Most Significant Things For All Businesses Essays - Videotelephony

Most Significant Things For All Businesses Scott Mocabee 5 things that are most significant for all businesss 1. Learning from past mistakes and correcting them in the future. The soft- spoken west Virginian got a firsthand glimpse of how arrogance and reluctance to change caused severe pain and dislocation. 2. Cisco uses technology to its advantage. Using the network for tech support allows Cisco to save more than its nearest competitor spends on research and development. 3. Cisco has found was to make distribution more efficient. By outsourcing production of 70% of its product, Cisco has quadrupled output without building new plants and has cut the time it takes to get a new product to market by two- thirds, to just six months. 4. Cisco shows concern for new an employee who builds loyalty and a close family. It tells new employees that Cisco wants then, that Cisco cares about then and that were not just another big company. 5. With loss of personal contact they try to make up with contact later. The network works better when youve already had a personal touch. Bad 1. Cisco has a lot of dependency upon the Internet. The network is the glue for the internal working of the company. 2. Lack of personal contact. When an Employee wants information about a company event or health benefits, or needs to track an expense report, the network is the place to go at Cisco. 3. Measuring success by employee retention can lead to some bad employees 4. Cisco believes that every deal must have both short and long term goals. This could lead to oversight to long term benefits if no short-term benefits are available. 5. It seems that Chambers is reluctant to have change as it is relevant to it culture which can lead to being stubborn in ones ways. Business Essays

The Arraignment Stage of a Criminal Case

The Arraignment Stage of a Criminal Case After you are arrested for a crime, the first time that you make an appearance in court is usually at a hearing called an arraignment. It is at this time that you go from being a suspect to a defendant in the criminal case. During the arraignment, a criminal court judge will read in detail the criminal charges against you and ask you if you understand the charges. Right to an Attorney If you do not already have an attorney present, the judge will ask you if you plan to hire an attorney or do you need the court to appoint on for you. Defendants who cannot afford legal counsel are appointed attorneys at no cost. The court-appoint attorneys are either employed public defenders or private defense attorneys paid by the state. The judge will ask you how you intend to plead to the charges, guilty or not guilty. If you plea not guilty, the judge will usually set a date for a trial or a preliminary hearing. Pleading Not Guilty For You In most jurisdictions, if you refuse to plea to the charges, the judge will enter a not guilty plea on your behalf, because you do have the right to remain silent. You are permitted to plead  , no contest (also known as â€Å"nolo contendere†) meaning that you do not disagree with the charge. Even if you plea guilty at the arraignment, the judge will hold a hearing to hear the evidence against you to determine if you are in fact guilty of the crime with which you are charged. The judge will also have a background check done and determine any aggravating or mitigating circumstances surrounding the crime before pronouncing sentence. Bail Amount Revisited Also at the arraignment, the judge will determine the amount of bail necessary for you to be free until your trial or sentencing hearing. Even if the amount of the bail has previously been set, the judge can revisit the issue at the arraignment and alter the amount of bail required. For serious crimes, such as violent crimes and other felonies, bail is not set until you go before a judge at the arraignment. Federal Arraignments Procedures for federal and state arraignments are very similar, except federal procedure dictates strict time restraints. Within 10 days from the time an indictment or information has been filed and the arrest has been made, an arraignment must take place before a Magistrate Judge.During an arraignment the  defendant  is read the charges against him or her and advised of his or her rights. The defendant also enters a plea of guilty or not guilty. If necessary, a trial date is selected and a schedule set for motion hearings, which may include in-court arguments as to suppression of evidence, etc.Note, the Federal Speedy Trial Act dictates the defendant has right to trial within 70 days from his or her initial appearance in U.S. District Court. Return to: Stages of a Criminal Case

How Christmas Is Celebrated in Russia

How Christmas Is Celebrated in Russia Christmas is a public holiday in Russia, celebrated by many Christian Russians as one of the most important holidays of the year. While some Russian Christmas traditions are similar to those practiced in the West, others are specific to Russia, reflecting Russias rich history and the traditions associated with the Russian Orthodox Church. Fast Facts: Christmas in Russia In Russia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.Many Russian Christmas traditions originated with the pagan culture that predated Christianity in Russia. Long-standing Russian Christmas customs include caroling, fortune-telling, and following a strict Nativity Fast for forty days leading up to Christmas Eve. Many of Russias Christmas customs originated with the pagan culture that existed in Russia before the arrival of Christianity. Pagan rituals designed to bring about a good year with a rich harvest were performed from the end of December until around mid-January. When Christianity arrived in Russia, these rituals transformed and merged with the customs of the newly arrived religion, creating a unique mixture of Christmas traditions that are still observed in Russia today. Russian Orthodox Christmas Russian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7th, according to the Julian calendar observed by the Russian Orthodox Church. Currently, the difference between the Gregorian calendar and the Julian calendar is 13 days. Starting in 2100, the difference will increase to 14 days, and Russian Christmas will thus be celebrated on January 8th from then onwards, until the next increase. During the Soviet era, Christmas and all other church holidays were banned (though many people continued to celebrate them in secret). Many Christmas traditions were moved to New Years, which has been the most popular holiday in Russia ever since. Nevertheless, a wealth of Christmas traditions remain in Russia, including fortune-telling on Christmas Eve, singing Christmas carols (Ð ºÃ ¾Ã »Ã' Ã ´Ã ºÃ ¸, pronounced kaLYADky), and following a strict fast until the first star appears in the sky on the night of Christmas Eve. Russian Christmas Traditions Traditionally, Russian Christmas celebrations begin on Christmas Eve, called Ð ¡Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã ¸Ã º (saCHYELnik). The name Ð ¡Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã ¸Ã º comes from the word Ã' Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð ¸Ã ²Ã ¾ (SOHchiva), a special meal made from grains (usually wheat), seeds, nuts, honey, and sometimes dried fruit. This meal, also known as Ð ºÃ'Æ'Ã'‚Ã'Å'Ã'  (kooTYA), signifies the end of the strict Nativity Fast which is held for forty days. The Nativity Fast is observed until the first star is seen in the evening sky on the night of Ð ¡Ã ¾Ã'‡Ð µÃ »Ã'Å'Ð ½Ã ¸Ã º, to symbolize the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem that inspired and led the three wise men to Jesus home in Jerusalem. Russian Christmas is spent with family, and is considered a time of forgiveness and love. Thoughtful gifts are given to loved ones, and homes are decorated with figures of angels, stars, and nativity scenes. Many Russians attend a Christmas mass on Christmas Eve. After dark, once the fast is broken, families sit down for a celebration meal. Traditionally, various pickled items are served, including gherkins, pickled mushrooms, sauerkraut, and pickled apples. Other traditional dishes include pies meat, mushroom, fish, or vegetable fillings. A drink called Ã' Ã ±Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ ½Ã'Å' (ZBEEtyn), made with spices and honey, is also served. (Ã' Ã ±Ã ¸Ã'‚Ð µÃ ½Ã'Å' was once the most popular drink in Russia, before tea took over.) Today, Russian Christmas meals are eclectic and varied, with some families following tradition and others choosing entirely different dishes. Many Russians do not follow the fast or attend church, but still celebrate Christmas, viewing the holiday as a celebration of love, acceptance, and tolerance. Christmas Fortune-Telling Fortune-telling is a tradition that began in Russias pre-Christianity times (and is not condoned by the Russian Orthodox Church). Traditionally, fortune-telling was performed by young, unmarried women who gathered at a house or a Ð ±Ã °Ã ½Ã'  (BAnya)- a Russian sauna. The women wore only their nightgowns and kept their hair loose. Married women and men were not allowed to take part in fortune-telling rituals. Instead, older women performed Ð ·Ã °Ã ³Ã ¾Ã ²Ã ¾Ã'€Ã'‹ (zagaVOry): word-based rituals designed to bring prosperity to their families. In todays Russia, many fortune-telling rituals involve the whole family. Tarot reading, tea leaf reading and coffee grounds divination are also common. Here are some examples of traditional fortune-telling methods performed at Russian Christmas celebrations: A bowl is filled with rice and a question is asked or a wish is made. When you put your hand into the bowl and then take it back out, you must count the number of grains that have stuck to your hand. An even number means that the wish will come true soon, while an odd number means that it will come true after some time. It can also be seen as a yes or no answer to the question. Gather as many cups or mugs as there are people present. One of the following objects is put in each cup (one object per cup): a ring, a coin, an onion, some salt, a piece of bread, some sugar, and water. Everyone takes turns to choose a cup, keeping their eyes closed. The chosen object represents the near future. A ring means a wedding, a coin means wealth, bread means abundance, sugar means happy times and laughter, an onion means tears, salt means difficult times, and a cup of water means life without changes. Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, young women went outside and asked the first man they saw what his name was. This name was believed to be the name of their future husband. Merry Christmas in Russian The most common Russian Christmas greetings are: Ð ¡ Ð  Ã ¾Ã ¶Ã ´Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ð ²Ã ¾Ã ¼ Ð ¥Ã'€Ð ¸Ã' Ã'‚Ð ¾Ã ²Ã'‹Ð ¼ (s razhdystVOM khrisTOvym): Merry ChristmasÐ ¡ Ð  Ã ¾Ã ¶Ã ´Ã µÃ' Ã'‚Ð ²Ã ¾Ã ¼ (s razhdystVOM): Merry Christmas (abbreviated)Ð ¡ Ð ¿Ã'€Ð °Ã ·Ã ´Ã ½Ã ¸Ã ºÃ ¾Ã ¼ (s PRAZnikum): Happy holidays

