American Alligators essays

American Alligators essays The American Alligator is one of the largest reptiles in the world weighing from 450 to 500 pounds. The length of an adult varies from 13 to 18 feet. The tail is about half of the length. The alligator and the crocodile are very similar in appearance but there is a difference. The crocodile has a different jaw structure and habitat. The American alligator has a stockier build and broader head and facial features. They have large scales, prominent eyes and nostrils and are almost black in color. The average lifespan is fifty years. Babies feed on insects, shrimp. Tadpoles, frogs, and fish, while adults eat turtles, fish, raccoons, birds and dead animals. They live in shallow lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, and rivers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and the Carolinas (southeastern U.S.). The breeding season for American alligators is between April and May. The female will lay 25 to 60 eggs. After the laying, the female covers the eggs with a layer of vegetation. The sun helps them grow and they hatch within 9 weeks. In Florida, raccoons are a large egg predator. The alligators are ready to hatch in mid-August through mid-September. Eighty percent of the young become victims of birds, raccoons, bobcats, otters, snakes, and large bass and even other alligators within the first two years of their lives. ...

Interracial Marriages essays

Interracial Marriages essays The United States has witnessed a considerable amount of social and cultural desegregation between African-Americans and Caucasians. However, despite years of desegregation, social and cultural differences still exist. One of these differences that still exists is in the institution of marriage. Americans have been and are continually moving slowly away from segregation. In the past forty years, a multitude of changes have transformed schools, jobs, voting booths, neighborhoods, hotels, restaurants and even the wedding altar, facilitating tolerance for racial diversity (Norman 108). In the 1960's, when housing discrimination was outlawed, many African-Americans moved into mainly Caucasian neighborhoods. The steadily growing areas in the west and southwest are least segregated, because these areas never had the entrenched African-American and Caucasian sections of town (Up For Separatist 30). Even more visible signs of desegregation can be seen in the areas of education. A study done by the University of Michigan shows that integration on campuses occurs on a regular basis. The racial lines are crossed routinely; about 50% of African-Americans and 15% of Caucasians reportedly study together. Eating patterns also share the same similarities. At a social level, there has been a steady convergence of opinion on a variety of racial issues. Since 1972, surveys have asked whether the respondent would favor a law making inter-racial marriages illegal. In 1980, the results showed that 30.1% of Caucasians and 18.3% of African-Americans favor such a law. By 1994, the collected data showed 14.7% and 3.2% respectively. Similar trends have also been observed in busing and even integrated social clubs. (Up For Separatist 30) A simple analysis shows that on the surface desegregation is moving in the right direction. Notwithstanding these examples of desegregation, a deeper analysis shows that there are still signs of racial discriminations, m...

Final Exam Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Final Exam - Term Paper Example For example a juvenile may be required to avoid committing any form of crime. Discretionary conditions refer to the requirements that may not result in revocation of probation and depends on the judge’s decision (Del, 2006). For example: the juvenile may be required to stay at home during weekends. 3. Knowledge includes legal rules regarding juvenile probation system such as the age limit of the offender to be recognized as a juvenile delinquent (Del, 2006). Knowledge of rehabilitation programs for delinquents such as knowledge of group rehabilitation programs. Skills include the ability to work with delinquents. For example probation officers may be required to communicate with juveniles in an empathetic manner. 4. Various roles and duties of juvenile probation officers include managing cases of different juvenile offenders (Del, 2006). Furthermore they have to provide recommendations regarding the conditions that govern the probation period. They even have to facilitate the juveniles in following as well as understanding their probation conditions. They have to develop standards of supervising juveniles and remain in contact with families looking after them. 5. Miranda warnings are guidelines that the police officers have to provide to suspects regarding their silence and their confessions. These warnings are provided while suspects are in custody and are going to be interrogated (Del, 2006). In case of juvenile suspects, they are to be provided with Miranda warnings as soon as they are arrested. The probation officer reads Miranda warnings to juvenile suspect, right before interrogating the suspect. 6. There are various cases that reveal the conditions required for testing school athletes for drug testing. These conditions include the voluntary participation of the student in the test and there needs to be a purpose for conducting a drug test such as the purpose of identifying whether a student is eligible to take part in

