Recasting a Paragraph in the Past Tense Exercise

Recasting a Paragraph in the Past Tense Exercise This recasting exercise will give you practice in using the appropriate past-tense forms of regular and irregular verbs. Instructions The following paragraph has been adapted from Memorandum, an essay by E.B. White (One Mans Meat, 1944). Rewrite Whites paragraph, eliminating the phrase ought to wherever it appears and putting the italicized verbs in the past tense. Follow the example below. Example Original SentenceI ought to knock the wedges out from the frames of the pier, put a line on the frames, and tow them in on the high water.Sentence Recast in the Past TenseI knocked the wedges out from the frames of the pier, put a line on the frames, and towed them in on the high water. Memorandum I ought to take up the wire fence round the chicken range today, roll it up in bundles, tie them with six-thread, and store them at the edge of the woods. Then I ought to move the range houses off the field and into the corner of the woods and set them up on blocks for the winter, but I ought to sweep them out first and clean the roosts with a wire brush... I ought to add a bag of phosphate to the piles of hen dressing that have accumulated under the range houses and spread the mixture on the field, to get it ready for plowing... On my way in from the range I ought to stop at the henhouse long enough to climb up and saw off an overhanging branch from the apple tree. I shall have to get a ladder of course and a saw. When you have completed the exercise, compare your work with the revised paragraph below.​ Memorandum  (Recast in the Past Tense) I  took  up the wire fence  round  the chicken range today,  rolled  it up in bundles,  tied  them with six-thread, and  stored  them at the edge of the woods. Then I  moved  the range houses off the field and into the corner of the woods and  set  them up on blocks for the winter, but I  swept  them out first and  cleaned  the  roosts  with a wire brush... I  added  a bag of phosphate to the piles of  hen  dressing that  had  accumulated under the range houses and  spread  the mixture on the field, to get it ready for plowing... On my way in from the  range  I  stopped  at the henhouse long enough to climb up and saw off an overhanging branch from the apple tree. I  had  to get a ladder of course and a saw. Related Revision Exercises Recasting a Paragraph in the Past Tense II: From In the Heart of the Heart of the Country by William GassRecasting a Paragraph in the Past Tense III: From  Appalachian Wilderness  by Edward Abbey

A Brief Overview and Description of Geography

A Brief Overview and Description of Geography The science of geography is likely the oldest of all sciences. Geography is the answer to the question that the earliest humans asked, Whats over there? Exploration and the discovery of new places, new cultures, and new ideas have always been basic components of geography. Thus, geography is often called the mother of all sciences as studying other people and other places led to other scientific fields such as biology, anthropology, geology, mathematics, astronomy, chemistry, among others. (See other Definitions of Geography) What Does the Word Geography Mean? The word geography was invented by the ancient Greek scholar Eratosthenes and literally means writing about the earth. The word can be divided into two parts - ge and graphy. Ge means the Earth and graphy refers to writing. Of course, geography today means much more than writing about the Earth but its a difficult discipline to define. Many geographers have done their best to define geography but a typical dictionary definition today reads, The science of the Earths physical features, resources, climate, population, etc. Divisions of Geography Today, geography is commonly divided into two major branches - cultural geography (also called human geography) and physical geography. Cultural geography is the branch of geography dealing with human culture and its impact on the Earth. Cultural geographers study languages, religion, foods, building styles, urban areas, agriculture, transportation systems, politics, economies, population and demographics, and more. Physical geography is the branch of geography dealing with the natural features of the Earth, the home of humans. Physical geography looks at the water, air, animals, and land of the planet Earth (i.e. everything that is part of the four spheres - the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere). Physical geography is closely related to geographys sister science - geology - but physical geography focuses more on the landscapes at the surface of the Earth and not what is inside our planet. Other key areas of geography include regional geography (which involves the in-depth study and knowledge of a particular region and its cultural as well as its physical characteristics) and geographic technologies like GIS (geographic information systems) and GPS (global positioning system). An important system for dividing the subject of geography is known as the Four Traditions of Geography. History of Geography The history of geography as a scientific discipline can be traced back to the Greek scholar Eratosthenes. It was further developed in the modern era by Alexander von Humboldt and from there, you can trace the history of geography in the United States. Also, see the Timeline of Geographic History. Studying Geography Since the late 1980s, when the subject of geography was not well-taught throughout the United States, there has been a revival in geographic education. Thus, today many primary, secondary, and university students are choosing to learn more about geography. There are many resources online available to learn about studying geography, including one article about earning a college degree in geography. While at the university, be sure to explore career opportunities through internships in geography. Great Studying Geography Resources: Branches of GeographyCapitals of Every CountryGeography GlossaryQuestions and Answers About GeographyGeography Facts, Lists, and TriviaMaps and Geographical Information About Every Country (including blank outline maps)Top 10 Reasons to Study Geography (Humor) Careers in Geography Once you start studying geography, youll want to look into various careers in geography so dont miss this article specifically about Jobs in Geography. Joining a geographic organization is also helpful as you pursue a geographic career.

