Class of 2000 free essay sample

I bet the same thing is on every seniorsmind. With graduation only weeks away, I am determined to walk acrossthat stage, even though it becomes harder to stay focused onschool. I can see graduation day now. All the seniors will marchin wearing caps and gowns and sit proudly in the uncomfortable metalchairs before the stage. When our names are called, we willrealize everything we worked for as children has become reality. Thelife that all the accomplished and determined seniors worked so hard forwill be within reach. Some of us will run to the stage, ready andexcited. Others will be hesitant, afraid of the future. I will have togive myself a little push. Ever so slowly, I will walk to the front ofthe stage, concentrating on not stumbling. I will look up and realizeeveryone is watching me receive one of the most important pieces ofpaper in my life. I will proudly accept the diploma, as I shake myprincipals hand. We will write a custom essay sample on Class of 2000 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I will turn to my fellow classmates, smile with mydiploma raised in the air, and say, We did it!

Information Managing System

Introduction Information systems should try to balance between functionality, reliability, portability, performance, usability and maintainability for them to address the needs of their users. However, Piercy (2004) points that it is important to remember that there is no perfect system since future needs of the user groups keep on changing in addition to technological changes.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Information Managing System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Nonetheless, a good system must address different demands and needs of its users in the present times and foreseeable future to have a balanced solution. Therefore, this paper seeks to evaluate the current system used by SGA in order to determine whether it is contributing to the intended outcomes of its user group. Thereafter, it makes some recommendations for the replacement of the system. Analysis of the Effectiveness of the Current System The current system has several attributes that makes it effective in its management of information. One of the core aspects that make the current system to be effective is its accuracy in its work performance. For that matter, the system is acknowledged to be effective since it is capable of processing data accurately which is most important in decision making for all stakeholders of SGA. Decisions are made based on accurate information and this has steered the institution to the right direction. Furthermore, consistency is another attribute that is associated with the current students’ management information system. The system is able to produce uniform and consistent information in all levels of the institution which is key in decision making process as conclusions drawn from every level is consistent. Nonetheless, the system ensures completeness of information in its information processing. For instance, the system applies validation technique that ensures that all required da ta is entered before processing moves to the next stage. In addition, this validation ensures only required data is entered. For example, in inputting information that relates to digits, the system does not allow entering of alphabetical letters. This makes sure that complete and right information are given hence making information processed to be complete and reliable. Moreover, it is also imperative to acknowledge that the current system used by SGA is reliable in terms of performance. It is able to perform tasks quickly serve the needs of its users. For instance, grading of students can be done simultaneously in a short period of time which is opposed to the old manual system that used to take several days before marks could be computed for grading. Strengths of the Current System Strengths of the current system are drawn from its properties that make it more effective and reliable. Nonetheless, the most important strength of the current information system of SGA is that it has a comprehensive aspect that encompasses most administration aspect of the institution.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, it has functionalities that manage student registration, creation of time table, measurement of students’ performance, students’ attendance record, management of clubs and societies. This is a big strength in this current system since other systems may not incorporate most of these aspects in one whole. In addition, the current system is compatible to most platforms irrespective of their vendors. For instance, it is able to perform and operate on different operating systems such as Microsoft families, Linux families and Macintosh platforms. This gives SGA a lee way to choose to operate on any of the platform as the system can still operate effectively. Limitations of the Current System Notably, there is no single system that can b e described as perfect in its design and functionality (Effy, 2009). Therefore, as any other information management system, the current system used by SGA comprises of several limitations that needs to be addressed in order to have relative good and balanced information system that can serve the current and foreseeable needs of the institution. To begin with one of the major limitations that are noted from the current system is its security loopholes. The security issues expose the system to integrity related issues as system accessibility is exposed to unauthorized users who can compromise data its integrity. For instance, the system lacks a secure login feature which makes it vulnerable to accessibility by unwarranted people who may compromise integrity of data stored. Moreover, the system lacks calendar feature. It is important to note calendar in school activities is quite important since every activity needs to be scheduled using this feature. This is a big limitation on part o f the current system. Therefore, it makes it inefficient in addressing some of the needs of its users. In addition, in the current times where web 2.0 technologies are changing the way organizational business are conducted, any organizational system need to appreciate this technologies. Therefore, it is a limitation that the current system lacks messaging capabilities which can be used to communicate with the students. Furthermore, it is noted from the analysis of the system that it does not support web based access of information using a browser. For that matter, it makes it difficult to integrate the current system which internet services which are too useful in the entire management and communication of students’ information.