Topographic Maps

Topographic Maps Topographic maps (often called topo maps for short) are large scale (often greater than 1:50,000) maps that show a wide range of human and physical features of the Earth. They are very detailed maps and are often produced on large sheets of paper. The First Topographic Map In the late 17th century, French finance minister Jean Baptiste Colbert hired surveyor, astronomer, and physician Jean Dominique Cassini for an ambitious project, the topographic mapping of France. He [Colbert] wanted the kind of maps that indicated man-made and natural features as determined by precise engineering surveys and measurements. They would portray the shapes and elevations of mountains, valleys, and plains; the network of streams and rivers; the location of cities, roads, political boundaries, and other works of man. (Wilford, 112) After a century of work by Cassini, his son, grandson, and great-grandson, France was the proud owner of a complete set of topographic maps the first country to have produced such a prize. Topographic Mapping of the United States Since the 1600s, topographic mapping has become an integral part of a countrys cartography. These maps remain among the most valuable maps for government and the public alike. In the United States, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is responsible for topographic mapping. There are over 54,000 quadrangles (map sheets) that cover every inch of the United States. The USGS primary scale for mapping topographic maps is 1:24,000. This means that one inch on the map equals 24,000 inches on the ground, the equivalent of 2000 feet. These quadrangles are called 7.5 minute quadrangles because they show an area that is 7.5 minutes of longitude wide by 7.5 minutes of latitude high. These paper sheets are approximately 29 inches high and 22 inches wide. Isolines Topographic maps use a wide variety of symbols to represent human and physical features. Among the most striking are the topo maps display of the topography or terrain of the area. Contour lines are used to represent elevation by connecting points of equal elevation. These imaginary lines do a nice job of representing the terrain. As with all isolines, when contour lines lie close together, they represent a steep slope; lines far apart represent a gradual slope. Contour Intervals Each quadrangle uses a contour interval (the distance in elevation between contour lines) appropriate for that area. While flat areas may be mapped with a five-foot contour interval, rugged terrain may have a 25-foot or more contour interval. Through the use of contour lines, an experienced topographic map reader can easily visualize the direction of stream flow and the shape of the terrain. Colors Most topographic maps are produced at a large enough scale to show individual buildings and all streets in cities. In urbanized areas, larger and specific important buildings are represented in black though the urbanized area surrounding them is represented with a red shading. Some topographic maps also include features in purple. These quadrangles have been revised solely through aerial photographs and not by the typical field checking that is involved with the production of a topographic map. These revisions are shown in purple on the map and can represent newly urbanized areas, new roads, and even new lakes. Topographic maps also use standardized cartographic conventions to represent additional features such as the color blue for water and green for forests. Coordinates Several different coordinate systems are shown on topographic maps. In addition to latitude and longitude, the base coordinates for the map, these maps show UTM grids, township and range, and others. Source Campbell, John. Map Use and Analysis. 1991. Monmonier, Mark. How to Lie With Maps. Wilford, John Noble. Mapmakers.

