How Do We Cultivate Interest in Reading Essay

How often have we heard other people saying that they have no time for reading? This is a mere excuse. In actual words, they are implying that they have lost the urge to educate themselves by keeping abreast with the current trends of thought like science and technology. This trend can be seen in many young people today and not only do they come up with excuses that they have no time for reading, quite a handful of them have absolutely no interest in reading. One must know that education does not end upon leaving school or university. Knowledge is infinite and to acquire knowledge is a never-ending process. What can be done to cultivate young people’s interest in reading? Firstly, parents can play their part in encouraging their children to read by setting an example. As most of the young people today are easily influenced by their environment, they will be influenced by their parents’ interest in reading and will pick up reading, helping nurture their interest in reading as a result. Parents can also bring their children to browse in the library or bookstore and allow them to browse on their own and select the books which genres are to their preference. By giving them the opportunity to choose their own books, they will be able to discover their area of interest in the different types of genres and will be keen to read more of the books of the specific genres they are interested in. This will enable them to develop an interest in reading. Secondly, schools can play their part in cultivating their students’ interest in reading by inviting a famous author to share her experiences of reading and writing to the students. Through sharing her experiences of reading and writing to the students, they will be more motivated to read and find out more about the author’s books. This will help them discover the joy and fun of reading and thus enabling them to develop an interest in reading. Schools should also organize special activities for the students to promote a reading culture. For example, the students can be asked to read any book of their choice and then a day should be decided where they will discuss about the books they have read recently. This will not only grow reading interest among the young generation but also help them to improve their vocabulary and language. Lastly, the young people should be responsible in cultivating their interest in reading. If they have no idea on the specific books that they want to read or a specific genre that they are interested in, they should ask their friends or teachers for recommendations or consult a list of books other young people have enjoyed reading and try reading them. They should also make an effort to read during their leisure time and pick up reading as a hobby. This will not only enable them to develop an interest in reading but acquire valuable knowledge from the books they read. Reading links us from the past to the present. Different facets of our personality are linked together by books. Books serve as both milestones and sign-posts in our journey through life. They are the wardrobes of our thoughts and imagination, the talisman against boredom, pain, tragedies and frustration which assail us. In reading books, we are able to share the author’s secrets and thoughts, his joy and happiness, his sorrow and distress. We form a bond of friendship more lasting than any other human relationship. Therefore, it is important that young people develop an interest in reading as reading is the greatest of all educators.

Social Networks: Advantages and Disadvantages

Social Network Sites: Advantages and Disadvantages I. Introduction a. Attention Getter: Imagine being stripped of your privileges to have access to social network sites such as facebook, twitter, myspace, and/or instagram†¦How would you reach out to family and friends you don’t get a chance to communicate with often? b. Name: Hello my name is Kenyatta Stephens c. Topic: Social Network Sites: Advantages and Disadvantages (SLIDE) d.Relevance: Social network sites are sites that majority of us, if not all of us, engage in on a daily basis – â€Å"According to the 2012 Statistic Brain Research Institute, members located in The United States use social network sites approximately 7. 8 hours per month. † www. statisticbrain. com e. Credibility: Personal Experience & Research f. Preview Statement: Today I will be informing you all about what social network sites (SNSs) are, their advantages and their disadvantages. g. Transition Statement: First, I would like to ta lk to you about what social network sites are and a few statistics.II. What are social network sites (SNSs)? h. Define – (SLIDE) – â€Å"SNSs are web-based services that allow individuals to (1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. † Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 2007. www. Onlinelibrary. wiley. com i. – â€Å"According to the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, the first recognizable social network site was launched in 1997. † www. Onlinelibrary. wiley. om j. (SLIDE) – Different social network sites i. SixDegress ii. Classmates iii. Ryze iv. Tribe v. Myspace vi. Facebook vii. Instagram viii. Twitter k. (SLIDE) – Social Networking Statistics ix. Billions of users worldwide x. 98% of users are between the ages of 18-24 xi. The United States is among the top ten countries most engaged in social networking with an average of 7. 8 hours per month. Internal Summary: Now that I have defined SNSs and I have briefly discussed the different sites and statistics, I will tell you about the advantages that come along with SNSs. III. Advantages – (SLIDE) . Keep in touch with friends, classmates, and relatives m. Send/receive messages and upload/share photos and videos n. Not bound by any geographical and cultural differences o. Build a network of contacts and interact with a lot of people p. Promote business, services, products, and parties Internal Summary: Now that I have discussed some of the advantages of SNSs, I want to inform you about the disadvantages. IV. Disadvantages – (SLIDE) q. High rate of scams/fraud r. People waste valuable time s. Online harassment t. Personal secrets/information become public u.Employers and Government Agencies access Transition Statement: Now that I have told you what Social Network Sites are, their advantages, and their disadvantages, I would like to conclude my speech with a word of advice. V. Conclusion – (SLIDE) v. Be aware of the information you put out on any social network site. w. My take away – Using a bit of concern with your profiles in social media networks can help you in your personal and professional life. Sharing experiences and communicating with others has never been a crime, but it would be wise to think about the consequences of your action.