Are economic agents (consumers) truly foresighted in their decision Essay

Are economic agents (consumers) truly foresighted in their decision making - Essay Example Negative feedback refers to the feedback signal that is 180 degrees out of phase with respect to that of the input signal. Generally, negative feedback can be divided into two: voltage feedback and current feedback. As often is the case, the current feedback is applied purposely to reduce the input amplifier. However, there are cases where both feedbacks may exist in a circuit. In such a case, both current voltage would be feedback towards the input in parallel or series. This, therefore, imply that the feedback would be represented as series-voltage feedback, series-current feedback, shunt current feedback, and shunt- voltage feedback. Arguably, negative feedback makes a gain in a circuit to be stable. Mathematically, it can be shown that A1= AB + A/1. It is worth noting that the negative feedback is a very useful principle that finds its application in an operation amplifier. It has been cited as being the best in creating the practical circuits due to its characteristic nature of being able to set rates, gains, alongside other significant parameters. Moreover, the negative feedback can make the circuits self-correcting and stable. By and large, the fundamental principle of the negative feedback is such that the output drives in such a direction creating an equilibrium condition. For an op-amp circuit without a feedback, there is lacking a corrective mechanism. The output voltage shall become saturated with a tiniest amount of the differential voltage that is applied in the in). It has also been noted that negative feedback will make a gain in a circuit to be stable. Moreover, research has it that the negative feedback is a fundamental principle as far as the operation of an amplifier is concerned. This is based on the fact that it can be used in creating practical circuits given its characteristic of setting up rates, gains, alongside other significant parameters. Thus, an op-amp circuit without

To demonstrate how the field of'globalisation studies'has moved on Annotated Bibliography

To demonstrate how the field of'globalisation studies'has moved on - Annotated Bibliography Example ? from ‘centripetal articulation of nation states.’ The sources of information in the article are based on library research on books , journal and projects. Furthermore, Sassen has utilized internet based research on drawing information pertaining to globalization of institutions, authority, territory and rights. To this end, Sassen draws several conclusions in the article. Foremost, the author contends that denationalization and global dynamics distort existing systems and meanings. In addition, the author believes that sovereign authorities of states are partially disaggregated whenever the unitary structures of states conform to a globalized structure. In addition, the author is quick to point out opportunities for exit that are available for the disadvantaged due the weakening of centripetal nation dynamics. Furthermore, the author asserts that denationalization dynamics, such as inclusion of human rights paradigms, post significant consequences. These include the di sassembling of bits and pieces of the nation state and state machinery as containers. In general, Sassen concludes that there are political and normative implications of centrifugal dynamics that arise out of

Spearman VS. Gardner Essay Example for Free

Spearman VS. Gardner Essay Charles Spearman (1904) defined and developed a unilinear testing approach to general intelligence (g), which is based on a positive correlation among varying subjects like math, earth sciences and vocabulary. Gardner (1983) proposed there were multiple intelligences (MI), or seven areas of intelligence, linguistic, musical, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal, and that each person has more than one of these skills. While testing of g intelligence is still used to assess overall IQ, universities and corporations look at the wider consideration offered by Gardner. Spearmans theory creates an environment that places strong emphasis on getting a high IQ score and high scores on a number of placement tests useful for schooling. However, as Gardner has said, these place too high an emphasis on IQ and test scores, and in ignores certain intelligences and abilities that people can bring to the workforce. Relying solely on IQ test scores not only can exclude an individual with superior a talent (g) from getting a proper education in the area of expertise, but can eliminate the individual from the education and professional arena altogether. We are all endowed with multiple, genetically determined forms of intelligence that can be enhanced through practice and learning, yet this is ignored in the process of rewarding individuals for high IQ according to Spearman. Unfortunately, MI theory is only just being put into practice at the educational level. Wallace Shilkus, a middle school technology education teacher in Illinois, wanted to know how relevant technology education was to middle school students; whether his methods of instruction made a difference in the classroom; and whether Gardners multiple intelligences had a role to play in the classroom. (Merrill, 2004, 6). Shilkus tied the in-class study to action research to document his teaching methods and benefits to his students in 2001, and found (using CO2 cars as the activity) that his students demonstrated most of the intelligences. Throughout this process, Shilkus noticed differences in himself as the teacher and his students as the learners. Moreover, Shilkus discovered that by presenting the material and requirements of the CO2 car activity in different forms, the students excelled. (Merrill, 2004, 6). Spearmans theory still reigns, as Gardners theories are just being put into practice, making one wonder what would happen to IQ testing and educational systems if, based on Shilkuss success, Gardners MI were put into practice on a scale approaching that of Spearman. Apparently, Gardners theory that students are being held back is supported and if his theory were put into practice, all students could excel and increase their chances for success in the workplace. I believe that Gardners Multiple Intelligence in more inline with society today. Knowledge cannot be put into just two types and tested that way. There are many different types of knowledge and if you included more of them into tests and stopped timing people on tests there would be a clearer understanding of why there are so many people failing the tests. You would know exactly what is wrong and could teach them more in-depth on that subject. Common sense is also a type of intelligence that needs to be tested if testing for the perfect IQ. A person could be a genius when it comes to academics, but have no understanding of common sense. You would have to be a genius in both to truly be a genius. IQ tests are not very accurate and do not go in depth enough on subjects. There may not even be a way to fully test to see if someone is a true genius. It would be a challenge to come up with a test to see if someone is an all around genius. References: Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books. Merrill, C. (May 2004). Action research and technology education. The Technology Teacher, 63, 8, 6. Shepard, R; Fasko, D, Jr; Osborne, FH. (2004). Intrapersonal intelligence: affective factors in thinking. Education. Available: http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/libweb/elib/do/document?set=searchgroupid=1requestid=lib_standardresultid=1ts=BA95D521D01A59E9BB67234C183BF7B4_10891053177

