Appeal admission letter to ucsd Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Appeal admission letter to ucsd - Essay Example I play tennis in the Tennis Junior Varsity Team. I play the saxophone in the Marching Band and the violin in the Orchestra. As you will have noticed, I am not only a dedicated and responsible person in my academic work, but I am also a musician, an athlete, involved in community work, and I am environmentally versed and active. This is the reason why I am applying to UCSD. Having an Environmental Science major, a Marching Band, an Orchestra, and tennis teams will give me the opportunity to continue to excel in those areas that I am already active in and it will help me to achieve my goals and objectives by being part of your campus. I am a studious person. I start and finish tasks before or on their due dates. I work independently and as a team member. I have assumed leadership roles. I am multi-tasks disciplined and I am successful being involved in all of my tasks. I would like to be involved in assisting your faculty that is conducting research in any of these areas: global warming; shortage of power; and/or, environmental pollution. I hope that the University of California in San Diego sees in me as a successful student that will fulfill his/her (identify your gender) baccalaureate. I hope that you give me the opportunity to become part of your alumni association as my

Lift slab construction failures Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Lift slab construction failures - Research Paper Example Once the slab has been raised to its desired level initially without proper leveling, it is joined with the columns with the help of the wedges which are â€Å"tack welded†. The area all around the slab is connected with the column through complete welding of the interface as soon as the slab has been leveled to attain its permanent position. The slab is held in position by steel wedges or other holding structures designed with the columns. The sequentially raised slabs become floors to higher slabs. Initial casting of the concrete slabs takes place at the ground level. However, with subsequent rising, the successive slabs are cast above the previously raised floors, which are in turn raised to their respective heights. The columns are also extended, in multiples of about a maximum of 5 storeys side by side as more and more slabs are raised to their heights. (webs.demasiado.com, n.d.). As the building reaches its anticipated height and all of the slabs are raised to their resp ective positions, the hydraulic jacks are removed. The significance of the employment of this technique in the construction of high rise structures is its time-saving and cost- reducing nature and because it offers a more organized, simple and systematic approach towards the construction of high rise buildings. Lift slab construction eliminates the provision of beams and provides a smooth and finished surface on both sides. The technique serves to reduce the construction time and material cost each up to about 30 % as compared to the costs incurred on conventional construction techniques. (webs.demasiado.com, n.d.). In addition to that, the casting of concrete slabs right on the site results in cutting the traveling and miscellaneous charges from the concrete plant to the site. Lift slab construction has long been a much practiced technique for the quick construction of multi-storey buildings. The use of this

Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura: Analysis

Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura: Analysis Child development and welfare Gemma Smith An experiment was conducted to explore the social learning theory of Albert Bandura. The experiment involved small children that were exposed to different forms of aggression and violence to study if the behaviour modelled by an adult would then be reflected upon the child. The experiment provided a range of results that supported the hypothesis and some results that were unexpected. The experiment was effective for the purpose and the settings with the controls provided an ideal environment. Albert bandura was a behaviourist who performed an experiment on children who had been exposed to different behavioural conditions. Bandura’s theory states Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behaviour is learned observationally through modelling:from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviours are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action (Social learning theory, 2013). Bandura believed that the behaviour of children could be shaped by either classical conditioning or through operant conditioning (The distance learning centre, 2013, pg. 8). Operant conditioning was brought about by Burrhus Frederic Skinner, more commonly known as B.F. Skinner, along with his theory that he believed the best way to understand behaviour is to look at the causes of an action and its consequences (Simply psychology, 2014). To study this theory Skinner performed experiments on animals (You tube, March 2007). He placed pigeons in individual boxes; kept the birds at three quarter of their normal weight to ensure they would be hungry then used food as a reward for their behaviour (You tube, March 2007). He used his controlled conditions to isolate the first type of behaviour where the pigeon would peck at a red disc to then be rewarded with food (YouTube, March 2007). The pigeon’s behaviour has now been shaped through operant