Monday, August 24, 2020
Learn About Where Polar Bears Live
Find out About Where Polar Bears Live Polar bears are the biggest bear species. They can develop to from 8 feet to 11 feet tall and around 8 feet in length, and they can say something somewhere in the range of 500 pounds to 1,700 pounds. They are anything but difficult to perceive because of their white coat and dull eyes and nose. You may have seen polar bears in zoos, however do you know where these notable marine warm blooded creatures live in nature? Knowing can assist us with helping this compromised species endure. There are 19 unique populaces of polar bears, and all live in the Arctic locale. This is the region that is north of the Arctic Circle, which lies at 66 degrees, 32 minutes North scope. Where to Go If Youre Hoping to See a Polar Bear in the Wild US (Alaska)Canada, including the areas and domains of Manitoba, Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, Ontario, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon Territory)Greenland/DenmarkNorwayRussian Federation Polar bears are local to the nations above and every so often are found in Iceland. A polar bear extend map from the IUCN can be believed to see populaces. You can see live film of polar bears in Manitoba. In the event that you need to see a polar bear in a totally non-local area, you can look at the polar bear camera from the San Diego Zoo. Why Polar Bears Live in Such Cold Areas Polar bears are fit to cold regions since they have thick hide and a layer of fat that is 2 creeps to 4 inches thick that keeps them warm in spite of the sub zero temperatures. Yet, the primary explanation they live in these chilly zones is that that is the place theirâ preyâ resides. Polar bears feed on ice-cherishing species, for example, seals (ringed and unshaven seals are their top choices), and now and again walruses and whales. They tail their prey by standing by persistently close to gaps in the ice. This is the place the seals surface, and along these lines where the polar bears can chase. In some cases they swim beneath the ice to chase, legitimately in the freezing water. They can invest energy in land and not simply on ice banks, insofar as there is access to food. They can likewise track down where seal lairs are for another way to discover food. They need the fat from the seals to endure and incline toward these kinds of high-fat animals. The scope of polar bears is restricted by the southern degree of ocean ice. This is the reason we regularly find out about their natural surroundings being undermined; less ice, less places to flourish. Ice is fundamental for the endurance of polar bears. They are an animal varieties that is undermined by a dangerous atmospheric devation. You can help polar bears in little manners by lessening your carbon impression with exercises, for example, strolling, riding a bicycle or utilizing open transportation as opposed to driving; consolidating tasks so you utilize your vehicle less; monitoring vitality and water, and purchasing things locally to eliminate the natural effects of transportation.
Saturday, August 22, 2020
The Killer Angels
The Killer Angels is a novel about the Civil War. All the more precisely it is about the Gettysburg Campaign that switched things around of war in the kindness of the Union. This book isn't just about the strategic parts of the fight yet it additionally gives an individual record of the many key players. Extraordinary men like General Robert E. Lee, General Longstreet, General Pickett, General Buford, and Col. Joshua L. Chamberlain are included. The story starts on Monday 29 June 1863. General Longstreet recruited a covert agent to investigate the Union Army in light of the fact that J.E.B. Stuarts Cavalry had not been gotten notification from in a long while. The government agent educates Longstreet concerning the quality of the Union Army and that they are taken to remove the Confederate Army so as to keep them from attacking the North. Longstreet takes this data to General Lee and he reasons that the two Armies will meet at a town called Gettysburg. This book at that point goes into everything that paves the way to the primary day of fight on Wednesday, July 1, 1863. It goes on to how General Bufords Cavalry experienced the lead components of the Army of Northern Virginia and is compelled to shield the high ground on Cemetery Ridge, only outside of the town, until the primary body of the Army of the Potomac can contact him. He holds until Wednesday, July 1, 1863 when the lead components of the Union Army at long last come up and ease him. The Union Army prevails with regards to holding the high ground and as dusks on the primary day they start diving in. Col. Joshua Chamberlain is the Commanding Officer of the Twentieth Maine, which is a piece of the Fifth Corps, in the Union Army. His Regiment is raised on the main day of fight however doesn't get included until the following day. On the second day of fight he is given the crucial ensuring the whole Union Armies left flank. His Regiment is taken to a slope considered Little Round Top that is south of Cemetery Ridge where the primary body of the
Monday, July 20, 2020
Career Quiz Which Career Fits Your Passion and Interests
Career Quiz Which Career Fits Your Passion and Interests More than once or twice, while you were randomly browsing, clicking and surfing on the internet, you may have stumbled on a quiz that suddenly asks you all sorts of questions about your education, passion, interest, and even work experiences.After you have answered the questions, you may be directed to a page telling you what kind of job would be ideal for you.Congratulations, you have just taken a career quiz, probably one of the many quizzes of its sort online, claiming to be able to give you a bit of enlightenment of what career path you should take.You may have taken it seriously, or you may have simply read it, thought âOh, I seeâ, then promptly closed the tab or the window, never to think about it again. © Shutterstock.com | wavebreakmediaIn this guide, we explore what career quizzes are and what they can do for you. We also provide you with a list of online career quizzes you can take to find the best suitable career for yourself.CAREER QUIZZES â" WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY WORKA career quiz is exactly what the phrase means: it is a quiz or, often, a survey, that is used to assess the personality of an individual, including his skills, interests and passions, and point them in the right direction on what career choice to make, or which career path to take.Career quizzes can be likened to career interest surveys, but they are crafted or structured in a more fun and flexible manner. The questions are more relatable, meaning that the respondent will find them easier, as they are more grounded in reality.Through a series of questions and statements, a picture of the person or individual may be conjured, using elements such as his skills, aptitudes, preferences, expectations, personali ties and interests. This picture will then be matched with possible career choices and possibilities.Who will benefit from career quizzes?Students that are trying to figure out what to major in college or university, or what job to do in the future in general;Individuals who are second-guessing their original choice of careers and are contemplating making a career change;Individuals who are still clueless on what they are good at, or what possible job or career will make them happy;Individuals who are unaware of their career possibilities available to them;Parents and career counselors that hope to influence and guide other people in choosing their career paths; andCorporations and organizations that want to maintain and sustain its human resource management programs. They also use career quizzes in their recruitment processes, to ensure that they recruit the best employees for their organization.WHAT CAREER QUIZZES CAN DO FOR YOUCareer quizzes can do for you what your usual survey software assessment tools and tests do, and even better.Career quizzes help jobseekers identify the types of work they the most like doing. There is a difference between the work that a person is doing, and the work that he likes doing, and also the work that he wants to do. By using a career quiz, he will be able to make the distinction among these three.Career quizzes will help jobseekers understand their passion and interests. Yes, these career quizzes may also serve as self-assessment tools. Through these quizzes, a jobseeker â" or any individual, not necessarily someone who is actively searching for a job â" may discover passions and interests that he was never aware of prior to taking the quiz. This will result in better and more informed decision-making on their career path.Career quizzes will aid jobseekers in finding a job that matches their passion and interests. Ultimately, this is what jobseekers would like to know: which job would be perfect for them and their skill s ets? Their passions and interests will have a strong influence on their potential for job satisfaction and consequently, success in work.However, there is one thing that you should beware of when using career quizzes. These quizzes are not supposed to decide what career path you should follow. They are only meant to be used as guides, providing you a hint or a clue of what possible line of work or career to pursue. They are meant to help you find direction, not bring you to the final destination.QUESTIONS ASKED IN CAREER QUIZZESSome of the questions asked in career quizzes may come across as ridiculous, and some of them may not even make any sense. However, they are being asked for a reason.There are career quizzes, like that of The Princeton Review, that utilizes a âone or the otherâ approach. The respondent will be given two statements from which to choose from, and the choices will allow estimation of his personal interests. There are 24 pairs of these statements in The Princ eton Reviewâs Career Quiz, with examples below:Question #1Choice 1: I would rather be a wildlife expertChoice 2: I would rather be a public relations professional.Question #4 Choice 1: I would rather be an auditor.Choice 2: I would rather be a musician.Question #7 Choice 1: I would rather be a bookkeeper.Choice 2: I would rather be an electrician.Question #8Choice 1: I would rather be a writer.Choice 2: I would rather be an elected official.Question #13Choice 1: I am usually patient when I have to wait on an appointment.Choice 2: I get restless when I have to wait on an appointment.Question #16 Choice 1: Itâs not really OK to argue with others even when you know youâre right.Choice 2: Itâs OK to argue with others when you know you are right.Question #19 Choice 1: It is easy to be outgoing and sociable at a party with strangers.Choice 2: It is hard to be outgoing and sociable at a party with strangers.Other career quizzes take on the multiple choice type. For every question, there are a corresponding number of possible answers to choose from, and the respondent need only pick one â" the closest one â" from the choices.In other quizzes, they follow a rating format, with the respondent having to choose from a given set of answers or choices. The O*NET Interest Profiler uses this format, providing five possible answers: Strongly Dislike, Dislike, Unsure, Like, and Strongly Like. Examples of the statements that the respondent must answer with his level of interest, using any of the five possible answers, are:Build kitchen cabinetsPlay a musical instrumentProofread records or formsRepair household appliancesDraw picturesOperate a calculatorAssemble electronic partsDo volunteer work at a non-profit organizationCalculate the wages of employeesTest the quality of parts before shipmentRecord rent paymentsWatch this interesting TED talk on finding a career youll love. ONLINE CAREER QUIZZES THAT YOU SHOULD TRYHere are some of the career quizzes o nline that you can try.The Princeton Review Career Quiz (Free)As described above, this quiz gives the respondent a choice between two options. The choices in the 24 sets of options will then be used to estimate the respondentâs âinterestâ, or the types of activities that he is drawn to, and his âstyleâ, or the strengths that the respondent can bring to a work environment when he is at his best.A respondent will be able to tell if his type is Expediting, Communicating, Planning and Administrating.Job Outlook Career Quiz (Free)This quiz is formulated by Job Outlook, an Australian government initiative, to help individuals identify the work they most like to do. There are 15 questions, with each question listing six tasks. The respondent will be asked to select among the six the one task that they enjoy doing the most. The choice will be used to evaluate the occupations that the respondent will most likely be good at, or enjoy doing.The respondent will be rated on his Practic al, Technical, Creative, Administrative, Helping, and People skills. Each skill has corresponding work interest groups where the respondent can see his career possibilities.My Next Moveâs O*NET Interest Profiler (Free)This basically âprofilesâ the interests of the respondent, helping him find out what his interests are, and how