Category: Essays

What’s on the Agenda

[Pin It]

What’s on the Agenda?

Now that you have explored the Web sites of a number of professional associations and foundations that support the work of higher education professionals, share your findings with your colleagues and determine “what’s on the agenda” of these organizations. In your Discussion this week, address the following questions:

Are there common themes that you see running through the issues and topics addressed by several associations?

Are there some associations whose agenda seems to be very different from those of others?

How do the agendas of these organizations overlap with the issues we’ve been investigating in this course so far? Are the associations working on issues that truly concern the majority of higher education professionals, and is their work likely to provide resources that will help us with our key challenges? Do you see any gaps

 

Write a 750–1000-word blog post (3–4 pages) for a student nursing Web site that examines how evidence-based health care leads to better clinical decisions and patient outcomes.

Scoring Guide and specific instructions attache

This “Assignment 2” writing assignment is a comparative essay focused on topics encountered in our HUM 111 class. The project will be based on research but will reflect your views and interpretation of the topic. This project is designed to help you stretch your mind and your abilities as an organized, innovative, and critical thinker. If approached properly, it should also be fun!

Choose one (1) of the topics from the list of topic choices below. Read the topic carefully. Write a three to four (3-4) page paper (750-1,000 words) that follows instructions and covers each part of the topic. (The title page and References list do not get included in this word count).

Note: Your instructor may require you to submit your topic choice for approval before the end of Week 5.

For the topic you choose:

Establish a clear thesis about your topic as part of the introductory paragraph (often the thesis is the last thing one determines after doing the basic research and outline; however it will be placed in the first paragraph of your paper).
This is a comparative essay. Comparison approached properly will require some critical thinking on your part. Use a point-by-point approach for the essay. That means, if comparing subject A with subject B, don’t do the first half of the essay on subject A and then the second half on subject B–that will seem like two (2) separate essays and comparisons will tend to get lost. Instead, you should be mentioning both subjects in most of your paragraphs as you compare them throughout the essay. Comparisons will identify similarities as well as contrasts.
Do not try to do everything on your two (2) subjects. You should end up narrowing your focus to a few insights and issues about the subjects being compared. And, from those fairly specific points of comparison, you will develop a thesis and glean some lessons.
Follow closely the instructions below for your specific topic.
Include a concluding paragraph at the end. This paragraph will, in some way, refer back to the thesis established in your first paragraph, since now you have demonstrated and supported it. It may be here that you also include your observations relating your study to the modern workplace or society (see your topic). Try to finish with flair!
Use at least three (3) good quality academic sources, with one (1) source being the class text. Note: Wikipedia and other similar Websites do not qualify as academic resources. You are highly encouraged to use the Resource Center tab at the top of your Blackboard page.

Topic Choices – Choose just one (1) of the topics below:

Qualities of the Hero: Comparing Gilgamesh and Odysseus.Write an essay comparing these two (2) heroic figures from ancient epics of different cultures, especially focusing your analysis on the sources about their encounters with monsters: Gilgamesh encounters the monster guarding the forest, Humbaba, in Tablets 3-5 of the Epic of Gilgamesh (see http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/mesopotamian/gilgamesh/; scroll down to the Tablet links; think of “Tablet” numbers like chapter numbers).” Odysseus encounters Polyphemus the Cyclops in Book 9 of The Odyssey(see http://www.theoi.com/Text/HomerOdyssey9.html; from line 105 to the end). Your paper should:

a) Compare Gilgamesh and Odysseus as to their heroic qualities, noting similarities and differences, using specific examples from the epics.

b) Summarize what this indicates about differences between ancient Mesopotamian and Greek cultures in their ideals and expectations.

c) From this comparison, suggest ways that current cultural ideals and expectations shape modern notions about role models and heroes.

Confucius and Aristotle on Virtue. Write an essay comparing these two (2) ancient thinkers on the concept of virtue or good ethical character and conduct. Stay focused on the issue; keep any biographical or other information short or limited. As much as possible, analyze their writings (in translation, of course), using Confucius’ Analects (at http://classics.mit.edu/Confucius/analects.html ) and Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics (at http://classics.mit.edu/Aristotle/nicomachaen.html ). Your paper should:

a) Compare the teachings of Confucius and Aristotle on what constitutes virtue or good ethical character and conduct, noting similarities and differences in specific ideas or emphasis.

b) Consider what your findings suggest about differences between ancient Chinese and ancient Greek culture.

c) From this comparison, suggest ideas of virtue that can apply to ethics in a modern setting, such as a diverse workplace.

