Why There Would Be No People Without Plants Assignment

Why There Would Be No People Without Plants - Assignment Example Plants are an important part of the ecology and help in the maintenance of the normal environment on Earth. They are essential to life because they help in cleaning the atmosphere, maintain an appropriate balance of gases on Earth and also they serve as a source of food for the human beings as well as other living beings. Plants have been endowed with a very special property which makes them unique and assists them in performing their functions. The plants take up energy in the form of light from the Sun and a set of reactions ensues within the leaves of the plants. This sequence of reactions leads to the formation of food sources in the form of carbohydrate from the carbon dioxide which is captured by the leaves from the atmosphere. The leaves possess this property due to the presence of a green pigment known as chlorophyll. At the same time there is release of oxygen from the leaves of the plants. This process is known as photosynthesis as it uses up light and it occurs during day time because of the availability of sunlight during the day and at the same time there is synthesis of carbohydrates. Hence this function of the plants assists in the utilization of carbon dioxide which is produced in the atmosphere by human beings during breathing and also during other processes. The plants also utilize oxygen like all living matter for the carrying out of the process of respiration. This oxygen is used to drive the processes a t the cellular levels to provide energy for the appropriate usage of energy. Hence the plant has a complex mechanism in which it utilizes carbon dioxide and produces oxygen in the process. But they also then utilize oxygen for carrying out essential reactions. The plants basically carry out the process of photosynthesis mainly during the day and the process of respiration and utilization of oxygen is at peak during the night. Therefore it can be seen that the plants form

Chevron Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chevron Corporation - Essay Example Market Segmentation, by definition, is the grouping of customers into sub-units or segments based on their needs implying that a particular market segment has the same needs and as such, a business develops the same marketing strategy to respond to the needs. Segmentation of target markets takes three approaches namely undifferentiated, concentrated and differentiated. In this regard, undifferentiated segmentation entails a business treating customers as the same or when an organisation targets homogenous market while concentrated segmentation occurs when a firm focuses on several market segmentations that have same needs and preferences, for instance, price sensitive consumers. However, differentiated market segmentation entails a business targeting many market segments or heterogeneous markets as with the case of Chevron Corporation because it has various business segments. Chevron’s market segmentation depends on both the upstream and downstream business segments. Upstream business operations include exploration, development and production of natural gas as well as crude oil while downstream operations involve crude oil refinery, marketing in addition to the transportation of the finished or the final petroleum products.Nonetheless, businesses divide their market using demographics, psychographic, behavioural and geographic criteria when segmenting their markets. Demographic segmentation takes into consideration customer characteristics including gender, age, education, income status, cultural background and job.

Finial exam Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Finial exam - Assignment Example ii. The wages are in accordance with the Federal minimum wage which is $7.25 per hour – the lowest pay rate offered by the company. Although, the last minimum wage increase in California was in 2008 when it increased to $8 the Federal minimum wage remained at $7.25 per hour (Bernstein 2013). Both rates are expected to increase in the near future if the Governor and the President have their way to $10 per hour n 2016 (Bernstein 2013). iii. The level of inflation which is set at 3% for expenses is considered fair as it is close to the projected inflation rate. iv. The company took liability insurance into account even though it is not a requirement in California at this time. This is an indication of the importance it places on this issue. The areas which appear unreasonable relates to vehicle expenses, amounts omitted and the amortization period for the loan. These are outlined as follows: i. Motor vehicle expenses are assumed to remain constant from one year to the next. This is highly unlikely to happen since the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for 2013 indicated that license fees and the cost of maintaining a vehicle both increased (BLS 2013). ii. The amortization period for the loan is projected at 25 years. This equates with the depreciation period of 25 years on the building. It is highly unlikely that the lender would want to wait until the asset for which the loan is intended is at the end of its useful life before the loan repayment period expires. iii. All Assisted Living Facilities in the State of California are required to be licensed on an annual basis. The initial fee is a maximum of $1,500 for the first year and $750 each year for renewal in the future. This fee although immaterial was not considered. However, small it could mean the difference between a profit and a loss Contract for Construction The contract for construction indicates that the project would be registered as a limited liability company (LLC). This means that the company and not the contractor would be liable for damages resulting from the project. This also suggests that the contractor would be free of liabilities to anyone and that his liability would