Junot Diaz s Truly Does Tell The Brief Story Of The...

Junot Diaz’s novel truly does tell the brief story of the wondrous life of Oscar de Là ©on, our Dominican-American protagonist, better known as Oscar Wao. Weighing in at 245 pounds, our hopeless romantic loves comic books, writes science-fiction in all of his spare time, and, as described by our homodiegetic narrator Yunior, is a â€Å"loser with a capital L† (Diaz 17). While the title might allude that this is a story solely about Oscar, Diaz also delves deep into the lives of those closest to him. This narrative tells the epic journey of Oscar, as well as his family members, and how their experiences in the United States and Dominican Republic come together full-circle at the end of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, with the help of some postmodern techniques. As an immigrant himself, Diaz is able to use his journey to bring attention to the cultural stereotypes of his characters, but unlike many bildungsroman writings, our character’s coming of age story does not provide him with enough spiritual learnings to give him the quintessential happy ending. The overall growth of Oscar only reveals the flaws in his culture, a fatal flaw in his case. Because Oscar does not comply with the Dominican standards, he faces heavy repercussions in his life. As a story told in a fragmented, non-linear form, Yunior is able to recall anecdotes from different time periods, whether of Oscar, his mother Beli, or his sister Lola. Diaz gives his narrator the ability to tell a historical account of

Federal Court Of Australia And Sale Of Securities Essay

4. Arguments: Some of the most relevant arguments presented by the plaintiff and defendants for this case are highlighted below. The arguments specifically form a basis for the laws presented in the previous section. 4.1 Astra Nominees make offer of securities The plaintiff had alleged that the second defendant contemplated section 727 for the sale of securities and did not disclose this to the investors. ASIC also mentioned that Astra Nominees was in a position to sell the shares it had if the offers were accepted. This was completely obligatory with regards to the share subscription agreements between ASIC and Astra Nominees (Federal Court of Australia, 2015). 4.2 Disclosure under Part 6D.2 The defendants pleaded guilty on the fact that they exemptions were application under section 708 and hence disclosure under part 6D.2 was not necessary. ASIC on the other hand argued that when the Astra defendants were represented, there was documents provided to impose the claims made by them regarding the s708 exemption. However, these documents were not sufficient to claim that a financial licensee was appointed which did their task well (Commonwealth Consolidated Acts). 4.3 Small Scale Offerings Furthermore, Astra defendants also pleased ASIC submitted that the Astra defendants’ pleaded based on the act of section 708(5)(b) which states exemptions of disclosure in regards to small scale offerings. From the previous sections above, it is clearly evident that the offers made toShow MoreRelatedCommon Law and National Consumer Law1567 Words   |  7 Pagesthose persons specified by the court. e. It follows the common law, it will not override it. f. It acts only against the individual (i.e. in the personam), not property. 3. What are the main differences between the common law and statute law? Answer: Common law: common law is the law created through the reported decisions of judges in the higher courts. It is non- statutory law as it is law made by the courts Statute law: statute laws are made by federal state parliament in form of statuteRead MoreHow the Mercantile Management Sector Operates Essays1191 Words   |  5 Pageswill then pursue the debtor for a lesser amount than the original debt, in order to settle it sooner. Mercantile agencies are also used by the general public to carry out menial tasks that they are not legally allowed to do themselves, ie. Serve court documents. There are four main participants in the Mercantile management sector. Collectors, Field agents/Process Servers, Investigators and Repossession Agents. To work as any of the above mentioned there is no particular career background to comeRead MoreProstitution Article On Prostitution Laws1640 Words   |  7 Pagesantiquated view on the issue of prostitution, it has failed to adequately protect women. It is important that prostitutes are given an opportunity to protect themselves by employing security personnel if necessary and choose the location for conducting business. This paper will demonstrate that the policies employed by the federal government enhance the harm prostitute’s faces. as a result of being prevented by law from taking steps to enhance safety. The importance of legislator to balance the individualRead MoreTax Research Essay1075 Words   |  5 PagesBakeries was liquidated and the taxpayer received the assets distributed in the liquidation. The distributed asse ts failed to cover the preferred stocks liquidation preference. No assets were distributed with respect to the common stock. On its 1950 Federal income tax return, the taxpayer claimed a worthless stock deduction with respect to the common stock.   The Commissioner of Internal Revenue disallowed the deduction because of section 112(b)(6),4  the predecessor of section 332. The sole issue forRead MoreVirtual Organization - Riordan Manufacturing Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pagesgoods and services world wide. Cheeseman (2004) explains that the economic growth of computer technology and e-commerce has exceeded that of manufacturing in the United States economy. E-business is used to increase productivity and efficiency in sales and marketing, to strengthen customer relationships and to help in the export of its products globally. Riordan understands that legal and regulatory protection is required, the cultural differences of the customers must be understood, and they mustRead MoreAssignment Questions On The Law1497 Words   |  6 PagesAssignment-2 Bussiness Law Introduction I am asked to advice about the Jeff kennet who was a former Premeir of victoria. He lives in Melbourne, Australia. He bought a bread from Coles which was half baked and exported from Ireland to Australia. It was a product of bakery food of coles. Kennet sue the company under the consumer law as they are advertising the bread as freshly baked but It was half baked. According to law Coles get fine of million dollars and have to pay. Then Jeff Kennet was givenRead MoreThe Legal Constitution Of Australia Essay1318 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION The legal constitution of Australia was developed by the multiple principles of the British and the United States of America1. However, a major factor that was eliminated from these principles was the notion of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights main purpose is to affirm, protect, promote human rights and fundamental freedoms1. Australia does not have a Bill of Rights, since it has been ascertained that the citizens of Australia are protected by common law and legislation2. It isRead MoreLaw: Questions and Answers1112 Words   |  4 Pagespoint affirmed by the House of Lords in the Salomon v Salomon case. In this case, a company is considered a new legal entity that is separate from all of its shareholders. The court did this is a one person company as is the case of Indri. Ramsay and Noakes (2001) noted that Windeyer J stated in a High Court case of Peate v Federal Commissioner of Taxation noted that a company represents new legal entity, a person in the very eyes of the law. T his separate entity principle has persisted in the Anglo-AustralianRead MoreGun Control Is A Tough Business854 Words   |  4 Pagesthey must undergo a safety gun course and have a federal registration certificate for that weapon. Japan s laws are among the strictest: essentially banning all weapons except those used in competitions and requiring rigorous background and metal checks. Both countries show a dramatic decrease in domestic violence and homicide involving guns. In the U.S., there is a 3.2% rate of homicide from guns per 100,000 people versus 0.1% in Canada and Australia, 0.5% in Norway, and 0% in Japan. While thereRead MoreGun Control And Gun Violence1320 Words   |  6 Pagesamendment was adopted in the 18th century, and it served as a purpose for the people in 1791. Then again times have changed and we no longer are alone to protect ourselves, guns were the way to go back then but since we have police officers and various security that can effectively replace the use of assault weapons A further popular argument people use is â€Å"guns don t kill people, people kill people†. I find this to be a bit misinterpreted, of course guns can’t kill people without someone controlling it

