How Holography Works :: Holography Holograms Physics

To develop and understanding of how holograms work, one first needs a elemental understanding of light and its wave-like properties. First, we will consider investigate the concepts of diffraction and an interference pattern. Consider, for a moment, a person threw a jounce into a pond. At the point where the rock hit the water, waves would form and would move away from the source of the wave (the rock) in a spherical shape. This is what a wave looks like when the wave is being emitted from a single point. Now, consider a water wave that is traveling through a small mother fucker in a wall. The waves would emerge form that slit like it would from a point source (the rock). The waves travel through the slit and emerge in a spherical pattern. Now, lets take the next step. Lets say or else of just one slit, two slits were put in the wall. Waves would emerge from apiece point in a spherical pattern. But this time, the system is more complicated. Because the waves atomic num ber 18 emerging in spherical patterns, the waves begin to intersect with each other and form an interference pattern. Every wave has crests and troughs. A crest can be thought of as the high point of a wave and a trough can be thought of as the low point of a wave. Every wave can be expressed a sin function, that is, it is periodic. These crests and troughs occur at regular intervals in the wave. So, when these waves from the two slits in the wall receive intersecting, the crests and troughs start intersecting with each other this is known as an interference pattern. If the periods of the waves are lined up, or rather the waves are in phase with each other, the crests and troughs of the two waves overlap and reinforce each other. That is, it looks like there is a wave that is twice as large as one of the original waves at a particular point of intersection this is known as constructive interference. Now, lets consider a point of intersection where the crest of one wave is inaug urate where the trough of the other wave is present. These two waves at this point are out of phase and are experiencing destructive interference. The water would actually look solace at this point, because the waves, in a sense, cancel each other out.

The Ambiguity of Shakespeares Ambiguous Hamlet Essay -- Shakespeare H

Ambiguity of settlement In Shakespeares dramatic tragedy juncture, the supposeer finds ambiguity of one type and another here and in that respect throughout the play. The protagonist himself is an especially ambiguous character is his own rite. Harold Bloom in the Introduction to Modern Critical Interpretations Hamlet expounds on the ambiguity and cryptical conduct of the hero during the final act When Horatio responds that Claudius will hear shortly from, presumably that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been executed, Hamlet rather ambiguously my italics makes what might be read as a final vow of revenge It will be short. The interim is mine. And a mans lifes no more(prenominal) than to say one. (2) The play begins with the changing of the sentinels on a guard platform of the castle of Elsinore in Denmark. Recently the spectral likeness of dead King Hamlet has appeared to the sentinels for no definite purpose. Tonight the ghost appears again, for no apparent reason, to Barnardo, Marcellus and Horatio, a very close friend of Hamlet. Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet, who is home from school, demoralize by the oerhasty marriage of his mother to his uncle less than two months after the funeral of Hamlets father (Gordon 128). There is a social gathering of the court, where Claudius pays gift to the memory of his deceased brother, the former king, and then, along with Queen Gertrude, conducts some items of business, for example dispatching Cornelius and Voltemand to Norway to settle the Fortinbras affair, addressing Polonius and Laertes on the subject of the latters return to school abroad. Hamlet is present at the court gat... ...est Young Aristocrat. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Masks of Hamlet. Newark, NJ Univ. of Delaware P., 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http//www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html No line nos. West, Rebecca. A hail and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT Yale University Press, 1957. Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. Hamlet A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p. Pocket Books, 1958.

Platos Communism :: Communism Essays

Elites Elites not masses, govern each(prenominal) societies, but in whose interests do they serve. Elites are inevitable in all societiesAccording to some(prenominal) Madison and Plato, factions will inevitably occur within society, the way to address this is viewed in two different ways by Plato and Madison.Plato sees within society an infixed flaw of two cities, a city of the rich and a city of the poor. He rejects oligarchy, the rule of few over many, because he believes that absolute power corrupts suddenly and rejects democracy for the incompetence within the system because it lacks people properly schooled in the Plutonian tradition and sees the violence inherent in the system, for existent in all melodic lines of government exist the extreme violence and selfishness of party struggles for factions within society.Plato would remove the causes of factions, choosing to give up further liberties to protect the good of the people. His theory is similar to the secernate of n ature, believing that societies are formed to meet the needs of the people. Because of the inherent yearning for power within a few elites, Plato would remove these feelings of selfishness, with his own form of Communism.Platos communism would take two main forms which meet in the abolition of the family. The first of the two forms would be to set up a new form of hierarchy Philosopher king, who would rule by merit of vision and capacity to realize that vision in reality. Guardians, who would serve as the military/ruling class of society, merchant class which serves as a middle class, a buffer between the poor and the rulers. This sunders in two the idea of a city of rich/ city of poor. However the main thing to note is that the rulers must give up certain freedoms in order to attain their position of power. The rulers must give up the right to own property, effectively removing self-interest. Anyone can be a ruler as long as they MERIT the position. Also, the must live in vulgar b arracks style living and eat at a common table, facilitating discussion and equality amongst them. Also they all must be schooled in the Plutonian Tradition.The fleck form of communism would be the abolition of a permanent monogamous sexual relationship. This removes loyalty to family/lover. Lovemaking would be more like livestock breed and would occur at the behest of the ruler. Plato believed that if the unity of the state is to be preserved and marriage and property stand in the way than they must be abolished.

Why I Like Football Essay -- essays research papers

Why I like Football     Many people get along honoring and participating in sporting events. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd U.S. president once said, "Sports is the very fiber for what we all stand for. It keeps our spirit alive." No matter if watching or playing, football is one of Americas most popular sports. Many people attend high school, college, and professional football every year. You can relate numerous aspects of football and sports to life. . I think football is the best sport I have ever played or watched.     Football requires tremendous amounts of teamwork and sportsmanship to be successful. No one man can win a football game. He may make a big tackle or a plunk catch, but without him and the other 10 players on the field he can non win a game. A football player can not be selfish and put himself before his team. "One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than a hundred teaching it" said legendary Notr e Dame football coach Knute Rockne. Teamwork is vital in the game of football. If you have 9 players doing their job and 2 not doing it then you are not going to be a very successful team. It takes 11 players working and communicating together to be successful.     Football is a very exciting game. Millions of people attend games in psyche and watch them on television. Football is a very unpredictable game, because there is many factors affecting the outcome of the ...

Online Dating Essay -- Internet Cyberspace Technology Essays

Online Dating The Internet has always seemed like a completely severalize world, very different from reality. There seemed to be so many endless possibilities. One is the new online dating craze, which has caught my attention a number of times. One wet afternoon, curled up in a blanket at my computer chair, I decided to investigate it. I learned that as many of the baby-boomers proceed to become widowed or divorced, many are founting for mates, along with many others who are looking for companionship. With the new Internet-Age, many of these individuals turn to their computer to square up someone. Online relationships are a growing phenomenon in the United States as well as internationally. After doing some research I could not develop an panorama on how I felt about this new trend. I found a group of specialists who had devoted some researching to it and I invited them over for dinner to bugger off what their opinions were and why. I wanted only the best, the most opinionated, and the most interested in the topic to come and join me for dinner. I wanted to ignite a parley that would involve many different views about the subject. I decided on three nation to invite to my feast. First, I chose Robin Eisner, who works for ABC, and has studied the do of spending time on the Internet. Next, I chose Laura Koss-Feder, who had interviewed several online couples and understands some of the positive and negative attributes of online dating. I also invited Erica D. Rowell for her knowledge and the studies she has done on online dating. roughly a week before they all came to dinner, I began to plan what I would make. After having talked to each of them several times on the telephone, I could tell they may de... ...et them up on, but they often do not develop into anything. They are often surrounded by married couples and may not know a lot of single people, so dating can be very difficult. In their loneliness, they turn to the In ternet for companionship. Many may go just to look for a friend, but often they might end up meeting someone they want to date (par. 3). I think this is spectacular for older people since they are often wiser so they know who to trust and are more careful when disclosing information to people online. They know they cannot trust just anybody. Younger people, who fill not dated much or have not experienced true love, might fall for the words of another online, and this cold lead to black-market effects. I would not advise anybody my age to date online, but for some older people I think it might be a great way to meet people as long as they are careful.

Freedom in Mark Twains The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Essay -- Adventur

Nothing is more important in the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer than freedom. exemption plays an enormous role in the book Tom Sawyer. Whether it is people grasping freedom or people not being granted it, every young son in St. Petersburg wanted some form of freedom. The word freedom means the power to say and do what you want. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper are all boys quest freedom. Freedom is the key reason the boys run away to Jackson Island. Freedom is one of the main themes in the book.Tom is always looking for ways to earn freedom. One of the main plots in the story is Toms quest for freedom. Freedom gives Tom a sense of accomplishment after he finishes a deed or task. The secret to happiness is freedom. The secret to freedom is courage. - Thucydides Ancient Greek Historian Sometimes he doesnt earn it but he attempts to get out of his responsibilities. Tom is always envying Huck for his lethargic lifestyle. His Aunt Polly is not a fan of freedom she thinks t hat boys should do their chores and be civilized.Spare the rod cell and spoil the child, ...

Freedom in Mark Twains The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Essay -- Adventur

Nothing is more important in the book The Adventures of tom Sawyer than freedom. Freedom plays an enormous role in the book Tom Sawyer. Whether it is people earning freedom or people not being granted it, every young boy in St. Petersburg wanted close to form of freedom. The word freedom means the power to say and do what you want. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper are all boys seeking freedom. Freedom is the key designer the boys run away to Jackson Island. Freedom is one of the main themes in the book.Tom is always looking for ways to earn freedom. One of the main plots in the story is Toms quest for freedom. Freedom gives Tom a sense of accomplishment after he finishes a deed or task. The out of sight to happiness is freedom. The secret to freedom is courage. - Thucydides Ancient Greek Historian Sometimes he doesnt earn it but he attempts to get out of his responsibilities. Tom is always envying Huck for his lethargic lifestyle. His Aunt Polly is not a fan of freedom she thinks that boys should do their chores and be civilized.Spare the rod and spoil the child, ...

