The Case Against Capital Punishment essays

The Case Against Capital Punishment essays Whitehead 1 A Moratorium on The Death Penalty Should Be Enacted In Illinois Due to the recent releases of newly exonerated Death Row inmates, individuals and organizations are calling for a moratorium- a cooling off period for state executions. The cases of just a few inmates makes it apparent that this would be a necessary step to save innocent lives. After 17 years in prison, Illinois Death Row inmate Anthony Porter was released from jail after a judge threw out his murder conviction following the introduction of new evidence. This reversal of fortune came just two days before Porter was to be executed. As reported in USA Today, Porter's release was the result of investigative research as conducted by a Northwestern University professor and students. The evidence gathered suggested that Porter had been wrongly convicted. Were these new revelations and the subsequent release of Porter a lucky break or a freak occurrence? Not likely, reports DeWayne Wickham, also of USA Today. He points out that since the reinstatement of the death penalty in the United States in 1976, of those sentenced to death, 490 people have been executed while 76 have been freed from Death Row. This calculates into one innocent person being released from Death Row for every six individuals that were executed. This figure correlates with the 1996 U.S. Department of Justice report that indicates that over a 7-year period, beginning in 1989, when DNA evidence in various cases was tested, 26% of primary suspects were exonerated. This has led some to conclude that a similar percentage of inmates presently serving time behind bars may have been wrongly convicted prior to the advent of forensic DNA typing. Amnesty International, in its 1998 report "Fatal Flaws: Innocence and the Death Penalty", supports the American Bar Association's call ...

5 Tips for Writing an Amazing Villanova Essay

5 Tips for Writing an Amazing Villanova Essay SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Villanova University is a private, Catholic research university in Pennsylvania. With a 36 percent acceptance rate, it’s considered moderately competitive- but even that level has an average GPA just shy of 4.0. But acceptance to Villanova isn’t just about your test scores and GPA; you’ll also need to nail the Villanova supplement essay, rounding out your application with a strong representation of yourself.In this guide, we’ll cover all of Villanova’s essay prompts and how to best answer them, including potential topics and pitfalls. Find yourself a quiet place and a good study playlist. What Are the Villanova Essay Prompts? Villanova University only accepts the Common Application. In addition to the required Common Application essay question, you’ll be writing one additional supplement specifically for Villanova. Just one supplemental essay is required, but you’ll have three prompts to choose from. Your response should be one page, double-spaced, in length. No prompt is inherently better than the others - pick whichever appeals to you most. Each one is unique to Villanova, and they all have some unique twists on the expected essay format. We believe that all members of our community should be committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. How would you contribute to this at Villanova? At first, this prompt might look like a typical â€Å"diversity essay.† It mentions diversity, equity, and inclusion, and asks how you’ll contribute However, the first part of the question says that â€Å"all members of our community should be committed to†¦.† Instead of asking what you’ll contribute to their diverse community, they’re instead asking what you’ll do to foster diversity. That could mean bringing your unique experiences to campus, but it could also mean looking at how you, personally, will help ensure that everybody feels welcomed and appreciated. How will you contribute to the commitment to diversity? This prompt is fairly unique because it doesn’t just want to know about what separates you from the rest. Villanova also wants to know how you’ll fit in with other students and appreciate their stories and backgrounds. The use of the word ‘community’ tells us that this is a campus that values the relationships students build with one another. Appreciating and celebrating diversity is part of that mission. To answer this question, think about the communities you belong to and the ways that they intersect with one another. You can also consider times when you’ve been immersed in another culture- truly immersed, not just watching or participating briefly- and what that meant to you. Be sure that you’re always answering the question of how you’ll commit to diversity at Villanova, not just what you’ve done in the past. A past experience, such as attending a traditional Indian wedding, might have led you to appreciate how different another culture’s celebrations can be, but Villanova wants to know what you’ll do next. Will you make a point to attend or organize different celebrations on campus? What does your experience with diversity, whether your own or someone else’s, inspire you to do to foster a welcoming community? On an individual basis, how will you commit to ensuring that the community is full of diversity, equity, and inclusion? When answering this question, avoid coming off as patronizing or condescending. Though a trip to build wells for impoverished communities may have had good intentions, these trips can sometimes do more harm than good. Likewise, volunteering at a soup kitchen isn’t all the impressive if the message you come away with is that you’re glad you’re not homeless. Instead of focusing on yourself and your feelings, take the experience and turn it into actionable ideas. â€Å"Because I saw firsthand how people all around me are suffering, I devoted every Saturday to fundraising for the homeless, a routine I plan to continue at Villanova,† is a lot stronger than, â€Å"Because I saw firsthand how people all around me are suffering, I decided I would spend time every day writing down something I’m grateful for.