Public Schools Segregation Essay

I was recently struck by one of the political cartoons in the SacramentoBee newspaper, which presented an image comparison of drinking fountains in two schools. It quickly reminded me of the racist Jim Crow laws from the 1880s-1960s and how racial segregation existed almost everywhere in the United States at that time. However, I realize that this cartoon doesn’t portray the concept of racial segregation with a Jim Crow joke, but it makes a commentary on social segregation among public schools in the United States today. I slowly realized that all American public schools are not the same due to funding. The huge difference exists in the public school system because their funding is associated with local property taxes. If a school is located in an affluent area with wealthier residents who pay high property taxes, schools will receive more funding (School Funding 1). Do you think this system is fair? If I ask affluent parents, they probably would answer that they pay high property taxes, so their money should go straight to nourish public schools in their areas. Meanwhile, if I were to ask parents in low socioeconomic areas, they would say that funds should be distributed from the state and not by the county, which would help in reducing the inequality between schools. Although sharing funds is not fair for many affluent people who pay more taxes, we should encourage state governments to aid the poorer schools more because it helps to reduce poverty and prevent crimes in lower income neighborhoods. The first reason that poorer schools should get more funds is to reduce poverty. People in low-income areas might not get the direct effect from school funding, but in the future, their kids will be benefited greatly. For those in the low income bracket, education can be a legitimate way to help them climb out of poverty. However, in reality, most of these poorer schools today are still not treated equally as their richer counterparts. Lisa Black, Chicago Tribune reporter reviewed the vast difference between two public schools in the Chicago area to illustrate this point. The first school, Taft Elementary School in Lockport can’t offer students any arts, language or technology classes because of the limited budget available. Meanwhile, Rondout Elementary School, near Lake Forest, offers language programs such as Spanish in every grade including kindergarten. Most students use laptops in the class, and they can enjoy band and chorus classes. They can choose to study various art, drama and dance as well (Black 1). If poor children had the same opportunity as their counterparts, imagine the growth it could represent to them educational. If they enjoyed studying, they could move on to obtain higher education by attending to colleges, meaning better-paying jobs. Therefore, funds should be available for all people. Young minds deserve the opportunity to choose the programs that they want to study. They should be able to study art and any other subject, as they desire to, regardless of how much property tax their parents pay. In general, I believe that a good education is the foundation that can pave the way to a better quality of life. Aside from reducing poverty, preventing crimes is another reason that poorer schools should receive more funds. Crimes in lower income areas derive from being unable to sustain a decent living. These types of crimes can be directly connected to a lack of education and opportunity. Geoffrey Wodtke, a sociologist at the University of Michigan, mentions in his article that kids in poor neighborhood have less chance to graduate from high school (Wodtke 1). He also states: Poor neighborhoods are isolated and racially segregated, with none of the quality schools, day care, grocery stores, pharmacies, and parks that can help promote a child’s development and academic achievement; and they are disproportionately smoggy, crime-ridden and dilapidated. All of these factors, the researchers note, have been linked to poor performance in school, often culminating in dropouts. (1) Wodtke claims that poor neighborhoods affect school performance, and this can impact a child’s learning directly. Some children quit the schools because they have no interest in schooling. Dropping out is and having no high school diploma will limit a job opportunities. When they are not qualified for many jobs, they can’t escape the pitfalls of poverty. Therefore, some of them end up finding illegal ways to make money while others affiliate themselves with gangs (Wodtke 2). This is the reason why school is so important, because it is a good place to start children on equal footing educationally with the chance to better themselves in the future. However, schools in low-income areas still need more funds to afford having a variety of programs such as language, art and sports. Schools also need to be able to hire and retain qualified teachers. Moreover, every school should be able to afford sport programs, which is a good physical outlet for youthful energy and encourages good health and teamwork. Art programs should also be available because they provide an outlet to express creativity. A wider variety of activities and educational alternatives can create brighter and more promising futures if given the opportunities. These children can become doctors, football players or artists in the future as long as they get a fair amount of support from the beginning. It’s difficult to change the living environment in poorer neighborhoods, but we can start by improving the school system to reshape the future of that community. Some people think that pouring money into poor schools is wasteful. They believe the reason schools become poorly performing ones is because they are full of under-achieving students who lack interest in the curriculum. Even if some schools get more funds, it will not change anything. It’s like treating symptoms, but not starting at the root of the problem. They believe that the government should provide more funding to schools with higher achieving students who potentially will become successful contributing members of the community. In other words, the state government should invest in the right schools and students. However, I believe this thought to be completely wrong. People who believe this will never know the potential of students in lower-income schools unless they are given a fair and equal opportunity to succeed. If poorer schools receive more funding, they will be able to provide better facilities and a stronger variety in the curriculum. These factors would increase the chances that we see more students grow into productive and successful adults despite coming from lower class surroundings. When every school has the same resources and variety of programs available to their youths, political cartoons like this one will be a thing of the past because the educational system’s inequalities will no longer be a joke. We should call for action on the funding to reform poorer schools because education can help in reducing poverty and crimes in these neighborhoods. Although affluent parents who work harder and pay more property taxes might oppose an idea of distributed funding to poor schools, they should think about economic consequences. If a gap between rich schools and poor schools is still expanding, how can the children of today become responsible adults in the future? If this country is the land of freedom and opportunity for everyone, I should hope that schools would be the first place to start by giving equal opportunities to all children. Poorer schools should receive equal opportunities like those of the children in wealthier communities. Schools should be a sacred place where all children of any social standing are afforded the same opportunities of unlimited educational growth. The more we see children shine in their youth, the more likely they will rise up to become successful in the future and this will help strengthen the future of the United States’ socially and economically.