Miss Jane Marple and Miss Cordelia Grey

At first blush it is difficult to imagine dickens women who are more(prenominal) different that discharge Jane Marple, the cozy amateur detective featured in Agatha Christies At Bertrams Hotel and Miss Cordelia rusty the protagonist in P. D. James An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. First, Miss Marple is a good deal older than Miss Gray, although their lifetimes overlap.Secondly the times and worlds they each occupy vary considerably. Lastly, Miss Marples life experiences appear to collect occurred in the village St. bloody shame Mead. Cordelia Grey however has never legitimately known a home and has lived throughout Europe. However, after sorting through the differences mingled with the deuce women it becomes clear that each has the necessary qualities necessary to play the role of mystery novel detective.Time provides the most obvious focus between these both novels and their main characters. Miss Marples age is not revealed, but Lady Selina, herself sixty-five-years-old notice s Miss Marples arrival with the thoughtfulness I do believe thats old Jane Marple. Thought she was fallen years ago. Looks a hundred (Christie 4). Cordelia Grey is only twenty-two-years-old in An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, but it is not just the difference in their ages that separates the two women, it is the difference in time.Although At Bertrams Hotel takes place in capital of the United Kingdom in 1955 and An Unsuitable Job for a Woman takes place in London and Cambridge in 1972 the focus on time each novel has is quite is quite different. Bertrams Hotel stands proudly in the mid-1950s looking backwards to an England that no longer exists except in the memories of the elderly and English films.The management has created an artificial, refined world that caters to the aging members of Edwardian England who fondly recall their youth and to whose Americans who want to visit the real England hopefully the England from forward World War I, but certainly the England from before Wo rld War II. Bertrams has changed over the years, but looks precisely as it had looked in 1939dignified, unostentatious, and quietly expensive (Christie 1).Miss Marple arrives for a visit after having previously stayed there when she was fourteen. Miss Marple brings with her not only her memories of her previous visit, but also a lifetime of memories of the people from St. Mary Mead who she has observed for a lifetime and has learned to recognize anomalies in the actions of others and has developed the habit of picking at these peculiar actions until she has revealed the reason for the action. In this process, Miss Marple has solved a large number of murder mysteries (Christie).The 1972 world of Cordelia Grey differs greatly. Rather than focusing her interest backward at a childhood without a beat and most often without her father being part of her life, Cordelia Grey looks forward. She lives at a time when a young woman living in London has the opportunity to work in an increasing variety of careers. patronage this relaxing of social attitude toward the role of women in England, Cordelia has stumbled into the detective business, a most absurd career that she intends to master (James).Unlike Miss Marple who has a treasure trove of memories to guide her in her investigations, Cordelia Grey has had a short live and has had almost no training to work as a detective. Although technically a partner, Greys training has been limited to basic training in the use of fingerprinting and similar techniques. Her real training has been the often-repeated litany remarks of her late partner Bernard G. Pryde. Pryde was fired from the CID section of the Metropolitan police because of his inability to put together facts and solve cases. He had however taken to center the teachings of Superintendent Inspector Adam Dagliesh and eer had a proverb at hand to help with the current situation. Miss Grey calls these to mind as she outlet throughout the investigation (James 56, 211). Miss Marple appears to have spent her life at home, working in her garden except for occasional trips such as the two to Bertrams and a trip to the Caribbean that had been paid for by her nephew. Her world is St. Mary Mead, a microcosm sufficiently diverse to have allowed her to develop a keen sense of observation that is adequate to the world outside St. Mary Mead. Cordelia Grey, however, has lived in a series of foster homes after her mothers death while giving birth to Cordelia. Her father was a fascist poet and not much of a father at all, prompting Cordelia to conclude that the six years she spent at convent school due to a clerical error were the most settled and happy years of her life. (James 68).The similarities between the two are quite striking. Both women are extremely intelligent though Miss Marple often appears as a twittering and reminiscing old lady (Christie 36). While at convent school Cordelia Grey had learned that she was smart and that she neednt to conceal her intelligence, that cleverness which a succession of foster mothers had somehow seen as a threat.She was offered a chance to take her A-levels with the hopes of a scholarship to Cambridge, but was forbidden to do so by her father who unfortunately chose to appear at the time (James 68-9). Miss Marple and Miss Grey have a strong attraction to what is orderly and proper. Miss Marple always awakens early she has her breakfast at eight-thirty and enjoys a real breakfast with proper eggs (Christie 33-35). Even though her partner has died, she attends to the business, even though there are no clients, cleaning, tidying, rearranging . . . (James 22).She carefully plans what clothes she should take with her to Cambridge while she conducts her investigation (James 43). When the investigation is over Miss Grey takes the time to finish spading the last two feet of the garden row the murder victim had failed to complete before his death, as if it were one more unsettled task that needed to be co mpleted. Finally, these women are tenacious as terriers. If either of them notices something that is not quite right they will fuss at it and fiddle with it until it makes sense and is reconciled to their satisfaction.Ultimately both Miss Marple and Miss Grey are, in some respects, different faces of a modern, female Janus, the two faced god with each face pointing in opposite directions. The elderly Miss Marple steadfastly faces back in time toward the Edwardian England she remembers and prefers the young Miss Grey who eagerly faces forward, looks hopefully toward the future.Despite this different temporal orientation, each woman keeps one, boldly curious, wandering eye firmly in the present time and location. Each woman notices the unusual in the midst of normalcy, seeks lies in the midst of truth, and discerns the sinister among the innocent. Despite the great differences between them, they are in many ways kindred sisters or perhaps kindred grandmother and granddaughter. Both w omen successfully engage in activities deemed unsuitable work for a woman. Despite this they succeed in discovering and righting the wrongs even though the men around them have failed to do so.Works CitedChristie, Agatha. At Bertrams Hotel. unsanded York Bantam Books, Agatha Christie Mystery Collection, 1987. James, P. D. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman. New York Charles Scribners Sons, 1972.

A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops

More and more, teachers be becoming a primary see in childrens lives. Therefore, it stands to reason that a teachers temper and teaching style can have a profound impact on childrens academic performance and general development. A teacher is care a sculptor he moulds a personality out of a child like a sculptor creates a beautiful statue out of clay. So a teacher has the greatest impact on students personality, noesis, determine and this affect can go on for years even subsequently they are not in contact with one another.Firstly, a teacher has the core affect on students knowledge, which they can use in all life situations later on. Teaching requires utter dedication and selflessness to be able to impart your learning and knowledge to the students. It not only deals with academic knowledge alone. Being truly knowledgeable will not immediately qualify as a good teacher. What is more important is the attitude and the accomplishment of being able to transfer the lessons effec tively to the students. A teacher is dealing with many students of different personalities.Some are like a sponge who grasps the main ideas very easily, only other students require more patience as they disclose it more difficult to understand the subject matter. As a teacher, it is his role to draw off care of all of these students, making sure no one is left behind. Thus, if a teacher has built a good foundation, students will use the knowledge in future. Thats why it is said, that a teacher creats other jobs. Secondly, a teacher plays a great role in forming students character. It is very difficult, because character is formed not only in the classroom, but every student has its individual resources.Despite the fact, the classroom climate influenced by a teacher has a major impact on pupils motivation, attitude towards learning and charater development. A teacher must respect the individuality of each child and must not endeavour the self dignity of a particular student. A t eacher should take an interest in every child. Because the better you get to know your students, the more influence you will have on their attitude towards your subject, and on their lives in general. However it should not be forgotten constantly to provide benchmarks for improvement for your students.Praise should be precondition when it is due, and find positive things to tell students before making suggestions on how to improve something. Draw gently alongside those who are in need of help and find creative ways to assist them to improve their grades. Thirdly, a teacher has a huge impact on students values. They are not passed on from parents to children in the form of DNA. However, it does not necessarily follow that if they are learned, they must have been learned as a result of deliberate teaching. The consequences of our value systems are not understood in abstractions but in deeds.A teacher cant really teach values as he do other parts of the curriculum, but he can and shou ld help students develop values through his own behaviors and modeling. The purpose of this is the belief that a clearly defined and meaningful set of values will help students, in the years to come, to do the right thing, especially when doing the right thing is hard. To sum up, teaching, like any other responsible profession is quite a challenge especially in the present fast moving world, however it can leave huge impact on the untried minds. But a teacher plays the biggest role in forming childrens knowledge, character and values.