The Essentials of John Wesley Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Essentials of John Wesley - Essay Example Essentials of John Wesley are numerous, which are referred to as Wesleyan beliefs, but they were all related to beliefs of Christian faith. John Wesley instated that the doctrines of the Methodists are the doctrines of the Church of England. John Wesley was an Anglican preacher in addition to being a theologian, who along with Charles Wesley and cleric George Whitefield, was acknowledged with the basis of the missionary motion called Methodism.2 The writings and teaching of John Wesley have great influence in the growth and spread of the holiness motion as well as Pentecostalism. Methodism has a rich past, its essentials leads the modern Christianity to a deep relationship with God and with one another, thanks to John Wesley. John Wesley as the founder of Methodism was born in 1703, after his ordination in the Church of England he elected a fellow of Lincoln College at oxford in 1726. He then left Oxford the following year to act as curate to his father, who at that time was the rector of Epworth. His younger brother Charles had come to oxford and they formed a group that was fully vowed to attend the Holy Communion, comprehensive bible study, and visiting Oxford prisons that were very filthy. It is members of this group that was tagged Methodists. In 1935 John and Charles went to Georgia as pastors to the missionaries and colonists. Their missionary work was not futile, and they decided to return to England believing that they did not have enough Christian faith. George Whitefield who was an Anglican clergyman invited John Wesley few month later to come to the city of Bristol, this was meant to help him preach to the Kingswood Chase. The expectation of Wesley were very contrary to what he met there since he was preaching in open air. This experience is what can be referred to as the revival of the Methodists.3 Whitefield and Wesley worked together in this ministry but later separated on

1.Compare and contrast two perspectives on the idea that commercial Assignment

1.Compare and contrast two perspectives on the idea that commercial mass media provide a marketplace of ideas - Assignment Example rence is that, in a neoliberal society, in addition to the dominant elite controlling the message, there is also a message to the mass audience that the neoliberal tenants – that deregulation, private enterprise and low taxes are all good, as are income and wealth disparities – are the tenants that should be present in society. In contrast, the opposite views, the progressive views, that higher taxes should be pursued, government should be expanded, wealth should be more evenly distributed, and businesses should be firmly regulated, are all beliefs which would presumably harm the free market system and the corporations that make up the free market system, therefore these are the tenants which are disparaged in a neoliberal society. At any rate, under either of these ideas, there is not a free exchange of ideas, because the messages are so controlled by dominant forces. This essay will examine the two schools of thought – political economists and neoliberals †“ and show how each of these schools of thought leads to a mass media that does not disseminate ideas so much as it creates propaganda for the ruling elite. Political economists, according to Brenkman (1979) are in line with Karl Marx, as his critique of the bourgeois economy was known as political economy. The basis for Marxism, at least in the classical sense, is that the economic base determines everything else that occurs in the superstructure of the social, political and intellectual consciousness of a given society. Thus, the culture industries, including commercial media, would be examined in this light, in terms of the economic determinations. This would mean that the media and the messages that are disseminated throughout a society are determined by the economic base of the organization that produces them (Chandler). The political economist looks at large economic structural forces, and how the mass media is associated with this (Havens et al., 2009). Thus, for example, in a very crass way, Fox