Multinational companies Essay

To a lesser extent, multinational corporation such as Wal-Mart are harmful to the global economy. Multinational corporation is a corporation or company that is registered in more than one country or that has operations in two or more countries. Global economy generally refers to the economy, which is based on economies of all of the world’s countries’ national economies. Also, global economy can be seen as the economy of global society and national economics. Globalization is the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. Wal-Mart is an example of globalization due to the fact that Wal-Mart is present in multiple countries and it unites foreign countries with jobs. Sam Walton founder of Wal-Mart was born in 1918 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Mr. Walton opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962 at the age of 44 in Rogers, Arkansas. Sam Walton died in 1992. Mr. Walton left many objects and knowledge behind; one thing was this quote â€Å"If we work together, we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone, we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better life. † In short this meant Wal-Mart was going to build better customer service for its shoppers and they were going to improve the communities that it was present in. The real question is, did Wal-Mart actually do what they said they would do? Wal-Mart may have contributed thousands of jobs. They have even claimed that they supported the communities, and of course kept prices low so you could save. However to a lesser extent multinational corporation such as Wal-Mart is harmful to the global economy because Wal-Mart creates contaminations and destroys many communities. Wal-Marts main goal is to try to make as much money as possible. For example the company has been caught cutting corners. Also they have been irrational to their employees. Multinational corporations such as Wal-Mart are irrational to the employees because many managers or corporate staffs are racist or sexist to their employees. Wal-Mart does not have the appropriate benefits that an employee needs. They also have immoral pay with horrible hours to go with it. Wal-Mart has been racist to their employees, by insulting them verbally with stereotypical traits that fall from their heritage. For example they have used racial wording to black people. They have also been sexist to woman by putting them down and not giving them the proper rewards they so desperately work for. A example of this is a woman denied a mangers position because she was a woman. The employees’ benefits are immoral. Most employees have to seek government funding to support their families. Most employees get there minimum wage of there province or territory which is not so bad, however the manager gives the full time and part time employees hardly any hours, to try to keep the store’s budget low. Multinational corporations such, as Wal-Mart, destroy part of the environment and community that they are present in. The Wal-Mart franchise causes small businesses to shut down. Their own parking lots are not safe and the stores pollute public rivers and streams. With their low prices and low operating cost small business cannot compete with those prices. Because of this those businesses cannot make money and fall apart. They have sold their store at a lower price then intended because when a Wal-Mart shows up relaters know buildings will become vacant and almost un able to sell unless at a lower price. Wal-Mart stores pollute rivers and streams by leveeing out pesticides in their parking lots. From that action when weather changings it can cause the harmful chemicals to drip of the product and find it way in to a cities drinking water. In the stores they have cameras to catch what ever is going on, however outside they due not. From this poor choice many crimes have been committed out side the stores own doors such as rape and murder. Also they don’t have someone monitoring the cameras so if something happens, another person would have to help or report it. Multinational corporations such as Wal-Mart cut corners. Wal-Mart has many sweatshops around the world with inhuman working conditions. Those employees have absolutely no benefits and Wal-Mart use child labor. In the factories, they are mostly located in third world areas, the factories have no air conditioning, unreasonable hours of work with less then a dollar a day for pay. Also in some factories you are almost forced to live with your coworkers in a tiny room with hardly anything to save on money. The pay is even worse for kids because to Wal-Mart they are more expendable. To a lesser extent Multinational Corporation such as Wal-Mart is harmful to the global economy. Due to the fact that Wal-Mart is racist and sexist to their employees, it does not have the appropriate benefits for their employees. They pollute rivers and streams and destroy small business in a community. Wal-Mart supports child labor and sweatshops. To conclude this position paper multinational corporations such as Wal-Mart are harmful to the global economy because they their true colors of who they are and that all they want to do at the end of the day is make money.

Electronic medical records systems

INTRODUCTIONScientific and social changes of the 21st century have brought a radical change in the Health care delivery system with excellent technological innovations. One such innovation is the Electronic Medical Record System. An electronic medical record (EMR) is a medical record in digital format.The health care sector is accountable today with an alarming rise in medical litigations.This legal accountability of the health care system has given rise to a number of documents that have to be recorded ,preserved and made available to the patients on demand.The documentation includes, 1.Diagnosis and Treatment Report which very Health Care delivery center today provides to the patient on the details of the diagnosis of the disease with follow up instructions, the Medicine information and the allergy reactions that could follow; dietary restrictions, dos and don’ts, restrictions and exercises prescribed. They take an acknowledgement either from the patient or an authorized per son after receiving the report.This documentation serves a key purpose in medical practice.2.The Health Record which is the proper documentation of records of all treatments and medications, as well as a record of a patient’s reactions and behavior. The health record is the written and legal evidence of treatment. This reflects only facts and not the judgment of the doctor. Careful and accurate documentation is vital for patient welfare and that of the doctor.Documentation includes, medication administered, treatments done with date & time, factual, objective and complete data, with no blank spaces left in charting, on flow sheets or on check lists, calls made to health care team, client’s response, signature of the nurse in every entry and consent for treatment. A private hospital inMilan, Italy, has been asked to handover for police verification of the medical records of at least twenty one cases who had heart valve surgery, following complaints that the surgeon repl aced heart valves even in patients who did not need them replaced.3. Informed Consent, which is a document, recorded before any terminally ill person receives his chemotherapy or an invasive procedure. The patient or his/her health attorney should give a well-documented informed consent before such procedures.Informed consent means that tests, treatments and medications have been explained to the person, as well as outcomes, possible complications and alternative procedures. Any medical hospital can be pushed into a center of a litigation storm after allegations without informed consent.4.Medical Billing and Insurance, which are part of the health care system in USA.Electronic medical record keeping facilitates access of patient data by physicians at any given location ,accurate   claims processing by insurance companies , building automated checks for drug and allergy interactions,clinical notes and laboratory reports.The term electronic medical record can be expanded to include systems which keep track of other relevant medical information.THE TECHNOLOGYFive levels of an Electronic HealthCare Record (EHCR) keeping can be classified as follows;1.The Automated Medical Record ,which is a paper-based record with some computer-generated documents. 2.The Computerized Medical Record (CMR), which makes the documents of level 1 electronically available. 3.The Electronic Medical Record (EMR) which restructures and optimizes the documents of the previous levels ensuring inter-operability of all documentation systems.4.The Electronic Patient Record (EPR) which is a patient-centered record with information from multiple institutions.5.The Electronic Health Record (EHR) adds general health-related information to the EPR that is not necessarily related to a disease. The development of standards for EMR interoperability is vital because of the fact that without interoperable EMRs, practicing physicians, pharmacies and health care institutions cannot share patient informat ion, which is necessary for timely patient-centered care.There are many standards relating to specific operation of   EMRs in the USA and across the globe. These include â€Å"ASTM International continuity of care record † in which patient health summary is based upon XML; â€Å"ANS1 X12†,which is a set of protocols used for transmitting any data including billing information; â€Å"CEN†,which is the European Standard for EMR; â€Å"DICOM†,A popular standard in radiology record keeping and â€Å"HL7† which is commonly used in clinical document architecture applications.There are many software programs specially developed for electronic record keeping. This includes ‘Doctors partner’, an advanced Electronic Medical Records (EMR) System with Integrated Appointment Scheduling Billing, Prescription Writer, Transcription Module, Document Management and Workflow Management built to meet HIPAA standards. ‘Practice Partner Patient Reco rds’ is an award winning electronic medical records (EMR) system, allowing practices to store and retrieve patient charts electronically. There are innumerable such branded medical record softwares available today (Ringold et.al.,2000)The American Medical Association and 13 other medical groups representing 500,000 physicians have signaled their intention to go electronic with the AMA formed Physicians’ â€Å"Electronic Health Record Coalition† to recommend affordable, standards-based technology to their constituents. President Bush has also promoted a nationwide computerized medical records system in a recent visit to a children's hospital at Vanderbilt University.THE COSTThe National Academy of Sciences report states that the health care industry spent between $10 and $15 billion on information technology in 1996. RED medic Inc., a California based firm have introduced a cheap online medical record service with an annual membership of about $35.The company Web site will collect, store and access everything ever wanted by health-care professionals to know about a patient’s medications, allergies, immunizations, conditions, doctors, emergency contacts and insurance providers. The system will store and transmit more complex information such as advance directives, EKGs and other essential medical documents and diagnostic imaging techniques. This health information service is capable of delivering information to any doctor or hospital, anytime, within the United States.RISK ASSESSMENTAlthough the issue of the privacy of patient records has received due attention in the last two years with arguments that Electronic medical records presents new threats to the privacy of patient-identifiable medical records, The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 paved ways to protect the privacy of medical records Thus, any violation on these lines will be violation of the basic law.Under data protection legislation and the law i n USA, the responsibilty for patient records in any form including films and tracings from diagnostic imaging procedures such as x-ray, CT, PET, MRI, ultrasound, etc.   lies always on the creator and custodian of the record, who is usually a health care practice or facility and   the patient owns the information within the record and has a right to view the originals, and to obtain copies under law. Thus, electronic medical record system is a technologically viable cost effective system that has to be utilized by the health care sector governed by legal and ethical principles.CONCLUSIONEMRs can serve a great purpose by making the patient data available to any authorized physician   or   patient anywhere and anytime towards more transparent health care   when monitored effectively.REFERENCEHallvard Là ¦rum, MD, Tom H. Karlsen, MD, and Arild Faxvaag, MD, PhD. â€Å"Effects of scanning and eliminating paper based medical records on hospital physician’s clinical workà ‚  Ã‚   practice†.. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association 10: 588-595. 2003.Medical Board of California: Medical Records – Frequently Asked Questions.Ringold, JP Santell, and PJ Schneider. â€Å"ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in acute care   settings: dispensing and administration–1999†. American Journal of Health-System   Pharmacy 57 (19): 1759-75. 2000.US Code of Federal Regulations, â€Å"of Individually Identifiable Health Information†   Title 45, Volume 1,October 1, 2005.