Immigration and Immigrants in America Essay -- American History

Immigration and Immigrants in America Most Americans place their pride in being apart of a country where a man can start at the bottom and work his way to the top. We also stress the fact that we are â€Å"all created equal† with â€Å"certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.† (Jefferson 45) During the early 1900s white Americans picked and chose who they saw fit to live in America and become an American. â€Å"Those that separate the desirable from the undesirable citizen or neighbor are individual rather than race.† (Abbott 307) In the 1900s the desired immigrant was one who spoke English and practiced customs who were similar to ours. Whereas an undesirable was one whose â€Å"customs he (Americans) understood, whose language is quite unrelated to English, the American finds â€Å"strange† and even â€Å"suspicious†.† (Abbott 307) The biggest debate today would be what could the individual/race can contribute to the American economy. â€Å"The American is a new man, who acts upon new principles; he must therefore entertain new ideas and form new opinions.† (Crevecoeur 26) With Crevecoeur’s definition anyone with half of a brain could be an American. This statement is basically contradicted by everything that is American. American society only wants people that can contribute to our economy. For decades people in America were sure of two things concerning immigrants. They came for the opportunity to build a better life for their families and they would not seek nor would they accept a handout. The drive and attitude of immigrants who came to America during the nineteen twenties through the nineteen sixties built strong work ethics that created our now famous American melting pot. But for the past thir... ...d to the building of America; Therefore other races can only but add on to the good things that are happening in America. Works Cited Abbot, Grace. â€Å"The Immigrants Place in a Social Program.† Primis. Michigan: McGraw-Hill, 1997. 304-309 Crevecoeur, Hector St. Jean De. â€Å"What is an American?† Primis. Michigan: McGraw-Hill, 1992. 23-40 Hall, Prescott F. â€Å"The Future of American Ideals† Primis. Michigan: McGraw-Hill. 300-303 Thompson, Ginger. â€Å"U.S. and Mexico to Open Talks on Freer Migration for Workers.† Handout from newspaper. **no date or name on handout*** Ward, Robert De Courcey. â€Å"Race Betterment and Our Immigration Law.† Proceedings of the First National Conference on Race Betterment, January 8,9,10,11,12,Battle Creek, Michigan. Battle Creek: Gage, 1914. 543-544, 545 CD-ROM. American Identity Explorer Immigration and Migration. McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Cell Division

I believe that our observations are repressentative of cell division taking place in the oinon root tip. Firstly, this is because our numbers of the number of cells in each phase of mitosis are similar to the rest of the groups, so we can assume our results are most likely correct. We can also assume our calculations are right because we know that Interphase is the most active phase in the process of cell divison, which would agree with our calculations since we assume that approxiamtly 93% of cells are going though Interphase.The phases of mitosis are much shorter then that of Interphase, and the cell spends less time in these phases. This agrees with our calculations because they run around 2-10%, conculding the fact that it is right to infere that a smaller amount of cells would be in the phases of mitosis. 5. Plants use a similar process with a few differences than in the human process. A plant cell creates a mitotic spindle and has a centrosome, but it does not have a centrioles , as in human chromosomes. The other major difference in plants is the way in which cytokinesis occurs.In human cells, the plasma membrane invaginates along the equator of the cell, creating a cleavage furrow that will separate the cytoplasm in two daughter cells. Plant cells have rigid cell walls that prevent this. Instead, they use two different approaches for cytokinesis. The plasma membrane and cell wall grow inward together, eventually separating the parent cell into two. Then the cell wall(which human cells do not contain) will separate the two daughter cells, and the cell wall starts growing in the middle of the cell between the two nuclei. This is known as the cell plate.It continues growing until its edges reach the cell's outer surface, separating the parent cell into two daughter cells. 6. Not all cells in the meristematic region of the onion appear to have a nucleus. This is because The earliest cells, and all prokaryote cells, don't have a nucleus. Inside these simple c ells, the DNA molecules just float around in the cytoplasm. When the cells have devoloped, most likely during telophase,the nucleus will appear. 7. The result of if the chromosomes of the two daughter cells remained on one side of the cell plate could be non-disjunction, where a chromosome may fail to separate during anaphase.One daughter cell will receive both sister chromosomes and the other will receive none. This results in the former cell having three chromosomes containing the same genes (two sisters and a homologue), and will develop into a condition called trisomy, and the latter cell which would only have one chromosome (the homologous chromosome), would be a condition known as monosomy. These cells are considered aneuploid, a condition often associated with cancer. 8. A class result is better in the measure of the time for each miotic phase because we can compare each number of time that each group gets.If the numbers are similar we can infere that it is more probable to b e the right answer, and can exclude any numbers that are an abnormal greater difference then the rest. By comparing all the calculations and observations of the class, we can justify the observations that are similar to those of the rest of the class. 9. Biocide 2-4D would harm and prevent the action of the substances within the meristematic cells of the plants. It will also cause major issues in sex cells because the chromosomes during metaphase 1 will not exchange proper genes with each other.

