Downfall of Education in Louisiana essays

Downfall of Education in Louisiana essays Education in Louisiana has been a major problem in recent years. Louisiana has consistently ranked near the bottom of the 50 states in education, and this trend has yet to change. This is due to a money problem, but mostly is due to the training and selection of teachers. Most teachers are underpaid, unqualified, and some leave the state for better teaching jobs and higher pay. One problem is that many of the teachers in Louisiana are not certified. To be certified teachers must complete a course which gives them state certification to teach. Many teachers are hired without certification and this is only detrimental to the students. A solution to this is to mandate that all teachers receive certification. To add to this, the state could implement assessment test for the teachers to take periodically throughout the year to monitor their progression. Also many teachers are teaching subjects they are not qualified to teach. If a math teacher is teaching an English class what good could come of this? Teacher turnover is also a major problem for state school officials. Many teachers leave the state for better jobs and higher salaries. To combat this problem the state could institute a pay by performance plan. This would give bonuses to teachers based on the performance of their students. This would be an incentive for teachers to stay in state, but it would also make them focus more on the progression of their students, which in turn helps expand the learning experience of the student. The biggest problem our state faces in terms of education is teacher pay. Many solutions have been brought up, but nothing has seemed to work. The pay by performance plan is one way, but there needs to be more. Many people have already opposed by way of vote not to raise sales tax so the teachers would receive a pay raise. But, many people do not realize how it would drastically contribute. Only a one cent sales tax raise would be en...

Factual Questions in ACT Science How to Read Graphs, Tables, and Data

Factual Questions in ACT Science How to Read Graphs, Tables, and Data SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Reading graphs is like reading in a foreign language. It comes easy to some and is very difficult for others.If you struggle tounderstand graph, tables, and other visuals for ACT Science questions, this article containing tips, strategies, and practice questions is perfect for you. If you're a â€Å"fluent† pro, this article will be a good review to make sure your skills are on point.Even if you are a pro, the ACT Science section often tests the basic skill of reading visuals in new and challenging ways, so this article will make sure you have strategies forboth easy and hard questions. Here is an overview of what we'll cover in this guide: Understanding the core elements of a graph The importance of labels How to use axes What to do with units of measure Mastering the different types of graphs on the ACT Science section Reading bar graphs Analyzing scatter plots Using line graphs Pulling data from tables Deciphering tricky graphs Reading Graphs and Other Visuals Is the Key to Success on the ACT Science Section Factual Questions Ask You to Evaluate Visuals and Just Relay Information. These questions simply ask you to relay factual information that is presented in the passage.To answer these questions, you need to read the graphs, tables, and/or scatterplots. For the simplest type of ACT Science practice questions that we'll be covering here, you'll need to pull out specific data points without further calculation/inferences. These Types of Questions Are Typically Found in Data Representation Passages. These passages are similar to those found in science journals and text.They present you with a short paragraph or two as well as 1-4 visual representations of data (such as graphs, tables, and/or scatterplots). The passages will mention specific studies and label sections as Study 1/2/3.Each Data Representation Passage has 5 questions, often using the skills we'll be covering here. If you want to learn more about the types of passages and questions on the ACT Science section, check out our article on the 3 Types of ACT Science Passages. In the PrepScholar ACT Program, we categorize the questions for Data Representation into 3 categories (not everyone categorizes them the same way). Factual questions or â€Å"pure data† questions is one of the three types. Here is a sample Data Representation Passage from an ACT practice test: Here is an example of a factual question from the above passage: There may be more advanced versions of these questions in which you are asked to look at a weird graph. Such as this one: Does this graph look crazy to you? Don’t fret! You will master this crazy graph and all others by the end of this article. Core Elements of a Graph Let's start off with basic ACT Science tips about the basic components of graphs, and strategies on how to interpret them. The Importance of Labels Labels are SUPER IMPORTANT on the ACT Science section.Each visual is labeled with Figure plus a number. So if there are 3 visuals, they will be labeled Figure 1, Figure 2, and Figure 3.See below: Why are they labeled?So you will refer to the correct one (though many students still don’t look at the right visual). The question will often specifically tell you which figure to look at such as this one: In Figure 2, what