Chinese Artifacts Essay Example for Free

Chinese Artifacts Essay The artist of this calligraphy scroll, Zhao Mengfu, was highly praised by the Yuan emperor Renzong as unrivaled traditional Chinese polymath (for a lack of a better word). It is said that the emperor admired him for possessing the following seven outstanding qualities: wide learning, Song royal ancestry, elegant and charismatic appearance, pure character and righteous conduct, literary accomplishment, mastery of calligraphy and painting skills, and profound knowledge of Buddhist and Daoist teachings. As an leading and influential calligraphy during his era, Zhao was able to successfully advocate and promote many of the views that he had on Chinese calligraphy. Zhao supported a return to the ancient models, which integrated the Jin (265 – 420AD) and Tang (618 – 906AD) dynasty styles to synthesize a new norm for standard and cursive scripts. In later eras, many printed texts were modeled after the standard script that he helped create. Furthermore, the cursive style script, depicted in this scroll titled Four Anecdotes from the Life of Wang Xizhi, became the foundations of the informal calligraphic styles of those how succeeded him. One of the four anecdotes from the â€Å"Life of Wang Xizhi† tells the story of a time when Xizhi, a ‘calligraphic’ sage, was extremely fond of the [graceful appearance of] geese. In Shanyin there was a Daoist monk who had raised a flock of more than ten fine geese. One morning Wang decided to take a small boat and go there. He was delighted with the geese and wanted to buy them, but the monk refused to sell. Wang tried in vain to persuade him. Finally, the monk told Wang that he loved Daoist philosophy and had always wanted a transcription of Laozis Daodejing with its commentary by Heshanggong. He had already prepared the silk, but no one was qualified to write it. He asked if Wang would condescend to transcribe two chapters each from the Dao and De sections, for which he would give Wang the whole flock. Wang stayed for half a day to write out the chapters, then he caged the geese and returned home. (Citation) In many ways, this story possesses many aspects of traditional Daoist philosophies. Firstly, the events and interactions between the Monk and Xizhi is highly reflective of the ‘interdependence’ between beings. Furthermore, the fact that the Monk refuse to trade his geese through monetary means underlines Daoist de-emphasis of material objects, especially something as superficial as money. Rather, the Monk was willing to give up his geese for an implementation Xizhi’s skill and mastery of calligraphy. In a way, this reveals belief that an individual should play the role of what he or she was ‘meant’. In other words, the Monk’s offer of his geese for calligraphy mirrors some sort of a natural guidance for Xizhi to walk in accordance to the Way. In summary, the story told through the calligraphy of this scroll is highly relavent to the Daoist themes that were studied throughout the course. Object : Buddhist stele, Tang dynasty (618–906), ca. 700 Origins: China Material: Black limestone Size: H. 64 1/2 in. (163. 7 cm) This relic originates from the temple in the Xinxiang County in the central Chinese province of Henan. A stele is a stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected for funerals or commemorative purposes, most usually decorated with the names and titles of the deceased or living — inscribed, carved in relief or painted onto the slab. In this case, the Buddhist stele is made of black limestone and is curved to give the outline of the figure of Guanyin. In this stele, we see many of the symbolism commonly studied in the Chinese Buddhism. Firstly, the graceful of stance the pair of bodhisattvas implicates a noble yet welcoming gesture which is reflective of the characters theor sage-hood. Secondly, judging by the small objects inscribed on the crown – a figure of the Buddha – they represent Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara), one of the principal bodhisattvas associated with the Pure Land cult. Despite the damages accumulated over time, the gentle S-shape swing of the bodhisattvas bodies gives an essence of individuality to each of the figures. The Western Pure Land sect, derived from the teachings of the Buddha Amitabha, was the sect that attracted the largest number of followers. As we have discussed in class, this was most likely due to the motivation that salvation awaits each and every devotee in a paradise situated in the western realm of Buddhist cosmology. The ability of Buddhism to discuss subjects like the afterlife was one of the largest sources of its popularity. This black limestone stele is one of the best examples of Buddhist devotional art in the Tang period of Chinese history. Object: Central watchtower, architectural model, Eastern Han dynasty (25–220), 1st–early 3rd century Origin: China Material: Earthenware with green lead glaze Size: H. 41 in. (104. 1 cm) The Han dynasty (206 B. C. –220 A. D. ) is deemed to be one of the most important and inflectional dynasties in pre-modern China due to it lasting effects in imperial structure and formation of a national consciousness. Chinese people, until today, still refer to themselves as ‘Han Chinese†. Furthermore, the architecture styles that were established during the Han period layed the ground works for the architecture of the eras to follow. Han architecture was a grand improvement to the architecture of those that precede them; it includes vast palatial complexes, towered gateways, and city walls were built as symbols of power and prestige as well as for defense. This model art piece embodies many of the essential features of Han architecture: the overhanging tiles supported by the roof, the four sided style infrastructure and the stacking effect. In many ways, this specific model, less a few details, is reminiscent of the temple building the class visited for the lecture on Buddhism. In relation to our studies, a great variety of these architectural models were used in the decoration of the tomb in the Han era to show the status of the person being buried. Object: Spouted ritual wine vessel (guang), Shang dynasty, early Anyang period (ca. 1300–1050 b. c. ), 13th century b. c. Origin: Possibly Anyang, Henan Province, China Material: Bronze Size: W. 13 in. (33 cm) This artifact, a bronze casted vessel, dates back to the late Shang era (ca. 1300–1050 B. C. ). The shape of the wine vessel is said to be loosely based on a figure of a bird; this is identifiable through the hooked beak feature and glaring eyes effect from the face on view. As we have studied, the Shang people had many beliefs about the spiritual world. This vessel is believed to have been used to pour wine and other beverages in ceremonies involving Shang ruler and their ancestors and supernatural forces. Other feature on the vessel includes coiled serpents emerging from the wings, roaring tiger-dragons prowling along the sides, horned bird that serves as a handle. This existence an artifact of this age gives us insights into the superior technology of casting in ancient China. The complicated multilayered designs are unparalleled by other cultures of the time. It is believed that the technique used for this the bronze casting is through a ceramic mold and the usage of an interior clay core. Motel bronze is then poured into filled the empty space between the intricate design and the core. Once the clay core was emptied out, the result is the astonishing bronzed vessel with complex designed as described. Again, such artifacts can be used to validate the hypotheses and speculations about the technologies and lifestyle during an ancient civilization like the Shang.