Storm Born Chapter Fourteen

I saw Kiyo a few times in the next week. One of those times I was out on a job, doing an exorcism that turned out to be a setup. The house I'd gone into had no spirit but rather an asag: a demonic creature that literally had a rocklike body. Kiyo had shown up in the midst of the fight, and while I'd thought I had things well in hand, his help sure expedited matters. He didn't use any weapons like I did; he was all body and physical force. Watching him move was almost hypnotic, like admiring a dancer. His other appearances were similar, showing up when needed and then retreating if I wanted. Once, I reluctantly agreed to lunch after a fight. He watched me with those hungry eyes the entire time, but everything else was friendly and easy between us. It was like when we'd met in the bar, all breezy banter and connection – underscored with simmering sexual tension. All the other times I saw him, he trailed me around as a fox. And, as much as I hated to admit it†¦he was right. He was pretty cute. Life was busy now. Whereas before I'd had maybe only one or two jobs a week, I now had at least one every day. Apparently the gentry and other creatures hoping to get a piece of me realized they no longer had to seek me out; I would come to them if they bothered the right human. It was annoying, to say the least – and exhausting. Of course, since these fights occurred through clients and contracted jobs, I got paid for them. It became a very rich few weeks, though I felt a little bad since my clients never would have needed to pay in the first place if not for me. I woke up a couple weeks before Beltane, aching and exhausted. I'd had two jobs and an â€Å"unscheduled† fight last night. Staring at my ceiling, at the way the late morning sun filtered into funny shapes through my blinds, I drowsily wondered if I was going to be able to keep this up. I'd lose to the Otherworld not through any one encounter, but simply via my own fatigue. I trudged to the kitchen and found no morning offering from Tim. He must have stayed the night with one of his groupies. Forced to make my own breakfast, I put two chocolate Pop-Tarts in the toaster and fixed coffee while they cooked. Glancing at the table, I saw that my cell phone displayed four missed calls. I'd taken to turning it off, because the calls were always from Lara, and I didn't feel like hearing them anymore. She'd either want to offer me a new job or tell me that Wil Delaney had left yet another message. I was halfway through my second Pop-Tart when my mom showed up. I hadn't seen her since the confrontation. For a moment, I considered not letting her in, but I promptly dismissed the thought. She was my mom, after all. She loved me. No matter what had happened, I couldn't let go of that intrinsic truth. She was the one who'd doused my scratches with antiseptic when I was little – and not so little – and tried unsuccessfully to interest me in shopping and makeup as a teenager. She'd tried to protect me from the ugly truths that everyone has to discover growing up. She'd tried to protect me from the path Roland had set me on. And now it seemed she'd tried to protect me from my own past. Looking back, I tried to piece together things she'd said on the rare occasions I could get her to acknowledge my biological father. You're better off without him. He wasn't the kind of man anyone could count on. We didn't have a healthy relationship when we were together. There was a lot of emotion, a lot of intensity†¦but it ending was for the best. He's gone – just accept he'll never be a part of your life. She'd never exactly lied, I realized, but I'd interpreted the story in a completely different way. I'd read it as a whirlwind affair, one in which her emotions blinded her. With all the bad things she'd implied about his character, I'd just figured he'd up and left one day, unable to handle the responsibilities involved with taking care of me. Little did I know he'd desperately wanted me back. I offered her a seat at the table, handing her a cup of coffee at the same time. She held it with both hands, lacing her fingers in a nervous gesture. Her hair was braided down her back today, and she wore a red blouse. â€Å"You look tired,† she said after a long stretch of silence. I smiled. It was such a mom thing to say. â€Å"Yeah. It's been a busy week.† â€Å"Are you sleeping enough?† â€Å"I'm sleeping. Sort of. I'm just too busy when I'm awake, that's the problem.† She looked up, nervously meeting my eyes as though afraid of what she might find. â€Å"Busy†¦because of†¦?† â€Å"Yeah,† I said, knowing what she meant. She looked back down. â€Å"I'm sorry. I'm sorry about all of this.† I dunked a piece of Pop-Tart into my coffee. â€Å"It's not your fault. You didn't decide to go to the Otherworld.† â€Å"No†¦but you were right the other day. I was wrong to keep it from you.† â€Å"I was too harsh then.† â€Å"No.† Her eyes met mine, wide and sad. â€Å"I think I thought†¦that if I kept it from you, maybe I could make it go away. Like pretending enough would make it so that it had never happened. I could forget too.† I didn't like to see my mom sad. I don't think anyone does unless they're trying to take revenge for some traumatic childhood wrong. Maybe I had been wronged to a certain extent, but in reflection, it probably couldn't compare to what had happened to her. I knew she had been older when abducted, but in my mind's eye, I could see my mother looking like Jasmine, young and scared. Based on the stories I'd heard before the Storm King paternity news, I'd always envisioned my conception as the result of a torrid affair my scumbag father later walked out on. But that wasn't it at all. The truth was worse. I was a child of rape, born from violence and domination. â€Å"Every time you see me†¦do I remind you of him? Of what happened?† Compassion washed over her face. â€Å"Oh, baby, no. You're the best thing in my life. Don't think like that.† â€Å"Do I look like him at all? Everyone says I take after you.† She studied me as though seeking out the answer, but I knew she already had to know. â€Å"Your hair, a little. But mostly†¦in the eyes. You got those from him. His eyes were like†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She had to clear her throat to go on. â€Å"They always changed. They ran every shade of blue and gray you can imagine, depending on his mood. Sky blue when he was happy. Midnight blue when troubled. Deep gray when he was angry and about to fight.† â€Å"And what about violet?† I asked. â€Å"Violet when he was feeling†¦amorous.† I'd never heard my mom use that word before. It might have been funny, but mostly it made me consider adding a shot of whiskey to my coffee. Jesus. I'd gotten the eye color my dad had when he was in the mood. So many people complimented me on my eyes, yet to her, they had to bring back memories that were anything but amorous, as far as she was concerned. â€Å"I'm sorry, Mom.† I reached out and held her hand, our first contact since I'd stormed from her house. â€Å"It must have been so awful†¦but were there – were there any moments, even a few, when you were happy at all? Or at least not so unhappy?† Surely†¦surely there had been one moment when it had not all been hatred and sorrow between my parents. Surely I could not have been conceived and born out of so much darkness. There had to have been something. Maybe he'd made her smile just once. Or maybe he'd brought her a gift†¦like a necklace recovered after some looting and pillaging. I didn't know. Just something. Anything. â€Å"No.† Her voice was hoarse. â€Å"I hated it all. Every second.† I swallowed back a thickness in my throat, and suddenly all I could think about was Jasmine. Jasmine. More than five years younger than my mom had been. Jasmine had been subjected to the same things. She had to have those moments of agony too. Maybe her misplaced affection for Aeson was the only way to cope. Maybe it was better than hurting all the time. I didn't know. I closed my eyes briefly. All I could see was my mom as Jasmine and Jasmine as my mom. I opened my eyes. â€Å"We didn't get Jasmine.† I realized I'd never told her that when I'd come over to talk to her. Briefly, I recounted the essential details. Her face blanched as I spoke, and her raw hurt clawed at something inside of me. Jasmine as my mom. My mom as Jasmine. â€Å"Oh God,† she whispered when I finished. â€Å"Yeah, I – â€Å" Cold flowed over me. The faintest electric tingle tugged at my flesh. â€Å"What's wrong?