these interests relate to the world of work. People who have no clear idea what they like to do will be able to learn them through this quiz. It will also help them decide what kind of career he should pursue.First, the respondent will be presented with 60 questions about work activities, which they will answer by deciding how they feel about each activity: Strongly Dislike, Dislike, Unsure, Like and Strongly Like. Basically, he will only have to decide whether he likes the activity or not.The results will show the interests of the respondent, then he will also have to pick from among the five Job Zones, which pertain to the levels of experience, educat ion and training needed. These Job Zones are little or no job preparation, some job preparation, medium job preparation, high job preparation, and extensive job preparation. The respondent will then be given careers related to his interest profile in his chosen Job Zone.Career Strengths Test (Free)Developed and provided by the Johnson OâConnor Research Foundation for Oprah Winfrey, the Career Strengths Test is comprised of five aptitude tests. Respondents will take these aptitude tests, and see where they performed well, since it will be indicative of the career that might be an excellent or perfect fit for him and his abilities.The five aptitude tests are:Step by Step: This measures the ability of the individual to break down ideas into their most basic and understandable components.Three of a Kind: This measures a personâs inductive reasoning, or his ability to quickly discern a common element in a group or set of ideas that seem to be unrelated.Paper Folding: This measures th e ability of a person to picture three-dimensional objects in his mind.Number Series: This measures the numerical reasoning of the individual, or how he is able to decipher numerical patterns as well as concepts.What Comes to Mind? This measures the foresight of the person, or his ability to imagine possibilities, including anticipate problems or issues that may arise.Similar Minds Career Test (Free)This test first asks the respondentâs current or desired career before giving a list of statements (a total of 55 statement) that one will either agree or disagree with. There are five possible answers, ranging from Very Inaccurate to Very Accurate.The results will classify the respondent according to his personality type, with each type given a list of possible professions.Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (Free online version, or $49.95)This test, also known as MBTI, is an all-around personality test, but has also gained recognition as a good career quiz used by human resource managers, ca reer centers and recruitment agencies. It zeroes in on the personality of the individual, and points to the careers that are considered to be the most suitable match.The MBTI will also help the respondent gain an idea about his working preferences, how he will relate to other people in a work environment, and the type of workplace or work environment where he will be able to perform his best.SDS or Self-Directed Search ($9.95)John Holland theorized that there are six basic types or classifications that apply to people and working environments. They are known as RIASEC, or Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.This theory led him to develop the Self-Directed Search or SDS, which he described as a âcareer interest testâ that asks questions about an individualâs aspirations, activities, skills and interests in different jobs. Respondents of the quiz will be given a Summary Code, which will then be used to find the jobs, occupations and fields t hat are a match with their personality.Sokanu (Free version, or premium)Claiming to be the âworldâs best career testâ, this free platform features a 30-minute career test that supposedly measures an individualâs fit against more than 500 possible careers.Its system measures this so-called fitness in four different ways: your Interests (which is a major predictor of satisfaction), your Personality (the best predictor of job performance), the Workplace (a strong predictor of happiness in the workplace), and your History and Goals (which includes your experience, salary expectations and current status in life).Respondents have to sign up before they can be taken to their assessment questionnaire. They will then be matched with the careers and workplaces that are considered to be fit for them. Those who can afford to spend money for a Premium account will also be given a Personality Report, Career Report and Trait Report.The MAPP Career Assessment Test (Free sample, or paid pack ages)Developed in 1995, the MAPP Career Assessment Test is a 15-minute test with 71 sets of choices, with three items to choose from for each set. The respondent need only choose the one that they most prefer and the one they least prefer. The third will be left blank. After answering, the respondent will be given a sample MAPP assessment, and the top 10 general career matches. It will also allow the respondent to match himself to 5 careers and see live matching career in his area or location.The MAPP Assessment Test is free when you answer the initial assessment, but you may get the full package for close to $90. The full starter package consists of the MAPP Starter Assessment, the top 20 general career matches, and matching with 50 careers. Of course, it also offers Live Matching Careers in his area.The other two packages are:Career Starter Package ($119.95), with the following inclusions:MAPP Career Seeker AssessmentTop 20 general career matchesUnlimited matching to over 1000 car eersSee Live Matching Careers in the AreaMAPP Resume ContentExecutive Package ($149.95), with the following inclusions:30-page MAPP Executive AssessmentTop 20 general career matchesUnlimited matching to over 1000 careersSee Live Matching Careers in the AreaMAPP Resume ContentAll 1000+ careers ranked for the respondentBuzzfeedâs Career Test (Free)This âcasualâ and easy-does-it test asks the question âWhat Career Should You Actually Have?â Designed to be fun and even playful, it can be a good distraction, while still providing you valuable insight on the careers that will fit your skills and your preferences. Some questions ask what youâd spend your tax refund on, while another question lets you pick your favorite movie trilogy from a selection of trilogies. They may seem to be just for fun, but youâll be surprised at the insight that you will get from your answers.Again, it is important to reiterate that these quizzes are not conclusive. Just because it tells you that y our best career is to become an astronaut, it does not mean that you should automatically sign up for space classes (if there are any). They are supposed to serve as guides to point you in the right direction, or give you a nudge. You may need more self-assessment before you can finally decide on a career for you.
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Rape and Sexual Violence Essay - 963 Words
Rape and Sexual Violence Rape and sexual violence is a very serious problem that affects millions of people each year. Rape is someone taking advantage of another person sexually. Sexual assault can be verbal, physical, visual, or anything that forces a person to join in unwanted sexual contact or attention. (Sexual Assault.) Rape is one of the most underreported crimes. In 2002, only thirty-nine percent of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law officials. (Sexual Violence: Fact Sheet.) Victims sometimes do not report that they have raped because of shame or feeling that it was their fault. It is never the victims fault. Victim blaming is holding the victim of a crime to be in a whole or in partly responsible for what hadâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Women may also flirt with men but if later the women are victimized, that does no mean the rape was their fault because they were flirting. Just because the victim does not fight back does not mean they are giving their consent. It most likely is becaus e it might be the best way they can protect themselves from further injury. Consent is when a person says its permissible to have sex. They do not object to it so it is not considered rape. (Myths and Facts about Sexual Violence.) Some reasons that perpetrators rape or sexually abuse people is alcohol and drug use, sexual fantasies, hostility towards women, witnesses family violence as a child, or has a childhood history of sexual abuse. Perpetrators of sexual violence are at a high risk of committing the crime again. Most perpetrators of sexual violence are men. One hundred percent of rapes, ninety-two percent of assaults, and ninety-seven percent of stalking acts were by men. (Sexual Violence: Fact Sheet.) In a number of criminal cases, men convicted of rape were found to have given Rohypnol to their victims. (Carson-Dewitt.) Rohypnol is a drug that is used medically; however, it has become a widely abused drug in many countries including the United States. (Carson-Dewitt.) Rohypnol is known as the date rape drug and can be slipped into a victims drink unnoticed. (Carson-Dewitt.) When used properly, this drug is not dangerous, but illegal use can cause manyShow MoreRelatedThe Rape Of Sexual Violence1642 Words à |à 7 Pageswith me again,â⬠ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s not a rape if it happens after drinking or taking drugsâ⬠: these quotes about rape are few to the numerous myths that circulate society today. 1 out of every 6 American women has been sexually assaulted, yet this statistic is only from victims who come forward (Victims of Sexual Violence: Statisticsâ⬠). The problem in America today is the ââ¬Å"Rape Cultureâ⬠in which we live. A Rape Culture is defined as a ââ¬Å"rape prevalent society in which sexual violence is normalized and excused throughRead MoreRape- An Unwanted Sexual Violence1179 Words à |à 5 PagesRape ââ¬â An Unwanted Sexual Violence Sexual violence, especially rape, is a major emerging health related issue in the United States of America. According to the NISVS survey conducted by the CDC ââ¬â Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20 percent of the women and 1.5 percent of the men (in the U.S.) have been involved in rape cases at some times in the past, while about 50 percent of the women and 20 percent of the men have been victims of sexual violence (other than rape) at some pointRead MoreRape And Sexual Violence And Assault And Its Survivors Essay1192 Words à |à 5 Pagesfrom the literature review with focus on rape and sexual violence/assault and its survivors. Extensive literature search was conducted on relevant concepts that include the definition of rape, sexual violence and assault, consequences of rape and sexual violence/assault, provision of health services. The search looked at developed and developing countries as well as war stricken settings. Therefore, the aim was to understand the burden of rape and sexual violence, its consequences and provision of healthRead MoreAnalysis of Womenââ¬â¢s Rights: Rape and Sexual Violence Essay1013 Words à |à 5 Pagesobsolete in the era of never changing gendered hierarchy, where heartless militia have severed the line of innocence and consciousness for women worldwide; using them as scapegoats for their infantry. The victimization of these is rampant; the abuse and violence against their minds and bodies does not prove a victor of state but rather a violation of human life. Women own the right to their voice, to their ideas, and most importantly to their bodies; the detriment of such on behalf of patriarchal socialRead MoreIntroduction In this paper, I argue that while sexual violence is arguably the monopoly of men, it1000 Words à |à 4 PagesIntroduction In this paper, I argue that while sexual violence is arguably the monopoly of men, it is culturally cultivated rather than biologically determined. Consistent with the concept of Hegemonic Masculinity which theorises male domination of other males and subordination of females (Connell, 2005), I assert that rape is particularly rampant in societies where sexual violence is an effective means of attaining this status quo. Thus when rape is institutionalised in the context of war whereRead MoreGender Based Violence Against Women1238 Words à |à 5 PagesGENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIAââ¬â¢S RAPE PROBLEM Background When the sex of a girl or a woman drives the infliction of violence towards them, it is regarded as a form of gender based violence (Heise et al., 2002). Violence against women, regardless of the form, can occur in various stages of the womanââ¬â¢s life (Murthy and Smith, 2010), and refers not only to physical and sexual acts of violence, but also encompasses verbal abuse, emotional torture, economic deprivation, andRead MoreSexual Violence And Sex Violence960 Words à |à 4 Pagesare happening in today world about sexual violence and see how relates to me. This paper will allow me to have a better understand how society views sexual violence and what is being done about it. Though, there are many laws and regulations, having an understanding of how a victim is viewed in a justice system and how our culture has influenced sexual violence. Central Research Questions/Problems In this research paper, I will be looking about how sexual violence is portrayed through the lenses ofRead MoreThe Hidden Victims of Wartime Rape by Lara Stemple1094 Words à |à 4 Pagesreports of male rape in Congo has been made clear that wartime sexual violence is not limited to women and girls. As of now, the United Nation has the situation at hand and they overlook sexual assault of men and boy. Lara Stemple wants us to see the reason while sexual violence against men occasionally make the news. Sexual violence is ââ¬Ëany violence, whether physical and/or mental, carried out through sexual means or by targeting sexualityââ¬â¢ (Lewis, 2009). An example is the sexual abuse and humiliationRead MoreSexual Assault On College Campuses1381 Words à |à 6 Pages Sexual assault has been a huge issue for many years on college campuses and universities nation wide. As society has evolved, thoughts on sexual assault have also evolved, becoming more focused on the details of victim treatment than ever before. The topic of sexual assault is debatable and sparks many opinions on weather sexual assault on college campuses is becoming more frequent, or if there is just heightened awareness. Sexual assault can happen to anybody no matter the gender, race, religionRead MoreAn Anonymous Rape Survivor s Story1721 Words à |à 7 Pages ââ¬Å"It wasnââ¬â¢t rape you were being such a tease.â⬠ââ¬Å"NO I said. I covered my vagina with both of my hands and I said NO! I was with a close male friend and I thought I was safe. I thought I was safe when I went out drinking with said friend and I thought I was safe when we went to my place to ââ¬Å"hangout.â⬠This is an anonymous rape survivorââ¬â¢s story. These common occurrences affect a fair portion of the population in Missoula, in comparison to the national average, and something should be done. There is also