Paraphrasing Exercise Essays - Paraphrase, Rhetoric, Free Essays

Paraphrasing Exercise Essays - Paraphrase, Rhetoric, Free Essays Paraphrasing Exercise Directions: On a separate piece of paper, write a paraphrase of each of the following passages. Feel free to read each passage a couple times. Try not to look back at the original passage. 1. The Antarctic is the vast source of cold on our planet, just as the sun is the source of our heat, and it exerts tremendous control on our climate, [Jacques] Cousteau told the camera. The cold ocean water around Antarctica flows north to mix with warmer water from the tropics, and its upwellings help to cool both the surface water and our atmosphere. Yet the fragility of this regulating system is now threatened by human activity. From Captain Cousteau, Audubon (May 1990):17. 2. The twenties were the years when drinking was against the law, and the law was a bad joke because everyone knew of a local bar where liquor could be had. They were the years when organized crime ruled the cities, and the police seemed powerless to do anything against it. Classical music was forgotten while jazz spread throughout the land, and men like Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became the heroes of the young. The flapper was born in the twenties, and with her bobbed hair and short skirts, she symbolized, perhaps more than anyone or anything else, America's break with the past. From Kathleen Yancey, English 102 Supplemental Guide (1989): 25. 3. Of the more than 1000 bicycling deaths each year, three-fourths are caused by head injuries. Half of those killed are school-age children. One study concluded that wearing a bike helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85 percent. In an accident, a bike helmet absorbs the shock and cushions the head. From Bike Helmets: Unused Lifesavers, Consumer Reports (May 1990): 348. 4. Matisse is the best painter ever at putting the viewer at the scene. He's the most realistic of all modern artists, if you admit the feel of the breeze as necessary to a landscape and the smell of oranges as essential to a still life. The Casbah Gate depicts the well-known gateway Bab el Aassa, which pierces the southern wall of the city near the sultan's palace. With scrubby coats of ivory, aqua, blue, and rose delicately fenced by the liveliest gray outline in art history, Matisse gets the essence of a Tangier afternoon, including the subtle presence of the bowaab, the sentry who sits and surveys those who pass through the gate. From Peter Plagens, Bright Lights. Newsweek (26 March 1990): 50. 5. While the Sears Tower is arguably the greatest achievement in skyscraper engineering so far, it's unlikely that architects and engineers have abandoned the quest for the world's tallest building. The question is: Just how high can a building go? Structural engineer William LeMessurier has designed a skyscraper nearly one-half mile high, twice as tall as the Sears Tower. And architect Robert Sobel claims that existing technology could produce a 500-story building. From Ron Bachman, Reaching for the Sky. Dial (May 1990): 15.

Project Exponential Decay Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Project Exponential Decay - Assignment Example Many researchers have fronted the idea that radioactive decay occurs in an exponential manner. According to the quantum theory, the half life of an element remains predictable. Yet, it is impossible to predict the exact moment an isolated nucleus of an atom will disintegrate in radioactive decay (Brady, 2009). It is against this knowledge that this research results were based. Mathematically, the results obtained from throwing a six-sided dice have been shown to follow an exponential pattern/ distribution. The experiments discussed were designed to display the relevance of throwing a dice to that of radioactive decay. In the first experiment, ten six-sided dice were thrown and the numbers that appeared each time recorded. The procedure was repeated each time removing a dice that had six after throwing. This was continued until all the dice had been emptied. The experiment was repeated using a limitless Excel number generator and finally with a 10-sided dice. As expected, the first experiment showed a gradually decreasing trend, synonymous with exponential decay. At time t=0 the total number of dice was 10. This corresponded to the number of un-decayed nuclei as explained by Murray and Hart (Murray, Arthur & Hart, 2012). Subsequent results were recorded as follows: t=1; 7 dice left, t = 2; 4 dice left, t=3; 4 dice left, t=4; 3 dice left, t=5; 1 dice left, and t=6; 0 dice left. These results are better displayed in the graph below. The second experiment involved 10 trials. At the time point t=0 there were 20 dice. Subsequent trials indicated the number of dice remaining per time as indicated in the graph. Apparently, there was a constant display after the eighth trial. These results are displayed in the graph below. The third experiment was based on 398 dice to begin with, representing an equal number of un-decayed nuclei. This was marked as the

Hazar alfaqeih Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hazar alfaqeih - Personal Statement Example I taught Mathematics in an elementary school in my country and had the opportunity for practical application of the methods and guidelines that I learnt from the best Doctorate holder in the college. She inspired me to do master’s degree in statistics and then go for the Doctorate in the same subject. Her style of counseling was excellent, she visualized the perspectives about this subject well, and I am now convinced that I would achieve my career goals by specializing in statistics. The subject of statistics is now my passion. Before my interaction with her, I had the notion that Statistics was a dull subject, full of never-ending calculations. Her style of dealing with the finer aspect of the subject changed the attitude of the students and we began to love statistics, and eagerly looked forward to her classes. Take me as the practical example, how a teacher can influence the thinking process of a student. The twin objectives of my life will be served, firstly to expand my knowledge on the subject and secondly to equip myself academically to impart knowledge, as my career goal is to teach in a University and be a Visiting Lecturer in business houses. With proper interaction from the lecturers and professors in your University and the fellow-students, I will further improve my communication skills. For an aspiring Visiting Lecturer in statistics, I would often need to explain technical matters and the latest statistical methods to make them understand business and the economy from the point of view of this subject. Business tools and strategies are continuously on the change with rapid progress that is taking place in technology and application of statistical methods. Your University is the best to get proficiency in statistics program, as graduates from your University hold responsible positions in top-ranked business establishments. They are constantly on the upward spiral in their careers, and are making