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 235

Assignment Example Human rights Activities and some religions argue that it is not morally acceptable for the state to kill or rather execute people under no circumstances (McClellan 125).4 Human life is very precious and should not be taken by anyone.5 Relatives and friends of the criminal also suffer in the process.6 Capital punishment again does not address the root problem. It is a superficial method and does little to curb the crime.7 There are others who look at capital punishment from another point of view (Draper 39). They look at the advantages it has. They argue that capital punishment instills a sense of fear among the citizens.8 They believe that people learn more by seeing than hearing (Bedau 34).9 They believe that people will not only fear the law but also respect it.10 Others argue that capital punishment is in fact economical.11 Heinous Criminals are not worthy of living from the sweat of innocent and hardworking citizens.12 Others argue that it is better to die than languish in prison where the criminals will undergo both physical and emotional torture (Swartz 112). 13 It also serves as a way of reducing the crime rates and ensures the safety of the victims and other inmates.14 These are some of the different views that different states and people have regarding to capital punishment.15 1. Bedau, Hugo Adam, and Paul G. Cassell. Debating the death penalty: should America have capital punishment? : the experts on both sides make their best case. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print. 3. Dezhbakhsh, Hashem, and Paul H. Rubin. "From the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"econometrics of capital punishmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ to the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"capital punishmentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ of econometrics: on the use and abuse of sensitivity analysis." Applied Economics 43.25 (2011): 3655-3670.

Business plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 2

Business plan - Essay Example However, unless marked costume jewelry, the majority of all jewelry at the store will be upscale or certified fine-crafted gold and diamond jewelry, which will cater to a wide variety of potential customers. Second Street Recovery is owned and operated by Panayiotis Gavriel who will manage all of the business aspects of the company including administrative, bookkeeping, generic management, inventory and sales recording. This self-managed business philosophy will keep labour costs low and provide the owner with more flexibility in daily business operations. Second Street will require an initial capital infusion (long-term loan) in the amount of  £33,575 at start-up. These costs will cover initial insurance, rent deposits, legal expertise, and generic office expenses necessary to operate the company at start-up. The chart below identifies the start-up capital and justification for launch of Second Street. The chart below identifies the expected customer demographics for Second Street Recovery as well as projections for growth over a five-year period, based on expected population increases in the London region. The market analysis chart identifies the percentage of customers which maintain the buying potential to utilise Second Street services, presented in pie chart format. There are currently six to ten competitors in the local region which provide similar pawn services and jewelry resale, making this a very saturated marketplace. For this reason, Second Street Recovery must create a marketing-focused organisation to make Second Street products the foremost name in jewelry, furniture and pawn services. Prouness (2007) describes product positioning from a marketing perspective, which involves creating a connection between the product and the customer by appealing to their unique preferences and lifesyle choices. Product positioning allows a