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Roots And Impacts Of Depression - 1120 Words
The Roots and Impacts of Depression Katherine L. Downey Jefferson Community and Technical College Abstract This paper breaks down depression in every aspect. It starts off discussing the biology of depression by showing what is actually happening on the inside of the body. Then moving on to the symptoms of depression and what a person with depression might be feeling. These symptoms can also help an outsider notice someone going through these stages of depression and get them help. There is also a section that directly discusses three main types of depression. While there are many forms of depression, knowing a few is very important and can be useful if they can be identified in real life. At the end of this paper, treatment plans areâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Any human, male or female, is prone to the disorder. Nearly one in five people experience a depressive episode at least once in their life. This paper breaks down depressionââ¬â¢s impact on the body, the symptoms, the different forms, and possible treatment for people with this disorder. Biology of Depression Studies have shown that three neurotransmitters, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine, can be associated with the cause and course of the depressive disorder. Even though research is still on going, the findings are still intriguing (El Mansari et al., 2010; Torrente, Gelenberg, Vrana, 2012). Depression also seems to be correlated with specific structural features in the brain (Andrus et al., 2012). People with the depressive disorder may have irregularities in certain areas of the brain, such as: the amygdala, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus. For example, some regions of the right cortex show significant thinning in people who face a high risk of developing major depressive disorder (Peterson et al., 2009). Otherwise, the depressive disorder most likely forms as a result from a complex interplay of many neural factors. The roots of depression have not been fully clarified yet, but frequent research is being done to understand what exactly is happening when the body i s undergoing depression. Symptoms Common symptoms of depression are: â⬠¢ Feeling sad or hopeless â⬠¢ Reduced pleasure in activities â⬠¢ Substantial loss or gain in
Electronics Laboratory Report. Free Essays
Laboratory Long report. Electronic laboratory practice Abstract: The aim of this laboratory was to make us familiar with how to use the different types of electronic equipment and how to accurately use them to make measurements. The equipment used in this laboratory included: (i) the signal generator which was used to supply the power used in the various procedures, (ii) The oscilloscope which was used to view and record the waves produced from the AC currents and then make relevant calculations based on that. We will write a custom essay sample on Electronics Laboratory Report. or any similar topic only for you Order Now iii) The DC power supply was used in the first two procedures which involved using the resistors. (iv) Familiarised with the multimeter and used it to take measurements (v) the experiment board which was used to do create most of the circuits and take the necessary measurements. Procedure 1: The measurement of resistance. The resistances of the 5k? and 22k? resistors were found using the theory and by taking the actual readings. The resistances of the resistors were first measured by comparing the colour bands on the resistors to the colour code chart provided. The procedure for this is: there are four bands on each of the resistors, and each colour on the band denotes a specific number on the resistor colour code chart, which gives us the significant figure and the multiplier which is in powers of 10. The values using the colour code were calculated and found to be as follows. * 5. 1k? with a à ±5% tolerance * 21k? with à ±10% tolerance. These nominal values are the ones that are calculated but in reality the actual values of resistance can be a bit different from the ones calculated due to impurities. The actual resistances are measured by using a multimeter, the way this is done is that the resistors are mounted on an experiment board and then the multimeter is connected right across it. The values were recorded and found to be as follows: * 5. 037k? * 21. 047k? | Nominal value| Actual value| 5k? resistor| 5. 1k? à ±5% tolerance| 5. 307k? | 22k? resistor| 21k? à ±10% tolerance| 21. 047k| In conclusion, it can be seen that there was a difference in the calculated nominal values of the resistors and the actual ones which were calculated. But they were still within their tolerance levels; there could be plenty of reasons for that which might include different types of batteries, differences in temperature of the room, impurities in different sections of the experiment board which might have affected the readings. ââ¬â¢ The tolerance level is defined as an allowable variation from a predefined standard. A value from an experiment or a variance is not considered significant unless it exceeds the limit set by the tolerance limit. ââ¬â¢ ââ¬â www. bridgefieldgroup. om/bridgefieldgroup/glos9. htm For this reason, we can assume these differences in the actual values of the resistors to be insignificant since they were within the stated tolerances. Procedure 2: The measurement of voltage. In this experiment, the principle was to create a voltage divider circuit and to carry out the required measurements were undertaken to prove the principle of the voltage divider. For that, a circuit was created where a supply volt age was applied across two resistors R1 and R2 in series as shown in the figure below. And the two equations shown below were used to make the necessary calculations. Image source: http://www. ermicro. com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/basic_r01. jpg http://diy. griffshp. com/wp-content/VoltageDivider. jpg The experiment was carried by using two resistors of values R1 equal to 5k? and R2 equal to 22k?. The resistors were mounted on the experiment board and the voltage divider circuit was created. The power was supplied using a +6v power supply and the voltages across each of the resistors was calculated using the Agilent 34401 multimeter. The values were recorded and were found to be as follows: V1=1. 1846v V2=4. 89v The total of the voltages adds up to be 6. 0167v which is roughly about 6v ( the initial voltage supplied) which proves that the voltages are within the required tolerance. To compare these measured values to the nominal values which can be found using the voltage divider equation, substitute the values of R1 and R2 and use V as 6v to find the voltages across each of V1 and V2. v1=6*55+22=1. 11v * V2=6*225+22=4. 88v | Nominal values| Actual values| V1| 1. 11v| 1. 1846v| V2| 4. 88v| 4. 89v| In this experiment it was found that the actual values and the nominal vales were not much different from each other. This could have probably been because of the resistances in the wires or loose connections. But they were both within a tolerance level of 5% which makes the difference insignificant and accountable for experimental error. The outcome of the experiment was that the voltages were shared between the two resistors and the larger resistor got the larger share of the voltage whereas the smaller resistance got the showed smaller voltage passing through it. This proved the values that we found using the nominal calculations of the voltages. Procedure 3: current measurement. In this experiment, we use the current divider rule which is similar to the voltage divider equation except that the way the circuit is constructed is it is in parallel instead of series. The experiment was set up in the method shown below and the necessary calculations were made. The circuit was constructed as shown in the schematic above and a DC voltage of +6v was passed through it, the currents were measured in each of the resistors and found to be: * I1(current across 5k? ) =1. 182A * I2(current across 22k? )=1. 192A (Ps: The rest of the rest of the report could not be completed since the original lab was not completed on time and hence the required information was missing. ) Table of Contents: 1. Procedure 1 2. Procedure 2 3. Procedure 3 How to cite Electronics Laboratory Report., Essay examples
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Youth Ministry Yesterday and Today free essay sample
The pastors at the church generally treated youth no differently than they did adults (Senter, p. 8). Many parents did not want their children to attend the Sunday school for fear of persecution (Senter, p. 5). This is how Sunday school started, and originally it was establish to teach youth the skills of reading the Bible. During the early 19th century, dults wanted to establish Bible lessons to keep youth out of trouble, and this evolved into youth having their own church service separate from adults (Senter). Pastors began to treat the youth as young adults, but not equal to adults (Senter). One current trend in some churches is having the youth in the same group as adults for part of the time, and then separate for the other part of the lesson. Youth leaders today are very active in youth ministry and the youth are still allowed to behave like you, rather than part of the working force. We will write a custom essay sample on Youth Ministry Yesterday and Today or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Whether in a separate youth church, or ollowing a newer model of attending church with adults, many youth are not continuing this lifestyle for the long-term. Hundreds of years ago youth ministry may have been developed to teach kids how to read the Bible, and to keep them out of trouble, today youth Ministry has a mission to develop disciple for Christ. The Christian youth of today are to understand the Bible, have a relationship with Christ, and to evangelize. Many youth ministries are succeeding while the youth are in high school, and after they graduate they are falling off track (Bryant, 2008). According to Pastor Dawn Bryant, the attendance of youth starts to fall after each grade. There are more freshmen then sophomores, and less sophomores then Juniors, and seniors are the least likely to attend (Bryant) Overall, after graduation it Just dwindles. The secular world Just lures the youth to them, and it seems more appealing to the teenage mind then Christianity. Your ministry may have some of the same motives it did 300 hundred years ago, but today we are working at digging deeper and changing the lite ot youth We dont Just want to change their lite tor tour years, but for eternity. Our mission should not be to have a mega church of youth, but to have a church that has numbers that stay for the long haul. It is true that many of the passionate youth we may work with today may disappear, and not choose to follow Christ in the future. Even though God has called many of us to continue the mission of making disciple of our youth, and some may go astray, but the mission will continue. References Bryant, D. (2008). The Failure of Youth. Retrieved May 7, 2010, from http:// donbryant. wordpress. com Senter, M. H. (2010). When God Shows Up: A History of Protestant Youth Ministry in America. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academics .