Religious skepticism among a large portion of the youth Free Essays

The â€Å"conventional† God is what the youth today does not believe in. That is what has led them to Atheism , Agnosticism et cetera. The youth no longer wants to do what they are told to do without question. We will write a custom essay sample on Religious skepticism among a large portion of the youth or any similar topic only for you Order Now They want to stand up and question beliefs. They want to think for their own. Religion is not a methodical approach to life which one must follow in order to reach his or her desired goal. Religion is more than that. Religion is a way of life. Religion has to relate o a person on an individual level, because religion is all about belief. Every person has different beliefs. This is why different religions formed in the first place. Belief creates perception. And perception creates experience. Hence religion is directly based on belief. Hence someone else’s belief cannot be adopted by a person as their own belief. This is the very reason the youth has questioned the act of following others’ beliefs and following a rigid set of rules. It has also been seen that many people who realize that there’s something missing, a link that Just isn’t there. These very people, who at a period in their lives were completely involved in â€Å"worldly matters†, go in search of that link. These could be youth, or even people in As an example, youths have become a part of religious organizations in search of that missing link. Many such organizations exist all over the world. What led these youths to make the drastic change in their life was the very fact that they were not ready to accept someone else’s beliefs. I will elaborate my view about the youth and the believers and beliefs that they find that anyone might find absurd. These very â€Å"rituals† and â€Å"superstitions† are thought of y the youth as the cause of the lack of belief in religion. In a majority of Hindu society, at many festivals, a coconut is offered to the deity by smashing the coconut in front of an idol. Now, I myself have known of this ritual, and have even taken part in practicing it many times. Whereas the very reason of this offering or the very significance of it, it was not known by many people I asked. The practice in itself is very symbolic. Before cracking it open, the whole outer layer of the coconut is shaven off, signifying getting rid of all desires except the desire to realize Ruth, which the small bit signifies. Now the outer shell is cracked open, revealing the pure white milk inside, signifying the purity inside, exposing it. Then the last bit of the outer covering is shaven off, signifying renunciation of the last desire, exposing the three holes in the coconut, symbolizing the three eyes, the third eye being the eye of wisdom. If we take another example, religious practices like â€Å"Sati†4 are widely boycotted in modern society. These might be thought of as having a religious origin, and because people are against them now, they are thought to be unreasonable. Even when people try to find the reason behind these practices, they seldom succeed. The answer in such cases is known by very few people. It is observed that people in one religion many a times do as someone with religious authority asks them to blindly, or they fool themselves by making themselves believe that whatever they are being told makes sense. Due to this, the youth thinks that all religious means is praying and following a set of rules, not freedom. But religion could be far from that. Thus what they despise is not religion, but thoughtless action, doing things blindly. That might be religion for some, but it cannot be assumed that that is religion for all. This is why some people break off from organized religion, and start their inner journey, their inner search for something. Some of these people find on their path people like them, people who do not believe in thoughtless 3 4 as defined by The Oxford Dictionary the former Hindu practice of a widow throwing herself on to her husband’s funeral pyre. Of 7 action, and connect with them. These people also have a religion. Their belief, their religion may be called by the same name as some other people’s, but it is not the name thing as theirs. It also so happens that the religions or religious sects that are usually broken off from have rules that are to be adhered to. Whereas places that satisfied and happy people end up in are relatively relaxed. This happens beca use every person’s religious Journey is his very own, not someone else’s. It can play out encouraged to do what the youth is doing, encouraged to question everything. They will only find their way if they get out of their comfort zone and try to. Conformity and fear of failing or doing something wrong prevents people from seeking the truth. These practices have always been a part of their lives, but they have not been able to find out why. This is what leads the youth to think that these religious practices, and hence religion, is mindless. But a number of people cannot represent religion as a whole, as and religious beliefs and practices are very diverse, and are different for everyone. For some, every ritual and practice holds significance and meaning, whereas for some it doesn’t. Often, we know only of the latter, causing us to form opinions of that religion based on the people we see. There are also sciences like Nasty† and â€Å"Fen Shut† that are believed by some to be precise, but regarded by others as unnecessary or fake and deceptive, as pseudo sciences. What happens is, sciences like these originally were literally sciences. They worked on the basis of reason. If, according to Vast, the windows should be placed in a certain part of the house, or the flow of water should be in a certain direction, it is to provide cross ventilation and to increase efficiency and the flow of positive energy throughout an indoor space. Another idea that doesn’t appeal to many people is the idea of renunciation and raying, surrendering yourself † as in Hinduism or Buddhism for example. But this is an idea; not a compulsion. This is an idea that has worked for some, not a compulsory decision or a command. This doesn’t mean that religion is only for people who will completely leave everything; because not everyone will – not everyone can. When it happens that someone really gives up Worldly duties’, or when someone renounces things, they do not control themselves from being a part of the ‘illusion’ or ‘Mama’s but they simply understand that it is temporary, thus there is no point in eating attached to temporary dualities. For the renounces, it is not a struggle to stay away from the illusion; it is the only way forward † something they would want to do, and be happy doing. Maya is defined as the illusion or appearance of the world perceptible by the senses or through immediate experience 5 of 7 Everyone has their own interpretation of everything, thus making it impossible for many people to follow exactly a set of rules; the meaning of words, especially when it comes to matters of religion or spirituality, cannot be interpreted in th e exact same way † for no two people think alike. This gives rise to personalization to suit every individual, only people do not realize that they are allowed to personalizes. The very reason people decide not to be religious is because they think that religion dictates. It dictates their life and their choices. My experience of studying World Religions has made it possible for me to think more broadly. I have read and talked to different people about how many religions like they could be when put into practice by different people due to their own different interpretations. This course has vastly influenced, and helped form my view of religion as it is today. It has also encouraged me to take interest in spirituality and religion. How to cite Religious skepticism among a large portion of the youth, Papers