A Modern Day Liberal Arts Program

If there is 1 major lesson that we can learn live in this world, it is the fact of impermanence of everything. The world is constantly in a flux, forever fluid, as well as the reality that humanity must reflection in his day to day battle to live a decent, comfortable life. Everything is changing. If we would borrow a cliche to describe it, the appropriate one is beat is achanging. And during this time when a lot of changes are taking place, there is the importance and need that the political plans in our colleges to clutch au courant with these changes.Failure to do so ordain only send to an otherwise failure which is a shortcoming in educating our schoolchilds to prepare then to face the realities of the impertinent world. In the case of Liberal arts Programs, the issue give tongue to above is more than appropriate. Lest we forget, Liberal Arts was founded by scholars whose aim is to maximize and develop the quick-witted capacity of its assimilators. The word Libera l in latin nub libera which content free. The object of liberal arts then is to free its student from the bondage of ignorance.This is the reason why in the introductory program in whatsoever liberal arts program beats desire vocabulary, literature, philosophy and mathematics are included. The reason for this is to enhance the higher faculty of its students and nurture their ability to be well-verse with the outside world and at the same time of the possibilities of what role they allow lay out in companionship. The role of Liberal Arts program in general chthonian a setting of a democratic system is the fulfillment of every mans dexterous potential for issue and study.Under posting that the democratic system bestows on man his rights for equality, liberty and freedom, the part played by Liberal Arts colleges towards these goals is to empower the individual to exercise these innate rights given to him by the form of this semipolitical setup. Through the programs o ffered by Liberal Arts, an individual is given the right tools to have the capacity to think and express his ideas that is beneficial in his pursuit of personal development and progress.The result of the process then is that it uplifts the spirit of the person as an individual and simultaneously shapes him to be a productive participant in the society that he go away be a part of. At the same time the effect of this on the society at large is the encouragement on the hale organization to advance in its ability to think. Advancement in the way the society think pull up stakes bring an outcome where the society can keep an eye on resolution to the challenges it faces in the fast changing world.Nevertheless, the question that lingers in the face of an ever-changing world is Is the curriculum offered by Liberal Arts programs enough to keep students prepared to realize their potential once they leave the confine of campus life? The answer to this is very obvious. Though the basic cur riculum that is included in the program gives the student the basic skills in cerebral endeavor and basic knowledge to participate effectively in society, there is still the need for it to be conciliative and open to other disciplines to make it relevant to the changing world.In todays changing terrain of realities, there are two points that students of this Liberal Arts Program go away have to deal with in order to grow and be equipped with the right tools for them to function and participate in the outside world. One is communication and the other one is technology. Why communication and technology. On a cursory look the two seems wide apart. The inaugural one is almost intangible while the last mentioned is concrete and definite. One may even conclude that technology is far from the aim and mission of any liberal arts curriculum.Yet, on a juxtaposed look the two complement with apiece other. thither is a need to master the basics of communication thorough which technology allow for be use as the tool to convey it. What then are the benefits of program for the student and to the society at large? One, the vision which the program has set for to each one student is for him to be an all-around person who can participate in the outside world with right tools to keep at pace with the changing world, especially in this age of Information Revolution.As for the society at large, the benefit it can derive from this program is the actualization of everything that was taught in liberal arts classroom to be performed by its student in the outside world. Society can sow the fruits of labor of every student of the program. In a gist, this Liberal Arts Program allow for aim on what Knoblauch registers close to the uses of literacy, that it never stands alone, that it is always used for something for professional competence in the technological world, for civic responsibility and the preservation of heritage, for personal growth and self fulfillment, for socia l and political change (220).Communication The main goal as to the focus of the program towards communication is obviously the intent of propagating literacy among young people. If we follow what Hirsch tell in his study, the literacy rate in United States is only around 66% (2). It is therefore right to conclude that that there are basically one terzetto of the population of the country who are illiterate. The program then will aim at equipping the students with skills that can make them speak well, write well and record how to convey and relay their thoughts and ideas to others and to the society they are part of. How can these ends be met through the program?In the program under the light of communication, a curriculum which will include subjects on right speech and theme will be designed. These issues can be addressed by the inclusion of speech subjects with the objective of culture the students in the right manner of being an effective communicator. Speech. There are alrea dy in some Liberal Arts programs that include this subject of speech in their curriculum. In this program the same will be applied but with a new philosophy in treating the subject so that the maximum potential of the student can be reached as soon as possible in the path of the program.The approach would be the utilization of 95% of the class hours in the honing and speech practices to be given to the students. The pattern of teaching then would be breathing exercises during the start of the class. After this and passim the long succession of the semester, the students will be called to present a prepared speech in drive of the class, a speech with the duration of five minutes. This will happen throughout the credit line. Applying this method of teaching how to speak properly in front of an audience will develop at the same time the confidence of the student to charge up stage fright.Meanwhile, the final examination for the course will be an extemporaneous speech by which each student, gaining already the confidence to stand in front of an audience, will be taught the experience of speaking their minds out in a comprehensible and structured format. The rate for this course will be unlike in any other speech subject. Since the usual gauge of the instructor in this case is lumping the whole class into one and giving the highest kind to the one who stand out among the rest, this will not be the system for this subject.Since the instructor is observing and sitting at the back of the classroom most of the time, he will grade each student consort to his progress in the curriculum. Since a semester is long enough for a student to suck several(prenominal) times to stand in front of the class to speak, the basis whether the student demodes the subject is whether he has improved in his speaking skills. Writing. It is well known that in every Liberal Arts program there entails an intensive training for writing.It is even state that without focus on this aspect of such a program is a sure reprobate for the whole curriculum altogether. Writing is the most difficult form of communication since it charters a lot of practice and discipline in order to put what one has in mind into written words. Many have try to design different approaches on how to address this and how to imbue it as a college experience for students. There are a hundred methods applied to teach writing in school and so far there are only a smattering or a small percentage of those who are taught who came out as good author.In this program concerning writing, there will only be two types of writing skills that will be given priority and importance. One is essay writing and the second one is creative writing. Essay Writing. As I have said there are many approaches tried on this subject to attain the goal that the students gain the skill of writing well. There are many colleges which tried to start-up the writing development of student by applying the formula of instructi ng their students to put their ideas into writing. But in this program, the approach will be different.Part of the syllabus will be for each student to write different kinds of essays. These are assignments that will be scheduled for the students to submit to the professor during the course of the semester. This scheme is only the tip of the iceberg in teaching the students how to write. first gear, to let the student feel the words and see how his ideas are transformed into written texts, part of the daily activity of the students in this subject is the origination of what you called a morning page paper.This paper will be written continuously for half an hour with the instruction to the student to write everything he thinks or sees or smells or anything that comes to his mind during that session. Grammar, systax, punctuation and sentences structure in this activity are not considered. There are no right tenses here or correct English. The point of the exercise is to make the stu dent flex his writing muscles. Another part of the activity that will be included in this course is the creation of a journal by every student.It must be clear to the student that to learn how to write one must practice it as regular as possible. And there is no regular activity that will force to the student to write by keeping a journal. Creative Writing. As part of the growth of the student a creative writing class will be designed to encourage him to use his creativity in expressing himself. They say the most difficult kind of writing is the creative one. So why then torture these students of the program to undergo a rigorous writing training that would make their nose bleed?The answer to this question is the simple learning process that the brain adjusts to the difficulty of the task and keeps at par with it. The analogy that I will use for this case is the simple game of playing chess against a computer. If the player would start at the most difficult and professional take o f the chess game, it is of course expected that the a notice player will lose hundreds of times. Yet, at the same time this failure to beat the computer in a chess game will give the player hints and samples of how to play the game decisively.Sooner or later the player will adapt to the playing behavior of the computer and will experience his first win. Used to playing with the highest level the computer can offer, the player then will find it easy to play the lower level skill of the computer. Applied in the case of writing and considering that creative writing is the most difficult style of writing, if the student learns to use his language to write a creative piece, it is conclusive to say that any form of writing then will be easy on his part since he has already mastered the most difficult one.It is like sparring out with a heavyweight then fighting a featherweight will then be easy. This course will take two semesters to complete, during the Fall and Spring semester. Part of the activities here will be on the sport story writing exercises, several sessions of rewriting a previous written assignment. And for the final examination of the students, a short story that runs in 15 pages will be submitted to the professor for military rank on the progress of the student. Also, as part of the curriculum, the students will be given reading list for the two semesters.This reading list will be novels of simple and contemporary writers of fiction. The genre for the novels does not matter. It may be a pulp fiction, speculative fiction, modernist novels or any other types. From this list the students will choose which they valued to read for their development in writing a short story. There are three objectives by which this course is chosen and included in the curriculum. First is for the student to learn how to handle his language, second is for him to express himself creatively and the third is for him to write better.Technology Since one of the changes that ar e fast shaping the terrain of reality and the human society at large is the advent of the Information Revolution, it is appropriate that the curriculum being offered by Liberal Arts includes courses that will enhance the ability of the students to keep abreast with this innovation in technology. Right now, the role played by information technology has encroached on almost every aspect of everyday lives of the modern man.Since the stub objective of any Liberal Arts program is to free the students from the bondage of ignorance and prepare him with the realities of the outside world, inclusion of technology in the curriculum is not at all unexpected. Instead, it is totally anticipated to be the course of action of every program. One of the subjects that will fall under this category of technology in the curriculum of this specific Liberal Arts Program is the basic introduction on computer technology. Most colleges have incorporated in their curriculum the use of computer to their stud ents, like how to use word processor, spreadsheets and slide presentation.But this approach under the light of the fast integration of information technology in the lives of the modern man is already passe if not outdated altogether. Teaching a student how to use the computer right now is like teaching him how to operate his television set. It is already given that young people who are going into colleges are well adept with the use of computer. The role that the Liberal Arts Program will take is to push the knowledge of the student beyond from what is already known about information technology.The program then will include in its curriculum basic knowledge on computer hardware like repair and troubleshooting. Included also in the curriculum is the study of how to use the most popular parcel as of the present time. I said present time since this subject in computer software should be flexible to change at any given time to adjust to the fast pace innovations in information technolo gy. Applying the popular Moores Law that the rate of progress of technology is rapid (ebrary Inc, 28) in this equation is appropriate.Computers are expected to perform calculations that doubles every two years, it must be anticipated that what is useful now will be passe and outdate in a couple of years. Grading System There have been many debates regarding the best grading system that ought to be applied in gauging the intellectual progress of every student. In this program, the grading system that will be followed by the instructors and the professors will sit on the foundation that the best gauge of intellectual capacity and development of the student is the progress he shows in the class and in the array of activities designed in the curriculum.It must be understood that the matureness of learning capacity of each student varies from each other considering students are different in their intellectual levels. The role that instructors and professors in the program then will be de manding and laborious since the process and discernment of what grade should get will be on their total evaluation of the students progress in their subjects. This grading system will be applied principally in the two major concerns of this program communication and technology. This kind of grading system is specifically appropriate to be applied in the speech and writing classes.Since these skills take time to be developed, it will be proper if the grading system is according to the progress that the student is making in the course. Take as an example the subject of writing essays. Though everybody in the class is taking the subject for the first time, some may have already an experience in writing that can give them an edge in earning a higher grade. To give each student the chance to get a good grade on the subject, each will be graded according to the development and how fast the student has instilled in himself the craft of writing.Moreover, grading each student according to hi s progress will put the focus of on imbuing the skill kind of than merely acquire a high mark for the course. The advantage of this grading scheme is the fact that the priority of the student is how to improve his skills in the art of writing. When the goal of the course is centre on the improvement of the student in learning the craft rather than merely getting a good grade, the effect or result of this is the duration of learning experience even if the course is already over.Since the student is oriented towards the goal of improving his skills and not just on the temporary and limited goal of earning a good mark, the writing experience is expected to continue until the student is already out of the campus. Knowing for a fact that writing better and effectively per se cannot be taught in a single or couple of semester, one of the main goal then of the course is for the student to continue position attempt to hone his skills in the endeavor of writing until his older and profe ssional years.Though this scheme somewhat will be applied sparingly in the course of subjects concerning technology. Since the subjects are more concrete and mechanic in nature, the progress alone of the student in the curriculum will not suffice to gauge his effort in trying to learn the course. Conclusion The objective of any Liberal Arts program is to bring to freedom from ignorance each student that will take the course. At the same time, the program is designed with the primary goal of giving the student tools with which to face and participate in the outside world of the campus.These tools take the forms of skills like effective speech and deftness in writing craft and knowledge in the new technology abundant in the present age of ours. These skills will help the student be a better player and participant in the society once he is already outside the campus. The good about the program is that it complements the setup in a democratic society where each individual is given his r ight to pursue equality, liberty and freedom from ignorance. The curriculum that this program will focus on will be communication and technology since these two disciplines also complement each other.Skills in speech and writing will be given the great emphasis while technology through the instruction of how computer works will also be given an importance. The grading system also by which the student will be evaluated will sit on the foundation of looking on the progress of the student rather than meeting the expectation of the instructor or professor. The advantage of this grading scheme is the re-alignment of priority for the student to look at the curriculum as a means to enhance his skills rather than merely getting high marks.Another point of this is the fact that the skills and discipline that the student may imbue on the whole program will be continued to be practiced even if he is already outside the boundary of the campus. Work Cited ebrary, Inc. Computer Science Reflection s on the Field, Reflections from the Field. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2004 Knoblauch, C. H. Literacy and the political science of Education. Composing Knowledge. EdRolf Norgaard. Boston, New York. Bedford/St. Martin, 2007. pp. (198-209). Hirsch, E. D. Cultural Literacy. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987 Annotated Bibliographyebrary, Inc. Computer Science Reflections on the Field, Reflections from the Field. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2004 This book basically tackled the progress in information technology. In the paper, there is a need for it to be cited since the discussion is the fast pace development in this modern technology. The importance of the idea is to present that the reasoning of the writer in saying that there should be flexibility in the creation of curriculum concerning computer literacy. Knoblauch, C. H. Literacy and the Politics of Education. Composing Knowledge. EdRolf Norgaard.Boston, New York. Bedford/St. Martin, 2007. pp. (198 -209). The underlie argument for the reason of the use of what Knoblauch said is to present the fact that literacy has its used in society. Since literacy is one of the objectives of Liberal Arts, it is important to cite his text to show what will be the function of being a literate in society. Hirsch, E. D. Cultural Literacy. Boston. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987 The function of the information given by Hirsh in his book is to present the bother that is besetting the American population. There is a need for what the author said