percent of captured finches from Island C had a 10 mm beak depth? To correctly answer this question, you need to check the labels and make sure you look at Figure 2.Then, identify the graph that shows the finches from Island C.In this case, you need to use the bottom graph.I see the beak depth is along the x-axis.At 10 mm beak depth, I follow the bar up and see it is just short of 35%, so probably about 34%. The first step in most ACT Science questions is to read the label, and if you get this step wrong, you will get the answer wrong.So make sure you check the label to ensure you are looking at the correct visual for the question. How to Use Axes Axes are the lines at the side(s) and bottom of a graph.Axes are useful to figure out the control and the variable(s) in the experiment.I will go into detail on this topic in the examples below. Graphs by definition have an x-axis and y-axis. The x-axis is the horizontal line (typically at the bottom of the graph).The y-axis is the vertical line (typically on the left side of the graph, though more challenging graphs on the ACT Science will have one on the left and one on the right). Let’s take a look at this simple graph for practice: In this graph, the x-axis doesn't measure anything (it only lists animals).In this graph, the y-axis measures the animals’ weights.The animals’ weights would be considered the variable in the research.The researchers did not know what the weights would be exactly until they measured the weights.We can use this graph to compare the 4 elements of only one data set: the weights of animals. If the passage had asked you, What isthe weight of a dog? First, we need to find dog on the axis that defines the type of animal, which is the x-axis. Next, we look on the y-axis for the value of the dog's weight and see that it reads 10 kg. Now, for practice, let’s take a look at a slightly more complicated scatterplot with measurements on both axes: In this graph, the x-axis measures the distance from the center of the plot to the nearest clearing.In this graph, the y-axis measures the average change in AGTB (it is not important to understand what AGTB is). The average change in AGTB would be considered the "dependent variable" in the research.The researchers did not know what the average change in AGTB would be exactly until they measured it.We can use this graph to compare the distance from the center of the plot to the nearest clearing TO the average change in AGTB. If the passage had asked you, What is theaverage change in AGTB at a distance of 50 m from the center of the plot to the nearest clearing? To do so, we first need to find 50 on the axis that defines the distance from the center of the plot to the nearest clearing, which is the x-axis. Next, we look on the y-axis for the value of the average change in AGTB and see that it reads 5 t/yr. We will evaluate this graph further in the next portion: What to Do With Units of Measure On graphs on the ACT Science section, they will present units of measure for each axis next to the label. Don't try to understand what the units mean.The ACT Science section throws in these crazy, weird units that you won’t have seen unless you studied very high-level Physics or Chemistry.You do not need to know exactly what they referto in order to answer the questions.Take for example the graph we just discussed: While you probably know that m is meters, you may be unfamiliar with t/yr, yet you had no problem answering the question above.For the ACT Science section, when the units are listed in the answer choice, they match up to the units shown in one of the visuals or mentioned in the passage (such as in the example above).So, there is no need to dwell on them or stress over them. In all of the practice sections I’ve ever done or that I’ve ever seen or given to students, I have NEVER seen an ACT Science question ask you to convert the units from one form of measure to another.You most likely were taught this in Math and/or Science classes.Set those skills aside.You do not need them for this test. Why do the ACT makers include these units if you don’t need them?To make the graph more challenging or to test your ability to sort information that you may not know. Ignore what you don’t need and find the information to answer the question.Focus on what you can identify, which lead us to our next topic: The Different Types of Graphs The ACT will show you a variety of graphs. Most of these are predictable. The hardest graphs are graphs that you will never have seen before and have to interpret on the fly. Thankfully, with the clear step by step structure I present below, you'll be able to tackle even the hardest graphs. Bar Graph Bar graphs tend to be one of the easier visuals used by the ACT Science section.They are easier because there will only be one variable shown.Let’s examine the example practice question below: In this graph, the x-axis lists the years (in 1-year increments from 1976-1985). The y-axis measures the average beak depth, the variable in this research. We can use this graph to compare the year to average beak depth. If the passage had asked us, What isthe average beak depth in 1983? First, we need to find 1983 on the x-axis. Next, we look on the y-axis for the value of the average beak depth and see that it reads 9.6 mm.Bar graphs are really easy, so long as you make sure you have identified the correct bar, you will find the data you need. Scatter Plot Scatterplots are graphs