Why Automacity and Fluency is measured in education Essay Example

Why Automacity and Fluency is measured in education Essay Example Why Automacity and Fluency is measured in education Essay Why Automacity and Fluency is measured in education Essay In every reading lesson, there are various ways in which a teacher measures the level of comprehension. Some of the guidelines used in measurement are automaticity and fluency. Automaticity is the way in which a learner develops the unconscious speed after being fluent. In this process, he is able to understand more, other than focusing on reading of vocabulary only. This paper will discuss the two concepts with a clear description of a theoretical analysis on automaticity. There are very many reasons why the two concepts are measured, which will also be brought out clearly in the essay. Additionally, the importance of fluency and automaticity is also revealed. It is therefore very necessary for teachers and students to understand that the two concepts are very beneficial for every learner so that they can comprehend more difficult work as they progress in learning. Otherwise, there would be a lot of problems in relation to learning as they progress to higher grades, and even at the college level, since they lacked proper orientation and foundation. Why Automacity and Fluency is measured in education Introduction In any classroom context, especially for young learners, it is necessary for the teacher to ensure that all the students develop the skills of fluency and automacity in all subjects. The academic performance of a child will only be good if the child has good skills in reading. Therefore, the teachers are always keen on measuring the level of fluency and automacity in the children they teach using various methods. This research paper seeks to discuss why fluency and automacity should be measured. Automacity and fluency The words automacity and fluency are intertwined. However, they are defined differently. Automacity is a process which is defined asâ€Å"quick, correct and effortless word recognition at the single word level. It is also defined as the ability to perform a task without significant demands on attention† (Philips, 2008). Automaticity comes form the word automotize, which basically means ‘automatic or unconsciously† (Miguel, 2008). On the other hand, fluency, or fluent reading is a process which is described as â€Å"the link between decoding and comprehension† (Morrow, Rueda, Lapp Gordon, 2009). It is a process which gives all learners the ability to move from monotonous and difficult reading to a kind of reading described as expressive and smooth. It is also defined as an automatic and accurate way of recognizing words, in addition to the proper use of prosody (Morrow, Rueda, Lapp Gordon, 2009). Fluency and automaticity are very important elements in all subjects. In language, there are several important skills, which include reading, writing, listening and speaking. The most important skill, which is in fact the opener to the other three, is reading. Since a student is required to know how to read in order to interpret comprehensions and understand all the other subjects, it is important for the teachers to emphasize on the skill. The recognition of the automatic word enables the reader to be attentive to all written texts. As a student begins to read, there is so much attention which is put on the exercise. With time, the ability of the learner in reading becomes automatic, and as a result, his or her attention lessens. This is described as â€Å"freeing up of cognitive resources for the construction of meaning† (Morrow, Rueda, Lapp Gordon, 2009). According to NIFL (2007), learners at the beginning and intermediate level are generally slow readers, but they increase their reading speed as they advance. Non- native speakers of a certain language and adults in the literacy classes also have the same characteristics. The only way that the students can be helped to move from intentional, slow decoding to the word recognition level is through constant practice. Practice is very beneficial as it enables learners to have the wide exposure in printing (alphabetic), makes work easier for the learners and the students get to learn any form of written work whether phonologically, orthographically and morphologically presented (Morrow, Rueda, Lapp Gordon, 2009). All the same, development of automaticity is not the endpoint of the reading process. It is not the only way that measurement can take place. Once all reading cycles begin, there should be fluency developed, and the learners should also be shown how to apply the skills they have learnt. Additionally, the learners should also been made aware of the need to use the skills learnt and therefore should be encouraged in monitoring of the skills (Wifischer, Holmes Yang, 2007). Theoretical discussion on automaticity The automatist theorists state that attention is very vital in any form of automatic information processing. Attention consists of external and internal. Internal attention is abstract and cannot be observed directly. It has three major properties, selectivity, alertness and limited capacity (Philips, 2008).On the other hand, external attention is revealed by the attitude of the readers through all senses. This is discussed in a model referred to as the La Berge Samuel model. The theory suggests that if too much energy is spent on easy tasks like decoding, there will be very minimal energy for giving the comprehension. Additionally, meaning must be derived, as there must be printed words which are decoded. As reader becomes fluent, he or she requires very little attention so as to decode words. Therefore, they only require putting much focus on comprehension of the text (Philips, 2008). Reasons of measuring automaticity and fluency One of the reasons why the two concepts are measured is to ensure that the learners have the ability of reading words in all texts so that all the readers can direct all their few cognitive resources from just recognizing words, and use them also in reading and understanding of all comprehensions. Word recognition is measured initially through prosodic or expressive reading, which is commonly known ad the melodic reading. In this case, the learners try to make out the meaning of words through their voices. In silent reading, however, the meaning of all texts is also revealed by the manner in which the words are read, with phrasing, expression, different pace, stressing some words through making some dramatic pauses. In the long run, the learner develops fluency and automaticity (Rasinski Griffith, 2008). The other reason why automaticity and fluency is measured in learners is to model the students so that they can be braced to face the curriculum introduced to them in future. This begins by ensuring that the learners are fluent readers. So as to mould good fluency skills, the teacher first reads a text loudly in class as the learners follow. The teacher also asks them to follow the teachers’ voice, and even assigns some if the reading tasks to the parents so that they can assist their children at home. The teachers are also instrumental as he or she helps the learner to realize that learning is not only a matter of reading fast, but reading expressively through listening to the teachers directions (Rasinski Griffith, 2008).The reading process of a learner who is not well oriented to the concept of fluency and automatization is characterized by halting, inappropriate expressions, oral speech problems and several decoding errors (Fink Samuels, 2008). It is also important to measure fluency and automaticity in learners because the teacher is able to identify any learner who could be having eyesight problems. Therefore, the learner with the eyesight problem can be referred to an eye specialist as early as possible. Children with eye problems tend to struggle so much when reading. According to Getz, (2008), using the ‘Snellen eye chart test’ is not a good way of testing any visual activity. Once it happens, the teachers and parents get a false notion that the child is fit for learning. However, it is through reading that the child is able to assess whether the child has got any form of visual interference. There would be maximum development of the child’s potential if at all the visual pathways of the child are interfered with. Brain-based research reveals all the neurological reasons why the development of automaticity is so vital in all learning processes. There are very many clinical trials in several computer-based interventions which reveal the real world classroom results. The studies have revealed that the brain is â€Å"a limited control processor that isn’t capable of efficiently managing both fixed knowledge processing and higher order reasoning at once† (Auto Skill, 2009). Therefore, by automatizing knowledge which is fixed, for example decoding of letters, the students can focus on a high level of reasoning and comprehension. When automaticity continues developing, the processes of the brain also continue advancing. There are also ninety percent reductions in the activities of the cortex (Auto Skill, 2009). Learners who have good mathematics skills could probably have been exposed to very good fluency and automaticity orientation. This is because they learn how to decide information at a faster rate compared to those who have problems in fluency and automaticity. Therefore According to Auto Skill, (2009), development of mathematics skills is also measured by the students laying necessary work so as to attain all their academic goals. The core of fluency is in the automaticity concept, and it is also meaningful in mathematics. According to Teacher to Teacher (2010), teachers provide a great deal of practice so as to make sure that there is computational fluency Automaticity is generally derived from over-learning. This is usually through the process of repeated drilling and practice. This has got very many implications in the classrooms of students who are learning English as a second language, and all other subjects. For effective fluency and automatization, the teacher is supposed to give information from the general to specific, known to unknown, simple to complex. This is what is referred to as bottom –up processing (Miguel, 2008). Conclusion From the discussion, fluency and automaticity are very important terms in education of the learners. Once fluency is developed through the help of a teacher, automaticity develops unconsciously. It is therefore very important for all teachers to ensure that their learners have good automaticity and fluent skills so that they can perform well in their class work. Otherwise, the learners will always have problems in learning. Learners who have problems should get the right assistance from their teachers. They should be referred to specialists if at all they have problems in their academics, so that the problems might not become worse in future.

