The Terrorist Attacks The Nebulous And Never Ending War...

The 9/11 terrorist attacks irrevocably and dramatically transformed the landscape of national security and risk, marking the beginning of the nebulous and never-ending War on Terror. Western governments frequently cite terrorism to rationalize legislation that restricts the privacy and democratic freedoms of its citizenry as anti-terror, increasing unaccountable government power. This rhetoric includes that governments must eliminate all risk of terror, it being such an existential threat that we, as citizens, can and must do everything to fight â€Å"them†, including throwing out privacy and the freedom of the press. Our lives are both augmented and restrained by the advent of ‘big data’ that, when paired the ongoing mass, indiscriminate surveillance, strips individuals of their right to privacy. Governments have capitalized on the corporate practice of collecting massive amounts of data on individuals, which has increased in both scale and scope as surveillance technology has become more sophisticated and more difficult to evade. The result is that we live under a global Panopticon in the knowledge that at any point, our online lives and communications can be exposed and subject to scrutiny. Other democratic freedoms jettisoned in the fight include the transparency and accountability in public administration and, relatedly, a free, independent and pluralistic media. The same anti-terror rhetoric and legislation is used to spy on, prosecute, and imprison journalists andShow MoreRelatedNational Security Outline Essay40741 Words   |  163 Pages The Laws of War and Neutrality 24 CHAPTER 7: War Crimes and Nuremberg Principle 28 CHAPTER 12: Nuclear Weapons: Deployment, Targeting and Deterrence 33 CHAPTER 13: Arms Control in the Nuclear Age 36 Chapter 14: Measures to Reduce Tensions and Prevent War 41 CHAPTER 16: The Law of the Sea 43 CHAPTER 17: The Constitutional Framework for the Division of Nat’l Security Powers Between Congress, the President and the Court 48 The 1973 War Powers Resolution 49 II. The War Powers Resolution:

The American Civil War Essay - 2428 Words

The American Civil War emanated feelings of joy, exuberance, and glory, yet it substantiated loneliness, destruction, and death. In the antebellum South, nationalism and pride forged a new path, and society saw soldiers as heroic actors and war as their stage. While these actors played out their roles, the audience, the world, could see that their stage did not make them heroes, but war deprived them of body and soul. In Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier develops this excitement and progression to hardship in both Ada and Inman’s journeys. The progression, corroborated by historical evidence, shows that while the antebellum South held a Romantic ideal of war, war itself negated the romantic opinion and became destructive, monstrous,†¦show more content†¦Southern gentility may have held excitement for the Romantic war because they did not have to partake in battle; however, Cold Mountain shows that poor Southern soldiers did not quake in the coming of war but celebrated. As war begins, an excitement is spread to all the soldiers. War is not seen as imminent death, but it is seen as a quintessential example of bravery and honor. As soon as men join the army they pay to have their pictures taken so they can send a memento, a war souvenir back to their families and lovers. The men stand up for their pictures as â€Å"farm boys more bright in their moods than on hog- killing days† (247). War was not destruction for these men, it was an exhilarating experience of manhood. They not only celebrated war through their photographs, but they received new uniforms and â€Å"shiny new bowie knives† (247). Cold Mountain shows that war did not symbolize death to the South, but it in a sense was a Romantic celebration in which society and soldiers could look towards future glory and success. War in Cold Mountain is seen as Romantic, and historical references prove, that in truth, the South did not look upon war as a harbinger of death, but as a symbol of glory and honor. Validating Frazier’s idea that war was not feared but celebrated, historical references show that there was an â€Å"excitement of the first few months of war† (Eaton 203), and everyone â€Å"talks, thinks, and dreams ofShow MoreRelatedAmerican War And The American Civil War1551 Words   |  7 Pageswhich then caused the Southern states of America to decide to leave the American Union and create their own Southern Confederacy. This tore our nation apart. The American Civil War had begun and the very people that were once neighbors had each other’s blood on their hands. Many American lives had been lost. The American lives lost in the Civil War even exceeded the number of American lives lost during World War I and World War II. We were divided. The North wanted to reunite with the southern statesRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1376 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Civil War was arguably the most important war in the history of the country. The War of Independence may have allowed American to become its’ own country, but the Civil War resulted in something even more important than that, the end of slavery in the so uthern states. All of the issues that caused the Civil war were based around slavery, such as states’ rights that involved how slavery would be handled in each state, and trying to preserve the Union since the south seceded from the northRead MoreThe American Civil War1296 Words   |  6 Pages The American Civil War, also known as the State’s War, was a conflict that arose mostly from the issue of slavery, but deep down was due to economic differences between the North and the South. The South seceded from the North and created their own self-government due to their belief in the lack of state’s rights versus the federal government and what they saw as a weakness in the Articles of Confederation. While the Confederacy of the United States depended on slave labor for their economy in regardsRead MoreThe American Civil War1418 Words   |  6 PagesGuns fired, smoke lingering in the air, people dying. The American Civil War had a huge impact on the United States . Two compromises took place before the start of the Civil War. These compromises include the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850. The Missouri Compromise dealt with the crisis in 1819 over Missouri entering the Union as a slave state. The compromise was â€Å"the first major crisis over slavery, and it shattered a tacit agreement between the two regions that had been in placeRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1618 Words   |  7 Pages A Civil War is a battle between the same citizens in a country. The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865 to determine the independence for the Confederacy or the survival of the Union. By the time Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1861, in the mist of 34 states, the constant disagreement caused seven Southern slave states to their independence from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America. The Confederacy, generally known as the South, grew to include elevenRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War1324 Words   |  6 PagesThere were many events that led to the cause of one of America’s most devastating war, the American Civil War. The American Civil War was an unfortunate war that cost more than the lives of six hundred thousand people. Events such as the Missouri Compromise, Kansas