Week8 cal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Week8 cal - Essay Example nts with regard to carrying out research internally or externally, and also how related matters or politics within the organisation could best be managed. Various types of organisational politics were discussed. I learnt about PAR i.e participatory action research, and about grounded research i.e. research where data is collected and then a theory developed, rather than the more usual creation of a hypothesis in the first instance. Research ethics was considered both from the reciprocity point of view i.e where researchers and those under consideration could both benefit, and also from a safety/informed consent/confidentiality view point. Bell and Bryman, (2007) stated that ethics should not just be a check list to be completed, but an aspirational part of research design. The members of my learning set helped me on the subject of research being emancipatory, that is free from imposed constraints, or not. The main features of PAR are diversity, case orientation, collaboration, the linking of social action to scientific knowledge, eclecticism, using local knowledge and the emergent process. In my particular situation it is collaboration between the various sectors within the company which needs to be improved and this will require the participation and intervention of top management. Zuber-Skerritt and Perry in 2002 made suggestions as to how to both connect, and at the same time differentiate, between the theories behind a piece of research and the pragmatic actions required. I will be able to follow their advice during the preparation for my thesis. My major concern is improving the motivation levels of employees as I stated earlier. The creation of knowledge and its dissemination are improving. There are employees who have come gradually to understand the importance of this, but others remain seemingly overly concerned about their job security, feeling that if lots of information is created and shared around this could place their further employment in

Compare and Analyse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Compare and Analyse - Essay Example This has been caused by a sudden advancement in times and seasons. The times when general technology as well and information technology was left for the media alone, no longer exist (Wherle, 2009, pg76). Currently, almost everyone in the world is an IT expert since people have the idea of how to use a technology. However, it should be considered that this is the main aspect of life, that has witnessed a continuous advancement, hence emergence of the term technology development. Documentaries have been made using technology. Bob Dylan’s â€Å"Don’t look back† and Michael’s â€Å"Roger and Me†, are some to the documentaries that portrays a sense of a well used technology (Pennebaker, 1968, pg65). This essay compares the two documentary’s use of technology. Where, apart from the message in the movies, technology has proved a phenomenon to put into considering when watching this movie. First, it is noted here that, the media portrays a gap between message and medium, where Dylan’s’ manager by the name Albert Grossman who is the movie producer airs his client. Many will take this incident as a bad omen, however to him; he literally does it without thinking or rather taking it as a bad omen. Notably, during the cutting and editing of the documentary, it is clear as per the presentations that Grossman’s presence is felt (Eason, 2010, pg26). As much as this might be considered as an artistic job, the truth is that it portrayed a flattering idea at the edge. In this context, it can be noted that the question of centralization became centrally framed; this is evident prior to the presentation of each character. The film is made to be viewed in a very different phenomenon. The sound of observational documentary such as Don’t Look Back is muddy that makes it difficult for a person to differentiate particular person speech and the general uproar. In essence, the quality of the sound in the documentary is wanting since it is difficult to distinguish a

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Essay

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod - Essay Example Numerous famous artists performed at Llangollen which included Red Army Ensemble, Luciano Pavarotti, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Julian Lloyd Webber. The Sunday Evening Gala concert, which is the final event, features performers like Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Kiri Te Kanawa, Montserrat Caballe and James Galway. In the year 2009, performances by Sir Willard White, Barbara Dickson, Natasha Marsh and Blake were given. In addition to this, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera performed the spectacular James Bond 007.Public relation is very important for any business or event. Without spreading the word and creating goodwill, the business or event would be lost in this globally competitive world. It is a process through which maximum communication can be managed and maintained by the public and the organization. Public relations are required to build the rapport with customers, employees, the general public, voters, and investors. Public relation includes corporate communication, media relations, analyst relations, internal communication, investor relations and labor relations. A balance and agreement in all these dimensions will make the business and event a success (Gregory, 2004).Earlier, due to the absence of internet, the PR campaign used to be limited and a hard thing to do. The word of mouth and few posters were used to spread the word. In the modern technological revolution with the Internet, PR building has become easier, fast and very lucrative.... The Sunday Evening Gala concert, which is the final event, features performers like Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Kiri Te Kanawa, Montserrat Caballe and James Galway. In year 2009, performances by Sir Willard White, Barbara Dickson, Natasha Marsh and Blake were given. In addition to this, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera performed the spectacular James Bond 007 (Pruett and McGuirk, 2004). PR Campaign and Llangollen International Musical Festival Eisteddfod Public relation is very important for any business or event. Without spreading the word and creating goodwill, the business or event would be lost in this globally competitive world. It is a process through which maximum communication can be managed and maintained with the public and the organization. Public relations are required to build the rapport with customers, employees, general public, voters and investors. Public relation includes corporate communication, media relations, analyst relations, internal communication, inves tor relations and labor relations. A balance and agreement in all these dimensions will make the business and event a success (Gregory, 2004). Earlier, due to absence of internet, the PR campaign used to be limited and a hard thing to do. The word of mouth and few posters were used to spread the word. In the modern technological revolution with the Internet, PR building has become easier, fast and very lucrative. Llangollen Eisteddfod is an international platform that welcomes performers from all around the world. It would not only require the local public relations campaign but global representation and connection to increase the number of participants and audiences. Eisteddfod music and dance festivals has

Translation review 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Translation review 5 - Essay Example A collective noun is a noun, which denotes a group of entities, and can be distinguished "from other nouns by a distinct patter of number contrast." It is therefore a single collective entity. It usually allows a flexible choice of pronoun as this can be either singular or plural depending on the perception of individuality within the group. As far as translation is concerned, the choice reflects a nuance in meaning relating to gender. English not only has a wider range of collective nouns than Arabic, it also "gives the speaker many such choices to express his attitude to the content of his message". And, as with translation in general, there are variations in the scope of meaning of words between languages. In Arabic, collective nouns "can be treated as singular depending on their form, and they can be treated as plural depending on their meaning" such as in sa’ara and sa’aru’ respectively. So pluralization of collectives is possible in both languages though the range of collectives is greater in English. Using examples of collective nouns, this study tests a group of 20 college students in backtranslating and presents the results with analysis. The hypothesis is that "testees are going to use the item group as the equivalent for most of the collective nouns of English." The findings showed that "most of the students faced problems in finding the exact equivalents for some of the nouns." The grammatical mistakes showed that "Arabic is richer in its grammatical system than English." The article addresses an issue in translation theory that has hitherto received little attention. It makes a thorough exploration of the issue of backtranslating by means of a test on sets of collective nouns. The number of testees is not much of an issue because in back translating we are concerned not with the quantity but the quality of the translation and the semantic precision. The topic is a good illustration of some of the difficulties of translating