Thursday, March 19, 2020
The Success of Carrefour Hypermarkets
The Success of Carrefour Hypermarkets Case Background Carrefour is the world largest foodstuff retail chains in volume sales; the hypermarkets have their head office at Levallois-Perret, France; Lars Olofsson andà Amaury de Sà ¨ze opened the companyââ¬â¢s first branch on June 3, 1957 at Annecy, France.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Success of Carrefour Hypermarkets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To remain competitive in the fast changing and competitive retail industry, the company ensures it has established its outlets in strategic locations and has an appealing internal design/layout to facilitate fast shopping and create good impression to its customers (Carrefour Official Website). This paper discusses Carrefourââ¬â¢s location and design strategies. Location To ensure that the company gets to its target customers effectively, it is located in places of high population; areas that they expect to have a large customer base. The company offers fresh products thus, they need to be close to the consumers as possible. The locations include in shopping malls, shopping centres, airports and in emerging towns, depending with the location, the products that the company stocks varies. For example, the company sells fast foods at airports in their kitchen section. In every chain, the company ensures that there is ample parking that customers can use when shopping, the locations are also accessible when using public means and when having a personal means of transport. The location of the hypermarkets offers a pleasant experience to customers, they feel their needs are catered for within any chain; this helps in creating customer loyalty and confidence with a hypermarket (Carrefour Official Website) Internal design and the effect on customers The company offers more than 3,000 non-food items; some of these items include cosmetics, furniture, electronics, office equipments, and kitchenwares. To ensure that customers are able to get products in a shopping mall, the company has created a pleasant and easy to follow internal design; it has divided the malls into sections offering similar goods and they are well label. For example, vegetables are found in the same section, electronic and kitchenware in the same section. When a customer is not able to trace a commodity, the staffs are willing and ready to assist, they are well versed with the structure and the way the chain of supermarkets have been arranged, this assists in easy guidance inside the chain.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is a policy that all companies operating under the name of Carrefour has the same arrangement strategy; this strategy assists international consumers be able to buy from any chain of the company. To effectively manage the multibillion stores, the company manages an orchestrate team. For an effective oper ation, Carrefour requires an optimal combination of physical and human resources. Well-trained and experienced work force is the greatest asset that an organization can have; it is through human resources that an organisation exists. The company ensures that there is good customer service offered by the staffs at all level; staffs are expected to have high morale and good mastery of the chain of markets and how they are planned. In case a customer feels that he/she want shopping guide, the company is willing to offer some. There are good shopping trolleys that have engine in case someone needs (Fred 12-56). Conclusion The success of Carrefour hypermarkets can be attributed to its strategic locations and quality customer service. The company has appearing internal designs where products of the same categories are placed in the same segment to facilitate fast shopping. Carrefour Official Website. Carrefour UAE. 2011.Web. Fred, David. Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases. New Jers ey: Pearson Education, 2008.Print.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Success of Carrefour Hypermarkets specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More
Monday, March 2, 2020
Biography of Philip Emeagwali, Computer Pioneer
Biography of Philip Emeagwali, Computer Pioneer Philip Emeagwali (born August 23, 1954) is a Nigerian-American computer scientist. He achieved distributed computing breakthroughs that helped lead to the development of the internet. His work with simultaneous calculations on connected microprocessors earned him a Gordon Bell Prize, considered the Nobel Prize of computing. Fast Facts: Philip Emeagwali Occupation: Computer scientistBorn: August 23, 1954 in Akure, NigeriaSpouse: Dale BrownChild: Ijeoma EmeagwaliKey Achievement: 1989 Gordon Bell Prize from the Institute of Electronics and Electrical EngineersNotable Quote: My focus is not on solving natures deeper mysteries. It is on using natures deeper mysteries to solve important societal problems. Early Life in Africa Born in Akure, a village in Nigeria, Philip Emeagwali was the oldest in a family of nine children. His family and neighbors considered him a prodigy because of his skills as a math student. His father spent a significant amount of time nurturing his sons education. By the time Emeagwali reached high school, his facility with numbers had earned him the nickname Calculus. Fifteen months after Emeagwalis high school education began, the Nigerian Civil War broke out, and his family, part of the Nigerian Igbo tribe, fled to the eastern part of the country. He found himself drafted into the army of the seceding state Biafra. Emeagwalis family lived in a refugee camp until the war ended in 1970. More than half a million of Biafrans died of starvation during the Nigerian Civil War. The Philip Emeagwali Family in 1962. Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons 4.0 After the war ended, Philip Emeagwali doggedly continued to pursue his education. He attended school in Onitsha, Nigeria, and walked two hours to and from school each day. Unfortunately, he had to drop out due to financial problems. After continuing to study, he passed a high school equivalency exam administered by the University of London in 1973. The education efforts paid off when Emeagwali earned a scholarship to attend college in the U.S. College Education Philip Emeagwali traveled to the U.S. in 1974 to attend Oregon State University. Upon arrival, in the course of one week, he used a telephone, visited a library, and saw a computer for the first time. He earned his degree in mathematics in 1977. Later, he attended George Washington University to earn a Masters degree in Ocean and Marine Engineering. He also holds a second Masters from the University of Maryland in applied mathematics. While attending the University of Michigan on a doctoral fellowship in the 1980s, Emeagwali began work on a project to use computers to help identify untapped underground oil reservoirs. He grew up in Nigeria, an oil-rich country, and he was someone who both understood computers and how to drill for oil. Conflict over control of oil production was one of the critical causes of the Nigerian Civil War. Computing Achievements Initially, Philip Emeagwali worked on the oil discovery problem using a supercomputer. However, he decided it was more efficient to use thousands of widely distributed microprocessors to do his calculations instead of tying up eight expensive supercomputers. He discovered an unused computer at the Los Alamos National Laboratory formerly used to simulate nuclear explosions. It was dubbed the Connection Machine. Emeagwali began hooking up over 60,000 microprocessors. Ultimately, the Connection Machine, programmed remotely from Emeagwalis apartment in Ann Arbor, Michigan, ran more than 3.1 billion calculations per second and correctly identified the amount of oil in a simulated reservoir. The computing speed was faster than that achieved by a Cray supercomputer. Wikimedia Commons / Creative Commons 4.0 Describing his inspiration for the breakthrough, Emeagwali said that he remembered observing bees in nature. He saw their way of working together and communicating with each other was inherently more efficient than trying to accomplish tasks separately. He wanted to make computers emulate the construction and operation of a beehives honeycomb. Philip Emeagwalis primary achievement wasnt about oil. He demonstrated a practical and inexpensive way to allow computers to speak with each other and collaborate all around the world. The key to his achievement was programming each microprocessor to talk with six other neighboring microprocessors at the same time. The discovery ultimately helped lead toward the development of the internet. Legacy Emeagwalis work earned him the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers Gordon Bell Prize in 1989, considered the Nobel Prize of computing. He continues to work on computing problems, including models to describe and predict the weather, and has earned more than one hundred honors for his breakthrough achievements. Emeagwali is one of the most prominent African-American inventors of the 20th century.
Saturday, February 15, 2020
Critical review of Rheumatoid arthritis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
Critical review of Rheumatoid arthritis - Essay Example However, RA involves an attack on the body by its own immune cells (auto-immune disease). Different cases may have different causes. Infectious, genetic, and hormonal factors may play a role. The disease can occur at any age, but it begins most often between the ages of 25 and 55. The disease is more common in older people. Women are affected 2.5 times more often than men. Approximately 1-2% of the total population is affected. The course and the severity of the illness can vary considerably. The onset of the disease is usually gradual, with fatigue, morning stiffness (lasting more than one hour), diffuse muscular aches, loss of appetite, and weakness. Eventually, joint pain appears, with warmth, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness of the joint after inactivity. Joint involvement in RA usually affects both sides of the body equally -- the arthritis is therefore referred to as symmetrical. Wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles are the most commonly affected joints. Severe disease is associated with larger joints that contain more synovium (joint lining). When the synovium becomes inflamed, it secretes more fluid and the joint becomes swollen. Later, the cartilage becomes rough and pitted. The underlying bone eventually becomes affected. Joint destruction begins 1-2 years after the appearance of the disease. Characteristic deformities result from cartilage destruction, bone erosions, and tendon inflammation and rupture. A life-threatening joint complication can occur when the cervical spine becomes unstable as a result of RA. Other features of the disease that do not involve the joints may occur. Rheumatoid nodules are painless, hard, round or oval masses that appear under the skin, usually on pressure points, such as the elbow or Achilles tendon. These are present in about 20% of cases and tend to reflect more severe disease. On occasion, they appear in the eye where they sometimes cause inflammation. If they occur in the lungs, inflammation of the lining of the lung (pleurisy) may occur, causing shortness of breath. Anemia may occur due to failure of the bone marrow to produce enough new red cells to make up for the lost ones. Iron supplements will not usually help this condition because iron utilization in the body becomes impaired. Other blood abnormalities can also be found, for example, platelet counts that are either too high or too low. Rheumatoid vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) is a serious complication of RA and can be life-threatening. It can lead to skin ulcerations (and subsequent infections), bleeding stomach ulcers (which can lead to massive hemorrhage), and neuropathies (nerve problems causing pain, numbness or tingling). Vasculitis may also affect the brain, nerves, and heart causing strokes, sensory neuropathies (numbness and tingling), heart attacks, or heart failure. Heart complications of RA commonly affect the outer lining of the heart. When inflamed, the condition is referred to as pericarditis. Inflammation of heart muscle, called myocarditis, can also develop. Both of these conditions can lead to congestive heart failure characterized by shortness of breath and fluid accumulation in the lung. Lung involvement is frequent in RA. Fibrosis of the lung tissue leads to shortness of breath and has been reported to occur in 20% of patients with RA. Inflammation of the