Seductive Powers of Women in the Medieval Era Essay Example for Free

Seductive Powers of Women in the Medieval Era Essay Women of the medieval genre employed sexual prowess to manipulate and gain control of their men. This was their only means of power in an otherwise powerless role as a female. Chaucer and de France portray in their poems the female’s struggle for power and dominance in relationships and the use of sexuality to achieve that goal. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue exploits a woman’s endeavor for power over men and the wicked measures she employs. The wife, the protagonist of The Wife of Bath’s Prologue, bragged of her successful manipulation resulting in having had five husbands. This power of persuasion, also noted in The Canterbury Tales General Prologue, â€Å"Of remedies of love she knew parchaunce, For she coude of that at the olde daunce,† which exclaims the wife’s familiarity with the art of love. (477, 478) The character of the wife used powerful seduction as the main means of manipulation, but she also beguiled them into guilt in order to get what she wanted from them. Ultimately, as depicted in by the wife’s own admission, â€Å"Namely abedde hadden they meschaunce, Ther wolde I chide and do hem no plesaunce†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (403,404), it was in the bedroom where she wielded her best feats, teasing them and refusing to bring them to sexual satisfaction until they promised to give into her plea for money- a cunning way in which she made her men submissive. Chaucer depicts the wife as a feminist character who is debauching in one sense, yet she contradicts that very essence by only having sex with her husbands when she wanted money from them. Ironically, she confesses to being the fondest of, and loving only her fifth husband, whom she could not control. The fifth husband, some 20 years younger, satirically reverses roles of the wife and her previous husbands by using the same manipulative schemes on her that she previously used on other men. Husband number five dominates the wife and alludes to her that he is aware of her wicked ways by reading to her from a book of stories of the most wicked, deceitful wives in history. Even though husband number five demonstrated more control over her than any of her previous husbands, she still managed to use her sexual talents to convince him to sign over his estate to her. Not only did Chaucer suggest the use of sexual temptations as tools for women used to obtain power in their domain, Marie de France also hinted to a similar use of sexuality in Lanval. de France’s Lanval depicts analogous use of beauty and sexuality by the queen as she seduced the protagonist, Lanval. Lanval was the object of a different seductress, one with the power of royalty. The queen used words of love along with her beauty and body to manipulate and seduce Lanval, evoking the pathos of love in him. Because of her position as queen, she demanded secrecy of her adulterous affair, which served as her means of control over Lanval. He had no choice but to agree to her demand of silence if he desired more favors from her. He eventually rejected her, which in turn infuriated her, therefore subjecting him to her bitter wrath as she sought to ruin him in an attempt to lessen the pain of rejection. In this poem the seductress doesn’t desire money, for she had all that she needed, but nonetheless she used her sexuality to obtain her desire, which is in this case was sex with Lanval. Sweet seduction manifested by soft-spoken, sweet words of love along with lust for the female body have lured men into the manipulative ways of women for centuries. Women have sought the dominance they so desired over their men with the only means of power they’ve had – and with much success. The works of Chaucer and deFrances illustrate the desire women have had for power throughout the ages.

Seasonal Affective Disorder and its Effects :: Seasonal Affective Disorder Health Essays

