The Good and Bad Side of Telecommuting Essay Example

The Good and Bad Side of Telecommuting Essay Example The Good and Bad Side of Telecommuting Paper The Good and Bad Side of Telecommuting Paper Organizations are increasingly using telecommuting as a way to increase productivity and decrease costs. Employees also see positive results from telecommuting. Research shows however that there are negative sides as well. Governmental intervention beginning in the early 1990s almost put an end to telecommuting, but after debate, telecommuting has proven stronger than expected. Telecommuting: The Good, The Bad, and The Government Parents today face increased burdens as the cost of living continues to rise. Many single parent homes are troubled with the problem of caring for their children and working at the same time. Many rely on babysitters and family members to help, but others look to the government for assistance. In any case, meeting the bills is hard enough without the cost of a babysitter. However, today there is another choice: Telecommuting has become a new way for business organizations to employ people to work out of their homes that will keep up with the more fast paced society than the earlier modes communications. There are issues to issues to be overcome with telecommuting as well, but those issues are not as costly to those involved, usually. ITAC (International Telework Association Council) defines telecommuting as a work arrangement in which employees work at any time or place that allows them to accomplish their work in an effective and efficient manner (On-Line). Most reports on telecommuting suggest that this alternative has been positively received by both employees and managers (McNerney, 1995). However, by definition, telecommuting holds positive and negative factors for both the employer and employee. The organization and the employee must review these factors to determine if this organizational workforce design is right for them. According to McQuarrie, for the employee, positive factors include: reduced commuting time, reduced personal costs (travel, clothing, food), flexible working hours, greater autonomy, easiness to care for dependents (p. 82). The reduction of commuting time allows for positions in companies at such a distance that a position would not be possible without relocation. A lack of commuting is also favorable when the area surrounding the organization is susceptible to a high number of traffic problems such as congestion and multiple accidents. In areas like Los Angeles that have problems with exhaust, telecommuting offers cleaner air. According to the United States Department of Transportation and the United States General Service Administration (2000) Investments in telecommunications infrastructure that facilitate telecommuting should not only lead to transportation benefits, but may also have a synergistic effect on other transportation strategies required to cope with growing traffic congestion, urban air pollution, and national petroleum dependence (On-Line). The reduction of personal costs is favorable to the employees who see the reduction as money for other necessities. Flexible working hours offers a way to work around complicated schedules that otherwise would not be possible to work with. The freedom of telecommuting opens the employee up to new options that can be more beneficial such as mid-day exercise programs, choice of what task to perform first, community projects, volunteerism, and other civic activities. There is also an ease of caring for dependents that is not available through the conventional workplace. These dependents can range from children to elderly parents, but also, the employee may be disabled or terminally ill. In this case, telecommuting opens doors that otherwise would remain shut. The negative factors for employees include workaholism and isolation (McQuarrie p. 82). People have a need to interact frequently with others in a stable environment. Failure to maintain interactions will lead to a number of negative consequences such as anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments (Gainey, Kelley Hill p. 4). The organization experiences positive factors in the forms of higher productivity, reduced physical plant costs, selling point for new employees, and the ability to accommodate disabled or chronically ill employees (McQuarrie p. 82). The company saves the cost of office space and equipment by having an employee work at home rather than at a central office site. According to Fiona McQuarrie (1994) there is rarely any mention in the telecommuting literature of the possibility of the employer compensating the employee for home-based work by paying a portion of rent, mortgage, or utility costs (p 82). Lowered company costs enable a larger workforce that enjoys the benefits of autonomy. This in turn increases productivity both for the employer, through a larger workforce, and for the employee, due to increased â€Å"want to†. Another attracting factor for the increased work force comes from the selling point for new employees. The level of autonomy and other positive employee fac! tors entice new employees. The company can also reduce costs by letting the employee supply for their own special needs such as wheel chair ramps, handicapped toilets and so forth. The employee will already possess these necessities, but the company may or may not have them installed. Negative employer factors include loss of direct control and lack of a coordinated workweek. The lack of direct control is experienced through the lack of face-to-face training communication, low social contact, and lack of trust between management and employees. Only two of the various mediums of communication can be transferred electronically. It is currently technologically impossible to remotely express one’s self through body language, eye contact, and subtle meanings. Many telecommuters have expressed desire to return to their old arrangement of closer interactions with other employees. The trust level between management and telecommuters is low due to the two factions not necessarily knowing the other’s thoughts, views, and opinions. The lack of a coordinated workweek affects multiple employees because one employee’s work may depend on the completion of work by another employee. Steps have been taken by many organizations to combat the negatives for both the employer and the employee. The problems of isolation and loss of direction control have been solved by requiring the employee to commute to a central office or an organizational hub usually two days a week. This gives managers and employees direct contact and keeps the employee more in touch with the company. The problems of workaholism and lack of coordination have been met by job assignments that outline the nature of the work, the time frame of the work, and the need for completion which can be delivered during one of the weekly commutes. These assignments serve a dual purpose of giving limits and guidelines to the employees, but also in showing the employer’s dependency on the employee. The reformation of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) that began in 1995 brought about new questions and problems for the possibilities of telecommuting. â€Å"In a letter to a Texas based company concerning the liability for a telecommuter’s home office, it was deemed that the organization be liable for the safety of it’s telecommuters home work sites† (Kerrigan p. 63). The letter, posted on OSHA’s website, caused an eruption of contention leading to the removal of the letter from the website. â€Å"An analysis by Mark Wilson, a Heritage Foundation research fellow, shows the recent policy blunder left employers in the worst of all possible worlds legal uncertainty† (Kerrigan p. 63). After debates between opposing sides of the issue, another issue concerning the liability arose questioning the safety telecommuters’ children in terms of hazards from the workplace. Another issue arising from the OSHA’s letter is the liability of company resources. Most firms are! covered when they add the computers, fax machines and other equipment to their general policy (Hoke p. 35), but this policy does not cover home offices. After much dissention, the U. S. Department of Labor, ruled, †Employers arent responsible for the health and safety of white-collar telecommuters after all† (Rosencrance p. 1). After the statement by the Department of Labor, OSHA rewrote its archaic definition of ergonomics and released a new ruling for telecommuters liability. â€Å"The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will not inspect home offices and doesnt expect employers to inspect them either†(Hoover p. 17). The new directive also gave relief to all employers for liability of the employees’ home offices. It continued to state, however, that OSHA would inspect home manufacturing operations when it receives complaints about serious health or safety violations or when a work-related fatality occurs (Rosencrance p. 93). The governmental â€Å"flip-flop† has left many employers leery of telecommuting, but the growth rate of telecommuters does not reflect a problem. Many new companies are taking advantage of its employees’ homes to relieve costs of physical assets. Some companies have reversed the role of the managers to a field position, allowing manager to have more face-to-face communication with employees as they travel from office to â€Å"office†. Some companies even legally accept liability of telecommuters through internal contracts and insurance. Today, the increasing rate of telecommuters is calling for the advancement of technology. This technology will lead to better and faster communication, however, it will bring its own set of problems. What tomorrow holds for telecommuters is unclear, all we can do today is examine and adjust the good, the bad, and the government. **Bibliography** Bibliography Gainey, T. , Kelley, D. , Hill, J. (1999). Telecommutings