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Information Managing System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Recommendations In respect to the limitations noted in the analysis of the current sy stem, the papers proposes several recommendations that should be undertaken in order to improve management of students information by SGA. Firstly, it recommends that the current system needs a replacement since it does not support the needs of SGA fully. In the design and development of the new system therefore, several feature need to be taken into account in order to have a system that address user needs. To begin with, the new system must have functionalities that generate reports and be able to manage users’ roles, instructors, courses and facilities. Moreover, calendar functionality must be prioritized in the new system to help scheduling of activities. In addition, messaging and notification functionality must be incorporated in the new system to ensure easier communication with students. Furthermore, it will be imperative that new system encompass assessment and testing of students and enable displaying of result scores and produce transcripts. In addition, the new sy stem needs to incorporate a functionality that handles grading of coursework and roster processing. Moreover, web based course delivery functionality should also be part of the new system to be able to address different user needs. References Effy, O.(2009) Management Information Systems. London: Cengage Learning, Inc. Piercy, N. (2004) Management Information System: The Technology Challenge. London: Croom Helm Ltd. This report on Information Managing System was written and submitted by user Brody Estrada to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Toefl Argumentative Essay Sample Can Help You Write Better Essays

A Toefl Argumentative Essay Sample Can Help You Write Better EssaysA Toefl (To examine Everything) argumentative essay sample is a great tool to use if you want to write an essay that is 'good enough' to get a decent grade in a college or university. The Toefl argumentative essay is a bit different than the average argumentative essay because it focuses on more of a problem solving approach rather than an argumentative approach.With the Toefl essay, you are given a piece of information and then told to find another piece of information that supports the first piece of information that you have. This could be an actual fact, but it could also be a true story, an anecdote, a personal experience, etc. By using this type of essay, you will be able to focus on the facts rather than getting sidetracked by the argumentative side of writing.The basic premise of the Toefl essay is to show your reader that you actually have the ability to go beyond the facts and to actually show them how you c an tell them about your situation in a unique way. You need to make sure that your Toefl essay is a useful, useful tool for you. By learning the techniques used in an essay like this, you will learn how to go about composing your own essay.When you are starting to learn how to write a Toefl essay, it is important that you stay organized. This means that you must write each paragraph of your essay on your paper with the first paragraph the title of the paragraph, and the second paragraph the first paragraph. This helps to make the argument and purpose of your essay crystal clear to you. The last paragraph of your essay should also be your title.You will also want to think about how your topic relates to other topics. Your subject matter will change depending on what subject you choose to focus on. If you are going to be discussing a popular TV show, for example, you will want to write your essay using a more comedic tone than if you were to write about the potential future of your co mpany.In today's world, it is much easier for the writer to get a topic off their chest and express their feelings through writing than it has ever been before. People will likely read your essay more than they will read your non-essay text. They are very quick to judge the quality of a person's writing.The technique of writing your essay first and then including your points in your essay is often the most powerful approach to writing an essay. Using your essay as a way to explain yourself is usually much more effective than trying to persuade people. It helps to create more dialogue between you and your reader, and gives you more time to explain why you are writing. This also makes the essay more interesting to read, as you will want to stay true to your topic.A Toefl argumentative essay sample is also a great place to start when you are trying to learn the skill of how to write an essay. In this case, you may not need to understand every detail about the topic, as you will be usin g it as a jumping off point. For instance, if you have a personal experience to discuss in your essay, then you can simply take that experience and integrate it into your Toefl essay.

