, thus consumers would be unaware of their existence, and possibly their successful brands. Setting up other subsidiaries in lesser developed countries, as to increase strength in the market, as well as to create employment and be helpful to other countries environment and people. (Corporate responsibility). Conclusion Imperial has well utilized it marketing mix to gain overseas growth. It has made itself one of the most successful MNCs to date as they have not faltered in maximizing the concepts of the marketing mix. Bibliography British American Tobacco Company Profile on LinkedIn. Relationships Matter | LinkedIn. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2009. . Dictionaries, Oxford. Concise Oxford English Dictionary: 11th Edition Revised 2008 (Dictionary). 11 Revised ed. New York: Oxford University Press, USA, 2008. Print. Hill, Charles W. L.. International Business. 8 ed. New York: Mcgraw Hill Higher Education, 2010. Print. Hill, John S.. International Business: Managing Globalization. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc, 2008. Print. Imperial Tobacco Group PLC About us History Company today (1996 present). Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2009. . Imperial Tobacco Group PLC About us History Company today (1996 present). Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. . Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2009. . Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. Imperial Tobacco Group PLC. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2009. . Marketing Teacher Homepage. Marketing Teacher Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2009. . TwitterButtons.com. Business Coaching. Business Coaching. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2009. . www.bata.com.au Gateway Page. www.bata.com.au Gateway Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. . References http://www.imperial-tobacco.com/index.asp?page=56newsid=1145 2http://www.bat.com/group/sites/uk__3mnfen.nsf/vwPagesWebLive/DO52AK34/$FILE/medMD7QMM9J.pdf?openelement

Ellen Foster Essay -- Essays Papers

Ellen Foster "When I was little I would think of ways to kill my daddy." [P.1], says eleven-year-old Ellen. Thus the young narrator begins her life-story, in the process painting an extraordinary self-portrait. â€Å"Ellen Foster† is a powerful story of a young girl growing up in a burdensome world. As one reads this work presented by Kaye Gibbons, a chill runs down their back. Ellen, the main character is faced with a hard life dealing with endless losses, with the deaths of both her parents and her grandmother being included. Why would one get a chill you wonder? This individual has thoughts and feelings that many have never experienced and cannot express. Ellen is merely a child no older then the age of ten but if not knowing this fact, readers would think she was an aged woman who has lived their life sufficiently. In this book Ellen refers to herself many times as "Old Ellen." I believe that she uses this name because throughout the book Ellen is always taking care of someone beside herself: her colored friend, Starletta, and her dying mother. Ellen's parents die, and her grandmother dies, but this isn’t really a great loss for Ellen. Her mother was a frail and sick woman whom Ellen was constantly protecting from her drunken father. For a time, Ellen’s Art teacher, Julia, and her husband move Ellen into their home. She feels, for the first time, that she is apart of a loving family. She describes, in the book, â€Å" the three of us could pass for a family on the street...

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Essay examples -- Behavior Dis

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is the most commonly diagnosed disorder among children (1). The disorder affects approximately 3-5 percent of children of school age (1), with each classroom in the United States having at least one child with this disorder (1). Despite the frequency of this disease in the United States, there still remains many discrepancies about the disorder itself, starting from the diagnosis and frequent misdiagnosis of ADHD, as well as the question of whether or not ADHD is an actual medical condition, or just a "cultural disease" (3). According to the NIMH, frequent symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (1). Examples of these three patterns of behavior can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which, summarized by the National Institute of Mental Health, states that signs of inattention include * Distraction by "irrelevant sights and sounds" (2) * Failure of attenti...