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes

Question: Discuss about the Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes. Answer: Introduction Chronic diseases is a term used to refer to a group of long lasting diseases with persistent effects (AIHW, 2015). Examples of chronic diseases include diabetes, arthritis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mental health conditions, back problems and cardiovascular disease. They result to 7 of 10 deaths annually (CDC, 2016). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), state that of all Australians, approximately half have a chronic disease, with approximately 20% having atleast two, meaning that one in five Australians are affected by multiple chronic diseases. Diabetes is one of the most significant chronic disease affecting most people in the world, and whose occurrence and incidence has been increasing from decade to decade despite interventions being taken. In 1985, diagnosed individuals with the disease reached 30,million, in 1995 the number reached 135 million, in 2011 the number increased to 366 million and in 2030, the number is predicted to reach 552 million globally (Murea, Ma, Freedman, 2012). Additionally, the condition affects the health of many individuals and may result to other complications such as blood vessel and nerves damage. In this regard, diabetes is a chronic condition growing rapidly among populations, and its rate of growth is higher in comparison with other chronic conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart disease. This explains why this chronic condition was considered for exploration in this paper. The current paper, therefore, seeks to explore on diabetes as a chronic disease in Australia and worldwide, its public health significance, burden of disease, broad determinants and individual risk factors. Moreover, exploration of a framework utilized in prevention of chronic diseases and a review of its applicability to diabetes will be looked at. Diabetes can be categorized as either type 1, type 2 (diabetes mellitus), or gestational diabetes, and is among the most significant chronic diseases in Australia as well as globally. The condition comes about when the body fails to generate insulin or it is not produced in adequate amounts. Insulin is a hormone responsible for controlling blood glucose levels. Therefore, in its complete absence or not enouph, the blood sugar levels go out of control. Lack of enough production of insulin by the body results to type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabaetes is characterized by the ineffective use of available insulin by the body and is the most common among all diabetes types (WHO , 2016). On the other hand, gestational diabetes, unlike type 1 and type 2 diabetes, is a temporary condition occuring in pregnacy. However, gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are transitional conditions transiti oning diabetes and normal blood glucose. They increase the risk of stroke and heart attack (WHO , 2016). Type 2 diabetes, being the most common, is discussed in more detail compared to other types. As already mentioned, diabetes prevalence has been rapidly increasing consecutively for years now. The number rose from 30 million in 1985 to 135 million in 2011, and is expected to rise to 552 million in the near future, by 2030. According to World Health Organization, in 2014, about 422 million adults worldwide had and were living with diabetes, an increase from the 108million diabetic people in 1980 and an indication that since 1980, the global diabetes prevalence had doubled to 8.5 % from 4.7%. In this regard, the asssociated factors of risk of this disease such as obesity or overweight have increased. Additionally, diabetes prevalence has been found to rise more rapidly in developing nations as compared to developed nations. In Australia, about 1.2 million people had diabetes in 2014-2015, with one million hospitalization cases being associated with this disease (AIHW, 2016). Among this, one million were diabetes mellitus cases (4,4%)(AIHW, 2016). This numbers indicate a rise in numeral value of affected individuals in comparison to 2011-2012. Directly diabetes associated deaths were 1.5 million in 2012 globally. Moreover, the number of deaths indirectly associated with this disease added up to 2.2 million (WHO, 2016). These were deaths resulting from blood glucose higher than optimal, thus elevating cardiovascular as well as other diseases risk. 43% of the total number of deaths directly or indirectly associated with diabetes occurs in populations aged below 70 years. These statistics make diabetes the eighth leading death cause among both males and females (WHO, 2016). Among women, it was ranked as the fifth principal cause of mortality. In Australia, in 2014, 15740 deaths occurred, that is, 1 in 10 peoples deaths were associated with diabetes. Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) According to Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the burden of disease constitutes both the prematurely dying burden and the living with ill health burden. This burden can be measured by disability indicators such as Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY), which are important in portlaying the general burden of disease picture, just like mortality. A single DALY represent one year of lost healthy life as a resu;lt of death or illness In general, in 2011, there were 201 lost healthy years for every 1000 individuals in Australia as a result of death, injury or disease (AIHW, 2016b). This represents an equivalence of a total of 4.5 million DALYs. Globally, diabetes was ranked the fourteenth largest DALYs cause Diabetes impacts the affected people, families and nations economically, with direct or indirect costs. Due to the costs associated with medical treatment, loss of work and lack of independency, economic losses are experienced even by health systems as well as national economies. The cost for diabetic patients usually result from outpatient and medical care but also the increased expenditure for analogue insulins which are prescribed in most cases significantly play a role in further contributing to economic losses. Diabetes is highly significant in public health due to various factors. Firstly is due to its increasing prevalence as already discussed above. Secondly is due to its high cause of mortality, either directly or indirectly. Thrirdly is because diabetes elevates the risk of other diseases (American Diabetes Association, 2013). The disease is correlated with a diverse other health problems. For example, studies suggest that diabetic individuals are at more likelihood of dying from other diseases such as cancer compared to non diabetic individuals (American Diabetes Association, 2013). Additionally, there is an association between diabetes and premature deaths from a wide variety of causes such as stroke and heart disease. According to American Heart Association, (2015), a strong association between cardiovascular disease and diabetes exist, with at least 16% and 68% of diabetic individuals aged above 65 years die from certain forms of stroke or heart disease respectively. This may be as sociated with to blood vessels, kidney, nerves and eyes damage, caused by diabetes over time. Moreover, the likelihood of diabetic individuals dying from hear disease is twice that of non-diabetic. Diabetic individuals in most cases also bear some other health conditions including hypertension, abnormalcholestrol and high levels of triglycerides (American Heart Association, 2015). The elevation of risk for such diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease contributes greatly to the public health significance of diabetes. Diabetes is also associated with other health complications that lead to adverse outcomes especially when not properly managed. Extreamly high blood glucose levels may trigger conditions such as hyperosmolar in diabetes mellitus and diabetic ketoacidosis in both type 1 and diabetes mellitus. On the other hand, abnormally low levels of blood glucose may result to loss of conciousness and seizures (WHO, 2016). Diabetes also increases the risk for development of foot ulcers and infections, resulting to limb amputation. Kidney failure and blindness are also health prolems linked to diabetes. All these complications related to diabetes makes it important to public health as it leads to adverse outcomes such as mortality rate increase . The public health significance of diabetes is also contributed by multiple chronic comorbidities (MCCs). This is because MCCs are not only prevalent, but also increase disease burden as well as cost. According to Lin, Kent, Winn, Cohen, Neumann, (2015), diabetic patients have considerable cormobidities such as hyperlipidemia, depression, obesity, asthma, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, cancer, arthritis, retinopathy and heart failure. The study revealed that 80% of diabetic patients had at least one other chronic condition and 51% had more than three. In this regard, diabetes is highly significant in public health. Broad Diabetes Determinants The underlying diabetes determinants are similar throughout the world. The wellbeing of diabetic patients is determined by a range of aspects including social, economic, behavioral, cultural and environmental determinants. Cormobidities has been shown to be a determinant too (Maddigan, Feeny, Johnstone, Majumdar, Farris, 2006). Social determinants include income, educational attainment, employment insecurity, living standards and life stress (Hill, Nielsen, Fox, 2013). These factors determine the development as well as progression of diabetes. Social determinants are correlated with disproportionate chronic disease development and the difficulties in managing them. The prevalence and incidence of diabetes have been shown to socially graded. Individuals with less education and who earn less are two to four times at more likelihood of developing diabetes compared to more educated and more economically advantaged. Similarly, individuals who are unemployed, have low standards of living and exposed to stress also are more likely to develop diabetes. Cultural determinants also significantly contribute to diabetes. Traditional practices and cultural beliefs affect all diabetes aspects (Sachdeva, et al, 2015). Such determinants include perception regarding the disease, its diagnosis and assessment, expectation from care givers and care seeking behavior. These cultural determinants influence the management of diabetes (Sachdeva, et al, 2015). Environmental determinants, either genetical or non-genetical, are also linked to diabetes, and particularly type1 diabetes. Such environmental triggers include early exposure to rubella, enterovirus infection, hyperbiliru-binemia and ABO incompatibility during pregnancy (TEDDY Study Group, 2008). Exposure to such factors has been proposed to progress type 1 diabetes, although research is still underway to clearly clarify this. For non-genetic envirinmental determinants, they include dietary suppliments, obesity, western lifestyles, glycemic control and exposure to organic contaminants (Murea, Ma, Freedman, 2012). Diabetes Individual Risk Factors The risk factors for diabetes depend on kind of diabetes affecting an individual. For type 1 diabetes, investigation and research studies are being conducted to determine the risk factors (International Diabetes Federation, n.d). However, the risk of developing this type of diabetes is elevated if it exists in the family. Moreover, exposure to some viral infections and other environmental factors have been proven to increase the risk of having type 1 diabetes (TEDDY Study Group, 2008).For type 2 diabetes, various risk factors have been outlined. These factors associated with elevated risk include increase in age, overweight, family history of the disease, physical inactivity, unbalanced diets, ethinicity, impaired glucose tolerance, high blood pressure, and poor nutrition through pregnancy (International Diabetes Federation, n.d). Increased risk due to ethnicity can be associated with genetics and adaptation to environmental influences of lack physical exercises and poor diets. In ad dition, gestational diabetic women have elevated risks of having type 2 diabetes. Framework for Prevention of Chronic Diseases There are various frameworks that have been proposed and implemented to prevent, control or manage chronic diseases. Among them is the stepwise framework for action which is utilized by Global Alliance Against Chronic Respiratory Diseases (GARD). The planning steps of GARD corresponds to strategic action plans and objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO, n.d). The stepwise framework can be broadly divided intpo planning steps and policy implementation steps as shown below. Here, the focus is on estimating the chonic disease burden as well as population needs. The risk factors are identified and surveillance undertaken for trends in burden, costs, quality and even care affordability. Additionally, action advocation to combat the disease is done to raise awareness . To ensure that chronic diseases are allocated the appropriate priority and organization of resources is efficient, a national policy and framework for planning is developed. The developed policy and plan should be able to promote health via prevention of the disease, recommend affordable and simple tools of diagnosis of the condition and control and ensure accessibility of drugs for the condition. The appropriate steps to be employed depending on the needs identified and policy developed are identified. Implementation Step 1: Interventions practicable to employ in the short range with existing resources put in action. Implementation Step 2: Inteventions feasible in the medium term with a projected increase that is realistic or resources reallocation are put in action Implementation step 3: Evidence-based interventions pastexisting resources' reach are put in action Stepwise Framework in Diabetes Prevention The stepwise framework can be effectively be applied in the prevention of diabetes. This framework proposes a practical and flexible public health strategy to help public health departments throughout the world balance the many needs as well as priorities while at the same time implementing interventions that are evidence-based (Epping-Jordan, Galea, Tukuitonga, Beaglehole, 2005). The framework has been implemented in nations such as Phillipines, Indonesia,Tonga and Vietnam to prevent different chronic diseases, an indication that the it is applicable. In this regard, it can be applied to prevent diabetes in both developed and developing countries, where precise interventions will be applied depending on the results after each steps discovery. According to World Health Organization, n.db, while using the stepwise framework, each country is supposed to consider diverse factors so as to establish priorities. In this regard, the framework is applicable in prevention of a number of chronic conditions including diabetes since specific needs and risk factors will be assessed, a specific policy formulated depending on the discovered needs and appropriate implementation steps identified. The implementation action will then be chosen after careful consideration of various factors. Applicability of this framework is thus, not limited to any country or chronic condition. This makes the stepwise framework an important tool in prevention and control of diabetes. The stepwise framework is applicable in preventing diabetes in all three prevention stages which include primary deterrence, secondary avoidance and tertiary prevention. For primary deterrence, protection of non-diabetic individuals will be achieved through public awareness that will be created. Awareness will be emphasized regarding importance of healthy diets, avoiding obesity and physical activity. In regard to secondary prevention, the framework will assist in developing interventions to assist individuals with early diagnosed diabetes to control and reduce its impacts on their daily lives. Lastly, the framework will also develop evidence-based interventions to assist diabetic individuals whose conditions have been longterm, progressing to cause other complications and disabilities. All the prevention dimensions can be achieved through the stepwise framework since interventions are developed depending on the needs and population of patients under consideration. Conclusion Therefore, diabetes is a chronic disease still of concern to the public health and although measures to reduce its prevalence, incidence, mortality and complications have been done in Autralia as well as other countries globally, adequate measures are still deficient. The disease is still a significant burden to individuals, families and nations. Governments ought to consider diabetic issue more , raise public awareness regarding important characteristics of the disease and advocate fo prevention and control measures at individual as well as nation-wide level. Knowledge of risk factors by the public will further enable prevention. Additionally, application of prevention and management frameworks will assist in reducing the complexity of reducing the burden of this disease. References American Diabetes Association, ADA. (2013). Diabetes Increases the Risk of Other Diseases. Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.diabetes.org/research-and-practice/patient-access-to-research/diabetes-and-cause-specific.html American Heart Association, AHA(2015). Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes. Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/More/Diabetes/WhyDiabetesMatters/Cardiovascular-Disease-Diabetes_UCM_313865_Article.jsp/#mainContent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, AIHW. (2016). Diabetes .Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.aihw.gov.au/diabetes/ Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, AIHW. (2016b). Are we a Healthy Nation? Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.aihw.gov.au/australias-health/2016/in-brief/healthy-nation/ Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, AIHW. (2015). Chronic Diseases .Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.aihw.gov.au/chronic-diseases/ CDC. (2016). Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion .Retrieved on April 4, 2017 from https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/ Epping-Jordan, J., Galea, G., Tukuitonga, C., Beaglehole, R. (2005). Preventing Chronic Diseases: Taking Stepwise Action. Lancet , 366(9497): 1667-1671. Hill, J., Nielsen, M., Fox, M. H. (2013). Understanding the Social Factors that Contribute to Diabetes: Ameans to Informing Health Care and Social Policies for the Chronically III. The Permanente Journal , 17(2): 67-72. International Diabetes Federation, I. (n.d). Risk Factors .Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.idf.org/about-diabetes/risk-factors Lin, P.-J., Kent, D. M., Winn, A., Cohen, J. T., Neumann, P. J. (2015). Multiple Chronic Conditions in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Prevalence and Consequences . AJMC , 21(1): e23-e34. Maddigan, S. L., Feeny, D. H., Johnstone, J. A., Majumdar, S. R., Farris, K. B. (2006). Understanding the Determinants of Health for People with Type 2 Diabetes . American Journal of Public Health , 96(9): 1649-1655. Murea, M., Ma, L., Freedman, B. I. (2012). Genetic and Environmental Factors Associated with Type 2 Diabetes and Diabetic Vascular Complications . Review of Diabetic Studies , 9(1): 6-22. Sachdeva, S., Khalique, N., Ansari, M. A., Khan, Z., Mishra, S. K., Sharma, G. (2015). Cultural Determinants: Addressing Barriers to Holistic Diabetes Care . Journal of Sociology and Health Diabetes , 3(1): 33-38. TEDDY Study Group. (2008). The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) Study. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences , 1150: 1-13. WHO. (n.d). Stepwise Framework for Action . 56-101. Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.google.com/search?q=stepwise+framework+of+chronic+disease+controloq=stepwise+framework+of+chronic+disease+controlgs_l=mobile-heirloom-serp.12...25.30866.0.31790.54.50.0.1.1.0.1045.3937.0j1j5j2j6-1j1.10.0....0...1c.1.34.mobile-heirloom-serp..45.9.2853.MlPwspxkXpc#spf=1 World Health Organization, W. (2016). Global Report on Diabetes . Switzerland: WHO Press. World Health Organization, W. (n.d ). Overview-Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment . Retrieved on April 4 2017 from https://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/part1/en/index17.html