† Saint Augustine believed in the essential connection between the mind and the heart. Tell us about a time that your mind and heart were in conflict and how that was resolved. College applications will often ask for an event where your views were challenged and you learned from it. This question is a little different- instead of being an outside challenge, it’s an internal one. Still, Villanova wants to know about how you respond to challenges and how you learn from them. Consider times where you’ve been in conflict with yourself and how you ultimately came to a conclusion. What strategies did you use? Were you ultimately happy with your choice? For example, maybe you struggled with a choice to attend an expensive summer camp that specialized in the field you want to study or to spend your summer working. Both options would be beneficial, but you wanted the summer camp more- only you weren’t sure how you were going to pay for it. Whatever option you chose, there’s an essay to be found there; maybe you spent the summer working to save up to attend next year, or maybe you sold a video game console you hadn’t played in a while to make sure you could attend this year. The key is that your heart wants one thing (a great summer spent at camp) while your mind wants another (the money to attend that camp) and you found a way to solve the problem. Remember that the prompt states Saint Augustine’s belief in a connection between the mind and heart. How did your ultimate resolution lead to a greater understanding of what both your heart and mind wanted? Were you able to bridge the gap? For this question, avoid topics that are too shallow or that aren’t really conflicts. Don’t write about trying to choose which friend you wanted to spend the weekend with unless it was a really deep decision, and stay away from spending too much time on choices with answers that seem obvious, like whether you should study or play video games. Dig deep on this question and pick something with a clear narrative. Your essay should showcase something about you, whether it’s your work ethic, your passion, or your caring for others. "Each of us strengthens all of us" is a concept that resonates deeply in the Villanova community. While this phrase may mean many different things, one aspect is that Villanovans rely on each other. Share a situation when you have needed help and what you have taken away from this experience. Colleges, especially research universities like Villanova, are all about community and collaboration. You might have a particularly brilliant mind, but that’s not all it takes to succeed- the ability to work with others is also key, and Villanova wants to hear about how you recognize those who have helped you get to where you are. This is a good opportunity to be humble and acknowledge the support you’ve had along the way. Think about self-reflection, including why you needed help in a particular situation and how the support you received changed your thinking or improved you in some way. This prompt invites you to share your understanding of the importance of collaboration bydiscussing an experience in which others helped you achieve something. Don’t spend too much time worrying about choosing an experience or situation that’s particularly impressive- instead, focus on something that really demonstrates how important a good team can be. The biggest thing to avoid in answering this question is prioritizing your achievement over the assistance you received. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write about a great achievement- if you won an impressive award or invented something new, definitely share that!- but rather that you should focus on showcasing the support that got you there, such as your mother spending time teaching you how to connect circuits or your teacher spending time after school to coach you through curating a perfect photography portfolio. Show Villanova you understand how important it is to work as a team to achieve great things, and you'll be set to impress! Believe it or not, relaxation is an important part of writing your college essays. Key Tips for Writing the Villanova Essay Though Villanova’s essay prompts are targeted specifically for their school, there are quite a few guidelines you can follow to make your essay strong regardless of what school you’re applying for. Brainstorm Brainstorming doesn’t have to be an intensive process. Beginning a project is often the hardest part; taking a minute or five to get a bunch of ideas down on paper, regardless of their quality, lets you get to work without pressure. Take a deep breath, set a timer, and start jotting down as many ideas as you can think of. Once you’re done, pick the ones that sound most appealing and move on to the next step. Outline Now that you have some ideas, you can start spinning them into outlines. Take a few of the ideas that are most appealing to you and