Nebraska Act, Dred Scott Decision, and the Election of Abraham Lincoln resulted in the four yearlong battles between the Northern and Southern states due to social and economic differences on the idea of slavery. In the 19th century,Read MoreThe War Of The American Civil War Essay1472 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Civil War lasted from April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865. It was the bloodiest war in American history, killing approximately 620,000 soldiers in total. The War was fought and won by the North, ensuring that all the United States would stay united and slavery would be illegal in The United States. However, history is one of the most complicated things in the world. It’s also one of the most important things in the world because history is what made the present possible. Historians have debatedRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War856 Words   |  4 PagesSlavery may have been established as the catalyst of the American Civil War, but the beginning of the dispute began in the time of the Revolution with a weak decentralized government under the Articles of Confederation. Later gained momentum as territorial expansion set Americans against each other on debating whether th e new states should be slave states or free states, it questioned the power of the Federal government regarding state rights, and brought about instability in the unity of the UnitedRead MoreThe War Of The American Civil War960 Words   |  4 Pagesslavery even if it meant war caused peace in this nation. Slavery was the vital cause of the American Civil War. The north and the south both had their differences on how to run the country. People in the North believed in unity and that slavery should not exist because â€Å"all men are created equally.† On the other hand, the South believed in continuing slavery. People tried to talk it out and come to a middle ground after both sides compromising, however that didn’t work and caused war. Ideological differencesRead MoreThe American Civil War878 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction A civil war is a prolonged high-intensity conflict between people, countries, or parties, which is usually barefaced and armed. Every war has its causes either acceptable or not and some are inevitable. Commonly, civil wars are between countries within a state. It results from one country aiming to make implementations on their governing policies or take control of certain areas within the state. 1Civil War refers to the American Civil War, which took place in the year 1861 to 1865

A Review of Things Fall Apart Free Essays

Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, is the story of tribal Africa both before and during the colonial period. The story follows the main character, Okonkwo, through his life as a highly respected man in his tribe, an accident that forced him away, his anger at the white man moving in and changing things, and his untimely death at his own hand. Things Fall Apart is a moving tale that speaks of the normalcy of tribal life before the arrival of the white man, and the falling apart of society as it was known due to the introduction of Christianity and the white man’s law. We will write a custom essay sample on A Review of Things Fall Apart or any similar topic only for you Order Now Chinua Achebe’s purpose in writing this story was to present the colonial period in Africa through the eyes of the people it really affected. Achebe uses the first and second portions of his novel to explain what everyday life was like in a fictional section of Africa before the white man came (Achebe, 1959). Through his writing, the reader learns much about the way these people lived. Every part of their society, from cooking to house building to tribal ranks, is covered in detail, but it is told through the eyes of people who would have really lived that way. Achebe seems to wish for his readers to see that there was more to African tribes than what little was told about them in history books. He pulls the reader in and makes them a part of the tribe by explaining everything in minute detail. It almost feels as if one is in the camps as they read. The controversy that Achebe focuses on is the ruin of tribal society by the arrival of the white man, the Christian religion, and the white man’s law. The tribes had their own ways of dealing with problems and the breaking of their laws, but the white men moved in and changed all of that. They built courts and prisons so they could carry out their own kind of justice (Achebe, 1959). The tribal religions were ancient, but Christianity was introduced and made many villagers turn away from the gods that their families had followed for lifetimes (Achebe 1959). Achebe’s opinion of these actions appears to be less than accommodating. From the way that he writes, it seems that he sympathized greatly with the people who were undergoing such change. One gets the impression that Achebe believes that the tribes would have been better off left alone. His presentation of the information is split into three sections, and each section deals with a different part of the main character, Okonkwo, life falling apart. The first section is a description of his happy life in his tribe, the second part deals with his banishment to his mother’s family land, and the third deals with his encounters with the white man and his desperate bids to change things back to the way they were (Achebe, 1959). It is made very clear that things have been so changed that they will never be â€Å"normal† again, and that seems to be the reason for the three point process. Life changes before the reader’s eyes, just as it changes before the characters eyes.   In this way the reader feels the loss of the tightly woven society bit by bit, and that seems to be what Achebe hopes to accomplish. Things Fall Apart is a fictional work, and so it does not have a basis in outside printed sources, or at least none that Achebe lists. This book is based on a reality that has been passed down for generations, and no doubt Achebe used some old stories and songs to base his story upon. However, the purpose of this book is not to focus on any one area. Instead, it is meant to represent all of Africa and all of what was lost during colonization. Narrowing the scope to a place and people that existed in reality would lessen the scope of the book. Perhaps that is why Achebe did not choose to use printed sources as his guide. Melding the bits of knowledge that he had about the whole colonization process into one book gives the reader pieces of every tribe, not just one in particular. Things Fall Apart has many chapters, but three major sections. The first section tells the reader all about everyday life in the tribes. The reader learns how important it is to be seen as â€Å"manly,† and how necessary it is to stay in the good graces of the gods (Achebe, 1959). Also covered in this section are descriptions of the diet of the tribe, the clothing they wore, and the buildings in which they lived (Achebe, 1959). Tribal lore is also introduced, such as the thought that twin babies were evil and must be left to die, and the idea of the obanje child, an infant born again and again to the same woman, only to die at a young age every time (Achebe,, 1959). The reader also learns of the tribal forms of punishment, particularly the rule that accidental murders lead to a banishment of seven years to the motherland of the convicted (Achebe, 1959). This rule is particularly important to the rest of the story, because it is the first step in the downfall of Okonkwo. Achebe’s argument in this portion of the story seems to be that although tribal life could be hard and cruel to outside eyes, it was nearly perfect for the people who lived it. Everyone in the villages knew their place and their contribution to the tribe as a whole, and as long as everyone did their part and kept to the rules that had been in effect for hundreds of years, life ran smoothly. Achebe paints a picture of a society that might not make a lot of sense to outsiders, but worked out just fine for the people within it. The underlying argument is, â€Å"Why force change on something that works?† How to cite A Review of Things Fall Apart, Papers