conditioning to receive food through reinforcement after the desired response has been performed (Boundless, nd). This type of conditioning be it positive or by the removal of punishment can be applied to the behaviour of children (Boundless, nd). A child that receives a reward for picking up the toys in their room for example will do this to receive the prize (Boundless, nd). Or a child’s behaviour could be altered by negative reinforcement such as a child’s favourite teddy or doll being confiscated if they did not perform a particular task. Therefore this demonstrates the power that reinforcement has upon the conditioning and the after affect being the repetition of the actions once the child has been rewarded (Boundless, nd). Reinforcement could easily have the opposite affect if the correct wording is not used and if there is not a clear explanation to follow (education.com, 2014). Then the effectiveness of the behavioural moulding is not as good as it could be. However if the parents are to use responsive language it demonstrates verbal guidance that is respectful to children by clarifying the rules and responsibilities, therefore giving the parents power (education.com, 2014). Although this may prove to be effective it raises some ethical issues. A parent could be considered as using positive reinforcement to manipulate the child (az central, 2014). This manipulation could be used to benefit the parent whilst placing the child in the middle (Parent alienation support, 2010). If a child were to provide reports to their main carer about the other parent to receive a reward this would be classed as manipulation and raise the point of it being unethical (Parent alienation support, 2010). When negative reinforcement is instilled the desired outcome is the same but the procedure is different (behavioural consulting, 2013). Instead of encouragement to promote more good behaviour something negative would be removed to motivate the child to respond (behavioural consulting, 2013). This can also prove to be effective if it is not used to an excessive amount or the psychological affect can damage the child’s self-esteem (global post, 2014). The damage can cause the child to become withdrawn or unwilling to try therefore giving their parents the ability to make them feel poorly about themselves (global post, 2014). Punishment is another form of reinforcement that can be used positively or negatively (behavioural consulting, 2013). Both can be used effectively if they are performed consistently (about.com, 2014). Skinner believed that this type of punishment would only be temporary and perhaps this is occurs because there is not an explanation to accompany the punishment (about.com, 2014). Punishment could also raise concerns later in life for a child whom is smacked for example; they may become aggressive or their behaviour could worsen into antisocial behaviour (about.com, 2014). Conditioning has been used before Bandura by John B. Watson and Rosalie Raynor (1920) in an experiment called little Albert (about.com, 2014). They experimented to see how phobias are the consequence of learnt behaviour (Mike Cardwell, Liz Clark and Claire Meldrum, April 2004, Psychology, third edition, Hammersmith, Collins, pg. 133). Banduras theory follows with the social learning theory (1973) being that violent behaviour is learnt by observing and copying another performing this (Mike Cardwell, Liz Clark and Claire Meldrum, April 2004, Psychology, third edition, Hammersmith, Collins, pg. 134). When Bandura performed the bobo doll experiment he set out to find if modelling influenced the behaviour of young children (youtube, May 2011). Watson and Raynor had the starting point and basis for Banduras theory to become more effective because people are social beings that may observe to learn (youtube, 2011). During the time of Banduras experiment the widespread view was that watching violence reduces aggression however Bandura wanted to prove that a child who watched an adult be violent towards the Bobo doll would then copy the behaviour not reduce it and that is what happened (youtube, May 2011). Modelling on a child could not only achieve what Bandura did but it could cause damage to the child (about.com, 2014). As observational learning has a great effect on what children learn as acceptable behaviour and for a child this shapes their personality (about.com, 2014). On the other hand John Bowlby (1907-1990) studied the attachment behaviour and believed that behaviours are instinctive (simply psychology, 2007). He said the behaviour becomes activated by any conditions that seem to threaten proximity (simply psychology, 2007). A study to investigate whether children learn from observing a model exhibiting aggressive behaviour to a Bobo doll. If violent and aggressive behaviour is modelled to a child then the significant outcome from the child will be aggressive. Whilst the child observes the adult being aggressive or violent to the doll they may not repeat the action and act the opposite with the doll. There is no significant difference between condition 1 (child praised) and condition 2 (child punished) when acting aggressively towards a Bobo doll. An experiment will be carried out using controlled conditions and variables to prove that aggressive behaviour can be modelled to a child, which they will then copy. The study will be an experimental and independent subject design. The independent variable would be the amount of children exposed to the