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Developmental Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words
Developmental Biology - Essay Example After certain number of divisions the macromeres give rise to a pair of blastomeres termed as teloblasts M, N, Q and O/P. It is from these teloblasts that the segments of the annelid are derived in the adult. To draw our fate map we used alkaline phosphatase to help in tracing out the cell lineage of many of the adult structures. Alkaline phosphatase being naturally present in a cell and was an ideal candidate as a marker to trace out the fate map. The blastomeres were injected with high concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and then allowed to develop into their corresponding adult structures. The annelid was then bathed with a colourless substrate which coloured on reacting with alkaline phosphatase. Using this we were able to show that the blastomere A, B & C most probably develops into the ectoderm. The blastomere D though proved to be the most vital with most of the endoderm and mesoderm structures being derived from it. We also show the individual fates of each of the teloblasts and by alternating the time of injecting alkaline phosphatase we were able to deduce many vital facts about metamerisation. From our study we came to the conclusion that most probably the segments are produced from the posterior to the anterior direction and that segmentation begins at a very early stage of asymmetric cell division of the teloblasts. Introduction: The phylum Annelid consists of many species that range from the humble earthworm all the way to the maligned leech, but one common feature that binds them all is their segmented body. This segmentation is termed as Metamerism and each ring like segment is called a metamere. In fact the word Annelid is derived from the Latin word Annelis meaning rings. The Annelid body can be further bisected into two equal halves implying that the body architecture is bilaterally symmetrical. Annelids are also triplobalstic i.e. the embryo has 3 distinct germ layers namely the mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm. It is from these 3 distinct germ layers that all the organ systems arise. The ectoderm that forms the outer layer of the embryo produces the epidermis and the nervous system, the endoderm which forms the inner most layer of the embryo gives rise to the digestive system and its related organs and sandwiched in between the two layers is the mesoderm which produces the circulatory system, muscles a nd connective tissue. As the yolk in the Annelid embryo is equally spaced out a Holoblastic cleavage pattern is seen and thus the cleavage furrow extends through the entire egg. The cleavage pattern seen in Annelids is a Spiral Cleavage which is also seen in other organisms such as sea urchins. During the first of cleavage, the embryo is divided into 4 cells each of which is called a blastomere and are labelled as A, B, C and D. All the blastomeres are of equal size except for Blastomere D which is slightly larger than the rest. The second round of cleavage produces an unequal division of 4 large blastomeres called Macromeres and 4 smaller blastomeres called Micromeres. The macromeres are labelled as A1, B1, C1, and D1 and the micromeres are labelled as a, b, c, and d. The macromeres keep on dividing to produce more macromeres and micromeres and eventually the entire organism is formed. Of special note is the D1 blastomere which further divides to
Saturday, January 25, 2020
JumpOff Creek :: essays papers
Jump Off Creek The Jump-Off Creek introduces the reader to the unforgiving Blue Mountains and the harsh pioneer lifestyle with the tale of Lydia Sanderson, a widow who moves west from Pennsylvania to take up residence in a rundown homestead. She and other characters battle nature, finances, and even each other on occasion in a fight for survival in the harsh Oregon wilderness. Although the story is vividly expressed through the use of precise detail and 1800s slang, it failed to give me a reason to care because the characters are depicted as emotionally inhibited. Gloss attempts to draw the reader into the story with Lydia's diary entry, giving a taste of the slang used in the 1800s, boosting the reader's curiosity, and showing a little of Lydia's personality and schooling through the character's writing: "6 April Bought the black hinny Mule today, $18, also the spavint gray as my money is so short and I have hope he will put on wt, his eyes are clear w a smart look in them and his feet not tender. Believe I am now outfitted, shall start out at Day Break." (1) She then moves on to describe each of the characters, and in doing so, their surroundings and how they fit in: "He was cold and wet, and the best part of the day had been used up anyway. He wiped his hands on the grass and let the pinto horse take him toward home. There was little enough comfort there. The house crouched dumb and blind on the high bench in the rain. Jack's horse stood droop-necked and dismal inside the strand of rope fence, but there wasn't any smoke coming from the damned stove (28)." As evident in the example above, Gloss is a master of description, but she is lacking in the description of her characters' emotions, as seen here: "It had been a while since Lydia had cried over anything. She was surprised when a few dry tears squeezed around the edges of her eyes. But it was the lost babies, she thought, and could not be loneliness, that made her feel this quick, keen need of Evelyn Walker's friendship (82)." It appears that Gloss attempted to show a little of Lydia's emotions, but though her point was expressed clearly, it was said far too dispassionately for the reader to care that Lydia was crying over the lost babies and loneliness.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
The Golden Lily Chapter 19
ââ¬Å"SHE WAS LEAVING TOWN,â⬠I reminded him. ââ¬Å"Not until tomorrow.â⬠He was right, I realized. When we'd spoken to Sonya last night, she'd said two days. ââ¬Å"Are you sure she's really disappeared?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Maybe she's justâ⬠¦ out.â⬠ââ¬Å"Belikov's here, and he's freaked out. He says she never came home last night.â⬠I nearly dropped the phone. Last night? Sonya had been gone that long? That was nearly twenty-four hours ago. ââ¬Å"How did no one notice until now?â⬠I demanded. ââ¬Å"I don't know,â⬠said Adrian. ââ¬Å"Can you just come over? Please, Sydney?â⬠I was powerless when he used my first name. It always took everything to an extra level of seriousness ââ¬â not that this situation needed any particular help. Sonya. Gone for twenty-four hours. For all we knew, she wasn't even alive if those sword-wielding freaks had caught her. Brayden's face was a mix of incredulity and disappointment when I told him I had to leave. ââ¬Å"But you justâ⬠¦ I meanâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ It was a rare moment of speechlessness for him. ââ¬Å"I'm sorry,â⬠I said earnestly. ââ¬Å"Especially after being late and ruining the museum. But it's a family emergency.â⬠ââ¬Å"Your family has an awful lot of emergencies.â⬠You have no idea, I thought. Instead of saying that, I simply apologized again. ââ¬Å"I really am sorry. Iâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ I nearly said I'd make it up to him, but that was what I'd said when I left the Halloween dance early. Tonight was supposed to have been the makeup date. ââ¬Å"I'm just sorry.â⬠ADRIAN'S PLACE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH that I could've reasonably walked, but Brayden insisted on driving me, since dusk was falling. I had no problem accepting. ââ¬Å"Whoa,â⬠said Brayden, when we pulled up to the building. ââ¬Å"Nice Mustang.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah. It's a 1967 C-code,â⬠I said automatically. ââ¬Å"Great engine. My brother's. He's moved it again! I hope he wasn't out driving anywhere he wasn't supposed to ââ¬â whoa. What's that?â⬠Brayden looked at where I was staring. ââ¬Å"A Jaguar?â⬠ââ¬Å"Obviously.â⬠The sleek, black car was parked just in front of Adrian's Mustang. ââ¬Å"Where'd it come from?â⬠Brayden had no answer, of course. After more apologies and a promise to get in touch, I left him. There was no pretense of a kiss, not when he was so disappointed in the evening's outcome and I was too anxious about Sonya. In fact, I forgot all about Brayden as I walked up to the building. I had bigger concerns. ââ¬Å"It's Clarence's,â⬠said Adrian, as soon as he answered the door. ââ¬Å"Huh?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"The Jag. I figured you'd want to know. He let Belikov drive it over since Sonya left with the rental.â⬠He stepped aside as I entered and shook his head in dismay. ââ¬Å"Can you believe it was locked away in his garage the whole time I lived with him? He said he forgot he owned it! And there I was, stuck with the bus.â⬠I would've laughed under almost any other circumstances. But when I saw Dimitri's face, all humor left me. He was pacing the living room like a trapped animal, radiating frustration and concern. ââ¬Å"I'm an idiot,â⬠he muttered. It was unclear if he was talking to himself or us. ââ¬Å"I didn't realize she was gone last night, and then I spent half the day thinking she was out gardening!â⬠ââ¬Å"Did you try calling her cell?â⬠I knew it was a foolish question, but I had to begin logically. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠Dimitri said. ââ¬Å"No answer. Then I double-checked to make sure her flight hadn't changed, and then I talked to Mikhail to see if he knew anything. He didn't. All I succeeded at doing there was making him worry.â⬠ââ¬Å"He should,â⬠I murmured, sitting on the edge of the couch. Nothing good could come of this. We knew the Warriors were obsessed with Sonya, and now she'd disappeared after going out alone. ââ¬Å"I only just found out she came to see you two,â⬠added Dimitri. He stopped pacing and glanced between us. ââ¬Å"Did she say anything at all about where she was going?â⬠ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"Things didn't exactlyâ⬠¦ end well between us.â⬠Dimitri nodded. ââ¬Å"Adrian implied the same thing.â⬠I looked up at Adrian and could tell he didn't want to get into it any more than I did. ââ¬Å"We had an argument,â⬠he admitted. ââ¬Å"She was trying to push Sydney into some experiments, and Sydney refused. I jumped in when Sonya kept pushing, and finally she just took off. Never said anything about where she was going.â⬠Dimitri's face grew darker. ââ¬Å"So, anything could've happened. She could've been taken right outside on the street. Or she could have gone somewhere and been abducted there.â⬠Or she could be dead. Dimitri was speaking in terms of her still being alive, but I wasn't so sure. The hunters who had jumped us in the alley had seemed pretty intent on killing her then and there. If she hadn't come home last night, the odds seemed good they'd found her then. Twenty-four hours was an awfully long time to keep a ââ¬Å"creature of darknessâ⬠alive. Studying Dimitri's face again, I knew he was well aware of all of this. He was simply operating on the hope that we had a chance to do something, that we weren't powerless. Resolved, Dimitri strode for the door. ââ¬Å"I have to go talk to the police.â⬠ââ¬Å"Missing person report?â⬠asked Adrian. ââ¬Å"That, and more importantly, to get a search out on that car. If she was takenâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ He hesitated, driving home the fear that lurked in all of us. ââ¬Å"Well. If she's hidden away somewhere, she's going to be very difficult to locate. But it's a lot harder to hide a car than one woman. If the police can get its description out there, we might get a clue if it turns up.â⬠He started to open the door and then glanced back at us. ââ¬Å"You're sure you don't remember anything else she said that could help?â⬠Adrian and I reiterated that we didn't. Dimitri left, giving us unnecessary instructions to alert him immediately if we thought of anything or ââ¬â if by a miracle ââ¬â Sonya showed up. I groaned once he was gone. ââ¬Å"This is my fault,â⬠I said. Adrian looked at me in surprise. ââ¬Å"Why on earth would you say that?â⬠ââ¬Å"Sonya came here ââ¬â left when she wasn't supposed to ââ¬â because of me. Because of my blood. Who knows what would've happened if I hadn't refused? Maybe a few minutes difference, and the hunters wouldn't have been around. Or maybe if she hadn't been so upset, she would've been able to defend herself more.