Theories and Principles Unit 4 Dtlls

In psychology and education, breeding is commonly defined as a sue that brings together cognitive, demeanour and Humanists elements. This assignment shows the concept of the relevant theories and principles of take heeding and communicating select and critically analysed of how I plan to deliver these strategies in my constitute got teaching and reflect on the impact that these insights have had on my own practice and professional development. What is the explanation of theory?To me theory is something which is explained to you, a system of ideas intended to explain something, one base on general overview. A definition of principles, to me is to be opinionated on how I feel towards chosen topic. Geoff Petty (2009) states that, every teacher and every learner has a theory about learning. To open to conclude my own theories and principles on cookery and enabling learning I need to learn what is accepted to others. Research I understand there be many different theories rela ting to teaching and learning.Those that I have looked at are Behaviourist, Cognitive and Humanists elements. These are not new concepts. Although that some of these theorists are descended their work is motionless use into practices. Behaviourism is primarily associated with Pavlov (classical conditioning) in Russia and with Thorndike, Watson and particularly mule skinner in the United States (operant conditioning). In educational surroundings, behaviourism implies the dominance of the teacher, as in behaviour modification programmes. It can, however, be applied to an understanding of unintended learning.Classical conditioning in its simplest form is a type of conditioning associates by an external stimulus in Pavlov original experiment this was a bell, with the arrival of a second stimulus which was the food, this resulted in a response to the bell which would have been achieved previously by the food. Frederic Skinners work was influenced by Pavlovs experiment and the ideas of J ohn Watson, father of behaviourism. His interest in stimulus-response of how humans reacted to confuse situations became fascinating. Skinner developed teaching machines, so students could learn, un finishing answers for an immediate reward.Humanistic, humanism and humanist are terms in psychology relating to an border on which studies the whole person and the uniqueness of each individualistic by emphasizing the study of the person overall. This behaviour clarifies the ability of learners to respond to the lesson. John Holt, How Children Fail (1964) states that the school system could destroy the minds and emotions of young children. His blistering eruption accused schools of inducing fear in pupils, and humiliating, ridiculing and devaluing them This is a very generalised point of view due, to the fact that Holt is tarnishing all schools with the same reputation.However, it is important not to all dismiss his views, as the point he makes about fear of failure is something we must be aware of in our teaching. In another humanistic approach which also fits within the humanistic spectrum is that proposed by Malcolm Knowles (1913-1977) his studies focus on adult education which was formed in 1946. Formal programs were for those sponsored by educational institutions, such as universities, high and trade schools in America. He implemented that adult education was pointed to the friendly and informal surroundings.This enhanced adult learners to take more(prenominal) responsibility for their quite a little as they mature through the learning process. Cognitive learning theory is about how to learn rather than what to learn i. e. how to write a report, how to recall particularised facts, how to use learning to solve problems or be creative. Cognitivism is the psychology of learning which emphasizes on how we think and gain knowledge. Theorists are intrigued and want to understand how problem figure out interchanges throughout childhood, how cultural differe nces affect the way we view our own achievements, language development.Theories such as Jerome Bruner (1915) and Lev Vygostsky (1896) expressed the view that expository teaching deprived learners of the calamity to think for them, however Vygostsky approach Zone of proximal development focused on the concept that what a learner could do today with they could do all tomorrow. The behaviourist approach can encourage me to understand what motivates my learners and to challenge them on what goals they wish to achieve through their learning.These techniques can influence and can render me to invent and enhance my learners into behaving in an acceptable way through Skinners theory of Positive or Negative Reinforcement. As a explore a bi product of this will develop my learner way of analysing. This encourages a comfortable learning environment for all learners. Negative reinforces are ones that outgrowth the chance that a behaviour will occur when it is removed. Punishments are even ts that decrease the frequency of behaviour that it follows (Skinner, 2003) Take the learner in the classroom that ontinually talk s to his neighbour it reinforces his behaviour to continue, but if the teacher punishes him by having him stand up in front of the whole class and apologies, he will be more likely to refrain on talking again. Skinner believes that behaviour could be altered by using positive and negative types of financial support. Remember negative reinforcement is not punishment. If I have not covered everything on the original lesson plan, learning can however be measured making assessment and planning for next session easier.By constantly revisiting certain topics and using Question and Answers learners have an understanding on what they are learning and why. This would not be the case for all, based on behaviour modification there are also disadvantages to this approach. Repetitive learning may encourage some learners to remember information but it doesnt necessar y mean they have understood the concept. Some learners will not be confident to admit this and just produced the required answers without knowing how they got to the answers. How do we allow in rewards and why the reason for them?As a teacher I tried to implement these when suitable for all learners. If this is not done then the whole process will become confusing and motivation will be lost. This theory can tend to lead myself towards the pedagogical approach to learning. As covering that the Humanistic approach is relied for individuals to explore their own interest and curiosities this will assure them to grow into fully functioning, self-trusting, and independent people. All individuals are unique and have an noninheritable drive to achieve their maximum potential.This I can relate too with the learners that I teach, once they have discovered their own personality this will broadly speaking relate to their chosen career options this will give learners to have free will in the learning experience and can effect on the change of their knowledge. I use the Humanistic approach to learning within my classroom as practical is a massive contribute to my teaching. Carl Rogers, in immunity to learn (1969) states that self-directed learning delivers the considerable educational advantages of independent learning.Advantages which I find to this are that by meeting learners needs, each learner will feel treasured and respected. This will help build up a level of trust between the learner and teacher resulting to excellent communication. When planning and delivering lessons, I include various activities to allow this to happen. At the end of each lesson I find that group discussions give the learners freedom to induce new ideas and to listen to their peers opinions. This gives them the tools to feel empowered and have control over how they learn.This sounds like a perfect andragogical approach but could have some disadvantages. We know that Bruners cognitivists ap proach to learning is basis on emphasizing active restructuring of knowledge through own experience of bread and butter. With this theory the learner draws on his/her own past experience and acknowledges new facts, relationships and truths. Students interact with the terra firma by exploring asking questions and interpretation what is relevant to the subject. I. e. when tackling new ideas the learner relies on the teacher to give them the correct answer, assuming the teacher is in their comfort zone.To allow learners to achieve this transformation is by working in groups which encourages them to socially interact with one another which will then lead to process of learning, As a result this method students may be more likely to remember the concept and knowledge discovered on their own. Another strategy often used in my classroom involves embedding questions, which allows the learners to find out the answers to the problem before setting their task. This may again relate to their personal experience. Often organising school trips (exhibition, real life theatre) can allow the learners to interact with real life situations.I allow for discussion/debates around specific questions relating to that topic that I have structured to initiate points that are relevant to their learning. These theories have made me think differently to my own practise in the way I plan my lessons, which methods of delivery I use as well as how I assess what types of learning has taken place. I teach in a secondary school environment, where the learners go thought a transition from KS3, KS4 & KS5. The course is practical, but there are some elements of theoretical methods which gives learners the chance to demonstrate skills in a performance environment.I agree that planning for lesson is a strong area for me and my learners. As a result, I will always construct the delivery of my own teaching including the three learning domains. I instal that the Bruner strategy had the most impact o n my teaching from both a practical and professional point of view. This has enabled me to encourage my learners involvement by utilising these methods. It has now become a natural part of my lessons, which involves incorporating Q&A as well as discussions to assess that learning has taken place in the affective domain.My confidence has developed as a result, as well as my learners needs and communication is now at an all m high in the classroom. These areas are now a massive part as to how I deliver a lesson, as well as ensuring that communication flows both ways. After conducting research into the theories of learning, I have realised there are some improvements that need be made. One of these involves giving my learners more freedom and responsibility with the answers, rather than prompting them. I believe this simple change can breed confidence and progress for both me and the learners.Bibliography Skinner, B. F (Reprint 2003). The Technology of Teaching. Cambridge, MA B. F. S kinner Foundation Petty, G (Reprint 2009). A Practice Guide Teaching Today. N. Thornes Forth Edition Holt, J C 1923- 1985 (revised edition) Classics in child development Knowles, M. and Swanson R. A, The fully grown Learner The definitive classic in adult education and human resources Harkin, J. , Turner, G. and Dawn, T. (2001). Teaching Young Adults. London, Routledge. Rogers. C and J. H Freiberg (Third Edition) Freedom to learn

How Democratic Is the Uk?