be limited to his investment in the project of $100,000. Furthermore, the suggestion that the other investors will have no say is unreasonable as it means that the general contractor is responsible to no one and will be able to do as he pleases. There is a conflict of interest and the contractor needs to face any consequence resulting from his mismanagement of the project. There is nothing in the contract about retention monies or the consequences of failure to complete the project on time. These are important issues that need to be addressed in any construction contract. In fact, the suggestion that the project will only start when all monies are received without consideration of the time value of money and the cost of delays are ludicrous and needs to be reconsidered. Analysis of the Anticipated Rate of R eturn The rate of return as calculated by the return on capital employed (ROCE) will be negative in the first four years and less than 1% in year 5 and 6. However, the return increases to 1.95% in year 7; 2.73 in year 8; 3.44 in year 9; and 4.42 in year ten. This trend is expected to

Chevron Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Chevron Corporation - Essay Example Market Segmentation, by definition, is the grouping of customers into sub-units or segments based on their needs implying that a particular market segment has the same needs and as such, a business develops the same marketing strategy to respond to the needs. Segmentation of target markets takes three approaches namely undifferentiated, concentrated and differentiated. In this regard, undifferentiated segmentation entails a business treating customers as the same or when an organisation targets homogenous market while concentrated segmentation occurs when a firm focuses on several market segmentations that have same needs and preferences, for instance, price sensitive consumers. However, differentiated market segmentation entails a business targeting many market segments or heterogeneous markets as with the case of Chevron Corporation because it has various business segments. Chevron’s market segmentation depends on both the upstream and downstream business segments. Upstream business operations include exploration, development and production of natural gas as well as crude oil while downstream operations involve crude oil refinery, marketing in addition to the transportation of the finished or the final petroleum products.Nonetheless, businesses divide their market using demographics, psychographic, behavioural and geographic criteria when segmenting their markets. Demographic segmentation takes into consideration customer characteristics including gender, age, education, income status, cultural background and job.

Poetry anthology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Poetry anthology - Essay Example The poems are organized into three sections: first "seasons" like spring, summer and winter which talk about the changing seasons of love: from hope of new love in spring, to warmth and passion in summer. Although there is no poem entitled "winter", it is dealt with in the first poem, showing a transition from "frozen faith" to "growing green". The second section deals with elements like "sunshine", "rain", "wind, "fire" and "sea". I wanted to do the four elements but instead the poems just happened this way. I found it was very natural to compare love to sunshine, and tears to rain but this is a bit clich, so I decided instead to use rain in terms of quenching a thirst with a kiss. The poem "wind" associates wind and freedom, and doing things that society doesn't expect you to do when you are in love, while "fire" is a good transition to the next section "violent elements" because it talks about things like "fire" and "lightning" and "thunderclouds" which are frightening and violent but are beautiful too, like love is. Then the section "violent elements" transition into "stormy night and the end section with only one poem: "evening" which talks about love dying like the day dying. I know that people will say that it is common to write about love and to compare it with nature, but I think these poems are different in that they try to avoid the usual clichs. I am very grateful to the person that inspired this anthology - even though there are many painful things to feel and say about love, it is a life-changing experience to have. I. SEASONS spring I know it's spring when the leaves turn green again when my soul like shriveled straw starts to grow green again when my frozen faith in life and love starts to melt and thaw again when my heart that's brown and cold opens at the touch of your hand summer the smell of flowers in June goodbye which came too soon and your memory which fills this room the sound of tropical waves the burn of bright sun rays and your memory which stays and stays the taste of yellow fruit the bitter taste of truth and memory of lost youth II. ELEMENTS sunshine like I'd miss the sunshine if it went away like I'd miss the stars at night like I'd miss the air I breathe I miss you so when you're out of sight like the sand would miss the waves I miss you so when you're away and as there's such a drought in my heart I miss you like grass misses rain rain I run a mile through wind and hail and storm and gale through fire and flame to quench my lips in the rain of your kiss sea I feel so blue my world is gray all my world without you is like a ship gone away I looked at you you smiled at me all my life without you is like a blue blue sea Every time the waves rush in I just feel so alone Every time the tide goes in I remember you're gone wind wind in my hair sun on my face what do I care got to leave this place dirt on my heart mud on my feet where do I start I just got to be free blood on my hands wine on my cheeks feel so high can't even sleep forget these chains forget society I'm drunk with love in love with your sanity fire sometimes it's fire sometimes it's lightning sometimes it's thunderclouds and rain I'll tame a sunset when times are frightening to be your light through darkness and pain III. VIOLENT NATURE thunder cloud eyes of wonder laugh of thunder take me under with your kiss smile like heaven I rise like