† my mom asked, seeing me stiffen. â€Å"Can't you feel that? The cold?† She looked puzzled. â€Å"No. Are you okay?† I stood up. She couldn't feel it because it wasn't actually a physical thing. It was something beyond normal human senses. On the counter sat my athames, gun, and wand. I didn't go anywhere in the house without them now, not even to the bathroom. I also didn't sleep in anything too delicate anymore. The tank top I wore was still lacy and flimsy, but my pajama pants were cotton with a sturdy elastic waistband. I draped my robe over a chair and considered my armament. I could tell it wasn't gentry. It was a spirit or demon. Silver, then, not iron. The Glock already had a silver cartridge in it but would have questionable effectiveness if the spirit had little substance. I carefully placed it under my waistband and then picked up the silver athame and wand. â€Å"Stay in here, Mom.† â€Å"Eugenie, what's – â€Å" â€Å"Just stay,† I commanded. â€Å"Get under the table.† She looked at my face and complied. I guess you couldn't be an Otherworld abductee and married to a shaman without knowing when to take these things seriously. I moved slowly and stealthily toward the living room because that was where the feeling centered. I heard no noise, but the silence screamed louder than any sound. I put my back to the wall, sliding along it to peer around the corner. Nothing. Whatever it was, it couldn't hurt me and stay invisible. It would have to turn substantial to do any real damage. The weird thing was, a spirit also couldn't get me pregnant, not like gentry or some of the monsters could. Spirits were dead, and that was that. One seeking me out seemed odd. I waited, back up against the edge of the doorway as I peered around the living room. Whatever was going to happen would happen here. It was like a vortex. Power flowed both in and out of this spot. Something cold brushed against my arm, and then a hand materialized, grabbing hold of me. My reflexes snapped to life, and I cut at the spirit's wrist with the athame in my other hand. The spirit had enough substance to feel the effects of the metal. Plus, the athame's power extended beyond tactile discomfort. The spirit – a gray, haglike thing – recoiled, but then I felt more cold hands behind me and gave a quick glance back. Five more spirits – more than I'd ever taken on at once. I spun around, but my initial attacker's position was better, giving it a solid hold on me. I didn't break free of its grip entirely, but I struggled like hell, accidentally hitting a small table with a ceramic pitcher on it. The pitcher hit the floor and splintered into sharp, aqua-colored fragments. The spirit pushed me up against the wall, its skeletal hands clutching at my throat while it stared at me with empty black eyes. It floated such that while it kept me pinned, it stayed out of reach of the athame. It wasn't out of the reach of the wand, however. Its ghostly companions drifted over, ringing us, as my oxygen began to dry up. Black stars sparkled in my vision, and I tried hard to focus on what I needed to do. â€Å"Be careful,† warned one of the observers, â€Å"or you will kill her.† Hecate, I prayed in my head, open the gates. On the edge of passing out, I felt the snake on my arm tingle. I used that power, letting the farthest limits of my mind brush the Otherworld. I became the gate, a conduit of passage running from my soul to the snake to the wand. The hands on my throat wouldn't let me speak, but the banishing words burned in my mind. It was good enough. The wand's power flared out at the spirit holding me. It realized too late what had happened and vanished with a piteous scream. One of its counterparts started to move toward me and got sucked away with the other. The other four kept their distance. Meanwhile, I had backed up as much as possible. I needed to open the gates again, but my body informed me I had to allow a moment's recovery time before going a second round. My throat hurt inside and out from where the spirit had choked me, and the room spun around as I staggered. I took deep, shaking breaths in an attempt to recover what I'd lost. Two more spirits bore down on me but hesitated a little this time, still keeping some space between us. They circled me, like dancers or boxers, each of us determining what the other would do. Just then, my mom came out of the kitchen holding my iron athame. Screaming, she drove it against one of the other spirit's backs, hacking away. Iron hurt gentry – not spirits. All her actions did was annoy it. It turned slightly, and with one oh-so-casual gesture, it backhanded her with enough force to throw her against the far wall. She hit the wall and slid down into an unmoving pile. I yelled my fury, charging the spirits around me. Strong emotion is better for physical attacks but not mental ones, and I lost whatever grip I'd momentarily had on the Otherworld. The athame caused some damage to one of the spirits, but the other dodged. It hit me hard, shoving me into my entertainment center. The sharp corners dug into my back, but the adrenaline pumping through me wouldn't let me feel it. Not yet. I muttered another incantation to Hecate and felt the power shoot up again. The spirit who had thrown me drifted forward. The gates swung open, and I banished it away. Moments later, its injured counterpart followed. That left two. One of them swooped in, reaching out for me. I ducked past it, hitting the floor, where I half-crawled and half-rolled out of its grasp. My connection to the Otherworld had slipped again; I needed it back. I kept ordering myself to focus, but then I saw my mom lying in the corner. I couldn't get past that. I went after the spirit again, and it hissed angrily as the athame dug into its upper body. I was sloppy, however, and gave one of its hands the opening to grab my wand hand and shove me against the wall. The wand fell to the floor. A moment later, the spirit's other hand twisted my other wrist until I dropped the athame as well. The last spirit floated up and added to the wall around me. Walls were really starting to piss me off lately. They had me now, trapped and defenseless and injured. I didn't know what exactly they could do, however. Earlier they'd worried about killing me, yet they could have no romantic interest in me. What could they – My patio door opened, and an elemental walked in. An elemental made of mud, of all things. Its body was very solid, very human, and very male. Oozing, brown-gray sludge dripped off it and onto my carpet. I renewed my futile efforts to break from the spirits. Volusian's words came back to haunt me. More organized attacks. The spirits couldn't have sex with me, but the elemental gentry could. It had sent its minions to subdue me first. Clever. â€Å"Where are the others?† asked the elemental, an almost comic look of astonishment on his face as he glanced around the room. â€Å"She banished them, master,† whispered one of the spirits. â€Å"You really are lethal, aren't you?† The elemental approached. â€Å"I hadn't believed the stories. I thought sending these six was overkill. Still. I guess even you have your limits.† I sneered at him. â€Å"Don't talk to me about limits. You can't even cross to this world in full form.† A look of displeasure crossed that dripping, muddy face. Power was a matter of pride among the gentry. His inability to cross over fully was probably a sore point. Raping me was undoubtedly a way of compensating for all sorts of deficiencies. â€Å"It won't matter,† he said. â€Å"Once I beget Storm King's heir, all gentry will pass into this world, smiting the race of humans.† â€Å"Okay, Mr. Old Testament. I can't honestly believe you just used ‘beget' and ‘smiting' in the same sentence.† â€Å"So brave and brash. Yet it won't – ow!† I couldn't free my upper body, but the elemental was close enough that I flipped my lower body upward and kicked him. I'd been aiming for the groin, just like with the Gray Man, but caught his thigh instead. The guarding spirit restrained my legs. The elemental narrowed his eyes. â€Å"You make things difficult. This would be far easier on you if you would submit.† â€Å"Don't hold your breath.† â€Å"She will submit, master,† intoned a spirit. â€Å"Her mother lies there on the floor.† I stiffened in the spirit's grip. â€Å"Don't touch her.† The elemental turned and walked toward where my mother had fallen. Almost gently, he leaned down and picked her up in his arms. â€Å"She's still alive.