How elective is the UK? Democracy is a difficult concept to define, barely as a simplification and a conventional definition, it is the peoples right to choose and the right to say how the figuringry is run. Democracy falls into many categories and comes in various different blueprints. wizard form is when power is in the hands of the race as a whole and semipolitical decisions are made themselves, this is known as direct democracy. An role model of a direct democracy currently present in the UK is a referendum.Another form is representative democracy in this case citizens will suffrage for representatives to acquire decisions for them and the responsibility is handed over to the representative to make decisions for the country. The representatives are similarly accountable to the electorate. The antiauthoritarian elections are a crucial part of UK democracy. A center possess is free and fair elections. They are based on universal suffrage, which is when anybody eligible to vote has their own freedom of choice on which party to vote for without any influence.Your choose vote is also kept secret this process is called the secret ballot. This prevents intimidation from other people and it prevents judgments made on your electoral choice. heretofore there are four groups of people who are unenfranchised, these people are the homeless, imprisoned convicts, the mentally incapable and the lords. If you arent in any of those categories and you satisfy the requirements effected by the law, you are then eligible to vote with the free rights of your own electoral choice. Under First Past The Post (FPTP) voting takes place in single-member constituencies.Voters put a cross in a box next to their favored candidate and the candidate with the most votes in the constituency wins. All other votes count for nothing. Its clear and simple with clear choices and a simple outcome. It stops the voter to clearly express a view on which party they think should form th e next regimen. However, FPTP can be questioned, as its not entirely democratic. Representatives can get elected on a small proportion of worldly concern support as it doesnt matter by how much they win, only that they get more votes than the other candidates which in effect wastes uge numbers of votes, as votes pull in in a constituency for losing candidates, or for the winning candidate above the level they need to win that seat, count for nothing. FPTP is also disproportionate and biased towards labour or conservatives. This means the votes are of incommensurate value. Labour votes are inflated and Liberal Democrats votes are deflated. This therefore means the smaller parties expect a significantly low chance of winning the votes and it will therefore tend to produce a two-party remains, which in turn tends to produce single-party governments.Encouraging two party-party politics can be good, but in a multi-party culture, three parties with significant support can be great ly disadvantages, which means that it goes against the democracy of the UK. Consensus politics is when two major political parties, for example, the Conservative Party and Labour Party, are in agreement, or consensus, over accepted basic government policies. The two parties so far have small variations but they arent significant. They do this to gain voters from the middle ground. It reduces electoral choice because both parties share similar ideologies it makes everything too similar without distinct variation.UK citizens have shown an obvious earnestness to vote for third parties and to clinch a form of political pluralism, which runs directly against the way FPTP operates. FPTP tends to produce a two-party system, which in turn tends to produce single-party governments. However, in a multi-party culture, third parties with significant support can be greatly disadvantaged. This is why FPTP doesnt work as well as it used to have done. As the UK is ever-changing in terms of polit ics, more parties are getting involved however these parties have little or no chance in gaining support because of the unequal voting value.This is why I think the UK needs to improve on the FPTP system because its restricting its full democratic potential. The UK Parliament is built up of two places the house of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons has 646 MPs. The political party with the majority of MPs in the House of Commons forms the Government. The House of Lords has approximately 700 unelected members who examine the work of the House of Commons. The UK Parliament is the main democratic body in the UK and is comprised of three parts the House of Commons, the House of Lords nd the Sovereign. The UK is a parliamentary democracy and unlike many other democracies it does not have a written constitution. A deliberative assembly is an makeup comprising members who use parliamentary procedure to make decisions. A mass meeting, which is an unorganized group meet ing open to all individuals in a sector of the population who are interested in to engage in long and careful concern about a subject proposed by the meetings sponsors. This can include meetings to question common political concerns or community interests.This helps towards the democratic process of UK parliament because it in cooperates everybodys assent. Parliament is essential to the democratic process in the UK because it is elected by the popular vote, which is therefore democratic, however it has been criticized for being undemocratic because the 2nd Chamber is entirely unelected. This weakens the representative role of parliament. Party discipline also prevents MPs from using their own judgment in representing their constituents it also restricts freedom of debate and voting in the House of Commons.Also Parliaments ability to inspect the executive is weak because the government of the day usually has majority control of the House of Commons. Overall, Parliament is strength because it does solely represent the population. However the 2nd put up is entirely unelected, which does weaken the representative role of parliament but that can be an improved. However, parliament does not govern, its role is to check or constrain the government of the day and it also discusses the policies. Parliament calls the government to account on policies.For those reasons its not entirely significant that the 2nd chamber is unelected. Another core feature of UK democracy are pressure groups. They enhance democracy in the UK, because they give a political voice to minorities that are ignored by the majoritarian parliament system. They also provide a way in which citizens can exert influence between elections and they also enhance political participation. However pressure groups dont have legitimacy and since pressure groups are unelected, they arent representative of the majority of the population. Some pressure groups have owerful, but unrepresentative leaders who may n ot be representative of anyone but themselves. Some leaders do not reflect the opinions of their organizations members. However, pressure groups are enormously enhancing of the UK democratic system because it gives a political voice to minorities. They allow the population to politically participate and put pressure on the government on issues, which they may turn a blind eye to. This in my opinion is strength of the UK democratic system. Other parts of the UK democratic system enhance democracy in the UK, such as referendums, devolution, the E.U and civil rights. A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire population is asked to either accept or reject a grouchy proposal. This increases political participation and involves the whole population. However, they can be non-binding. This means the government may not have to do what the results show. devolution is also another feature of the UK democratic system that increases democracy in the UK. Devolution is the transfer of powe r from central government to subordinate regional institutions.This means they pass toss off the powers or duties down from a higher authority to a lower one. This gives the constituent nations of the UK their own political voice. It refined representative democracy by allowing voters in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland separately to express their views about national issues. It also widens the opportunities available for political participation. However the effectiveness of devolution in promoting democracy can be questioned because it has limited powers. Devolution stops well short of home rule or full self-government.Although the powers of devolved bodies have, in some cases, widened, major economic and foreign policy decisions are still made at Westminster. Devolution has also done nothing to advance representative democracy in England, which is where 84% of the UKs population lives. In my opinion referendums are effective in enhancing democracy in the UK because it increa ses political participation and it allows for a raw opinion on what the public think about particular issues. However, the government cant be held accountable because theyre not the ones making the decision in a situation where a referendum is used to specify a particular proposal). Devolution however is ineffective in some cases because it doesnt advance democracy in England, where 84% of the UKs population lives. However, it does allow for the smaller areas of the UK to focus on particular issues that may be affected by local problems rather than national problems (for example rural areas in Wales). To intermit I think the UK is democratic to a certain degree. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone has the right to free and fair elections.However the UK is being limited by certain blockages in the democratic system such as FPTP. Issues with FPTP can be resolved to allow the UK to reach its full potential of democracy. In a multi-party culture, third parties with significant support can be greatly disadvantaged. This is why FPTP doesnt work as well as it used to have done. As the UK is changing in terms of politics, more parties are getting involved however these parties have little or no chance in gaining support because of the unequal voting value.Strong points in the UK democratic features are pressure groups. They enhance the democracy in the UK, they allow the population to politically participate and put pressure on the government on issues, which they may turn a blind eye to. This in my opinion is strength of the UK democratic system. Referendums are also effective in enhancing democracy in the UK because it increases political participation and it allows for a raw opinion on what the public think about particular issues. So, to a certain degree, I think the United Kingdom has a strong democratic system.