Is Intelligent design a scientific theory Essay

Is Intelligent design a scientific theory - Essay Example However, some individuals say that intelligence action is related with the origin of different characteristics of biological life. It is evident that intelligent design begins with forms of information, which are commonly observed to produce agents of intelligence in the real world. Atheist such as zoologist Dawkins argues that if biology is a study of complicated things, then the complications are as a result of appearance and purpose. Dawkins also argues that natural selection is what led to the intelligent design; this is as a result of the challenges met in meeting the demands in the environment. To add on this, theorists such as Stephen Meyer notes that intelligent design plays a substantial role in casual activities. From theories of the above philosophers, we can conclude that intelligent design is a scientific theory, which has a basis on empirical studies on the natural environment. Structures created through the promulgation of a Discovery Institute are intelligent designs products. The institute explains that structures occur from human intelligence and not natural processes. An ideal example is the existence of God, which is a teleological argument from the traditional contemporary adaptation. It defines the origin of life as a scientific theory other than an idea based on religion. Most arguments relate to the intelligent design which refers to God as the designer. The Discovery Institute is conservatively a political institution. The intelligent design uses the view point of theistic science, whose objective is to explain science e in a different way invoking supernatural structures. In supporting its belief, ID has put forward two arguments: the specified and the irreducible complexity. Scientific community prefers the methodological naturalism to the scientific extension in explaining the supernatural structures. The scientific community has further opposed the specified and the

Project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project 2 - Essay Example This research paper is aimed at discussing community policing by providing its pros and cons and presenting a final decision on whether to implement community policing or not. The rate of crime in the United States has significantly risen over the past decade. Crime has become a topic of discussion and an important debate in a bid to solve the issue. The American society has started living lives full of fear of crime and hence it is the high time that better policing policies are implemented. The government has devoted a lot of funds to crime fighting, but it has not produced positive results. The society alone cannot control crime since they have no right to taking the law on their hands. Increasing police resource at this period of a global economic crisis has posed a great challenge to the government. The crime situation is, therefore, beyond the ability of the community alone or the police department alone. The situation calls for a collaboration of the community and the police departments in a bid to solve crime and disorder, and the collaboration is called community policing. Involving the community in controlling crime is the most dependable solution to the breaking deadlock of crime. The community has more knowledge about their neighborhoods and hence identifying criminal is very easy. It is expected that due to the current high crime rates, the community will be motivated to collaborate with the police so as to eliminate their fear or crime. On the other hand, the police are working under minimal finances and resources and hence they will be motivated to have the support of the community in accomplishing their mission. Community policing policy is, therefore, expected to work out well since the two major partnerships have a high need for assistance (Sozer, 2010). Community policing encourages collaboration between organizations, departments and the community and hence reduces their resistance and promotes

Gay rights policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gay rights policy - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to explore whether such marriages are actually relevant and how far they fit into American federalism. It also explores the way various states view same-sex marriages and the consequences of their laws and enactments. LGBT Rights There is little or nil proof regarding the misconduct of homosexual people. Most of the homosexual couples are ardently religious, are taxpaying citizens and do not indulge in unnecessary violence. Long term studies have proven the children bought up by them are completely capable of living a heterosexual life. Sexual orientation is an object of pure personal taste and choice, rather than a misdemeanour. Hence, it is entirely unacceptable for someone else like the government to intervene in such activities as it is no national, moral or religious threat. History of the Important Homosexuality Acts The total number of households with same-sex partners in the US is estimated to be 2.9 million according the 2000 census. But, it is e stimated the number of gay and lesbian people who do not live as couple or have disclosed themselves might reach up to 29 million, ten times the recorded rate. Homosexuality is viewed differently by each state government based on the dominant religious faith followed in the region. Virginia was the first state to declare same gender sex as a criminal act way back in 1610. The case was similar in many European countries too (Cory, 1951). Such views changed drastically by mid-1900's with the voice of the discriminated like the immigrants and the slaves being heard and honoured by the society. Illinois was the first place to decriminalize homosexuality in 1961. Massachusetts became the first state to elect a gay state legislator in 1967. Massachusetts recognized legalized same-sex marriages in 2003 (Morris, 2013). Such acts gathered both public support as well as agitation. President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 1996 which gave the states the authority to l icense or cancel the same sex marriages based on their internal beliefs. DOMA was ruled out on June 26, 2013 by the US Supreme Court. The State Statutes and DOMA The US federalism grants majority rights to states to make up their own laws and retains certain important rights with the federal government. DOMA was signed using this feature, granting the states the autonomy to decide whether they can legalize the same-sex marriages or not. Nearly 10 states recognized the same-sex marriages starting from 2001 one after another and granted equal right to the married homosexual couples. But, most of them did little to ensure the disclosed homosexuals are treated equally or protected against discrimination in terms of employment or receiving benefits. Though removal of DOMA have now legalized such marriage and the same-sex couples are naturally entitled to all the parental benefits the normal citizens can receive including the rights to adopt a child. Previously the rules regarding child a daption varied according to each state. Nearly 20 states in the US consider sexual orientation discrimination as an outlaw. Washington D.C. Evasive Role of the State Governments Hate crimes are also punishable in all states under the federal law according to the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. Though it applicable to several Hate crimes from bullying in school to disability