Objective and Projective Techniques Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Objective and Projective Techniques - Assignment Example At such times, projective techniques can provide information about the covert aspects of an individual’s personality (Gregory, 2004). Projective techniques like the Rorschach’s Inkblots or the Thematic Apperception Test use ambiguous stimuli that need to be interpreted by the individual. There are no limits to the kind of interpretations possible; and thus, the test allows the clinician to understand aspects of the individual’s personality that may not be accessible to them otherwise (Anastasi, 1997). The more ambiguous the test material, the more likely it is to elicit honest responses that reflect latent aspects of personality. This is because when the test material is ambiguous, it is difficult for the individual to predict how a response would be interpreted (Gregory, 2004). Projective techniques are often criticized as having less reliability as compared to objective techniques. This criticism comes from the fact that there are many different interpretations of a response, and subjective evaluation can play a strong role in this process (Gregory, 2004). The validity of these tests is also difficult to verify as the motivations they measure are unconscious ones. In order to counter these criticisms, many clinicians have published means of standardizing the interpretations and research that helps in accepting them as valuable clinical tools (Anastasi, 1997). Projective techniques are useful in assessing personality as a global construct and to identify latent anxieties and attitudes (Anastasi, 1997). These tests provide valuable information about factors that the individual is unable to tap directly; and can help in bringing together the results of other objective tests (Gregory, 2004). The one concern is that over exposure to the test material can reduc e the efficacy of these tests; and that the interpretations are best used when supported or complimented by data from other more objective

Define Newtons 1st, 2nd and 3rd Laws. How do these relate to an Essay

Define Newtons 1st, 2nd and 3rd Laws. How do these relate to an exercise Give at least 3 examples - Essay Example It states that if a force is exerted on a body with mass m then the body would only accelerate or decelerate in the direction of the relative forces. Hence it can be concluded that F=ma where f is force, m is mass and a is acceleration. A real life example of the second law can be considered when the horsepower of a car is analyzed. If a car has a horsepower of 2300CC then it would move at a great speed. Similarly if the mass of this car is increased then the speed would decrease in the same manner. And lastly if the horsepower of the car is increased without changing the mass then the car would move at an even higher speed. The third law of Newton states that every action has an opposite reaction which would try to oppose the action in real. A real life example of this law can be seen when we are swimming or rowing. It is seen that as we push the water behind the water exerts a force in response which helps us move ahead. Both action and reaction can be seen in this

How public opinion and political movements are affected by social Essay

How public opinion and political movements are affected by social media in undeveloped countries - Essay Example There is additionally a feeling of correspondence despite the areas that individuals might be in, and consequently, long range informal communication destinations have made the world a significantly littler place. It is likewise feasible for people with similar interests to connect. By sharing preferences, detests, interests, diversions and so forth, individuals tend to draw nearer to each other despite the physical separation between them. From Twitter over Facebook to YouTube recordings, social media has turned out to be a standout amongst the most capable instruments for legislators and supporters in political battles. It has additionally proved to be prevalent among potential voters since they can connect with the applicant specifically and ask basic question clearly. Today, social media is active more then any other medium of technology. Any news or updates around the globe is easily and quickly available on social media. It is just because of its active participation around the globe. It is a modern technology from which the information is shared with the help of active participation and it gets spread quickly, no matter whether the information shared is genuine or fake.With interpersonal interaction destinations, political crusading adds to permeability to lawmaker's close to home and expert life.As they can record anyplace and these could be transferred at whatever time which circumvents like an illness among individuals and can be utilized for political additions.

Stats18 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stats18 - Essay Example Answer True False   Question 5    Measures of effect size, such as r2 or Cohen's d, are not greatly influenced by sample size. Answer True False Question 6    Measures of effect size, such as r2 or Cohen's d, are not greatly influenced by sample variance. Answer True False   Question 7    Which of the following is a major difference between a hypothesis test with the t statistic formula and the test with a z-score? Answer a. You must calculate the sample variance (or standard deviation) for the t statistic but not for the z-score. b. You must know the population variance (or standard deviation) for the z-score but not for the t statistic. c. You use the unit normal table to find critical values for the z-score test but not for the t test. d. All of the other options are major differences.   Question 8    If two samples are selected from the same population, under what circumstances will the two samples have exactly the same t statistic? Answer a. If the sample size ( n) is the same for both samples. b. If the samples are the same size and have the same mean. c. If the samples are the same size and have the same mean and have the same sample variance d. None of the other options are correct.   Question 9    A sample of n = 4 scores has SS = 48. What is the variance for this sample? Answer a. 12 b. 16 c. 4 d. 2   Question 10    A sample of n = 9 scores has SS = 72. What is the estimated standard error for the sample mean? Answer a. 9 b. 3 c. 1 d. cannot answer without knowing the sample mean   Question 11    Which set of sample characteristics is most likely to produce a significant t statistic? Answer a. a large sample size and a small sample variance b. a large sample size and a large sample variance c. a small sample size and a small sample variance d. a small sample size and a large sample variance   Question 12    A sample of n = 4 scores has SS = 48. What is the estimated standard error for this sample? Answer a. 12 b. 16 c. 4 d. 2   Question 13    When n is small (less than 30), the t distribution ____. Answer a. is almost identical in shape to the normal z distribution b. is flatter and more spread out than the normal z distribution c. is taller and narrower than the normal z distribution d. cannot be specified, making hypothesis tests impossible   Question 14    With ? = .01, the two-tailed critical region for a sample of n = 20 subjects would have boundaries of ____. Answer a. t =  ±2.845 b. t =  ±2.528 c. t =  ±2.539 d. t =  ±2.861   Question 15    As sample size increases ____. Answer a. the value of df also increases b. the t distribution becomes more like a normal distribution c. the critical values of t become smaller d. All of the other options are true as sample size increases.   Question 16    Two samples from the same population both have n = 10 scores with M = 45. If the t statistic is computed for each sample, then ____. Answer a. the two t statistics will be identic al b. the sample with the larger variance will produce the larger t statistic c. the sample with the smaller variance will produce the larger t statistic d. There is no way to predict the relationship between the two t statistics.   Question 17    In a hypothesis test using a t statistic, what is the influence of using a large sample? Answer a. A larger sample tends to lower the likelihood of rejecting the null hypothesis. b. A larger sample