Learning curve Essay Example for Free

Learning curve Essay The term the learning curve has a popular, well-known meaning in American culture. In consideration of how and when you start to examine the way that term is used, most people discover that the primary and perceived meaning of the term really doesnt make any sense. If the curve is drawn on a chart which tracks resulting knowledge against time spent learning, it might look like the Tetris © (a popular logic game) graph here to the right. By visual consideration, the chart is steepest at the beginning, when a person first starts learning how to play Tetris. The beginner usually gains knowledge quickly, learning the game in just a few minutes. Though there is much to learn, the player will never learn as quickly as he or she did at the beginning learning how to play the game. | Here is another example: I believe that most people would consider the process of blowing leafs out of their yards with a leaf blower is very simple, but is that the instance? For many, regardless of education and or experience, it only takes about two minutes to get up and running blowing leaves. Additional knowledge milestones await most people after they have invested more time, such as flushing corners, minimizing blowback, and blinding the cyclists. | On the charts shown in this article, the knowledge milestones are made up and arbitrary, however labeling the vertical axis can be challenging. For most people, learning can be a series of successes, but it can also be a slow refinement of technique. It isnt really accurate for a person to say they are still learning to dribble a basketball when many NBA professionals with years of experience are still refining the process. | Shown to the right is an expanded timeline on the basketball learning curve. Many of the knowledge milestones on this chart cant really be learned in an hour. Most people can and do learn that they exist, but are not able to actually perform them for another year. | This quest for adequate understanding was spurned by my desire to identify activities which have a shallow learning curve. If steep learning curves are grueling, then shallow ones must be enjoyable, right? Shown here on the right is a graph for the learning curve of World of Warcraft. It is definitely enjoyable. Maybe the vast number of things to learn makes it so compelling, or the timed-release of new experiences. Speed of learning is probably not the best way to determine whether or not something is fun. | Another example. Learning to drive a manual transmission. Learning to drive a manual transmission is difficult because it requires a certain level of knowledge and skill before it can be done at all. The payoff, and true measure of success, is learning it well enough to dare to venture out into real traffic on a person’s own. In consideration of the aforementioned graph, it is cognitive to most people that in many examples of learning, there is only one real milestone to be reached. | This final graph compares the learning of two different students, and it is the only chart where the idea of a steep learning curve actually makes sense. The lower (green) section of the graph represents the state of being unable to perform a certain task. The upper section represents the state of being able to perform it. The orange line student can be said to have a steep learning curve. The sample student crossed the threshold into able after one day of learning. The red line sample student had a shallow learning curve. Said student needed four days to become able to adequately learn and or retain the learned knowledge. Posters note: I found the foregoing article one day while doing research on different learning styles. The original post on Cockeyed. com I believe was meant to be satirical, however in my opinion the information is highly beneficial in understanding the original author’s perspective on how many people learn. In considering the authors said perspective, I truly believe he or she has captured what many people today consider the â€Å"learning curve† process. Please write me with any comments, questions and or concerns. William Lucas ([emailprotected] net)| |

Factors influencing assessment of language in school

Factors influencing assessment of language in school Due to the globalization, some people whose first language is not English are the fastest-growing school population, and in Australias classroom are becoming increasingly diverse. Take Deakin university for example, the students in the classroom come from Italy, America, China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Australia and so on. Many students are from none English Speaking countries and different cultural background. They share the considerable challenge of having to learn English while responding to the subject-matter demands of school. This article is to explore the cultural understandings which underpin pedagogies used in international education. Moreover, there has been great recent interest in the social and policy context of language testing and assessment. McNamara (1998)comments on the recency of discussion of the ethics of language testing, an area in which social values are a main concern; while the previous relative neglect of these issues in research on language testing has been doc umented by Kunnan (1996), quoted from Hamp-Lyons article. Finally, because effective use of technology must be supported by significant investment in hardware, software, infrastructure, professional development, and support services, over the last decade, technology is introduced into the nations school systems, ultimately, the schools will be held accountable for