How important is it for China to train a substantial number of Essay

How important is it for China to train a substantial number of accountants in the near future - Essay Example The need to train more would continue because China would be relentless in pursuing economic reforms. The pursuit would attract more foreign investments and encourage more Chinese companies to expand overseas. China President Hu Jintao indicated that there will be no turnabout from the economic reforms and opening - up in the past three decades that made China achieve "the historic transformation from a highly-centralized planned economy to a robust socialist market economy and from a closed and semi-closed society to one that fully embraces the world." President Jintao spoke before the 13th economic leaders meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Peru in November 2008. "We are keenly aware that China remains the largest developing country in the world," Jintao said, "and the difficulties and problems we face in the course of development are rarely seen elsewhere in terms of both their scale and complexity." (Xinhua, http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6538647.htm, accessed December 6, 2008) Rapid economic growth would require companies to hire external auditors, financial consultants, tax experts and their own internal accounting staff. Training more accountancy manpower would be part of the financial infrastructures of corporations, said Cui Jianmin, president of the Chinese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2004). "As China adopts a more pro-active approach to attracting foreign investment, there will be a need for auditing, asset valuation and financial advisory services. As China adopts international practice in the field of banking, securities and insurance, it will lead to an increase in demand for accounting firms with a competitive edge. And as China's capital market and bank loans market for small- and medium-sized enterprises also develops, there will be a need for more auditing, capital verification, asset valuation and consulting services. " (Cui Jianmin, interviewed, April - June 2004, Australian CPA Network, , http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xbcr/SID-3F57FECB-A56CA432/cpa/network_cui.pdf, p. 18 - 19, accessed December 6, 2008) The importance of training more accountants is illustrated in China's stock exchanges. Listed companies need accountants who can render credible financial information and disclosures for the use of investors and not for taxation authorities. Until 2007 when government mandated new accounting rules, accountants were influenced by tax regulations designed to make sure corporate taxpayers would not minimize their tax payables. Consequently, according to the International Finance Corp. in a study, incomes were overstated and allowable deductions were disallowed. "This explains the apparent paradox that despite a rigid accounting system, enterprises have strong incentives to use loopholes in the system to meet profit targets," the IFC reported. (IFC, Role of Stock Markets and Information Disclosure in the Corporate Governance of Listed Companies http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/publications.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/CorpGovernanceinChinaChp5/$FILE/CGinChina_Chp.5.pdf, p. 14, accessed December 6, 20 08) A broker, interviewed by the Financial Times, complained about the low quality of financial information available to investors. "The level of disclosure is not good," said

Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Policy Research Paper

Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Policy - Research Paper Example The problem statement for this study is elderly abuse as a social problem considered as a complex phenomenon lacking a single and consistent definition. It falls under the wider domestic abuse and mistreatment definition which encompass â€Å"incidents perpetrated by either a family member or a member of the victim’s household†¦ to include physical, psychological, or financial abuse, and neglect,† referring to the elderly as the victim. Elderly, too, may be of contention since acceptable age range or bracket may be different from one institution or state to another. It was observed that resolution of elder abuse require multidisciplinary approach of which administrators form adult protective services and the criminal justice system cooperate to address cases and prevent repetition and escalation of the abusive acts as there are possibilities that unreported and undeterred abusers may turn to more victims.Local law enforcement have jurisdiction to investigate any co mplaint of elderly abuse and another investigative body is the adult protective services or APS. APS is usually the agency that handles elder mistreatment. McNamee and Murphy cited lack of knowledge about elder abuse with the case of nursing home caretaker Charles Cullen as example. In 2004, Cullen admitted to administering fatal doses of medication to about 40 patients in various institutions over a 16-year period indicating the extent of knowledge on the recognition of abuse, incidences, prevention, and prosecution. The lack of standard for recognition of elder abuse was cited as a major factor in the lagging knowledge about the maltreatment (McNamee and Murphy, 2006). There is a need to rely on forensic markers in order to identify abuse and neglect. However, this was also seen as problematic because caregivers, APS agencies, and physicians lacked training to determine injuries caused by mistreatment and those that came from accident, illness or aging (McNamee and Murphy, 2006). Elderly individuals, too, also experience signs and symptoms that are disease related which may be mistaken for abuse or maltreatment. Thus, caretakers, family members, and health professionals are not alarmed about the real causes even when incidents lead to death (McNamee and Murphy, 2006). Facts and Figures The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting noted that in 2004 that there were 1,551,143 reported incidents of family violence between 1996 and 2001; that 20,955 elderly relatives were victims of simple assault during that period. A study on elderly sexual abuse, Burgess (2006) reported that among the 284 victims under study, the mean age was 78.8 years and that majority or 82.3% were Caucasians. The majority also consisted of 93.2% females with only 6.8%