Seasonal Affective Disorder and its Effects Why is it that in dark, cloudy weather I take on a gloomy personality? Why do suicide rates drastically increase during the winter months? Why is the overall student body at USC much happier than the average Mawrtyr? Why do I constantly find myself fatigued and lethargic when the weather outside is lousy? For one reason or another, I allow the whims of Mother Nature to determine how I think and feel. If I wake up and the sun is brightly shining through my window creating a beautiful mixture of dark and light shadows, I suddenly feel happy and look forward to the day ahead. On the other hand, if I wake up and look out onto another cloudy and cold day in February at Bryn Mawr, I have the aching desire to crawl back into bed and sleep the day away. I am not alone in that my mood and disposition are determined daily during those first few moments in which I am awake. In fact, this phenomenon is shared by many. The general feeling of winter depression coupled with normal mood in the summer has been around for centuries, but it was not until the 1980s that it was characterized as a type of clinical depression (1). Psychologists have long been studying the effects of what they now refer to as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the biological condition associated with changes in weather patterns. Can Seasonal Affective Disorder be considered a true medical condition? Everyone reacts to the changing seasons with corresponding changes in mood and behavior, but some experience more severe symptoms which alter their whole way of life. The symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder tend to first appear in late September when the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, and last until April or May. Seasonal Affective Disorder is characterized by recurring periods of depression lasting for at least two successive years of seasonal change (2). Other symptoms include a voracious appetite involving a high carbohydrate craving and accompanied by a 10-20 pound weight gain, sleep problems, memory loss, suicidal thoughts, problems concentrating, and an overall lack of interest in or enjoyment of activities. Unlike other forms of clinical depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder involves the cyclical pattern of depression that comes as the amount of daylight hours decrease and disappears as the days get longer (1). SAD patients often have hypersomnia during the winter and become manic or hyperactive in the spring.