The Organizations Structure, Mission and Role

The Organization’s Structure and Mission The structure of an organization refers to both the formal and informal way that duties and responsibilities, channels of authority, avenues of communication, and levels of power are developed and coordinated in an organization.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Organization’s Structure, Mission and Role specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Getting to understand the structure of an organization is not only being acquainted with the decision making process but also getting to know the chain of command that is followed, procedures that govern provision of service to the customers and how your own expectations regarding the job fit into the broad scheme of things (Kirst-Ashman and Hull, 2008, p. 24). The organization is a drug rehabilitation group whose sole mission is to establish policies and programs that will make individuals break their drug abuse habits , develop alternatives to a life-style that is drug related. The organization has also established a youth centre to provide youth with an opportunity not only to have fun but also to take part in productive activities and socialize. Generally, organizational structure comprises of a chain of command, decision-making process, and specifications in procedures, as well as how labor is divided (Slavin, 1985, p. 105). The organization has a simple structure with two main levels, which are the operating level and the strategic apex. Direct supervision and oversight are the means through which coordination of the organization is carried out. Due to this simple organizational structure, the community organization has managed to attain both adaptability and flexibility. These two virtues can be created within the organization. However, given that vices can easily emanate from the virtues, the management often initiates or inhibits change. One of the ways in which the organization enhances t his is to punish unpredictably and reward colossally. The organization comprises of the manager, counselor, educator, facilitator, advocate, and mobilizer. Being too close to the organization’s daily operations can easily result to the general facilitator being not only side tracked but also losing sight of the long-term strategies (Bolman and Deal, 2008, p. 80).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, daily operations have been left in the hands of the coordinator. Every member has his/her own line of duties assigned to him or her by the manager. However, teamwork is encouraged and fulfilled in the performance of duties The counselor plays a role in giving guidance to the clients and helps them in problem solving. For example, one of our counselors may assist a teenager on choosing a suitable contraceptive. The role of the educator is to offer information as well as give relevant skills. For example, the organization’s educator may teach the youth on the negative effects of excessive drinking. The manager coordinates all group activities and connects with other agencies, facilities or organizations to ensure that needed services have been effectively rendered. On the other hand, the mobilizer links with and convenes the people who are in the community to identify areas of need (Kirst-Ashman and Hull, 2008). Most of the decisions are made by the manager after consulting with the rest of staff members. The organization carries out its duties in collaboration with other organizations based within the same community and receives its funding from government agencies and donors. It has been in existence for the last two years and its impact continues to be felt in most parts of the community. The Human Relations Model as Depicted in the Organization This draws more on the psychology rather than on engineering and accounting like the rationa l model would do. The model borrows much from McGregor’s theory X and theory Y. Theory X suggests that employees do not like work and can do all that they can to avoid it. Therefore, managers have to employ several control schemes such as coercion and threats to ensure that employees are working towards the fulfillment of the organization’s goals. The theory assumes that the normal employee is lazy, is less ambitious, and esteems security more than anything else (Schwalbe, 2008, p. 347; Fournies, 2000, p. 33).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on The Organization’s Structure, Mission and Role specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Research seemed to disapprove this theory after which McGregor came up with a set of assumptions governing human behavior that is theory Y and is at times termed as the human relations model. This theory does not ascribe to the fact that employees do not like working, bu t rather regard work to be as natural as resting or playing. Self-actualization and satisfaction of rewards are the main rewards for the workers. The two theories are based on the managers’ perception of workers. Individual Role in Meeting organizational Goals There arte specific elements of the human relations model that are evident in our organization. First, it is comprised of individual people who make collective efforts to ensure that the goals of the organization have been achieved. The main goal of the organization is to reduce drug abuse in the community. This is achieved by carrying out several programmes in which everybody plays their respective role. Therefore, the efforts contributed by each individual in the group count and they are required for the attainment of the organization’s goal. When the spirit of team work takes centre stage in the organization, everything is synchronized, there is flow of ideas, everybody is clear with regard to what is supposed to be done, there is clear and open communication among all members, everybody is comfortable with regard to decisions made and they operate in matching harmony (Cahill, 2003, p. 59). Teamwork is important since it leads to devotion, innovation, growth, and support, both at an individual and organizational level (Russell and Swanburg, 2006, p. 120).