Why These Students Would Give Anything To Attend NYU

Everyone wants to live in New York once in their life. After all, it is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of. For some lucky individuals, they get to spend 4 years of college in the city, exploring different cultures, cuisines and endless of internship opportunities. The things New York can offer is simply something that these NYU students couldnt ignore, no matter how high the sticker price may be:Calv011Class of 2019I was obviously hyped for New York University because it has been my dream school for a while, but I had to factor in the cost of tuition. By the end of April, I was down to two colleges: City College of New York and New York University. City College was the more affordable option at the time, but they did not give me as much aid as I would have expected. Meanwhile, New York University blew me away with their financial aid package. They gave me almost a full ride, and I simply could not have refused that. This played a huge factor in determining where I would go to for college. I am glad that it just so happened to be my dream school at the New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering.Dhyun15 Class of 2019 Although I applied to NYUs Business School as an Early Decision, I had a tough time deciding among NYU, University of Michigan, and Indiana University of Bloomington. NYUs playground is New York City itself and is also one of the best schools for creating a career, but a strong school spirit would be sorely lacking. Jliguori Class of 2019 I only applied to 3 schools, and I got accepted to NYU and the University of Utah. From there, NYU was a pretty easy choice. Utah was my backup school, and I would have been happy going there but it didnt have the program that I wanted to do. NYU on the other hand, is known as one of the best schools for Film Production in the US. It also has tons of opportunities to study abroad and make global connections, as well as the fact that Ill be in New York City which is a pretty big part of the industry Im studying. oliveolivia Class of 2017 It was not a hard decision, accepting NYU, and theres several reasons why that was so. NYU had been my dream school since 8th grade, so I knew that if I got in, I would do whatever it took to attend. Another reason why I chose my school was because of the prestige. Its a top 50 university in the world, and that fares well when it comes to getting a real and good job coming out of high school. Also, the allure of living in the middle of New York city played a big role in my decision. I wanted to get out and away from my hometown and experience life - I wanted to be fearless and start the next stage of my life with a bang. The financial commitment of going to NYU, however, is a huge downfall. For $65,000 a year, you have to know that once youre there, you better stay for all four years to make that amount of money worth it. I had a lot of help from family financially, so if your financial aid package and personal financial situation doesnt make the cut for you, I highly recommend tryin g a CUNY college in the city and then transferring. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that and it saves you some serious money. Rachelbrownk Class of 2019 NYU has been my dream school ever since I was a little kid, even before I knew I wanted to study theatre. Theres something about it that has always clicked for me. Thats honestly how you know a school is right for you. You should feel content whenever youre there, like you do when youre at home. It should be hard to describe precisely what you like about it, because its the feeling that the school gives you that ultimately is the reason you love it. NYUs location is absolutely amazing, and that also made me love it so much more. Also, as a musical theatre major, I knew that studying at NYU would not only give me a ridiculously good theatre education, but also a phenomenal academic education. It is very easy to create a minor at NYU with your general education requirements, and thats something Im thinking about doing. NYU has so many options academically that I really wanted to make sure I had the option of having. Also, NYUs alumni connection is absolutely incredible and thats someth ing very important to me as an actor. I know that the second I graduate from NYU I will know so many more people in NYC and in the business than i did before college and I know it will be ridiculously helpful. Did that help you decide to commit to NYU? Share your with us and help others who are interested in your school better understand the application process. Plus, you get to cash out your$10 signup bonusand earn extra money for college! What are you waiting for?

Psychological Theories of Sophocles Oedipus the King

Psychological Theories of Sophocles Oedipus the King Psychology and literature are united by a common intent in searching for the universal answers. Philosophy and literature helps to understand the motives of the heroes’ behavior and psychology explains how the poetry affects human emotions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Psychological Theories of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More One of the greatest tragedies of Sophocles, Oedipus the King touches upon a deep psychological theme of the parents-son relations which lately was called the Oedipus complex and the theme of faith as a main key of the human’s life movement. Based a myth, the story begins before Oedipus’ birth when the oracle predicted Laius the King of Thebes the death from the hands of his son in case if he marries with Jocasta. Nevertheless, Laius disobeys the prediction and after the birth of his son, fearing for his life, orders to kill the child. O edipus was left in the mountains but didn’t die. A Corinthian shepherd found the boy and cared about him. He took the boy to the Corinthian king Polybus who gave him the name of Oedipus and cared about him like a father. Suddenly, after many years, Oedipus learns that he was adopted. Asking Oracle about the solution, he is informed about a destiny to kill him father and marry his mother. Trying to avoid the faith, Oedipus leaves his home and goes to another place. However, the destiny can’t be changed. Running away, he travels down a road. He meets a group of people included his real father Laius. Oedipus kills all of them on the road after the arguments. Obviously, Oedipus couldn’t know that one of the men he killed was his real father. Therefore, the first prediction comes true. Oedipus comes to the City of Thebes, marries the queen and becomes a king saying that his â€Å"spirit grieves for the city, for myself and all of you† (Sophocles). Seeing his r esponsibility, Oedipus tries to find the king’s murder. He lives happily with his wife for years and has four children. The will of man vs. the will of the Gods as a key characteristic of the whole Greek literature is clearly described by Sophocles. In spite of a will of the protagonist to avoid the prediction, faith is more powerful issue as an instrument of the Gods. Trying to find the murder of Laius, king Oedipus needs to ask the Gods. There is no solution in ancient Greece that can be found without Gods’ help.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Oedipus asks Oracle from Apollo to help his investigation. And Oracle commands them â€Å"to drive the corruption from the land, and don’t harbor the murderer any longer† (Sophocles). Oedipus learns that he is that murder and his wife, in fact, is his mother. Thereby, the whole prediction has come true. Oedipus is a good ruler and honest and decent man. However, according to the ancient Greek literature, nothing can change the faith. King Laius has to be killed by his son and this happens by chance in such random situation. Nobody can prevent this to happen, if there is a faith that Oedipus has to be a murderer of his father. The heroes have no control over their lives. Perhaps, nowadays, an idea of the absolute faith seems quite bizarre, but for the ancient people such attitude was completely reasonable. Segal says that â€Å"the play is a tragedy not only of destiny but also of personal identity: the search for the origins and meaning of our life, our balance between â€Å"one† and â€Å"many† selves† (4). The theme of self-injury and suicide are also connected to the family until the end. Oedipus rightly feels guilty and blinds himself. Sophocles sees only one possible conclusion based on his idea of moral and faith. This physical change also is a symbol of the internal transformation of the protagonist which comes from the place of king to blinded and abandoned old man. This idea is similar to the biblical story of Samson. The family betrays Oedipus. However, the protagonist accepts this situation just because he is sure of the predictability of his life. It seems that the solution can’t be found and the terrible mistakes of the past will always follow Oedipus’ family. Realizing an impossibility of the change of past, Oedipus can’t achieve other good things, he doesn’t see any perspective. The awful crime of his past destroyed his life forever. Looking back on the life, Oedipus sees that things could be prevented. However, it is the faith and, perhaps, everything would be the same even in case of choosing the way and events.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Psychological Theories of Sophocles’ Oedipus the King specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Obviously, the psychological theory of the Oedipus complex had not been known in the ancient Greece. The psychoanalytical approach of this problem appeared only at the beginning of 20th century. However, such complicated topics and psychological motives of the heroes’ behavior were quite popular among Greek. The conception of the Oedipus complex was produced by the German psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud. He sees Oedipus as a story of the hidden sexual impulses that lead man to dangerous situations (174). Basically, this conception is stated on the sexual attraction to the opposite sex parent and angry attitude to the parent of the same sex. Exploring the psychological stages of personal development, this theory describes a boy’s feelings for his mother and jealously and anger toward his father. A boy sees the life as a competition between him and father for possession of mother. The Oedipus complex represents the universal unconscious sexual attraction to the child’s parents (Goodrich 182). Nowadays, this conception is a key top of the psychoanalytic theory. Although this theory is called after the tragedy of Sophocles, the main psychological motives of the heroes’ behavior are the hopelessness and conscious subjection to the faith and Gods’ will. If Oedipus has suffered from the complex, he wouldn’t run from his family. He loves his foster father and wants to avoid the prediction. Oedipus’s example is rather a story of the meaningless of life. He lives in a tragic universe where nobody can understand his horrible suffering. Oedipus begins with pride and looses it becoming ashamed and abandoned. He can’t bare his meaningless life and blinds himself. However, Oedipus is the only one who can blame him. He did everything to prevent the tragedy and fatal end. Sophocles clearly defines his protagonist as a hero archetype which starts from the state of knowledge and sacrifices his life in order to help his family.Advertising Looking for essay on literature languages? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sophocles doesn’t give us the final answer about a future of the protagonist. The story has no moral lesson. Sophocles’ tragedy Oedipus the King discovers several psychological motives of the human’s behavior where the most acceptable solution is the resignation to the faith and Gods’ will. Freud, Sigmund. A General Introduction to Psychoanalysis. Trans. S. Hall. New York: Horace Liveright, 1920. Web. Goodrich, Peter. Oedipus Lex : Psychoanalysis, History, Law. US: University of California Press, 1995. Web. Segal, Charles. Tragic Heroism and the Limits of Knowledge. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Web. Sophocles. Oedipus Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Kolonos, and Antigone. Trans. R. Bagg. Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Press, 2004. Web.