Should You Take Online AP Courses 12 Pros and Cons

Should You Take Online AP Courses 12 Pros and Cons SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips There are a variety of reasons why you might want to take online AP courses. Maybe your school doesn’t offer all of the courses you want to take, or you’re homeschooled, or you want to do a little extra academic work to show colleges what you’re passionate about. But there’s a lot to consider before you take the plunge (and possibly drop a few hundred dollars on a class).I’ll take you through some basic information on online AP courses, some pros and cons, who should consider them, and how to choose classes if you do decide to take an AP course online. Finally, I’ll offer some brief blurbs on some of the most popular courses out there. What Is an Online AP Class? An online AP class is meant to mimic the material and workload of an in-person AP course from afar, and to prepare you for the AP exam. So you’ll have readings, lectures, quizzes, and exams just like in regular school, but all of your communication with your teacher (and potentially other students, depending on the course) will take place through your computerprobably mostly through e-mail and IM, although maybe some videochatting or virtual lecture sessions depending on the course. The truth is that every AP class you could take online is going to be a little different, which is why if you do decide to take one (or more), doing research on which course to enroll in is very important. Some are accredited by the College Board, some aren’t; some are free, some cost almost a thousand dollars a pop. Some are essentially graded independent study and others have scheduled virtual â€Å"class† meeting times. That said, there are still some general pros and cons to taking AP courses online. 6 Benefits ofTaking AP Courses Online You can take AP classes that are not offered by your school. You can probably get credit toward graduating high school, although it may just be pass/fail credit on your official high school transcript. You’ll have some flexibility in when you get the work done, so if you have an unusual schedule it might be a good choice for you. You might be able to connect with like-minded students with similar interests! This may be an especial benefit if you are homeschooled or live in a rural area. Depending on where you live, you may be able to take the class for free! Many states have at least one program that is free or low-cost to residents. If you are self-motivated, you may enjoy the semi independent-study format of many of the classes. 6 Drawbacks toTaking AP Courses Online It may or may not boost your official high school GPA. Some high schools will put the letter grade on your transcript, some won’t count the class at all, and some will allow you to count the class as credit, but only as pass/fail. Some of these classes are expensive! Depending on the class and your level of motivation, it may make more sense to self-study for the AP test and then take the exam. If you live in a rural area, you will still need to find a brick-and-mortar school where you can take the exam. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something you will need to keep in mindthe online course won’t coordinate your exam arrangements for you. If you have a hard time getting work done without some supervision, an online course may not have enough accountability for you to get the work done and really get something out of the class, let alone be prepared for the exam. Some of the classes are mostly text-based and not very interactive, so if that’s a hard way for you to learn, it may not be the best option for you. Some classes have been criticized for being an easy A that does not actually prepare you for the AP exam. So read reviews and research carefully! With all this in mind, how do you decide if you should take AP classes online? With the magic of the internet, the world is your classroom! That was corny, sorry. Are Online AP Classes a Good Fit For Me? The number one question you need to ask yourself when deciding to undertake online AP coursework is: why am I doing this? See below for some potential answers and my thoughts. #1: My school doesn’t offer this AP class that I find interesting/valuable/important This is a good reason to take an AP class online! If you don’t have another way of taking the class, and you are invested in the material, you are an ideal candidate for taking online AP classes. Particularly if you live in a rural area and go to a small high school, you should check if your school already partners with an online AP course provider.If so, you will probably be able to take the class for free, have time during the school day to do coursework, and have the class on your official high school transcript! Wins all around. #2: I’m home-schooled and I want to take an accredited (i.e. College Board approved) AP course This is another good reason to go online, although it’s worth noting that the person teaching you at home can get their AP curriculum accredited if they so desire. (More information can be found in our guide to passing yourCollege Board Course Audit.) In that case, you can have the class listed as AP on your transcript. Of course, your home-teacher may not feel equipped to teach you the material, in which case it makes total sense to take an online course. Another benefit to this is that an online course may help you connect with other students, depending on the platform. If your only concern is taking the exam, and you don’t care about having a transcript and grade for the course, you could also consider self-study. Home-schoolers can also list their exam prep â€Å"class† as â€Å"Honors† even if their home course is not accredited by the AP. #3: I have an unusual schedule/scheduling conflict If you have some kind of scheduling conflict with your school’s in-class AP course- maybe there are two AP classes you want to take that meet at the same time, or you are on a work-study program- online courses may be a good option. However, keep in mind that you may not be able to get a letter grade for the online class on your high school transcript even if you can get credit. If this is the case and you’re a junior, you might consider taking the class through your school next year. #4: I want to take an AP class over the summer If there’s an AP class you want to take over the summer that doesn’t work for you during the school year, online courses can be a great way to make that happen. However, you will have to spend a decent amount of time reviewing the material during the following school year if you want to remember anything for the AP exam the following May! This cherub is thinking deeply about his class schedule. Either that, or napping. #5: I want to boost my GPA Your school may or may not allow you to count your letter grade in an online AP course on your high school transcript. They may not give credit, or you may only get pass/fail credit on your official transcript. So if you want a GPA boost, definitely discuss whether the class will even factor into your GPA before enrolling! If you are concerned about your GPA, I would advise you to talk to a guidance counselor at your school. You might also read our article on applying to college with a low GPA. #6: I think it will look good to colleges Taking an online AP course may or may not look good to colleges depending on your circumstances. If you are taking it because it’s not offered at your school or you have a conflict and you’re really interested in the material, it will signal that you are self-motivated and invested in learning. Great! If, however, you want to take online AP courses because you are already stacked six AP courses this year and this is the only way you could possibly fit in more, possibly reconsider. Colleges like candidates who have some interests outside of class- your entire waking life shouldn’t be spent doing AP coursework and preparing for exams. Consider an extracurricular. #7: I want college credit Keep in mind: only some colleges will give you credit for high scores on AP tests,and the score cutoff is different at different schools (some will give credit for a 3, while others will only give credit for a 5). Make sure you know the score cutoffs and credit policies for colleges you are interested in. Another thing to remember is that credit is determined by yourscore on the exam, not whether you took the class or not- so you could self-study if you think you could get the necessary credit that way. #8: I don’t know! If you don’t really know exactly why you would be taking an online AP course, don’t do it until you figure it out. If you don’t have a sense of purpose you won’t be motivated to put in the additional workespecially because online classes tend to be more self-directed than in-person ones. You'll notice I've mentioned self-study several times in the above list. So you are probably wondering what the different is between self-study and an online AP course, and why you would choose one or the other. Read on! What’s the Difference Between an Online AP Class and Self-Study? If you take an accredited (College Board-approved) online AP class, you will get a transcript with aletter grade that shows that you took the AP-level course, which you can send to colleges. You may even be able to get credit towards graduation and have the class be listed on your transcript for your regular brick-and-mortar school, depending on your school’s policies. However, the College Board does not require you to take a class before you can take the AP exam in that subject.This means that you are allowed to self-study- that is, use resources like books, lecture videos, and internet sites to prepare for the exam on your own. In this case you won’t have a class listed on any transcript or a letter grade, but if you do well on the test, you can still potentially get college credit for it, and send in the scores to colleges. Self-studying is a good option if you already have a baseline knowledge level in the subject area, if you are very self-directed, and if all you care about is taking the exam and getting a target score. If you aren’t at all familiar with the material, you aren’t very self-directed, or you want to have a record that you took the course, take an online class instead. If you’ve made the decision to take an online AP course and you’re going to take the plunge, how do you pick from the hundreds of courses available? Online means no blackboard erasers! If people even use those anymore. How Should I Choose My Online AP Course? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of options for online AP courses out there. And they are not all created equal. There are a number of factors you should consider when selecting a course: #1: Is the course accredited by the College Board? In other words, is it an official College-Board approved AP course? You can search for a course in the AP course ledger if you aren’t sure. If it’s not accredited, it’s basically providing self-study materials to you,because any transcript you get from the course won’t say â€Å"AP.† This could be fine if your goal is just to prepare for the test, but it's something to be mindful of, particularly with respect to the quality of the material. I would hesitate to lay down five hundred hard-earned dollars on a non-accredited course. #2: Are there admission requirements? Some online AP course providers, like John Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth and Stanford Online High School, have prerequisites or pre-test requirements. Make sure you qualify! #3: Are you confident it’s a high-quality course? For starters, make sure to check outreviews from other people who have taken the course (you could try College Confidential). Here are a few hallmarks of a well-organized course: Are teachers accessible and consistent? Is tech support available to assist with any difficulties you may have? Are there statistics on how well the students do on the AP after taking the course? #4: What’s your budget? Some more â€Å"elite† online courses will run you almost a thousand dollars for an AP class.However, some of these providers also have some form or another of financial aid, so be sure to research that before writing them off.You can certainly find a high-quality AP course that’s a little less expensive. You may just have to look harder. For more ideas foronline AP classesat a variety of price points,check out our article on the best and worst online AP courses, reviewed. Check if your school already has a contract with a remote AP class provider. In this case you can probably take the class for free!Some states also have low or no-cost online classes for residents. The Florida Virtual School offers classes free to FL residents, and Scout, through the University of California, offers some material free to California public school students. #5: How self-directed are you? Some courses will allow you to set your own schedule and have pace flexibility- you’ll be given materials and access to an instructor if you have questions, but it will be more or less a free-range experience. Other classes have scheduled lecture sections and you will lose points if you turn in assignments and assessments late. Be honest with yourself and choose the style that will allow you to get the most out of the course. #6: Will you interact with other students? Is it important to you to have some way to interact or collaborate with the other students in the class through message boards or projects? In this case, make sure your course offers this. #7: Can you do a trial or get a refund if you drop the course early on? If it’s an expensive class, you probably want to make sure that you can get at least a partial refund if you drop the class two weeks in if you change your mind or something comes up. #8: Do you have access to a computer that meets the technical requirements of the course? Since it’s computer-based, the class may have operating system or browser requirements.You don’t want to sign up for a class only to find that you can’t make it work on your computer! He looks like he'd be a great online AP teacher. Very modern. Popular Online AP Courses There are approximately one gajillion online AP classes out there, butyou may or may not want to sift through them all looking for that perfect Cinderella-shoe fit. Luckily for you, I have done a lot of sifting myself and have a brief list of some well-regarded online AP courses. AP US History from the UC system’s Scout program - This course is well-liked for its engaging multimedia lessons and variety in preparation material. Cheaper for CA students, but one of the less expensive options overall. AP Biology from Apex Learning - AP Biology from Apex is commended for its comprehensive virtual lab component- something lacking from many online AP science providers. AP Chemistry from ChemAdvantage - This husband and wife team teach AP Chemistry online with a robust lab component and lots of instructor attention. While primarily for homeschoolers, their FAQ says that they may be able to accommodate students whose schools simply don’t offer AP Chem. AP Psychology from the Florida Virtual School - Students liked this class for being relatively straightforward, although it is mostly self-paced. AP Human Geography from the Florida Virtual School - Students like this class for teacher accessibility and an appropriate difficulty level- interesting, but not frustrating. AP Art History from the Florida Virtual School - Students enjoy the interactive gallery format and find that they retain the material because it is presented so engagingly. AP CS A from the Florida Virtual School - Students feel that not only is Computer Science a natural fit from an online school, FLVS teaches a strong coding foundation and really prepares you for the exam. Plus, it’s fun! For homeschooled students in any state, PA Homeschoolers AP Courses are very well-reviewed, with outstanding teachers being the number one benefit. AP History and English classes are particularly well-liked. However, you must be a homeschooled student to register. Other generally well-regarded online AP providers includeStanford Online High School, Northwestern Center for Talent Development, and Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.These providers are specifically for gifted students and have admissions requirements. Theyare generally considered quite comprehensive and in-depth. Choose the course with the most dinosaurs. Getting the Most Out of Online AP Classes If you are going to take AP courses online, you want to make sure you get as much out of them that you possibly can. There’s no point in going to the trouble of taking the class if you aren’t going to learn anything! So how can you succeed? Treat it like a real course - Resist the temptation to slack off just because it’s online and you don’t have to face your teacher in real life. Schedule time to work on it - Set aside specific time slots every week when you are going to work on the course. This will help keep you from falling behind, and improve your ability to take the course seriously. Minimize distractions - When you are doing online coursework, make sure you are in a good working environment like a library or a quiet desk. Don’t turn the TV on, and I advise not working in bed. Utilize the teacher - If you have questions, get in touch with your teacher! One of the advantages of an online course over self-study is that you have access to a paid professional to explain confusing concepts to you if you need it. If you are diligent about keeping on track and get help when you need it, you will find the class much more valuable. Online AP Courses: The Bottom Line Online APs are a great choice for students with unusual schedules or at schools with slim AP offerings. With that said, it’s important to do your research before enrolling in an online AP class. Look for reviews online, check the price point, and triple-check your school’s policies on GPA and credit-transferring the online courses before you take the plunge! What's Next? For more in-depth reviews of online AP courses, see my guide to the best and worst online AP classes. If you need more general information about AP tests, check out "What Are AP Exams and Tests?" by one of our experts. Trying to decide on the best way to get college credit in high school? See our guide tocommunity college classes versus AP classes and exams. Considering other new and exciting AP offerings? Check our guide to AP Research and our guide to AP Seminar. Want to improve your SAT score by 160points 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:

PROMPT for AoS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PROMPT for AoS - Essay Example tile stimulation, contrastive stress drill, prompts for restructuring oral muscular phonetic targets (PROMPT), and melodic intonation therapy (Wambaugh et al., 1998). Word prompt programs are computer software programs used in addition to basic word processing (Wood, Rankin, Beukelman, 1997). Sound production treatments have also been tried (Wambaugh et al., 1999). The Kaufman Speech Praxis Treatment Kit has been used for treating children with apraxia of speech (Kaufman Children’s center, n.d). Wambaugh & Doyle, 1994, made a review of 28 treatment reports over the past 20 years. Positive results were noted with the following treatments: flexible treatment hierarchy combined with home programs; combination of sound placement, sound drill and graphic stimulation; metronome pacing accompanying drill of all behaviors; package modeling, integral stimulation, phonetic placement, multiple repetitions; PROMPT system and integral stimulation; and PROMPT motokinesthetic stimulation with some rate control. The majority of subjects were chronic apraxic speakers, with 62% being 6 months post onset. Currently, although most treatments have reported good results, most current AOS treatments have limited data to support their use, and there is a lack of replication of treatment findings (Wambaugh, 2002). Another limitation is the lack of measurement of generalization and maintenance effects of treatment (Wambaugh et al., 1998). Chumpelik is credited for developing the PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral and Muscular Phonetic Targets) system in 1984. This is a tactile–kinesthetic based treatment method, originally developed for the treatment of children with developmental motor speech disorders; later, it was modified for use in adults with motor speech disorders (Bose et al., 2001) Prompts are applied to the mylohyoid muscle, facial musculature and through mandibular manipulation. Some or all of the following parameters receive input from PROMPTs: spatial

Strengthening U.S. Homeland Security Policies against Potential Research Paper

Strengthening U.S. Homeland Security Policies against Potential Islamic Jihad Union Attacks - Research Paper Example Since the bombing of the Twin Towers, the U.S. has been adamant in tightening its homeland security policies and programs. The executive branch, in collaboration with the legislative and the judiciary branches, has created, developed, and implemented essential laws that are aimed at protecting U.S. citizens from various threats of terrorism. Unfortunately, as the different breakthroughs in communication and modern weaponry continue to take place, so do the threats from these notorious terrorist groups. Thus, it is in the critical study of the background, tactics and strategies of these terrorist groups that the U.S. can further enhance its current homeland security policies. In this paper, we first take a close look at the Islamic Jihad Union in order to understand the group’s historical background, its primary ideologies and goals, and its basic strategies. Then, we examine the U.S. Homeland Security Policy by specifically highlighting on the policies regarding these issues: border and transportation security; domestic counter-terrorism; and emergency preparedness and response. Through this review, we intend to underscore the policies’ strengths and weaknesses in order to provide sound and implementable recommendations which are targeted to enhance such policies. At the end of this paper, we seek to justify the paper’s thesis that although there is an efficient, accurate, and effective implementation of the major policies in the federal government level, emphasis must be placed on enhancing the execution in the local level, specifically on border and transportation security. I. The Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) The discussion on the Islamic Jihad Union (IJU) is to be divided into three parts. The first part will give a brief background of the group by looking at its organizational structure, ideology, and overall goals. The next part will understand the capabilities of the group in spreading terrorism by focusing on its recruitment and training

What Race and Ethnicity Means Essay Example for Free

What Race and Ethnicity Means Essay When I hear the word â€Å"race†, the first thing that I think of is a person’s skin color, facial features and the texture of their hair. Although I am colorblind, I can’t help but to think of this when I hear the word race. This is due to the fact that the majority of the time when we fill out an application or any paperwork of importance the question of race is raised. I’m not sure why it matters, your experience and education seems more important to me. It seems as if some people still want to separate us depending on the color of our skin. Being that there’s so many races mixing, there’s no such thing as a pure race. Race seems to be unimportant to me. Ethnicity is a word that I prefer and enjoy when speaking of culture. Ethnicity makes me think of everybody’s struggle dating back from their ancestors to the present. Where did your ancestors originate? Where did you come from? Ethnicity is ones background and cultural differences. For example just because I am considered black doesn’t mean that I am from Africa; which means that I will be considered an African American. I thought for years that I was an African American till an African man that I was friends with broke it down to me and gave me some knowledge to read. He is considered an African American because he’s from Africa and now resides in America. I am considered to be a black American because I’m from America. This is weird being that my ancestors were American Indians. Your ethnicity is the group that others place you. I do have my personal opinion on all of this and why America still tries to identify us by race. Since my opinion was asked I felt the need to tell the truth on how I feel. Race and ethnicity are important in America because some people in the government still strives for division and don’t want us to come together as one. It seems as if the government gets more powerful when we separate ourselves from each other. If we all were to come together I feel as if they would consider us as a threat.