â⬠A million memories tumbled through my head. Sonya making the lily grow for me. Sonya talking to the queen on Adrian's behalf. Sonya showing me pictures of bridesmaid dresses. Sonya working diligently to stop Strigoi and redeem herself. All of that could be lost now. ââ¬Å"Maybe, maybe, maybe.â⬠Adrian sat down near me on the couch. ââ¬Å"You can't think like that, and you sure as hell can't blame yourself for the actions of some crazy paranoid fringe group.â⬠I knew he was right, but it didn't make me feel any better. ââ¬Å"I should call the Alchemists. We've got ties to law enforcement too.â⬠ââ¬Å"Probably a good idea,â⬠he said, though his words were a little halfhearted. ââ¬Å"I've just got a bad feeling about those guys. Even ifâ⬠¦ well, even if she's alive, I really don't know how we're going to find her. Short of some miraculous, magical solution.â⬠I froze. ââ¬Å"Oh my God.â⬠ââ¬Å"What is it?â⬠he asked, looking at me in concern. ââ¬Å"Did you remember something?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yesâ⬠¦ but not what you're thinking.â⬠I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. No, no, no. The thought in my head was crazy. I had no business even considering it. Dimitri had the right idea. We needed to focus on normal, concrete methods of locating Sonya. ââ¬Å"Sage?â⬠Adrian lightly touched my arm, and I jumped at the feel of his fingertips against my skin. ââ¬Å"You okay?â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't know,â⬠I said softly. ââ¬Å"I just thought of something crazy.â⬠ââ¬Å"Welcome to my world.â⬠I looked away, conflicted about the decision before me. What I was contemplatingâ⬠¦ well, some might argue it wasn't so different than what I'd done before. And yet, it all came down to the fine line between doing something by choice and doing something because I had to. There was no question here. This would be a choice. An exercising of free will. ââ¬Å"Adrianâ⬠¦ what if I had a way to find Sonya, but it went against everything I believe in?â⬠He took several moments to answer. ââ¬Å"Do you believe in getting Sonya back? If so, you wouldn't be going against everything you believe in.â⬠It was odd logic, but it gave me the nudge I needed. I took out my cell phone and dialed a number I almost never called ââ¬â though I certainly received texts and calls from it all the time. An answer came after two rings. ââ¬Å"Ms. Terwilliger? This is Sydney.â⬠ââ¬Å"Miss Melbourne. What I can do for you?â⬠ââ¬Å"I need to see you. It's kind of urg ââ¬â no, no ââ¬Ëkind of' about it. It's urgent. Are you at the school?â⬠ââ¬Å"No. As shocking as it is, I do go home on occasion.â⬠She paused for a moment. ââ¬Å"Howeverâ⬠¦ you are certainly welcome to come to my house.â⬠I don't know why that made me uneasy. After all, I spent plenty of time at Clarence's. Surely a vampire's sprawling estate was much worse than a high school teacher's home. Of course, said teacher was also a witch, so I wasn't certain if I could expect a boring suburban flat or a house made of candy. I swallowed. ââ¬Å"Do you keep a lot of the same spell books at home that you do at school?â⬠Adrian arched an eyebrow at the word spell. Ms. Terwilliger hesitated for much longer this time. ââ¬Å"Yes,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"And more.â⬠She gave me her address, and before I could even hang up, Adrian said, ââ¬Å"I'm coming with you.â⬠ââ¬Å"You don't even know where I'm going.â⬠ââ¬Å"True,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"But lack of information's never stopped me before. Besides, I know it has something to do with Sonya, which is good enough for me. That, and you looked scared to death. There's no way I can let you go alone.â⬠I crossed my arms. ââ¬Å"I've faced scarier things, and last I checked, it's not your place to ââ¬Ëlet' me do anything.â⬠There was such concern in his face, however, that I knew I wouldn't be able to refuseâ⬠¦ especially since I was kind of scared. ââ¬Å"You have to promise not to tell anyone what we're going to do. Or talk about what you see.â⬠ââ¬Å"Damn. What's going on, Sage?â⬠he asked. ââ¬Å"Are we talking animal sacrifice or something?â⬠ââ¬Å"Adrian,â⬠I said quietly. He grew serious again. ââ¬Å"I promise. Not a word, unless you say otherwise.â⬠I didn't have to study him to know I could trust him. ââ¬Å"Okay, then. But before we go, I need your hairbrushâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ Ms. Terwilliger lived in Vista Azul, the same suburb Amberwood was in. To my surprise, the house really did look quite ordinary. It was small but otherwise blended in well to its older neighborhood. The sun had long since set when we arrived, and I was conscious of the school's approaching curfew. When she let us into her house, I found the interior a bit more in line with what I'd been expecting. Sure, there was a TV and modern furniture, but the decor also featured a lot of candles and statuary of various gods and goddesses. The scent of Nag Champa hung in the air. I counted at least three cats in the first five minutes and didn't doubt there were more. ââ¬Å"Miss Melbourne, welcome.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger took in Adrian with interest. ââ¬Å"And welcome to your friend.â⬠ââ¬Å"My brother,â⬠I said pointedly. ââ¬Å"Adrian.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger ââ¬â fully aware of the Moroi world ââ¬â smiled. ââ¬Å"Yes. Of course. You attend Carlton, correct?â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeah,â⬠said Adrian. ââ¬Å"You're the one who helped get me in, right? Thanks for that.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well,â⬠said Ms. Terwilliger, with a shrug, ââ¬Å"I'm always happy to help star pupils ââ¬â especially those who are so diligent about keeping me in coffee. Now then, what's this urgent matter that brings you out at night?â⬠My eyes were already on a large bookcase in her living room. The shelves were filled with old, leather-bound books ââ¬â exactly the kind she always made me work on. ââ¬Å"Do youâ⬠¦ do you have a spell that would help locate someone?â⬠I asked. Each word caused me pain. ââ¬Å"I mean, I know they're out there. I've come across them in my work a couple of times. But I was wondering if there was maybe one that you'd recommend over another.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger laughed softly, and I looked away. ââ¬Å"Well, well. This is definitely worth a late-night visit.â⬠We were in her dining room, and she pulled out an ornate wooden chair to sit down. One of the cats brushed against her leg. ââ¬Å"There are a number of location spells, certainly ââ¬â though none are quite at your level. And by your level, I mean your constant refusal to practice or better yourself.â⬠I scowled. ââ¬Å"Is there one that you could do?â⬠She shook her head. ââ¬Å"No. This is your problem. You're going to do it. You need to.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, not if it's beyond me!â⬠I protested. ââ¬Å"Please. This is a matter of life and death.â⬠That, and I didn't want to taint myself with her magic. Bad enough I was encouraging her at all. ââ¬Å"Rest easy. I wouldn't make you do it if you couldn't handle it,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"To make it work, however, it's imperative we have something that can connect us to the person we're looking for. There are spells where that's not necessary ââ¬â but those are definitely out of your league.â⬠I produced Adrian's brush from my purse. ââ¬Å"Something like a strand of hair?â⬠ââ¬Å"Something exactly like that,â⬠she said, clearly impressed. I'd remembered Adrian's complaint about Sonya using some of his personal items. Although he apparently cleaned the brush regularly (and really, I'd expect nothing less from someone who spent so much time on his hair), there were still a few lingering red strands. Carefully, I plucked the longest one from the bristles and held it up. ââ¬Å"What do I need to do?â⬠I asked. I was trying to be strong, but my hands shook. ââ¬Å"Let's find out.â⬠She rose and walked into the living room, studying the shelves. Adrian turned to me. ââ¬Å"Is she for real?â⬠He paused and reconsidered. ââ¬Å"Are you for real? Spells? Magic? I mean, don't get me wrong. I drink blood and control people's minds. But I've never heard of anything like this.â⬠ââ¬Å"Neither had I until a month ago.â⬠I sighed. ââ¬Å"And unfortunately, it is real. Worse, she thinks I have a knack for it. Do you remember at all when one of the Strigoi in your apartment caught on fire?â⬠ââ¬Å"Vaguely, but yeah. It kind of all got brushed aside, and I never thought much about it.â⬠He frowned, troubled by the memory. ââ¬Å"I was out of it from the bite.â⬠ââ¬Å"Well, it wasn't some freak accident. It wasâ⬠¦ magic.â⬠I gestured toward Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"And I made it happen.â⬠His eyes widened. ââ¬Å"Are you some kind of mutant human? Like a fire user? And I use mutant as a compliment, you know. I wouldn't think less of you.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's not like vampire magic,â⬠I said. Some part of me supposed I should be pleased that Adrian would still be friendly with a ââ¬Å"mutant.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's not some internal connection to the elements. According to her, some humans can work magic by pulling it from the world. It sounds crazy, butâ⬠¦ well. I did set a Strigoi on fire.â⬠I could see Adrian taking all of this in as Ms. Terwilliger returned to us. She set down a book with a red leather cover and flipped through the pages before finding what she wanted. We all peered at it. ââ¬Å"That's not English,â⬠said Adrian helpfully. ââ¬Å"It's just Greek,â⬠I said, skimming the ingredient list. ââ¬Å"It doesn't seem to require much.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's because a huge part of it is mental focus,â⬠explained Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"It's more complicated than it looks. It'll take you a few hours at least.â⬠I took in the time on an ornate grandfather clock. ââ¬Å"I don't have a few hours. Too close to curfew.â⬠ââ¬Å"Easily remedied,â⬠said Ms. Terwilliger. She picked up her cell phone from the table and dialed a number from memory. ââ¬Å"Hello, Desiree? This is Jaclyn. Yes, fine. Thank you. I have Sydney Melrose out here right now, helping me on a very crucial project.â⬠I nearly rolled my eyes. She was perfectly aware of my last name when she needed to be, apparently. ââ¬Å"I'm afraid she might be out past the dorm curfew, and I was wondering if you'd be kind enough to allow an extension. Yesâ⬠¦ yes, I know. But it's very important for my work, and I think we can all agree that with her exemplary record, she's hardly the type we need to worry about abusing such privileges. She's certainly one of the most trustworthy students I know.â⬠That got a small smirk from Adrian. Thirty more seconds, and I was free of curfew. ââ¬Å"Who's Desiree?â⬠I asked, once Ms. Terwilliger hung up. ââ¬Å"Your dorm matron. Weathers.â⬠ââ¬Å"Really?â⬠I thought of stout, motherly Mrs. Weathers. I never would've guessed her first name was Desiree. It was the kind of name I would associate with someone sultry and seductive. Maybe she had some scandalous life outside of school we didn't know about. ââ¬Å"So, do I have an all-night pass?â⬠ââ¬Å"Not sure I'd push it that far,â⬠said Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"But we certainly have enough time for this spell. I can't make it for you, but I can help you with the ingredients and supplies.â⬠I tapped the book, forgetting about my fear as I scanned the lengthy list. Details like this put me back in my comfort zone. ââ¬Å"You have all of these?â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠Ms. Terwilliger led us down a hall that branched off from the kitchen, where I'd expect to find bedrooms. One room did indeed give us a glimpse of a bed as we walked by, but our eventual destination was something else altogether: a workshop. It was kind of what you'd get if you crossed a wizard's lair with a mad scientist's lab. Part of the room had very modern equipment: beakers, a sink, burners, etc. The rest was from a different era, vials of oils and dried herbs, along with scrolls and honest-to-goodness cauldrons. Plants and herbs lined the sill of a dark window. There were two more cats in here, and I was pretty sure they weren't the same ones I'd seen in the living room. ââ¬Å"It looks chaotic,â⬠said Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"But I daresay it's organized enough, even for you.