aggressive and non-aggressive behaviour (simply psychology, 2011). The dependent variable is the measure of aggressive behaviour. The participants included seventy two children and two adult’s one of each gender. The children were separated evenly into three groups. In one half of the first two groups there were six boys and six girls with a female and in the second half there were six boys and six girls (simply psychology, 2011). The third group did not contain a model. The children ranged in age from three to six years old (simply psychology, 2011). The experiment contains many children of a range of ages so as to provide a varied amount of results. The apparatus needed for the experiment will be the videos of the children and model, a tick sheet to mark down the aggressive and non-aggressive acts. A stopwatch to be certain each observational study takes the same amount of time. Inferential statistics Using novel objects to hit the bobo doll 28/12= 2.3 35.5/12=2.95 F 2.95 Playing without showing aggressive actions 35/12=2.9 6.8/12=0.56 0.56 2.95/0.56= 5.26 The degrees of freedom for numerator are 15 and the degrees of freedom for dominator are 6. This makes my test two tailed therefore giving it a two directional outcome when looking at the results. This result does reflect the hypothesis and the alternate hypothesis but not the null hypothesis. The hypothesis and alternate hypothesis provides two directions to which the result can travel. The null hypothesis however is very specific to generalising that both of the conditions will not provide different results. Using the variance test provides information on two groups and as my results involved this test seemed appropriate to use. The experiment has clearly proven that children do learn from observation and can show just how much behaviour can be modelled to a child. A child’s way of thinking has been uncovered in this experiment when the results are explored. This is reflected when looking at the age range of the children and their results. In the Praised section of the table the ratings are all between three and four but as soon as the children are being punished for their behaviour the numbers dramatically drop and begin to range from zero to two. Although the results for non-aggressive behaviour under praise were surprisingly low whilst the punishment was high from three up to six on the scale. The controls that were put into place were effective and not in a way to be misleading to the child. For instance there was a kitchen set, a ball or two, a gun and a mallet. Even though the children used these for their own weapons these ideas were not modelled by the adult. The experiment could be described as ethical and unethical. Ethical because modelling behaviour is a way to teach children the difference between what is acceptable and what is not. On the other hand it is not ethical do use a blow up doll to demonstrate a child causing pain to it just because they have been shown to do so. How does it prove that the same child would repeat the actions months later on the Bobo doll and if that child does this because they remember it or their behaviour has changed. If the experiment were to be carried out again the Bobo doll would not be used another way of demonstrating behavioural changes should be used to vary the results. The results cannot be generalised to the whole public in every aspect but perhaps the ideas could be. The experiment is not generalised enough from the beginning the children were tested to see how aggressive they were to start with and with everyone being different the results would be inaccurate. The theory of social learning has some value in terms of associ ating many children to this type of learning from a very young age. The research could be expanded to deeper exploration in to the brain and what triggers are common in already aggressive people to what the triggers are for those whom are not aggressive my nature against the impartial people. The results for this can link the behaviourism to many types of crime, antisocial behaviour and even domestic violence. In conclusion the experiment to find out if modelling aggressive and violent behaviour would influence a child to observe and copy seems to have been proven a success. Albert Bandura’s theory can be applied to so many different aspects to behaviour and he chose one of the most interesting areas. The results have shown what power adults can have over their children and that reinforcement is not something to be taken lightly but supports the social learning theory. Conducting an experiment with small children was a good place to start because of their innocence and little or lack of knowledge of morals. Word count: 2063 References http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/social-learning.html Social learning theory 2013 http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/access/assessments/cdw/dip_cdw_child_rearing_assess.pdf bandura 2013 http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html skinner 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA Skinner March 2007 https://www.boundless.com/business/motivation-theories-and-applications/modern-views-on-motivation/reinforcement-theory/ Reinforcement theory nd http://www.education.com/reference/article/positive-guidance-techniques/ positive reinforcement 2014 http://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/ethical-consideration-negative-positive-reinforcement-27520.html ethics and reinforcement 