start answering the supplemental questions that should come up in your essay. For example, if you’re answering the first prompt, you should not only be thinking about your personal experiences with diversity, but also how you hope to support equity at Villanova. Sketch out a brief plan for each topic. If you find you don’t have enough points to make, it’s probably not the right idea. Repeat until you have a few outlines to choose from, and then choose the one that you feel strongest about. Write Now that you already have an outline, it’s far easier to actually write your essay. On your first draft, don’t worry too much about staying within the page limit. Don’t even worry about word choice or having something you’re ready to show somebody else. Just focus on getting all of your ideas down on the page so that you have something to do for the next stage. Edit Now comes the point where you start taking what you’ve done and turning it into gold. Editing isn’t just about fine-tuning your grammar and spelling; read your draft aloud to find places where your sentences run on too long, or places where you’ve used the wrong word. Cut extra words and take out sections that aren’t serving your thesis. Be brutal; you can always add things back in if you find you miss them! Get Feedback Once you’ve done a few editing passes on your essay, it’s time for the scariest part: showing it to others. Ask a few people who are invested in your success but who aren’t likely to be too harsh or overly kind in their suggestions- teachers, coaches, and other authority figures are generally good choices- to take a look at your essay and let you know what they think. Let them mark up your draft with any mistakes that they find, and set all that feedback aside for a bit. It’s a good time to take a break from your essay so that you can come back to it with fresh eyes. Revise Now that you’ve had some time away from your essay, it’s time to revise. Take all that feedback you received and consider it. You don’t have to fix anything that doesn’t feel right to you, but do consider why your reviewers may have made that suggestion. Does your essay lack clarity? Could you have chosen a better word? Why are they confused? Always be sure that your essay sounds like you wrote it, though. Remember: your essay is meant to showcase the things that make you unique. If it reads like every other students’ application, it’s not working right! If one of your readers has made big suggestions that don’t sound like something you’d say, rephrase them until they do, or just don’t use them. It’s more important that your essay represents you. What’s Next? A great essay is just one part of a successful Villanova application. Find out what ACT scores and GPA the admissions office is looking for with this handy guide! If you're seeking financial aid from Villanova, this guide to their tuition and financial aid will help you figure out how much you need and how much you can expect to get. Though Villanova has some unique considerations for their essays, there are some common tricks and strategies you can use to write your college essay. This guide covers some of the best ways to ensure your application essay is a success! Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now:

Time management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Time management - Assignment Example Another skill that I have acquired is the importance of team work especially when dealing with sociological challenges that have an implication on the economic performance of any country. This is evident on the initiative to involve various individuals including counselors, mentors, law enforcement officers, and clinical officers. Through the collaboration of the various professionals with diversified skills and experience, the problems faced by juvenile adolescent males will be significantly mitigated. Proper time management Proper time management and scheduling of activities is a major skill that I have gained though the program proposal. I have understood that for the success of any program, it is imperative to allocate adequate time to ensure each and every activity is effectively undertaken. In this program, the major activities included training on time management, counseling, training on the entrepreneurial skills, communication skills and group mentoring. To ensure that the p articipants will have adequate time to learn the various skills as outlined on the time table, I have indicated the time and the occurrence of the activities. In the same way, I have acquired skills on how to prepare a work plan that involves the date of the commencement of the activities as well as the deadline and the occurrence of the activities. This is a very crucial skill that I will put into practice during my future careers as a project manager. The importance of program evaluation In the process of preparing the program proposal, my skills of program evaluation have been enhanced. Most importantly, I have gained an extensive knowledge on how to implement logic model during evaluating my future program as an administrator (McLaughlin and Jordan, 1999). In addition, I have understood on how to put in place the appropriate inputs during evaluation in order to attain the preset program objectives. Effective allocation of resources, staff support and recruitment In the contempor ary business world, stiff competition has been experienced as firms compete for the available resources to maximize their outputs. Through this program proposal, I have gained an