4 Tips for Writing Stellar Virginia Tech Essays

4 Tips for Writing Stellar Virginia Tech Essays SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you hoping to be part of Virginia Tech’s next matriculating class? If so, you’ll need to write strong Virginia Tech essays to supplement your application. All Virginia Tech applicants are required to answer four short answer questions as part of their application. In this article, we’ll break down what the Virginia Tech essays are and what the admissions committee is looking for in your answer. Why Does Virginia Tech Require Applicants to Answer Essays? Virginia Tech requires all applicants to answer four short answer questions. If you’re applying to the Honors College, your answers will also be shared with the Honors College admissions committee. You don’t need to answer any separate questions as an applicant to the Virginia Tech Honors College. The Virginia Tech essays are designed for the admissions committee to get a better sense of who you are, both as a student and a person. The short answers questions ask about your character, leadership, and goals. The admissions committee will use your answers to better understand you as a person - who are you? What do you care about? How will you fit in on Virginia Tech’s campus? It’s important to put some serious effort into your Virginia Tech essays so that you represent yourself well to the admissions committee. These essays are your chance to present a well-rounded version of yourself that makes the admissions committee say, â€Å"We have to admit this student!† What Are the Virginia Tech Essays? Virginia Tech requires that every applicant answer four short answer questions. These short answer questions are just that - short! Each has a word limit of 120 words. Let’s take a look at the questions: #1: Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group? #2: Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? #3: Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently? #4: Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal? Virginia Tech Essays, Analyzed Now that we know what the Virginia Tech essays are, let’s break down how to answer each one as best as possible. Since the Virginia Tech essays are so short, the key is to be super targeted in your responses. For each prompt, we’ll break down what the essay is asking and how you can tailor your response to make sure it’s what the admissions committee wants to hear. Virginia Tech’s motto is "Ut Prosim" which means 'That I May Serve'. We are interested in learning more about your interests and how you have been involved and/or served. Briefly describe a group, organization, or community that you have been involved with. Is this a special area of interest for you, and why? How long have you been involved? What role did you play? What contributions have you made to this group? Were you able influence others and/or influence decisions for the good of the group? This essay question is asking about your involvement or service with a specific organization. The admissions committee is looking for you to demonstrate a genuine commitment to a cause - what the cause is doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you genuinely care about it. You should pick an organization that you’ve made real, lasting change at. Don’t choose the committee or group that sounds the best if you haven’t actually done a lot for them. For instance, if you were a member of your school’s Habitat for Humanity club but didn’t actually attend very many meetings, don’t talk about how meaningful it was to build houses for disadvantaged people just because you think it sounds nice. Any insincerity in your application will be very obvious. Consider groups that you’ve had significant leadership roles in, as well as any organizations where you’ve affected policies or made choices about activities. These will be service experiences the group wants to hear about. Describe a situation where you were involved or witness to an act of discrimination. How, or did, you respond? Do you wish you would have responded differently? Did this situation cause any change to happen based on this event and did you have a role in that change? What did you learn from this experience? This second question can seem intimidating - are you supposed to represent yourself as a social justice warrior? What if you haven’t witnessed too many forms of discrimination? Luckily, the key here isn’t to show that you’ve tackled the patriarchy or changed racist laws in your community. Instead, the admissions committee simply wants to know if you approach situations with compassion and an open mind. They want to know that you can reflect on your behavior and asses how your choices affect others. You don’t need to pick a big incident. You can even choose something small that you’ve noticed daily. You also don’t need to pick an example where you were in the right - the key is to demonstrate that you’ve reflected on and learned from your experiences, not that you’ve known how to act and stand up for others from day one. Describe an example of a situation where you have significantly influenced others, took on a leadership role, helped resolve a dispute, or contributed to a group’s goals. What was your role, what responsibilities did you take on? Did you encounter any obstacles, and if so how did you respond, were you able to overcome them? What would you do differently? This prompt wants to know two things: first, have you taken on the responsibility of leading other people? Second, how do you deal with challenges? The admissions committee wants to know that you don’t shy away from leadership roles and growth opportunities. You don’t have to be president of a club or captain of a sports team to demonstrate leadership. Perhaps you took on the role of project coordinator for a classroom project or are section leader of a few instrumentalists in the band. The size of the role isn’t as important as the scope of your influence - how did your choices and actions influence others? The second half of the question focuses on overcoming obstacles. What challenges did you face? How did you defeat them? The key here isn’t to show that you can overcome problems easily. It’s to show that you’re open to growth. Admitting that you handled a situation poorly and would do so differently in the future is more powerful than saying â€Å"I was a great leader who did nothing wrong.† Show humility and self-reflection in your answer. Briefly describe a personal goal you have set for yourself. Why this goal, what is your timeline to achieve this goal, what precipitated this goal? Have you turned to anyone for advice or help, what was their role, what did you learn about yourself, are you still working toward this goal? The final Virginia Tech short essay question assesses your commitment to growth. Notice that the question asks about a personal goal - that means you don’t have to pick something lofty or world-changing. You just have to pick something that resonates with you. Maybe you decided to wake up 30 minutes earlier every day so you can meditate or do yoga before school. Maybe you made it a goal to complete all of your essays two days before they were due so you could revise your work. Maybe you made it a goal to try a sport this year when you normally hate sports. Whatever your goal is, you want to demonstrate that you’re capable of self-reflection and of positive growth - that you’re constantly assessing how to better yourself. You also want to show humility in this prompt - that you can rely on or ask for help from others when you need it. The admissions committee doesn’t expect that you’ll have all the answers yourself. They want to see that you can collaborate with and learn from others when you need to. Tips for Answering Your Virginia Tech Essays Follow these general tips for making sure that your Virginia Tech essays are as strong as possible. #1: Demonstrate Growth and Self-Reflection Virginia Tech places a strong emphasis on service and self-reflection. These qualities are reflected in the choices of essay topics. You should demonstrate these qualities in your answers. Show that you’re constantly working to better yourself. Demonstrate humility and understanding. Virginia Tech wants students who will grow on their campus - not ones who will matriculate already thinking they’re perfect. #2: Be Honest and Sincere All of the experiences that you outline in your Virginia Tech essays should be real - they need to have actually happened to you. It can be tempting to lie about or exaggerate your experiences to make them seem more impressive. Don’t do this! First of all, lying on your application is a major ethics violation and can get you in some pretty serious trouble if you’re caught. Second all, insincerity will be super obvious. The admissions committee reads thousands of applications every year. They can easily sniff out people who are lying. Be as honest as possible in your Virginia Tech essays and remember - they WANT to hear about how you’ve grown. #3: Proofread! It should go without saying, but your Virginia Tech essays should be the best examples of your work possible. Don’t just write your essays and be done with them. Take the time to formulate an answer and then go back and edit it. Make sure to proofread and run your work through a spelling or grammar checker to ensure it’s polished. #4: Get a Second Opinion Getting a second opinion on your work can be a helpful way to assess whether your Virginia Tech essays are demonstrating your best qualities. Ask someone to read your work who really knows you, so they can tell you whether or not you’re underselling yourself or missing a key feature of your personality that the admissions committee should know. That being said, there’s a fine line between getting a second opinion and plagiarism. It’s okay to ask for someone’s opinion on your work. It’s not okay to steal their ideas and pass them off as your own. Make sure you’re doing the former, not the latter. Recap: Responding to the Virginia Tech Essay Prompts The Virginia Tech essays are designed to show who you are as a student and how you’ll fit in on Virginia Tech’s campus. Do: Be honest and sincere. Highlight opportunities you’ve taken to grow and change. Edit and proofread your work to make sure it’s as strong as possible. Don't: Lie or over exaggerate to make yourself seem better. Steal anyone else’s ideas. Sweat the short answers too much. They’re important, but they won’t make or break your chances at admission to Virginia Tech. What’s Next? Want to know how to make your extracurriculars stand out even more?Check out this guide to four amazing extracurricular activities and learn why they're so impressive to colleges. Thinking of applying to other great schools likePrinceton, Brown, or Columbia? Then be sure to check out our guides to learn how you can write amazing essays for these schools' supplements. 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:

Factions Leading To The Outbreak Of The Civil War Essay

Factions Leading To The Outbreak Of The Civil War - Essay Example They took advantage of the new lands, railroads and natural resources, and they strengthened their economic and political interest. The Civil War started on April 12, 1861, when the Confederates (Southerners) bombarded Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Initiated by the crisis between 1860 and 1861 which occurred in the autumn of 1859, John Brown and cohorts took the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia under seizure, targeting to summon slaves over to be armed safely at a fortification built on a mountain. Brown encouraged them to put an end to unwanted slavery and forced labor suffered at the hands of their slavedrivers in the South. Through the command of Gen. Robert Lee, one of the finest generals at the time, the Confederates managed to defeat the Yankees (Northerners) on a number of incidents that include the suppression of the band of raiders led by Brown who was himself tried and executed. Paranoia toward malicious intentions was claimed to have transpired betwe en the Northerners and the Southerners due primarily to inequality between the two regions, the issue of slavery, and secession by the south. The various states in the North and in the South had conflicting interests. While the North was industrial, democratic, and progressive, on the other hand, the South remained agricultural, aristocratic, and conservative. A majority of Northerners viewed the inhabitants of the South as indolent, poorly educated, and misbehaved people who would always contradict ideas and possibilities which could enable the United States to achieve its goals with capitalism. Northern Americans opposed black slavery because they did not need slave labor in their factories whereas Southern Americans needed slaves to cultivate their vast plantations of cotton, tobacco, and rice. On a rough estimate, about 80% of the population in the South toiled in agriculture and a significant mass of southern wealth was reported to have been invested slave trade and acquisition of lands to expand territories. Pieces of cotton produced via southern regulations were sold to northern and European textile mills, largely imparting a favorable equilibrium in the country’s potential in the aspect of trade as rich slaveholders obtained extensive commercial, social, and political dominion over their region. Thus, during the 1850s, several white southerners had come to adopt the principle that considers bondage to servility to be a â€Å"positive good† either for the slave or his master. Besides labor control, slavery also functioned as a means for the Southern Americans to settle with the social order in which division of class among the whites in the southern society seemed to have become abolished for having a common stake in the system of slavery. Regardless of economic status, white people of the South were justified as equal among themselves by virtue of or fact with the prevailing black slavery of that period. For this ground and the anxiety to ward dissonant consequences, once black servants were freed, the Confederates all the more agreed to necessitate slavery and defended this position against their northern counterparts. Consequently, the Yankees of the North were established with a stereotypical impression of being indifferent or partaking with negligible concern about family matters, as if all they ever cared for was to sustain personal extravagance whereby economic interests were sought to prioritize luxury in living.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 6