of plotted points that show the relationship between two sets of data.We looked at one earlier, but here is another from the same passage: In this example, each dot represents the measure of the average cumulative percent change in AGTB in a specific year. Let's attempt this practice question: What wasthe average cumulative percent change in AGTB during Year 2? To answer this question, we firstneed to find Year 2 on the x-axis. Follow that up to the Year 2 point on the scatterplot. Next, we look on the y-axis for the average cumulative percent change in AGTB and see that it reads 6%. Scatterplots can be slightly more challenging if they ask you a question about a point not marked.Let’s say they had asked you instead: What was the average cumulative percent change in AGTB during Year 9? F. 0%G. 6%H. 10%J. 14% Well, there is no point for Year 9, but you can see the downward trend.In order to answer this question, I recommend drawing on the graph provided.See my example: Connect the dots you have to create a curve.Sorry for my less than perfect drawing, but you don’t have to be perfect.You can clearly see the curve is much closer to 14% than any of the other options, so the answer is 14%.When answering these trend questions, try whenever possible to draw out the curve on the graph you are given and then use process of elimination. When in doubt, draw it out. Which our next graphs happen to do for you! Also, check our ourarticles on calculating questions and interpolations questions! Line Graphs Line graphs are one of the harder types of visuals used in the ACT Science section.The reason they are more difficult is that they show essentially an infinite number of data points, and you need to be precise about which data point you're looking at.There are so many values since each point on the line is a new value. Also, the ACT Science section often uses line graphs to show 2 entirely different sets of data, one on the left and one on the right with a key to differentiate between the two lines such as in this example graph: Let’s break this graph down.2 lines represent 2 independent groups of information. Each line has its own range of measurements. The x-axis shows time in increments of 5 years.So if you were asked the practice question, What is the RCRF in January 1990? You must first notice the correct line. The solid line represents RCRF according to the key. Match it up to the measurement on the right or left. The right side represents RCRF in %.It may help to use the edge of your paper or a pen or pencil to create a straight line to find the point of intersection.See my example: Then, find the point of intersection between that solid line and the January 1990 mark, which is around 7-7.5% so that is the answer. So the key ACT Sciencestrategiesto remember with line graphs are: Identify the correct line Match it up to the correct measurement on the left or right Draw the point of intersection Now that we’ve conquered one of the hardest graphs on the ACT Science section, let’s take a break with a simple visual: Tables Tables are one of the easier types of visuals provided.There are a number of columns, and each entry in a column corresponds to the entry directly to the right or left of that entry in the same row.For example, the below table is typical: A sample question about a table may look like this: Based on Table 1, 0.001 ml of titrant added produced a reaction time of? The answer would be 12 seconds. To find this, you look up 0.001 in the left column representing "Amount of titrant added," and look to the corresponding value on the right, "reaction time." For tables, the key points are Identify the correct column in question Find the correct data point in question Look to the right or left of it in the same row to find the matching data point Some tables on the ACT Science section will have many rows and columns of data, but the technique is always the same. Finally, now that we have grasped most visual concepts, let’s take a whack at: Tricky Graphs You should be very close to visual reading â€Å"fluency.†Let’s check out a graph that is not what it seems: A lot of lines with confusing labels. Let’s say we asked a question: Which of the following absorbed the most light across all wavelengths? White S Orange S Red S Brown S First, let's take a look at the graph. There are 5 lines here, and each one represents a different color of light plus Sulfur Oxide (which we do not need for this question, as it's not one of the answer choices). Each graph represents the reflectance at each wavelength. The question is asking us for which substance absorbed the most light across all wavelengths. Let's break down this question.First, "absorb the most light" means the opposite of reflectance. Reflectance is what is graphed. Second, "across all wavelengths" means we're not just looking at one point on the x-axis; we're looking across all points. The unprepared or rushed student would answer White S because they see it reflects the most light across all wavelengths, of the options in the answer choices. However, knowing that absorbance is the opposite of reflectance and looking across all wavelengths, I see that Brown S is reflecting the least across all wavelengths.Therefore, it is absorbing the most, so the answer is Brown S. Rules to remember with graphs: always compare what you are being asked to what the graph actually shows.That way you don’t get tricked! Let’s check out another tricky graph: This