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Use of Small Groups Secondly, individuals work through small groups. These work groups are informal with many dynamics. There are groups of young people with serious emotional and behavioral problems as a result of drug abuse especially with regard to the use of hard drugs. The organization works at rehabilitation of members belonging to this group. There are groups of parents who are taught and trained on how to deal with children who are drug abusive as well as how to effectively nurture children so as to prevent them from being caught up in drug and substance abuse. There are other groups of youth who engage in different activities such as sports and fun. There are also school-based teams to enlighten teenagers and other young people on the drug abuse. Conflict Resolution through Communication Thirdly, there is good communication from the manager to all other staff members. The purpose of this is to avoid any conflict that might erupt within the organization. This is because conf lict is not only unnecessary but also counterproductive. Communication breakdowns are the main cause of conflict. Good skills in communication are very crucial in resolving conflicts and carrying out other negotiations. Whether conflict is desirable or not, it exists within the organization and is endemic. As people interact in the organization, tension is created by different values and situations. When conflict is noticed, appreciated, and managed in a manner that is appropriate, benefits for the individual and the entire organization will result. A manager who is caring and effective uses the conflict to ensure that both the individuals involved and segments of the organization have undergone growth (Silverthome, 2005, p. 193). The manager of the organization is effective since he often uses conflicts for stimulating personal commitment, dealing with apparent problems, ensuring that both self-appraisal and critical vigilance have been increased and in examining values that confli ct when arriving at organizational decisions. Leadership Skills The fourth aspect of this model is the need for managers to possess and cultivate leadership skills. Having human relations, skills will enable them to have an understanding of the employees’ needs and then be able to coordinate the needs within the organization. Both formal and social forms of authority are requisites if the managers have to achieve this. Hence, an effective manager will emerge as a team leader rather than a dictator. The manager in our organization has a set of leadership skills that have helped the organization to move forward. These are technical skills, which are important in helping him maintain and navigate the organization. He also possesses administrative skills that are helpful in managing the organization’s resources such as operating funds from government agencies and other organizations, physical assets, human resources within the organization and other kinds of resources. He also has conceptual skills, which have been enabling him to detect the potential consequences of any given decision. These skills are also exhibited by almost every member of staff in the organization since most of their roles entail leadership. The technical, administrative, and conceptual skills are as important to the modern day organizational leader as they were to the captain of a ship during the golden era of piracy (Heatherly, 2008, p. 11). Additionally, the manager has some interpersonal skills whose application has helped in enabling the organization to be on its feet. They include the ability: to resolve conflicts among members of staff, build a team without necessarily finding fault or pointing a finger of accusation and making suitable decisions (Levin, 2010, p. 247). References Bolman, L. and Deal, T. (2008). Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Cahill, K.M. (2003). Basics of International Humanitarian Missions. NY: The C enter for International Health and Cooperation. Fournies, F. F. (2000). Coaching for Improved Work Experience. NY: Mc-Graw Hill Professional. Heatherly, D. (2008). A Pirate Captain’s Guide to Leadership: How to Turn Workplace Pirates into Motivated and Productive Employees. Las Vegas, Nevada: A Light House for Leaders Kirst-Ashman, K. and Hull, G. (2008). Understanding Generalist Practice. Belmont: Cengage Learning. Levin, G. (2010). Interpersonal Skills for Portfolio, Program, and Project Managers. Vienna: Management Concepts. Russell, L. and Swanburg, R. (2006). Management and leadership for nurse administrators. NY: Jones and Bartlett Learning. Schwalbe, K. (2008). Information Technology Project Management. Boston: Cengage Learning. Silverthome, C.P. (2005). Organizational psychology in cross-cultural perspective. New York and London: New York University Press. Slavin, S. (1985). Social Administration: An introduction to human services management. New York: Routledge. This assessment on The Organization’s Structure, Mission and Role was written and submitted by user Charleigh Ochoa to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Experts Guide to the AP European History Exam

The Expert's Guide to the AP European History Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The AP European History course and exam cover the history of Europe from 1450 to the present. That means you'll be asked about everything from the Renaissance to the European Union - it's a lot!Not to mention,the exam was just revised in 2016, making everything a bit more complicated. If you need guidance for the AP exam, read on. In this article, I’ll give an overview of the exam, go in-depth on each of its sections, go over how the exam is scored, offer some preparation tips, and finally explain some key things to keep in mind on test day! AP European History Exam Format and Overview The AP Euro Exam for 2017 will be heldon Friday, May 12. The testis three hours and 15minutes long. It has two sections, each of which is further split into a part A and a part B. It is important to note that within each section, you will not be forced or signaledto move on from part A to part B at any point in time. You will need to manage the time within each section yourself, although you will be periodically informed of how much time is remaining. Here’s an overview chart of each part of the exam: Section and Part Question Type Number of Questions Time % of Score 1A Multiple Choice 55 55 recommended (105 total for section 1) 40% 1B Short Answer 4 50 recommended (105 total for section 1) 20% 2A Document-Based Question (DBQ) 1 55 recommended (90 total for section 2 including 15-minute reading period) 25% 2B Long Essay 1 (choose 1 of 2) 35 recommended (90 total for section 2 including 15-minute reading period) 15% As you can see, Section I consists of a 55-question multiple choice section, worth 40% of your exam grade, and a 4-question short answer section, worth 20% of your exam sky. Part I, in total, is 105 minutes, with a recommended 55 minutes on multiple choice and 50 minutes on the short answer. Section II, the essay section, consists of the document-based question, for which you have to synthesize historical documents into a coherent analysis of a historical moment, and the â€Å"long essay,† for which you will have to choose between two questions and then write an essay analyzing a historical moment with no outside sources at your disposal. The DBQ is worth 25% of your grade, and the long essay is worth 15%. You will receive 90 minutes for Section II, including a 15-minute reading period. The College Board recommends spending 55 minutes on the DBQ (including the reading period) and 35 minutes on the second essay. Section I is worth 60% of your exam score, and Section II is worth 40%. In terms of what individual parts are worth the most, the multiple choice section and the DBQ are the subsections worth the most on the exam, at 40% and 25%, respectively. It’s worth noting that the exam was revised for2016. Past administrations of the exam included more multiple-choice questions, no short answer, and had three essay questions instead of two.The recent revision means that there are not very many up-to-date practice resources available through the College Board for this exam, since old released exams have slightly different formats. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them, but you will need to be aware of the differences (see the section on practice resources below). In the next sections of this guide, I’ll break down each of the exam sections further. This is the old-old form of the exam. Section 1: Multiple Choice and Short Answer In this section, I’ll go over what you can expect to see on section 1 of the AP Euro exam. All question examples come from the AP Course and Exam Description. Part A: Multiple Choice On the multiple choice question, you’ll be presented with primary and secondary historical sources and then asked to answer two-five questions relevant to each source. In that sense, the 55 questions are almost divided up into a series of little mini-quizzes.The presentation of sources in the text ties into the revised exam’s focus on historical evidence and the actual work that historians do in evaluating and analyzing that evidence. There are two kinds of questions on the multiple-choice section of the exam: source analysis questions, and outside knowledge questions. Source Analysis Most of the questions in the multiple-choice section (probably about â…”) are source analysis questions. These are questions that ask you to analyze the source presented in some way. You may be asked to link the events described in the source to a broader historical movement, contrast the source with other sources, determine if the source supports or contradicts a particular historical trend, and so in. In general, you will need to have some degree of outside historical knowledge to complete these questions, but they are at their core questions about what the source says or means, often within the broader historical moment. Example: Outside Knowledge These are questions that have little, if anything, to do with the source itself, and instead ask you a historical question based on your own knowledge. It will most likely be about events connected to or immediately following the time period described in the source, but the source is not the focus of the question, and it will not provide much help in answering the question. Example: What could this mean? Part B: Short Answer The short-answer section is four questions long, with a recommended 50 minute response time (as part of Section I’s 105 minutes). This leaves about 12 minutes per question.On every short answer question, you will be asked to provide a total of three pieces of information. You might be asked to provide two pieces of information in favor of a historical thesis and one piece of information against, for example. For most of the short answer questions, you will be presented with a primary or secondary source and asked to answer a multi-part question analyzing the source and/or describing historical events relevant to the source. There is generally an element of choice to these questions- i.e., you will need to name one reason of many that something happened or two consequences of a particular event, but you will not be required to name particular events. Example: There are also short-answer questions without a source, for which you may be asked to analyze or examine a statement about history. Again, you will generally be asked to provide three total pieces of historical evidence, but you will have flexibility as to what events you could appropriately name to answer the question. Example: Keep your answers short like this guy. Section 2: Free-Response Section In this section, I’ll review what you’ll be asked to do on section 2 of the AP Euro exam. Part A: Document-Based Question On the DBQ, you’ll be given six-sevensources, made up of primary and secondary sources, and asked to write an essay analyzing a historical issue. This is meant to put you in the role of historian, interpreting historical material and then relaying your interpretation in an essay. You’ll need to combine material from the sources with your own outside knowledge. You’ll have 15minutes to plan the essay, and then 40 minutes to write it. The 15-minute planning period is specifically designated and timed at the beginning of section II, and you will be prompted to begin your essays at the close. However, no one will prompt you to move on from the DBQ to the long essay- you’ll need to manage that time yourself. Below see an example DBQ. Associated documents can be found in the Course and Exam Description. Example: Part B: Long Essay The Long Essay will ask you a broad thematic question about a period or periods in history. You will need to create an analytical essay with a thesis that you can defend with specific historical evidence that you learned in class. You’ll be given a choice between two questions for this essay. It’s recommended that you spend 35 minutes on this question, but again, you won’t be prompted to move from one essay to another so you’ll need to manage the time yourself. Example: A main theme of Europe: cheese. How the AP European History Exam Is Scored The multiple-choice section of the exam is worth 40% of your score, short answer is worth 20%, the DBQ is worth 25%, and the long essay is worth 15%. As on other AP exams, your raw score will be converted to a scaled score from 1-5. Last year, about 10% of all test-takers received a 5, and about 17% received a 4. The test is difficult, but it’s definitely possible to do well if you prepare.So how is your raw score obtained? I’ll go over how points are awarded on each part of each section. Multiple Choice Well, as on other AP exams, on the multiple choice section, you receive a point for each question you answer correctly. This means you could receive a total of 55 points on the multiple-choice section, weighted as 40% of your total score. Short Answer Every short-answer question will ask you to provide three pieces of information. You will receive one point for every correct, relevant piece of information you provide as directed by the question. For example, if a question asks for one cause of a particular conflict, one result of a particular conflict, and one similar situation in a different country, and you provided one cause and one result, you would receive two out of three points. As there are four short answer questions, you can get up to twelve points on the short answer section, weighted at 20% of your total exam score. The Document-Based Question The DBQ is worth 25% of your total score, and it is scored on a seven-point rubric. I’ll give a quick rubric breakdown here. Rubric Breakdown: Skill Name What The Rubric Says What It Means Thesis and Argument Development 1 point: Presents a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either the introduction or the conclusion. Scoring note: Neither the introduction nor the conclusion is necessarily limited to a single paragraph. This point is for having a thesis that can be reasonably supported bythe documents and other historical facts. Your thesis must be located in your introduction or conclusion. Thesis and Argument Development 1 point: Develops and supports a cohesive argument that recognizes and accounts for historical complexity by explicitly illustrating relationships among historical evidence such as contradiction, corroboration, and/or qualification. You can get an additional point for having a super thesis. A super thesis is one that accounts for the complex relationships in history. Document Analysis 1 point: Utilizes the content of at least six of the documents to support the stated thesis or a relevant argument. One point is for making use of 6-7 of the documents in your argument. Document Analysis 1 point: Explains the significance of the author’s point of view, author’s purpose, historical context, and/or audience for at least four