The New Alternative Craft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The New Alternative Craft - Essay Example ‘Do it yourself’ principle makes creativity worthwhile because of the limitless in boundaries of creation. The uniqueness of each object surpasses boundaries of taste, color and in many times ethnic boundaries. Through this, there is a big opportunity to reach out to more people and sell more. However, critics have come out guns blazing by questioning the intention of the alternative creators and their intentions. This study will demystify the alternative art and design in the context of the chosen examples. There are several avenues which people who have embraced alternative craft use to get their wares to the markets. These include technologically driven aspects of marketing such as the internet, the mass media, and general exhibition stalls. Some of these websites include etsy.com, from where the paper refers the objects of discussion and others such as getcrafty.com that displays hundreds of alternative creative artistic objects. Additionally, there are other avenues like fairs, markets and display exhibitions. The following segments will look at each of these segments and looks at the dynamics which each of the objects operates. This is one of the contemporary craft objects that not only is unique but severely artistic. The woolen knit i-phone case by Natalya has a design of the modern cell-phone handlers but uses a unique material and make to pass a message (Etsy.com, 2013). The maker uses wool and soft wood that does not incorporate any form of joints but through creative enjoinment. Natalya uses this design to pass a statement about fashion, creativity and lifestyle through unique settings. This design is personalized and customized using readily available materials. The main intention of the maker is to use material and design with alternative measure from the usual ‘

How Teachers Can Identify Talented Students Term Paper

How Teachers Can Identify Talented Students - Term Paper Example It is imperative for teachers to first understand what giftedness or talent is, in order to determine whether a student is talented or not.   According to  Goodhew (2009), a person is said to be talented if he or she is unique in one or more aspects when compared to other individuals within the same age bracket. Talented students have specific learning attributes that enable them to attain excellent performance in comparison to those around them. Such talented learners often require distinctive education services or programs, which supersede those conventionally provided by regular education programs.   Without such perks, talented students may fail to develop their identity and ability to contribute optimally to society. Teachers should note that talented children that have high-performance capacity usually demonstrate potential ability or overachievement in one or more of several areas.   These areas include particular academic aptitude, general intellectual capacity, produ ctive or creative thinking, leadership capacity, and proficiency in visual or performing arts. For effective talent identification, teachers must work closely with parents, so as to take note of information and observations made both at home and at school. With the preceding giftedness attributes in mind, teachers must commit themselves to play the crucial role of scouting for student talent. This implies that instructors must remain alert to potential talent signs in four principal areas including, intellectual/academic, technical/vocational, social/interpersonal and artistic matters. Chuska (2005) is emphatic that this process of identifying talent must be started at an early age and progress, as the student continues to grow and develop. Such continuity would serve to facilitate better development and delineation of the students’ interests and strengths. Therefore, instructors should know that talent identification is not a one-time occurrence that enables them to declare children talented solely at a particular time.

Gender and Consumption Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gender and Consumption - Essay Example 346). This is what drove gender consumption in the modern era- men were men, and women were women. A mans identity used to be dependent upon his role as a provider and his place of employment this has been the traditional way that has defined the essence of the male identity in the modern society. This is known as the Ã¥ ¡â€"egemonic gender identity(Vigorito & Curry, 1998, p. 137). Moreover, male consumption patterns were not just influenced by the hegemonic gender identity, but, in the post-Civil War era, were influenced by the Puritans (Bocock, 2000, p. 6). The Puritans had an ethic of asceticism, with not too much money spent upon men and boys, and the housing was sparse and not elaborate. The Puritan ethic dictated that British men during this period not spend money on jewelry, fine clothing and eating and drinking well, and these patterns were not economically driven (Bocock, 2000, p. 8). This morphed into contemporary society, in which, it is argued, Henry Ford is responsible for the increase in consumption, for he pioneered the idea that workers should be paid well, which led to more disposable income and, thus, more consumption (Gabriel & Yang, 1995, p. 9). In advanced capitalist societies, Ford made consumption more egalitarian, and less the province of the rich (Gabriel & Yang, 1995, p. 10). Moreover, modern consumption is also driven by the choices that were being offered in modern society, choices that were not offered in earlier societies, before mass production of goods became the norm (Gabriel & Yang, 1995, p. 11). This is illustrated by the British consumption of food as a percentage of their expenditures in the early 20th century, British families spent between one half and two thirds of their income on food; by the middle of the twentieth century, this number was only one third (Gabriel & Yang, 1995, p. 12). This mass production had a side effect as well, one that would influence the post-modern