2014 http://parentalalienationsupport.com/2010/09/09/methods-of-emotional-manipulation-understanding-parental-alienation-using-behaviorism/ ethics and reinforcement 2010 http://bcotb.com/the-difference-between-positivenegative-reinforcement-and-positivenegative-punishment/ negative reinforceme nt 2013 http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/effects-negative-reinforcements-selfesteem-14366.html negative reinforcement self-esteem 2014 http://psychology.about.com/od/operantconditioning/f/punishment.htm punishment 2014 http://psychology.about.com/od/classicpsychologystudies/a/little-albert-experiment.htm Watson and Raynor 2014 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zerCK0lRjp8 albert bandura may, 2011 http://psychology.about.com/od/early-child-development/a/experience-and-development.htm experience and development 2014 http://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html Bowlby 2007 http://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html bandura Bobo doll 2011 Book Mike Cardwell, Liz Clark and Claire Meldrum, April 2004, Psychology, third edition, Hammersmith, Collins

Challenges Facing AIDS Activism in America :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Challenges Facing AIDS Activism in America Even before HIV/AIDS first showed up in the United States in 1980-1981, homosexuals were greatly stigmatized within American society. The homophobia that already existed was only exacerbated by the fact that the overwhelming majority of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS during the first few years of the epidemic were homosexual males (so much so in fact that AIDS was originally called the "Gay-Related Immuno Deficiency"). The US male homosexual population found itself confronted with a national epidemic that was receiving zero national attention. The political activism of the gay male population in the 1980s and early 1990s made significant progress towards educating American society about limiting the risk of disease transmission through safe-sex practices and clean-needle exchanges, combating discrimination of people with AIDS (PWAs) and homosexuals, and ensuring that adequate health care was provided for PWAs. But now it seems that the fight against AIDS is right back where it began. Homosexuals no longer account for the highest rate of new HIV/AIDS infections, and as a result, the urgency of their political activism has subsided. The population in which the vast majority of new HIV/AIDS infections occurs is the poor minority population, a highly stigmatized sector of American society. Once again, the AIDS epidemic is receiving zero national attention because those most affected are not a part of the national dialogue. Whereas male homosexuals found themselves in positions of power and wealth in the first decade of the epidemic, this "new face" of AIDS has little in terms of financial and political resources. It is up to other AIDS activists to lend their voice and political weight to advocate for the welfare of these impoverished minorities. Even before AIDS surfaced the US gay male population had experience in grass-roots political activism from the sexual revolution of the 1970s, and just as the first rumors of a "gay cancer" were circulating in San Francisco and New York, the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) was formed in January 1982 to "provide compassionate care to New Yorkers with AIDS, educate to keep people healthy, and advocate for fair and effective public policies" (GMHC 1). AIDS first came into the public eye in 1985 when Rock Hudson, a famous 1960s Hollywood actor, publicly admitted to having AIDS and subsequently died later that year. But after five years of unsuccessful lobbying, AIDS was still perceived as a gay men's health crisis and not an american (or international) health crisis.

Does School Matter? Essay

It is important that every person in every race, gender and social class be educated by going to school to become more successful in achieving higher goals, better jobs and personal fulfillment. By going to school and obtaining a good education, each individual will be able to seek out higher paying jobs for a better way of life. We live in an era where going to school and graduating is extremely important. We live in an age that encourages everyone to attend school, in order to propel through life more easily with the proper skills to gain employment that will be most crucial in determining one’s lifestyle. Today, people from all races, classes and genders are able to go to school in America to become educated, equally. When enrolling in school, one does not get denied access to an education because of the color of their skin and although an individual may come from a poor family or neighborhood, they aren’t turned away from a proper education but are given the same opportunity as a person from the most prestigious and wealthiest families and areas. Learning is a means for all people; great and small to attend a common ground where each person can learn and grow and decide what type of job they want to perform in their career and can grow from a low social class to the very highest. Education is the key element in determining where a person will go during their life and by going to school and gaining the most from what they are taught by their teachers, they will be able to soar high and become intelligent and important leaders in the workforce. To be the very best you can be, school is most important!