Terror and repression were essential elements in establishing

Each communist regime, although In different countries have remarkable similarities In how they were seized ND governed. A lot of propaganda was used during these times. The people were all forced to believe in things that weren't exactly true and if they decided to rebel and stand up for their rights, they would either be killed or held in captivity for the rest of their lives. I have chosen two countries which I will go into more depth on and they are Hungary and Poland.In my opinion these two countries struggled the most through terror and repression, and were helpless during their communist regimes but both countries against all the odds were hungry and willing enough to tend up in the end and fight for their freedom. At the end of the second world war, Budapest in Hungary was in war with soviet soldiers, the streets of Budapest were a war ground, and people took to the streets to try to fight against these soviets.However the soviets were victorious in their quest and took contr ol of Hungary. Mantas Razors who was loyal to the soviets and the communism regime, had his own political party and had backing from the soviets. Rascal's alma was to convince communism was the way to go for Hangar's future. In 1947 a free election took place and people had the possibility to freely vote who they anted to run Hangar's government, but Rakish still managed to come into power, due to terror, repression, intimidation, trial and fraud.Arrack's first aim in power was to eliminate all threats that could of cause Rakish problems, and his first assassination was the head of the Catholic church. Rakish wanted complete power and anyone who spoke out against the communists were arrested, put on trial and imprisoned for life. This reign of power continued and by the 1949 elections in Hungary there was no opposition left to stand up against Rakish and his soviet ways, he country was now run by soviet lines. It was a tragedy for the Hungarian people. Rakish like most dictators use d propaganda methods to keep control of his people.He embedded the message of how he would lead Hungary into a wonderfully bright targeted everything good that Hungary had and ruined them with his corrupted mind. Rakish changed the Hungarian school system, everybody was forced to learn off Russian as a language, everyone also were forced to Join the young pioneers, which was the equivalent of a scout group which was organized by the soviet union for the gees of children from ten to eleven years of age. The young pioneers was founded in 1922 and stopped in 1991, the pioneers attended biblically run summer camps and learnt methods of cooperation.Rakish used a lot of propaganda methods to control his people. Rakish used advertisement to trick the people of Hungary, many ads were shown on Hungarian television promoting the soviet's in a positive light in everyday possible they showed happy Hungarian smiling and laughing, an example of an ad that was shown at this time was a commercial s howing the soviets in a positive light giving over big well bred ax's to the poor peasants of this liberated country for them to make an income and feed the Hungarian people.Another example was a commercial about cotton, and in the ad it showed soviet cotton being delivered to Hungary to feed Hangar's textile machinery, so the freezing worker's of Hungary could cloth themselves in warm material. They also had an ad about the soviets finding new found grain fields which await Hungary, and this would provide Hungary with better quality crops and quick reproduction. These were all great commercials and it really made it seem that communism was he way forward for Hungary, so many more commercials like these were made.The Hungarian were completely and utterly bombarded by news real and advertisement, on their radios, their TV's and even when they went to the cinema to see a film. Of course these were all fake lies, the ox's that were shown in the ad were originally Hungarian ox's and the Russian's did not give them to the poor peasants, they actually took them from Hungary and brought them to Russia. Workers were also not given free clothing, it took a average paid worker three months wages to build up enough income to purchase one decent coat.The new found grain fields, didn't exist anywhere near Hungary the fields belonged to Russia and remained in the hands of Russian farmers. The happy smiling faces of the people in the videos were Just hiding the sad grim reality of what was actually happening. The Russian's also took enormous amounts of food out of Hungary and they imported it into their own country and distributed it to Russian markets all around the country. Hungarian off didn't realize this was happening until months rolled on and Hungarian shops began to have shortages of food, such as potatoes and vegetables which they had ever had a shortage in before.This began to be a serious problem in Hungary as people were left in hungry. People were at the time no w aware of what Rakish was doing but they were simply unable to stand against him due to fear of being imprisoned or even sentenced to death he had stuck terror into the eyes and souls of the Hungarian citizens and had All the people could do was remain in silence and were made to deal with the new circumstances. People were forced to praise to this corrupted evil man.Rakish gave speeches to the people about communism and his plans for the future of Hungary ND how he has plans to make Hungary a new independent country, the people of Hungary knowing what he was saying wasn't true still were forced to clap and cheer his name and show him praise because if they didn't they knew there would be consequences. Rakish wanted Hungary to go through industrialization. He wanted Hungary to be a country of ‘Iron and Steel' these being his very own words. However Rakish wasn't a patient man he wanted his country to miraculously change over night which was very ambitious.The process of Indus trialization takes time and Rakish did not give time to anything while in charge. Rakish announced he was going to industrialist Hungary in 1950, and this announcement pleased them greatly, they were very grateful as the Hungarian people thought this would provide employment and wealth for Hungary and this would be the answer to their poverty sticker country. Rakish set his targets high, his ambition lacked the raw materials which they very much needed. High production targets were set.Workers were given quotas which must be met, and if the employee's did not reach the quota set they were ‘an enemy of the people' and if u somehow managed to met the quota, you were praised as a DOD communist. Rakish hailed two workers as he said they has supposedly reached these high production targets that Rakish desired, this was again another lie to put on the pile of Arrack's bundle of lies. They had not really reached the targets but word soon spread around the industries in off Hungary an d employees in the factories became bitter and envious toward these two men.This was a piece of tactical genius by Rakish. He then started to demand more work for such miserable wages. Soon work rate began to increase phenomenally but at a cost.. Workers found it impossible to met the quotas and they mound the only way that they could even come close was to cheat. For example workers hammered nails into washing machines instead of screwing them to save time. Although quantity of goods produced, quality of the goods plummeted. Shoes bought which cost a worker a couple of months wages came apart within days.Hungary had it an all time low. Terror and repression was defeating the poor Hungarian. This whole time the communist machine told the citizens of communist victory. People applauded Rakish due to the terror he had embedded into the minds of the Hungarian and the fear they had of him was not worth the risk of imprisonment or death. Rakish had secret undercover police everywhere cal led the AVOW, they walked around listening in to people conversations, everybody was left paranoid of them being behind their back.They listened to every whisper nobody could say anything negative about the communist regime without fear of been arrested and exiled to concentration camps on the outskirts of Hungary. The AVOW kept files on everybody, and nobody could be sure who the informers were they were trained to require and maintain stealth at all times in all their operations. Even the fear alone of knowing Between 1951 and 1952 thousands of people were deported to the mines, state farms or concentration camps by the AVOW. In 5 families had at least a member of their family or close friend taken away from them, it was impossible to escape the terror. If one family member was arrested, the whole family would be taken away by the AVOW and watched. This fear and paranoia drove people to insanity, which then led to a lot odd suicide's and during this time 2000 people were executed. Many hated Rakish and the Soviet Union, instead of indoctrinating their generation with the ideas of communism, they sold the seed of revolt.Poland was another country in Eastern Europe that suffered great terror and repression from 1945. Although the Nazi's were expelled from Poland in 1945, Poland still remained off controlled by the Soviets for another 1 1 years after until 1956. When the Nazi's were out of the picture, Poland therefore changed in many manners . In 1946 a referendum was held, they did this instead of holding their promised parliamentary elections and this was test to see if the communist rule was still popular in Poland.However the communists still one the battle of votes due to successful pole rigging, which was so easily done as people feared the communist parties as they were violent and they never show any remorse. Once the communist were in control of Poland their first plan of action was to eliminate all threats that opposed them. So the communist put a ba n on miscounts parties. Any sign of citizens of Poland in anyway shape or form who did oppose the communist regime would be exiled. This terror and repression used by the soviets in Poland was the very same as what was used in Hungary.Polish citizens were afraid to stand up against this regime as they eared for their lives and also their families lives, as one person in a families actions could have a detrimental affect on the rest of the family. However in 1947 the Polish United Worker's party the only left allele party formed. They had their first chance at parliament in the 1947 parliamentary elections, this allowed the party to come up against the Communist, they were shot down very quickly though, as they were powerless to the new placed government controls which were very strict.The election was won by the Communists and the candidates of the Communist party won the majority in the parliament. This ended all opposition to the Communist. Many members of the allele party left th e country as there was no hope for them. An AK organization, known as Hollows I Neoclassic meaning Freedom and Sovereignty in English was set up, but it was not set up for violence or combat, it's main aim was to help some AK soldiers make the transition of being partisan to a civilian of Poland.Although this group did not have many resources to face up to the Soviets they did very well and were successful in showing resistance to the Soviets. The Soviets felt they still needed to abolish all of these groups even though the AK organization was disbanded in late 1945, which probably prevented a civil war from taking place. However, many small groups decided to stay united and the Soviets were never going to be happy unless all their allies were disbanded as this would allow them to have complete control over Poland.