Essay --

Sena Jeter Naslund’s life and her success as an author. Mrs. Naslund was born Sena Kathryn Jeter was born and raised in Birmingham Alabama. While growing up Naslund was captivated by books. These books sparked her to start creative writing on her own. She was expected into one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in the nation. There she earned masters and Ph.D. in creative writing and literature. Naslund served as the director of the university for twelve years and has been a visiting professor at several other colleges thought the years. The first publication of her work was publicized in nineteen-seventy two, the book â€Å"Julius Geissler†. She later published five novels and two short stories. Sena Kathryn Jeter was born June twenty eight nineteen forty- two. She was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Sena Jeter attended Phillips High School. She begins writing at the young age of nine. Her first short story was published in her school newspaper. However, writing is not but one of her many talents, she also played the cello in Birmingham Youth and Alabama pops orchestras. The University of Alabama offered her scholarships for music. Sena declined there offer because she felt writing was her true talent. After declining the University of Alabama she applied to the Birmingham Southern College. Sena accomplished a bachelor’s degree, while attending Birmingham-Southern College. To further her education as a grad student Sena applied to the University of Iowa’s Iowa Writers Workshop. This being one of the nation’s most prestigious creative writing programs. During her stay at the University of Iowa Sena Earned a Masters and a PH.D in creative writing and literature in nineteen seventy-one. Sena Jeter had a few... ...imate and epic. Being from the south widely influences the way that Naslund writes. Some of her other writings include† Abundance† A novel of Marie Antoinette written in two thousand six and Adam and Eve written in two thousand ten. Naslund now lives in Louisiana with her husband John C. Morrison. However she keeps close ties to her home state of Alabama. She was recognized by the Alabama State Council of Arts, who presented her with the Governor’s Arts Award in two thousand eleven. Naslund is currently professor and writer at the University of Louisville and the Director of Spalding University master of the fine arts program in creative writing. She also continues to work for the Louisville Review and the Fleur-de-Lis-Press. Sena Jeter Naslund defiantly has an all-around passion for writing. Maybe that is the reason her novels are all most impossible to put down. Essay -- Sena Jeter Naslund’s life and her success as an author. Mrs. Naslund was born Sena Kathryn Jeter was born and raised in Birmingham Alabama. While growing up Naslund was captivated by books. These books sparked her to start creative writing on her own. She was expected into one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in the nation. There she earned masters and Ph.D. in creative writing and literature. Naslund served as the director of the university for twelve years and has been a visiting professor at several other colleges thought the years. The first publication of her work was publicized in nineteen-seventy two, the book â€Å"Julius Geissler†. She later published five novels and two short stories. Sena Kathryn Jeter was born June twenty eight nineteen forty- two. She was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Sena Jeter attended Phillips High School. She begins writing at the young age of nine. Her first short story was published in her school newspaper. However, writing is not but one of her many talents, she also played the cello in Birmingham Youth and Alabama pops orchestras. The University of Alabama offered her scholarships for music. Sena declined there offer because she felt writing was her true talent. After declining the University of Alabama she applied to the Birmingham Southern College. Sena accomplished a bachelor’s degree, while attending Birmingham-Southern College. To further her education as a grad student Sena applied to the University of Iowa’s Iowa Writers Workshop. This being one of the nation’s most prestigious creative writing programs. During her stay at the University of Iowa Sena Earned a Masters and a PH.D in creative writing and literature in nineteen seventy-one. Sena Jeter had a few... ...imate and epic. Being from the south widely influences the way that Naslund writes. Some of her other writings include† Abundance† A novel of Marie Antoinette written in two thousand six and Adam and Eve written in two thousand ten. Naslund now lives in Louisiana with her husband John C. Morrison. However she keeps close ties to her home state of Alabama. She was recognized by the Alabama State Council of Arts, who presented her with the Governor’s Arts Award in two thousand eleven. Naslund is currently professor and writer at the University of Louisville and the Director of Spalding University master of the fine arts program in creative writing. She also continues to work for the Louisville Review and the Fleur-de-Lis-Press. Sena Jeter Naslund defiantly has an all-around passion for writing. Maybe that is the reason her novels are all most impossible to put down.

A Thai Learner in the Learning Context Essay

1. Introduction The Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA), offered by the University of Cambridge (ESOL Examinations), is run in over 120 centers around the world and it is considered by many authorities as the most important form of training in the TELF (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) industry. Between 30th of August and 24th of September 2004 I attended the Cambridge CELTA course at English and Computer College (ECC) from Bangkok. Cambridge ESOL is a not-for-profit department of the University of Cambridge. It is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group, Europe’s largest assessment agency. Cambridge Assessment was established in 1858 as the University of Cambridge local Examinations Syndicate (UCLESS). Cambridge ESOL provides exams and tests covering a large range of subjects and levels with more than 8 million assessments taken every year in over 150 countries. English and Computer College was established in 1990 and is the largest private language school from Thailand, with more than 50 branches spread all over the country. It runs a wide variety of courses from general conversation and grammar to specialized test preparation. It also provides pre-service and in-service teacher training programs for native and non-native speakers of English. During the CELTA course that I attended, the trainers exposed the students (most of them teachers of English themselves) to the principles of effective teaching while the students acquired a range of practical skills for teaching English to adult learners. The course included theory sessions, teaching practice with real students, observation of experienced teachers and completion of a range of practically focused written assignments. The present paper was built upon one of these assignments. It is a case study of a Thai young woman who was a student in my CELTA teaching practice lessons. The paper focuses on the learner in the learning context and identifies specific problems and recommends ways of dealing with the language problems that the interviewed student encountered . The paper ends with the rationale  for the recommended activities and an overall conclusion. 2. Profile of the learner The student I chose to observe and interview was Miss P.R. Her nickname is Nun, and she comes from Thailand. She was 24 years old at the time of the interview in 2004 and graduated from Busayarat Commercial School from Bangkok, with a degree in Computers in 1998. She had been studying English ever since primary school, when she was taught the basics of the English language. In high school, her English teachers focused mainly on vocabulary work, and during her university studies she had a few classes of English every week. She had been studying English by herself and had taken different language courses intensively since 2003. She joined the CELTA English classes at English Computer College in Bangkok on the 30th of August 2004. She attended all the classes, joining her 15 classmates five times a week. Miss P.R. had an outgoing personality. She was always willing to take part in the activities that the teachers prepared for the CELTA English lesson at ECC. The materials used by the teachers during the lessons varied, ranging from visual aids to worksheets, tape recorders, books, and game boards. Each lesson she took part in different writing, reading, listening, or speaking activities, but she also played fun games. When asked, she said that she believed the focus of the English lessons was mainly on speaking skills. She considered the lessons at ECC relaxed, and the students had and wanted to have a lot of fun. She felt that the foreign teachers were friendly and that they all had interesting personalities, which were reflected in their teaching styles. She noticed that the teachers have different accents too. She confessed that some of the teachers talked too fast, and sometimes she had to translate or explain the activities to her classmates. In her opinion, a good teacher should be kind and listen to all the students in the class. She would like teachers to pay more attention to the weak students and have in mind the fact that Thai students are shy and do not like to express their personal feelings. She thought it was a good idea for the teachers to  ³force them [the students] to speak ´ if they [the students] were reluctant to speak up in English. One of the main reasons why she was so outspoken was the fact that she had the chance to speak English outside the classroom with other foreigners too. Her educational background and her motivation were also important factors that built up her confidence. 3. Specific problems Her nationality was also important in her English learning context due to the fact that Thais have a specific mind set regarding languages. During my observations and interview I had noticed that she made frequent mistakes in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary.