Article and Game Essay Example for Free

Article and Game Essay Jenna Winckler had eight kills to pace Andes Central in its 3-1 victory over Bridgewater-Emery Monday night. The Eagles won by scores of 15-25, 25-7, 25-20, and 25-15. Amy Chykta had four service aces and 10 set assists, and Danielle Walder had 13 digs for Andes Central. Jessie VanLeur led the Huskies with five service aces, seven kills, and three blocks. Robbie Letcher had nine kills, and Kayla Olinger paced the defense with 16 digs. The Eagles are now 4-7 and host Scotland today. Bridgewater-Emery is 2-3 and hosts Freeman tonight in Emery. Andes Central’s junior varsity also won its match over the Huskies by scores of 25-17 and 15-15. You may want to use the above article as a guideline for future volleyball stories. Notice that the leading players’ kills, service aces, set assists, and blocks are mentioned. Since our paper comes out only once a month, we won’t worry about the next game or the record because these probably wouldn’t be accurate by the time people read the paper. Below are some action verbs that will make your sports headlines and articles livelier: SmashScoreShaveEarn TrounceFly byBattle withSqueak Past PulverizeSoar AboveSlide byBlast. TrampleSail PastSneak PastShatter Write 10 synonyms for the word beat that could be used in the following headline: Eagles Beat the Hawks. Write 3 better versions of the following sentence: Jenna had 11 rebounds, Chrissie had 9, and Casandra had 7. Strive for strong, vivid words and variety. * * * Write 3 better versions of the following sentence: Derrick had 22 points, Colter had 21 points, and Colten had 20 points. Strive for strong, vivid words and variety. * * * Write 3 better versions of the following sentence: The Eagles lost to the Hawks. (Feel free to change the subject order, if desired. Hopefully, we will never need to use one of these sentences, but if we do, we want to be as tactful as possible. ) * * * Number the typical order of how facts are written in a sports article. Which should come first, second, etc. (Hint: The date should never be first! ) _____ when _____ who_____ what _____ coach’s comments _____ where_____ how_____ why Sports Article Template http://www. weeklyreader. com/pdfs/sportsunit. pdf Before you can successfully write a sports article, you must be able to dissect one. Select a short article that interests you from the sports section of your local newspaper. Read it carefully and label it using the following categories. Label Definition/Example LEAD The lead of a sports article is creative and interesting. It grabs the reader’s attention by describing a scene, introducing a player, or using a quote. It should transport you to the game. Example: A heavy hush blanketed Fenway Park in Boston. The fans in the packed stadium stood silently, shoulder to shoulder under a charcoal-gray sky, as Manny Ramirez, the home run hitting Red Sox outfielder, stepped up to the plate. There were two outs and two men on base. The Sox were losing by one run. NUT The nut of a sports article is the paragraph that summarizes the main conflict and story. It is the place for vital information that doesn’t appear in the first paragraph—and if a reader wanted to stop reading at this point, they should walk away with all the necessary answers. Example: This was the last game of the 2003 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and their archrival, the New York Yankees. Not since 1918 had the Red Sox advanced to the World Series—and fans were watching with bated breath to see whether the curse would be broken. This was not to be. INFORMATIONThe body of a sports article sounds like a real news (Who, What, When,article. It includes complete information and details Where, Why, How)about a game, in logical order. Example: Who was the star player? How did the game end? What was the final play? The winning score? CONCLUSION The conclusion lets the reader know what will happen as a result of the events described. It does so in a creative and interesting way. Example: Everyone was surprised when the ball landed in Bernie Williams’s glove. A collective groan rose up from the Red Sox fans. Their team had lost. The Yankees had won again. How to Write a Game Story Writing Your Game Story http://www. joomple. com/how-to-write-high-school-game-story. htm The information presented here explains how to write a basic high school (or other) sports article. You can apply this information to writing game stories, articles, or other general news about your high school sports team. Last nights game, next weeks signings (athletes confirming their intentions to attend a certain college), upcoming rivalries, or other general, newsworthy pieces can be posted on Joomple. High school game stories are easy to write, once you get the hang of it. Basically, a high school sports game story has an opening and closing paragraph with the body of the story in between. Ill show you how to do this in a minute. But first . . . An important part of good journalism is to ensure there is no slant towards one team. In other words, if you are from one school which is playing another, try not to focus on your school as the best team. Be fair to each schools team. If your team pounds the rivalry, you can mention that. But, if your team is pounded by the rivalry, mention that. Just be fair and impartial. Dont use terms like we or they. Again, this indicates your ownership to one of the teams. we were down 14-0 is not a good statement. The Eagles were down 14-0 is the best method. Opening The opening paragraph should identify the who, what, when, where, and how of the event. Everyone knows the why each team wants to win! So, generally there is no why in high school (or other) sports articles. The opening paragraph should be no longer than a couple of sentences three at most. Preferably, one sentence will do the job. Along with the title, the initial paragraph will grab your readers attention, making them want to read more. It needs to include the town or city (in caps) and the date. (WE WON’T USE THEIR STYLE FOR THIS PART. ) Here is an example: AUTAUGAVILLE August 26, 2007: Junior RB Mike Smith rushed for 186 yards and scored three TDs to help Akron defeat Autaugaville 38-14 in tonights high school football season opener at James Memorial Stadium. You can see that I have the name of the town and date listed first in this format: AUTAUGAVILLE August 26, 2007: Next, I chose to identify one of the games star players, Smith, emphasizing his accomplishments. I also identified the two teams, final score, and name of the stadium. Notice that I also mentioned it was a football game. This is important for several reasons. Primarily, your readers may not realize you are referring to a football game. Obviously, you cant score TDs anywhere else! But, all of your articles should indicate the sport played during the opening paragraph. Your opening can start in myriad ways. Here is another example, focusing on the teams/mascots: AUTAUGAVILLE August 26, 2007: Akron piled up more than 600 yards in total offense and held Autaugaville to less than 50 as the Rams demolished the Eagles 38-0 in tonights football opener at James Memorial Stadium. Notice how I mentioned the names and mascots, though peppered throughout the sentence. Either of these two could work as an opening paragraph even if they are just one sentence long. Others will work well. It just takes practice. The important thing to remember is you need to immediately grab the readers attention. You can do that by identifying who played (Akron and Autaugaville), what they were playing (high school football) and what the outcome was (38-0), when it happened (August 26, 2007 and/or tonights), where it happened (James Memorial Stadium), and how (Akron piled up 600 yards). Body The body of your game story will outline important parts of the game, significant accomplishments of players (including more about the star player you mentioned in your opening), and other game specific information. Include scoring performances, plays, drives, stats, goals, shooting/hitting/batting/rushing percentages, and other game data. Also, dont hesitate to build the setting for the game. Include the number of fans in attendance, temperature, weather, etc. Here is an example: More than 5,000 Autaugaville fans welcomed the Rams to the historic 50th meeting between the two teams. With the temperature at a chilly 48 degrees at kickoff, the packed stadium came alive when the teams took the neatly manicured field. Akron opened the game with a 6-minute, 9-play, 68-yard drive resulting in a Rams touchdown. Taking the ball at the Akron 32-yard line, Rams senior QB William Braxter completed 5 of 5 passes, moving the ball to the Eagles 44. Then Smith pounded Autaugavilles defense on three runs, and the Rams were 1st and goal at the 8-yard line. Braxter then found junior WR Dale McDonald at the corner of the end zone for the score. Kicker Daniel Washburnes PAT put Akron up 7-0. Forcing the Eagles to punt late in the first quarter, Akrons Smith broke free for an 81-yard TD run on the Rams second play from scrimmage. Washburnes kick was good, making it a 14-0 ball game. Autaugaville scored late in the half when junior DE Billy Stewart sacked Akrons Braxter, forcing a fumble. Team mate senior Safety Matt Wilson snatched the loose ball and returned it for 56 yards and the score. Senior kicker Dallas Petrowskis kick split the uprights to bring the Eagles within 7. Akrons Smith rushed for 144 yards on 8 carries during the first half, while team mate QB Braxter was near perfect completing 12 of 13 pass for 345 yards. The Eagles were held to just 15 yards rushing and 27 yards passing in the first half. We quickly discovered their secondary was easy to penetrate, said Akrons Braxter after the game. I kept finding my receivers open and of course, took advantage of that. Akron scored on three times during the third quarter, including two coming from the defense. Junior LB Michael Devree intercepted an Eagles pass at the Rams 12-yard line, returning it 88 yards for a touchdown early in the quarter, while team mate senior DE Jake Alexander returned a kick 90 yards for the score. Up 28-7, Akrons