The Reason Rapists Are Going Free :: Violence Rape Essays

The Reason Rapists Are Going Free When will the men and women of our world be able to live their lives without the fear of being raped by another person? The article that will be discussed in this paper is called â€Å"The Reason Rapists Are Going Free† written by Stacy Colino. The biggest thing about this article is the fact that the DNA samples gathered in rape kits can nab sexual offenders, but the evidence often sits around collecting dust. Many men as well as women are getting away with harming another person through sexual contact with out their permission. Men as well as women can be rapped but less men will actually go to the police about it they would rather keep it under wraps because they are afraid they will be criticized for being weak which is untrue. Both, men and women are at risk for rape the scary thing is that there is a possibility that their cases will not be processed because their rape kits are not being processed efficiently. The ones that actually are processed are not always bro ught to trial. Those that are processed are thrown through the databases of convicted persons and if there is a match than it will go through the courts, and when this is all done with the victim feels worse about themselves and we promote this in our culture? The audience of this paper is those who want to be informed and those that this horrible problem has happened to. Rape is not something men and women wish to talk about but it is a relevant issue in our world. It should not be something people have to worry about in their own homes. The purpose is to inform people that the rapists can be caught and brought to trial for what they have done. The logos of the article are those who have been raped will be able to get their victimizer put away for a long time therefore the kits should be processed. The ethos that is presented in this article is if you are going to do the crime you should have to do the time as well if you are going to start reassess a case you should make sure the kit is finished. The Reason Rapists Are Going Free :: Violence Rape Essays The Reason Rapists Are Going Free When will the men and women of our world be able to live their lives without the fear of being raped by another person? The article that will be discussed in this paper is called â€Å"The Reason Rapists Are Going Free† written by Stacy Colino. The biggest thing about this article is the fact that the DNA samples gathered in rape kits can nab sexual offenders, but the evidence often sits around collecting dust. Many men as well as women are getting away with harming another person through sexual contact with out their permission. Men as well as women can be rapped but less men will actually go to the police about it they would rather keep it under wraps because they are afraid they will be criticized for being weak which is untrue. Both, men and women are at risk for rape the scary thing is that there is a possibility that their cases will not be processed because their rape kits are not being processed efficiently. The ones that actually are processed are not always bro ught to trial. Those that are processed are thrown through the databases of convicted persons and if there is a match than it will go through the courts, and when this is all done with the victim feels worse about themselves and we promote this in our culture? The audience of this paper is those who want to be informed and those that this horrible problem has happened to. Rape is not something men and women wish to talk about but it is a relevant issue in our world. It should not be something people have to worry about in their own homes. The purpose is to inform people that the rapists can be caught and brought to trial for what they have done. The logos of the article are those who have been raped will be able to get their victimizer put away for a long time therefore the kits should be processed. The ethos that is presented in this article is if you are going to do the crime you should have to do the time as well if you are going to start reassess a case you should make sure the kit is finished.