What Is a Gap Year Should You Take One

What Is a Gap Year Should You Take One SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Taking a gap year after high school is an option that more and more young adultsare choosing each year. Whether you want to learn outside the classroom, uncoveryour passions, or just copy Malia Obama, you can pursueall three goals by deferring college enrollment for a year. Gap years look different for everyone, but they all share an emphasis on experiential learning and personal development. This guide will explore what a gap year is, as well as discuss some of itspros and cons. If you’re thinking of taking a gap year or are simply interested inlearning more about it, read on for a full investigation into this growing trend. What Is a Gap Year? According to the American Gap Year Association (AGA), a gap year is an â€Å"experiential semester of year ‘on,’ typically taken between high school and college in order to deepen practical, professional, and personal awareness.† AGA emphasizes that a gap year is a year on, rather a year off, to combat the notion that students are taking a year-long vacation from schooling. Rather, students who take time away between high school and college design their year with specific goals in mind. They use thetime to gain professional skills, volunteer for an important cause, or travel the world, to name just a few popular gap year activities. Because gap years often require some financial investment from the student, they are typically not an available option for everyone. While scholarships and stipends are increasingly available, the ability to take a gap year still implies a certain amount of privilege. Volunteer programs at home or abroad are especially out of reachto students who areunable tocommit months of their time to working or traveling without pay. If you are able to take a gap year, you can fillyour year in a variety of ways, depending on your interests and goals. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular gap year activities. Before diving headfirst into a gap year, you should set specific goals for your "year on." What Can You Do During a Gap Year? Gap year activities vary widely, but most people are looking to experience personal, professional, and educational growth. When planning a gap year, you might try to gain work experience, develop professional skills, explore a personal interest, volunteer for an important cause, or travel the world. 1. Gain Work Experience While options for paid work aren’t as plentiful for high school graduates as they are for college graduates, you may be able to find paid employment. By spending the year working, you can save money for college, gain professional experience, and clarify what you want to study in college. Given the high cost of private colleges, you may not want to attend until you clarifyyour career goals. Working for a year can help you explore and narrow down your professional interests. You could work locally in a business or organization in your town. You can also explore jobs in other cities or countries at companies or nonprofit organizations. Another option for high school graduates is providing childcare locally or abroad as an au pair. 2. Develop Professional Skills Beyond getting a job, you can explore programs centered on skills development and career exploration. Some organizations charge a sizeable fee, while others are geared toward low-income graduates. Year Up, for instance, aims to provide low-income young adults with hands-on skills development and corporate internships for college credit. Job Corps offers training programs in over 100 technical areas. For wilderness and leadership skills, Outward Bound and National Outdoor Leadership School are popular options. Students with the means and interest to work internationally, furthermore, could develop skills working in a non-profit through an organization like AFS Intercultural Programs. Not only do these programs offer skills training, but many give you college credits that transfer when you matriculate the next year. Do you love camping? Some gap year programs help you develop wilderness and leadership skills. 3. Explore a Personal Interest Another popular motivation for taking a gap year is to explore a personal passion. According to Harvard, some of its students who took a gap year engaged in â€Å"drama, figure skating, health-care, archeological exploration, kibbutz life, language study, mineralogical research, missionary work, music, non-profit groups, child welfare programs, political campaigns, rebuilding schools...sports, steel drumming, storytelling, swing dance, university courses, and writing- to name some chosen at random.† When planning a gap year, you should think about what you love to do. If you could spend a day doing whatever you wanted, what would you choose? Even if you're not sure, you should search around gap year organizations to find opportunities that would let you practice, explore, and discover personal passions. 