Social and Moral Values in Relation to the Downfall of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers

‘The Great Gatsby’ is social satire commentary of America which reveals its collapse from a nation of infinite hope and opportunity to a place of moral destitution and corruption during the Jazz Age. It concentrates on people of a certain class, time and place, the individual attitudes of those people and their inner desires which cause conflict to the conventional values, defined by the society they live in. Gatsby is unwilling to combine his desires with the moral values of society and instead made his money in underhanded schemes, illegal activities, and by hurting many people to achieve the illusion of his perfect dream. Gatsby downfall came when he sacrificed his morality to attain wealth. Gatsby realises that the illusion of his dream with Daisy, demands wealth to become priority, and thus wealth becomes the desire overriding his need for her [Daisy’s] love. Gatsby claims to others that he has inherited his wealth, but Nick discovers "[h]is parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, pg 104) and that Gatsby has lied about his past. In a society that relies on luxuries, Gatsby throws parties to attract Daisy’s attention. Also, Gatsby expresses that same need to keep busy, just as Daisy does, in a society of the elite. Nick describes Gatsby as "never quite still, there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand" (Fitzgerald, pg 68). Gatsby fills his house "full of interesting people...who do interesting things" (Fitzgerald, pg 96). Gatsby's dream is doomed to failure in that he has lost the fundamental neces sities to experience love, such as honesty and moral integrity. Gatsby hasn’t just lost his morals but also his sense of family because he has created such an elaborate illusion. Catherine scrutinizes the couples of the story, "Neither of them can stand the person they're married to" (Fitzgerald pg 37). The marriage had become very weak when Daisy "had told [Gatsby] that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded" (Fitzgerald, pg 125). More than his morals, Gatsby loses all sense of family, his wealth has metaphorically become it. He relies on his money rather than a family to bring comfort and security to his life. Gatsby takes advantage of his wealth to replace his deteriorated spirit and emotions. As a result of shallow family relationships, all love for that matter becomes based on social status. Social and Moral Values in Relation to the Downfall of Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby :: essays research papers ‘The Great Gatsby’ is social satire commentary of America which reveals its collapse from a nation of infinite hope and opportunity to a place of moral destitution and corruption during the Jazz Age. It concentrates on people of a certain class, time and place, the individual attitudes of those people and their inner desires which cause conflict to the conventional values, defined by the society they live in. Gatsby is unwilling to combine his desires with the moral values of society and instead made his money in underhanded schemes, illegal activities, and by hurting many people to achieve the illusion of his perfect dream. Gatsby downfall came when he sacrificed his morality to attain wealth. Gatsby realises that the illusion of his dream with Daisy, demands wealth to become priority, and thus wealth becomes the desire overriding his need for her [Daisy’s] love. Gatsby claims to others that he has inherited his wealth, but Nick discovers "[h]is parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people" (Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, pg 104) and that Gatsby has lied about his past. In a society that relies on luxuries, Gatsby throws parties to attract Daisy’s attention. Also, Gatsby expresses that same need to keep busy, just as Daisy does, in a society of the elite. Nick describes Gatsby as "never quite still, there was always a tapping foot somewhere or the impatient opening and closing of a hand" (Fitzgerald, pg 68). Gatsby fills his house "full of interesting people...who do interesting things" (Fitzgerald, pg 96). Gatsby's dream is doomed to failure in that he has lost the fundamental neces sities to experience love, such as honesty and moral integrity. Gatsby hasn’t just lost his morals but also his sense of family because he has created such an elaborate illusion. Catherine scrutinizes the couples of the story, "Neither of them can stand the person they're married to" (Fitzgerald pg 37). The marriage had become very weak when Daisy "had told [Gatsby] that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw. He was astounded" (Fitzgerald, pg 125). More than his morals, Gatsby loses all sense of family, his wealth has metaphorically become it. He relies on his money rather than a family to bring comfort and security to his life. Gatsby takes advantage of his wealth to replace his deteriorated spirit and emotions. As a result of shallow family relationships, all love for that matter becomes based on social status.