appropriate knowledge on how to allocate the available resources to ensure that goals of a program are achieved. In addition, during the preparation of the line item budget, I was exposed to various expenses that a program should cover in order to retain a motivated work force. These expenses include salaries, Medicaid, health insurance, professional dues, training as well as travelling and car allowances. By covering these expenses, employee’s productivity is improved and the continuity of the program is enhanced. Similarly, I have gained skills on how to undertake employee’s recruitment process to ensure that the activities of the program are on the hands of experienced and well educated personnel. Searching for sources of funds In my efforts to prepare the program proposal, I have gained sk ills on how to search for appropriate sources of funds that will provide adequate financial assistance during the implementation of programs especially those dealing with juvenile delinquency and youth education. It is worth to note that various state, local and federal agencies have put in place various eligibility criteria that beneficiaries must adopt in order

Progressive Era through the Great Depression Essay - 1

Progressive Era through the Great Depression - Essay Example senators (Anderson, 2006). The nation struggled with difficulties because of industrialization and development, in the period of Progressive Era (1900–1920). City and middle-class reform crusade reinforced the administration having a superior role in managing such matters as the control of large trade and the well-being of the community. Several of its attainments were created on struggles of previous restructuring activities. For instance, the federal income tax policy and the direct election of senators were a part of the Mainstream package, and Ban on liquor production and its use. The program had received support from both Democrats and Republicans. Theodore Roosevelt became US President in 1901 even though he was the youngest one to hold the Presidential office. He had substantial political knowledge and served in various high level offices. During his administration from 1901 to 1909, 44 antitrust activities were filed counter to the nations major companies, comprising the Northern Securities Company. However, the principle of the presidents approach was that he noted among ‘good’ and ‘bad’ trusts and sturdily chosen to control companies for the wellbeing of people rather than causing damage them. The procedure of rebating was removed through the ‘Elkins Act’ (1903), and the ‘Hepburn Act’ (1906) permitted the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to set maximum railroad charges. Americans expressed the fear that meat infected or covered in rat stools was treated and sold to the public. Senate responded to the disclosures by passing the ‘Pure Food and Drug Act’ (1906) that banned the production, sale, or carriage of food or drugs in interstate trade that had been infected. President Roosevelt vigorously endorsed the preservation of the nations natural resources. Roosevelt’s government set aside

The Influence and Role of Current U.S. Foreign Policy in Modern Italy E

The Influence and Role of Current U.S. Foreign Policy in Modern Italy Since the beginning of the European Union, Europe has attempted to move forward as one unit in order to compete with the United States and to be a strong force around the globe. In a statement made by the Washington ambassadors of the present and acceding members to the European Union in May 2004, they stated, Europe now, for the first time in modern history, is a partnership sharing common values and a commitment to harmony and cooperation. The dream of European integration, shared by the United States, is now being realized, leaving behind us the wasteful era of wars, hostility, and inequalities. We are on the road to a Europe enjoying a unity and influence without precedent in its long history. (http://www.italyemb.org/JointEditorial.htm). Italy was one of the founding members of the European Union, which began in 1950, and any policies that are made by the United States that affects the European Union affects Italy as well. Many of the policies that are made by the United States have far reaching effects in many countries involving many different areas. Since there are too many policies and effects to discuss here, certain important ones made in the past few years that affect the European Union and Italy will be highlighted. Hydrogen Power One main agenda put forth by President Bush in his recent State of the Union Address was the idea to accelerate the development of hydrogen energy technologies in order to improve energy, economic, and environmental security. On August 5, 2003, U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced that Italy would join forces with the United States and other countries in the International... ...ng U.S. foreign policy and decisions made by the U.S. regarding their foreign policy in Italy will continue to affect the relationship between these two countries.? Bibliography 1) ?A ?Greater Union? for Europe.? 16 Apr. 2003. 13 Dec. 2003. . 2) ?Italy Joins International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, August 5, 2003.? 5 Aug. 2003. 14 Dec. 2003 . 3) ?Italy: U.S. IPR Bilateral Declaration.? 17 Jun. 2003. 14 Dec. 2003 . 4)? ?Port of Genoa Implements Container Security Initiative.? 16 June 2003. 15 Dec. 2003 . 5) Sembler, Mel. ?Food Safety and Trade Issues.? 18 Feb. 2003. 14 Dec. 2003 .