4. Volunteer for a Cause Another popular gap year activity that combines skills development with exploring a personal passion is volunteering. There are lots of opportunities to volunteer for social causes, like conservation, humanitarian relief, building infrastructure, girls’ empowerment, education, agriculture, or animal care. There are a variety of volunteer programs available, many of which you can find throughUSA Gap Year Fair. City Year, for example, places young adults in schools throughout the U.S. to help out in the classroom. International programs, like Volunteers for Peace, Global Service Corps, and Restless Development, appointyoung adultsin locations across the world to volunteer with kids, teach English, work on environmental restoration, or assist with social projects like HIV/AIDS awareness. Some of these volunteer programs are free, while others charge a considerable fee (not including airfare). By researchingvarious opportunities, you can find an option that both aligns with your goals and is financially feasible. Are you interested in animal care or environmental conservation? Some programs take you across the world to volunteer at animal sanctuaries. 5. Travel the World Finally, some young adults have one main goal during their gap year: to see the world. They hit the open road, backpack across continents, and visit global landmarks. Budget travelers might take advantage of cheap or free lodging options through CouchSurfing or WWOOF, an organization where people exchange farm work for lodging. Travelers use a gap year to learn more about the world, experience new cultures, and discover new interests. By experiencing new ways of being, they learn more about themselves and their role in the world. Potential Benefits of a Gap Year More and more students are taking gap years between high school and college, and an increasing number of colleges are explicitly encouraging the practice. Why are students attracted to this option, and what are some benefits of taking a gap year before entering college? Read on to learn about six major potential benefits of taking a gap year after high school. 1. Gain New Skills Through Experience Gap years offer an opportunity for experiential learning. They allow you to step out of the classroom and learn new skills and ideas through doing. You might find yourself in entirely new situations that call for unique problem-solving skills and a change inperspective. Whether you choose to work, volunteer, or travel, you’ll encounter new challenges and develop skills to overcome them. These new experiences, furthermore, might help shape your academic direction when you arrive on the college campus. Are you feeling foggy about what you want to study at college? Spending a year developing new skills can part the clouds and clarify what you want to do for the next few years. 2. Save Money for College Gap years don’t have to cost thousands of dollars. On the contrary, you might take this time to get a job, gain professional experience, and make money. Gainful employment can allow you to save money for college, get experience in a work environment, and clarify your professional goals. Job board websites like Idealist and Snagajob list opportunities that are available to high school graduates. 3. Learn About New Cultures Many students go through eighteen years of schooling in the same place with the same group of people. By taking a gap year, you can step out of your comfort zone and into an entirely new culture. Even if you’re not traveling internationally, you may experience a new culture by joining a workplace or taking part in volunteer gap year programs. You could learn new customs, try new foods, acquire a different language, or simply open your eyes to new ways of being in the world. Your gap year experience can broaden your horizons and transform your perspective on both yourself and the world around you. 4. Make New Friends Just as you can gain new experiences on a gap year, you can also meet new people of all different ages and walks of life. By building meaningful relationships, you can experience a great deal of personal growth and establish a network of support asyou navigate the next few years of your life. Whether you meet coworkers, fellow volunteers, or a home-stay family in another country, you and the people around you will benefit from forging new connections and friendships. During a gap year, you can make new friends and learn about people from all walks of life. 5. Refresh and Recharge Before College A gap year can be a great way to recharge after manyyears of schooling. Rather than immediately jumping into the next four years of your education, you can take a break from the classroom and rejuvenate your personal interests and motivations. Many selective schools, including Princeton and Harvard, encourage accepted students to take a gap year before enrolling. Harvard says, â€Å"Perhaps the best way of all to get the full benefit of a â€Å"time-off† is to postpone entrance to college for a year.† Harvard’s newspaper, The Crimson, reported that â€Å"students who had taken a year off found the experience â€Å"so valuable that they would advise all Harvard students to consider it.† ...One student, noting that the majority of her friends will simply spend eight consecutive terms at Harvard, ‘wondered if they ever get the chance to catch their breath.’† Some schools have even introduced â€Å"bridge programs† that offer a year of domestic or international service to accepted students before they matriculate on campus. Studies have shown that students who take a gap year before starting college have higher motivation and graduation rateson average than students who don’t. Taking this break from the classroom can help recharge your batteries and allow you to discover intereststhat motivate your studies once you arrive on campus. 