Household Behavior and Demand Essay

Household behavior is one of the any basic concepts in economics which has an effect on market trends. Household demand, for instance, can be seen as related to consumer choices in terms of which products are mostly bought in the market and which products need more supplies in terms of item production and its corresponding allocation. One of the many essential features of household demand is its corresponding effect on what is being provided in the market and, more importantly, the quantities or stock that is being allocated in the market. It seems quite obvious that the quantities of certain products in the market—for instance, in a certain area or a certain supermarket—are patterned according to the existing demand and the foreseen demands a some point in the future, say within a frame of a few weeks time. Household behavior, for its effects on market trends to be realized and understood, must be taken from a general and collective standpoint since a single specific household behavior cannot entirely be taken into account as the precise and sole measure in determining the overall household behavior true for all o most instances with regard to market trends. For example, it has been observed that Chinese people rely largely on the prices of products in determining which ones are the best buys. Paul French notes that â€Å"for pragmatic Chinese shoppers, price remains the bottom-line† which translates to the idea that â€Å"win on price and you win† (French, 2007). Hence, in the context of Chinese households, producers of certain goods should greatly consider the fact that Chinese households will most likely prefer goods which are relatively lower in price as compared to other products in the market in order stay atop the competition. To be able to gain control of the price index of a certain product in the market means to be able to win the market competition if the Chinese household behavior is the primary basis to be used. The perception appears simple enough: household behavior determines household demand which, in consequence, affects a large portion of certain market trends. Thus, to analyze a specific market trend for a specific product entails the analysis and understanding of certain trends in household demand caused by household behavior. An existing household demand, say, for breakfast cereals can be looked upon the collective household behavior in terms of cereal consumption for the past six months for the locality of Chicago, for example. Given a relatively high consumption rate for breakfast cereals with the price not exceeding $4 per box among families, companies producing breakfast cereals may have the corresponding decision to pattern their product according to the existing demand. Although it may not essentially be the case that companies will sacrifice prices of their products in order to meet the demand for the value of the products, being able to adjust product prices in accordance to the existing market prices will most likely lead to favorable results on the part of the companies since market demand is met. Quite on the contrary, there are still other related factors which hinder the feat of lowering prices according to the budget and income of households which determine their capacity to buy and consume certain products. More recently, several instant-noodle corporations in China have difficulties in lowering the prices of their products due to escalating prices in wheat and other farm commodities (Zhu, 2007). With prices in instant-noodles—a popular product among individuals with meager budget—soaring, even the household demand or low-cost instant-noodles may hardly deter companies from lowering the prices of their goods just to meet the existing demand in the market. On the part of households, proper allocation of income can be one remedy in order to curb unnecessary spending so as to be able to allocate budget on goods which the households deem as a dire part of their income-spending. In this case, household behavior and demand appears to be patterned according to the existing market trends which is the opposite or reverse case of what has been provided earlier. Hence, it is also possible to have a household behavior or consumer choice that is based on existing market trends apart from the possibility that market trends may also be based on existing consumer choice and household behavior. Allocating income to maximize utility is one household behavior that determines consumer choice in the long run. For instance, there is the observation that â€Å"household expenditure patterns are affected by the share of household income accruing to women† (Hopkins, Levin, & Haddad, 1994). Given this perception, the choices of consumers over a vast array of products competing in the market is not only affected by external elements determined by companies but also by internal elements sprouting from household consumption patterns of certain goods in relation to the household’s budget allocation. In terms of income and substitution effects, the changes in the prices of certain goods are proposed to alter the demands for such goods. Changes in relative prices as well as changes in the purchasing power of the money income can greatly alter the existing demands for, say, a breakfast cereal. Even if the prices for breakfast cereals remain the same for a given period, alterations in the income will result to an equal change in the budget constraint (Hamermesh, 1977). On the other hand, if the price of breakfast cereals changes, the budget constraint will change accordingly. One concrete way in further understanding the situation is that in order to maximize the utility with the decreased budget constraint, the household will tend to have shifts in their patterns of consumption. For instance, with the budget constraint arising from the decrease in the money’s purchasing power, households will tend to maximize the utility of money by increasing the segregation of purchases of goods based on low-cost preference. An example to this is when households purchase goods with relatively lower prices given a budget of $20 which results to more purchases of various goods while on the other hand households purchasing goods with relatively higher prices will result to lesser maximization of the utility or lesser goods purchased with the $20 budget. Hence, wage rates also share a crucial part in determining household behavior and demand as well as consumer choice. It has been seen that the rates of wages of certain groups of people have corresponding implications on the purchasing power of households. To arrive at the observation that the wage of a household is decreased corresponds to the observation that the purchasing capacity of the same household proportionally, if not significantly, decreases. A higher wage, then, will translate to a higher capacity to purchase goods in the market. In the larger scheme, a group of households with a high rate of wage will most likely have higher purchasing capacity thereby inducing the household behavior of increased spending assuming the household has lesser tendencies to save their income. In effect, a certain market demand will be conjured in such a way that a certain good, for instance, will experience an increase in demand which calls for a corresponding increase in goods being supplied. Thus, it can be noted that the overall rate in household demand will relatively increase given the increase in wages. On the other hand, interest rates may greatly alter or shift the persisting demand from households towards a certain good. For instance, a higher interest rates for purchased loans by households will certainly result to a higher real cost of purchase in the fulfillment of all payments made for the loan. It is quite apparent that an increase of 2% in interest rates from 4% to 6% will most certainly have a corresponding effect on the actual cost of the good purchased. For the most part, higher interest rates translate to higher cost of purchases, decreased household spending given a fixed rate of wages, and a lesser spending on other goods which result to a corresponding decrease in the demand for those other goods. The price of leisure also has a significant role in comprehending the patterns in household demand and consumer choices. For instance, higher prices in the cost of airplane travels would entail that the consumer will opt for the airline provider with the least cost. A decline in the preference for airlines with comparatively higher airline prices will most likely be felt assuming that a given set of consumers have fixed income. Budget constraints in an environment of increasing prices in leisure enable one to view the household demand for existing leisure. Indeed, it has been observed that several market trends can be viewed and analyzed using the perceptions on household behavior and demand for certain goods and products. The interrelationships existing between the market trend and the household behavior is clear although at some point several exceptions would have to be made. Essential to this understanding is the view that there may or may not be actual budget constraints and that prices of commodities may actually shift even without the presence of the shift such as a decline or incline in the demand from households. Nevertheless, there are many cases in which household behavior has its implications on the existing market trends. References French, P. (2007). When the Best Buy Is No Buy. The Wall Street Journal(August 7). Hamermesh, D. S. (1977). A Note on Income and Substitution Effects in Search Unemployment. The Economic Journal, 87(346), 312. Hopkins, J. , Levin, C. , & Haddad, L. (1994). Women’s Income and Household Expenditure Patterns: Gender or Flow? Evidence from Niger. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 76(5), 1219. Zhu, E. (2007). China’s Battle Against Inflation Puts Noodle Makers in Hot Water. The Wall Street Journal(August 29), B11.

Ethical Framework

What does it mean to be ethical? What does it mean to be ethical? Ethics is derived from the Greek word ethos. Ethics to me can be defined as always doing the right thing all the time. Everyone has their own moral principles that decide his/her behavior. Everyone is completely different in how they were raised and taught in what was right and wrong. As stated by Santa Clara University, â€Å"ethics refers to standards of behavior that tell us how human beings ought to act in the many situations in which they find themselves-as friends, parents, children, citizens, businesspeople, teachers, professionals, and so on† (Santa Clara University, 2010).A lot of people will get ethics confused with it being the same as their feelings. In fact, it is totally opposite. It is that way because when people generally get angry with something or someone and then they will typically follow that up with doing something bad. There are certain ethics people should follow in their everyday lives. Whether you know it or not but if you drive every day and you choose to drive the speed limit, not to commit murder or even not to rob a bank you are following the rules and regulations that were implemented by our government.I know from a personal level about doing the right thing and being ethical when one of my friends was working a bakery. My friend left that job and took the recipe and started making her own cookies and went out on the street and sold them cookies to the bakery’s current customers and future customers. Not to mention this was the bakery’s best cookie that was voted on by its customers. Pretty soon the owner realized his sales were going down and quickly realized that it was his former employee selling his product without the benefit.He eventually filed a lawsuit against my friend. Now what my friend did was not only fair and right but was also considered unethical. My friend had pay a fee back to her former boss and had to give up the recipe and not do that again. In my everyday life I choose to be ethical in everything I do. I choose to do the right things when it comes to doing something that I know I shouldn’t be doing. One thing that comes to mind of me not being ethical was when I was not of the legal age to drink alcohol. I know that I would drink every now and then when I was in high school.I thought it was the cool thing to do and hang out with my friends while I did it. Then when I came to Brevard it got worse being around a lot of my friends that would peer pressure me. Growing up I had two great parents that taught me to always do the right thing. While doing it I knew it would be ethical to not pick a beer up and drink it seeing how the law stated that you had to be at least twenty one years of age to consume it. My parents have always told me, â€Å"Would you still do what you’re doing if I was sitting right behind you? But also on the other hand I do not consider it being unethical if I were to do something that didn’t really have that much harm, like for example lying to a friend. According to Cornell University, â€Å"Many acts that would be widely condemned as unethical are not prohibited by law† (Legal Information Institute, 1992). When deciding on what would be considered ethical and non-ethical, you would have to use your judgment of how you were raised to determine the certain actions. I know for a fact that when and if I have kids I will definitely raise them the way my grandparents and my parents have raised me.If I can do that then I will know for a fact that I will be proud of my kids and they will be properly raised. REFERENCES Legal Information Institute. (1992). Retrieved September 9, 2012, from Cornell University Law School: http://www. law. cornell. edu/wex/ethics Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (2005, December 20). Retrieved September 9, 2012, from Personal Identity and Ethics: http://plato. stanford. edu/entries/identity-ethics/ Santa C lara University. (2010). A Framework for Thinking Critically. Retrieved September 8, 2012, from http://www. scu. edu/ethics/practicing/decision/framework. html