Rhetorical Analysis - Essay Example Rhetoric Analysis of Martin Luther King’s Speech ‘I have a Dream’ The dramatistic pentad was developed by Kenneth Burke and forms the foundation of dramatism and rhetoric analysis. The pentad requires one to use a metaliguistic approach in analyzing stories in order to carefully investigate the uses and roles of rhetoric elements (Burgchardt, 2010). The five rhetoric elements of act, scene, agent, agency and purpose are common to all narratives and are what forms the dramatistic pentad. Using the pentad, one can evaluate the emphasis that is given by the story teller on each of the five elements and get to understand the motive and the behavior of the characters in the story. One can also get the character’s worldview by analyzing the issues they stress with regard to the five elements of rhetoric. In applying the pentad to analyze King’s speech, one can be able to determine that his world view is that of freedom and equality of all people regardless of their racial backgrounds (Burgchardt, 2010). The speech was issued as the centre of a civil rights movement march to Washington for freedom and jobs. Dr. King had been an ardent supporter of the civil rights movement in America and he used this speech to give the African Americans and other minority racial groups in America hope that they would no longer be discriminated against in the future. The speech was issued on August 28th, 1963 at the Lincoln memorial. The speech can be analyzed using the five elements of the pentad as shown below (Burgchardt, 2010). Act Several civil right movements had organized for a march of freedom in support of the bill that was due for discussion in congress seeking to treat African Americans and other minority races as equal members of the American society. The peaceful demonstration was attended by about 300000 people with African Americans estimated to be about 75-80% of those in attendance (Burgchardt, 2010). There were fascinating speeches fr om various leaders of the civil rights movement to address the mass but it was Martin Luther’s speech, â€Å"I have a Dream† that had a big impact. The other speeches addressed several issues of the civil rights movement at the time but Dr. King’s speech came out as more appealing to the people as it dealt with issues of freedom and equality. The other people who gave their speeches include Wilkins, John Lewis, and Walter Reuther, all of whom were renowned civil rights activists (Burgchardt, 2010). Dr. King’s speech did not only address the equality and freedom issues, but was also looked at as a symbol of optimism that things would get better in future for everybody with regard to equality. Scene The day was colored by powerful speeches from the leaders present, several people who had turned out to support the civil rights movement, among them popular celebrities and singers. This day marked a turning point in the American civil rights movement by bringi ng together all the Americans to support equality as opposed to divided responses that the calls for equality had received before. The protestors were cheered by several people who were watching from their windows and on television. The police department in Washington had anticipated for violent scenes to occur during the protest and they had prepared for a full police escort (Burgchardt, 2010). Instead, the people maintained peace throughout the marching process. Some media reports had indicated that the turnout would be very small but to the