Customer Service Plan Essay

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), founded in 1887, is one of the world’s foremost medical research centers, and the Federal focal point for medical research in the United States. 26 Institutes and Centers comprise the NIH, which has the primary research goal of acquiring new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. In 1993, President William J. Clinton issued Executive Order 12862 challenging Federal agencies to improve customer service. Further, Executive Order 12862 tasked agencies to survey their customers to identify what kinds of services they really want and to gather ideas from front-line employees on how to better deliver those services. The goal of this Customer Service Plan is to convey to you, the customer, a realistic, achievable approach for improving customer service at the National Institutes of Health. NIH is committed to improving the way it offers high quality services that are easily accessible to every American citizen. With this in mind, this Customer Service Plan is organized for your convenience. Customers may look at Attachment 1 to find some examples of activities going on at NIH that are organized by customer groups, consumers, health professionals, other governmental agencies, and grantee organizations. We want the plan to be as user-friendly as possible, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. Read more: Essay on  Present Proposals for Improvements to Customer Service ________________________________________ EXECUTIVE ORDER Executive Order 12862, â€Å"Setting Customer Service Standards† requires Federal agencies to: †¢Identify customers who are, or should be, served by the agency; †¢Survey customers to determine the kind and quality of services they want and their level of satisfaction with existing services; †¢Post service standards and measure results against them; †¢Benchmark customer service performance against the best in business; †¢Survey front-line employees on barriers to, and ideas for, matching the best in business; †¢Provide customers with choices in both the sources of service and the means of delivery; †¢Make information, services, and feedback systems  easily accessible; †¢Provide means to address customer feedback; and, †¢Provide feedback to our customers on what improvements we have made. [ Return to Menu ] ________________________________________ PRINCIPLES This Customer Service Plan is based on ideas, suggestions, and feedback received from our customers as well as an extensive best practices search. It defines our customer service standards and processes for building and maintaining high quality services to meet those standards throughout the country. The following principles drove the process for developing the plan: Customers Know What They Want – Rather than sitting back and assuming that we know what customers wanted and needed, our agency is going out and asking. Through formal surveys, focus groups, and conversations, we are listening to what our customers think about the types and quality of services and products we offer. What we learn is helping to shape the ways in which we strive to redirect our services to ensure that we continuously improve our ability to meet your needs. Customer’s Needs Are Paramount – Based on feedback from our customers, NIH must respond to comments and suggestions about improving the way we deliver products and services. Communication Is Key to Our Success – Developing effective tools to maintain lines of communication with our customers will help us do our jobs better. By developing more effective ways to direct information to our customers and by providing clearer paths to receive feedback, our agency will better address customer needs and concerns. [ Return to Menu ] ________________________________________ APPROACH/SCOPE NIH is diligently working to address the spirit of Executive Order 12862. A dedicated group of representatives from across the agency is convening to form an on-going Customer Service Management group to implement the customer service program and to ensure that the agency enhances its customer focus as it improves current services and develops new initiatives. The agency has gathered information from customer service surveys, focus groups with  front-line staff, and conversations with key external partners, to ensure that initiatives address issues important to our customers. This plan presents an opportunity to share with our customers our commitment to providing quality service. NIH is committed to protecting, promoting, and enhancing the health of the American people and to improving its processes to offer high quality services that are easily accessible to the public. The Customer Service Plan establishes a broad framework to address customer issues. The customer service standards address issues our customers have told us are important to them. The primary focus of this document is to ensure that we are continuously listening to our customers and making certain that their needs are being met or exceeded. While the focus is on our outside customers, it does not diminish the need to ensure that our internal NIH customer needs are also being met. It is imperative that an integrated view of all our customers’ needs be pursued in order to ensure that the needs of our entire customer population are met. If we do not provide outstanding service to our internal customers, we will be unable to provide outstanding support to our external customers. [ Return to Menu ] ________________________________________ OUR CUSTOMERS The NIH serves four primary external customer groups–the general public, health professionals, other governmental agencies, and grantee/contractor organizations. These four broad categories encompass the populations that we serve and work with most often. When the agency embarked on this process, we felt it was necessary to define and limit our primary groups. As we continue with our customer service initiatives, we may include additional customer groups. [ Return to Menu ] ________________________________________ STANDARDS The standards described in this report represent the NIH effort to identify the needs and concerns of our customers and to establish measurable processes to address these needs and concerns. The standards have been  developed from information gathered from surveys/focus groups, and benchmarking with other outstanding organizations and are based on measured performance attributes – a set of criteria that expresses customer requirements and expectations. Performance attributes are organized into two categories. 1.Process attributes — transaction-related characteristics represented by internal operations, such as procedures, policies, and functions – the primary focus is continuously improving our internal operations so we can deliver our products and services quicker, better and cheaper; and 2.Quality attributes — image-related characteristics that describe the contact between the customer and the organization. The overall standard of quality we seek is customer service for the American people that is equal to or better than the best in business. The following attributes were used to develop the standards: Process Attributes †¢Consistency in policies and procedures – holding to the same principles across the organization †¢Convenient feedback mechanisms – feedback that are easy to use and access †¢Frequent communication – including follow-up – any form of communication on a regular basis, where taking action following that communication enhances the effectiveness of that communication †¢Managing resources well – careful control and use of resources, human as well as fiscal, to maximize their impact and effectiveness †¢Problem solving and attempts to remove barriers – proposed solutions or considerations to resolve something that is an obstruction or prevents progress †¢Prompt handling of customer feedback – immediate or quick management of customer dissatisfaction by empowering employees to fix problems †¢Flexible options – sending and receiving information using a variety of methods, including greater use of e-commerce solutions †¢Continuous Improvement – striving to do everything quicker, better and cheaper Quality Attributes †¢Accessible – ability or freedom to approach, communicate with, or make use of †¢Courteous – respect or consideration  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢Flexible – capability to adapt to or change requirements †¢Knowledgeable – familiarity with or understanding of facts and/or conditions †¢Listens well  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ gives attention and/or careful consideration to what is said †¢Reliable and Trustworthy – dependable, confidence in character, abilities, and truth †¢Timely – information and/or responses are provided early or on time [ Return to Menu ] ________________________________________ AGENCY-WIDE STANDARDS The following standards apply to all customer groups. All NIH Customers are entitled to: †¢fair, courteous and professional treatment †¢information that is accurate and current †¢timely responses to requests †¢reasonable access to appropriate staff †¢two-way communication †¢opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, as appropriate and †¢consideration of their opinions and concerns by the agency in the decision making process †¢use of plain language for all communication with the public (Attachment 2) In addition: †¢The General Public is entitled to accurate and timely health information about research being conducted. †¢Health Professionals are entitled to timely information that will assist them in advancing and protecting the public health. †¢Other Government Agencies are entitled to: ocooperation from the NIH in maximizing efficient use of resources, eliminating duplication of efforts and carrying out collaborative efforts; otechnical assistance, training and guidance †¢Grantee/Contractor Organizations are entitled to: otimely review of applications and awards; oprofessional treatment in resolving disputes; ofair application of laws, regulations and policies; ofair and consistent application reviews; orespect in the performance of duties and responsibilities; and otimely payment. [ Return to Menu ] ________________________________________ FUTURE EFFORTS NIH will continue to embark on a variety of initiatives to ensure that it continues to address customer needs. The on-going Customer Service Management group will coordinate these activities. Ensuring that quality service is provided is an on-going process that requires changes in the way we do business by increasing emphasis on listening to our customers and by learning from the best in private industry. The agency will strive to reinvent itself — to become more efficient and effective–and to provide the types of services the public expects. Over the coming months, the agency will: †¢develop programs and initiatives that address customer needs. The agency, as a whole, and the individual centers and institutes will use the information gathered from the survey and focus groups to develop and enhance services. †¢benchmark against the best-in-the-business. The agency will determine what internal processes need to be improved, benchmark with leading industries, and establish performance standards. †¢establish processes to improve customer feedback. Systems will be established to receive and address customer suggestions and feedback.