Crossing the Frontier Essays

Crossing the Frontier Essays Crossing the Frontier Essay Crossing the Frontier Essay Katherine Meyer stood in the doorway of what once was her beautiful 18th century town house. The hard struggle of six years of war had reduced her home to little more than a skeleton of its former self. Her threadbare kitchen had no roof. The window frames still stood, but the glass had long since been blown out. The lack of heating made the house deathly cold, as if trying to replicate the atmosphere outside. She stood in the alcove and surveyed the desolate landscape that once was bustling Berlin. She used to complain about the amount of noise and traffic that passed her house every morning; she used to detest the loud waiters and musicians that played in the cafà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½s on the pavement.That was such a long time ago now, long replaced by the dead, crumbling city that lay before her. Death was so apparent here, it hit Katherine in the face every time she looked out at her town. Derelict buildings lined every potholed street, many without roofs or floors. Sometimes Katherine wou ld stumble upon a house completely intact by the chaos surrounding it, and it would remind Katherine of a happier time. But as soon as she looked around again she would sink further into the depression of war. She could not remember the last time she had slept throughout the night, as the relentless pounding of shells and incessant chattering of gunfire resounded throughout Berlin, penetrating even the thickest walls.Katherine Meyer had heard that the Soviets had arrived two days ago, which was now obvious as the amount of shelling and gunfire had increased tenfold. All of her friends had left Berlin years ago to seek safety in the countryside, but Katherines seriously ill father had kept her in Berlin. She had not heard any news of her father since the Soviets had captured that area of Berlin, and she feared the worst. She realised, standing in the doorway of her home, that if she intended to leave Berlin alive, then she must leave straight away. No news from her father in this cas e meant bad news, and she wasnt going to stay in Berlin to find out. Remaining in the city meant certain death. She ran upstairs, and changed into her khaki clothes that she had stowed away. She quickly filled a small bag with what remaining food and water she had left. As she stepped out onto the street, its surface scarred by years of warfare, she realised that Berlin was surrounded, and the only way she was going to get out was to go straight through the Soviet lines. She was either going to get out of Berlin or die trying.She walked swiftly, for she dreaded the sound of an oncoming shell or the sound of a Soviet tank coming in her direction. Unfortunately she knew much more than she should about how to keep out of the way of enemy fire. Her plan was to try and cross the Soviet lines at its narrowest point, which she thought would be the eastern side of Berlin. She paced down side streets and alleyways, following a map she had carefully drawn in her head. She turned into the Bà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ckerstraà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½e, famous for being the street with the best bakery in Berlin. She rounded the corner and stopped in horror. What yesterday evening had been a prospering, ambitious, family run business was now a pile of rubble. The wooden sign that read Bà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ckerei lay amongst the carnage, broken in half, reminding passers by of what might have been. She knew all too well what would have happened to the baker and his wife, and shuddered with dread at the thought. The rubble itself was blocking the road, rising about five feet in the air, and was impassable. Katherine went to turn the other way, and came face to face with a Soviet soldier.Katherines first instinct was to turn and run, attempt to scramble over the remains of the bakery. However, she noticed that the Soviets left hand was firmly in his pocket, as if he was clutching onto something. A gun, Katherine thought. She stood in silence, facing him, a thousand scenarios racing inside her head, trying to thi nk of a way out. Just as she was about to say something, the Soviet soldier went to speak. Katherine closed her eyes. To her sheer amazement, he started to sing. He was more shouting than singing, and Katherine quickly realised he was drunk. He was gently swaying from side to side, as if he no longer had full command over his legs.He suddenly pulled his hand from his pocket, and Katherines heart stopped. Drunk men could be very unpredictable. In a split second he had pulled an object from his pocket, and raised it to Katherine. Her heart skipped a beat. Her mouth went dry. She risked a glance at the object being pointed at her and relief flowed through her veins. She saw it was a flask. He raised it to her and then to his lips. Katherine seized the opportunity and shoved him, pushed him as hard as she could. He stumbled backwards, tripped over a slab of concrete and lay motionless on the floor. Knocked out. Katherine quickly stepped over him and ran.She ran for a full twenty minutes , across the barren streets of Berlin. She knew she was running east, and the gunfire was becoming louder. She thought she was not far from the Soviet lines. She continued in the same direction for another few hundred metres, and then turned off into an alleyway in the hope of avoiding some of the Soviet forces. Katherine noticed a washing line hanging across the alley, clothes dripping with water, immune from the war that raged so near. She noticed a young boy, nine or ten years old, motioning to her. He was wearing an old grey jumper, and blue trousers that were extremely ripped and dirty. His face, too, had smears of mud on it, his blonde hair stuck to his forehead. Katherine looked into his eyes, grey and listless, eyes that had seen things far worse than a ten-year-old should.He could see she was lost and shaken, and quickly lead Katherine into a dilapidated house. He ran up the stairs and onto the roof, where Katherine was presented with a clear view of what was left of Berlin . Her suppositions had been correct, for she was now only a mile from the Soviet lines. The boy was alone, and she could see that he, too, was frightened. She realised that a young woman and her son would look far less suspicious trying to leave Berlin than a young woman alone. She would not attract as much attention to herself. Above all, she wanted to help the helpless young boy that was standing in front of her. She grabbed his hand, dirty and hot, and told him to lead her towards the Soviet lines. He understood the plan, and started to lead her back down the stairs and onto the streets.Katherine approached the mass of Soviet soldiers with extreme caution, keeping her head down. She told the young boy to do the same, and to avoid eye contact with any soldier. The further through the throng of soldiers they went, the tighter they gripped each others hand. They picked their way through potholes, campfires, tents and dancing Soviet soldiers, many of whom, Katherine noticed, were dru nk. The smell of alcohol was strong in the air. Suddenly, the young boy stumbled, his tired legs faltering for a single moment. He fell at the feet of a Soviet, who instantly recognised him as a German. Katherine pulled him up, and clamped a hand in his shoulder. She stared at the Soviet, and he stared back. She saw kindness in his eyes, and he smiled at her. He moved aside, and let them pass. She was eternally grateful to him, even though she would never see the soldier again.They carried on walking for another three or four miles, until they came to a bridge. Katherine decided to stop for a moment, and dangle her legs into the refreshingly ice cold water that flowed below. The young boy scuttled off under the bridge, noticing something hidden in the tall grass. With all the strength he could muster he pulled out a rusty bicycle, with two flat tires and no saddle. She smiled, and then she laughed. She hugged the young boy.