Modernization theory Essay Example for Free

Modernization theory Essay Modernization theory focuses on the main idea that the processes which the currently developed countries went through are vital to achieving development in the underdeveloped and developing countries. Modernization is thought to take place in five stages according to the Rostow’s stage theory (Rostow 1960), namely; †¢ The traditional society †¢ Take-off preconditions †¢ Take-off †¢ Drive to maturity †¢ High mass consumption age The modernization theory is based on the idea of human progress according to Carneiro (2003) although according to Jones (1985) and McNeill (1990), the idea of human progress seemed unrealistic so long as man did not significantly influence the natural environment and as long as there was no perceptible change in the agrarian economies from one generation to the next. The developed countries are to serve an important role in helping the developing countries to achieve their level of development and serve as examples. Modernization traces its origin in the enlightenment era with the focus that progress in technology would help man overcome the challenges that the nature posed and man would have control over nature. Condorcet (1979) argued that moral values of people would change through economic development and technological progress, and therefore linked cultural change to economic development. Rostow (1961) argued that the economic effectiveness in the countries of low incomes is hampered by their social institutions and traditional cultural values. In these countries large population do not allow the individuals to save, as does the lack of strong work ethic (Giddens, Griffiths2006). According to the Marxist version of the modernization theory, early industrial society was characterized by exploitation. Growth of the developing countries would result from the use of education and technology. Allocation of resources in the developing countries in an irrational way was linked to the drawback in the industrialization of these countries. In order for a country to develop, it was necessary to remove the cultural, institutional and organizational roadblocks on its way to modernization and allocate resources rationally. Modernization is, according to Inglehart Welzel (2005), a process of the development of human where development of the economy triggers cultural changes which make democracy, gender equality, and individual autonomy increasingly possible. In addition to bringing out the root causes of the problems existing in the underdeveloped or developing countries, the theory also can help countries focus on means and ways of alleviating poverty by emulating the already developed countries. The theory puts strength to the fact that development is reachable, even by the underdeveloped and the developing nations and therefore can help the latter to put efforts to reach the developed world. The theory explains an important point why the developing countries cannot wake up one day and expect to see themselves developed, but that to achieve development, a particular process is followed-building the sub-processes in this process is of paramount importance to the countries of low economy. Dependency theory can be defined as an explanation of the development of the economy of a country’s or state’s development policy as influenced by the outside forces of cultural, economical, and political aspects (Sunkel, 1969). It is a system through which the developmental possibilities of the subordinate countries are disadvantaged and conditioned by the economic expansion and development of another country (Dos Santos, 1971). Dependency theory emanated in the 1950s with Raul Prebisch who was the director of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and together with his colleagues was not comfortable with the way the developed economy in the developed nations failed to lead to growth in the poorer countries. According to him, the poorer countries exported the raw materials to the developed countries and yet received the same goods as processed goods and the earnings from the exports was not enough to fund the imports. Prebisch offered a solution for the poor countries to substitute imports and avoid use of their foreign reserves to purchase for imports of manufactured goods. Import substitution was hard to follow because of obstacles that were facing the poorer countries. These included: the possibility or ability of controlling their exports of primary products; political will as concerning desire or possibility to shifting from producing primary goods; and the inability of the small internal markets of the poorer countries which made them unable to support the economies of scale used by the richer countries to keep their prices low. International capitalism has been mentioned as the force causing dependency relationship According to Gunder (1972), contemporary underdevelopment is as a result of continued relationships-economic or others-between the developed and the poorer countries. Unlike imperialism which explains dominant state expansion, dependency explains underdevelopment-the result of imperialism. Dependency theory was developed as a result of combination of economic doctrine called structuralism, and Marxist sociology. It blamed the US intervention and the role of the Latin America in the world economy as failing to achieve development and its political authoritarianism as a result of its role in exporting raw materials in the world economy. America was said to suffer deterioration in the terms of trade by experiencing cheaper exports due to low wage resulting from surplus labor, and more expensive imports because, instead of the productivity gains being passed on as lower prices, they were going to the increasingly monopolistic industrial firms. Latin America would therefore, because of this free trade, not be able to accumulate surplus capital required to industrialize. The difference between developed and underdeveloped economies was said not only to be on state of the system of production, or simple difference of stage, but also to be of position or function within a single international economic structure of production and distribution. Poverty of the countries was blamed for the richness of some others, not because of any failure (Reid, 2007). Social exclusion of masses as a result of domination of the economy through industrial monopolies yielded to urbanization void of industrialization (Reid, 2007). As a payment to investments, the foreign investors required that the state discipline those demanding high wages leading to military dictatorship. Although their diverging points on the theory, there is an agreement in issues like the influence of external forces that developed world use to extend their interests abroad which includes foreign aids, communications, multinational corporations and other tools. In all the definitions there is an agreement that there exist two sets of states; the dominant and the dependent, centre and the periphery, the metropolitan and the satellite. All of the definitions point to dynamism of the relationship between the dominant and the dynamic country since the interactions between them tend to reinforce and intensify the unfair patterns (Ferraro, 1996). Like the Modernization theory which can be considered to be developed by different people, the dependency theory also is said to have arisen in three principle formulations. According to Reid (2007) the first principal formulation of the dependency theory focused on formal and institutional relationships such as trade relations and foreign trade, as factors which were sources to dependency. The second formulation treated the theory as a subfield of the refined imperialism theory of the Leninist and the analysis of capitalism by Marxist. The third formulation dealt with the two previous definitions. The theory has assisted in shedding light as concerns the exploitation existing in the monopolistic world market where countries with strong economies try to dominate over those with weak economies and create a monopolistic effect of trade. Continued use of foreign aid to the poor nations, which has seen countries being over-reliance to donors, has left poor countries with no solid alternatives than to pledge loyalty to the developing nations. The theory has helped in enumerating the disadvantages that can be acquired from capitalism especially where the capitalism is the influence to the establishment of relations between countries. The theory was criticized as eroding Latin American’s belief in selves, according to Lawrence Harrison, in addition to patronizing and paralyzing Latin America. The formulations were attacked as ignoring or undermining the other causes of underdevelopment such as internal social and cultural factors and were neglect of culture, race, gender and ethnicity. Besides, there were some countries like Asian countries which developed purely on a capitalistic system, and countries like Taiwan and South Korea developed through the ideas that have been propelled in the development theory (‘Dependency verses Dependency theory’). The theory has been blamed as indicating that for a country to succeed, it should join others who have succeeded in the exploitation of some, even if it does this on a regional level. It has been termed to be a strategy left only for the smaller third world countries with no real alternative market, and is no strategy at all. The dependency theory work has been blamed also for criticizing development in the third world, indicating that such development builds a society different from that at the core (developed world) and that there is no way the resulting society can be as that at the core. Development in the third world can be best described, as the dependency theory points out, development of underdeveloped and not as the advertised development. The similarities between the two theories can summarized as follows: †¢ Both theories concern themselves with the relationship between the underdeveloped and the developing with the developed countries. While the modernization theory is concerned with the view that the developed countries should serve as an example to the developing or underdeveloped countries for development purposes, the dependency theory explains the development of the country in relation to the outside forces or influences which may be as a result of the activities of the developed countries. Both therefore deal with and recognize that there exist the relationship between thee two types of countries. †¢ Both theories are consent to the idea that the developed countries have a superior hand in terms of the economy, over the developing or the underdeveloped world. The difference in this area is that the dependency theory seems to indicate an unfair dominance of the developed economies over the developing or underdeveloped ones, whereas the modernization theory views the relationship as health-that the developed economies can assist the underdeveloped or the developing ones †¢ Both theories do not give a one-sided explanation as concerns the causes of the low economic status in the developing or underdeveloped countries. While the modernization theory gives a critical look at the reason for the poor economic status of the developing or underdeveloped nations as being a result of the problems already existing such as overpopulation and lack of work ethics, it may be seen as neglecting the role of the developed economies in the resulting economic problems of the third word countries. In its explanation to the resulting economic difficulties in the third world, dependency theory has leaned unfairly away from the role played by the third world countries in resulting to their own economic problems. It has been blamed, as seen earlier, as neglecting the social economic factors that contribute to economic problems in third world countries. It can be seen to be unfairly explaining the problem as a result to exploitation and external forces. †¢ There are a range of modifications or disagreements arising among scholars in the development of the two theories Other differences †¢ While the modernization theory seems to explain the causes of poor economy in the third world as the result of the activities of the countries themselves for example through poor allocation of resources, and with a view to solving it, the dependency theory can largely be described as a criticism to the developed countries as being the cause to the problems of the economy in the third world. The modernization theory focuses on the internal causes of the poor economy in the third world, but the dependency theory focuses on the external influences †¢ The dependency theory is devoid of a clean sheet and proper strategy of solving the economic problem of the third world in a non fair market, to the event that it has been described as a ‘no strategy at all’. The modernization theory presents a way of solving the problems of economy affecting the third world such as substitution of imports, advance in use of technology and further education to improve economy. References Andre Gunder Frank, The Development of Underdevelopment, in James D. Cockcroft, Andre Gunder Frank, and Dale Johnson, eds., Dependence and Underdevelopment. Garden City, New York: Anchor Books, 1972, p. 3. ‘Development verses Dependency theory’ Retrieved November 13, 2008 from http://www. revision-notes. co. uk/revision/619. html Dos Santos Theotonio. The Structure of Dependence, in K. T. Fann and Donald C. Hodges, eds. , Readings in U. S. Imperialism. Boston: Porter Sargent, 1971, p. 226 Ferraro Vincent. Dependency Theory: An Introduction. July 1996. Retrieved November 13, 2008 from http://www. mtholyoke. edu/acad/intrel/depend. htm Giddens Anthony Simon Griffiths. (2006). Sociology. Polity Hogan Michael, Thomas Paterson. (2004). Explaining the History of American Foreign Relations. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press Inglehart Ronald Christian Welzel. (2005). Modernization, Cultural Change, and Democracy: The Human Development Sequence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Reid Michael. Forgotten Continent: The Battle for Latin America’s Soul. Yale: Yale University Press Sunkel Svaldo. National Development Policy and External Dependence in Latin America, The Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 6, no. 1, October 1969, p. 23