Older people in the society Essay

According to Roberts (1970) older people are the whole of a generation who have survived to a certain age. They are not a deviant group or one small special section of the population. They are ordinary people who happen to have reached a particular age. There are several assumptions made about older people and their health. The first is that increasing age is always accompanied by increasing frailty and disability. As a result, the increasing numbers of older people in society are usually seen as a social and economic burden (Le Grand 1993). The second assumption is that age is that age is always accompanied by ill health. The negative images of aging and older people can be all pervasive and influence decisions about the health and social care of older people which may not necessarily be in their best interest. As per the survey of United States census burro, in the year 2010, 30.8% of total population in Europe was older people aged over 65 years old. Among these, 8.4 percent over 75 years old and 4.9 percent were aged 80 or more than 80 years old. In the year 1990 it was 6.1% and 3.2% respectively, when the total old age population was 23% of total population. These figures prove that the old age population is increasing, and the problems related to old age as well. The first part of this assignment discusses some common issues related to old age. This part mainly focuses on the physical, mental and social problems of senior citizens. Then it goes through some reflective aspects of author. For that I pass through the theories and models of reflection also make an attempt to compare different models of reflection. Finally I examine one of my own experiences with an older person, by using one of the reflective models. Statistics shows that there will be an enormous increase in the ageing population over the next 20 year, particularly in those aged over 75, who will suffer most from illness, or some sort of disability. The population of Great Britain and most other countries is growing older and although this trend has largely been ignored for 2 centauries, it is now regarded as a major political and economic challenge for the future. This is because the last 30years seen a significant increase in the population of both number and proportion of people aged 65 and over. The greatest growth has been in those people aged 85 and over. The world population of older people over 65 will increase more than twice as fast as the total population of the world during  the period 19 96-2000. In every region, the population over 75 will increase at an even faster rate and those over 80 will increase faster of all. There are many health problems related to old age. As per the opinion of Hodkinson (1975) older people differ in three major ways from the young: in the type and number of diseases and accidents, in their reaction to disease and in special features to do with their background (Hodkinson, 1975). They often have a multiplicity of diseases, partly accounted for by the accumulation of non-lethal diseases such as osteoarthritis and deafness. They are more likely to fall than any other age groups, except the under-fives, often with serious consequences. (Department of trade and industry, 1995). Heart disease and stroke are particularly prevalent in old age and the majority of all deaths from heart disease and stroke occur in those aged 65 years and above.Whereas, as a recent study has shown, prevalence rates of most of the major health related behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sexual behavior and diet were commonly lower among older people (DoH central health monitoring unit, 2006). Psychological or emotional disorders in old people are too common, Older people themselves may be unwilling to seek help or reveal their feelings to others due to a fear of stigma or a lack of knowledge about the help available to them. Chronic diseases, psychological changes, malnutriti on and medication can exacerbate psychological problems in the elderly. Poor eye sight, poor hearing and slower reactions all contributes to a lack of confidence and increased social isolation for some older people. Dementia and depression are the two general psychological disorders in elderly among this dementia is a higher prevalence. According to Victor (1989) it is difficult to accurately estimate the incidence of dementia within the population because of the problem of diagnosis, although unreliable evidence may lead us to believe that most of the population over the age of 65 years is ‘demented’. Aside from the physical and emotional influences accompanying aging, growing old can be a time of social and economic change. For some people in their 50s can be a rich and rewarding time where they can enjoy the fruits of their labors, hand over responsibility for their children and look forward to enjoying new tasks or activities (Gavilan, 1992). For others it may not be such a positive experience, affected by redundancy, financial insecurity,  bereavement and the physical manifestations of aging. Retirement does not only affect an older person’s income but can also have a detrimental effect upon their social contact and status. Most of them consider retirement as a process of loss: loss of inc ome, loss of status, and loss of purpose and routine. In this situation, Jerrome’s (1991) opinion sounds very relevant, he said that there seems to be a paradoxical situation where the state provides money and support for those who are considered too old for employment while those who are receiving the benefits would be happier carrying out a job of any kind. Caring older people is a challenging process, as it is different from caring a younger. When caring an older person it is necessary to observe them well to understand their feelings and emotions. Reflective thinking will help a health practitioner to achieve this. When reflection is considered as an effective tool in clinical practice, one should have a basic knowledge about the meaning