High School and Goals Essay

Hello my name is Rick Brooks and this is my student story. What the on course book has helped me with the most is getting me to commit to my goals and dreams. I was once a bright eyed young high school student with the dreams of going to college and making something out of myself. My graduation year from High School was 1992, yes 20 years ago, and yes that makes me 38 years old. I grew up with a family of 5 having four siblings and just my father to raise us. Money was tight and going to a four year university was out of the question. Information about scholarships at my school was minimal. I began working full time and decided to go to college anyways. So in 1992 I enrolled at AB Tech Technical college. Working full time and not having a very good commitment to my goals and dreams, I did not do so well. I eventually dropped out after my third quarter. At this time I did not even know to drop my classes, I just stopped going, what a big mistake. I now have several F’s on my transcript from 1992. 20 years and one fifteen year old daughter later, I have began to achieve my goals and dreams again. This is where On Course Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life came into my life. Upon starting the ACA 115 01 class I was very reluctant. I had already taken some college courses and had done well, at least until I dropped out. I figured that I did not need this class and I was pissed that the college was making me take it. When the class started on chapter 3, things began to make sense. I needed to design a compelling life plan. I had no idea how to do this. As I went on in the course, I starting figuring things out, things that I already knew I wanted, but thinks to On Course it started to all make sense. I needed to set goals. But how does one set goals, I thought that I knew how, but I did not. The book showed me how to use the DAPPS rule, which is dated, achievable, personal, positive and specific. I have since then set some goals and dreams for myself. I plan on graduation with my business degree from AB Tech college, that’s goal number one. Then I will pursue my dream. I want to open a bar and grill beachside in Key West FL. Before the On Course book I would have never thought these goals to be possible, but when I starting asking myself are these goals dated. Yes they are. I will graduate college in 2013. Are they achievable? Yes graduation is just around the corner and I have already taken a couple of trips to Key West to scope out the location for my restaurant. The book says that a goal should be at least 50 percent believable to me. It is now more like 75 percent believable to me now! Are my goals personal? Yes, nothing would satisfy me more the when I walk the stage and get my degree. I will be the first out of my four siblings (which are all grown now and not enrolled in college) to get a degree from college. I am motivated because these goals are mine and no one else’s. Are my goals positive? Yes, going through this course I realized that I should focus on what I want and not to focus on what I don’t want. Are my goals specific? Yes, my goals are specific. I will be able to measure my success when I get my degree next year. I only have six classes left, it’s been a long road, but a rewarding one. Whenever I start to stray from my course, I remember my goals and dreams. I have worked way too hard and have came way too far to give up now. My dreams are my motivation into the future, they will guide me from here on out. I am thankful for my dreams, and I am thankful for On Course for putting me on course to my life plan by showing me how to commit to my goals and dreams. Thank you On Course!