Xander Harris Speech :: essays research papers

He's a lanky fellow, dark-haired and self-effacing. He uses sarcastic humor to hide his insecurity (no one's told him it doesn't work). Even when he's being chased by a 100 feet serpent, he still manages to find the humor in the situation. He's been in a complicated love triangle and lives to tell about it. A friend, lover and slayerette......He's Xander Harris. Good afternoon/morning Ms. Rosteing and fellow students. As you can see, my speech is on Xander Harris. If you don't watch "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", which you should because it's the best show on TV, you're probably thinking, "who the hell is Xander Harris?". Well for the next 3-4 minutes sit back, relax and get ready for a "goofy" good time (as Xander would say). His full name is Alexander LaVelle Harris. He's 17 and hails from Sunnydale with its renown Hellmouth. Mishap after mishap, Xander is always there with a witty remark or funny joke. Xander is not exactly popular -- with the guys or the girls. He's the class clown and has much more important things to do than study homework -- namely study girls. He hangs out with Buffy Summers (this generation's slayer), Willow Rosenburg and Oz; otherwise known as the "Scooby Gang". He's been friends with Willow as long as they can remember. Before Buffy came along, it was just him, Willow and Jesse , his best friend. When Buffy showed up in Sunnydale, Jesse was turned into a vampire and he fell for everyone's favorite slayer. Buffy joined their group, and with her, they started hanging out in the library with Giles, Buffy's watcher. In terms of relationships, this is where it gets a little complicated. At the beginning of the show, Xander fell instantly in love with Buffy. But at the time, Xander and Willow were best friends, and Willow had a sizable crush on the X-man. So there was this love triangle deal going, and the fact that Buffy had no interest in Xander made it one big unrequited love angst-fest. Cordelia was one of the 'popular' girls, and treated Buffy, Willow, and Xander like little bugs that you want to squash as soon as you see them. Needless to say, there was some serious animosity between Cordelia and the others, but through bad luck and circumstance, she discovered Buffy's secret. This became a major source of frustration for everybody, especially when Cordy w as trapped in a basement with Xander, and their intense dislike for each other created some sort of twisted bond, resulting in a steamy kiss and a topsy-turvy relationship.

Academic Summary Essay

In the article, How unethical are you? , Banaji et al. (2003) investigate four factors that result in unethical decision taken by managers: Implicit forms of prejudice, bias that favours one’s own group, a tendency to over claim credit, and conflict of interest. The authors believe that the implicit prejudice is an unconscious judgment which originates from unintentional tendency to create relationships in the past. The implicit bias brings about social and economic effects which may eliminate capable people from doing the right job. Another reason is a tendency that benefits members of a group. This happens when those in minority are treated differently and less supported by the larger group only because they are a small group. Unaware exaggeration of their own talents is another influencing factor in which individuals rate themselves highly competent and exaggerate one’s own cooperation in the group. Wide ranging opinions is the next factor stated by the authors which can also distort coming to a fair decision. See more: Homeless satire essay A bias in which there is tendency toward people with the same or similar idea causes disagreements and lead to unintentional immoral attitudes. Banaji et. al claim that by putting the conscious mind into use and paying more careful attention, managers would be able to confine the power of their conscious mind. They propose collecting data, shaping the environment, and broadening the decision making as the three main solutions to formulate conscious techniques. Banaji et. al point out that one way to decrease unintentional tendency is gathering information and making organized decisions. Moreover, they believe that implicit tendencies can be created by key signs in the environment. In order to reshape the existing bias, the person can put himself in an opposite situation in which the typical bias is being doubted. Expanding decision-making is another solution proposed by the authors which is achieved by disregarding your own identity when making decisions that may benefit specific groups of people more than others. Finally the authors state that managers who believe that they are unbiased must question the hypothesis that they are objective.

How My Brother Brought Home a Wife

Republic of the Philippines Bulacan State University Office of the Student Government City of Malolos, Bulacan Supreme Student CouncilS. Y. 2012-2013Ron Elli Q, SantosSenator, Supreme Student CouncilChair, Finance CommitteeKrissia Bianca R. De JesusVice President, Supreme Student CouncilHead, Legislative BodyJulius S. DadoPresident, Supreme Student CouncilStudent RegentNoted:Ricardo B. Capule, Jr. Adviser, Student GovernmentRecommending Approval:Dr. Evangeline G. CustodioVice President, Administration and FinanceDr. Nicanor C.Dela Rama, PMEDean, Student Affairs and ServicesApproved By:Dr. Mariano C. De JesusUniversity President| Resolution Number ______, s. 2012-2013 â€Å"A resolution requesting the bulacan state university administration to release the amount of Php 7,000. 00 for financial assistance for the rock our music association of the student in the university (romasu) for their skate competition for the upcoming university foundation week† WHEREAS, the Student Govern ment is mandated to promote the welfare and defend the rights of its constituents;WHEREAS, the Student Government is composed of Supreme Student Council, Local Student Councils, and Satellite Campus Student Councils; WHEREAS, the Supreme Student Council is composed of President, Vice President, five Senators, and four Ex-officio Senators; WHEREAS, the remaining SG Fund is sufficient to finance this resolution; WHEREAS,the fund will be used for financial assistance for the rock our music association of the student in the university (romasu) for their skate competition for the upcoming university foundation week.NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that we, the members of the Supreme Student Council seek for the release of PhP7,000. 00to finance this resolution; RESOLVED, further mentioned this resolution will be approved by the Bulacan State University President DONE, this 24th of november, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand Twelve at Bulacan State University, City of Malolos, Bulacan. C heck to be named to:Ron Elli Q, Santos Patrick jan d. carpio Senator, Supreme Student Council Students’ right and welfare Committee