of reflection. In fact, defining the terms proves challenging for anyone seeking to make clear the nature of reflection. There have been number of attempts, to define the term reflection by authors, poets and philosophers alike. Among those interpretations, a definition presented by Johns (johns 1995:24) is literally very near to the ‘word’ reflection; he explained reflection as the practitioner’s capability to evaluate, make sense of and learn through personal experience in order to secure more attractive, useful and satisfying work. Moreover, reflective practice has been developed in health care, especially in nursing, as a way of gaining and building up on that experienced knowledge. Before using Reflection as a tool in clinical practice one should (B .J. Taylor 2000:3) â€Å"throw back of thoughts and memories, in cognitive acts such as thinking , contemplation, meditation and any other form of helpful considerations in order to make sense of them and to make appropriate changes if they are required†. As per this suggestion nurses should analyze their day to day practice and secure the valuable knowledge to lighten their future practice. In other words, as an American philosopher Dewey (1963) suggested that one has to learn by doing and realizing what came of what they did. In searching  different studies and opinions about the process reflection, we can find out different opinions about the aspects, styles and ways of using reflection as a tool in professional practice. Schon (1983) offered two main aspects of reflective practice those are; being reflection on action and reflection in action. Reflection on action is a recollection process of thinking and meditating on an action with the aim of making sense of the incident and using the results to improve future doings. It would be helpful, if nurses and health care workers make this theory real in their clinical practice. But the next one, ‘reflection in action’ is quite strange and had some arguments around it. As per the opinion of greenwood (1998) reflection cannot be recognized before action. In contradiction, Reed and Procter (1993) said that, reflective thinking about a situation, which is likely to happen, in advance is an important precursor to introduce clinical leadership and s upervision. In other words thinking through a particular situation may help to make a prediction and give a chance to take some precautions for a future occurring issue. When considering the role of reflection in nursing profession, Taylor (2004) suggested that reflection can be used as a system of thinking which helps the nurses to maintain vigilance in caring especially when caring an older person. Freshwater (2002) raised almost similar opinion he said that, reflection helps to encourage a holistic, individualized approach to care. When go through these opinions, we can understand that reflection helps a lot to give good care to the patient by productively making rapid changes in the clinical approach, in other words, it provides an opportunity for a rapid and progressive refocusing of work activity (Smyth, 1992). Before I make an attempt to assess my reflective account, which has given me a different outlook about old age, I should choose one model of reflection to analyze my experience. There are few theories, help one to explore his/or her clinical experiences or some incidents in which they have taken part a role of a leader, such as Gibbsâ₠¬â„¢(1988) model of reflection, Johns’ model of reflection and Driscoll’s model of structured reflection. Comparing these models, Gibbs’ and Drisoll’s(2000) models raises some questions that are focused on describing, analyzing, evaluating one personal experience and reach a conclusion, from  which finally makes an action plan for the future. Though Johns’ (2002) model appears more complicated and passing through lot of self examine questions, this model fails to draw an action plan which is considered as the vital process of reflective thinking. Even though Gibbs’ and Drissoll’s models are almost same in frame work I like to choose Gibb’s model as it gives me a chance to recollect my feelings and thoughts about my experience, as well as evaluate the good and bad about it. Since we are human beings it is important that our thoughts and feelings are to be memorized and evaluated, according to Taylor (2006) humans have the ability to think and to think about passed emotions, as we are offered with the gifts of memory and reflection. I believe tha t Gibbs’ model has a good frame work and moreover, for me, it is easily applicable in my experience as it is straightforward in nature and it allows me to answer the questions that arise from the practicalities of my clinical experiences. Here I make an attempt to assess one of the main issues of old age on the basis of my own personal experience. I do like to choose Gibbs’ model as a criterion to analyze it. In the first step, as per Gibbs’s model of reflection, ‘description’ of the event includes, what was the event? Where it happened? Who were with you then? What you did? And what were the results and draw backs; the description of my reflective experience is that while I was working in a psychiatric hospital in India, where I have got many different experiences with older people. I considerer all of them as my reflective accounts and it all help me to understand the old age and its complications. The incident is that, there was one patient in our ward he was about 78 years and had some psychological problems. He was very calm and quite almost every time, but occasionally he became very aggressive and violent. In that hospital, a custom was prevailing that inform relatives when a patient become very aggressive. So we used to inform his relatives when he got out of control. After meeting with his son or daughter, his condition would have become significantly normal. And he seemed very happy and comfortable with them. But when they left him there, he was again going back to a depressed mood. When I noticed this