Braxter needed just two plays to capitalize on another Autaugaville three and out. After completing a 76-yard pass to Smith, Braxter threaded one to WR Tim BeQuilliard in the end zone as time expired on the third-quarter clock. Washburne drilled the PAT and the Rams were now ahead by 4 scores. You can continue the game, covering each score and mentioning important plays. There are several key features of a good sports article: Stats. When you are finished with the body of your article, go back and pepper as many stats as possible throughout your article. Youll likely have total yards for quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. In baseball and softball, youll want to include the top two or three batters and their runs, hits, etc. , as well as pitching strikeouts, ERAs, etc. In volleyball, you want kills. In soccer, you clearly will need goals scored. In basketball, youll want field goals for the top few players. These are just a few of the types of stats you should be looking for while at the game. Like I said, you can get a lot of these from the press box. And, if you are in or near the press box, your job will be that much easier. You may also be able to get this information from interested fans (moms and dads sometimes keep stats at baseball games, for example). Better yet, you should try to keep track of it yourself, where possible. In football, writing down play-by-play accounts of the game will give you everything you need in regards to stats. But, you have to make sure you have rosters for each team. This will permit you to use a term like A-13 for Akrons QB Braxter, instead of having to write his name each time. Plays. Every scoring drive should be covered. If you are writing a basketball, volleyball, or other back and forth sport, this may not be possible. But, try to mention important parts of the game. Abbreviate where appropriate. Use TD when including stats in your sentence. Use touchdown when discussing general scoring information. Use DE, TB, QB, etc. instead of defensive end, tailback, quarter back, etc. Watch for redundancy. Use this: The Rams did this . . . putting Akron up 38-14, instead of: The Rams did this . . . putting the Rams up . . . Also, once you describe the players class, position and name (senior QB William Braxter, for example), dont use this whole description again. Instead, use his last name (Braxter), or his team and name (Akrons Braxter). When finished writing, you should check your article for this specific redundancy. Notice how in the first paragraph of the body (above) I used the name Smith instead of Junior RB Mike Smith (which is part of one of the opening paragraphs I may use). If I were to use an opening paragraph like the second example above, where Smith is not even mentioned, then I would want to include his full description (team, class, position, and name) in the first paragraph of the body text. Pepper quotes from your post-game interviews throughout the game story dont just put them all at the end of the articles body. For example, the following quote from an interview with the Akron quarterback was placed just after a mention of his first-half stats: We quickly discovered their secondary was easy to penetrate, said Akrons QB Braxter after the game. I kept finding my receivers open and of course, took advantage of that. This quote compliments Braxters stats and helps break up the monotony of the article. Use proper quote etiquette. Notice how I placed the quote symbols () around the opening statement by Braxter above? The comma separating the opening statement from: said Akrons QB Braxter after the game.is always placed inside the quote ( penetrate,). Then, use quotations around the second part of the quote: I kept finding advantage of that. Breaking up a quote in this manner makes for good reading, as opposed to writing down everything the person said and then ending it with: advantage of that, said Braxter after the game. or beginning it with: Braxter said after the game, We quickly discovered their secondary was easy to penetrate. I kept finding my receivers open and of course, took advantage of that. So I always looked for the middle of the field on passing plays that were covered well. It worked for us in the first half, so I kept targeting the secondary during the second half. All in all, it was a successful strategy for us . . . The above quote is too long and somewhat gloating. Break it up with leading text such as said Akrons QB Braxter after the game. Clean up quotes. If a 10-grade defensive end uses poor judgment in the words he chooses, you may not want to include that part of the quote. And, dont hesitate to use filler text where you know it is appropriate. For example, if someone states: we knew we had it after thatthen readers may not know what that person is saying. You would emplace something like this in your quote: we knew we had it (won the game) after that Additional items you can include in your game stories: Complete stats. Provide a list of known stats at the end of your article. If you have your digital camera, just take a snap shot of the stat sheets for both teams. At football games, there will most likely be someone from each team in the press box, calculating their stats. Ask them if you can make a quick photo of them when they are finished. Or, write them down. Game Summary. Youve seen these. They are basically outlines of the games scores. For example: FIRST QUARTER 2:08 Rams Braxter 8-yard pass to McDonald. Washburne PAT 0:01 Rams Smith 81-yard run. Washburne PAT Etc . . . . . . . . Photographs. Usually, one of your best shots goes at the top of the article. You can put additional photos throughout the article. You can also post photographs in the Joomple gallery. Video. If you want to upload a video clip (or several clips), that is possible as well. Closing The closing paragraph should include each teams records (overall and conference/league), and who they will play next. Heres an example: Akron (1-0/0-0) travels to Montgomery to face the Knights next Friday, while the Eagles (0-1/0-0) will host Hoover at James Memorial Stadium. The bracket (0-1/0-0) represents the teams overall record and conference/league record. You can add additional comments about each of the teams Akron and Autaugaville will play if you have that information. Also, do hesitate to mention if either of the games will be played on a special night (such as homecoming). This helps draw out the fans, which improve ticket sales for the school as well as increase support for the teams. If either of the teams are ranked in the state polls, or are leading their particular conference or league, mention that in your article. If it is a county or cross-county rivalry game, indicate this as well. Perhaps this is a unique meeting between the two teams (such as the first, 50, or 100th time the teams have played each other), you should talk about that. Discuss their records vs. each other (i. e. Akron is 43-7 versus the Eagles . . . or Autaugaville has won the last 12 meetings . . . ) Opinionated information can also go in the closing. In other words, if you want to mention your views for how the conference or league is shaping up, do so. If you want to talk about a particular players stats, go ahead. Talk about each teams performances. Discuss strategies for upcoming games. You can write about anything you want here so long as it relates to the game, teams, etc. Choosing a Title Now that you have finished your game story, you will want to assign a title. A title should include a quick statement about the game. It should be no more than 5 or 6 words and contain eye-catching information. Heres one: RAMS WIN! Its simple and easy to read. Of course, it doesnt explain who the team beat. This type of title should be reserved for games where everyone knows what you are talking about. For example, if it is a major game such as a conference or state championship, this will work. But, if it is a regular season game, use something like this: AKRON POUNDS EAGLES This indicates Akron defeated Autaugaville (most, but not all, of your fans will know the Eagles are the Autaugaville Eagles). Something like this is clearer: AKRON POUNDS AUTAUGAVILLE However, it does little to indicate which sports you are talking about. If you want to make it even clearer, use: AKRON POUNDS AUTAUGAVILLE 38-14 The score helps readers understand immediately that you are talking about football. Fans know that it is football season, and tennis or soccer scores dont relate. Notice how I used the term pounds. Think about this. In the wild, a ram may pound his head against another ram. Using complimenting verbs is better than the boring terms defeated or beat or won or lost. Since the Rams did defeat Autaugaville Eagles, you could also compliment your verb towards the Autaugaville team. Such as: AKRON GROUNDS AUTAUGAVILLE Its a bird we are talking about here, so the verb grounds works well. Here are several others: LIONS MAUL . . . GIANTS STOMP . . . ROCKETS DESTROY . . . JETS DESTROY . . . TROJANS OVERWHELM . . . Or: ROCKETS SHOOT DOWN JETS . . . MOUNTAINEERS DESADDLE WARRIORS . . . LIONS SILENCED BY INDIANS . . . The idea is to try to come up with a title that is clear, concise, and exciting. Look to imitate common phrases from T. V. Commercials or local or national idioms (sayings). You can even use something from Hollywood Movies . . . just use your imagination. Otherwise, just post the teams and results . . . like Patriots Defeat Lions 45-13. A subtitle could be used if you prefer. Usually, a players or teams stats or game accomplishments go here. For example: AKRON DOWNS EAGLES IN SEASON OPENER (Title) Rams Collect 600 Yards Total Offense (Sub-title) You can also use milestones (important achievements) of teams and/or players: BEARCATS MAUL PATRIOTS IN BIG WIN (Title) QB Braxter Surpasses 8,000 Yards (Sub-title) When you put all this together, you get something like this: AKRON DOWNS EAGLES IN SEASON OPENER. Rams Collect 600 Yards Total Offense Photo: Akrons Smith breaks through for a 45-yard run in the third. Photo by Phil Smith AUTAUGAVILLE August 26, 2007: Junior RB Mike Smith rushed for 186 yards and scored three TDs to help Akron defeat