these investments. Assessment refers to the collection and interpretation of information about learners knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes. It is a vital and integral part of classroom instruction, and serves several purposes and audiences.Assessment polices exert considerable influence over the education of English language learners because assessment influence the identification, classification, placement, and ongoing monitoring of students. Sometimes the assessment results can help the students to improve their abilities and the quality of instruction. Assessment practices were not designed with the diversity o f current population of English language learners in their mind. As a result, assessment practices have also sometimes prevented students who are learning English from gaining access to a high quality education. Many learners complain that the English language tests are too much, in fact their abilities and skills have not been adequately assessed because traditional testing practices do not capture all that they know and can do. This essay will argue that the culture, policy and social condition, the educational background and technology impact on assessment of language in Australia. In planning assessments to be taken by the general student population, including English language learners, the general principles of good assessment practices apply. This article describes different steps within the planning process, highlighting issues most relevant to the assessment of English language learners. First of all, the policy and social considerations influence on language assessment. McNamara (1998) mentions that the use of tests as an arm of policy reform in education and vocational training has grown, and it has been incorporated as an aspect of immigration policy. These developments have invited the kind of analysis made relevant by the new frameworks for thinking about tests outlined above. The policy influence on the school and university educational systems and even the workforce. National governments often require language tests or other formal assessment procedures to be used. Test fairness is a particularly important quality when tests are related to migration, residency or citizenship. Moreover, as labor mobility has risen and immigrant and refugee flows become a more entrenched part of the present global situation, the assessment of language skills has assumed importance in the context of immigration policy, especially in Australia. Besides that the concern of governme nts for greater industrial efficiency, and the needs of vocational education and training of workforces in rapidly changing environments of production, have motivated a range of policy initiatives which have had implications for assessment. In the past 15 years, language assessment has become increasingly uses as an instrument of policy in the areas of school education, vocational training, and immigration. Khattri and Sweet (1996) demonstrate that the policy context supporting the introduction of performance assessment in school and vocational training contexts at national, state, and district levels, quoted from McNamara article. Therefore, policy makers should be aware that there are some other kinds of assessment which may also be appropriate. Tests and other methods of assessment have their own particular benefits which relating to characteristics such as impact on the candidate, the interpretability of results, standardization and reliability of the results which means that it is easy to compare candidates across the same or different administrations, and cost and practicability. It is very significant that the requirements of the situation are considered carefully to identify the most appropriate kind of assessment. It should also be noted that a combination of assessment methods is possible. Brindley argues that the function of such frameworks in providing greater accountability for systems in their delivery of language training potentially involves a conflict with the educational needs of learners and the goals of teachers. For example, as notes in the ETS standards for quality and fairness, validity is one of the most important attributes of an assessment. Validity is commonly referred to as the extent to which a test measurement what it claims to measure. For English language learners, as well as for all populations, it is critical to consider the degree to which interpretations of their test results are valid reflections of the skill or proficiency that an assessment is intended measure (Educational Testing Service, 2009). Language assessment is a measure of language ability for the ELLs. According to study guide, the Rasch model attempt to generalize from test data to estimate candidate ability and item characteristics (difficulty, discrimination and fit to the model). Estimates of candidate ability take task or item difficulty into account and are based on the assumption that the propability of a correct response is a function of the difference between the persons ability and difficulty of the task. For instance, ESL tests are being increasingly used by the Australia government to manage immigration. One test, assess, raises ethical issues in the way it is used to limit numbers and types of immigrants. There are many immigrants from the other countries want to move to Australia, the government should take effective measures to control this situation; the other, step, was used to hasten the determination of residential statu s for substantial numbers of asylum seekers (McNamara, 1998). The Australian tradition of using language tests in immigration policy contexts, dating back to the notorious dictation test which was used to implement a blatantly discriminatory immigration policy until the 1960s, is analyzed by Davies (1996). Cumming (1994) has stressed the responsibility of language assessment practice to promote the welfare of immigration. As a result, where language assessment is being considered, policy makers are urged to first consider issues at a deeper level. 