Academic Essay Writing †Flies at a Picnic

Academic Essay Writing – Flies at a Picnic Academic essay writing does not have to be a struggle if you understand the ingredients and the process. You cant avoid them just like flies at a picnic, they buzz around you, disturbing your peace, and making you frustrated and a bit angry. Unlike flies, you cant swat them, spray them, or try to ignore them. You just have to bite the bullet and get them done. And one of the most frustrating parts about those essay assignments, is that they are required in every course, and you are graded on your writing skill along with the content you present. Here you will learn how to make your academic essay writing a little easier, with a process that works and some extra tips to help along the way. The Ingredients of All Essays Every time you set out to write an essay, you first have some questions to answer: 1. To you have a topic that is appropriate for the assignment? Sometimes the topic is assigned; sometimes, you have options within a broader topic area; and sometimes you have complete freedom to choose your own. Make sure that your topic fall within the parameters of the assignment. If you are supposed to write an essay on something related to the Civil War, for example, and it is to be no longer than 3 pages, you obviously are not going to cover all of the major battles of the War. Maybe you can pick one or two. 2. You must have a focus. Often this is called a thesis. So, why are you writing this essay? What is important about the topic? How would anyone else benefit from this information or opinion you are going to give? All academic essays must have a thesis, and that thesis must be provide in your introduction. 3. You must define your audience. Of course your audience is your instructor, but often essays are shared within a class, so assume that your audience is also your peers. 4. Your piece must reflect sound organization. How will you organize the information or points of view that you will present? Usually, this is accomplished by some type of outline or other graphic organizer. Find one that works for you and the topic and use it. 5. Does your topic require research? If so, you will need to plan time to get that research done, probably before you develop a thesis or organize the presentation. Structure of an Academic Essay You know all about introduction, body, and conclusion, and this basic format for writing an academic essay will never change. But try thinking about these three elements a bit differently. Ask these questions: 1.How can I get my reader interested in this topic? (Introduction) 2. How can I keep my reader interested and give information that s/he will find unique and/or useful? (Body) 3. How can I leave my reader with some new insight, some recommendations, some call to action or some questions to ask him/herself? (Conclusion) Asking these questions will allow you to think just a bit differently than you have in the past. The Science of How to Write an Academic Essay Here is the process for constructing your essay, once you have the topic identified. 1 Research what you need to in order to have the information you need to be a bit of an expert on the topic or to support an opinion you are presenting. 2. Organize your thoughts into sub-topics that will be the paragraphs of your essay. If you are struggling with this, there is a simple solution. You can read sample essays on the same topic all over the web do not lift these essays. Use them as models for how information is sequenced and presented. 3. Make a least an informal structure of the sequence in which you will cover your sub-topics and the details of those sub-topics. 4.Write the rough draft of the body, then add the introduction and conclusion they both flow easier if you do it this way. 5. Watch your language academic essay writing is formal unless otherwise indicated by your instructor. There is no room for slang. 6. Grammar and composition skills if you are not skilled in this area, accept it. Get some help and dont be ashamed to do so. You may be a math or physics whiz but not a skilled writer. Its okay. Academic writing may not be your great joy its not for lots of students. But if you answer the questions, follow the steps, and use these tips, you will get better grades.