Functioning Of Municipal Schools Education Essay

With the feverish competition today youth want to be perfect in whatever they attempt to make whether it is in schoolman surveies, athleticss or cultural activities. in that locationfore the instruction in A.P. Municipality Act 1965 down the stairs subdivision 130 with Rule 42 of Taxation and Finance, regulations appended to the APM ACL 1965, commence become more than flexible in the constitution of their schools and conveying flawlessness in their attack.Harmonizing to this policy the municipality can incur outgo connected with instruction on the points like conceptualisation of instructors and c atomic number 18 of schools etc. Aiming at flawlessness the municipal schools besides aim at excellence and that is possible by presenting the undermentioned policiesConstitution and care of schools verbal expression and care of school edificesTrown(prenominal)ing of instructorsExcellence would intend giving our best in whatever we do. Our best attempts are different from another indi vidual s best attempts, and these can non be compared be apparent movement everyone has strengths and restrictions. Therefore, instruction in the A.P. Municipality Act as mentioned in the subdivision 31, would name committals to tap the interior resources of their lag and pupils. They would name com guardianships to zeal of reappraisals, and general supervision of development programmes, associating to instruction and public assistance of SCs, BCs and adult females and kids among others.The station Independence India placed great significance on the instruction of its citizens, and reservation literacy to the nook and corner of the state. The establishing male parents of the state and the fundamental law shapers did non experience the necessity to do instruction a cardinal redress as they estimate that the State will go forth no rock unturned in doing everyone educated all literate. But the State and the cardinal Government failed to last up to the outlook of the establishi ng male parents of the state and both fell level on this basic and cardinal responsibility. information is non even mentioned explicitly as an bucolic of nucleus concern for municipalities in A.P. and it is a gray country. It is taking cue from subdivision 31A above that the function of municipalities in managing instruction is restricted. The administrative map of name caput Masterss and instructors in the municipal schools, managing and pay outing their w matures, advancing and reassigning the staff, and keeping the care of the municipal schools under their direction is taken attention by the municipal governments. But most of these academic maps rest with the instruction section.The mark of cosmopolitan instruction remained a mirage with long subdivisions of the society unable to direct their small 1s to school. flat primary instruction, non to talk of higher instruction did non make the door stairss of life-sizedr figure of people. In A.P. Municipal schools exist just in 13 territories of the 23 territories in the province. About 2100 Municipal schools are working in the province. About 1400 primary schools, 400 Upper primary schools, and 300 Secondary schools are working in the province. Over 3.5 lakh kids are enrolled in these schools, and 8100 instructors are working in the municipal schools with teacher student ratio of 145, 149, and 140 in primary, upper primary and secondary schools severally. But one tends to oppugn these pupils who are enrolled in these Municipal schools, how far they have acquired cognition in ego confidence/ one tends to oppugn the regularity of the instructors to the school and the credibleness of their work.1.5.2 Municipal Schools in Vijayawada Krishna District, A.PVijayawada, besides called Vidyalawada ( topographic point of instruction ) occupies a big sum of the educational substructure of Andhra Pradesh. The metropolis was named the educational Sahara by a foreign embassador.Education in the metropolis is i mplemented by both the governing and private establishments. Vijayawada Municipal Corporation ( VMC ) takes attention of the authorities educational establishments.Municipalities responsible for opening / up-gradation of schools in the urban countries are under Municipal Corporation. A Municipality is a unit for all intents. All instructors in a municipality are under one unit for intents of publicity or reversion etc. Panel commission in the municipality has the authorization for publicity of instructors. Teachers are transferred from one school to another in the similar municipality. Municipal governments inspect the schools. Wages of instruction and non instruction staff are paid by the authorities. But it is reduced to the extent of educational revenue enhancement collected by the municipality.RTE Act 2009, reminds the schools to include in the line of reasoning of study basic hygiene, environmental cleanliness, good societal etiquette and political behaviour. ( Act 6.5 ) e very bit good as life accomplishments ( Act 6.6 ) together with the try on, non merely on one s rights but on one s surveies specially to society. ( Act 6.8 )( Act 7.6 B ) insists on developing and implementing criterions for readiness of instructors . The policy ( 4.14 ) provinces that thorough periodic developing the instructors are equipped with up to day of the month cognition and pedagogical accomplishments including the employ of new educational engineerings. In the changed and quickly altering scenario good wonts of work-ethics are inculcated .Tendencies in registration show a clear displacement to private schools in urban countries like Vijayawada. The municipal schools slowdown behind in the undermentioned countries deficiency of motive to the staff, hapless substructure, deficiency of sanitation installations, deficiency of topic, deficiency of equal instructors, teacher absenteeism, use of the age old methodological analysiss in education incline, faulty scrut iny system etc are about of the factors taking to hapless public presentation of pupils, ensuing in low read for these municipal schools.It is said that instructors must make bold to larn things beyond the course of study and do acquisition gratifying utilizing some utile instruction AIDSs. There is a slow and gradual realisation among the educationalists, that the households of the hapless pupils who attend municipal schools still remain hapless in hatred of their traveling to school. This is due to miss of proper learning installations in authorities schools which stick to minimum instruction.Professor Martin Woodhead besides said that in that location is a demand to reform authorities schools to present choice instruction at least for the interest of those hapless who will still go on to direct merely their male childs to private schools. Government schools will still be a blessing to girl child instruction.While the world reflects the above outlook what is sight among the m unicipality schools is much distant and out dated from the world.InfrastructureClass suites Insufficiency of suites to suit is a job in municipal high schools. Problems exist with respect to airing and sufficient unbounded for all the kids in all the category suites.Headmaster s office and staff room In the urban municipal schools in Vijayawada there is one room that is used as the Head Master s room every bit good as the office with the files stacked behind. There is no equal topographic point to hive away and exhibit the assorted shields, trophies and souvenirs won by the school and its squads.Labs There is no sole infinite for a research lab in both of the schools visited. There are a little figure of incontrovertible AIDSs and equipment in high schools, but the same are stacked in closets inside schoolrooms. In the instance of an upgraded school, research lab equipment is being borrowed from a neighbouring school and the same is returned after presentation in the category.Lib rary Libraries ideally provide entree to books in add-on to the schoolroom texts and make a nexus with the developments taking topographic point outside. Storage of books in the best of municipal schools is found non satisfactory. Books are non made accessible to the pupils for whom they are signifyt to be extra reading stuff.Common suites for misss The Government of India has embarked on a mission to retain misss in schools through the National Programme Education for Girls at Elementary Level ( NPEGEL ) . Urban slums in Municipalities and Corporations of the four territories including Krishna territory was covered under the programme. It was seen that such room existed in one high school, but was non being utilized for the intent. The freshly constructed suites were being used as staff suites for female instructors. insobriety H2O and Toilets Drinking H2O for kids has non been uniformly provided in all municipal schools. Sanitation installations or lavatories in schools are share d by the pupils and the instructors. This is a cause for concern as bead out among misss is usually attributed to hapless sanitation conditions in schools.Resort areas Due the scarceness of infinite in urban countries, it is rough to happen municipal schools with equal infinite for drama land for the pupils.Furniture for Staff and Students Municipal schools have been missing in furniture for its pupils. There are barely any municipal schools, at all degrees, which have been benches for all the kids. This could perchance be one of the grounds for the parents in switching their kids to private schools. surgical process Look at the consequences achieved by municipal schools over the old ages, it is found that the base on balls per centum has been a assorted bag of success and failures. Some of the pupils of VMC have excelled academically despite hardships.The public presentation of Municipal School pupils in SSC Board exams over the last three old ages is systematically on an mean 60 % .Performance of Municipal School Students in SSC ExamsYearMunicipal SchoolsAll SchoolsNo. AppearedNo. PassedPass %No. AppearedNo. PassedPass %2008 09218991308459.7579932458578173.282009 10231401338557.8488025264397473.162010 11229591460763.6295688772213775.47As is seen from the tabular array above the public presentation of municipal schools is about 60 % while the overall public presentation in all schools is systematically about 74 % . Inspite of these consequences which indicate quantitatively good public presentation, their public presentation in position linguistic communication appears to be qualitatively hapless.As per the recent G.O. Ms No 76 ( 2008 ) , incline medium has been introduced at all degrees in municipal schools. However, the system is non adequately equipped to manage kids who indirect request to inscribe in English medium schools. A four twenty-four hours developing programme on Communicative English has been organized by the Education Department to all the instructors to heighten their cognition and accomplishment. But this does non look to to the full fit them to manage the categories.1.6 The Problems of Teaching / Learning EnglishThe manner English is taught in schools, specially in municipal and authorities schools to a great extent responsible for the lowering of the criterion of English in India. The purpose of teaching/learning English linguistic communication is surely really high and the agencies are unequal to recognize them. The followers are some of the jobs faced by the instructors of English in Municipal schoolsDearth of Competent instructorsThe instructors of English at municipal schools do non update themselves with the recent developments in the field of linguistics and latest methods of instruction hence, they are non able to learn English on par with the English instructors in the private schools. Though the instruction functionaries conduct developing programme one fourth dimension a twelvemonth, the instruct ors give least importance to fit themselves with the latest methods of learning English. And besides these forwardness programmes are conducted together along with the other capable instructors. So, the English linguistic communication instructors are non given much importance to fit themselves with the latest techniques.Job SatisfactionTeachers are non satisfied with their occupation. Most of the instructors look at their work as a load, do non take much involvement than what is compulsory. They are besides engaged in tonss of activities other than learning. They are really much comfortable utilizing the interlingual interlingual rendition method of learning English.Competence of TeachersMost of the instructors competency of English is low. They have really limited or no pre-service preparation at all and had undergone barely any in-service preparation for the English linguistic communication. They are witting of it and therefore seem to endure from low self-pride.Constraint of groomThe instructors focus on syllabus completion. They do non hold sufficient clip to make other activities like brace work, group work, dramatisation etc. in the category. The instructors do non interact with the scholars. Teacher is the Centre of the linguistic communication category.Crowded ClasssThe sizing of the categories everyplace is well big and therefore, pupils engagement in the category work is rather impossible. The ratio of pupils in relation to teacher is non relative. This is one of the grounds why the instructors are unable to pay single attending to the pupils.Lack of CreativityLearners normally live in less supportive ( for instruction ) household and societal ambiance in stuff, emotional and fiscal footings. Most of them are first coevals scholars.They prefer to utilize the age old readymade notes for the scrutiny to go through. The pupils are non tapped to utilize their creativeness.Teacher s and Student s Regional Dialect impacting proper pronunciationThis i s a really important job with most of the instructors learning English. When the instructors try to talk English, they carry their ain regional idiom into English. They have trouble in pronunciation and are non cautious about the emphasis and modulation of their ain address. They teach wrong phonic written texts, pronunciation, emphasis and modulation to the pupils.A big figure of instructors learning at school degree are unqualified. They have small thought of right use and none at all of right pronunciation. Their vocabulary is every bit limited as their reading. They are non familiar with the usage of modern learning techniques.Though the text books prescribe for different categories are skill-oriented, instructors are non equal plenty to learn them.The frequent alterations made in the policy sing English by the province and cardinal authorities has besides proved to be greatly damaging to the instructors and scholars of the linguistic communication.Teaching AidssClass room lear ning AIDSs and stuffs are by and large in short supply in schools, non to speak of audio-visual AIDSs like tape recording equipments, lingua phone programmes of movie strips. In some instances even pieces of ice rink and black board are hard to obtain.ExaminationsIt is a commiseration that most of the scrutinies are in content oriented instead than skill-oriented. If at all any accomplishment is required to be displayed by the testers, it is their writing ability. Though reading, listening and talking accomplishments are given in the text books, they are neglected completely in the scrutinies.With the constitution of organic structures like National Council of Educational Research and Training ( NCERT ) , National course of study has gained popularity and being progressively adopted by more and more provinces. Many of these syllabi provide adequate range for the development of the scholar s abilities. However, the strangeness of the English instructor with both the purposes and ai ms of these course of studies and their usage about ever succeeds in get the better ofing the very intents for which they were ab initio framed.Teacher s instruction is one major country which needs forceful alterations if quality instructors are to go available to develop the English linguistic communication accomplishments of the pupil.

Birthday Party

A birthday is a very(prenominal) wonderful day. Everybody likes to celebrate it. It is a cracking opportunity to spend time with friends, parents, relatives. My 17th birthday troupe last year was a actually memorable occasion. I celebrated it at home in the evening. All my friends came and we had a lot of fun. Preparations began a day before the celebration. My mother and I cleaned the house. Many delightful dishes were cooked, the rooms were decorated with balloons and steamers. In the forenoon of birthday party day my father went shopping and bought everything we needed.All the invitations were move one week before the celebration. In the morning on my birthday my parents shake off the presents near my bed. So, the initiative thing I saw when I opened my eyes was my presents. My mom and daddy and my little companion came to my room to congratulate me and to sing ? intelligent Birthday?. By the evening food was cooked, the table was laid. We put on evening suits and dresse s and waited for the guests. The flat looked tight-laced and cosy. I was very glad to meet my guests. I got a lot of flowers, presents and Birthday cards.We had an abundant dinner on this day. My mother bought in the birthday cake and I blew the candles out. We danced and sang songs, played games and laughed, Joked, told funny stories, listened to the music. I think that my birthday is one of the best days in a year. The entire evening was a huge success and everyone agreed that we had a lot of fun. It certainly was the best party I feed ever had, because of the great pleasure it gave me to see so many of my friends and relatives together in the same place. I think I shall remember my party for a pertinacious time to come.A birthday is a very wonderful day. Everybody likes to celebrate it. It is a good opportunity to spend time with friends, parents, relatives. My 17th birthday party last year was a really memorable occasion. I celebrated it at home in the evening. All my friend s came and we had a lot of fun. Preparations began a day before the celebration. My mother and I cleaned the house. Many delicious dishes were cooked, the rooms were decorated with balloons and steamers. In the morning of birthday party day my father went shopping and bought everything we needed.All the invitations were sent one week before the celebration. In the morning on my birthday my parents put the presents near my bed. So, the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was my presents. My mom and daddy and my little brother came to my room to congratulate me and to sing ?Happy Birthday?. By the evening food was cooked, the table was laid. We put on evening suits and dresses and waited for the guests. The flat looked nice and cosy. I was very glad to meet my guests. I got a lot of flowers, presents and Birthday cards. We had an abundant dinner on this day.My mother bought in the birthday cake and I blew the candles out. We danced and sang songs, played games and laughed, Joked, told funny stories, listened to the music. I think that my birthday is one of the best days in a year. The entire evening was a huge success and everyone agreed that we had a lot of fun. It certainly was the best party I have ever had, because of the great pleasure it gave me to see so many of my friends and relatives together in the same place. I think I shall remember my party for a long time to come. Birthday Party By marusks05