690 Second of all, different language and educational background influences the assessment of English language learners. This point of view describes factors to consider when developing assessments and make useful decisions relate to testing accommodations for English language learners. The factors provide useful context for the guidelines presented in the later parts of the document. As for language factors, many English language learners in Australia are from a wide range of linguistic backgrounds. This is particularly important to keep in mind when considering the use of native language testing accommodations, since it may not be possible to provide assessments in all native languages represented in a large school district to a state. For example, in Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI), which is a language training school related to Deakin University, many overseas students are from different country, they can communicate with each other in English, through a period o f language learning, at the end of the step there is a language assessment provided. That is to detct the progress of students in language learning. Furthermore, different levels of proficiency in English for English language learners will influence their assessment of language. They may have varying levels of oral and written English proficiency. It also conclude the native speakers, some may not have had any formal schooling in their native language. The language learners should not be assumed that they can converse easily in language learning will have the literacy skills necessary to understand the written directions for a standardized test. Some English language learners may be proficient in the English used for interpersonal communications but not in the academic English needed to fully access content-area assessments (Educational Testing Service, 2009). According to some research that shows the level of language proficiency has an influence on processing speed. Comparing with native speakers, English language learners probably take longer on tasks presented in English. This is important to keep in mind when designing and scoring the assessment, as well as when making decisions about testing accommodations. In addition, as for educational background factors, English language learners vary widely in the level of formal schooling they have had in their native language (Educational Testing Service, 2009). The degree of native language formal schooling affects not only native language, but also for the assessment of English language learners. The other the proficiency of the language learners in literacy in the native language is involving the skills and knowledge. For instance, some students are refugee people, they want to go to the school which the educational system with little or no formal schooling in any language. These students must learn English and content-area knowledge simultaneously, while also being socialized into a school context that may be extremely unfamiliar. The other English language learners may come to the formal schooling and may have received instruction in the content area in their native language. Accord to Educational Testing Service (2009) describes the primary challenge for these students is simply to change their existing content knowledge into English. In addition, these factors come into play when making decisions about appropriate accommodations. Moreover, there are vary degrees of exposure to standardized testing, it should not be assumed that the English language learners have had the same exposure to the standardized testing that is prevalent in Australia. The learners in some countries may have had no exposure to multiple-choice questions, while those from other countries may never have seen a constructed-response question. Even English language learners from educationally advantaged backgrounds and with high levels of English language proficiency may not be accustomed to standardized, large-scale assessments and may be at a disadvantage in these testing situations. Thirdly, cultural factors can be potential sources of construct-irrelevant variance that add to the complex of appropriately assessing English language learners. Culture is an important facet of the learners social environment as cultural beliefs guide and direct behaviour. Each culture has different value systems and these guides the individual. English language learners are from a wide range of cultural background, and cultural difference may place the English language learners at a disadvantage in a standardized testing situation. Lack of familiarity with mainstream Australia culture, they may potentially have an impact on test scores for English language learners. The learners who are unfamiliar with Australia culture may be at disadvantage relative to their peers because they may hold different assumptions about the testing situation or the educational environment in general, have different background knowledge and experience, or unfamiliar with Australia culture may be at a pos sess different sets of cultural values and beliefs, and therefore respond to questions differently (Accord to Educational Testing Service, 2009). In fact, assessment the true value of language assessment is to check the language learners learning level, and based on the assessment results to help students progress. Culture differences are inevitable factors and impact on language assessment obviously. In addition, assessment can be used for a variety of purpose such as diagnosis of learners strengths and weaknesses, grading of learners performance, placement of learners in an appropriate class or teaching programme, and evaluation of learners for further studies. August, D., Pease-Alvarez, L. (1996) maintains that assessment presented builds on the school-wide and classroom