events many times I was really interested in that patient and I tried to make a good relationship with him. Finally I succeed; he used to speak with me a lot  even about his thoughts and feelings. And one day he told me that he really did not have any serious psychological disorders. He was acted as a psychotic person so that he could see his family. And he told me that he really did missing them. He never liked to be there. It was one of my mind blowing experiences I encountered during my clinical practice. The reflective account I explained above point out to one of the main problems of old age which is nothing but ‘loneliness’, Social seclusion and loneliness have long been recognized as problems linked with old age (Sheldon 1948 ; Halmos 1952). Loneliness has been defined as an unpleasant emotion state in which the older person feels apart from others. As I completed the description of the event, I go in to the next process; ‘feelings’. In this stage one should recall the situation and try to find out that what he/she thought and felt when they went through the experience? Considering my reflective experience, there were many thoughts passed through my mind. Old age is certain for every human being. Everyone has to pass through that period. At that time I thought about his feelings. He might have been working hard to raise his children, but when he became unproductive he was thrown to the miseries of loneliness. I felt empathy to the patient because after I came to know him more I could thoroughly understand his feelings. And I thought about the reasons of the seclusion of old age. The third stage is ‘evaluation’. As per this stage I should evaluate my experience and find out the good and bad about it. When driving back my memory through my reflective experience, I can say that the main good aspect of that situation was that I could be a good listener of that man. I think he might have experienced some relief when he shared his burden of feelings with me. That awareness gave me a great amount of satisfaction. Moreover I could realize some skills which must have possessed a care worker such as patience and being a good listener, which I had never realized until then. One the other hand, there are some bad aspects too I could find out. Even though I had been working in the same department for about six months I was a little late to realise his problems, I had to find out his feeling of loneliness earlier. It shows, at that time, I have lack of ability to identify the problems of the patients. Analysis of the event is the next stage. In this stage I have to think about what sense can be made of the situation which I faced. The first sense which I could make about this incident is that the main reason of the psychological problems present in older people is because of their social seclusion and loneliness. And the important thing I learned from this incident is the severity of loneliness in older people. They would even act as insane to get rid of their loneliness. They need rather love and care than treatment. As per the Gibbs’ frame work ‘conclusion’ is the next stage. In this step I conceder my faults which I had got when I deal with that incident. In that sense I could have realised the patient’s problem of loneliness earlier. If I came to know about this earlier I could invite the attention of his relatives to this issue. Now I understand that it is necessary to mingle with them and caring them in order to make them comfortable in the surroun dings of an old age home. The final and important stage is ‘action plan’. Here I should think about what I would do if I go through the same situation. Undoubtedly I would act differently because, now I know the draw backs of old age and what they are expecting from others. So if i would be in the same situation I would understand the problem of the patient earlier and help him reduce his feeling of loneliness. Next time I would find out more ways to escape the older patients from being lonely. In order to achieve this, encourage them to busy with some hobbies or learning some new skills, such as the use of the computers. I think they would enjoy learning computers and having great fun sharing their new skill. The next and important thing is that, I have to improve my communication skills. I would make sure that all the elderly inmates in my ward get communicated and listen to their problems. I will consider this as one of my important responsibilities in the clinical area, Because Duffy. K. and Hardicre (2007) suggested that Caring for the elderly patients is a necessary element of the nurse’s role as well as a professional commitment. In conclusion, loneliness is the major issue of old age. It is different from solitude because older people can be lonely while living with other people such as residential care. Loneliness can be a symptom of depression but can be prevented by the encouragement of physical  and mental activity and being socially active; the saying ‘use it or lose it’ cannot be overemphasised. After all, when considering this essay as my reflective writing, it helps me to secure more awareness about my caring older people. Besides that I have got a clear out look about using models and theories to analyses my experiences. Finally, this reflective thinking makes me more confident to face and deal with difficult situations. Reference List: Department of trade and industry; consumer safety unit (1995) home accident surveillance system: report on 1993 accident data and safety research, DTI, London. Dewey, J. (1963) Experience and education, New York: Collier books.87-89. DOH central health monitoring unit (1996) health related behavior: an epidemiological over view, HMSO, London. Driscoll, J. (2000) practicing clinical supervision, London: Bailliere Tindall. Duffy, K. Hardicre, J. (2007) ‘Supporting failing students in practice 1: assessment’, Nursing Times, 10(4): 28-29. Freshwater, D. (2002) Therapeutic nursing: improving patient care through reflection, London: Sage. Gavilan, H. (1992) ‘care in the community for older housebound people: institutional living in our own home?’ Critical public health, 3(4): 18-23. Gibbs, G. (1988) Learning by Doing: A guide to teaching and learning method: Further Education Unit, Oxford: Oxford Brookes University. Greenwood, J. (1998) ‘The role of reflecti on in single and double loop learning’, Journal of advanced nursing practice, 27(5): 1048-53. Halmos, Paul (1952) Solitude and Privacy: A Study of Social Isolation, Its Causes and Therapy. London. Hodkinsin, H. (1975) an outline of geriatrics, academic press, London. Jerrome, D. (1991) social bonds in later life. Social and psychological gerontology, clinical gerontology, 1: 297-306. Johns, C. (1995) ‘Framing learning through reflection within carper’s fundamental ways of knowing in nursing’. Journal of advanced nursing, 22: 226-34. Johns, C. (2002) Guided reflection: Advancing practice, Oxford: Blackwell science. Le Grand, J, (1993) ‘can we afford the welfare state’? British medical journal; 307(6911): 1018-1019. Reed, J. and Procter, S. (1993) Nurse education: a reflective approach, London: Edward Arnold. Roberts, N. (1970) our future selves: care of the elderly, Allen and Unwin, London. Schon, D. (1983) The reflective practitioner: how practitioners think in action, New York: Basic books. Sheldon, J. H. (1948) The Social Medicine of Old Age: Report of an Inquiry in Wolverhampton, Oxford University Press, London. Smyth, J. (1992) ‘Teachers’ work and the politics of reflection’, American education research journal, 29(2): 267-300. Taylor, B. (2004) ‘Technical, practical and emancipator reflection for practicing holistically’, Journal of holistic nursing, 22(1): 73-84. Taylor, B. J. (2003) ‘Emancipator reflective practice for overcoming complexities and constraints in holistic health care’, Sacred space, 4(2): 40-5. Taylor, B. J. (2006) Reflective Practice: A guide for nurses and mid wives, 2nd edn. UK: Open University press, Milton Keyness. Victor, C. (1989) ‘the myth of the woopie: poverty and affluence in later life’, geriatric medicine, (19)12: 22, 25-2

What are the Responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant

Teaching assistants are referred to in different ways—teacher aides, instructional aides, and paraprofessionals—depending on the area of the country and the school district where they work. Teaching assistants fulfill a key support role in helping students succeed in the classroom environment. Their responsibilities are many and varied. Responsibilities Teaching assistants help the teacher with standard housekeeping tasks like taking attendance, collecting homework, and recording grades. They also help teachers prepare and set up materials and information for lessons. In addition, teaching assistants: Reinforce lessons and help students as they complete classwork. This might include small group or one-on-one help.Enforce classroom rules as well as rules outside of the classroom. This might include hall and cafeteria monitoring duties.Serve as a sounding board and assist teachers as they create lessons and classroom policies. Additionally, they also help teachers work through issues with individual students and help meet the needs of mainstreamed special education students by making modifications to lessons as needed. This might include reading tests out loud and providing additional time outside of class for students to finish assessments. Required Education Teaching assistants typically are not required to have teaching certification. However, teacher aides must meet higher requirements than in the past to work at Title I schools. These requirements are not necessary for food service workers, personal care assistants, non-instructional computer assistants, and similar positions. The requirements include the following: Paraprofessionals must have earned a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent such as a GED.They must also have completed two years of study at a college or university (48 semester hours), orThey must hold at least an associate degree, orThey must be able to demonstrate through an assessment the knowledge of and ability to assist in instructing, reading, writing, and mathematics. Characteristics of Teaching Assistant Successful and effective teaching assistants share many of the same qualities. These include: Flexibility: Teacher aides must work with their assigned teacher in the classroom. This requires a degree of flexibility as they are assisting the teacher in their daily teaching duties.Dependability: Teachers grow to depend on their teacher aides to assist them in the classroom. Their plans might sometimes include the need for additional supervision by the teacher assistant if the class is divided into groups.Ability to communicate: Teaching is all about interactions and communication. The teaching assistant needs to be able to interact with the teacher and students on a daily basis.Love of learning: Teaching assistants need to show through their words and actions that they find value in what is being taught. They should never talk badly about the teacher or the subject to the students in the class.Love of children and teenagers: The teachers aide will be dealing with children and teenagers each day. Therefore, they need to enjoy being around this population and believe that each ca n succeed in class. Sample Salary The annual median teaching assistant salary was $26,970 for the 1.38 million paraprofessionals working across the nation in 2018, the most recent year for which figures are available, according to the Department of Labors Occupational Outlook Handbook. However, salaries vary by state. Alaska tops the nation in pay for instructional assistants, with an average annual salary of $39,640, the Department of Labor says. Other top-paying states and regions include: Massachusetts: $35,680California: $35,350District of Columbia: $35,300Washington (state): $35,130 Job growth for the field is predicted to be 4 percent through 2028, according to the Department of Labor.