documents. One point is for going more â€Å"in-depth† on at least four of the documents by analyzing the author’s point of view or purpose, the historical context, or the audience of the document. Using Evidence Beyond the Documents Contextualization - 1 point: Situates the argument by explaining the broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question. Scoring Note: Contextualization requires using knowledge not found in the documents to situate the argument within broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question. The contextualization point is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference, but instead requires an explanation, typically consisting of multiple sentences or a full paragraph. One point is for locating the issue within its broader historical context. So be sure to mention any â€Å"big-picture† movements happening that are shaping the events you are writing about in the DBQ! Using Evidence Beyond the Documents Evidence beyond the documents - 1 point: Provides an example or additional piece of specific evidence beyond those found in the documents to support or qualify the argument. Scoring Note 1: This example must be different from the evidence used to earn other points on this rubric. Scoring Note 2: This point is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference. Responses need to reference an additional piece of specific evidence and explain how that evidence supports or qualifies the argument. One point is awarded for using a specific historical example not found in the documents as evidence for your argument. Synthesis 1 point: Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and ONE of the following: A development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area. A course theme and/or approach to history that is not the focus of the essay (such as political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history). A different discipline or field of inquiry (such as economics, government and politics, art history, or anthropology) Scoring Note: The synthesis point requires an explanation of the connections to different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area, and is not awarded for merely a phrase or reference. For this final point, you need to connect your argument about the specific issue presented in the DBQ to another geographical area or historical development or movement. In previous years, the DBQ was out of 9 points, instead of this year’s 7. Last year, the average score was 3.98 - just shy of 4. Most students, then, got under half credit on the DBQ. She diligently studies for the DBQ. Long Essay The long essay is worth the least of all of the exam components at only 15% of your total score. It’s scored out of a 6-point rubric. I’ll go over how you can get those six points here. This rubric is a little whacky because 2 of the points for â€Å"Argument Development† are completely different depending on what the â€Å"Targeted Historical Skill† is. So pay attention to which points are for which skills! Rubric Breakdown: Skill Name What The Rubric Says What It Means Thesis 1 point: Presents a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question. The thesis must consist of one or more sentences located in one place, either in the introduction or the conclusion. Your thesis makes a reasonable claim and responds to the entire question. It is located in the introduction or the conclusion. Argument Development: Targeted Historical Thinking Skill 1 point: Comparison: Describes similarities AND differences among historical individuals, developments, or processes. OR Causation: Describes causes AND/OR effects of a historical event, development, or process. OR Continuity and Change Over Time: Describes historical continuity AND change over time. OR Periodization: Describes the ways in which the historical development specified in the prompt was different from and similar to developments that preceded AND/OR followed. Essentially, this point is for comprehensively addressing the historical skill referenced in the prompt. If you are supposed to compare, you compare. If you are supposed to describe causes and/or effects, you do. Note that you will lose points if the question specifically asks about causes AND effects (for causation) or events before AND after a given historical development (for periodization) and you only address one. Argument Development: Targeted Historical Thinking Skill 1 point: Comparison: Explains the reasons for similarities AND differences among historical individuals, events, developments, or processes. OR Causation: Explains the reasons for the causes AND/OR effects of a historical event, development, or process. OR Continuity and Change Over Time: Explains the reasons for historical continuity AND change over time. OR Periodization: Explains the extent to which the historical development specified in the prompt was different from and similar to developments that preceded AND/OR followed. You don’t just mention events connected to the historical skill (comparison, causation, continuity/change over time, or periodization)- you explain and elaborate on the reasons for those events taking place. Argument Development: Using Evidence 1 point: Addresses the topic of the question with specific examples of relevant evidence. Your historical evidence involves specific examples that are relevant to the specific topic at hand. Argument Development: Using Evidence 1 point: Utilizes specific examples of evidence to fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or relevant argument. Scoring note: To fully and effectively substantiate the stated thesis or relevant argument, responses must include a broad range of evidence that, through analysis and explanation, justifies the stated thesis or relevant argument. Your examples are deployed to in a way that effectively supports your thesis; you tie your historical evidence back to your argument. Synthesis 1 point: Extends the argument by explaining the connections between the argument and ONE of the following: A development in a different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area A course theme and/or approach the history that is not the focus of the essay (such as political, economic, social, cultural, or intellectual history). A different discipline or field of inquiry (such as economics, government and politics, art history, or anthropology). Scoring note: The synthesis point requires an explanation of the connections to the different historical period, situation, era, or geographical area, and is not awarded merely for a phrase or reference. You make a connection to another historical period or discipline. You need to explain this connection in your paper, not just mention it offhand or in one quick sentence. As you can see, this rubric is really concerned with choosing appropriate, specific evidence to support your argument and adequately explaining those examples. To succeed, you’ll need to have a pretty strong knowledge base in specific historical content, more so than on any other section of the exam. You will have some element of choice in which of the two questions to select. That covers it for what’s on the exam. Next, we’ll address how you should prepare. You can't tell by looking, but this kitten is an AP Euro expert. How to Prepare for the AP Euro Exam There are five key ways to prepare: Start Reviewing Content Early One major thing you can do to help yourself on this exam is to start reviewing content early in the year. As soon as you know enough to start reviewing, you should be periodically looking back at old