† â€Å"Leave her alone, you bastard!† I screamed. I strained so hard, it felt like my arms would tear from my shoulders. â€Å"Let her go,† ordered the elemental. â€Å"Master – â€Å" â€Å"Let her go. She will not do anything, because she knows if she so much as steps in this direction† – the muddy hand slid up to my mom's throat, leaving a dirty trail wherever he moved – â€Å"then I will snap her neck.† The spirits released me. I did not move. â€Å"I'm going to kill you,† I said. My voice was hoarse from the choking and screaming. â€Å"I'll tear you to pieces before I send you to hell.† â€Å"Unlikely. Not if you want this one to live. Come,† he said to one of his servants. â€Å"Take her.† There was a tradeoff, and now a spirit held my mother. â€Å"If Odile Dark Swan so much as looks threatening, kill this woman.† â€Å"Odile Dark Swan always looks threatening.† The spirit spoke in a deadpan, nonsarcastic voice. Apparently this elemental's minions had as good a sense of humor as my own. â€Å"You know what I mean,† snapped the elemental. He came closer to me, so only a few inches separated us. â€Å"Now. I will let you live. I will let your mother live. All you have to do is not fight me while I do what I've come here to do. When I am finished, we will depart in peace. Do you understand?† Anger and fury were raging in me, and I could feel tears burning at the edges of my vision. I wanted to reach out and claw his eyes. I wanted to kick between his legs until no one could tell if he was male anymore. I wanted to deliver him to Persephone in a pile of body parts. But I was scared. So scared that if I even blinked wrong, they'd break my mother. She already hung uselessly in the spirit's arms like a rag doll. For all I knew, she could have been dead, but something told me she wasn't. I couldn't gamble if she might be alive. So I nodded in acknowledgment to the elemental and felt one of the tears leak out of my eye as I did. â€Å"Good.† He exhaled, and I realized he was as scared of me as I was of him. â€Å"Now. Undress.† Bile rose in my throat. I couldn't get enough oxygen again; it was like the air was thick and heavy around me. Another tear stole from my eye, and I slowly pulled down the pajama pants, removing the gun I hadn't been able to use. It occurred to me briefly that I could probably manage to shoot the elemental right now, but I wouldn't be fast enough to save my mother. What did it matter? If he was telling the truth, I would still live if I could only endure this. I was on the pill. I probably wouldn't actually get pregnant. I'd only have to lay there passively while this big anthropomorphic pile of dirt had his way with me. Things could be worse. Probably. I looked at him, imagining those hands on me. The air grew thicker to me, making it still harder to breathe. The lighting seemed darker, as it had when the spirit choked me, and I wondered if I was going to faint. Maybe it'd be easier that way. Less to remember. â€Å"The rest,† he said impatiently. He too was breathing heavily. I moved my fingers to the edges of my underwear. I had dressed for comfort in plain, gray cotton bikini-cuts. They were nice but not sexy. They didn't match the pink top. Of course, it didn't matter to the elemental what I wore. Naked desire glowed on his face. I stared at the lumpy, misshapen body and worked hard not to whimper. I knew what I had to do, but I didn't want to. Oh, God. Oh, Selene. I didn't want him to touch me. I didn't want him pressed up against me. Nausea rolled up in my stomach, and I wondered desperately where Kiyo was. I knew he couldn't follow me 24/7, and I suddenly regretted my snide comments about his protection. I wished he were here now. I needed him. I'd never felt so defenseless in my life, not even in that long-lost memory. It was not a state of mind I liked. As I was about to pull the panties down, a slap of wood on glass made all of us jump. The elemental jerked his head around, and I followed his gaze. The patio door was open, and the wind had blown in, knocking over a picture frame on my coffee table. It was a strong wind, one that kept blowing, scattering papers and other objects around. Yet, outside, the sunshine and azure skies of late spring reflected no such disturbance. â€Å"What†¦?† began the elemental. That sharp sound had sort of snapped me out of my anger and fear, and I was suddenly able to notice details more sharply. I could see everything with a new clarity. The air really was thick, the lighting truly darker. I hadn't imagined those things. The angry wind rose and fell with my breathing. Brilliant light slashed the dimness, and we all cried out as it danced around from object to object. At the same time, a deafening roar of thunder filled the room, too big and too loud for the small space. I covered my ears and dropped to the floor. The elemental turned on me. â€Å"Make it stop.† â€Å"What†¦?† â€Å"It's yours! Stop, or you'll kill us all.† I looked around and realized he was right. I couldn't explain it, but I was connected to everything going on in there. The building moisture and humidity. The wind whipping around, scattering things. The electricity charging the air. I could feel it, but I didn't know what to do with it. You're mine, I tried telling it, but nothing happened. This was not like trying to control power with a wand or an athame. This was both within me and outside of me. I could no more stop it than I could stop myself from feeling joy or sorrow or hate. The wind increased, its fury building. A jagged piece of glass flew into my cheek. â€Å"I can't control it,† I whispered. â€Å"I can't.† The elemental looked panicked. So did the spirits. Whereas a moment ago I had felt weak and defenseless, their fear made mine go away. Their fear fed my anger, and I fed the building tempest. I couldn't actually control the storm, but it was expanding out from me. Something else hit me in the shoulder, and moments later, I barely dodged a book flying toward my head. I couldn't control this. I didn't know how. I didn't know anything except that I wanted to live and I wanted my mother to live too. Darkness swirled around us all as great billowing clouds filled the room. More lightning danced around, oblivious to where it traveled. The elemental was right. I would kill one of – Lightning shot out at the spirit holding my mother, forcing her to fall to the ground. He screamed and screamed. It was the most horrible sound I'd ever heard. It was more than a death knell, more than a tortured cry. I covered my ears again, watching as he glowed blindingly bright, then went black, then was nothing. The elemental backed away from me, fear palpably rolling off of him. A tingle along my skin told me what he was going to do. He was so scared, he was going to try to cross back to the Otherworld. Right here, right now, with no crossroads. Doing so had nearly ripped me apart. There was no way he could do it, not when he couldn't even transition to this world in his natural form. He didn't seem to care, however, and suddenly I panicked. What if he could? What if by some miracle he escaped? I couldn't let him get away, not after what he'd done here, not after what he'd tried to do. My need, my anxiety†¦both grew, but I had no way to focus them. I had no idea what had happened to my weapons in this madness. A bolt of lighting blew apart a speaker beside me, and the sound made that ear go deaf. More lightning flared, so strongly and rapidly that I couldn't tell what was real and what was an afterimage. Somewhere, over the thunder, I heard the elemental screaming, although I could no longer see him. It wasn't as horrible as the spirit's cries had been, but it still made my skin crawl. Lightning hit something else beside me, and sharp pieces of whatever it was flew into my arm. I was going to die, I realized. With the spirit. With the elemental. With my mother. Who would have thought the spirits I'd just banished to the Otherworld would be the lucky ones? I buried my face in my hands, trying to block out what I'd created. It didn't help. It was almost like the lightning and clouds existed in my mind as much as in the room. I squeezed my eyes tighter, so much so that they hurt. But nothing changed. The wind roared against me, the thunder shook my house. Dominating it all was the darkness – and the light – as the thunder and lightning came and went. Darkness, light. Darkness, light. Darkness.