Comparing Sculptures of Ancient India and Greece. Write an essay comparing the way gods and humans were depicted in sculpture in ancient India and Greece, and identify the cultural values and ideals that these art works reflect in each case. Your paper should:

a) Using specific examples, compare the way gods and people were depicted in the sculptures of ancient India and Greece, noting similarities and differences.

b) Identify the cultural values and ideals that these art works reflect for each society.

c) From this comparison, suggest a modern situation of artistic expression and the ways it reflects or counters prevailing cultural values.

Comparing Ancient Skeptics. Write an essay comparing Lucretius and Wang Chong (=Wang Ch’ung), skeptical philosophers of ancient Rome and China. They were skeptical about popular religious and spiritual beliefs and widely-held superstitions. Lucretius was an Epicurean philosopher of Roman culture (Chapter 6). Wang Ch’ung was a thinker in ancient Chinese culture (Chapter 7). Focus your comparison on their writings as found at http://www.humanistictexts.org/lucretius.htmand http://www.humanistictexts.org/wangchung.htm#On Not Flying to Heaven. Your paper should:

a) Using examples from their writings, compare these two (2) thinkers on their views about specific subjects and on their approach in explaining and expressing their skepticism.

b) From this comparison, identify popular beliefs in each culture that seem similar and those that seem different.

c) From this comparison, suggest any modern situation in which materialist skeptics confront spiritual and religious beliefs, and comment on the considerations of free expression and cultural respect.

Comparing Ancient Male Rulers. Take any two (2) of these rulers and write an essay comparing them: Ramses II, Shihuangdi, Constantine, Ashoka, Pericles, or Charlemagne. Select rulers from different cultures. You may also propose (for approval or not) a ruler not listed. Avoid lengthy quoting or lengthy close paraphrasing from biographical sources. Make it YOUR comparative analysis. Your paper should:

a) Compare the two (2) rulers in terms of their situation and methods of rule and their apparent ideals and practices, noting similarities and differences. Use specific examples.

b) Consider what your study suggests about the cultures over which they ruled, identifying any similarities and differences between the cultures.

c) From this comparison, suggest lessons about different types of effective leadership in the world of modern business and / or modern politics.

Comparing Ancient Female Rulers. Compare the Tang Empress Wu Zetian (also known as Empress Wu or as Wu Zhao; ruled China around 690-705 AD) with either the Pharaoh Cleopatra (ruled Egypt around 51-31 BC) or the Pharaoh Hatshepsut (ruled Egypt around 1478-1458 BC). You may also propose (for approval or not) a female ruler not listed. Avoid lengthy quoting or lengthy close paraphrasing from biographical sources. Make it YOUR comparative analysis. Your paper should:

a) Compare the two (2) rulers in terms of their situation and ascent to power, their methods of rule, and their achievements and resourcefulness, noting similarities and differences. Use specific examples.

b) Consider what your study suggests about the cultures over which they ruled, identifying any similarities and differences between the cultures.

c) From this comparison, suggest lessons about different types of effective leadership by a female in the world of modern business and / or modern politics.

Other topic choice using a comparative approach (proposed by student or instructor) and approved by the professor and supported by the grading rubric.

The Project Paper will be graded on:

The level to which the instructions were followed for the paper generally and for the specific topic.
The establishment of a clear thesis about your topic.
The adequacy and relevance of information, examples, and details which support the general thesis.
Covering each part of the topic as instructed, including the comparisons, the consideration of ancient cultural differences, and the reflection on lessons for modern society or the modern workplace.
The quality of your research and your persuasiveness using critical reasoning.
The use and acknowledgement of a minimum of three (3) required references (the class textbook plus at least two (2) other quality academic sources) documented using the APA style –including both the use of a proper References list and the use of proper in-text citations.
Adherence to standard rules of grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, and mechanics, and general clarity of presentation.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides. Both in-text citations and a References list are required. Citations and references must follow APA style format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions specific to the selected topic. (Note: Students can find APA style materials located in the course shell for guidance).
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required page length. For our purposes, you may omit any abstract page.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Explain how key social, cultural, and artistic contributions contribute to historical changes.
Explain the importance of situating a society’s cultural and artistic expressions within a historical context.
Examine the influences of intellectual, religious, political, and socio-economic forces on social, cultural, and artistic expressions.
Identify major historical developments in world cultures during the eras of antiquity to the Renaissance.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in the study of world cultures.
Write clearly and concisely about world cultures using proper writing mechanics.

Environmental Scan Paper

Instructions:

Write a 1,200-word paper in which you research two-three companies and do the following:

• Use Walmart and AT&T as the two companies

• Evaluate the internal and external environments of each company using an environmental scan.

• Analyze the competitive advantage of each company

• Evaluate the strategies each company uses to create value and gain competitive advantage.