material to refresh your knowledge. If you make sure your knowledge is constantly renewed, you’ll have less work to do as you get closer to exam day because you’ll maintain a fairly high level of familiarity with an entire year’s worth of historical material. That means you’ll be able to focus primarily on building skills for the exam. Fill In Gaps As soon as you realize you don’t know or understand very much about a particular historical period or movement- maybe after doing less than awesome on a test, paper, or project- you should work to shore up that knowledge with extra studying and review. Consult with your teacher on what you are missing if you can. This will help keep you from serious weakness on the exam if the DBQ (or, heaven forbid, both the long essays) ends up being about an area you don’t really know anything about. Seek Breadth and Depth in Knowledge As you review historical content, you’ll want to balance acquiring breadth and depth. You definitely need to understand the major historical movements and moments of European History. But you should also know some specific facts and events about each era to maximize your chances of success on the short-answer and free-response sections. Of course, you aren’t going to be able to memorize every single date and person’s name ever mentioned in class for the purposes of the AP exam, but you should try to make sure you have at least a few facts that you could use as specific evidence in an essay about any of the major historical happenings covered in the course. Understand Historical Evidence One of the most important skills you can build for the AP Euro exam is understanding historical evidence. When you confront primary and secondary sources on the AP exam, you’ll need to think about who is writing, why they are writing, their audience, and the historical (or current) context they are writing in. What is the source evidence of? Is it relating facts, opinions, or interpretations? For more guidance on working with primary and secondary sources, see this online lesson from a college history professor. Practice the DBQ Because the DBQ somewhat unusual compared to the typical AP essay, you’ll need to make sure you understand how to plan and write one. You’ll need to really work not just on your skills understanding historical evidence, but also your ability to synthesize different pieces of historical evidence into a coherent interpretation or argument about a historical topic. On top of that, you’ll need to make a connection to another time period, movement, or discipline! Use the rubric as a guide to improving your DBQ skills, and check out my guide to writing a great DBQ essay. Filling in some very important gaps. Tips for Test Day Of course, all of the typical preparation tips apply: get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast, manage your time closely, answer every question, and so on and so forth. But here are two specific AP Euro test tips to help you make the most of your exam time. Focus On the Multiple-Choice and DBQ Sections There are four components to the test, but they aren’t all equally important. The multiple-choice section is worth 40%, the DBQ is worth 25%, the short-answer is worth 20%, and the long essay is worth 15%. This means that the multiple-choice and DBQ sections together form up the majority of your score, so make sure you pay them adequate attention in time and effort. Obviously, you should do your best on every part of the test, and your score for the other two sections does matter. But if you find yourself pressed for time on either section 1 or 2, the multiple-choice and the DBQ are worth more than the other pieces of their respective sections. Mine Sources for Contextual Information The redesigned AP European History test has a renewed focus on primary and secondary sources. While most questions do still require some outside knowledge to answer, you can use the primary and secondary sources to orient yourself in history and pick up contextual details that will help you answer questions even if you are initially a little lost as to the particulars of the historical moment being described. Here’s an example multiple-choice question with a source: What can we figure out from this source? Well, we know that this is a song by French market women from the 18th century from the caption. But what is the source itself telling us? In the first line we see the word â€Å"Versailles.† If you know that’s where French royalty lived, you’ll start to think: does this source have something to do with royalty? (If you don’t know that Versailles is where French royalty used to live, you aren’t out of luck- the second stanza offers this information implicitly).Then we see in the second line that â€Å"We brought with us all our guns.† This implies that something violent occurred at Versailles. So, something violent at the place where royalty lives. The second stanza switches into present tense. So that means whatever happened at Versailles with the guns already took place. In the present, they say â€Å"we won’t have to go so far...to see our King...since he’s come to live in our Capital.† The King, then, lives in Paris now- so the ladies don’t have to go to Versailles to see him. If they went to show the king their guns at Versailles in the first stanza, and in the second stanza he’s been removed to Paris, this implies that the king was forcibly removed to Paris. In this light, the line â€Å"We love him with a love without equal† is ironic: they love him now that they have defeated him. The only one of the answers that is possibly compatible with the idea of defeating a king is choice (B), creating a republican government in France.So by using sources, you can navigate many questions even if you are initially at a total loss in terms of historical contextual information. France: beautiful architecture and bloody revolution. Key Takeaways The AP European History exam is three hours and 15 minutes long and consists of two sections.The first section has two parts, a 55-minute, 55-question multiple choice exam, and a 4-question, 50-minute short answer section. The second section also has two parts: a 55-minute document-based question, and a 35-minute long essay. Note that you will not be prompted to move from part A to part B on either section, but must manage the time yourself. The multiple-choice section is worth 40% of your exam score, and you receive one point for every correct answer. You can expect to see questions that ask you to analyze historical sources and evidence, and questions that force you to rely completely on your own knowledge of historical events. The short-answer question is worth 20% of your exam score. On each of the four questions you will be asked to provide three pieces of information about a historical movement or period, and you’ll get one point for each correct piece of information you provide. The DBQ is worth 25% of your grade. You’ll be given six-seven sources and need to write an essay synthesizing your interpretation of a historical movement or period using the sources. You’ll then receive a grade out of 7 points. Finally, the long essay is worth 15% of your grade. On the long essay, you’ll have a choice between two questions. Then, you’ll need to write an original essay supported with specific historical evidence. To prepare for the exam, here are my best tips: Start reviewing content early in the year, and keep it up throughout! As soon as you realize there’s an era or movement you aren’t fully comfortable with, fill in those gaps in your knowledge! Seek both breadth and some depth in your knowledge of the content. Learn to understand and analyze historical evidence and primary and secondary sources. Build exam-specific skills, particularly for the DBQ. Here’s my advice to make the most of test day: Focus most of your energy on the multiple-choice and DBQ sections, especially if you start to run out of time. Use sources to orient yourself in history when you need to! With all this knowledge at your fingertips, you’ll crush the AP European History exam like the Hapsburgs crushed in the 30 Years’ War! Too soon? What's Next? Need more AP test-taking tips? Or help finding AP practice tests? Looking for more of our expert guides? We have complete AP exam guides for AP Human Geography, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP World History, AP US History, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, and AP Psychology. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Deal with Back-To-College Blues and Dominate New Term