graph is even more complex. There are intersecting lines of weird shapes, and labels for each of the regions enclosed by lines. But just like every other table, we can attack it one by one. Let’s say the practice question asked you: Which of the following would most likely NOT be found at a pressure of 10 kb? Facies A Facies C Facies G Facies E First, let's take a look at the graph. There are 7 Facies identified (facies is a geology term for a body of rock with specified characteristics - this info would be given in the passage). The graph shows the pressure, depth, and temperature at which these 7 Facies appear. The question is asking us for which of the following is NOT found at a pressure of 10 kb. Let's break down this question.First, pressure means we need to use the left y-axis.Second, we need to find 10 kb. Next, because the question asks what is likely NOT found at a pressure of 10kb,we need to draw a line across it,as inmy example: Now, you can see that Facies C, G, and E all are found out 10kb, but Facies A is not, so A is the correct answer. The unprepared or rushed student might choose Facies C, G, or E as the answer if they missed the NOT, or that student might accidentally look at a depth of 10 km on the right instead of pressure and get the answer entirely wrong. What to learn from this, Always make sure you have found the correct axis in question Be extra careful when you see a NOT or EXCEPT This way you avoid getting tricked by referring to the wrong data piece or answering the wrong question! Recap If you've ever had trouble with interpreting graphs, hopefully, you found this guide useful. Most graphs on the ACT will be of the more simplistic types, but now you should feel confident to tackle even the most complicated graphs the ACT throws at you. Here's a breakdown of the steps you should take: Read labels very carefully.Make sure you'relooking at the correct Figure. Remember the basics - what the axes represent, how the data points are depicted, how to go step by step to the value you need. All of the same rules apply to tables, bar graphs, scatterplots, line graphs, and tricky graphs. Don't try to understandthe units of measure. Practice practice practice to make sure you have these skills down. What’s Next? I hope you feel like a visual reading pro!As your next steps in studying for the ACT Science section, you should learnthe best way to study and practice for ACT Science. Not sure where you’d like to go to college? Figure out how to find your target school. Interested in attending a top college? Check out our guides to getting into Harvard and Stanford! Struggling with your college application? Learn how to write your personal statement and how to write about extracurriculars. Like this article? Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Sciencelesson, you'll love our program.Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands ofpractice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial: Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Dora Seigel About the Author As an SAT/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you get there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to University of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the ACT. She is also passionate about acting, writing, and photography. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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Business and Management Decision Making BZ Essay

Business and Management Decision Making BZ - Essay Example The hospitality services of the Glasgow University offers a wide range of catering service. The food products and other catering services are offered to a wide range of consumers starting from students, professors and other staffs. This as a result makes it a lucrative business for the University. Moreover, academic departments are also forbidden to outsource food from any other outlets. This as a result, has made them captive customers for the Glasgow University hospitality services. However, the institution also faces significant amount of competition from outlets outside the campus. These outlets include restaurants, pubs and other eateries which are in close proximities from the university campus. This as a result makes it easier for the students and staff to have an alternative option for eating outside the campus. This can be described from a theoretical stand point by highlighting the Porter’s five forces of competition. The Porter (2008) mentioned that the competitive force not only arise from the rivalry among existing firms, but also from four other direction. The Porter five force analyses will help to assess the level of competition faced by the Glasgow University hospitality service. This data will be then utilized to analyse the required changes that are required to make the service offering at par to the desired level. Power of Buyers: The power of buyers can be described in terms of their switching cost, which is indirectly proportional. If the switching cost of the buyers is low, then their bargaining power increases (Dalrymple, 2008). The availability of several restaurants and pubs in the close proximity of the university campus makes it easier for the customers to choose from several available options. However, outsourcings from outside eateries are not allowed in the campus. This as a result, reduces the buyers’ power slightly. Thus, the overall