cultures, policies, and practices that characterize effective schools for English language learners. Elements of these include a core curriculum aligned with rigorous content standards, student assessment that i s culturally responsive, teacher knowledge of strategies that support students cultural backgrounds, and a challenging and responsive learning environment. Every element of the model is first presented in a research-based discussion and then followed by attributes of effective practices based on examples from school sites. All cultures promote specific norms of behavior that can influence the assessment and intervention process with members of ethnically diverse groups, cultural issues related to the assessment process and culturally sensitive recommendations. Last but not least, technological aspects impact on assessment of language in schools. Each technology is likely to play a different role in students learning. Rather than trying to describe the impact of all technologies as if they were the same, researchers need to think about what kind of technologies are being used in the classroom and for what purposes, applied linguists might consider technology in language assessment by discussing ways in which streamlines the testing process. Two general distinctions can be made. Students can learn from computers-where technology used essentially as tutors and serves to increase students basic skills and knowledge; and can learn with computers-where technology is used a tool that can be applied to a variety of goals in the learning process and can serve as a resource to help develop higher order thinking, creativity and research skills (Reeves, 1998; Ringstaff Kelley, 2002). In fact, much progress can be identified with respect to this worth while goal, as many language tests today are delivered on microcomputers and over the internet. An equally important strand of language assessment concerns its effects on language learning, language teaching, and knowledge within the field of applied linguistics. The story of technology in language assessment needs to encompass both the efficiency of technical accomplishments, which is evident in part through the success of testing programs in constructing technology-based tests, as well as the effects of these test. Technology can encompass a board range of devices used in the testing process, from recording equipment, statistical programs, and data bases, to programs capable of language recognition (Burstein, Frase, Ginther, and Grant, 1996). Many different types of technology can be used to support and improve learning, involving the language assessment. Everything from video content and digital moviemaking to laptop computing and handheld technologies have been used in classroom s, and new uses of technology such as podcasting are constantly emerging(Marshall, 2002). For example, writing assessment is a suitable point which can support this belief that the students can become better writers when they use the computer for writing. By creating more frequent opportunities for students to learn, Students writing in digital form makes it possible to analyze writing quality in more detail, grade the writing by automated means, and provide immediate feedback to both the student and the teacher about how well the student performed (Miller, 2009), quoted from Bejar (2010). A digital writing environment also can provide students with tools or scaffolds (Deane, Quinlan, Kostin, in press) that can facilitate writing. The feasibility of detailed writing analysis also makes it possible to study the development of writing skills and to chart their development on a meaningful scale (Attali Powers, 2008). Many years ago, access to technology was limited and writing school was one of the nations highest education priorities. Public schools have also made consistent progress in expanding Internet access in instructional rooms. Technology is introduced into our nations school systems. Along with expanded access has come a growing pervasiveness of technology in society. For the new generation of young people, technology, particularly the Internet, has assumed a substan tial stake in their social and educational lives. To sum up, English as a world language, in the past few decades a significant change about the language, researchers have found that these changes not only from English language itself, but also from other factors. This chapter has attempted to outline the issues that need to be considered and, by implication, the issues for which policy makers should take responsibility. The questions of what type of assessment is necessary for the intended purpose, and what it can be expected to measure should be considered first. For the successful use of a language test for migration and citizenship purposes, those who define the policy must work with the test providers on several aspects after the decision to use a test has been made. During these changes will impact on language -related changes in language teaching and assessment. Assessment is the practice of collecting evidence of student learning. In the past, the English test or assessment still to the native English speakers of the languag e for criteria, which language closed to the native English speakers is a good standard of evaluation results, and vice versa is not up to the standard learning objectives. Language testing and evaluation is changed now, set the highest standards and evaluate the assessment of the highest standards from the distance and differences, and then view the object of study and progress through the content analysis. Language assessment also based on the different factors is change, and position of the language assessment is more important in the world, therefore, linguists, educators, and testing evaluators should pay more attention on the advantages and limitations of the language assessment, and to grasp these changes then take effective measures.