â⬠Upon closer inspection, I saw she was right. All of the plants and little vials were labeled and in alphabetical order. All of the various tools were equally identified, enumerated by size and material. The room's center was a large, smooth stone table, and I set the book down on it, careful to stay on the page I needed. ââ¬Å"What now?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Now, you construct it,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"The more of it you do on your own, the stronger your connection will be to the spell. Certainly come and get me if you have trouble with the ingredients or the directions. Otherwise, the more of your focus and concentration that goes into this, the better.â⬠ââ¬Å"Where are you going to be?â⬠I asked, startled. As much as I disliked the thought of working with her in a creepy, arcane lab, I disliked the thought of being alone here even more. She gestured toward where we'd come from. ââ¬Å"Oh, just out there. I'll entertain your ââ¬Ëbrother' too since you really do need to do this alone.â⬠My anxiety increased. I'd protested Adrian's original request to come here, but now I wanted him around. ââ¬Å"Can I at least get some coffee?â⬠She chuckled. ââ¬Å"Normally, I'd say yes ââ¬â particularly if you were just doing grunt work to build an amulet or potion. Because you'll be using your mind, the magic will work much better if your thoughts are free and clear of any substances that affect your mental state.â⬠ââ¬Å"Boy, that sounds familiar,â⬠muttered Adrian. ââ¬Å"Okay, then,â⬠I said, resolving to be strong. ââ¬Å"I need to get started. Sonya's waiting.â⬠Provided she was still alive to wait. Ms. Terwilliger left, telling me to get her when I was on the spell's last stage. Adrian delayed a moment to speak with me. ââ¬Å"You sure you're okay with all of this? I mean, from what I know about you and the Alchemistsâ⬠¦ well, it seems like you'd actually be pretty not-okay with this.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'm not,â⬠I agreed. ââ¬Å"Like I said, this goes against everything I believe ââ¬â against everything they've taught me. Which is why you can't tell anyone. You heard her passive aggressive remark about me not practicing? She's been on me for a while now to develop my so-called magical skills, and I keep refusing ââ¬â because it's wrong. So, she has me research spell books for my independent study with her, in the hopes of me learning by osmosis.â⬠ââ¬Å"That's messed up,â⬠he said, shaking his head. ââ¬Å"You don't have to do this. You don't have to do anything you don't want to.â⬠I gave him a small smile. ââ¬Å"Well, I want to find Sonya. So I do have to do this.â⬠He gave me no smile in return. ââ¬Å"Okay. But I'm just going to be out there ââ¬â having a tea party with her cats or whatever it is she has in mind. You need me? You yell. You want to leave? We go. I'll get you out of here, no matter what.â⬠Something clenched in my chest, and for a moment, the whole world narrowed down to the green of his eyes. ââ¬Å"Thank you.â⬠Adrian left, and I was alone. Well, almost. One of the cats had stuck around, a sleek black one with yellow eyes. It was lying on a high shelf, watching me curiously, like it wondered if I could really pull this off. That made two of us. For a moment, I couldn't move. I was about to willingly work magic. All the protests and arguments I'd given Ms. Terwilliger were like ash in the wind now. I started trembling and felt short of breath. Then, I thought about Sonya. Kind, brave Sonya. She'd devoted so much energy and time to doing the right thing. How could I do any less? As I'd noted to Ms. Terwilliger, the spell was deceptively simple. It didn't require half as many steps as the fire amulet. I had to keep water simmering in a copper cauldron and add different ingredients to it, most of which were clear oils that had to be measured with exacting care. The air soon grew heavy with the scent of bergamot, vanilla, and heliotrope. Some of the steps had the same ritual redundancy I'd done before. For example, I had to pluck thirteen fresh mint leaves off one of her plants, dropping each leaf in one at a time while counting them off in Greek. Then, when they had simmered for thirteen minutes, I had to remove each one with a rosewood spoon. Before leaving, Ms. Terwilliger had told me to stay focused and think about both the steps of the spell and what I was ultimately hoping to accomplish. So, I turned my thoughts toward Sonya and finding her, praying that she was okay. When I finally finished these initial steps, I saw that almost an hour had gone by. I'd barely noticed it passing. I wiped a hand over my forehead, surprised at how much the steamy room had made me sweat. I went out to find Ms. Terwilliger and Adrian, uncertain what weird activity I'd find going on. Instead, things were pretty ordinary: they were watching TV. Both glanced up at my approach. ââ¬Å"Ready?â⬠she asked. I nodded. ââ¬Å"Smells like tea in here,â⬠said Adrian, as they followed me to the workroom. Ms. Terwilliger examined the small cauldron and nodded her head in approval. ââ¬Å"It looks excellent.â⬠I didn't know how she could tell at a glance but figured I'd take her word for it. ââ¬Å"Now. The actual scrying involves a silver plate, correct?â⬠She scanned her shelves of dishes and pointed at something. ââ¬Å"There. Use that.â⬠I pulled down a perfectly round plate about twelve inches across. It was smooth, with no ornamentation, and had been polished to such brilliance that it reflected almost as well as a mirror. I probably could've done without that part, though, seeing as my hair and makeup were showing the wear and tear of the day. Around anyone else, I would have felt selfconscious. I set the plate on the worktable and poured one cup of water from the cauldron onto the silvery surface. All non-liquid ingredients had been removed, and the water was perfectly clear. Once it stopped rippling, the mirror effect returned. Ms. Terwilliger handed me a tiny bowl of galbanum incense, which the book said should be burning during this last stage. I lit the resin with a candle, and a bitter, green smell wafted up, contrasting with the sweetness of the liquid. ââ¬Å"You still have the hair?â⬠Ms. Terwilliger asked. ââ¬Å"Of course.â⬠I laid it across the water's smooth surface. Part of me wanted something to happen ââ¬â sparks or smoke ââ¬â but I'd read the directions and knew better. I pulled a stool up to the table and sat on it, allowing me to gaze down into the water. ââ¬Å"Now I look?â⬠ââ¬Å"Now you look,â⬠she confirmed. ââ¬Å"Your mind needs to be both focused and spread out. You need to think about the components of the spell and the magic they hold, as well as your desire to find the spell's subject. At the same time, you need to maintain a perfect clarity of mind and stay fixed on your task with razor sharp focus.â⬠I looked down at my reflection and tried to do all those things she'd just described. Nothing happened. ââ¬Å"I don't see anything.â⬠ââ¬Å"Of course not,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"It's only been a minute. I told you this was an advanced spell. It may take a while for you to fully muster the strength and power you need. Stay on task. We'll be waiting.â⬠The two of them left. I stared bleakly at the water, wondering how long ââ¬Å"a whileâ⬠was. I'd been excited when the spell seemed so simple originally. Now, I wished there were more ingredients to mix, more incantations to recite. This high-level magic, relying on will and mental energy, was much more difficult ââ¬â mainly because it was intangible. I liked the concrete. I liked to know exactly what was needed to make something happen. Cause and effect. But this? This was just me staring and staring, hoping I was ââ¬Å"staying fixedâ⬠and using ââ¬Å"razor sharp focus.â⬠How would I know if I was? Even if I achieved that state, it might still take a while to manifest what I needed. I tried not to think of that yet. Sonya. Sonya was all that mattered right now. All of my will and energy had to go into saving her. I kept telling myself that as the minutes ticked by. Each time I was certain I should stop and ask Ms. Terwilliger what to do, I would force myself to keep looking into the water. Sonya, Sonya. Think about Sonya. And still, nothing happened. Finally, when an ache in my back made sitting unbearable, I stood up to stretch. The rest of my muscles were starting to cramp up too. I walked back to the living room; almost an hour and a half had passed since I'd last been out here. ââ¬Å"Anything?â⬠asked Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"No,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I must be doing something wrong.â⬠ââ¬Å"You're focusing your mind? Thinking about her? About finding her?â⬠I was really tired of hearing the word focus. Frustration was replacing my earlier anxiety about magic. ââ¬Å"Yes, yes, and yes,â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"But it's still not working.â⬠She shrugged. ââ¬Å"And that's why we have a curfew extension. Try again.â⬠Adrian flashed me a sympathetic look and started to say something ââ¬â but then thought better of it. I nearly left but paused as a troublesome thought nagged at me. ââ¬Å"What if she's not alive?â⬠I asked. ââ¬Å"Could that be why it's not working?â⬠Ms. Terwilliger shook her head. ââ¬Å"No. You'd still see something if she wasn't. Andâ⬠¦ well, you'd know.â⬠I returned to the workroom and tried again ââ¬â with similar results. The next time I went to talk to Ms. Terwilliger, I saw that it hadn't been quite an hour. ââ¬Å"I'm doing something wrong,â⬠I insisted. ââ¬Å"Either that, or I messed up the initial spell. Or this really is beyond me.â⬠ââ¬Å"If I know you, the spell was flawless,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"And no, this isn't beyond you, but only you have the power to make it happen.â⬠I was too tired to parse her esoteric philosophy nonsense. I turned without a word and trudged back to the workroom. When I reached it, I discovered I'd been followed. I looked up at Adrian and sighed. ââ¬Å"No distractions, remember?â⬠I said. ââ¬Å"I won't stay,â⬠he said. ââ¬Å"I just wanted to make sure you're okay.â⬠ââ¬Å"Yeahâ⬠¦ I mean, I don't know. In as much as anyone can be with all of this.â⬠I nodded toward the silver plate. ââ¬Å"Maybe I do need you to get me out of here.â⬠He considered for a moment and then shook his head. ââ¬Å"I don't think that's a good idea.â⬠I stared up at him in disbelief. ââ¬Å"What happened to me not having to do anything I didn't want to do? And you nobly defending me?â⬠One of his knowing little smiles played over his lips. ââ¬Å"Well. That was back when you didn't want to do this because it challenged all your beliefs. Now that the line is crossed, your problem seems to be a little pessimism and not believing you can do this. And honestly, that's bullshit.â⬠ââ¬Å"A little pessimism?â⬠I exclaimed. ââ¬Å"Adrian, I've been staring at a bowl of water for over two hours! It's nearly one thirty. I'm exhausted, I want coffee, and every muscle in my body hurts. Oh, and I'm about ready to throw up from that incense.â⬠ââ¬Å"Those things all suck,â⬠he agreed. ââ¬Å"But I seem to recall you giving all of us lectures recently about enduring hardships to do what's right. Are you saying you can't do that to help Sonya?â⬠ââ¬Å"I would do anything to help her! Anything within my power, that is. And I don't think this is.â⬠ââ¬Å"I don't know,â⬠he speculated. ââ¬Å"I've had a lot of time to talk to Jackie ââ¬â she lets me call her that, you know ââ¬â and I've learned all about this human magic stuff. There's a lot you can do with it.â⬠ââ¬Å"It's wrong,â⬠I grumbled. ââ¬Å"And yet here you are, with the ability to find Sonya.â⬠Adrian hesitated and then, reaching some decision, stepped toward me and rested his hands on my shoulders. ââ¬Å"Jackie told me that you're one of the most naturally gifted people she's ever encountered for this kind of stuff. She said that with a little practice, a spell like this'll be cake for you, and she's certain you can pull it off now. And I believe her. Not because I have proof you're magically talented but because I've seen how you approach everything else. You won't fail at this. You don't fail at anything.â⬠I was so exhausted I thought I might cry. I wanted to fall forward and have him carry me out of here, like he'd promised earlier. ââ¬Å"That's the problem. I don't fail, but I'm afraid I will now. I don't know what it's like. And it terrifies me.