Dior J`adore Perfume Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Dior J`adore Perfume - Essay Example As J’adore is a luxury item, it adds to the personality of women customers. The main features and attributes of the product highlighted by the company are: femininity, sophistication, and emotion. The other features are its everlasting fragrance, better quality, innovation, and its brand name. The company offers free shipment for a particular range of J’adore products. Tester facility is provided to the customers, to test the perfume as a demo. They also offer attractive sale offers on particular occasions like Christmas. During Christmas season Dior offers combination like lotion with perfume. Women, who have high income, are the main consumers of J’adore. The products come in models like J'Adore L'Absolu, J'Adore Anniversaire En Or, J'Adore L'or, J'Adore L'eau. Customers are ready to spend more time in search of the product, because once they use it they always go for the same product, and they identify themselves with the picture of feminity in the perfume. They never go for a different or substitute product, because of its unique fragrance and quality. The product has been in the market for the last ten years. Flimsy bottle caps sometimes with decorated gold ribbon, brilliant, transparent and unique crystal bottle design, and attractive letter design of the word J’adore are the distinctive features of the product packing. They also use luxurious, clean, contemporary image of celebrities on the package. Dior follows the pricing strategy of competitive pricing, ie; they set the price according to the prices set by their competitors. They also adopt premium pricing strategy for particular product range, to highlight the product’s exclusiveness. The product faces competition from Chanel, Guerlain, Cartier, Lancome, Prada, Givenchy, Calvin Klein and Angel de Thierry Mugler. The perfume industry faces tight competition. Chanel is one of the well established companies in France, which always offers high quality perfumes, at high prices. But the prices of J’adore and its competitors are almost similar. So there will not be much difference for the customers in making payment for the product. J’adore has a USP (Unique Selling Proposition), driven by emotions, which make it impossible to compare with the products of its competitors. The long lasting fragrances, the prestige that the brand name of J’adore gives when women apply it, the confidence she feels when it a dds to her personality makes the product a unique one, which is very difficult for the competitors to imitate. The targeted customers are women who earn high income. Once they like the product, they

Machiavellian Folly in The Prince Essay -- Machiavelli The Prince Essa

Machiavellian Folly in The Prince      Ã‚  Ã‚   In the annals of history, many individuals have contributed great works of literature, waxing philosophically on the meaning of life, death, and love.  Ã‚   Niccolo Machiavelli wrote not on love or life, but on power:   How to capture it, how to consolidate it, and how to defend it against all comers.   His work has been talked about and dissected to the extent that his subject matter and methods have earned their own moniker:   Machiavellian.   Nonetheless, this great philosopher's works did not meet with unanimous approval.   His own student, Thomas Hobbes, presented a very different account of politics.   This essay offers a Hobbesian critique of some of Machiavelli's arguments, focusing in and around the ninth chapter of The Prince.   Although Machiavelli and Hobbes share many of the same views - like the moral depravity of the human character and the absence of natural justice - Hobbes differs from Machiavelli in three key respects:   The position of glory and honour, the role of competition, and the function of the state.    Hobbes and Machiavelli share the same understanding of human character.   Machiavelli wrote during a time when people believed in absolute moral virtue.   But as Machiavelli struck pen to paper, he rebelled from this norm.   Having criticized Christian doctrine in Discourses on Livy, Machiavelli proceeds in The Prince to outline a sinister, ruthless understanding of virtue.   Hidden deep within this dark design is his greatest contribution to modern politics:   Rationalism.1   Machiavelli was the first philosopher to employ a truly pragmatic approach to politics.  Ã‚   He examined human beings in light of their motives, their desires, and their fears.   While other philosoph... ...ts of the citizenry.    BIBLIOGRAPHY: Curley, Edwin [Ed.].   Hobbes, Thomas.   Leviathan.   Hackett Publishing Company, United States of America;   1994 Mansfield, Harvey C. [Trans.].   Machiavelli, Niccolo.   The Prince.   University of Chicago Press, Chicago;   1998    1 Sometimes referred to as Realism. 2 Pangle, Thomas.   Class Lecture.   Jan. 25, 1999 3 Mansfield, Harvey C. [trans]   Machiavelli, The Prince.   Ch. XVII.   P. 66 4 Curley, Edwin [ed.].   Hobbes, Thomas.   Leviathan.   P. 58 5 Mansfield, Harvey C. [trans]   Machiavelli, The Prince.   P. x 6 Curley, Edwin [ed.].   Hobbes, Thomas.   Leviathan.   P. 76 7 Ibid.   P. 78 ** Emphasis added in translation. 8 "Good" here refers to the conventional, Biblical and Aristotelian understanding. 9 Mansfield, Harvey C. [trans]   Machiavelli, The Prince.   P. 62 10 Ibid.   P. 71   

Deception Point Page 49