Role of Private Universities in Bangladesh Higher Education

Role of Private Universities in Bangladesh Higher Education Role of Private Universities in the Higher Education of Bangladesh: A Case Study on USTC from Strategic Marketing Perspective Abstract The true growth of an economy depends on the development of a nation and its citizens as human resources and higher education plays an inevitable role in such context. Bangladesh is also not an exception to this. At present there are more than 52 private universities in the country. Therefore, now what matters in this connection is not the number but the quality. A good university must ensure quality education for its students. But to be an international standard institution of higher education it is not an easy job for a university. USTC is such a university that has already established itself as a leading private university in Bangladesh with international reputation for excellence. In a decade, it has achieved excellence in education in different disciplines through its dynamic and effective academic leadership. Due to stiff competition in the education sector in Bangladesh, private universities need to prove their quality and should develop constructive and effective marketing pr ograms and strategies for the purpose of survival as well as expansion.. Marketing products and marketing services are different. Some principles are the same, but marketing educational services need to consider many additional factors, changing the emphasis in some areas. It is not appropriate to use a products model for services marketing, as many of the additional concepts and principles, only applicable to marketing educational services, may be ignored or forgotten. This is because a strategic marketing approach has been followed to reveal the real scenario and condition in one hand and suggest the appropriate marketing strategies on the other hand. It is important for USTC to incorporate business acumen and marketing without delay. USTC is beginning to experience the reality of the world of business and finance and, as the competition increases, the aspects such as formulating marketing planning in an appropriate and scientific manner, marketing the right educational services b y the USTC, marketing of the USTC must be to the correct customers in the most appropriate places, the price of the educational packages should be right, marketing of USTC should be undertaken at the most effective time, etc., need to be ensured for timely consideration. This research paper examines the present situation of the USTC with a realistic evaluation of SWOT analysis aiming to develop constructive and effective educational service marketing plans, programs and strategies through the careful application and evaluation of strategic models and matrixes. This paper also includes key points which are based upon sound experience. There is a brief outline of the changes in the education sector within the last ten years, which have resulted in the need for realistic marketing. The models used here include Ansoff’s Matrix, Boston Consulting Group’s Matrix and SWOT Analysis to make the strategic marketing plans, programs and strategies suggested for the private univers ity industry in general and the USTC in particular more pragmatic and focused. 1. Introduction Distinguished economists and scientists have alluded to the importance of the growth of human knowledge through formal educational processes that plays significant role in the development of the economy of Bangladesh. Education is, of course, an investment for the future. A country that deliberately devotes a pro-portion of its resources for education and to improve the skills and abilities of its young people expects to see change in its economic and social performance in the years ahead. Education is seen as the essential factor for rapid economic growth and formal education controlled by the state as the indispensable instrument for improving the productive capacities of a population. Education or human resource development is termed as a powerful tool in achieving the economic development by providing the people with the necessary skills upon which development depends on. It spreads opportunity and creates hope, having a leveling and equalizing effect on society and creating a new class of persons owing their position to education and ability rather than birth. Actually, the purpose of education is to bring economic, social, political, cultural development and also mental, environmental, physical development of human being. It bring changes in human behavior and social mobility. It is the best investment for human being. The public sector institutions of the country are in utter disarray. Regularly increasing demand and inadequate facilities, and additionally the absence of conducive atmosphere in the campuses are driving away large number of students every year to our neighboring country and elsewhere. And, of course, those who can afford are going, and the rest leave their future on to their lucks. In such a frustrating situation, creating private sector facilities, under the provision of the Private University Act-1992, has brought a great relief for the students and their parents or guardians. Traditionally there has been little competition within higher education systems and it is believed that more intense competition between similar institutions for faculty, students, and resources will help improve standards by rewarding merit and performance. Competition also generally promotes beneficial innovations and overall quality improvements. It is also important to note that competition is exceedingly difficult to achieve through central decree, but requires a high degree of autonomy for academic institutions, allowing them to exploit their strength and overcome weaknesses. Adequate market information is also essential; without it, institutions will continue to thrive even when are weak. Service markets, and in particular educational provider markets, have changed significantly in the last 15 years in Bangladesh. Education providers in Bangladesh face intense competition and must, therefore, take a vigorous approach to marketing. As the importance of higher education increase s more and more, it becomes absolutely essential to formulate its overall objectives and goals, content, organization and strategies etc. It is important to integrate marketing into the everyday business of education provision, although marketing is frequently seen as difficult by education providers in Bangladesh. One of the first actions for any education provider in Bangladesh is to define the term ‘marketing’. Faltermeyer (1994) suggests that many people, involved in the role of marketing, are not only unable to define the term, but generally regard ‘selling’ as being the same as marketing. Leppard and McDonald (1991) suggest that the organizations which attempt to subscribe to a full marketing process will be further along the pathway of evolutionary development, in terms of likely success for the education provider. It is important to remember that, although an education provider may have a marketing consultant, leader and/or co-coordinator, marketing is part of the role of all staffs employed in the organization (academic institution). If the USTC intends to be successful, and remain so in the competitive market, it needs to develop its marketing strategy carefully. When customers (students) begin to realize that other organizations (private universities) are ab le to deliver high quality courses at prices (tuition fees and other charges) lower than those of the USTC, business will be lost. It is, therefore, vital for everyone in the private university industry in general and USTC in particular to possess and implement the marketing philosophy in their areas of concentration and to be student centric. 2. Review of Literature The positive role of private Universities in the higher education in Bangladesh is now undeniable (Siddique 2005). The epoch-making Private University Act was passed in 1992. To meet the increasing demand for higher education and develop skilled, efficient and competent manpower the then Government felt the need for establishing private universities and approved the Private University Act 1992. Islam S. (2003) states that education was seen as the essential factors for rapid economic growth and formal education controlled by the state, as the indispensable instrument for improving the production capacities of a population. Most countries of the world are now facing the dilemmas of having to satisfy the need of the increased demand for education (Islam S. 2003). Higher education system needs to be flexible if they are to be the most effective (Muzaffar A.T. and Khan A.H. 2004). Education systems need to be able to adapt quickly to changing enrolment levels, to the rise and fall of dif ferent fields of study and to changes in the mix of skills demanded in the labor market. Muzaffar and Khan (2004) also argued that open systems are more likely to keep pace with significant external changes. Field (1991) indicated that the marketplace philosophy will be a necessity in education. Matin M.A. (2003) mentioned that still there is the necessity of many more private universities in the country, but they must not be allowed to grow in an unplanned way’. It should be noted here that all the private universities operating in Bangladesh must take into account ethical considerations when developing their marketing plans and programs. Education providers provide various services to the students (customers) and they need to apply marketing tools and techniques at various levels. According to Kotler (1991) services marketing is ‘ any act of performance that one party can offer to another that is essentially intangible and does not result in the ownership of any thing’ However as Kotler goes on to argue, no product is sold within the market place without an element of ‘service’ which may comprise a major part of the actual offer. Giles (1990) suggests t hat in market economy countries, the service sector has increased more than other industries. Stanton (1978) and Cannon (1986) indicate that the service is the central point of any marketing, i.e. the precise ‘product’ that the business is selling. There is, therefore, a wide variety of definitions. Stanton (1981) omits areas, such as credit facilities, from his definition. However, education providers may include credit facilities as an optional strategy to boost their uniqueness and the range of benefits that they can offer to the customer (student). An important point that needs recognition is that, if an organization wishes to be ‘market driven, it must be close to the customer. To do this effectively, it must adopt the principles of marketing. Levitt (1960) argues that satisfying the needs of the customer will create a cyclical process, which will generate further demand for the courses on offer. This parallels the Donabedian (1966) cycle of quality: product-process-outcome and, indeed, the work by Gronoroos (1984), who identified that there were three dimensions of service quality: outcome-process-perception. Both Lovelock (1984) and Bateson (1989) contend that marketing services in the not-for-profit sectors and marketing services in the profit sector are substantially different, in that the objectives of the organizations will produce marketing programmes which are manifestly diverse. Services are identified by four characteristics that differential them from products. Zeithaml et al (1990) and Beaven and Scotti (1990 ) identified these characteristics as (a) intangibility (b) perishability (c) inseparability and (d) heterogeneity. Some authors consider a fifth characteristic, the issue of ‘ownership’ (Lovelock, 1984; Cowell, 1991). Many leading authors suggest that there are limited applications for using a traditional marketing model for services (Shostack, 1977; Gronroos, 1978; Lovelock, 1981). They argue that the models, or tools, used for products cannot be simply transferred to services. Octon (1983) states that to define a not for profit sector organization is rather difficult, and such departments within universities need to make a profit in order to remain viable. With the ever increasing demands on the Universities budgets, cost effectiveness is clearly on the agenda. 3. Rationale of the Study In the business strategy of any service provider organization, be it profit related or a not-for-profit sector organization, there are fundamental requirements. The USTC must develop an effective marketing strategy so that its objectives are clearly focused and the customer segmentation it intends to serve is appropriately identified. Within this ‘marketing strategy’ or ‘marketing plan’, the organization should be able to define its competitive edge, i.e. what advantages it has over its competitors. This marketing plan will also act as a set of sales forecasts and a budget by providing a solid framework for the marketing activities of the USTC. To adopt such a strategy means that the personnel required to develop marketing plans based on the expert knowledge and experience regarding the market issues, such as the competition, the customers and the best way to provide and consolidate the niche in the market that has been recognized. Unfortunately, as educatio n providers in Bangladesh move into the business arena, there is tendency to believe that no additional guidance or support is required to undertake this co-ordination and lead in marketing. This may then lead to marketing being conceived as a separate function, which has nothing to do with the achievement of the corporate business strategy and therefore, the mission statement. Moreover it is assumed that present marketing strategies of USTC is not up to the mark to gain competitive advantages in the very dynamic and challenging market. Considering the present condition and the importance of marketing this paper will emphasize on the development of a service centric comprehensive and constructive strategic marketing approach, policies and active plans. 4. Objectives of the Study The objective of the paper is to bring into focus the marketing issues that need to be taken into account by the private universities in general and the USTC in particular. It will investigate the prevailing marketing system, as employed by the USTC and how to utilize the strengths and opportunities and deal with the recent problems related to marketing and business. 5. Scope of the Study The present study is confined to the review of the present condition and formulation of a marketing plan for the USTC. The study will not be limited to the present data alone. The future growth of the USTC will be given due consideration. The limit of the future growth of the study will be decided by mutual agreement between USTC and the management of research team. Although the USTC is facing problem from the various types of management, administration and marketing issues, this paper will concentrate only on the strategic issues of educational service marketing. The study area will be limited within Chittagong and Dhaka. However, the study will include all the faculties and departments of the USTC to make the study more pragmatic and focused. 6. Methodology of the Study The study is based on both the primary and secondary data for an in-depth survey of various departments of the USTC. A sampling plan and questionnaire have been prepared for the collection of the primary data. Secondary data available in the various research reports and the data base of the USTC have also been considered. Questionnaires have been distributed to the randomly selected students, officers, teachers, administrator and other important stakeholders of the USTC. Interview of intellectuals, people from various professions will help evaluating their opinions on problem that they face in the USTC and other private universities in Bangladesh. The students under a course work assignment have been divided as field workers into a number of groups to visit various departments and faculties for collecting and recording the opinions of the concerned and evaluating their operations and marketing functions. In the study to develop effective and comprehensive marketing programs and strat egies, the BGC Model, Anosoff’s Matrix, and SWOT Analysis have been conducted. 7. Scenario of Higher Education in Bangladesh Most of the higher education providing institutions in the developing world are in the public sector. They are built, financed and staffed by the government. Since about 1950 there has been a rapid acceleration in the rate of growth of demand for educational services at all levels, the most notable at the level of higher education in the college and university level. In Bangladesh the demand for educational services started increasing since early 80s. As per Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in 1992 the number of medical colleges, engineering colleges and universities were 17 (Govt. 13, Non Govt-4), all Govt. and 17 (Govt. 11. non govt. 6) respectively. But only a small percentage of these students gets the opportunity for higher education in the country. Besides, vast majority of those having higher education cannot find job opportunity. These clearly indicate the discrepancy between the need and the resources. This is not the whole truth. The education offered today is vastly non-pr oductive. Hence, the existing educational system has produced a large population of educated unemployed. It is now an admitted fact that no Government can employ all educated people both in the developing and the developed countries. While a country needs a large number of technically qualified persons in the various fields, the number of this group is far too small to satisfy the need of the country. This is applicable for all branches of technical education e.g. medical, engineering, agricultural, pharmaceutical, business studies. In fact in all technical branches need many more qualified personnel than are available today. And yet avenues for education in these specific fields are limited. As a result, the number of Bangladeshi students studying abroad is almost three times more than the number studying in all our Universities, Engineering and Medical Colleges. These are the rich and the privileged groups. They do not suffer the consequences and in fact they take it as a pride to send their boys and girls for studies abroad. Not even for moment they think how much they are depriving the country of the hard earned foreign exchange and degrading the prestige of the nation in the eyes of the outside world. What is even more important is that the outcomes of such ventures are nothing less than fatal for the country. Most of these students who are trained abroad are a great loss for the nation and some of them even hesitate to identify themselves as Bangladeshis. Bringing up in a different cultural environment where family link is too loose and the religious bondage is very weak it is rather too much to think of bringing them back to their homeland. 8. Background of the USTC The journey of USTC began on May 13, 1989 with the establishment of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences (IAHS) along with 42 students. It continued to function as an Institute under the University of Chittagong. The University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) was established as a full-fledged Private University soon after the Private University Act 1992 came into force when IAHS became its constituent body. The Janasheba Foundation was its sponsoring organization and National Professor Dr. Nurul Islam was appointed as the Founder Vice Chancellor of the USTC by the Chancellor of the University and the President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Since then USTC started functioning with two faculties, namely, the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences. The MBBS and B. Pharm (Hon.) Programs are offered by these two faculties. These two faculties have been doing more than expectations and it is a matter of pride that t he USTC has almost 33% foreign students today. The USTC has opened up a new horizon for the business community of the country by launching a new faculty entitled â€Å"The Faculty of Business Administration† which is indeed, another bold step by the USTC in fulfilling its mission of expansion of higher education through private initiative. Another Faculty entitled ‘Faculty of Science. Engineering and Technology (Department of Computer Science and Engineering) has been functioning with encouraging response from the students. As global economies and communities in transition continue to present new challenges to solve, the necessity of lifelong learning continues to grow. Considering this USTC started operating in Bangladesh to develop unique and innovative programs, to provide learners of Bangladesh with new skills and capabilities and to tap into the emerging knowledge of our complex and changing world. The USTC is significantly able to maintain international linkages as well and it also remains solely dedicated to placing knowledge in the hands and minds of the learners. Sources of Fund and Janasheba Foundation Over and above the donations received from some philanthropists and the Anwara – Nur Welfare Trust, obligatory contribution by the guardians for the development activities in addition to admission fees have been the financial resources of the institution so far. In order to safeguard the interest and protect the project, the need for establishing a trust (Foundation) was keenly felt. Janasheba Foundation was thus formed and registered with the Societies Act XXI of 1860 in 1991 with National Professor (Dr) N. Islam as its Founder – Chairman. Activities of the Foundation include Community Health, Social Welfare and Technical Education. The USTC is thus a logical outcome of this program. IAHS/USTC in International Forum IAHS became reputedly known at International level because of its Founder-Chairman the renowned National Professor Dr. Nurul Islam. In 1978 there was a major International Conference at Almaata which recommended expansion of Community Based Medical Education. The Coordinator of this effort was an organization in the Netherlands namely University of Limberg Mastrichtt City. It formed a Network of Community Based Educational Institutions for Health Science (in short Network). This Network was recognized by WHO and it was engaged in speedy expansion of Community Based Medical Education in the East and the West. The then Secretary – General of this Network Dr. Jacobus M. Gritt invited proposed IAHS to join the Network in October 1985 after hearing about the proposed IAHS activities and programmes from Dr. Nurul Islam Dr. Islam promptly submitted an application of membership on behalf of IAHS to the authorities of the Network. In 1986 the executive Committee of the Network granted Associate Membership to IAHS. That membership prompted the actual establishment of IAHS with the crowned success. In September 1987 Dr. Nurul Islam being invited by the Network attended its conference in Patia (Thailand) and took the opportunity to evaluate the experience of different countries in community based medial education. In 1990 from October 7 to 12 this Network held its â€Å"Second International Symposium on Problem Based Learning†. In this conference Prof. Nurul Islam joined along with one teacher and two students from IAHS. Present Status of USTC Located at the picturesque site near Foy’s Lake, the USTC has opened up a new horizon for the quality medical, pharmaceutical, business and modern technology education in the country. The primary objectives of establishing USTC are to improve the quality and standard of education in Science and Technology with special emphasis on medical, pharmaceutical and social sciences. It also aims at developing human resources at home and in the developing countries with special emphasis on the South-East Asia. The USTC is now operating through four faculties which are (i) the Faculty of Medicine (ii) the Faculty of Basic Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (iii) the Faculty of Business Administration and (iv) the Faculty of Modern Science and Technology. The number of students of the USTC is more than 1500 of which more than 350 are from abroad including nationals of India, Jordan, Nepal, Malaysia, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, KSA, Sadan and UAE. The teacher – student ratio is 1:8 on an average. The courses offered in the USTC are MBBS, B. Pharm., B.Sc. in Computer Science and Technology and BBA. After passing the final MBBS examination, the doctors get provisional registration with the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) to take part in one year internship training as intern. After satisfactory completion of the training, they get permanent registration with the BMDC. Having had the privilege of establishing the university with IAHS as its first institute, the USTC did not have much difficulty in expanding its infrastructure. USTC is the first among the private universities which has it own infrastructure facilities including academic building, 250 bed hospital, large ad modern central library with a modern auditorium and two residential halls of which one is for female and the other for male. Female students reside in Gulmeher Hall and foreign students are accommodated in Sayedur Rahman International Hall. The hospital titled Bangabandhu Memorial Hospital is going to be extended into and another 500-bed Unit-II medical complex. Construction work is going to start a second campus of USTC in Dhaka. Side by side within a short time two post graduate programs, MBA and Family Medicine Diploma are now running in the Dhaka Campus. The academic plan of USTC is based on UGC approved courses and curriculum in which lectures are supplemented by tutorials, demonstrations and practical laboratory assignments. Sufficient lecture halls, tutorial rooms and laboratory facilities are available for all departments. The hospital is recognized by the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons to offer postgraduate training in Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics and Pathology. Existing laboratory facilities are as per requirement of the BMDC and are now being expanded for OPD and indoor patients. USTC has academic partnership programmes with several foreign institutions. The USTC central library is going to be the largest medical library in Bangladesh with more than five thousand books, four thousand journals, and other resource materials. A newsletter is published from the library containing news about the university activities and useful information for the general practitioners in easily understandable way for health educati on. The focus of USTC education is its MBBS degree which lays emphasis on community exposure from the very beginning. The purpose is to produce physicians capable of working in a rural setup with limited facilities in different social environments. This helps in the growth of leadership among the trainees. The MBBS degree is recognized by the Government of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, World Health Organization, General Medical Council of Great Britain, Ireland Medical Council, etc. USTC is a member of the International Network of Community Oriented Health Sciences, Maastricht, the Netherlands. And the B. Pharm. Degree is recognized by the Bangladesh Pharmacy Council. The present status and golden success of USTC is achieved by the members of the institution, under the strong leadership of Prof. (Dr) N. Islam. At present the USTC is a dynamic private university of further and higher education set on an exciting global expansion. It gives the students not only the opportunity to attain an internationally recognized degree but also to grow a knowledgeable and competent individual. This is because students study in a multi-cultural environment and get the chance to have a one-to-one professional relationship with the lecturers and management as a whole. Choosing the USTC today will definitely make the student a better person tomorrow. Since 1992 thousands of students have successfully taken the programs of USTC and utilized their qualifications to reach the highest levels in their chosen professions. A qualification gained through the USTC is a key to a successful and exciting future. 9. Findings It has been revealed from the study that the journey of the private university industry in Bangladesh is now going through the growth phase of its life cycle. So, a substantial amount of work is required to be done. However, the following points may be considered worthwhile for the successful performance of this industry in Bangladesh. 9.1 To cope with the societal needs and therefore, to become a center of excellence for medicine, hospitality management, business management, marketing, information technology, shipping and the other related fields in the education sectors, a number of creative leaders among the academicians and administrators of the private industry in general and the USTC in particular have to be developed who will actively contribute to learning and creation of knowledge. 9.2 USTC is a truly international institution of higher learning, attracting students from many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. USTC reflects the needs of the global economy and world for well-trained professionals, able to speak English and one or more other languages with a solid International education combined with an international cultural background. Such graduates of USTC have excellent prospects of employment in the reputed companies in the various professions like Doctors, Executives, Pharmacists, Academician, IT Professional and many other professions. Prof. N. Islam wants to ensure that the USTC leading and representing the private university industry will make a significant contribution towards better international understanding by educating students in an international environment and preparing them for international careers. 9.3 The need of the individual student is taken very seriously and every effort is made to create a positive learning environment. Most of the USTC Professors have, in addition to their distinguished academic background, practical professional experience in their areas of concentration. Prof. (Dr) N. Islam is committed that the USTC will not only train and prepare students thoroughly for their future professional tasks, and give them a sound educational background but also will consciously prepare them for their future leadership role. This is achieved not only through special courses and seminars on leadership, but also is emphasized in the context of regular coursework. The faculties and administration of USTC are committed to the goal that students become imbued with the entrepreneurial spirit. At USTC the leader wants to prepare each student to take initiative and venture out on his or her own. The educational effort at USTC puts special emphasis on developing international and c ross cultural competencies through acquiring foreign language skills. 9.4 To improve the quality and standard of education in Science and Technology USTC has given special emphasis on the development of sound Computer, Medical, Pharmaceutical and Social Sciences Programs and courses. 9.5 To become a truly international institution attracting students from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds, USTC has already established alliance with the various associations and social institutions of the South-East Asia region and the Middle East. 9.6 All the students both national and international get benefited from the professionalism, knowledge and expertise of the faculty members and administrators of USTC. 9.7 To draw more attention from the students and the society USTC accepts the transfer of credits of the equivalent courses or programs of the UGC recognized universities. 9.8 In its all degree programs USTC has included a wide range of subjects which will familiarize the students with th