6. Grow and Mature Putting all of the above benefits together, you can conclude that a thoughtfully planned gap year can be a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and increased self-awareness. Whatever you choose to do during your gap year, you’ll probably find yourself in new surroundings, like a workplace, school in a different city, or an entirely new culture. Simply planning a gap year can be an empowering experience, as it’s an unconventional path that requires a lot of thought and reflection. After planning and carrying out your year, you may show up to college with a more solid sense of personal identity and clearer understanding of your personal, academic, and professional goals. Keeping all of these benefits in mind, let’s also consider some potential drawbacks of taking a gap year. What are some possible downsides to this plan? A gap year can bean opportunity for significant personal growth. Potential Drawbacks of a Gap Year Taking a gap year has both pros and cons, and you should consider both carefully if you’re deciding whether or not to take a gap year before entering college. Below are the main potential downsides of taking a gap year. 1. Financial Expenses While there are lots of enticing gap year programs, they might be a lot more expensive than you realize. Many programs charge a sizeable fee for you to volunteer, and this fee doesn’t always include transportation. To volunteer in Cambodia for two weeks with Global Service Corps, for instance, you’d have to pay $2,000, and this fee doesn’t include airfare or insurance. When considering a gap year program, you should be realistic about how you’re going to pay for it. You might do a cost-benefit analysis to see if the experience is worth it. If you find that it’s not, you may instead plan to study abroad, volunteer, or intern for a semester incollege or during summer breaks from school. 2. Additional Planning and Uncertainty Taking a gap year can be challenging because of all the planning it entails. When you go right into college, your path is clear and largely defined for you. When you choose a gap year, you open up a huge number of new possibilities. Within all this choice can lie a great deal of uncertainty, and uncertainty cancause anxiety and stress. If you’re taking part in a gap year program, then you may also have to go through a lengthy application process. You may have to fill out paperwork, collect documents, and write essays around the same time as you’re applying to college, doing homework, and taking the SAT. All of this extra work could put a lot of pressure on an already busy and stressful year. When considering a gap year, keep in mind that all of the extra effort and decisions that planning onerequires. When you take a gap year, you have to get in the driver's seat and navigate the next year of your life. This total independence can cause a lot of uncertainty. 3. Graduate From College a Year Later While gap years are increasingly popular, most people still go to college in the fall following high school graduation. If you take a gap year, you could feel a year behind your peers, many of whom may be sophomores when you become a freshman. You may also graduate a year later from them, unless you come up with a plan to graduate in three years. Taking a gap year is a personal choice, but you should consider whether it could make you feel like you’re behind and have to race to catch up. 4. Culture Shock If you’re planning to travel, work, or volunteer in a new city or country, you should think about the challenges of adapting to a new environment.Moving can be thrilling at first, but it also has its hardships. If you’ve never traveled away from home before, then you might experience culture shock and homesickness. Being nervous about starting anew venture is natural, but you should also be self-aware about how you’ll handle an adjustment. If your plan feels too overwhelming, then you may want to scale back and start with smaller steps. Before you fly away from home, considerthe emotional ups and downs of adjusting to a new culture. 5. Loss of Academic Momentum For the most part, studies show that students who take a gap year have high motivation when they arrive at college. However, you might find it difficult to return to an academic environment after taking a year away from the classroom. Consider whether your gap year ideacould disrupt your plans for higher education and cause you to lose momentum. Would it be refreshing, or would you find it hardto return to the school environment? While you can’t predict the future, it’s important to consider all of these potential drawbacks as you decide whether or not to take a gap year. Given these benefits and potential challenges, how can you decide about a gap year? If you have the opportunity, should you take one? Should You Take a Gap Year? Questions to Ask Yourself Once you’ve done your research and considered your options, how can you figure out whether taking a gap year is the right choice for you? Before making the leap, you should ask yourself the following three questions. Before you take a gap year, take some time to reflect on your reasons for doing so. 1. Why Do I Want to Take a Gap Year? First and foremost, you should clarify your reasons for wanting to take a gap year. What are your goals? What do you hope to gain from this experience? Where do you hope to be at the end of the year? A gap year is an opportunity to engage in activities that you care about, develop skills, contribute to society, or save money. To make the most of the year, you should develop clear goals going into it. That way you can make sure that your gap year is, as American Gap Year Association defines it, a year â€Å"on† rather than a year â€Å"off.