Marjorie Tench's raspy voice echoed in her mind. Are you aware that Sexton is accepting bribes from private aerospace companies? Gabrielle's pulse began racing as she gazed down the darkened hallway toward the archway that led into the senator's den. She knew she should speak up, announce her presence, and yet she felt herself inching quietly forward. She moved to within a few feet of the archway and stood soundlessly in the shadows†¦ listening to the conversation beyond. 55 While Delta-Three stayed behind to collect Norah Mangor's body and the sled, the other two soldiers accelerated down the glacier after their quarry. On their feet they wore ElektroTread-powered skis. Modeled after the consumer Fast Trax motorized skis, the classified ElektroTreads were essentially snow skis with miniaturized tank treads affixed-like snowmobiles worn on the feet. Speed was controlled by pushing the tips of the index finger and thumb together, compressing two pressure plates inside the right-hand glove. A powerful gel battery was molded around the foot, doubling as insulation and allowing the skis to run silently. Ingeniously, the kinetic energy generated by gravity and the spinning treads as the wearer glided down a hill was automatically harvested to recharge the batteries for the next incline. Keeping the wind at his back, Delta-One crouched low, skimming seaward as he surveyed the glacier before him. His night vision system was a far cry from the Patriot model used by the Marines. Delta-One was looking through a hands-free face mount with a 40 x 90 mm six-element lens, three-element Magnification Doubler, and Super Long Range IR. The world outside appeared in a translucent tint of cool blue, rather than the usual green-the color scheme especially designed for highly reflective terrains like the Arctic. As he approached the first berm, Delta-One's goggles revealed several bright stripes of freshly disturbed snow, rising up and over the berm like a neon arrow in the night. Apparently the three escapees had either not thought to unhook their makeshift sail or had been unable to. Either way, if they had not released by the final berm, they were now somewhere out in the ocean. Delta-One knew his quarry's protective clothing would lengthen the usual life expectancy in the water, but the relentless offshore currents would drag them out to sea. Drowning would be inevitable. Despite his confidence, Delta-One had been trained never to assume. He needed to see bodies. Crouching low, he pressed his fingers together and accelerated up the first incline. Michael Tolland lay motionless, taking stock of his bruises. He was battered, but he sensed no broken bones. He had little doubt the gel-filled Mark IX had saved him any substantial trauma. As he opened his eyes, his thoughts were slow to focus. Everything seemed softer here†¦ quieter. The wind still howled, but with less ferocity. We went over the edge-didn't we? Focusing, Tolland found he was lying on ice, draped across Rachel Sexton, almost at right angles, their locked carabiners twisted. He could feel her breathing beneath him, but he could not see her face. He rolled off her, his muscles barely responding. â€Å"Rachel†¦?† Tolland wasn't sure if his lips were making sound or not. Tolland recalled the final seconds of their harrowing ride-the upward drag of the balloon, the payload cable snapping, their bodies plummeting down the far side of the berm, sliding up and over the final mound, skimming toward the edge-the ice running out. Tolland and Rachel had fallen, but the fall had been oddly short. Rather than the expected plunge to the sea, they had fallen only ten feet or so before hitting another slab of ice and sliding to a stop with the dead weight of Corky in tow. Now, raising his head, Tolland looked toward the sea. Not far away, the ice ended in a sheer cliff, beyond which he could hear the sounds of the ocean. Looking back up the glacier, Tolland strained to see into the night. Twenty yards back, his eyes met a high wall of ice, which seemed to hang above them. It was then that he realized what had happened. Somehow they had slid off the main glacier onto a lower terrace of ice. This section was flat, as large as a hockey rink, and had partially collapsed-preparing to cleave off into the ocean at any moment. Ice calving, Tolland thought, eyeing the precarious platform of ice on which he was now lying. It was a broad square slab that hung off the glacier like a colossal balcony, surrounded on three sides by precipices to the ocean. The sheet of ice was attached to the glacier only at its back, and Tolland could see the connection was anything but permanent. The boundary where the lower terrace clung to the Milne Ice Shelf was marked by a gaping pressure fissure almost four feet across. Gravity was well on its way to winning this battle. Almost more frightening than seeing the fissure was Tolland's seeing the motionless body of Corky Marlinson crumpled on the ice. Corky lay ten yards away at the end of a taut tether attached to them. Tolland tried to stand up, but he was still attached to Rachel. Repositioning himself, he began detaching their interlocking carabiners. Rachel looked weak as she tried to sit up. â€Å"We didn't†¦ go over?† Her voice was bewildered. â€Å"We fell onto a lower block of ice,† Tolland said, finally unfastening himself from her. â€Å"I've got to help Corky.