Life on Other planets. Essay -- essays research papers

One of the most common unanswered questions scientists find themselves asking is "Is there life on other planets?" Since the first famously documented UFO sighting in 1947, the idea of extra-terrestrial life has been debated almost non-stop. The subject has inspired many TV programs, such as The X-Files, and films (Mars Attacks, Independence Day, and the Men in Black films to name but a few). Scientists have come up with many new ideas and ways of trying to either prove or disprove the existence of life elsewhere. Mars is a very similar planet to earth in relation to size and atmosphere. Therefore it seemed like the most likely place to search for life. At the end of the 19th century, an American named Percival Lowell built himself an observatory so that it was possible for him to study Mars in intimate detail when its orbit was closest to Earth. At this time it had recently been suggested that the planet had a system of channels on the surface, present from the evaporation of flowing water. Looking through his telescope Lowell became convinced he could see a network of artificial canals. This led him to believe that there were intelligent beings on Mars who had built these canals. However, spacecraft have now visited Mars and found that there is no evidence of water at all. It is now thought that the lines he could see were the combination of Lowell's overactive imagination, and scratches on the lens of his telescope. We are now searching one of Jupiter's moons, Europa, as this seems to be th e next likely place to hold life. It is seen to be more likely, however, that we will find less intelligent life in one of two different ways: It may be possible for us to obtain material from another planet or moon or star from elsewhere in the Solar System. Spacecraft may be able to visit these bodies and, for example, use a robot to collect material for examination. This may be examined on site, or brought to Earth to be investigated in laboratory conditions. They could be tested for things such as evidence of fossilised organisms. Another, possibly slightly far-fetched hope is that we may find simple organisms like bacteria actually living on the desired planet. These ideas spanned from the discovery of rock on our planet that originated from Mars; knocked from the planet when a comet collided with it. In 1996 a group of scientists created conflict by ... ...them is so great that they are dragged to our planet. Another idea is that UFO's are not really from other planets at all, but created right here on Earth. Supposedly Germans, Americans and Soviets started the 'Projekt Saucer' in Germany towards the end of World War II. During the war Germans sent ships to the Antarctic with equipment and plans for a massive underground structure. It is said that at the end of the war scientists and engineers who had been working on Projekt Saucer in Germany ended up in this underground structure, where even more advanced saucers were created. In a manner of thinking this is by far the scariest theory should it be proved correct, for it brings up more questions than it gives answers. What would people on Earth want to create spaceships for? Why keep it such a secret if everything is harmless? Maybe, if this theory is proved correct, it is better not to know the answers. To conclude, there are no solid facts on the existence of extra-terrestrials. Whether or not they exist will, until definite proof is brought forward, be a topic of major debate. Personally I believe that there is something out there-although what it is I wouldn't hazard a guess.