Free Essays on Federico Garcia Lorca

The Artists: Federico GARCIA LORCA (1898 - 1936) "LAMENT FOR IGNACIO SANCHEZ MEJIAS" In 1927, Lorca and his friends (Bergamin, Alberti, Guillen...) were invited to Seville to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the death of the poet, Gongora. They were guests at the estate of Ignacio Sanchez Mejias, who had just retired from the bullring and who hosted them lavishly. Lorca painter, musician and poet and his host, Sanchez Mejias famous bullfighter, writer, passionate lover of literature and music were destined to become friends. Ignacio had a close relationship with Encarnacion Lopez Julvez, the famous dancer and singer who was known as "Argentinita" (this poem is dedicated to her) and it was she who really sealed the friendship between the two men. Two years later, they would be seen together often, in New York, and on their return to Spain, Lorca would arrange popular songs for "La Argentinita". In 1934, perhaps for material reasons, perhaps to recapture the emotions of victory and of facing death, Sanchez Mejias, at the age of forty-three, returned to the bullring. He had to lose fifteen kilos in order to put on his "suit of lights". With just three more engagements as the Toreador-Poet, he had decided to quit the ring, once and for all. But the shadow of fate hovered over him. The wounded Domingo Ortega asked him to replace him at Manzanares on August 11th. Because of pride, Ignacio reluctantly agreed. At the beginning of the corrida, he was gored in the thigh. Lorca was in Santander. Alberti was travelling. Bergamin was present at the corrida and stayed by the wounded toreador's bedside. Ignacio was moved to Madrid, where he died on the morning of August 13th. Lorca was shattered by the news and, in September, wrote the poem. It was published in November of the same year. "There is nothing in the Spanish language more beautiful than this poem." To such praise, Lorca replied : "It is not the equal of four small verses su... Free Essays on Federico Garcia Lorca Free Essays on Federico Garcia Lorca The Artists: Federico GARCIA LORCA (1898 - 1936) "LAMENT FOR IGNACIO SANCHEZ MEJIAS" In 1927, Lorca and his friends (Bergamin, Alberti, Guillen...) were invited to Seville to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the death of the poet, Gongora. They were guests at the estate of Ignacio Sanchez Mejias, who had just retired from the bullring and who hosted them lavishly. Lorca painter, musician and poet and his host, Sanchez Mejias famous bullfighter, writer, passionate lover of literature and music were destined to become friends. Ignacio had a close relationship with Encarnacion Lopez Julvez, the famous dancer and singer who was known as "Argentinita" (this poem is dedicated to her) and it was she who really sealed the friendship between the two men. Two years later, they would be seen together often, in New York, and on their return to Spain, Lorca would arrange popular songs for "La Argentinita". In 1934, perhaps for material reasons, perhaps to recapture the emotions of victory and of facing death, Sanchez Mejias, at the age of forty-three, returned to the bullring. He had to lose fifteen kilos in order to put on his "suit of lights". With just three more engagements as the Toreador-Poet, he had decided to quit the ring, once and for all. But the shadow of fate hovered over him. The wounded Domingo Ortega asked him to replace him at Manzanares on August 11th. Because of pride, Ignacio reluctantly agreed. At the beginning of the corrida, he was gored in the thigh. Lorca was in Santander. Alberti was travelling. Bergamin was present at the corrida and stayed by the wounded toreador's bedside. Ignacio was moved to Madrid, where he died on the morning of August 13th. Lorca was shattered by the news and, in September, wrote the poem. It was published in November of the same year. "There is nothing in the Spanish language more beautiful than this poem." To such praise, Lorca replied : "It is not the equal of four small verses su...

Fast Facts About George Bernard Shaws Life and Plays

Fast Facts About George Bernard Shaws Life and Plays George Bernard Shaw is a model to all struggling writers. Throughout his 30s, he wrote five novels – all of them failed. Yet, he did not let that deter him. It was not until 1894, at the age of 38, that his dramatic work made its professional debut. Even then, it took some time before his plays became popular. Although he wrote mostly comedies, Shaw greatly admired the natural realism of Henrik Ibsen. Shaw felt that plays could be used to influence the general population. And since he was filled with ideas, George Bernard Shaw spent the rest of his life writing for the stage, creating over sixty plays. He won a Nobel Prize for Literature for his play The Apple Cart. His cinematic adaptation of Pygmalion also earned him an Academy Award. Born: July 26, 1856Died: November 2nd, 1950 Major Plays: Mrs. Warren’s Profession Man and Superman Major Barbara Saint Joan Pygmalion Heartbreak House Shaw’s most financially successful play was Pygmalion, which was adapted into a popular 1938 motion picture, and then into a Broadway musical smash: My Fair Lady. His plays touch upon a wide variety of social issues: government, oppression, history, war, marriage, women’s rights. It’s hard to say which among his plays is  the most profound. Shaw’s Childhood: Although he spent most of his life in England, George Bernard Shaw was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. His father was an unsuccessful corn merchant (someone who buys the corn wholesale and then sells the product to retailers). His mother, Lucinda Elizabeth Shaw, was a singer. During Shaw’s adolescence, his mother began an affair with her music teacher, Vandeleur Lee. By many accounts, it seems that the playwright’s father, George Carr Shaw, was ambivalent about his wife’s adultery and her subsequent departure to England. This unusual situation of a sexually magnetic man and woman interacting with an â€Å"odd-man-out† male figure would become common in Shaw’s plays: Candida, Man and Superman, and Pygmalion. His mother, his sister Lucy, and Vandeleur Lee moved to London when Shaw was sixteen years old. He stayed in Ireland working as a clerk until he moved into his mother’s London home in 1876. Having despised the education system of his youth, Shaw took a different academic path – a self-guided one. During his early years in London, he spent hours on end reading books in the citys libraries and museums. George Bernard Shaw: Critic and Social Reformist In the 1880s, Shaw began his career as a professional art and music critic. Writing reviews of operas and symphonies eventually led to his new and more satisfying role as a theater critic. His reviews of London’s plays were witty, insightful, and sometimes painful to playwrights, directors, and actors who did not meet Shaw’s high standards. In addition to the arts, George Bernard Shaw was passionate about politics. He was a member of the Fabian Society, a group in favor of socialist ideals such as socialized health care, minimum wage reform, and the protection of the impoverished masses. Instead of attaining their goals through revolution (violent or otherwise), the Fabian Society sought gradual change from within the existing system of government. Many of the protagonists in Shaw’s plays serve as a mouth-piece for the precepts of the Fabian Society. Shaw’s Love Life: For a good portion of his life, Shaw was a bachelor, much like some of his more comical characters: Jack Tanner and Henry Higgins, in particular. Based on his letters (he wrote thousands of friends, colleagues, and fellow theater-lovers), it seems that Shaw had a devout passion for actresses. He maintained a long, flirtatious correspondence with actress Ellen Terry. It seems that their relationship never evolved beyond mutual fondness. During a serious ailment, Shaw married a wealthy heiress named Charlotte Payne-Townshend. Reportedly, the two were good friends but not sexual partners. Charlotte did not want to have children. Rumor has it, the couple never consummated the relationship. Even after marriage, Shaw continued to have relationships with other women. The most famous of his romances was between him and Beatrice Stella Tanner, one of England’s most popular actresses better known by her married name: Mrs. Patrick Campbell. She starred in several of his plays, including Pygmalion. Their affection for one another is evident in their letters (now published, like many of his other correspondences). The physical nature of their relationship is still up for debate. Shaw’s Corner: If you are ever in England’s small town of Ayot St. Lawrence, be certain to visit Shaw’s Corner. This beautiful manor became the final home of Shaw and his wife. Upon the grounds, you will find a cozy (or should we  say cramped) cottage just big enough for one ambitious writer. In this tiny room, which was designed to rotate to capture as much sunlight as possible, George Bernard Shaw wrote many plays and countless letters. His last major success was In Good King Charles Golden Days, written in 1939, but Shaw kept writing into his 90s. He was full of vitality until the age of 94 when he fractured his leg after falling off a ladder. The injury led to other problems, including a failing bladder and kidney. Finally, Shaw did not seem as interested in staying alive anymore if he could not stay active. When an actress named Eileen OCasey visited him, Shaw discussed his impending death: Well, it will be a new experience, anyway. He died the following day.

Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Business Environment - Essay Example There are two distinct types of Business Environment (Kew and Stredwick 2005). a) Internal environment b) External environment The internal environment includes money, machinery, man, material and management, which are usually based under business control and the changes upon the performance of the enterprise or organizations. The external environment consists of factors that are beyond the manipulation of the enterprise and entails the governmental and legal factors, political factors, socio-cultural factors among other factors. External environment could be micro or operating environment or macro or general environment. Scenario 1 Working for Stepping Stones education publishing LTD involves the need to expound on the economic chapter of the Business Environment. Task 1; Book Chapter: Any ultimate decision that is made by a manager must always involve price and output. The price –output decisions are surrounded by three factors. These factors include cost, demand and market structure (Henry 2008). Market structure refers to competitive environment whereby any enterprise manages and dictates on how cost and demand should be featured in decision making. Although various firms operate within different market structures, there are five basic market structures namely: monopoly, duopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic and perfect competition. A market operates under perfect competition if it persuades numerous firms, freedom of entry and exit, homogenous output and perfect information. A market economy has competition between huge numbers of buyers and sellers who search for a chance to buy and sell goods and services (Kapstein 1996). Competition among sellers dictates that prices will always be on the lower side and that of the buyers dictates that prices will never be very low hence making a major impact on the market equilibrium. The element price is very essential in the market. Its prime purpose is to ensure that there is a clarification in the economic market . In addition, price contributes to market analysis with regard to the demand curve (Krugman 1996). A demand curve is the relationship between the price of the good and the amount or quantity the consumer is able or willing to part with in regard to its purchase in a specified period of time with consideration to income, tastes and prices of similar goods. The graph above explains the Supply /Demand curve in relation to production of Oil in Libya. In essence, the demand for crude oil increases when the price is low causing the supply for the product to decrease. According to Kew and Stredwick 2005 argues that pure monopoly ensures that there is the only one supplier in the market, there is no close replacement to the output good plus no threat of competition. Monopoly means that there is only one firm that is ruling the market. This kind of domination is not competitive because it is the only supplier in the market hence it as a downward sloping demand curve as it has the freedom to choose its prices and quality in the market. Duopoly is a market dominated by two firms, which are large enough to influence prices in the market. In addition, oligopoly is dominated by a small number of firms, which are large enough to manipulate prices in the market. A market structure that is monopolistic constitutes of several producers with various real or perceived difference in products. A perfect competiti

Disadvantages of examination- oriented education Essay

Disadvantages of examination- oriented education - Essay Example This raises concern that the focus on examinations in the education system may be defeating the very purpose of education. Disadvantages of Examination-Oriented Education The most-often faced criticism of an education-oriented system is that the examinations become the focal point of all the educational activities that a student goes through instead of merely being the means to an end. This focus on students’ performance in examinations has consequences on the curricula and the manner in which the curricula are taught to the children. The curricula in examination oriented education systems has become very rigid and based on a set of text books that become the Bible for the students. (1). The emphasis is more on imbibing this by the student by heart rather than understanding the subject matter. It will not be surprising that typo errors convert a chemistry textbook into a physics textbook and the physics examination taken by the student is actually a chemistry examination. Thin gs have come to such a pass that neither the educational education, nor the teacher, nor the student would notice it, for the concentration will be on the marks received on the paper. This situation gets even more aggravated, when the education administrators develop the content of the textbooks that are beyond the grasping ability of the average student and the teachers follow a uniform teaching approach. Interest in studies is lost, motivation to learn is absent and many students end up being labeled as low achievers owing to the poor marks they receive in their examination (1). The list of other demerits if attempted to explain like this could run into pages. In brief the disadvantages of examination oriented systems include the negative influence it has on the teaching of certain subjects and topics, on teaching and learning and attitudes of teachers, parents and students; and the neglect of more dynamic instructional methods. It leads to selective study habits in students and t he possible development of undesirable attitudes of amassing certificates through any means. This attitude also gets transferred to some parents. It offers the possibility of malpractices by students and teachers and others through copying and the leakage of pre-set question papers, and the like. Examinations test only the cognitive abilities of children, and ignore the affective and psychomotor domains of students. Students face stereo-typed questions allowing them to be selective in the study of topics in a subject to attain the level of marks desired. Higher objectives of education in the form of application, synthesis and analysis are ignored through the use of examinations and the sole deciding criterion of knowledge and skills attainment levels. Scoring low in examinations carries with the possibility of being looked down upon in peer groups and in student and other social circles. (2). Possible Solutions There are only two possible solutions. The first is to do away with eval uation process in education, through which the examination system has crept. Leave it to the students to attain their desired level of competencies in subjects of their choice, based on what they intend to with their lives after their formal education. Teachers, parents and friends can act as counselors and motivational mentors in this exercise. In case they find them short of knowledge