LSD and its Effects essays

LSD and its Effects essays LSD is a hallucinogen. In fact, it is the most potent hallucinogen known to man. LSD is 100 times more potent than psilocybin or psylicin and is 4000 times more potent than mescaline. It was synthesized in 1938 by a chemist who worked in Switzerland. There were no benefits for this drug that were found, so its study was discontinued. Interest in the drug rose when it was thought that it might be a possible treatment for schizophrenia. In the 1960s-1970s hippies started to use the drug. It was their psychedelic drug of choice. Hippies could believe that they were flying without leaving the ground. This drug was used a lot until a lot of publicity about "bad trips" came out. A bad trip is a trauma associated with a LSD high. LSD has remained popular with high school students, college students and young adults. LSD is also important to the fans of rock bands, like the Grateful Dead. LSD comes in the form of tablets, small paper squares, powder, crystal, liquid and capsule. More than 200 types of LSD tablets have been found since 1975. There are more than 80 street names for LSD like acid, blotter, cid, doses and trips. It is a cheap drug (about $2-$5 a dosage). It is popular mainly because it is cheap, easy to get and "expands" the mind. LSD is a very unpredictable drug. LSD gives the user rapid mood swings. The user gets a feeling that they are in another world. They get a feeling of euphoria. The effects last for up to 12 hours. LSD increases body temperature, increases heart rate and dilates the pupils. the entire brain is functioning or "moving" at a faster rate than normal- it is processing information very fast. yet the outside information is not coming in any faster than usual, because the optical receptors are not set up to do so. this information is generally sent in pulses, short electrochemical packets or frames of info. the eyes and the optic nerves ...