Autaugaville 38-14 in tonights high school football season opener at James Memorial Stadium. More than 5,000 Autaugaville fans welcomed the Rams to the historic 50th meeting between the two teams. With the temperature at a chilly 48 degrees at kickoff, the packed stadium came alive when the teams took the neatly manicured field. Akron opened the game with a 6-minute, 9-play, 68-yard drive resulting in a Rams touchdown. Taking the ball at the Akron 32-yard line, Rams senior QB William Braxter completed 5 of 5 passes, moving the ball to the Eagles 44. Then Smith pounded Autaugavilles defense on three runs, and the Rams were 1st and goal at the 8-yard line. Braxter then found junior WR Dale McDonald at the corner of the end zone for the score. Kicker Daniel Washburnes PAT put Akron up 7-0. Forcing the Eagles to punt late in the first quarter, Akrons Smith broke free for an 81-yard TD run on the Rams second play from scrimmage. Washburnes kick was good, making it a 14-0 ball game. Autaugaville scored late in the half when junior DE Billy Stewart sacked Akrons Braxter, forcing a fumble. Team mate senior Safety Matt Wilson snatched the loose ball and returned it for 56 yards and the score. Senior kicker Dallas Petrowskis kick split the uprights to bring the Eagles within 7. Akrons Smith rushed for 144 yards on 8 carries during the first half, while team mate QB Braxter was near perfect completing 12 of 13 pass for 345 yards. The Eagles were held to just 15 yards rushing and 27 yards passing in the first half. We quickly discovered their secondary was easy to penetrate, said Akrons Braxter after the game. I kept finding my receivers open and of course, took advantage of that. Akron scored on three times during the third quarter, including two coming from the defense. Junior LB Michael Devree intercepted an Eagles pass at the Rams 12-yard line, returning it 88 yards for a touchdown early in the quarter, while team mate senior DE Jake Alexander returned a punt 90 yards for the score. Up 28-7, Akrons Braxter needed just two plays to capitalize on another Autaugaville three and out. After completing a 76-yard pass to Smith, Braxter threaded one to WR Tim BeQuilliard in the end zone as time expired on the third-quarter clock. Washburne drilled the PAT and the Rams were now ahead by 4 scores. The eagles scored their final TD late in the game when senior QB Danny Jacobs connected with Wilson from 16 yards out. Akron responded with a 65-yard drive resulting in a Washburne 35-yard field goal. Final score was 38-14, Akron. Akron (1-0/0-0) travels to Montgomery to face the Knights next Friday, while the Eagles (0-1/0-0) will host Hoover at James Memorial Stadium. SCORING SUMMARY. FIRST QUARTER 2:08 Rams Braxter 8-yard pass to McDonald. Washburne PAT 0:01 Rams Smith 81-yard run. Washburne PAT SECOND QUARTER 4:22 Eagles Wilson 56-yard fumble return. Petrowski PAT THIRD QUARTER 6:56 Rams Devree 88-yard interception return. Washburne PAT 5:14 Rams Alexander 90-yard punt return. Washburne PAT 0:01 Rams Braxter 8-yard pass to Bequilliard. Washburne PAT FOURTH QUARTER 3:56 Eagles Jacobs 16-yard pass to Wilson. Petrowski PAT 1:15 Rams Washburne 35-yard field goal Mind you, this is just an example and doesnt include every option you have at your disposal. Use your discretion. |News writing – how to write a sports report in 4 steps | |http://www. amazines. com/article_detail. cfm/232021? articleid=232021title=news%2Cwriting%2Chow%2Cto%2Cwrite%2Clike%2Ca%2Cjournalist%2Csports%2Cwriting | |by Nazvi Careem | |News writing style is just as important for sports reporting as it is for general news, business stories or any other journalistic work. | |The advantage of sports writing is that you are allowed a little it more leeway in your choice of words. In crime or business writing, you are restricted in your use of adjectives and adverbs and are encouraged to focus more on nouns and verbs. | |Sports writing, however, allows you to go to town in describing plays, the atmosphere, fans and other colorful aspects of a sporting event. | |For this article, we will go through, step by step, how to write a straightforward sports report using quotes. | |Ideally, any sports story would have quotes from the winners and losers. Indeed, many sports articles are written around what athletes say rather than what they have achieved on the field of play. | |However, you also have sports articles written without quotes. When rookies learn how to write like a journalist, especially in sport, they are likely to come across the structure that we will show you here. | |We will adapt the NBA game between Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers on April 1 as our example article. | |1. Intro – the most important news aspect of a sports game is the score. Who won? How did they win and what effect did the victory have? Also important is whether we are writing from a Boston perspective or Cleveland. In this case, we will go with | |Cleveland. | |â€Å"Cleveland Cavaliers lost 98-96 to the Boston Celtics after Delonte West’s sank two free throws in the final seconds, dropping three and a half games behind the Pistons for the best record in the Eastern Conference. † | | 2. More info – The above is enough for those who have a passing interest in the sport. However, NBA fans would want more information and you could give it to them in one or two paragraphs. | |â€Å"The Cavaliers were without star player LeBron James, suffering from a knee injury, while the Celtics were minus Paul Pierce. Gerald Green led the way for Celtics with 25 points while Kendrick Perkins had 12 points and nine rebounds. | |The Cavaliers, for whom Larry Hughes scored 24 with Sasha Pavlovic scoring 17, have already qualified for the play-offs while Boston are out of the running. † | | 3. Quote – This is where you can provide a quote from the coach or a key player from both teams. You can precede each saying with a lead-in paragraph or go straight into the quote. | |â€Å"Celtic forward Al Jefferson, said: ‘They were missing their best player and we were missing our best play. We just stuck in there. ’ | |Cavs coach Mike Brown said James’ absence was a key factor in their loss. | |‘We miss LeBron. We miss LeBron every time he doesnt play. Hes our guy,’ said Brown. † | |4. The rest – Once you got the main information and key quotes out of the way, you can go on to describe the game. Even better would be to describe just one or two plays and include more quotes. | |The thinking behind sports articles is that people would have watched the game on TV anyway and would not want boring game description. Therefore, quotes from the people who matter, such as athletes and coaches, would offer better reading value. | |There are many types of sports news writing that is offered around the world everyday. We have merely showed you its simplest form. Certainly, it is a rewarding form of news writing for journalists who love their sport. And the structure they use | |allow them to adapt their skills to any type of journalism writing. | |Nazvi Careem is an experienced journalist, writer and writing coach who has written for newspapers, magazines and global news agencies such as Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse. To download a free chapter of his book on news writing | |secrets, check out his website dedicated to the art of news writing. | |View more articles from Nazvi Careem | | | |This article is provided by Amazines. com The ULTIMATE Article Database |. How To Write a Sports Article http://www. howtodothings. com/node/3374/print By Beth Danesco February 24, 2007 EMAIL ARTICLE PRINT ARTICLE Before the age of ESPN, the Internet, and instant replay, it was the reporter in the stands writing up the game for the local paper, and, okay, also the guy covering it live on radio, who made fans feel like they were right there, cheering on their favorite team, game after game. If youre interested in writing a sports article, you will utilize general journalism tricks of the trade and also some specific sportswriting techniques. 1. Have a strong lead. Like any article, you want to start your sports article out with a strong lead, one that encapsulates the available information on who, what, where, when, why and how. Look at sports articles in almost any paper to see how they introduce the game or event they are covering with their lead paragraph. They get the readers attention with a strong but concise summary of the story to follow. Also, note that a lead always places emphasis on an important or interesting aspect of the story. For instance, a specific Boston Celtics loss may, in itself, not be as significant or interesting as the fact it is the fifteenth loss the team experienced in a row. The article would tell the story of the game, but the lead would introduce the game with the most important or interesting fact about it, that its continuing a horrible streak, and would expand on that fact in the article. 2. Write clearly and concisely. If youve ever read Sports Illustrated, you know that some sports articles can be what you might call literary non-fiction: lengthy, poetic, filled with metaphor and digressions into back story. If your particular assignment requires that kind of writing, go for it. But if you read the daily sports section of your city paper, you will also notice that most sports articles reporting on the sporting events of the past day are concisely written. Yes, sports articles include context and metaphor and technical sports terms, but theyre also to-the-point and generally stick to basic vocabulary. 3. Know the context. Like any news article, a sports article will require you to have a basic working knowledge of the universe on which youre reporting. This may mean not only knowing all about the current players, coaches and standings but knowing some history, as well. This may be common knowledge to you, but if not, you may need to do some research. You will also need to know about the sport itself including rules, history, league standings, current controversies and other information. You may already know much of this if youre a sports enthusiastbut be aware that a journalist may need more in-depth knowledge than a casual fan.