† 2. Are My Plans Feasible? Once you’ve reflected on your goals and motivations, it’s time for a reality check. While some gap year ideas, like volunteering with orangutans in Borneo, sound like a dream come true, are theyactually feasible? What will the financial costs of your plans be? What kind of application process is required? While it’s easy to get excited about a new adventure, you also need to consider logistics, like planning and costs. Without a clear idea of what you’re getting yourself into, a plan that started out exciting could become burdensome. 3. How Will My Gap Year Affect My College Plans? Finally, you need to do some research into how taking a gap year would affect your college plans. On the logistical level, does your college allow you to defer for a year? If not, would you have to re-apply? How would this timeline affect financial aid? On a more personal level, you should think about how taking a â€Å"year on† would affect your educational momentum,as discussed above. Would you get re-motivated about your learning? Or would you find it difficult to return to the classroom? Ideally, your gap year will be full of valuable experiences that help you learn about yourself and illuminateyour academic goals. You can’t tell exactly whatthe future will bring, of course, but you should still take time to self-reflect on your plans and how they fit into your long-term plans for college and career. As you do some soul-searching about why you want to take a gap year and what it would mean for you, you should consult resources for planning a gap year. Read on for the best gap year resources for high school graduates. Remember that taking a gap year after high school means that you'll startcollege a year laterthan most of your peers. Resources to Help You Plan a Gap Year People design their gap years in a huge variety of ways. Below are some resources to help you get started, whether you’re looking for a job or a volunteer program. Idealist.org - Idealist lists a variety of job, internship, and volunteer opportunities at organizations concerned with social issues, like environmental conservation and education. When you search on the site, you can filter for results that don’t require an education level beyond high school. Snagajob.com - Snagajob offers job listings for high school students and graduates. You can find openings in industries like food and restaurant, customer service, automotive, office support, and healthcare. USA Gap Year Fairs -This website has a comprehensive list of gap year organizations, along with descriptions and links to their websites. USA Gap Year Fairs holds fairs, exhibits, and speakers in the US and Canada throughout the year. Check out the site forthe full schedule and locations of gap year fairs. Gapwork.com-Gapwork is another comprehensive organization with lots ofgap year ideas, volunteer positions, and job opportunities for students looking to take a gap year. Check out the site to learn more about gap year activities, along with useful suggestions for ways to fund your gap year. Go Overseas - Go Overseas focuses on gap year programs in variouscountries around the world. You can find all kinds of volunteer programs, internships, and jobs in far-flung destinations. American Gap Year Association (AGA) -AGA is a nonprofit that is committed to increasing participation in gap year education. They have a variety of gap year resources for students, parents, and educators, as well as a list of AGA-accredited gap year organizations. Finally, some colleges now explicitly encourage applicants to pursue a gap year before matriculating on campus. Tufts University, for instance, offers the â€Å"1 + 4 Bridge Year Service Learning Project† for accepted students, and Princeton University offers a similar â€Å"Bridge Year Program.† As you research and apply to colleges, you should talk to the admissions office about gap year opportunities and how the schoolsupport students who choose this route. In closing, let’s go over some final thoughts about what it means to take a gap year after high school. The American Gap Year Association is a big advocate for gap years. AGA is committed to increasing participation in gap years among young adults. Taking a Gap Year: Final Thoughts Gap years are becoming more and more popular among U.S. students. Several organizations, like the American Gap Year Association, are strong advocates for the personal, professional, and academic benefits of taking a gap year. According to studies, students who take a gap year return to college more motivated and more likely to graduate than their peers who go directly from high school into college. Gap years can take a number of forms, and they require a good deal of intention and planning. If you’re interested in a gap year, you should carefully consider your goals and what actions you can take to reach them. You also need to consider the financial costs of your gap year plans. If you have a well-thought out plan for taking a gap year, then you should feel confident in your decision. There is no set timeline foryour education, and going straight from high school into college definitely isn’t for everyone. Designinga meaningful gap year between high school and college could be one of the best life decisions you ever make! What’s Next? Are you interested in volunteering abroad? Check out theseguides to learn about volunteering abroad programs for high schoolers and whether they are a good choice for you. Do you have the opportunity to study abroad in high school? This comprehensive guide discusses what it means to study abroad as a high schooler. Do you know all the steps to apply to college? Check out this article to learn about the full college application process, step by step. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Basking Shark Facts (Cetorhinus maximus)