† Painfully, Tolland attempted to stand, but his legs felt feeble. He grabbed the tether and heaved. Corky began sliding toward them across the ice. After a dozen or so pulls, Corky was lying on the ice a few feet away. Corky Marlinson looked beaten. He'd lost his goggles, suffered a bad cut on his cheek, and his nose was bleeding. Tolland's worries that Corky might be dead were quickly allayed when Corky rolled over and looked at Tolland with an angry glare. â€Å"Jesus,† he stammered. â€Å"What the hell was that little trick!† Tolland felt a wave of relief. Rachel sat up now, wincing. She looked around. â€Å"We need to†¦ get off of here. This block of ice looks like it's about to fall.† Tolland couldn't have agreed more. The only question was how. They had no time to consider a solution. A familiar high-pitched whir became audible above them on the glacier. Tolland's gaze shot up to see two white-clad figures ski effortlessly up onto the edge and stop in unison. The two men stood there a moment, peering down at their battered prey like chess masters savoring checkmate before the final kill. Delta-One was surprised to see the three escapees alive. He knew, however, this was a temporary condition. They had fallen onto a section of the glacier that had already begun its inevitable plunge to the sea. This quarry could be disabled and killed in the same manner as the other woman, but a far cleaner solution had just presented itself. A way in which no bodies would ever be found. Gazing downward over the lip, Delta-One focused on the gaping crevasse that had begun to spread like a wedge between the ice shelf and the clinging block of ice. The section of ice on which the three fugitives sat was dangerously perched†¦ ready to break away and fall into the ocean any day now. Why not today†¦ Here on the ice shelf, the night was rocked every few hours by deafening booms-the sound of ice cracking off parts of the glacier and plummeting into the ocean. Who would take notice? Feeling the familiar warm rush of adrenaline that accompanied the preparation for a kill, Delta-One reached in his supply pack and pulled out a heavy, lemon-shaped object. Standard issue for military assault teams, the object was called a flash-bang-a â€Å"nonlethal† concussion grenade that temporarily disoriented an enemy by generating a blinding flash and deafening concussion wave. Tonight, however, Delta-One knew this flash-bang would most certainly be lethal. He positioned himself near the edge and wondered how far the crevasse descended before tapering to a close. Twenty feet? Fifty feet? He knew it didn't matter. His plan would be effective regardless.

The Theory Of Perception And Knowing - 1760 Words

To James and Lippmann, the stimuli world is a buzzing confusion that bombards the perceiver. From Shakespeare and Socrates to Kant and Kohler, the power of perception has been discussed by philosophers and psychologists alike. Construction of perception and knowing is subjective, depending on factors such as motives, wants, needs, values, cultures, norms, and mood. Meaning is constructed to end doubt, prepare for action, and obtain sub-jective feelings of control. In the social world, inferences and categorization happen at an unconscious level. However, we have the cognitive flexibility to engage in effor Separating meaning from pure sensation was the goal for Kohler and Bruner. For Kohler, even the most elementary forms of knowing†¦show more content†¦When a person is forced to choose between stimuli, a per-son will respond to stimuli based on which stimuli speak to his or her goals most clearly. Similar to Kohler and Bruner, Lewin believed motives and goals could operate at an uncon-scious level, yet play an essential part in perception and action. Goals and motives that were chosen consciously and operate unconsciously are known as â€Å"quasi-needs.† Ability of a stimulus to capture one’s attention depends on the strength of the quasi-need. Stimuli related to our goals stand out to us while stimuli unrelated to our goals may go unnoticed. This con-firmation bias can be exemplified by the willingness of people to believe fake news when it fits their unconscious goals. These goals operate passively, waiting to be triggered by an en-vioronmental cue. Building o n Lewin’s work, Postman, Bruner, and McGinnies found that the perceptual meaning of value-laden words were dependent upon the perceiver’s likes and dislikes. Culture and norms took the center stage in Sherif’s assertion that there were two ways of framing the construction of knowledge. First, a stimulus may not invoke the same effect in person at different times; instead, the perceptual experience and subsequent behav-ior may be a function of the state of the organism at the time. By the same token, researchers have found that negative mood states reduce one’s perceptual focus, making it more diffi-cult toShow MoreRelatedDavid Hume s Theory Of Cognitive Structure1415 Words   |  6 Pagesexactly constitutes knowing and the conditions which make knowing possible. One of these philosophers is David Hume who is his book An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, claims that reasoning cannot demonstrate that things in the world exist therefore, all we can really know are our sense perceptions. An obvious flaw that is seen with Hume’s philosophy is that he reduces all knowledge to sense perceptions gained from experience. As Hume’s theory is limited to sense perception, another philosopherRead MoreTo what extent do ways of knowing prevent us from deluding ourselves? Justify your answer with reference to at least one area of