Megapiranha - Facts and Figures

Megapiranha - Facts and Figures Name: Megapiranha; pronounced MEG-ah-pir-ah-na Habitat: Rivers of South America Historical Epoch: Late Miocene (10 million years ago) Size and Weight: About five feet long and 20-25 pounds Diet: Fish Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; powerful bite About Megapiranha Just how mega was Megapiranha? Well, you may be disappointed to learn that this 10-million-year old prehistoric fish only weighed about 20 to 25 pounds, but you have to bear in mind that modern piranhas tip the scale at two or three pounds, max (and are only truly dangerous when they attack prey in large schools). Not only was Megapiranha at least ten times as big as modern piranhas, but it wielded its dangerous jaws with an additional order of magnitude of force, according to a recently published study by an international research team. The largest variety of modern piranha, the black piranha, chows down on prey with a biting force of 70 to 75 pounds per square inch, or about 30 times its own body weight. By contrast, this new study shows that Megapiranha chomped with a force of up to 1,000 pounds per square inch, or about 50 times its own body weight. (To put these numbers into perspective, one of the most fearsome predators that ever lived, Tyrannosaurus Rex, possessed a biting force of about 3,000 pounds per square inch, compared to a total body weight of about 15,000 pounds, or seven to eight tons.) The only logical conclusion is that Megapiranha was an all-purpose predator of the Miocene epoch, chowing down not only on fish (and any mammals or reptiles foolish enough to venture into its river habitat) but also large turtles, crustaceans, and other shelled creatures. However, theres one nagging problem with this conclusion: to date, the only fossils of Megapiranha consist of bits of jawbone and a row of teeth from a single individual, so a lot more remains to be discovered about this Miocene menace. In any event, you can bet that somewhere right now, in Hollywood, an eager young screenwriter is actively pitching Megapiranha: The Movie!

Information Based Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Information Based Decision Making - Essay Example In general a decision is made depending on the situation and the issue. The decision made cannot be favorable for everyone in all circumstances. It may lead to improvement or adverse effects on the situation. The information from the concerned department is the important part of decision making process. A decision is made only after collecting the relevant information. Thus information plays a major role in any decision. As a strategic manager I should design a strategy that helps in the process of decision making. This strategy must incorporate the plans that improve the existing situation. The strategy should consist of step by step procedure. The data and information must be selected when using the information based decision making. The nature of the data is an important aspect of information based decision making. (Johnson, 2008).The decision can be made only based on the nature of data. To get the data the data source must be selected well in advance. Once the data source is selected the corresponding data can be retrieved from the specified source. The identification and selection of data involves ascertaining the nature of data, data selection criteria and analyzing the legal requirements of data collection and storage. These are outlined in the following steps. Data is generally given as an input to the corresponding information system. The raw data is processed in the system after which it is given as an output. This output is referred as the information. Data can be in the form of a text file, image, video or an audio. Hence the data can be in any format that is understandable by the respective information system. This data is processed to form complete information. Data is an abstract type of information. The data can be either quantitative or qualitative. The nature of data has gone through various phases of improvement. Due to the latest technologies and the advancements, data's nature is completely different when compared to the initial stages. The nature of the data and the information must be assessed so that the decision is made according to the nature and type of data. The type of data may also differ from one system to another. The decision will differ based on the type of data. The processed information is then analyzed after which the next step begins. Criteria for Data Selection Data selection is an important aspect of information based decision making. Data selection is done based on various criteria. The data must satisfy the criteria to enter in to the system. The data selection criter

A region in the developing world faces water supply problem Essay

A region in the developing world faces water supply problem - Essay Example er provision; interlinking of rivers and rainwater harvesting and their comparison based on cost involved in the method and the impact of the method to the environment. It is found that rainwater harvesting is the cheaper method to be used to provide water in India. Despite the fact that India has quite a number of rivers like; Ganges, Krishna, Brahmaputra, Tapti, Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi and a good climatic weather condition characterized by availability of rainfall throughout the year which amounts to 4000 billion cubic meters of rainfall, it still has to contend with the issue of water shortage (Bombay, 2010 p 47). 1This can be linked to the following factors: 1. Increased demand for water by households, industries and for irrigation in farms: In 2006, it had been found that India used about 829 billion cubic meters by volume of water. This was shared such that irrigation consumed between 89 to 92 percent, industries used between 2 to 5 percent and the households used between 3 to 9 percent of to total volume from both underground and surface water sources as per the records of World Resource Institute, Earth Trends 2001. This consumption is expected to rise to about 1.4 trillion cubic meters or to double by the year 2050. This increase results from the rapidly growing population which will result into the need of more grains which are the products from the farm industries. This in return adds pressure onto the need of high production quantity and efficient irrigation methods (Shahan, 2009).2 2. Population growth rate: The population of India is expected to hit the 1.6 billion mark by the year 2050. Such a drastic increase in population is going to add stress on the existing water. The increase in population implies the need for more industries to meet the need of the people and increased reliance on the agricultural sector for both the raw material and food. The firms would need more water for irrigation and this increases shortage in the