Basking Shark Facts (Cetorhinus maximus) The basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) is an enormous plankton-eating shark. After the whale shark, it is the second-largest living shark. The shark takes its common name from its habit of feeding near the sea surface, making it appear to bask in the sun. Although its large size may seem threatening, the basking shark is not aggressive toward humans. Fast Facts: Basking Shark Scientific Name: Cetorhinus maximusOther Names: Bone shark, elephant sharkDistinguishing Features: Large gray-brown shark with highly enlarged mouth and crescent-shaped caudal finAverage Size: 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft)Diet: Filter feeder with a diet of zooplankton, tiny fish, and small invertebrates Lifespan: 50 years (estimated)Habitat: Temperate oceans worldwideConservation Status: VulnerableKingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: ChondrichthyesOrder: LamniformersFamily: CetorhinidaeFun Fact: Despite its enormous size, the basking shark can breach (jump out of the water). Description Thanks to their cavernous mouths and well-developed gill rakers, basking sharks are easily recognized when near the surface. The shark has a conical snout, gill slits extending around its head, and a crescent-shaped caudal fin. Its color is usually a shade of gray or brown. Adult basking sharks typically reach 6 to 8 m (20 to 26 ft) in length, although specimens over 12 meters in length have been reported. Notably, the basking shark has the smallest brain for its size of any shark. Basking shark corpses have been misidentified as belonging to plesiosaurs. Distribution As a migratory species found in temperate water, the basking shark enjoys a large range. It occurs along continental shelves, sometimes venturing into brackish bays and crossing equatorial waters. Migration follows plankton concentrations, which vary according to the season. Basking sharks frequent surface waters, but can be found at depths of 910 m (2990 ft). Basking shark range. maplab Diet and Predators A basking shark feeds on zooplankton, tiny fish, and small invertebrates by swimming forward with an open mouth. The sharks gill rakers collect prey as water rushes past. While the whale shark and megamouth shark can suck water through their gills, the basking shark can only feed by swimming forward. Killer whales and white sharks are the basking sharks only predators. Reproduction and Life Cycle Many of the details of basking shark reproduction are unknown. Researchers believe mating occurs in early summer, when the sharks form sex-segregated schools and swim nose-to-tail in circles (which may be a courtship behavior). Gestation lasts somewhere between one and three years, after which a small number of fully developed young are born. Female basking sharks are ovoviviparous. Only the right ovary of the female basking shark functions, although researchers have not yet discovered why. Basking shark teeth are small and useless in adults sharks. However, they may allow young to feed on the mothers unfertilized ova prior to birth. Basking sharks are thought to reach maturity between the ages of six and thirteen. Their life expectancy is predicted to be about 50 years. Basking Sharks and Humans In the past, the basking shark held commercial importance. It was widely fished for its flesh for food, liver for squalene-rich oil, and hide for leather. Presently, the species is protected in many regions. However, it is still fished in Norway, China, Canada, and Japan for its fins for shark fin soup and its cartilage for an aphrodisiac as well as traditional medicine. Within protected areas, some specimens die as bycatch. Basking sharks are not aggressive and cannot eat people. JohnGollop / Getty Images The basking shark tolerates boats and divers, so it is important for ecotourism. The species is not aggressive, but injuries have been reported when divers brushed against the sharks highly abrasive skin. Conservation Status While the basking shark does not face habitat loss or degradation, it has not recovered from past persecution and over-fishing. Its numbers continue to decline. The basking shark is categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Sources Compagno, L.J.V. (1984). Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species to date. Part I (Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes). FAO Fisheries Synopsis, FAO, Rome.Fowler, S.L.  (2009).  Cetorhinus maximus.  The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. e.T4292A10763893.  doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2005.RLTS.T4292A10763893.enKuban, Glen (May 1997). Sea-monster or Shark?: An Analysis of a Supposed Plesiosaur Carcass Netted in 1977. Reports of the National Center for Science Education. 17 (3): 16–28.Sims, D.W.; Southall, E.J.; Richardson, A.J.; Reid, P.C.; Metcalfe, J.D. (2003). Seasonal movements and behaviour of basking sharks from archival tagging: no evidence of winter hibernation (PDF). Marine Ecology Progress Series. 248: 187–196. doi:10.3354/meps248187Sims, D.W. (2008). Sieving a living: A review of the biology, ecology and conservation status of the plankton-feeding basking shark Cetorhinus maximus. Advances in Marine Biology. 54: 171–220.