Alternative Investments Essay

Executive SummaryThe purpose of the report is to do an in-depth endueigation, study and digest on alternative invests. From the various alternative enthronements, our team of analyst chose commodities, vari equal annuities and evade depots as our subject of interest for the study. Each financial product has its own aims as to cater to the different enthronisation monetary resource goals to twin the chooses of investors. Thus, just by looking at the basis on costlyness and measure-efficiency, and then from selecting the emend unity is unwise. We turn over to look at the boilers suit picture and considering opposite inherent factors kindred seeks, runniness, access tryst which be equally essential. on that pointfore, our basis of evaluation comprises of various of import factors so as to eluci naminga robust analysis. first, commodities be a in high spiritsly demanded enthronisation which is traded using options and futures occupy.. Moreover, they ar withal an fragment of diversification that investors house dismount their vulnerability to market irritability. Despite its high capriciousness in its prices, it managed to encourage a higher return as comp ared to stocks and bonds. As commodities consent a low correlation with bonds and stocks, it is adapted to reduce unsystematic luck through diversification. Its high correlation with rate of inflation hence looks approbatory in times of crisis and these enable investors to master its summation parcelling ending.By using the 60/40 tax treatment, it has shown that it is indeed an economic method in lowering taxes. Its high commodity market liquid state thus seem promising to investors as it correlates soundly with it market business especially in corn, aureate and precious metals futures. Moreover, it is advisable for them to allocate 5% to 10% of their investment to commodities so as for bankrupt diversification to eliminate unsystematic try. As it has no or few substitute, it is advised that investor should eat none of whatsoever unexpect run a risk involved. protean annuities on the some other hand are tax-deferred with a climb-down ensure that after the age of 59. The performance of its sub- depicts affects many a nonher(prenominal) aspect of variable annuity. This is so as the performance of varied on a lower floorlying investments in the sub-account results in non- logical distribution in its returns. Further more than, variable annuity is relatively volatile as it returns cristald to varies as accordance to the returns of its bloodlineamental investments. Thus, granted with a choice of an addition for the underlying investments, investors leave alone convey an underlying plus that is non-correlated to their portfolio holdings. Variable annuity also incurs reasonable costs.However, the of import benefit of investing in variable annuity is that it is highly tax-efficient as it is a tax-deferred vehicle. This reduces the tax angle on investors and at the uniform time creates an opportunity for them to invest in tax-inefficient vehicles in front the withdrawal date as no tax is imposed before the date. The downside to investing in variable annuity is that it has liquidity risks. However, it open fire reduce unsystematic risk significantly due to the investment options forits sub-account and this important aspect of it also provide investors with the ability to allocate their assets.The primary aim of most put over funds is to reduce volatility and risk while attempting to preserve capital and deliver positivistic returns under all market conditions which brings investors an indispensable option to invest in wangle fund. With a low monetary standard loss of almost zero, hedge funds are highly of an improvement as it does not fluctuate widely within periods. However, volatility is not the only indicator of risk affecting the fund. For hedge funds, the skewness variations are not u niform across styles.While hedge funds offer emf for returns that are not highly correlated with other markets, their unique properties would also mean that they involve a high degree of risk. Its fees are constant thus investors should follow accordingly. Hedge Funds exploit different ways to minimize capital gains and income taxes for investors. With the measure Exemption for Singapore Resident Funds, it places investment in Hedge Fund at an advantage. Putting their pull in the fund managers ability to meet the funds accusings, it is then recommended for investors to aim the refine fund manager to manage their investments.From the in-depth analysis on alternative investments, we realized that in that location is no a perfect product to solely invest in. Each alternative assets has its advantages and disadvantages, thus we ask to invest in varieties of asset classes but diversified it. There is also the need for proper asset allocation management and the use of investment strategies.IntroductionThe continual search to reap higher risk-adjusted returns has led to a tot up of highly alternative assets to be considered for financial investment purpose. Thus, the growth of alternative investments market is outstanding. fit to the 2010 Alternative Investment Survey of U.S Institutions and Financial Advisor, 36% of the institutional investors that are surveyed have $1-10 Billion in asset under management and 29% with greater than $11 Billion in asset under management. In this report, our team of financial analyst has chose to do an in depth analysis on commodities, variableannuities and hedge funds. Through this report, we are going analyze the aforementioned alternative assets through various important factors namely its returns, risks, costs, other competitive advantages and disadvantages. At the end of this report, we hope to acquire an in-depth evaluation on the attractiveness of each subject of interest and make sound recommendations.Introduction to CommoditiesCommodities are raw materials used for producing secondary goods which are transacted in volumes and classified into energy, metals, grains and livestock. Manufacturers in the commodities market purchase commodities needed on a have it off market while speculators purchase and sell commodities using options and futures contracts. Commodity markets are real demand and bring markets. Thus with the increasing world population, there is now higher demand than supply for commodities, making commodities a viable investment for both the present and the future. anticipate ReturnsDuring inflation, commodities total returns provide soar. When making an investment in commodities one can expect returns that are capital return. Commodities have been providing its investors with relatively high returns, exhibiting disallow correlations with equities and bonds as well as hedge against risks. Based on the Commodity Price Index for the past family, expected returns were at 0.85% , volatility were at 0.0641 which is considered to be relatively low, while the return-risk was 0.1319.VolatilityVolatility in commodities prices fluctuated belatedly with their highs and lows due to the interference of the commodities market like political disputes and natural disasters. In 1973 to 2007, based on the S&P 500 Index, MSCI Index and Lehman Brothers Bond Index, it has an annualized return of 10.9% and 24.5% annual standard deviation, volatility. Although stocks performed better than commodity, commodities volatility was in the peak compares among stocks and bonds. Historical risk return on commodity had remained positive of or so 5% during the years. T-statistic, outlining the level of confidence that the risk return is different from 0 shows afigure of 2.84 which shows that it is higher than stocks and bonds.Distribution of returns Refer to AppendixFrom the convex curve, we can surmise that the distribution of returns on commodities is widely distributed and tends to be close to a normal distribution as investors are concern about their real returns as they want to outperform inflation. As compared to stocks and bonds, the returns in commodities are positively skewed. Since returns for commodities investment is right skewed, it means that the amount of returns will be higher than stocks and bonds which are negatively skewed. Returns distribution is very wide as the returns show a greater than 3 overmuch kurtosis. However, this also means higher risk for investors due to the wide distribution of returns.Correlation with other asset classes Refer to AppendixFrom the table, it shows that Standard & Poors 500 and the company are closely related in argument to the other asset classes. GSCI and 1 month T-bills with a correlation protect of -0.003, proves that they are in restricted of one other. It is revealed that commodities futures are negatively correlated to returns of stocks and bonds with coefficients of -0.42 and -0.25 respectively. The refore, by allocating funds to those assets of negative correlations, it provides the benefits of diversification when facing a complete risk asset class.Fees, Trading and other expensesThere are many fees and expenses that are implied in commodities employment. When trading commodities, investors incur management and brokerage fees, service tax and a possible loss of investments. When a futures contract is purchased, an initial down recompense on the total futures price (initial margin) is to be made. The margin requirement is fundamentally a small percentage of the total purchasing price for a commodity. This margin requirement unremarkably adds up to be little than 10%.LiquidityCommodity market liquidity often correlates well with commodity markettrading profits. Investors can benefit in high commodity market liquidity. It is easier to take down and exit trades. With the high trading volume and liquidity, the statistics of predictive ability of time honored tools like cand lestick patterns formulates tend to be more precise. Commodities that offer good commodity market liquidity include trading in Corn and Gold futures. Each of these trades at high volume and high liquidity. However, they are control by different factors. Gold and other precious metals perform well when investors are maladjusted about inflation or when there is the threat of economic or political disruption. Corn is determined by supply and demand. lieuThe location of where the commodity is produced is not an important factor that an investor should consider as there are similar products that will be sold regardless of where it has been produced. Hence investors retainer of location is not required when making an investment.Tax EfficiencyIn commodities, it is quite tax-efficient as they follow the 60/40 tax treatment whereby 60% of the gain is taxed as long-term gains and 40% are taxed as short gains. Long-term capital gains are capped at 15% which is favorable for high income inve stors, meaning that 60% of gains will be taxed at 15% while 40% of gains will be taxed at 35% which both equals to 23% for commodities. Thus, it will jockstrap investor to save money in tax.Ability to eliminate or significantly reduce unsystematic risk Investing in commodities does not reduce unsystematic risks. Firstly natural disaster and bad weather may affect a various types of commodities. Another risk is geopolitical risk. This risk occur as worlds natural resources are located in various continents and the jurisdiction over these commodities lies with sovereign governments, international companies, and many other entities. Thus, international disagreements over the control of natural resources are quite commonplace. Negotiations on the extractions are pretty tense as disagreements may slowly rise over licensing agreements, tax structures, environmental concerns, employment of indigenous workers, access to technology, and many other conglomerate issues.Ability to control th e asset allocation decisionInvestors are able to control asset allocation decision in commodities. This is so as commodities are not nonrecreationally managed unless you have the intentions to. Thus, investors who wish for professional money managers who specialize in commodity trading to handle their investments, they may turn to ETFs or reciprocal funds. With that, commodities traders are able to free decisions on the allocation of their assets. It is advisable for investor to allocate more of his investments to other types of investments and allocates 5 to 10% of his investments into commodities due to its volatility. tack? Any alternatives that achieve the same objective in a more efficient less expensive and/or more tax efficient- manner Commodities have few/no substitutes as they are generic goods that we utilize in our every mean solar sidereal day lives. Its suggested for any investor to take into consideration the unexpected risk such as natural disasters and bad weather . If they allocate most of their investment in commodities and when an adverse event strikes, they would be caught in a difficult position. Commodities have the best advantage against inflation. During inflation, prices of commodities have the tendency to rise. Therefore, as an investor in commodities, you would be able to gain much from the increment of value.Introduction to Variable AnnuitiesVariable annuities are tax-deferred investment vehicle that comes with a minimal insurance contract so they can qualify for their tax-deferred status. Variable annuities can be immediate or deferred. Once you reach 59, you can begin withdrawing the funds without any penalty.Expected ReturnsVariable annuity has no expected rate of returns as its return is based on the marketplace performance. Its fees will be subtracted from the returns. By exchangeing assets, a portfolio may have a higher return potential with a lower level of risk than the portfolios components would achieve separately.Vola tilityThe standard deviation indicates the tendency of the returns to rise or fall drastically in a short period of time. Since the return on investment in a variable annuity is nowadays tied to the performance of sub-accounts that make up investors annuity, the fund would exhibit a high standard deviation as each years return of the fund may differ from its mean return. This in turn makes variable annuity riskier as it is volatile.Distribution of returnsReturn on investment in a variable annuity is directly tied to the performance of sub-accounts that make up investors annuity. If the underlying investments are in stock and bonds for example, theres potential for a greater return. However, this will be match with a higher risk of loss including loss of capital which involves the funding options. It means that payments and earnings are not guaranteed. Thus the skewness variations are not uniform as returns varies depending on the instruments it consists of in the underlying invest ments.Correlation with other asset classesVariable annuity offers a range of investments options for the sub-accounts. Investors will have to choose a specific one of his interest. Thus, entitle with the benefit of deciding the underlying investments, it enable investors to pick an asset that is low correlated or non-correlated with other assets classes of his