• Examine the measurement guidelines each company uses to verify its strategic effectiveness.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the measurement guidelines that each company uses.

Additional Instructions:

– No plagiarism / Original work only

– Due by 15 Feb 2016 not later than 1pm EST

– Include at least 3 references

– Ensure to comply wit all requirements

Using the same scenario from Assignment 1, you realize that transitioning your organization to a learning environment may not be as easy as first imagined. You have encountered several resistance issues relating to the culture, psychological learning, organization structure, workforce commitment, and dissemination of knowledge. You decide to gather a decision-making team to assist in identifying the high or moderate resistance risks that may stop or slow down the process of this transition. The decision-making team must also recommend some mitigation intervention to lower the identified resistance risks to either moderate or low. For example, a high resistance risk can become moderate or low and moderate resistance risk can become low.

Your final product will be a table that identifies five (5) issues related to the organization’s culture, psychological learning, organization structure, workforce commitment, and dissemination of knowledge. You must also provide a description of each resistance issue and rate the resistance risk before the mitigation intervention as either High (H) or Moderate (M). Then, you must provide a description of your team’s mitigation intervention and determine the resistance risk’s downgrade from High (H) to Moderate (M) or Low (L) and / or Moderate (M) to Low (L) after the mitigation intervention.

Create a table in which you:

Determine one (1) challenge in the culture that may cause a major resistance to the transition from individual learning to organizational learning. Next, recommend one (1) mitigation intervention to downgrade the identified resistance in your table. Provide a rationale for your selected mitigation intervention.
Predict one (1) psychological learning threat that may result from the transition and then provide one (1) mitigation intervention to downgrade the identified resistance in your table. Provide a rationale for your selected mitigation intervention.
Assess the current organization structure as it relates to the free flow of knowledge then specify one (1) issue that may cause a major resistance to the transition. Provide one (1) mitigation intervention to downgrade the identified resistance in your table. Provide a rationale for your selected mitigation intervention.
Critique the workforce commitment to this transition and predict one (1) major resistance you may encounter. Next, provide a mitigation intervention to downgrade the identified resistance in your table. Provide a rationale for your selected mitigation intervention.
Propose one (1) dissemination of knowledge issue with the recipients’ ability to absorb the knowledge and comprehend it into action (i.e., motivating the recipient to share knowledge). Next, provide one (1) mitigation intervention to downgrade the identified resistance in your table. Provide a rationale for your selected mitigation intervention.
Use the Resistance Risk Mitigation Intervention Table template located here. You may also use Microsoft Word or other equivalent software to create a table in an equivalent format for this supporting document.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Examine the processes of how organizations learn and organizational barriers that impact the process.
Examine the concepts of personal mastery and mental models and their related importance in a learning organization.
Examine the driving forces related to organizational learning.
Evaluate management behaviors that influence organizational learning.
Analyze the key components of a learning organization and the role of a chief learning officer.
Use technology and information resources to research issues in developing a learning organization.
Write clearly and concisely about developing a learning organization using proper writing mechani

Please answer the following question in not more than one page, using a typed, double-spaced format.

• Describe your three most important accomplishments to date. You may address civic service, community service, and volunteer work, if applicable, as well as work-related and entrepreneurial endeavors

HOMEWORK FOR KIM WOODS ONLY

[Pin It]

Assignment 2: Revisions of Foundations of the Development and Functions of Police

Due Week 6 and worth 200 points

To understand contemporary policing in America, it is essential to understand the history by looking at the past eras. The police have day-to-day practices influenced by deeply ingrained traditions. It’s also necessary to comprehend how an officer’s career begins, from the academy to the street. The effective partnership between the police and the community must also be understood to better appreciate the development and functions of police.

Using the feedback you received from your professor from Assignment 1, revise your five to seven (5-7) page paper in which you:

Compare and contrast the major characteristics of the political and reform eras of policing.

Identify the skills and knowledge that are imparted to police trainees during their academy training and explain the importance of these skills in relation to real world applications.

Provide your own definition of community-policing and explain the difference between community policing and traditional policing.

Critically examine the important elements of implementation and evaluation phases of community policing and problem solving.

Determine the top five (5) qualities that detectives and undercover officers need to possess (one [1] being the most important). Provide a rationale for your response.

Use at least four (4) quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

Trace the development of law enforcement organizations and police operations in America.

Illustrate the nature of police work and describe the training and management of police officers.

Analyze the development of community-oriented policing and describe its impact on communities today.

Describe the nature and purpose of criminal investigation, including some investigative techniques.

Use technology and information resources to research issues in law enforcement operations and management.

Write clearly and concisely about law enforcement operations and management using proper writing mechanics.