Role Of An Effective Workplace Mentor Nursing Essay

Role Of An Effective Workplace Mentor Nursing Essay The role of an effective workplace mentor is to help the mentee achieve a particular work specific goal or goals; this can be to hit a particular set target, to become competent in performing a particular task essential to their role; or something as general as improving confidence in the work environment. It is the responsibility of the workplace mentor to give help and support in a non-threatening manor; provide a positive environment that the mentee feels comfortable in and can feel encouraged to discuss their needs and circumstances openly; and to ensure confidentiality and honesty is upheld in accordance with mentoring guidelines. The role of a workplace mentor is a significant one and not all people in the workplace will be suited to. An effective workplace mentor will need to have excellent communication skills, both speaking and listening and be able to commit the necessary time to each mentee. In addition they need to remain objective, have a calm and patient demeanour, and bring a positive attitude to each session. It is important that the workplace mentor has the confidence to lead mentoring sessions and give appropriate advice and guidance tailored to the needs of the mentee. In my role as a Support worker on the Steps to Work program I act as a workplace mentor for my clients who I place in work placements with local employers for 8 or 26 weeks. I work with a wide range of clients from those who need a minimum level of guidance to those who require on-going support throughout placement. I mentor clients initially on how to perform in their placement interview, then how to perform in their particular job role and throughout on the best methods of job searching. Some clients will have lower level needs and may need mentored on getting to work on time and how to effectively communicate in the workplace. Describe developmental goals that can be met through mentoring There are a wide range of development goals that can be met through mentoring and these very much depends on the individual mentees and what they require from the sessions and what areas they need mentored on. For example one of my clients, Stephen has a learning difficulty and as a result finds job searching and applying for jobs difficult. The development goals for Stephen are to become competent at reading job advertisements in order to decide if he meets the criteria and to fill out application forms to a higher standard than he can currently. Another one of my mentees, Leah, has confidence issues and can be shy and awkward in social situations with people she does not know very well. Leahs development goal would be to gradually increase her confidence meeting new people and becoming more comfortable in her placement dealing with customers and handling queries. As part of this mentoring course I am also mentoring one of my colleagues Carla and trying to help her with some issues she has identified for development. Carla finds it hard dealing with difficult clients and clients that are a lot older than her; the development goal in this situation would be for Carla to become more confident dealing with these client groups and develop a some action points to implement. Describe the role of the mentee (person being mentored) The role of the mentee is integral to the mentoring process as without the need of mentees there would be no need for mentors. I see the role of the mentee as being two sided; one aspect is that they need mentored in by a suitable person in order to progress their development with a certain role or task. The other side of the role is that the mentee needs to be committed to the mentoring process, educate the mentor as to what exactly they need mentored on and help the mentor to understand what learning style is best to utilise. If the mentoring process is to be a success the mentee needs be open with the mentor during sessions and be willing to put into practice the advice given by the mentor; the mentee needs to be committed to achieving a positive outcome and be honest with the mentor throughout the process. Key concepts, principles and practices of mentoring Describe the similarities and differences between coaching and mentoring Coaching and mentoring are development techniques based on the use of one-to-one discussions to improve an individuals skills, knowledge or work performance. It is possible to draw differences between coaching and mentoring however in practice the two terms are often used together. The concept of Coaching is to target high performance and improvement at work and usually focuses on specific skills and goals of the individual(s) being coached, although it can potentially also have a positive effect on an individuals personal attributes such as social interaction, communication skills, motivation or confidence. The process of coaching generally lasts for a relatively short period. Although there is a lack of agreement among coaching professionals about precise definitions, the following are some generally agreed by the CIPD characteristics of coaching in organisations: It is essentially a non-directive form of development, though this is not a hard and fast rule. It focuses on improving performance and developing individuals skills. Personal issues may be discussed but the emphasis is on performance at work. Coaching activities have both organisational and individual goals. It provides people with feedback on both their strengths and their weaknesses. It is a skilled activity, which should be delivered by people who are trained to do so. http://www.cipd.co.uk Mentoring involves the use of similar models and skills of questioning, listening, clarifying and reframing associated with coaching. Traditionally, however, mentoring in the workplace has described a relationship in which a more experienced senior colleague uses their greater knowledge and understanding to support the development of a less experienced or junior colleague. In contrast to coaching arrangements, mentoring relationships tend to be longer term; mentoring relationships work best when they move beyond the directive approach of a senior colleague telling it how it is, to one where both learn from each other (CIPD). A truly effective mentoring relationship or environment between mentor and mentee should provide a learning opportunity for both parties. Mentoring Coaching Ongoing relationship that can last for a long period of time Relationship generally has a set duration More informal and meetings can take place as and when the mentee needs some advice, guidance and support Generally more structured in nature and meetings are scheduled on a regular basis More long term and takes a broader view of the person Short term (sometimes time-bounded) and focused on specific development areas/issues Mentor is usually more experienced and qualified than the client. Often a senior person in the organization who can pass on knowledge, experience and open doors to otherwise out-of-reach opportunities Coaching is generally not performed on the basis that the coach needs to have direct experience of their clients formal occupational role, unless the coaching is specific and skills-focused Focus is on career and personal development Focus is generally on development/issues at work Agenda is set by the client, with the mentor providing support and guidance to prepare them for future roles The agenda is focused on achieving specific, immediate goals Mentoring revolves more around developing the mentee professionally Coaching revolves more around specific development areas/issues  ©http://www.mcgraw-hill.co.uk/openup/chapters/9780335221769.pdf Explain the key concepts, principles and practices of mentoring In my opinion the key concept of mentoring is to help the mentee to the best of my ability to enable them to get the best out of themselves. The key principles and practices of mentoring is to build an effective working relationship between the mentor and the mentee, to set and review smart goals, and to encourage the mentee to take ownership of the process. It is essential that the mentoring relationship is built on openness and honesty and both parties demonstrate commitment and a positive attitude throughout. The mentor should be capable of structuring the sessions towards helping the mentee achieve their goals through recognised questioning techniques and utilising mentoring models such as the Grow Model or Radar. One practice that will prove essential to the mentoring process is the establishment of a contract from the offset to which both parties have to adhere to and can be used as point of reference if things go array during a session. Own ability to use a variety of communication strategies to mentor individuals at work Assess your own ability to use a variety of interpersonal communication skills and your ability to give effective feedback to mentees on their development My role as a Support Worker on STW and the experience I have acquired from previous job roles has provided me with the opportunity to develop excellent interpersonal communication skills and enabled me to be confident and comfortable giving feedback to clients on a variety of issues. On a daily basis I communicate with clients, employers, colleagues and local govt. agencies such as the Job centre and SSA. In addition I have to review my clients monthly and deliver effective feedback on their performance in placement and after placement interviews. I feel that these skills are very transferable to the mentoring process and as a result I have felt very comfortable holding my mentoring sessions and delivering effective feedback to my mentees in order to help them achieve their goals. Identify areas for personal development I feel that through undertaking this mentoring course I have had the opportunity to evaluate myself and reflect upon my abilities not just as a mentor but also in my job role as a Support Worker on the Steps to Work program. SWOT Analysis Strengths: I feel that the areas I identified as strengths were my confidence in terms of delivering mentoring sessions, my communication skills and my ability to build a rapport with the mentees. In addition I feel that I was able to adapt well within sessions in terms of responding to the needs of the mentee as opposed to having a strict structure and following it through regardless. Weaknesses: One area I have earmarked for development is to ensure I am able to commit sufficient time to conduct mentoring session thoroughly; at times I felt as if I was squeezing the sessions into my working week as opposed to them having equal priority with my other work. One possible solution would be to ensure I plan my time more effectively and leave myself more time to prepare for and reflect after mentoring sessions. Opportunities: Having undertaken the mentoring qualification and officially conducted mentoring sessions, I see this as an opportunity to develop my own skills not just as a mentor but as a Support Worker. This experience should help me to build better working relationships with clients and colleagues and to be more insightful to the needs of others and how they may view different situations in relation to I view them. Threats: The external threats I faced when trying to deliver quality mentoring sessions were the demands of my job in terms of having the time to schedule and carry out mentoring sessions. In addition I also had to consider the impact on the mentees placement, each client has designated working hours and I needed to schedule sessions around the placement or liaise with the placement provider to get the mentee released for the session.