Does Homework Increase Student Achievement? Essay

Introduction Homework is a very complex topic and a source of great discussion. Support for homework has ebbed and flowed over the last century. Some have argued that the burden of homework causes significant family stress–including parent-child conflict, reduced family leisure time, and overly tired children. (Kralovec & Buell, 2000). Others have argued that homework is a necessary part of the American educational experience. After the Russians launched Sputnik in 1957, Americans were worried about keeping up educationally with other nations and began to demand more homework for the children (Gill & Schlossman, 2000). Due to these changing views on homework, research is more important than ever to determine (if possible) the effects of homework on student achievement. Definitions Homework can be defined as any task assigned by schoolteachers intended for students to carry out during non-school hours (Cooper, 1989). The scope of the word homework can include many different types of things. Variations in  homework can be classified according to its (a) amount, (b) skill area, (c) purpose, (d) degree of choice for the student, (e) completion deadline, (f) degree of individualization, and (g) social context. Variations in the amount of homework can appear as differences in both the frequency and length of individual assignments. Assignments can range over all the skill areas taught in school. (p. 1, Cooper, Robinson, and Patall, 2006). Primary Purposes/Benefits of Homework Assignments Homework can be assigned to fulfill many purposes. Those purposes are either instructional or non-instructional. (Epstein, 1988; Epstein and Van Voohis, 2001). Practicing or reviewing material from class is the most common instructional purpose. Other purposes include the introduction of new material and the application of learned skills to new situations. Examples of non-instructional purposes are to fulfill district homework policies, open and grown parent-teacher lines of communication, as well as improved parent-child communication regarding school. (Cooper et al., 2006) Students, teachers and parents experience these benefits of the homework assignments. Additional Benefits of Homework While the primary reason for assigning homework is to aid and reinforce instruction, there is growing evidence that the practice of homework can have additional benefits including managing distraction, self-efficacy, and perceived responsibility for learning (Bembenutty, 2009). While these self-regulation tasks, such as time management, setting goals, effort and persistence in completing difficult tasks, and self-monitoring one’s performance, are important to academic success, they are also vitally important life skills, especially for successful professional writers, athletes, artists, and scientists. (Ramdass and Zimmerman, 2011). Other benefits include long-term academic benefits such as better study skills, as well as nonacademic benefits such as greater self -direction and more independent problem-solving. In addition, parents tend to have a great appreciation of and involvement in schooling (Protheroe, 2009). Relationship between Homework and Achievement There are varied findings in the research for the relationship between  homework and achievement. Some research finds a positive relationship between homework and achievement. Zhu and Leung (2012) studied this relationship by introducing quality of homework as a factor. They focused on three aspects: frequency and amount of homework; types of homework; and usage modes of homework. Overall, Zhu & Leung found that the three aspects of homework studied did have a positive influence on assessment results. Tanis and Sullivan-Bustein (1998) studied homework completion and its effect on weekly quiz performance. This research did show improved test performance as homework completion increased. This study was somewhat flawed, however, because the participants were not chosen randomly. The students were chosen due to their history of achievement (or lack thereof) and homework issues. Nonetheless, this research did positively affect the students studied. Omlin-Ruback (1998) conducted a study focusing on increasing homework completion of middle school students through the use of interventions. This study found that the students who were participating in the homework interventions on a daily basis had better grades than those who did not. Thus, students who were completing more homework had improved achievement. While these three studies did find a positive relationship, other research finds no relationship. Trautwein, Schnyder, Niggli, Neumann, and Ludkte (2009) reviewed a great deal of prior research on the relationship between homework and achievement and decided that a more complex research design was required to study this relationship. The results of their study depended on the variables under focus. The homework-achievement association was positive, negative or not statistically significant depending on which variables were being studied. Opponents point out that homework can also have negative effects on achievement and school in general. It can lead to boredom with schoolwork, since all activities remain interesting only for finite periods of time. Homework can deny children access to leisure activities that also teach important life skills. Parents can get too involved in homework. They can  pressure children and can confuse them by using instructional techniques that are different from those used by the teacher (p.1, Cooper, 2008). Factors other than Homework that Affect Achievement The relationship between homework and student achievement is complex. One significant factor other than homework affecting achievement includes home life. Some students do not have the tools or support at home to complete homework. (Protheroe, 2009). In addition, test anxiety and stress levels can negatively affect student achievement even if homework completion is complete and thorough. (Talib and Sansgiry, 2011). Thus, studying a single relationship between homework and student achievement cannot explain the effects, or lack thereof, of homework. Conclusions There are varied finding in the research concerning the relationship between homework and student achievement. While there is a great deal of research on the topic of the value of homework in student achievement, it turns out that this relationship is very complex. There are many factors involved, many of which are out of the control of the school or teacher. In addition, there are gaps in the research regarding the different types of homework and the quality of homework. This complex relationship needs to be further defined and refined. Further research needs to be done using new statistical techniques that can successfully handle the number of variables in this relationship. References Bembenutty, H. (2009). Feeling-of-knowing judgment and self-regulation of learning. Education, 129(4), 589-598. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/61800994?accountid=12924 Bempechat, J., Li, J., Neier, S. M., Gillis, C. A., & Holloway, S. D. (2011). The homework experience: Perceptions of low-income youth. Journal of Advanced Academics, 22(2), 250-278. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/864940664?accountid=12924 Cooper, H. (2008). A brief history of homework in the united states. research brief. ().National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1502. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/61858829?accountid=12924 Cooper, H., Robinson, J. C., & Patall, E. A. (2006). Does homework improve academic achievement A synthesis of research, 1987-2003. Review of Educational Research, 76(1), 1-62. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/62008296?accountid=12924 Cooper, H. (1989). Synthesis of research on homework. Educational Leadership, 47(3), 85-91. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/63060036?accountid=12924 Dettmers, S., Trautwein, U., Ludtke, O., Kunter, M., & Baumert, J. (2010). Homework works if homework quality is high: Using multilevel modeling to predict the development of achievement in mathematics. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(2), 467-482. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/742870744?accountid=12924 Epstein, J. L. (1983). Homework practices, achievements, and behaviors of elementary school students. (). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/63342872?accountid=12924 Epstein , J. L. (2001). School, family, and community partnerships: Preparing educators and improving schools Westview Press, 5500 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301 ($35). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/62348785?accountid=12924 Gill, B., & Schlossman, S. (2000). The lost cause of homework reform. American Journal of Education, 109(1), 27-62. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/62249711?accountid=12924 Hong, E., Wan, M., & Peng, Y. (2011). Discrepancies between students’ and teachers’ perceptions of homework. Journal of Advanced Academics, 22(2), 280-308. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/864939429?accountid=12924 Kralovec, E., & Buell, J. (2000). The end of homework: How homework disrupts families, overburdens children, and limits learning Beacon Press, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892; Tel: 617-742-2110; Fax: 617-742-2290; Web site: http://www.beacon.org ($18). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/62323216?a ccountid=12924 Protheroe, N. (2009). Good homework policy. Principal, 89(1), 42-45. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/61819932?accountid=12924 Omlin-Ruback, H.A study of mathematics homework. , 98. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1011399791?accountid=12924. (1011399791; ED531060). Ramdass, D., & Zimmerman, B. J. (2011). Developing self-regulation skills: The important role of homework. Journal of Advanced Academics, 22(2), 194-218. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/864939542?accountid=12924 Talib, N., & Sansgiry, S. S. (2011). Factors affecting academic performance of university students in Pakistan. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 3(3), 589-600. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/926273717?accountid=12924 Tanis, B., & Sullivan-Bustein, K. (1998). Teacher-selected strategies for improving homework completion. Remedial and Special Education, 19(5), 263. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/236286267?accountid=12924 Trautwein, U., & Ludtke, O. (2009). Predicting homework motivation and homework effort in six school subjects: The role of person and family characteristics, classroom factors, and school track. Learning and Instruction, 19(3), 243-258. Retrieved http://search.proquest.com/docview/61902599?accountid=12924 Trautwein, U., Schnyder, I., Niggli, A., Neumann, M., & Ludtke, O. (2009). Chameleon effects in homework research: The homework-achievement association depends on the measures used and the level of analysis chosen. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 34(1), 77-88. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/61988315?accountid=12924 Zhu, Y., & Leung, F. K. S. (2012). Homework and mathematics achievement in Hong Kong: Evidence from the TIMSS 2003. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 10(4), 907-925. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1037906879?accountid=12924