The Best Small Colleges in the United States

The Best Small Colleges in the United States SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re interested in attending a small college, you may be wondering which schools offer the most rigorous academic experience combined with the best quality of life. In this article, I’ll give you a list of the best small colleges in the nation based on student reviews and academic ratings. What Is a Small College? For the purposes of this article, I’ll define â€Å"small† colleges as colleges with undergraduate student enrollments below 5,000.These colleges are characterized by small class sizes, close student communities, and professors who engage directly with students.Attending a small college is sort of like being a part of a big family that's brought together through shared experiences and pride in the school.You can expect to see familiar faces everywhere you go and will most likely have many opportunities to take on leadership positions and get involved in campus culture. What Do I Mean By the â€Å"Best† Small Colleges? To make a decision about which small colleges are the best in the nation, I used the information available in the 2015 Fiske Guide to Colleges as well as college rankings from Forbes and US News.I paid particular attention to overall ratings for academics, social scene, and quality of life.In the Fiske Guide to Colleges, all of these schoolswere rated at least 4.5/5 for academics. I considered the academic ratings the most strongly, but I also took the other ratings into account to choose the colleges with the best overall student experiences.I tried to pick colleges that were among the best in the country for academics but also had thriving social scenes and happy, engaged students. All of these schools have excellent programs for undergraduate teaching with small classes and hands-on professors who are dedicated to the success of their students.They also have highly intellectual students who are passionate about learning and making positive changes in the campus community and the world at large.These are schools you should attend if you want to be motivated and challenged by your professors and fellow students in a close-knit, constantly evolving community. Lists of the Best Small Colleges in the US First, I'll go through a list of the top ten best small colleges overall. Then I'll give you lists of the best small women's colleges and engineering colleges.I’ll provide statistics below each of the schools to get you started in finding out more about them.If you want to do further research on these schools, check out my article on the best websites for conducting your college search.I’d recommend using a college matching-making site called Cappex to start compiling a list of colleges and comparing data between different schools. The Top Ten Best Small Colleges 1. Williams College- Williamstown, MA Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,011Acceptance Rate: 17%Location: Small Town Students say: Most people are â€Å"athletic, well-rounded, driven, friendly, and liberal.† â€Å"Professors insist on having a personal connection with the students and always help if needed. The quality of teaching is excellent.† â€Å"Williams students are amazing. I know people who can readHarry Potterin Latin, translate rap songs into Arabic, and sight-read ‘Rocket Man’ perfectly on the piano.† 2. Pomona College- Claremont, CA Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,579Acceptance Rate: 13%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"Pomona professors are bright, enthusiastic, and highly respected leaders in their fields.† â€Å"Pomona offers a unique and desirable juxtaposition of rigorous academics and comfortable social atmosphere.† â€Å"I appreciate the diversity and depth that the five-college community brings to the social life.† Note: Pomona is one of the Claremont Colleges, a system of five colleges in Claremont, CA that also includes two other schools on these lists: Claremont-McKenna College and Harvey Mudd College. 3. Amherst College - Amherst, MA Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,817Acceptance Rate: 13%Location: Small Town Students say: â€Å"Amherst students are always doing extraordinary things: academically, athletically, artistically, and for the benefit of the world.† â€Å"If your education is really your first priority, then I don’t think there’s a better school.† Amherst is made up of â€Å"some of the kindest and most laid-back people I can imagine.† 4. Swarthmore College- Swarthmore, PA Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,532Admissions Rate: 14%Location: City Outskirts Students say: â€Å"Swat is a truly intellectual place where people love idea with all of their hearts, but that doesn’t prevent them from having an eye for activism and a knack for partying hard.† â€Å"You will often see students reminding each other of assignments, giving each other tips on how to succeed, and studying in the library together.† â€Å"Each of us in our own way has found a place where our passionate, geekiest interests are validated, appreciated, and celebrated by our fellow Swatties.† 5. Wellesley College- Wellesley, MA Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,352Acceptance Rate: 30%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"Students here are conscientious workers with a history of high achievement. They expect a lot of themselves.† â€Å"It’s a wonderful place to grow as individuals, as students, and as women.† â€Å"It’s hard to say which department is the best because I believe that each department has a lot to offer.† 6. Bowdoin College- Brunswick, ME Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,830Acceptance Rate: 16%Location: Suburban Students Say: â€Å"If you’re passionate about anything, Bowdoin provides you with the resources to explore those passions.† â€Å"Being able to make friends with my professors is something I’ll treasure forever.† 7. Claremont-McKenna College- Claremont, CA Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,250Acceptance Rate: 14%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"CMC provides students with a pragmatic liberal arts education that will prepare them for grad school and a career; it’s a great place to spend four years.† â€Å"There are very difficult courses that will push you to the brink of your comfort zone in every major.† â€Å"CMC’s campus is often the center of the social life for all of the Claremont Colleges - there are always parties, club events, barbecues, movie screenings, and other events.† 8. Haverford College- Haverford, PA Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,205Acceptance Rate: 23%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"Nearly all students who come here share common values of trust, concern, and respect for others as well as academic integrity.† â€Å"Haverford offers an opportunity to work hard, be trusted, and learn about issues, while still feeling comfortable.