Judith Beveridge Speech

Judith Beveridge is a poet of great detail. Her poems are written with strong use of language. Strong imagery of her observations and contrasts of her views help create her poems meaning and effect on the reader. Beveridge’s texts are valuable to the understanding of human and nature’s precious life, and her appreciation for life in all. Through her two poems ‘the domesticity of Giraffes’ and ‘the streets of Chippendale’ these both communicate her ideas and values the strongest. One of Beveridge’s strongest values is of life, in ‘the domesticity of giraffes’ this is displayed from the first sentence of the second stanza. ‘I think of her graceful on her plain’ Beveridge puts herself into the poem, her thoughts of the giraffe in her natural state, gracefully running in the wild. The entire second stanza is crammed with imagery; each line creates a new picture in the mind of the giraffe being free. A strong metaphor end the stanza ‘She could be a big slim bird before flight’ this metaphor symbolising that could be the giraffe’s freedom. This is Beveridge’s only positive stanza throughout this poem this is very effective to display her thoughts on what the giraffes life should look be like. Continuing into the poem, violence and pain in the giraffe is described strongly using several similes. ‘ Her tongue like a black leather strap’,’ bruised apple eyed’ words of strong violence and pain as though the giraffe appears beaten up and battered, this use of violent imagery is disturbing and makes you think deeper about how the giraffes natural appearance seems to have disappeared. Beveridge observes the giraffe licking the wire for salt and gazing around her pen, her gaze has the loneliness of smoke’. Beveridge describes the giraffes unnatural habits, she becomes a part of the poem again by ‘ offering the giraffe the salt of her hand’ ‘ the giraffe in sensual agony’, this point of desperation for the giraffe is extremely unnatural and saddening to see her have to go to such measures to have what she needs. In ‘the streets of Chippendale’ life is at its lowest. For a suburb that seems so upper class and pleasant for the names of the streets Ivy, vine, rose and myrtle are so beautiful, all of these names are very misleading. Life in Chippendale is rough, alcoholic and sad. Beveridge uses juxtaposition to contrast the names of the streets with what they sound to be. ‘Abercrombie sounds like the eccentric unmarried third cousin’ ‘but Abercrombie’s different’. Beveridge personifies the street as though it is a grumbling, alcoholic, causing trouble and disturbance. There is so much violence, as though men are fighting in their drunken confident state to up their lacking self esteem. ‘Sad daughter of the ruined slipper’ violence sexual abuse nothing of what is accepted in society. The community of Chippendale has no value anymore, no society morals exist. Life is not valued or precious, there seem to be no happy memories to ever come from this place ‘ streets go to wall like families’ ‘ ivy vine rose and myrtle not one of your descendants mourns your loss’ the people of Chippendale don’t want to remember this place at all. Though above the grime and run down nature, ‘Thomas and Edward have climbed to new heights, incomes and renovations, things are slightly looking up in one small part of town. The streets of Chippendale are very male dominated. Beveridge particularly portrays this with certain lines, images in our minds from the words beer mates drunks and work boot bruises come together to create the image of a man after work, in his late night alcoholic state. This poem shows a strong inequality between men and women. The tale of Abercrombie Street is dark and sad. The street is personified as a pub crawler. ‘Hits the bottle with a dozen pubs, grumbles like a drunken parent, these similes reflect Beveridge’s views on how the street behaves. Beer mates come together her with a feel for violence ‘someone smashes the street lights’’ sad daughter of the ruined slipper’ Beveridge has created the image of Chippendale to be one big self destructed mess. The feeling of male dominancy and female inequality is overwhelmed throughout the poem and is valuable to show how society can really be this way. The same dominancy is seen in ‘the domesticity of giraffes’ in desperation the female giraffe needs salt. But in no natural way can she get enough. The male bull indolently lets down his penis drenching the pavement. Beveridge uses emotive language to describe how the female giraffe in desperation goes for whets her needs. ‘She thrusts her tongue under his rich stream to get moisture for her thoundath chew. The word thrusts create the image of the female giraffe lowering herself to his waste to get what she needs. Throughout every one of Judith Beveridge poems, her structure and language forms that she uses are what make her poems phenomenal. By use of strong imagery, similes, juxtaposition and personification our minds can picture what she has written about clearly. The pain of the giraffe in its enclosure would not seem as harsh and unwanted if it was not for the violent images that are created in our minds and the several similes to compare how the image seems in real life. She languorously swings her tongue’ like a black leather strap ‘bruised apple eyed’’ legs stark as telegraph poles’ Beveridge seems effortless in creating this giraffes appearance. Juxtaposition is repetitively used throughout Beveridge’s poems this is useful to create and enhance different images in our minds. Chippendale’s streets are personified and their names are explained as what they sound to be, ivy vine rose and myrtle, Hugo and Louis, Abercrombie they could have been the homes of kindly aunts, respected gentlemen strolling past, but they’re nothing but beer mates of Abercrombie. In this poem juxtaposition and enjambment are Beveridge’s two strongest language forms these help create a certain image of the town, and help the poem to flow right through and connect nicely. Each of Beveridge’s poems is valuable. Each explores human’s exploitation to nature and morals of society. The issue of life and its value, men and women’s inequality are actively discussed through both poems ‘the domesticity of giraffes’ and ‘the streets of Chippendale’ both poems are valuable to create one persons view that not many other people observe so deeply.