knowledge1618 Words   |  7 Pageswhat extent do ways of knowing prevent us from deluding ourselves? Justify your answer with reference to at least one area of knowledge Ways of knowing are the core of TOK for us to get knowledge in different Areas of Knowledge. The two key terms on this essay question are â€Å"ways of Knowing† and â€Å"deluding ourselves†. â€Å"Ways of knowing are how we acquire knowledge about the world around us, and figure out our relationship with it†. (IB Diploma Program, 31) Ways of Knowing help us to understand AreasRead MoreAll of the Other Ways of Knowing Are Controlled by Language. ¡Ã‚ ¨ What Does This Statement Mean and Do You Think It Is a Fair Representation of the Relationship Between Perception, Emotion, Reason and Language?1463 Words   |  6 Pagesuse it. In the statement  ¡Ã‚ §All of the other ways of knowing are controlled by language ¡Ã‚ ¨, language is defined as  ¡Ã‚ §words ¡Ã‚ ¨ and this  ¡Ã‚ §control ¡Ã‚ ¨ can be defined as  ¡Ã‚ §dominate ¡Ã‚ ¨. Then this saying seems not so fair to represent the relationship between the four ways of knowing. It is more sensible to sa y language gives some support or limit to our reason ¡Aperception and emotion. It may influence them, but not only one way  ¡V the four ways of knowing interact with each other. The function of languageRead MoreThe Knowledge Of Natural Sciences And History1592 Words   |  7 Pageslink, for example, of perception in math or how reason could fit into art. A network suggests that more than one way of knowing can collaborate within another in order to gain knowledge in a particular Area of knowing. The statement implies that not using a network of WOK to gain knowledge is unwise. Thus, I wish to examine how we best acquire knowledge in Natural Sciences and History. My two central knowledge questions are, how reliable is it to use only one way of knowing in one Area of knowledgeRead MoreThat Which Is Accepted as Knowledge Today Is Sometimes Discarded Tomorrow†. Consider Knowledge Issues Raised by This Statement in Two Areas of Knowledge.1304 Words   |  6 Pagesuniverse was static. Until Einstein presented his theory and explained how the solar system worked. This example raises a knowledge issue: â€Å"Can we say that the knowledge attained through reasoning and perception is immutable†? Because the aforementioned example completely refuted this idea. What is knowledge? Knowledge is a combination of random information. This is systematically arranged through different ways of knowing specially reasoning and perception. Knowledge is classified as a factual beliefRead MoreWhy Is Knowledge Important Than Knowledge? Essay1388 Words   |  6 Pagesnetwork of ways of knowing.† Discuss this Statement with reference to two areas of knowledge. â€Å"I believe in intuition and inspiration. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Forknowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution. It is, strictly speaking, a real factor in scientific research.† - Albert Einstein The above lines were quoted by Albert Einstein which states the importance of ways of knowing in gaining knowledgeRead MoreThe Work of James Jerome Gibson1073 Words   |  5 PagesI. Brief biography1 James Jerome Gibson was born on January 27, 1904, in McConnelsville, Ohio, U.S. and died on December 11, 1979. He was an experimental psychologist whose work focused primarily on visual perception. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University in 1928 and joined the faculty of Smith College. During World War II he served in the Army Air Forces (1942–46). In the Army, Gibson developed tests used to screen potential pilots. In doing so, he made the observation thatRead MoreCan one be certain if a divine force, like God, or the Big Bang created our world, focusing on the600 Words   |  3 PagesGod, or the Big Bang created our world, focusing on the Earth and our solar system? There are facts supporting both of these theories. However, since our ways of knowing are altered by both our perceptions and reason, this is why everyone has their own opinion. Since facts are changed and disproved daily, we need to be able to learn and understand with these ways of knowi ng. In the natural sciences and history, facts and being founded and disproved daily, and we have to ask ourselves a question. CanRead MoreEssay Limitations to Our Common Ways of Knowledge1219 Words   |  5 Pagesconventional ways of knowing: emotion, perception, reason, and language. From traditional definitions, we know tools are things used to shape, form, or finish. The above quote by Abraham Maslow can be applied to the pursuit of knowledge. In the TOK context, we can make interesting discussion about the limitations of our ways of knowledge, and the advantages and disadvantages we might face by using a select combination of them. As discussed above, over-reliance on a single way of knowing can almost neverRead MoreThe Fundamental Knowledge Of Knowledge1637 Words   |  7 PagesCan we progress through applying knowledge generated decades ago? To determine whether knowledge generated from areas such as history and science can predict the future, it is necessary to know whether the knowledge acquired through these areas of knowing is consistent, irrespective of changes in time and culture, amongst other factors. Through considering this question, we are gaining insight into whether we should uphold our current knowledge beliefs or aim for perpetual progression and uncover new