† â€Å"The professors are only here for us. They really enjoy teaching as well as involving us in research.† 9. Carleton College- Northfield, MN Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,035Acceptance Rate: 26%Location: Small Town Students say: â€Å"Our profs are incredible. The instruction we receive is available not just in the classroom but during office hours, phone calls, Skype sessions, and many other modes of communication.† â€Å"Students are ambitions, aware, and ready to ‘save the world’† â€Å"At Carleton, everyone is a bit nerdy and everyone is free to be whomever they want.† 10. Middlebury College- Middlebury, VT Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,516Acceptance Rate: 17%Location: Rural Students say: â€Å"We’re a small liberal arts college [that is] big on individuality and character.† â€Å"The quality of teaching is excellent, and I would say it is the absolute best part of Middlebury. All classes are taught by professors, most are relatively small, and discussions are generally encouraged.† Best Small Women’s Colleges 1. Wellesley College - Wellesley, MA (see #5 in top ten small colleges overall) 2. Smith College - Northampton, MA Undergraduate Enrollment: 2, 643Acceptance Rate: 42%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"Smith has an open curriculum, a great college town, and a very strong science program.† â€Å"My professors have all been accessible and supportive as well as open-minded and articulate.† It’s a â€Å"community of close, intelligent, interesting, and compassionate women.† 3. Barnard College - New York, NY Undergraduate Enrollment: 2,466Acceptance Rate: 23%Location: City Center Students say: â€Å"Barnard is a rigorous yet nurturing environment† â€Å"The quality of teaching here is unparalleled; one of my professors arguably founded the field I’m studying.† â€Å"Although the students here are really intelligent, they are also really down to earth, and are supported by each other and the academic community.† 4. Bryn Mawr College - Bryn Mawr, PA Undergraduate Enrollment: 1,305Acceptance Rate: 41%Location: City Outskirts Students Say: â€Å"Bryn Mawr is a place where you will figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life.† â€Å"Professors really want to get to know you and to expand your horizons.† â€Å"When you are surrounded by strong, talented, driven women who respect you, it inspires you to be like them.† Best Small Colleges for Engineering 1. California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA Undergraduate Enrollment: 997Acceptance Rate: 12%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"The atmosphere promotes a love of science, learning, and discovery that is truly exhilarating.† â€Å"The unique student body, how available professors are, and how much we learn make Caltech a special place.† However, social life is a little grim (don’t go here if you’re looking to party): â€Å"Ask any local bartender for a Caltech Cocktail and you will get three ounces of straight water.† 2. Harvey Mudd - Claremont, CA Undergraduate Enrollment: 782Acceptance Rate: 19%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"The professors truly care about the students’ well-being. They put in countless hours to help us get the most out of our experience.† â€Å"Every student at Mudd brings something different to the table.† â€Å"HMC is one of the most rigorous science schools around, but the thing that makes it special is that it develops you as an entire person.† 3. Rice University - Houston, TX Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,848Acceptance Rate: 17%Location: City Outskirts Students say: â€Å"Students here are very self-motivated. Classes are hard.† â€Å"Rice puts a lot of trust and responsibility on students. It’s a very maturing experience.† â€Å"We have been challenged to think creatively and apply principles.† 4. Olin College of Engineering - Needham, MA Undergraduate Enrollment: 342Acceptance Rate: 19%Location: Suburban Students say: â€Å"Olin professors are amazing. They take the time to get to know their students individually and never fail to provide academic or personal advice.† â€Å"Students who are passionate about things and excited about engineering would do well here.† Olin aims to produce students who can â€Å"come up with innovative ideas and products.† What's Next? Even if you've settled on attending a small college, you may still be unsure where you want to be in terms of location. Read this article for advice on deciding whether a college close to home is the right choice for you. If you're interested in very selective colleges, you should take a look at this guide on how to get into the Ivy League and other super competitive schools. Not sure where to begin in the college search process? Read my guide on how to choose the best college for you. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Program Budget Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Program Budget - Coursework Example The mission of the waste recycling unit is to be the leader in reducing the amount of waste that is disposed of in our landfill and other waste disposal facilities and to ensure that the environmental effects of waste disposal, treatment and storage are minimized. The mission of the waste treatment unit is to treat hazardous industrial and chemical waste in a way that is not harmful to the environment and in accordance with regulations. The waste treatment unit also seeks to ensure that employees are properly trained and compensated to carry out their functions efficiently and effectively. The mission of the waste disposal unit is to be a leader in ensuring the safe disposal of solid and liquid industrial and domestic waste in such a way that the all environmental laws and regulations are adhered to. The budget for the three service units is presented in a tabular format below in the Appendix. It shows the amount spent on employing people to carry out the duties mentioned. The budget shows that of the total projected expenditure of $1,922,000 budgeted, 23.52% will be spent on waste recycling service, 29.04% on waste treatment service and 47.44% on waste disposal service. In order to ensure quality service it is important to have measures for assessing performance. In assessing performance measures for each service, it is necessary to consideration the achievement of their goals. Therefore, the measures will be based on measurable goals and objectives. Performance measures for each department are as follows. The measurable goals of the recycling unit are to realize a profit margin of 40% and to increase revenue by 20% per year. These measures will determine if the service unit has achieved its measurable goals. Repeat customers can also be used to determine service quality as well as prompt request for service. The achievement of the units vision of reducing GHG’s from recyclable waste is possible. The measurable goals of the waste