Myself, my setting and my learning Essay

The aim of this reflective account is to discuss my developing practice and how as a childminder I ensure my setting meets the requirements of the curriculum which I follow. This is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS, DfES, 2007), whilst still keeping true to my own beliefs in the best environment for learning to meet the needs of all the children whom attend my setting. My setting has eleven children enrolled, from one to ten years; all children are able bodied, although some have specific behavioural needs. I belong to a local quality assurance and childminding network. As an early years provider I have a responsibility to implement the four themes of the EYFS; A unique child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments and Learning and Development including the sixteen commitments. I believe the EYFS has brought positive changes to settings, as it ensures that no-matter what type of setting, there is now a set of standards which all must meet. This can only be seen to offer peace of mind to parents and as a benefit to children’s well-being. 1 The course has taught me the background of the EYFS, as a key part in The Ten Year Childcare Strategy, (DfES, 2004c) and the Childcare Act 2006 (DfES, 2006), ensuring the Every Child Matters agenda is implemented. The five major themes combined with the five outcomes of the Children’s Act 2004, highlights the important role required of the Early Years Services and multi-agency working. As a result of the recent changes of the Childcare Act 2006, one of the biggest impacts I have noticed is the training available. The aim of The Children’s Plan (DCSF, 2007); ‘To make England the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up in’, has many measures in place to support this and one of the changes needed is for professional development to be coherent in the children’s workforce . (KU3) As Sylva et al points out, â€Å"Quality of provision is dependent on the quality of the staff who work in the settings† (Melhuish et al, 1999; Sylva et al., 2003). 2 Because of the funding available not only have I been able  to access this course, I have also recently completed courses on ‘Observing children in the home setting’ and ‘Senior Safeguarding Children’. I ensure parents are updated of any new training to demonstrate my professional attitude to my setting. (CS1, CS2 & CS3, KU3) I also show a professional attitude to my role by using parent evaluation forms and having a suggestions box (for children and parents). Due to some of the children coming from broken families I send the diaries via e-mail or paper copy, it is also one of the EYFS principles ‘Positive Relationships’.3 (KS4) Parents receive a parent information booklet, which includes policies and procedures to comply with the EYFS statutory requirements and to highlight my roles and responsibilities, such as; safeguarding children, positive behaviour management, medicines and first-aid, equal opportunities, health and safety, fire procedure, accident and emergency plan and my complaints procedure. A significant change from the EYFS has been the need for planning to focus on each child’s individual learning, development and care needs and to ensure that the children and their families are fully included in all aspects of care. The importance of observations and planning to meet individual needs was stated in an article a in the Child Care magazine (November 2007), â€Å"It is important you know what level the child is at, what their next steps are, what their interests are and how you can enhance those interests†. This was before the introduction of the EYFS, in September 2008 and it demonstrates that is was good practice to use observations before it became a requirement in order to give each child a valuable learning experience. By being a reflective practitioner and using observations to construct my planning, I understand when I need to adapt activities within my setting to meet the needs of all children. I regularly observe and plan the curriculum around individual needs and it also my responsibility to facilitate learning and ensure correct resources and materials available to ensure inclusion for all; this could be something as simple as ensuring I have left handed scissors available, to ensuring younger children are able to participate in forest excursions by having them in back carriers and having spare waterproof clothing. (CS1, CS2 & CS3) 4 Compared to many other early years’ settings, I have a strong emphasis on  being outdoors and I work from a large log cabin amongst trees in my garden. This encourages the children to explore their natural environment and often leads to unintended curriculum such as; finding lots of snails on a rainy day and then making ‘home’s for them amongst the trees. In Norway, almost 10% of kindergartens are based outdoors www.teachers.tv/video/35165 and I share their attitude to children and the outdoor environment with the saying â€Å"There is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing†. We often go on forest excursions, build out door dens using natural resources and the children have the freedom to explore. I believe my role in this helps the children develop a positive and confident ‘can do’ attitude no matter what the elements. (CS1 & CS3) 5 It wasn’t until I completed the activity in ST3 ‘Reflecting on Approaches to Curricular’ that I noticed that I use some similar practices to the Steiner approach such as; we sing songs to inform everyone it is tidy up time, and song time is a very active affair. I encourage the children to explore their natural environment and we celebrate the changes in season first hand. I believe this approach enhances the EYFS guidance as it is a play led approach, the main difference with the EYFS is what it expects children to achieve academically before they are five years than the Steiner approach expect of children of seven years. Which is also when countries, such as Sweden believe is the best age for children to begin formal education www.teachers.tv/video/12090 (CS1, CS2 & CS3). 6 Although I do feel that the children who attend my setting benefit greatly from my outdoor curriculum compared to the rather small outdoor area at the ‘Lark’s Children’s Centre’ (DVD 1), the Centre has a well equipped indoor space, where there is a professional attitude by the multi-agency professionals. It was encouraging to see the way they shared information, to ensure the best outcome for the parents and the children. In comparison I work alone although I do participate in network meetings. I share information regularly with nursery staff and teachers and use observations to support parents in discussing concerns with other professionals. It was obvious from the different projects that the Children’s Centre has good funding; in comparison I work privately and my setting relies on my income  to supply equipment and resources (CS1 & CS3). However both settings have a positive ethos in working with parents and children. 7 Meanwhile similar targets to Sure Start have been set within other countries in the United Kingdom such as the Early Years Strategy in Northern Ireland (DENI, 2007), The Early Years Framework (Scottish Government, 2009a) and the Flying Start programme and the Framework for Children’s Learning in Wales (Welsh Assembly Government, 2008), all of which have the aim of improving the life chances of the very young members of our society, by ensuring they have access to good quality child care and education.

Compare and contrast your way of life with that of your parents. Essay

Compare and contrast your way of life with that of your parents. Which way life do you think would be more satisfying to future generation? Nowadays, people have been changed the way they live. To compare between my age and my parent, there are differences ideas in the job preferences and the success of life. Both of People who born in generation X and Y prefer to work with a reputation company than a small company, however, generation X people are likely to hop to many companies than generation Y. Obviously, people in my parents age are more loyal to the company than we are. This is because our parents are lacking of new information while, in our generation, there are the invention of communication technology. For example, we can assess new information across the world easily. Therefore, we are up to new ideas every day. Moreover, the advance of new technology makes people think that everything is possible. Thus, new generation tends to quit a job and prefer to be own boss more than old generation. Another different perspective between new and old generation is the pursuit of life. In our parent age, people tend to get married and built the family at young age, whereas nowadays people are more likely postpone their marriage life. New generation think that they suppose to be success in financial aspect before getting married. This information is supported by the statistics that show the proportion of children population declines while the proportions of elderly are higher. In conclusion, I think there are advantage and disadvantage in both the way our parents and our way of life. To illustrate, the old generation are more patience and going to on their path, while the new generation looks like getting bored with everything easily. If the next generation brings the pros from previous generations to utilize, they would be pass through the obstacle and doing what they love.