â⬠Especially because Sonya's life depends on me. Adrian reached out and traced the lily on my cheek. ââ¬Å"You won't have to find out what it's like tonight because you aren't going to fail. You can do this. And I'll be here with you as long as it takes, okay?â⬠I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. ââ¬Å"Okay.â⬠I returned to my stool after he left and tried to ignore the fatigue in my body and mind. I thought about what he'd said, about how I wouldn't fail. I thought about his faith in me. And most importantly, I thought about Sonya. I thought about how desperately I wanted to help her. All these things churned within me as I stared at the water, crystal clear except for the hair floating in it. One red line against all that silver. It was like a spark of fire, a spark that grew brighter and brighter in my eyes until it took on a more definite shape, a circle with stylized lines radiating from it. A sun, I realized. Someone had painted an orange sun onto a piece of plywood and hung it on a chain-link fence. Even with the shoddy canvas, the artist had gone to a lot of care in painting the sun, stylizing the rays and making sure the lengths were consistent with each other. The fence itself was ugly and industrial, and I caught sight of what looked like an electrifying box hanging on it. The landscape was brown and barren, but mountains in the distance told me it was still the greater Palm Springs area. This was kind of like the area Wolfe lived in, outside of town and away from the pretty greenery. Through the fence, beyond the sign, I caught sight of a large, sprawli ng building ââ¬â ââ¬Å"Ow!â⬠The vision vanished as my head hit the floor. I had fallen off the stool. I managed to sit up, but that was all I could do. The world was spinning, and my stomach felt queasy and empty. After what could have been three seconds or three hours, I heard voices and footsteps. Strong arms caught hold of me, and Adrian helped me to my feet. I clung to the table while he picked the stool up and helped me sit back down. Ms. Terwilliger pushed the silver plate aside and replaced it with an ordinary kitchen plate filled with cheese and crackers. A glass of orange juice soon joined it. ââ¬Å"Here,â⬠she said. ââ¬Å"Eat these. You'll feel better.â⬠I was so disoriented and weak that I didn't even hesitate. I ate and drank as though I hadn't eaten in a week while Adrian and Ms. Terwilliger waited patiently. It was only when I'd practically licked the plate clean that I realized what I'd just consumed. ââ¬Å"Havarti and orange juice?â⬠I groaned. ââ¬Å"That's too much fat and sugar for this time of night.â⬠Adrian scoffed. ââ¬Å"Glad to see there's no lasting damage.â⬠ââ¬Å"Get used to it if you're going to be using magic a lot,â⬠said Ms. Terwilliger. ââ¬Å"Spells can deplete you. Not unusual at all to have your blood sugar drop afterward. Orange juice will become your best friend.â⬠ââ¬Å"I'll never get used to it, seeing as I'm not going to ââ¬â â⬠I gasped, as the images I'd seen in the silver plate came tumbling back to me. ââ¬Å"Sonya! I think I saw where she's at.â⬠I described what I'd seen, though none of us had any clue about where or what this place might be. ââ¬Å"You're sure it was like a regular sun? With rays?â⬠asked Adrian. ââ¬Å"Because I thought the hunters used that old Alchemist one ââ¬â the circle and dot.â⬠ââ¬Å"They do, but this was definitely ââ¬â oh God.â⬠I looked up at Adrian. ââ¬Å"We have to get back to Amberwood. Right now.â⬠ââ¬Å"Not after that,â⬠said Ms. Terwilliger. She was using her stern teacher voice. ââ¬Å"That took more from you than I expected. Sleep here, and I'll make sure everything's cleared up with Desiree and the school tomorrow.â⬠ââ¬Å"No.â⬠I stood up and felt my legs start to buckle, but in the end, they held. Adrian put a supportive arm around me, clearly not believing in my body's recovery. ââ¬Å"I have to get back there. I think I know how we can find out where this place is.â⬠Adrian was right that the sun I'd just described wasn't the design that had been on the sword or brochure. Both of those had used the ancient symbol. The one in my vision was a more modern adaptation ââ¬â and this wasn't the first time I'd seen it. The sun in my vision was an exact match for Trey's tattoo.
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Inquiry Based Science Instruction Using Science Fair Projects
Problem Statement In order to fully develop critical thinking skills necessary to function in the world of science, and the world in general, science teachers must incorporate more robust authentic inquiry activities, as part of their overall science curriculum. However, in my experience as a science teacher (18 years) and a science program director (3 years) in inner-city high schools in Boston, students do not have the opportunity to engage in robust authentic inquiry activities. Using my yearsââ¬â¢ experience in the public education system, it is clear to me that factors, such as teachersââ¬â¢ inadequate content knowledge, lack of motivation to implement inquiry, pressure to teach to high stake standardized tests, lack of experienceâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦(Carlton, 2008) Similarly, western gender stereotypes have biased historical research of gender studies in the south (Fennell and Arnot, 2008); thereby rendering such research limited in its historical significance and material use. Thus, exposing students to authentic scientific inquiry via science fair projects is not only necessary to the studentââ¬â¢s academic success, it is, in my opinion, a vital component of the development of critical thinking skills necessary to separate authentic scientific data and research results from potentially questionable results; like the superiority/inferiority of different races and other biases. Teacher Beliefs and Experience Teachersââ¬â¢ actions in the classroom tend to reflect their own belief systems. This holds true both in my own experience working in the field of education, and other academics. For as Wallace and Kang note in their article ââ¬Å"An Investigation of Experienced Secondary Science Teachersââ¬â¢ Beliefs About Inquiry: An Examination of Competing Beliefs Setsâ⬠, ââ¬Å"what a teacher actually does in the classroom is representative of her beliefs.â⬠(2004) Additionally, in conducting research for their article ââ¬Å"White Male Teachers on Differences: Narratives of Contact and Tensionsâ⬠, Jupp and Slattery note the comments of one of the participants in the research project as stating ââ¬Å"â⬠¦teachers are certainly biased against certain children, especially if they donââ¬â¢t knowShow MoreRelatedMiddle School Curriculum Map Essay1323 Words à |à 6 Pagesintegrating reading in secondary areas such as science. The National Science Education Standards d escribe scientific literacy as ââ¬Å"the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and progresses required for personal decision making participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivityâ⬠(National Research Council, 1996, p. 22). In order for students to be scientifically literate, they must be able to read and comprehend a variety of science texts so they can develop reasonable. conclusionsRead MoreImproving A Good Job Is Getting Tougher And More Demanding795 Words à |à 4 Pagesstudents form part of our society and the everyday changes taking place, will affect them too. ELL students need to leave our schools as well prepared as the native English speakers. Many students, regardless of their native language, struggle with Science and Math because they donââ¬â¢t understand the concepts that underlie the subject (Sotomayor, K. 2013) To meet the literacy objectives under the Common Core State Standards, ESL and content-area teachers must work together in teaching STEM content-areaRead MoreStudent Assessment And The Use Of Assessment Data1408 Words à |à 6 Pagesensure that they are receiving rigorous instruction. The analysis of assessment data will assist teachers with gauging how much knowledge the students are retaining. The data will also assist teachers with lesson adjustment. Student assessment is accomplished by utilizing a variety of assessment instruments and the analysis of assessment data to monitor and document student learning, analyzing data from various assessment instruments to improve instruction, and employing multiple assessments andRead MoreScience, Technology And The Nightly News Essay1684 Words à |à 7 PagesScience, Technology and the Nightly News Introduction Itââ¬â¢s not uncommon for a news audience to run across stories or headlines about science that seem too good to be true. Headlines such as, ââ¬Å"Scientist Say Smelling Farts Might Prevent Cancer,â⬠(Stampler, 2014) or ââ¬Å"Bananas as good as drugs for treating HIV, say scientists.â⬠(Arkless Gray, 2010) Not only are these headlines flashy enough to get the attention of a wide audience, but they go beyond distributing the facts to wade into the waters of YellowRead MoreLearning About Space During Our Science Block Essay1952 Words à |à 8 Pagesdevelop for this class or a class similar to it for a third grade classroom would be inquiry based learning. In this third grade classroom the students would be learning about space. Inquiry based learning would be great for a third grade classroom as they are able to do research through books, the internet and by asking many questions. First, I would start out with introducing the topic of space during our science block. I would possibly start off with a few general questions like: how big is earthRead MoreTeaching Method Is More Beneficial Than A When Evaluating Student Progress And Achievement Essay1856 Words à |à 8 Pagesthis research is to identify whether one teaching method is more beneficial than another when evaluating student progress and achievement. This study specifically analyzes multiple types of data to compare the benefits and disadvantages of direct instruction and hands-on learning. The data will be collected and analyzed over the course of one school year, and will be compared to findings in similar research to determine if one method is, in fact, more beneficial to students than the other. The dataRead MoreA Differentiated Unit That Incorporates A Range Of Innovative Learners6925 Words à |à 28 Pagesclassroom infrastructure, the classroom setting has an established area in the middle for the purpose of whole group work tasks, quiet reading and other various activities. Scatte red around the whole class group area are grouped tables designed for inquiry based learning and collaborative, shared learning. The room?s design has an area specifically for quiet activities such as reading or intrapersonal learning time. The room is colourful with different coloured desks at random and an overwhelming amountRead MoreNew Pedagogic Approach: Concepts, Advantages and Implementation3753 Words à |à 16 PagesTherefore NPA entails approaches that use active methods of teaching and are learner centred. There are several approaches that focus on the learners and active methods of teaching than this connotation implies. These include integrated teaching, project pedagogy, discovery learning, cooperative learning, etc. To shade more light on the meaning of NPA Tambo (2003) remarks that the expression new pedagogic approach can be understood as a slogan adopted by MINEDUC to mobilize teachers and encourageRead MoreThe Effects and Implication of Mentoring for Beginning Teachers in the Philippines2524 Words à |à 11 PagesImplications of Mentoring for Beginning In-service teachers in Western Mindana o State University ââ¬â Philippines Statement of the problem Teachers face many challenges during the first years of teaching, such as planning and implementing curriculum and instruction, conducting assessments, motivating students, managing student differences and behaviour, and generally feeling overwhelmed (Roehrig et.al. 2006). They are being asked to teach technological and analytical skills to students from a broad range ofRead MoreCurriculum Development: Process10055 Words à |à 41 PagesCurriculum Development INTRODUCTION Curriculum development is concerned with the drawing up of plans for teaching and learning activities in classroom situations that will bring about positive changes in the lives of the learners. It is based on the schoolââ¬â¢s mission and goals and identifies ways of translating these into a coherent and coordinated program of meaningful experiences and conditions eliciting responses that will lead to the transformation of the learners into authentic, warm
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