Leadership and organisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Leadership and organisation - Essay Example It will focus how and when change takes place within an organization, and how leaders adopt with it, deal with it and what are the consequences while dealing with the change. The essay will discuss the basic skills of leadership such as the ability to inspire others, have effective communication skills, is enthusiastic and inspirational. The importance of these skills would assist the leaders to manage the change. The main objective of this paper is not only to review the concepts of leadership on theoretical notions but to also elaborate the application of these theories with the real case study examples. Leadership is an influence of people including leaders and followers who aim the actual changes and outcomes that reflect their shared drives. It reflects upon the changes and purposes being shared by the people (Daft 2008, p.4). Leadership involves the four vital factors including leader, followers, communication and situation that help to acquire the positive within an institute. Every leader should have personal responsibility and honesty towards the followers and organization, besides leader should have the mentality to accept changes and sharing purpose with the followers (Clark 2010). According to Daft definition leadership entails forming change, and not only being dependent upon the traditional concepts. This change directs to achieve the end-results that leader and the follower both desires. It helps to influence and motivate the leader and the follower to attain the mutual vision (Daft 2008, p.194). Organizational change is considered as an approach of bringing change in terms of transition within the team or organization in the current phase to the desired phase. There are different types of organizational change for which leaders are responsible including mission changes, strategic changes, operational changes technological changes, behavioral changes among the workforce (Boje 2000). Leaders are highly

Sex differences in response to actual infidelity. (How men and women Research Paper

Sex differences in response to actual infidelity. (How men and women react differently towards infidelity and why) - Research Paper Example The point of discussion here is how men and women behave differently when they discover that they are being cheated or their friend or spouse is being unfaithful to them. Men and women show dissimilar emotional responses to events. Their psychological differences help us understand why their responses are different. Nannini and Meyers (2000) studied the male and female response to social and emotional infidelity. They conducted their experiment on 165 women and 152 men, and examined their responses â€Å"using both Smith and Elsworth’s six cognitive dimensions of emotion and a measure of emotional upset.† They found that the gender of the victim was as important as the nature of the scenario itself, and concluded that women were more emotionally distressed when they faced infidelity than men. They state in their research that evolutionary psychologists have agreed upon another fact that there is also a big difference in the jealousy content of male and female reactions in that men are more jealous if their mates are cheating upon them. Men fear sexual infidelity and women fear emotional infidelity, and their reactions are also more limited to their areas of jealousy. Bjorklund and Shackelford (1999) had also supported this previously by stating in his research that the psychological differences and the gender roles assigned to women by the society, like caring more for children and looking after the spouse, maker her react more to emotional infidelity rather than sexual infidelity. Women tend to be more emotionally insecure than men and so they are hurt more when they fall prey to emotional infidelity by another person may he be a spouse, friend or a colleague. Men are, on the other hand, emotionally strong in nature so they are not easily moved when they undergo an emotional situation; however, they show more distress than women when they encounter sexual infidelity (Sagarin et al., 2003; Harris, 2000; Pietrzak et al., 2002). DeKay and Buss (1992 , p.184) state that evolutionary psychology shapes human psychological mechanisms and this is the difference in the functioning of these mechanisms in both sexes that makes them react differently to different situations. More of the research and literature is based on spousal infidelity. Duncombe (2004, p.106) talks about the double standards put forward by men in which they engage more often in extradyad sex than women and also do not forgive women to engage in extradyad sex. Research states that men like to and do engage in extramarital short span relationships, and also fall prey to vehement jealousy if their female counterparts do the same, and this jealousy often results in murders or murder attempts. However, there are researchers like Mead (1975) who agreed that women are the more jealous sex because they are jealous even when they are not in love while men are only jealous when they are in love. Mead states that the reason for this is the women are generally dependent on men and they do not want to lose them for the sake of their social stability and financial resources. Researchers agree that men possess low levels of anxiety and stress within them due to which their reactions to infidelity other than sexual one is not that stronger as women whose stress levels are much higher. But the case is opposite in sexual infidelity. Cann, Mangum and Wells (2001, p.185) suggest that besides evolutionary aspects of human psychology, there are also