Deal with Back-To-College Blues and Dominate New Term Stepping back into that chilly dorm room after a luxurious winter break can feel like a prison sentence. Your new courses yawn out in front of you forever, with spring break an eternity away. If you’re not careful, this can turn into a post-vacation funk. Even worse, it could lead to depression or dropping out. The U.S. News and World Report states that 1 in 3 college freshman won’t make it back for sophomore year, with a full 10% of students dropping out during winter break. What is the reason for this significant loss of motivation? Money, family issues, and plain old loneliness. In a recent book by Donald Foss, a professor of psychology at the University of Houston, he states that loneliness, isolation, and financial problems can combine into a perfect storm of college demotivation. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to combat this post-break malaise. By actively engaging with your college experience, practicing positive behaviors and attitudes, and keeping yourself healthy, you’ll be much more likely to limit your stress and have a great second term. Get Organized One of the quickest ways to fall into a post-break funk is to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why it’s important to be proactive about how you feel about school. Start by making a schedule of all the major goals you want to get accomplished this semester – both academic and personal. Then, break each of those goals down so you know what you need to do each week to get that goal accomplished. You can even include specific assignments that will need to be finished so you’ll have lots of time to complete them. This will give you the focus you need to get engaged in your new term. Get Involved Since isolation is one of the main reasons that students feel depressed after their winter break, it makes a lot of sense to get involved in a new activity. Try to pick something that you think will be interesting, but not time-consuming. In addition, if you pick a physical activity (like a co-ed team sport), you’ll be exercising your body at the same time you’re exercising your social skills. Getting involved in an activity can go a long way to relieving the sense of isolation that many students feel during the post-winter term. In addition, it keeps you moving when your instinct is to stay cooped up in your room. Get Positive When life gets you down, the best antidote is positivity. This is an especially good idea for students who are feeling nervous about their new teachers or term. At the end of each day, take five minutes and write down at least three things that you felt good about for that day in a â€Å"positive journal.† You can fill your journal with things as simple as smiling at a stranger, or as complicated as getting a good grade on a huge project. Then, at the end of each week, read over your daily entries. Take a minute to congratulate yourself on doing (and seeing) so much good. You’ll feel better about yourself and begin to start seeing the positive everywhere you go! Get Ahead For a lot of students, the first few weeks of the semester are the ones when they feel most excited to learn. The brand new books, teachers, and curriculum can be exciting†¦until that mid-semester boredom kicks in. Super-smart students take advantage of this first-of-the-term motivational boost by getting ahead. Take a look at the syllabus on the first day and see what kind of assignments will need to be done over the next few weeks. If you can, start thinking about paper ideas, read ahead in the book, or complete easy homework assignments that you can turn in later. When your initial boost of energy wears off, you’ll still be ahead of the curve and more likely to establish a habit of turning in work early rather than late. Get Help If, for any reason, you’re stuck in a pattern of depression and lack of motivation, don’t wait to get help! There are many people who want to see you succeed, and who have the skills to help you organize your schooling so that you can finish like a champ. Talk to your friends or roommates, and see what kind of advice they have for getting out of your slump. You can also talk to an academic advisor or school counselor, even abiut the things that seem small. They are much happier hearing from you before your depression has become an emergency. And, of course, get help from your family or other close associates. Truly smart students know when they can’t do it alone. Have you managed to overcome post-holiday blues and lack of motivation? Share your story with us!

Biotechnology (microbial fuel cells) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Biotechnology (microbial fuel cells) - Essay Example 16.298 g of this component was added to 5.395 g of sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate whose molecular weight was137.99 g/mol. Ammonium ferrous sulphate (for the COD test) was also prepared as was done in the first three experiments. The final concentration of this reagent was 0.025 M, whereas the final volume was 2 litres. The prepared solution was kept in the refrigerator ready for use. Synthetic wastewater, LB broth, and sucrose solution were covered with aluminium foil and tape indicator. Prior to autoclaving the solutions, the caps of the containers were loosened to improve the efficacy of the process. Microbial (Shewanella) culture was made by aseptically transferring some cells from an eppendorf to the fresh growth medium. 4 micro litre of Shewanella was transferred into 100 ml of LB broth at room temperature. After that, the microorganisms were then incubated at 37 0C with continuous shaking for 24 hours at 150 rpm. After 24 hours, it was observed that the previously transparent LB had changed to a cloudy and opaque solution. That was an indication that the active microorganisms grew in the culture. The culture was subsequently refrigerated. Four H-type MFCs were prepared as was previously done using two similar copies of Duran glass bottles, external metal clips, cation exchange membranes and two rubber gaskets. A membrane was used to divide the two chambers, which were slightly asymmetric, by squeezing the membrane between the two chambers. Two chambers divided by a membrane. The chambers were slightly asymmetric, and the membrane was squeezed between two glass chambers. New graphite plates were used as anode and cathode electrodes, whereas the second and third experiments had used old electrodes, which had to be washed before reusing. The electrodes in this experiment had a different shape from the ones in experiment one. The anode was placed in the centre of the anodic