How to Write a Diversity Essay 4 Key Tips

How to Write a Diversity Essay 4 Key Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re applying to college, you've probably heard the phrase "diversity essay" once or twice. This type of essay is a little different from your typical "Why this college?" essay. Instead of focusing on why you've chosen a certain school,you'll write about your background, values, community, and experiences- basically, what makes you special. In this guide, I explain what a diversity college essay is, what schools are looking for in this essay, and what you can do to ensure your diversity essay stands out. What Is a Diversity Essay for College? A diversity essay is a college admissions essay that focuses on you as an individualand your relationship with a specific community. The purpose of this essay is to reveal what makes you different from other applicants, including what unique challenges or barriers you’ve faced and how you’ve contributed to or learned from a specific community of people. Generally speaking, the diversity college essay is used topromote diversity in the student body. As a result, the parameters of this essay are typically quite broad. Applicants may write about any relevant community or experience. Here are some examples of communities you could discuss: Your cultural group Your race or ethnicity Your extended family Your religion Your socioeconomic background (such as your family’s income) Your sex or gender Your sexual orientation Your gender identity Your values or opinions Your experiences Your home country or hometown Your school The area you live in/your neighborhood A club or organization of which you’re an active member Although the diversity essay is a common admissions requirement at many colleges, most schools do not specifically refer to this essay as a diversity essay.At some schools the diversity essay is simply your personal statement, whereas at others it's a supplemental essay or short answer. It's also important to note that the diversity essay is not limited to undergraduate programs. Many graduate programs, too, require diversity essays from applicants. So if you're planning to eventually apply to graduate school, be aware that you might have to write yet another diversity statement! Diversity Essay Sample Prompts From Colleges Now that you understand what diversity essays for college are, let’s take a look at some diversity essay sample prompts from actual college applications. University of Michigan At the University of Michigan, the diversity college essay is a required supplemental essay for all freshman applicants. Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. University of Washington Unlike U-M, which requires a full-length response to its diversity essay prompt, the University of Washington asks only for a short answer. UW also offers advice on how to answer the prompt. Our families and communities often define us and our individual worlds. Community might refer to your cultural group, extended family, religious group, neighborhood or school, sports team or club, co-workers, etc. Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of the University of Washington. Tip Keep in mind that the University of Washington strives to create a community of students richly diverse in cultural backgrounds, experiences, values, and viewpoints. University of California System The UC system requires freshman applicants to choose four out of eight prompts (or personal insight questions) and submit short essays of up to 350 words each. Two of these (#5 and #7) are diversity essay prompts that heavily emphasize community, personal challenges, and background. For each prompt, the UC system offers tips on what to write about and how to craft a compelling essay. 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone? If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, "How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family?" 7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place- like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community? Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? Think about your community: how has it helped you? What have you done for it? University of Oklahoma Freshman applicants to OU are not required to answer this diversity essay question but can if they wish to be considered for scholarships. The University of Oklahoma is home to a vibrant, diverse and compassionate University community. Our President, David L. Boren, refers to our strong community as "the OU Family." Please describe your cultural and community service activities and why you chose to participate in them. Duke University In addition to having to answer the Common Application or Coalition Application essay prompts, applicants to Duke University may (but do not have to) submit short answers to two prompts, both of which are diversity college essay prompts.The maximum word count for each is 250 words. Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you'd like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you've had to help us understand you better- perhaps related to a community you belong to or your family or cultural background- we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke. Duke’s commitment to diversity and inclusion includes gender identity and sexual orientation. If you would like to share with us more about either, and have not done so elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Pitzer College At Pitzer, freshman applicants must use the Common Application and answer one of two supplemental essay prompts. One of these prompts is a diversity essay prompt that asks you to write about your community. At Pitzer, five core values distinguish our approach to education: social responsibility, intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary learning, student engagement and environmental sustainability. As agents of change, our students utilize these values to create solutions to our world’s challenges. ... Reflecting on your involvement throughout high school or within the community, how have you engaged with one or more of Pitzer’s core values? University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill At UNC, both freshman and transfer applicants must submit short answers (200-250 words) to two of four prompts. One is a diversity college essay prompt that wants to know more about the influence of your background on your current self. What about your background, or what perspective, belief, or experience, will help you contribute to the education of your classmates at UNC? The Common Application Many colleges and universities, such as Purdue University, use the Common Application and its essay prompts. (Note that the Common App essay prompts for the 2017-18 application cycle will be the same for the 2018-19 cycle.) One of its essay prompts is for a diversity essay, which can be anywhere from 250 to 650 words.This prompt has a strong focus on the applicant's identity, interests, and background. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. ApplyTexas ApplyTexas is similar to the Common Application but isonly used by public colleges and universities in the state of Texas. The application contains multiple essay prompts, two of which (A and B) are diversity college essay prompts that ask you to elaborate on your environment, a community, and your personal identity. Essay A: What was the environment in which you were raised? Describe your family, home, neighborhood or community, and explain how it has shaped you as a person. Essay B: Most students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. Tell us about yourself. Be the red apple. What Do Colleges Look for in a Diversity Essay? With the diversity essay,what colleges usually want most is to learn more about you, including what experiences have made you the person you are today and what unique insights you can offer the school. But what kinds of specific qualities do schools look for in a diversity essay? To answer this, let's look at what schools themselves have said about college essays. Although not many colleges give advice specific to the diversity essay, many provide tips for how to write an effective college essay in general. For example, here is whatDickinson Collegehopes to see in applicants' college essays: Tell your story. It may be trite advice, but it’s also true. Admissions counselors develop a sixth sense about essay writers who are authentic. You’ll score points for being earnest and faithful to yourself. Authenticity is key to writing an effective diversity essay. Schools want you to be honest about who you are and where you come from; don’t exaggerate or make up stories to make yourself sound "cooler" or more interesting- 99% of the time, admissions committees will see right through it! Next, here’s what Wellesley College says about the purpose of college essays: Let the Board of Admission discover: More about you as a person. The side of you not shown by SATs and grades. Your history, attitudes, interests, and creativity. Your values and goals- what sets you apart. It’s important to not only be authentic but to alsoshowcase "what sets you apart" from other applicants- that is, what makes you you. This is especially important when you consider how many applications admissions committees go through each year. If you don’t stand out in some positive way, you'll likely end up in the crapshoot, significantly reducing or even eliminating your chances of admission. And finally, here’s some advice fromtheUniversity of Michiganon writing essays for college: Your college essay will be one of nearly 50,000 that we’ll be reading in admissions- use this opportunity to your advantage. Your essay gives us insights into your personality; it helps us determine if your relationship with the school will be mutually beneficial. So tell us what faculty you’d like to work with, or what research you’re interested in. Tell us why you’re a leader- or how you overcame adversity in your life. Tell us why this is the school for you. Tell us your story. Overall, the most important characteristic colleges are looking for in the diversity essay (as well as in any college essay you submit) is authenticity. Colleges want to know who you are and how you got here; they also want to see what makes you memorable and what you can bring to the school. Coffee not required for writing an excellent diversity essay. How to Write an Effective Diversity Essay: 4 Tips Here are some tips to help you write a great diversity college essay and increase your chances of admission to college. #1: Think About What Makes You Unique One of the main purposes of the diversity essay is to present your uniqueness and explain how you will bring a new perspective to the student body and school as a whole. Therefore, for your essay, be sure to choose a topic that will help you stand apart from other applicants. For example, instead of writing about your ability to play the piano (which a lot of applicants can do, no doubt), it’d be far more interesting to elaborate on how your experience growing up in Austria led you to become interested in classical music. Try to think of defining experiences in your life. These don’t have to be obvious life-altering events, but they should have had a lasting impact on you and helped shape your identity. #2: Be Honest and Authentic Ah, there’s that word again: authentic. While it’s important to showcase how unique you are, you also want to make sure you’re staying true to who you are. What experiences have made you the person you are today? What kind of impact did these have on your identity, accomplishments, and future goals? Being honest also means notexaggerating (or lying about) your experiences or views.It's OK if you don't remember every little detail of an event or conversation. Just try to be as honest about your feelings as possible. Don't say something changed your life if it really had zero impact on you. Ultimately, you want to write in a way that's true to your voice. Don't be afraid to throw in a little humor or a personal anecdote. What matters most is that your diversity essay accurately represents you and your intellectual potential. #3: Write Clearly, Correctly, and Cogently This next tip is of a more mechanical nature. As is the case with any college essay, it’s critical that your diversity essay is well written. After all, the purpose of this essay is not only to help schools get to know you better but also to demonstrate a refined writing ability- a skill that's necessary for doing well in college, regardless of your major. A diversity essay that's littered with typos and grammatical errors willfail to tell a smooth, compelling, and coherent story about you. Itwill also make you look unprofessional and won’t convince admissions committees that you're serious about college and your future. So what should you do? First, separate your essay into clear, well-organized paragraphs. Next, proofread your essay several times.As you further tweak your draft, continue to proofread it. If possible, get an adult- such as a teacher, tutor, or parent- to look it over for you as well. #4: Take Your Time Our final tip is to give yourself plenty of time to actually write your diversity essay. Usually, college applications are due around December or January, so it’s a good idea to start your essay early, ideally in the summer before your senior year (and before classes and homework begin eating up your time). Starting early also lets yougain some perspective on your diversity essay.Here's how to do this: once you've written a rough draft or even just a couple of paragraphs of your essay, put it away for a few days. Once this time passes, take out your essay again and reread it with a fresh perspective. Try to determine whether it still has the impact you wanted it to have.Ask yourself: does this essay sound like the real you, or someone else? Are some areas a little too cheesy? Could you add more or less detail to certain paragraphs? Finally, giving yourself lots of time to write your diversity essay means you can have more people read it and offer comments and edits on it.This is crucial for producing an altogether effective diversity college essay. Conclusion: Writing Diversity Essays for College A diversity essay is a college admissions essay that revolves around an applicant’s background and identity, usually within the context of a particular community. This community can refer to race or ethnicity, income level, neighborhood, school, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Many colleges- such as the University of Michigan, the University of Washington, and UNC- use the diversity essay to ensure diversity in their student bodies.Some schools require the essay, whereas others accept it as an optional application component. If you'll be writing diversity essays for college, be sure to do the following when writing your essay to give yourself a higher chance of admission: Think about what makes you unique- try to pinpoint an experience or opinion you have that'll separate you from the rest of the crowd in an interesting, positive way Be honest and authentic- avoid exaggerating or lying about your feelings and experiences Write clearly, correctly, and cogently- proofread, edit, and get someone else to look over your essay Take your time- start early, preferably by the summer before your senior year, so you can have more time to make changes and get feedback from others With that, I wish you the best of luck on your diversity essay! What’s Next? You understand how to write a diversity essay- but what about a "Why this college?" essay? What about a general personal statement?Our guides explain what these essays are and how you can produce amazing responses for your applications. 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A trustee will be liable for breach of trust if breached