Synthesis Reaction Definition and Examples

Synthesis Reaction Definition and Examples A synthesis reaction or direct combination reaction is one of the most common types of chemical reactions. In a synthesis reaction, two or more chemical species combine to form a more complex product. A B → AB In this form, a synthesis reaction is easy to recognize because you have more reactants than products. Two or more reactants combine to make one larger compound. One way to think of synthesis reactions is that they are the reverse of a decomposition reaction. Synthesis Reaction Examples In the simplest synthesis reactions, two elements combine to form a binary compound (a compound made of two elements). The combination of iron and sulfur to form iron (II) sulfide is an example of a synthesis reaction: 8 Fe S8 → 8 FeS Another example of a synthesis reaction is the formation of potassium chloride from potassium and chlorine gas: 2K(s) Cl2(g) → 2KCl(s) As in these reactions, its common for a metal to react with a nonmetal. One typical nonmetal is oxygen, as in the everyday synthesis reaction of rust formation: 4 Fe (s) 3 O2 (g) → 2 Fe2O3 (s) Direct combination reactions arent always just simple elements reacting to form compounds. Another everyday example of a synthesis reaction is the reaction that forms hydrogen sulfate, a component of acid rain. Here, the sulfur oxide compound reacts with water to form a single product: SO3 (g) H2O (l) → H2SO4 (aq) So far, the reactions you have seen have only one product molecule on the right-hand side of the chemical equation. Be on the lookout for synthesis reactions with multiple products. A familiar example of a more complex synthesis reaction is the overall equation for photosynthesis: CO2 H2O → C6H12O6 O2 The glucose molecule is more complex than either carbon dioxide or water. Remember, the key to identifying a synthesis or direct combination reaction is to recognize two or more reactants form a more complex product molecule! Predicting Products Certain synthesis reactions form predictable products: Combining two pure elements will form a binary compound.The product formed by reacting a metallic oxide and carbon dioxide will be a carbonate.Binary salts react with oxygen to form a chlorate.

Property law assignment task about self-declaration of trusteeship Essay

Property law assignment task about self-declaration of trusteeship - Essay Example Whereby, courts of chancery may have to strike a balance of conscience between â€Å"equity will not perfect an imperfect gift† and â€Å"equity looks at the intent not the form†. Where the settlor is the sole trustee there is no further requirement that the subject matter of the trust are vested in them, ‘constitution’ is automatic. The duality of ownership principle in this type of trust has been justified by three very prominent cases providing for varied approaches in their reasoning. The House of Lords case of Vandervell v IRC2 held that the settlor’s original equitable interest passes to the Beneficiary by the presumption of its existence ab inito. Whereas Lord Browne-Wilkinson in Westdeutsche Landesbank v Islington LBC3 proposed a different view of this reasoning stating, the original equitable interest as â€Å"dormant† and being â€Å"carved† out of the settlor’s legal interest. Also consider the case of Re DKLR Holdings 4 in the High court of Australia where Brennan J opines â€Å"An equitable interest is not carved out of a legal estate but impressed upon it†. This legal reasoning was also applied by McLelland J in the later case of re Transphere Pty Ltd. Practically these justifications form no part of judicial reasoning in reaching decisions but provide for the legal reasoning behind the creation of trusts. The first certainty the courts are looking to satisfy in an express trust is the certainty of intention i.e. words construed as to be imperative (Knight v Knight)5. Courts may apply deductive reasoning to ascertain or infer an intention but three requirements need to be satisfied to identify it. Firstly, â€Å"what did [the settlor] intend to be the sanction? Was it to be the authority of the court of Justice or the conscience of the devisee?†- LJ Christian (McCormick v Grogan)6. The word ‘trust’ is not important to legitimise the intention of the settlor to create a trust, only his intention of a binding obligation need be conveyed(Re Kayford)7. Secondly, the intention is made manifest (Re Vandervell’s Trusts (No.2)). Precatory words to benefit another are not sufficient (Jones v Lock)8 reaffirmed in Lambe v Eames9. Also the courts may take a different approach in finding such an intention in the contested declaration, it was held in Comiskey v Bowring-Hanbury10 that the courts will consider the context of the words used as important and may infer an intention to create a valid trust. Thirdly, the test of construction of the manifested intent is objective irrespective of the settlor’s actual intentions (Gissing v Gissing)11. As mentioned earlier precatory words are not sufficient to ascertain a valid self-declaration of trusteeship but the courts have not gone so far as to particularize words deemed to be sufficient. In Richards v Delbridge it was stated that the settlor does not need to use particular words: ‘†¦he ne ed not use words ‘I declare myself trustee’, but he must do something which is equivalent to it, and use expressions which have that meaning.’ In Re Cozens, Neville J stated what was required in order to establish that an owner had effectively declared himself trustee of his own property: ‘†¦.in each case where a declaration of trust is relied on the Court must be satisfied that a present, irrevocable declaration of tru