Make sure you reference all of your work with in text citations and full citations on the reference page

For your fourth essay, please write a two- to three-page (600-900 word) response to the following question:

In “In Praise of Big Brother” (pp. 203-215), James Stacey Taylor argues for the optimistic conclusion that, with the right legal and procedural safeguards, large-scale governance surveillance would have many positive consequences. What are Taylor’s best reasons for rejecting the pessimistic worry that such surveillance could lead to an “Orwellian nightmare” that Taylor discusses at the beginning and end of his article? Do you find these considerations persuasive? Why or why not?

Financial Institutions

[Pin It]

1. If an investor sells short, then he or she

A. anticipates a price increase.

B. sells securities from his or her portfolio.

C. buys an odd lot of a security.

D. anticipates a price decrease.

2. Which of the following assets is the most liquid?

A. Bonds and real estate

B. Savings accounts and checking accounts

C. Stocks and bonds

D. Money and antiques

3. Which of the following best explains a potential disadvantage of leaving securities in street name?

A. Securities held in street name can’t be quickly purchased or sold.

B. Correspondence sent by securities issuers may not be forwarded to brokerage clients who own securities held in street name.

C. In the event of class action suits against securities issuers, the custodian, not the beneficial owner (customer), is the only party

that may benefit from court orders.

D. Securities held in street name become the property of the custodian and the customer is only beneficiary of the securities.

4. A stock is currently selling for $45 a share. What is your gain/loss if you sell the stock short and the

price rises to $62?

A. You would gain $17 per share.

B. You would lose $0 per share.

C. You would lose $17 per share.

D. You would gain $13 per share.

5. Entering an order to sell stock at $17 when the bid is $18 to $19 is an example of a

A. short sale.

B. margin payment.

C. limit order.

D. market order.

6. Which of the following statements about pension plans is correct?

A. A pension plan that grants mortgage loans isn’t an example of a financial intermediary.

B. A pension plan that grants mortgage loans is called a savings and loan association.

C. A pension plan that grants mortgage loans can’t suffer losses.

D. A pension plan that grants mortgage loans is an example of a financial intermediary.

7. The term structure of interest rates involves the relationship between

A. term and yields.

B. stock and bond yields.

C. risk and yields.

D. yields and bond ratings.

8. Money market mutual funds invest in

A. federal government treasury bills.

B. corporate stock.

C. federal government bonds.

D. corporate bonds.

9. Which of the following statements about specialists is correct?

A. A specialist analyzes corporate securities.

B. A specialist buys only stock.

C. A specialist stresses one type of investment.

D. A specialist makes a market in securities.

10. If a nation exports fewer goods than it imports, it experiences

A. an inflow of currency.

B. a surplus in current account.

C. no change to currency.

D. an outflow of currency.

11. The International Monetary Fund

A. holds a pool of currencies.

B. buys foreign securities.

C. developed to help the Federal Reserve control U.S. investments abroad.

D. can lend a country currencies to meet a surplus in its merchandise trade balance.

12. If an individual buys stock on margin and its price rises, the investor

A. may take delivery of the stock.

B. must pay tax on the unrealized gain.

C. must put up additional collateral.

D. must pay interest on the borrowed funds.

13. Which of the following best explains why commercial banks assume significant liabilities?

A. The loans commercial banks write can be risky.

B. All commercial bank deposits are liabilities.

C. Banks may not charge enough interest on their loans to fund operations and loan default risk.

D. Banks may pay too much interest on their deposits.

14. In an efficient market, security prices

A. poorly value a firm’s future prospects.

B. indicate that the firm is overvalued.

C. adjust rapidly to new information.

D. adjust slowly to new information.

15. Which of the following is a federally insured investment?

A. A savings account in a national commercial bank

B. A certificate of deposit in excess of $100,000

C. A life insurance policy

D. Commercial bank assets

16. Foreign investments may be financed by issuing

A. London Interbank Bonds.

B. Eurobonds.

C. Euro dollars.

D. IMF reserve securities.

17. Which of the following is indicated by an upward-sloping yield curve?

A. Lower prices for short-term maturity

B. Lower interest rates for long-term maturity

C. Higher interest rates for long-term maturity

D. Higher prices for long-term maturity

18. The reserves of commercial banks must be held against

A. losses.

B. the bank as equity.

C. savings deposits.

D. commercial loans.

19. When investing in securities, an investor may place a limit order that

A. specifies when the stock will be purchased.

B. limits the amount of commissions.

C. establishes the exchange on which the security is to be bought or sold.

D. states a price at which the investor seeks to buy or sell the stock.

20. A financial intermediary transfers

A. new stock issues to buyers.

B. stocks to brokers.

C. savings to borrowers.

D. savings to households