A trustee will be liable for breach of trust if breached Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work produced by our Law Essay Writing Service . You can view samples of our professional work here . A trustee will be liable for breach of trust if that breach if breached Hence, in determining whether Sue has caused any lost to the trust, we must first identify whether the terms of the trust have been breached. And since the trust was created for the benefit of the GLEE club members, it is evident that the trust has not been duly administered in accordance with its provisions as the administration of the trust appears to be entirely in favour of Sue herself. This is exemplified by the purchase of shares in Poly-Sue, of which Sue is an owner, Sue’s life insurance policy, the life size statue of Sue and the bottle of wine. It is questionable whether the shares that were purchased in the soft drinks company was in fact beneficial to the trust, yet it is doubtful that the money which was paid into Vital Adrenalines account and the bet in which Sue placed upon Vital Adrenaline to win was in accordance with the trust provisions. As such, a breach of trust has undoubtedly occur red because as made clear in the case of Armitage v Nurse   [ 4 ]   , â€Å"a breach of trust may be deliberate or inadvertent and may consist of an actual misappropriation or misapplication of the trust property or merely an investment that is outside the trustees powers†Ã‚   [ 5 ]   . Furthermore, it was also made clear in the case that a breach of trust can in fact occur regardless of whether the breach was beneficial or injurious to the beneficiaries. Therefore, even if the shares which have been purchased or the bet which was placed were beneficial to the beneficiaries a breach will still be capable of occurring. This is because, as provided under section 1   [ 6 ]   of the Trustee Act 2000 a trustee has a duty to ensure that reasonable care and skill is exercised when managing the trust. Nevertheless, if Sue can demonstrate that she took all of the necessary precautions that an ordinary prudent man would have taken when exercising the trust fund then her breac hes will be discharged as shown in Speight v Gaunt   [ 7 ]   . It is however unlikely than an ordinary person exercising the same skill a Sue would have managed the trust in the way she did, yet as stated under section 3 (1)   [ 8 ]   of the Act, â€Å"a trustee will be capable of making any investments which he would have himself made if he was entitled absolutely to the trust assets of the trust†Ã‚   [ 9 ]   . Therefore, it could be said that Sue would have made the same investments had she been absolutely entitled to the trust assets and so her investments were in fact reasonable. Nevertheless, Sue’s investments are unlikely to satisfy the â€Å"standard investment criteria† under section 4 (3)   [ 10 ]   . This is because as shown in the case of Cowan v Scargill   [ 11 ]   , a trustee must ascertain that any investments which are made are wholly beneficial to the beneficiaries and not themselves. Thus, since this is not the case a breach of trust has evidentially arisen. As for Will, since he is also a trustee under the trust fund, he too will be liable for the breaches of Sue if it can be shown that he was â€Å"recklessly careless†Ã‚   [ 12 ]   . This has been demonstrated in the case of Re Vickery   [ 13 ]   , where it was held that a trustee will be found to be â€Å"recklessly careless†Ã‚   [ 14 ]   if it can be shown that he did not care whether his act or omission is a breach of trust. Consequently, since Will omitted in his duties to take proper care of the trust fund because of the fact that he has issue in his personal life, it could be said that he was â€Å"recklessly careless†Ã‚   [ 15 ]   and therefore, he too may be found to be in breach of his fiduciary duties. It has nonetheless been argued in light of this decision that the circumstances were exceptional since â€Å"trustees were rarely liable for the acts of their agent†Ã‚   [ 16 ]   . Whether the same can be said in the instant situation is arguable but seems likely given that trustees are assumed to have acted unanimously as in Re Mayo   [ 17 ]

Few topics. African American Identities, African Immigration and Research Paper

Few topics. African American Identities, African Immigration and Diaspora, Africans becoming Americanized and losing culture - Research Paper Example Besides, the paper will talk about how African Americans today do not really accept their African side and want to be ‘Americanized’. It is also noted that in many instances, African American look down upon or dislike pure Africans and this is equally to be analyzed. Besides, the migration into America in search of employment or settlement in Diaspora is of concern to this paper. The 1807 abolition of slave trafficking into the US marked a great step in defining the future of the Africans who would often find their way to America as slaves. The abolition also allowed the slaves then to settle there and this marks the main origin of African Americans although scores of other Africans have latter settled in the US intentionally, or as the law allows either in search of employment opportunities, education, as refugees or seeking asylum or for such other reasons as. There is however a disparity that is pointed out between the native African Americans especially who are citizens by birth and the immigrants. History depicts a ‘bad’ past for the African Americans who faced among other things prejudice from the whites based on the skin color. In fact, despite having rightfully settled and acquired the American citizenship, history shows how the racial discrimination has been a feature in the country. The discrimination and or treatment accorded to the African Americans by the white would be based on identity. However, great changes have been witnessed with great persons of African origin rising to heights of influence in the nation with the most current being the president. This shows a great evolution with the African Americans now actively participating merely in all aspects of life and politics being the most influential. The African-American identity has slowly gained acceptance among the whites in the country hence explaining even the policy frameworks that allow even new immigrants of