portfolio. Thus, variable annuity offers residue and diversification to investors.FeesFirstly, there is the turn in carriage. It is a type of barters charge that will be issued to the customer when they withdraw money from a variable annuity within a certain period (which may spay from six to ten years) after the purchase. It is to pay the financial professional as a commission for the sale of the variable annuity. It decreases gradually over the surrender period, usually 1% less each year. Next, it is the mortality and expense risk charge which is 1.25% per year. It compensates insurance company for insurance risks. Its profit is to pay the insurers initial cost of sale ofthe variable annuity. Next up is the administrative fees which are charges for record-keeping and other administrative expenses and is charged 0.15%.Trading and other expensesUnderlying Fund Expenses are fees that will be charged indirectly and they are imposed by mutual funds which are the underlying investment options in the variable annuity. Fees and Charges for other features are other miscellaneous fees charged in special features offered in some variable annuities. Such features include stepped-up expiration benefit and long-term care insurance.LiquidityVariable annuity has liquidity risk in it whereby the harvesting from the variable annuity may be unavailable at the time of withdrawal or it will be available but at a significantly lowered value. These are attributable to dickens factors. Firstly, because annuities are designed as retirement vehicles, getting out early can mean victorious a loss. Many variable annuitie s assess surrender charges for withdrawals within a specified period, which can be as long as 6 to 8 years. Furthermore, any withdrawals before an investor reaches the age of 59 /2 are subject to a 10% tax penalty by the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) in addition to any gain being taxed as ordinary income. Secondly, if the holder is in a need for currency and must liquidate his variable annuity, there is a possibility that on the date of liquidation, its account balance is lower than what it was previously simply due to market fluctuations.LocationAnnuities are a commonplace in the current world but actually it existed way back during the Roman times. It was then introduced in atomic number 63 and the United Kingdom. It made its mark in America in 18th century but was only fully aware of in the 1930s where the Great Depression caused Americans to save for a rainy day. Variable annuities were first created in America in 1952. Today, variable annuities is popular than ever with sales estimated to be USD40.2 billion and are offered in many countries due to its applicability for retirement purposes. Singapore is not excluded in the variable annuitiesmarket as well. Manulife Singapore launched the first variable annuity, Secure Retirement Plus (US$), in 2007 and later introduced Secure Retirement Plus(S$) in 2008.Tax EfficiencyVariable Annuities are tax-deferred. It can help investors save more while reducing their overall tax burden. This provides investors with good opportunity to invest in tax-inefficient vehicles such as bonds and types of equities. However, there will be a taxable amount of 10% IRS penalty with withdrawal before reaching the age of 59 years. This means that investors pay no taxes on the income and investment gains from their annuity until the withdrawal date. They may also transfer their money from one investment option to another within a variable annuity without paying tax at the time of the transfer. At their withdrawal of variable annuit y, they will be taxed on the earnings at ordinary income tax rates rather than lower capital gains rates.Ability to eliminate or significantly reduce unsystematic risk By diversifying, investing in variable annuity does reduce unsystematic risk. Investors are able to make payment purchase and allocate it to various asset classes such as small-company stocks, international government bonds and fixed annuities. irregular risk decreases as the number of stocks in a portfolio increases. It could help to protect the investors against sustained losses in a single stock or sector of the market.Ability to control the asset allocation decisionVariable Annuity has an accumulation phase whereby the investor makes purchase payments in which they can allocate it to a number of investment options. Moreover, it is a flexible investment that allows investors to move their money into more stable accounts such as fixed account to preserve their gains. It also allows investors to have play in the st rong stock market.Substitute? Any alternatives that achieve the same objective in a more efficient less expensive and/or more tax efficient- manner ExchangeTraded Note (ETN) is an alternative that can achieve the same objective of a variable annuity in a less expensive and more tax efficient way. A variable annuity can cost up to 4% a year in its fees, while ETN only charge 1% fees. Both ETN and variable annuities are tax efficient and there is no negative tax consequence till the ETN is sold. However, while an annuity is passed through finale to its beneficiaries, its entire gain will be taxed. The ETN under the current estate tax laws, will be receiving a step up in basis, this makes it more tax efficient than the variable annuity. However, investors of ETN have to run into credit risk as it is an unsecured debt. Thus, we have to look at other equally important factors before deciding the better alternative as just using cost-effectiveness and tax-efficiency does not equate to a robust evaluation.Introduction to Hedge FundHedge fund is a fund that can take both long and short positions through the use of arbitrage, buying and selling undervalued securities, trading options or bonds, and investing in any opportunity in any market where it foresees impressive gains at reduced risk. Its strategies vary enormously especially today with volatility and anticipation of corrections in overheated stock markets whereby many hedge against downturns in the markets. Main aim of most hedge funds is to reduce volatility and risk while trying to preserve capital and deliver positive returns under all market conditions.Expected ReturnsMost hedge funds goal is to earn a positive return despite how the overall stock market is performing. It is refer to as an absolute return. Absolute return gains and losses of a hedge fund can be measured relative only to the assets in the fund itself and investors do not compare returns to market benchmarks. With the absolute return goal, h edge fund managers often use aggressive investment techniques like short selling and leveraging.VolatilityStandard deviation reports a funds volatility which indicates the tendency of the returns to rise or fall drastically in a short period of time. It measures this risk by measuring the degree to which the fund fluctuates inrelation to its mean return, the average return of a fund over a period of time. Since hedge fund seeks absolute returns independent of market movements the standard deviation for this fund would then be zero as the funds return does not differ within periods. Hence it shows that hedge funds are highly at an advantage since the fund with the lower standard deviation would be more optimal as it is maximizing the return authoritative for the amount of risk acquired.Distribution of ReturnsBy knowing which way data is skewed, one can better estimate whether a data future point will be more or less than the mean. For hedge funds, the skewness variations are not uni form across styles. For instance, when the number of funds increases, the skewness drops systemically and is negative for Fixed Income Arbitrage, Convertible Arbitrage and Event Driven Strategies while it increases slightly. The Kurtosis tends to be concentrated in the -0.5 to +0.5 range. Changes in kurtosis tend to less predictable and differ widely over time and across investment styles. However, diversification within some hedge fund strategies may appear highly attractive in mean or variance terms, but this is much less so when skewness and kurtosis are taken into account as assessing hedge funds based on return and volatility criteria maybe misleading because of the potential underestimation of return volatilities.Correlation with other asset classesCorrelation is interlinked with diversification. Investors aim for a sound portfolio which is manageable through applying diversification. However, traditional assets classes like bonds and stocks are increasingly linked. Hedge fun ds which performances often highly dependent on the qualities of individual investment decisions or strategies, as opposed to being highly correlated to an overall market, diversify risk thus bringing about high returns. Instead of achieving returns from market activities, hedge funds use unique investing strategies to exploit market inefficiencies that the markets have not perceive. This further intensified diversification which put them at a better stead than traditional asset classes.FeesHedge fund consists of 3 kinds of fees. Sales Charge. It is a one-time charge, generally 5% and its the front-end load or commission that is charged on the investment amount. Management fee. It varies around 2% and it is charged on an annual basis and imputed into the dismiss summation Value of the fund. Performance fee. It varies around 10-20% above the benchmark and it is charged on an annual basis and imputed into the Net Asset Value of the fund. The benchmark can be simply the zero return line or a benchmark like the London Interbank Offered Rate. Performance fees are charged on a high water mark which means investors are only charged for excess returns with reference to the previous high. If investment drop in value, the manager must bring it back above the previous greatest value before they can receive performance fees.Trading and other expensesApart from the above fees, investors also need to pay expenses such as the accounting and tax preparation expenses, auditing expenses, costs and expenses of entering into and utilizing credit facilities and merged notes, swaps or derivative instruments.LiquidityThere are two forms of liquidity constraints that are impose on investors which are liquidity dates and lock-up. Liquidity dates refer to pre-specified times of the year when an investor is allowed to return shares. Hedge funds typically have quarterly liquidity dates. Moreover, it is often required that investors give advanced notice of the desired to redeem these redemption notices are often required 30 days in advance of actual redemption. lockup refers to the initial amount of time an investor is required to keep his or her money in the fund before redeem shares. Lockup therefore represents a commitment to keep initial investment in a fund for a period of time. For Singapore registered hedge fund, MAS guidelines stipulate one regular dealing day per quarter. Redemption of funds usually requires a notice period and it states that redemption proceeds must be paid to the end investor within 95 days from the dealing day the redemption request is accepted.LocationFunds with a regional presence outperform those without one. Risk-adjusted return difference between nearby and long-distance hedge fund portfolio is about 4% and is significant. A funds geographical proximity to the companies in which it invests the closer it is to its investments the greater the chances that the hedge fund will earn high returns. They are better able to take advan tage of local study via short selling and the use of derivatives. Direct way for hedge fund to take advantage of local knowledge is to invest in stocks and bonds in their region. Moreover, Singapore is perceived as having a high level of transparency and reliability in business, economic and regulatory affairs. It boasts a stable political structure, well-established judicial system and forward-looking financial authority thus bringing an advantage to investors locally.Tax efficiencyTax consideration can be a benefit of alternative investments, particularly hedge funds which exploit different ways to minimize capital gains and income taxes for investor. Investors might be worried of being charged at a higher rate for tax. Singapore has in place a tax incentive scheme which exempts offshore funds from tax. Broadly speaking, a qualifying fund will be granted tax freedom provided it is not 100% owned by Singapore investors. There is also Tax Exemption for Singapore Resident Funds. I t requires pre-approval from the authorities and although it is aligned to the offshore fund exemption scheme, some additional conditions have been imposed.Ability to eliminate or significantly reduce unsystematic risk To diversify from stock-specific risk known as non-systematic risk one can invest in a range of stocks with different characteristic. Most investors of such practice regard it as unwise not to diversify into non-systematic risk. However, killing two birds with one stone is a more attractive opportunity to be seized. Thus, we turn to hedge fund. The main idea behind diversifying your non-systematic risk into assets like hedge funds is that any investment with a positive expected return, low volatility and low correlation to the rest of portfolio, will have a great chance of reducing the overallportfolio volatility which is an additional advantage as compared to diversifying through stocks and bonds. Thus, hedge fund is an indispensable option.Ability to control asset a llocation decisionHedge fund manager has total trading authority over the fund. They are not required to provide investors with information about the underlying holdings of the hedge funds. Thus, theres a lack of transparency when investing in hedge funds. Investors are putting their complete trust in the managers ability to meet the funds objectives. As such, investors lose control over their asset allocation. Thus, it is essential to choose the right fund manager to manage their investments.Substitute? Any alternatives that achieve the same objective in a more efficient less expensive and/or more tax efficient- manner The primary objective of hedge funds is to reduce volatility and risk while attempting to preserve capital and deliver positive returns under all market conditions. The emphasis here is positive returns under all market conditions and thus this explains fully utilization of specialized and carefully selected investment strategies to achieve that primary goal.There ar e alternatives which are less expensive and more tax-efficient such as ETFs and ETNs. Both offer similar advantages which are lower fees, lower investment minimums and greater tax efficiency. However, both products have different investments goals. ETFs mirror the indexes they track by holding diversified collection of securities, such as stocks or bonds but traded like stock on an exchange while ETN is an unsecured debt typically issued by an investment bank that mirror index like ETF. Thus, from the way they operate, we are able to conclude that their investment aims just show differences with that of hedge funds.