Comparing Existentialism in The Trial and Nausea :: comparison compare contrast essays

Existentialism in The Trial and Nausea  Ã‚   The Trial and Nausea  Ã‚   Webster's Dictionary defines Existentialism as a "philosophic doctrine of beliefs that people have absolute freedom of choice and that the universe is absurd, with an emphasis on the phenomena of anxiety and alienation." As Existentialism was coming to the foreground of the philosophical world during the 1940's, a group of Existentialist philosophers became well-known public figures in America. Their philosophies were commonly discussed in magazines, and their concepts of man's ultimate freedom of choice were quite intriguing to readers. Two philosophers who embodied this set of beliefs were Jean-Paul Sartre and Franz Kafka. These men displayed their beliefs mostly through novels. Sartre wrote Nausea, the story of a man's struggle to find meaning in a world in which most everything gives him a paralyzing sense of sickness. Kafka relayed his thoughts through Joseph K., a man who has been put on trial without being given any information about what he's done. The outcomes of Kafka's The Trial and Sartre's Nausea are two examples of the effects on a man who questions his existence. The main focus of Nausea is Antoine Roquentin's experience with what he describes as the "Nausea." The overwhelming absurdity of his everyday experiences create this sickness. Roquentin's first experience with this sickness is described when he reaches down to pick up a slip of paper: "Objects should not touch because they are not alive. You use them, put them back in place, you live among them: they are useful, nothing more. But they touch me, it is unbearable. I am afraid of being in contact with them as though they were living beasts" (Sartre 10). The term "Nausea" has since become common when the subject of Existentialism is brought up. It is an excellent term to describe the sudden realization that things are not as one had previously perceived them to be and that there is great weight in the matter of existence. Roquentin's battle with his own mind to find meaning in life has become one of the most effective manifestations of Existentialist thought in literature. Along with the writings of Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett, Sartre's writings are among the most highly regarded of the Existentialist works. Franz Kafka wrote a novel which evaluates a similar state of mind. The Trial deals with a much different situation, in which a man's freedom, and possibly even his life, literally hangs in the balance.