Children The Silent Majority Social Work Essay

Children The Silent Majority Social Work Essay The purpose of this assignment is to highlight the position of children involved in parental separation disputes. Within this essay, I will include the rationale for this project, with a background of my experience gained as a Court Childrens Officer. I will also identify aims which will seek to critically analyse the role of the child during parental separation, and compare and contrast their role in both public and private legal proceedings. I will attempt to provide an analytical literature review of Northern Ireland, UK and International literature, which will demonstrate historical, psychological, sociological, legislative and policy perspectives of including or excluding the child during parental separation. I will then proceed to provide service user and service provider perspectives, with a critical basis for recommendations for future practice. Throughout my assignment I will endeavour to incorporate my learning to demonstrate anti-discriminative and anti-oppressive practice , and how these can be challenged to enhance the service further. Introduction: Evidence based practice (EBP) refers to using evidence from research to indicate the effectiveness of an outcome (Davies, 2008). It is a controversial topic which notes that professionals should only intervene in peoples lives when they can bring about change, without causing adverse consequences. EBP indicates an approach to decision-making which is accountable and based on best evidence (Davies, 2008). Within my own experience, EBP was important for refining my knowledge and practice so that the service user was provided with appropriate support for their individual needs. I used EBP to carry out research to determine what evidence supported or rejected the inclusion of children during family break down. My experience for this Evidenced Based Project was gained as a Court Childrens Officer (CCO), based at the Belfast Family Proceedings Court. This is a relatively new service provided by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust to help courts resolve family issues, such as residence and contact for the child. There are currently seven small Court Childrens Teams working throughout Northern Ireland. As a CCO, my role was to deal with cases where assistance was needed to help parties agree on the needs of their children, as opposed to continuing the incriminations as to who was responsible for the breakdown of their relationship, through private law proceedings. I was only permitted to be involved with a case, and ascertain the wishes and feelings of the child, if a court direction was issued. Background and Rationale: It is estimated that over one half (53%) of children in the UK will experience parental divorce before they are aged 16, with two thirds of them under age 11 (Office of National Statistics, 2007). In 2005, Northern Irelands rate of divorce was 2,363 (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, 2006). Of these 2005 divorce statistics, there were 2,052 children involved, under the age of 16. However, these statistics mask many more children who go through parental separation each year, and these are not formally recorded (www.rcpsych.ac.uk). It is well documented, within research, that some children can experience a range of complex problems socially, emotionally and economically before, during and after the breakdown of their parents relationship (Timms, 2003), and it is important to note that divorce and separation of parents can be a confusing and stressful time for children making them more vulnerable to psychological, emotional or financial short or long term difficulties (Ti mms, 2003). Numerous studies have reported on the consequences for children going through parental divorce or separation, yet the voice of the child has remained predominantly silent (Butler et al. 2003). The Children (NI) Order 1995 brought together both public and private law proceedings relating to children in Northern Ireland, into an amalgamated order, but the processes for hearing the voice of the child still remain entirely contradictory. Article 3 (3) suggests that â€Å"the wishes and feelings of the child should be taken into account, with consideration of age and level of understanding†. To address this requirement children in public proceedings have separate legal representation, in the form of a solicitor, and guardian to ascertain their wishes and feelings, and present them in court. However, children involved in private law proceedings regarding residence and contact are not included in the proceedings. In private cases the emphasis of the court is to help the parties reach agreement; therefore, the child is reliant on the parents considering and protecting their interests. This is a debatable process which will be discussed below. It is the childs lack of ‘voice throughout parental separation and private law proceedings that has provided the rationale for this project. Aims: This project will seek to examine a childs needs through family breakdown. It will seek to critically examine the childsright to participate in private law proceedings, and compare these with concerns. I will aim to address the debate of including or excluding children during private law proceedings. It will also seek to examine current gaps in support provision for children and young people involved in parental separation, and make recommendations to how these can be addressed. The project will consider the literature, which includes policy and legislation from Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Internationally. The literature review below will aim to critically evaluate the perspectives of including or excluding the child in the processes of parental separation. I will use historical, psychological, sociological, legislative and policy perspectives to evaluate the need to include or exclude children. I will compare and contrast the pros and cons, including an analysis of the methods of child participation, with a summary of the findings. Literature Review: With the continuing rise of children experiencing parental separation in Northern Ireland, The United Kingdom and Internationally, it has facilitated the awareness of the childs right to be heard and for their wishes and feelings to be considered. Promoting the childs participation in decision-making during parental separation is a relatively recent event. Historically, children were viewed as needing protection from parental conflict, and lacked the capability to actively participate in family matters (Graham and Fitzgerald, 2005, cited in Birnbaum, 2009). It was assumed that, if children were not informed, they would be sheltered from the major emotional impact separation brought (Smart, 2002). I was also assumed that parents knew what was in their childs best interests (Timms, 2003), and, therefore childrens views were represented by their parents. Through child psychology and social science research, the importance of the childs right to have their wishes and feelings considered has gained a greater significance (Lansdown, 2005), and more importantly, perspectives on the inclusion of children in parental separation disputes have been changing (Williams, 2006). Children are now being seen as having their own rights, rather than parental property (Lansdown, 2005). Psychological research has also increasingly indicated that not listening to children may be more detrimental to their well-being (Kelly, 2002), and that the meaningful participation of children in contact and residence disputes can actually shelter them from emotional hurt during a time when they are most vulnerable (Butler et al., 2003). Social science research also validates that the childs participation in the processes of family breakdown can draw a parallel with their ability to adapt to a new family structure in the future (Butler et al., 2003), as well as gain power and control in a confusing and stressful time (Butler et al., 2003). Research also indicates that young people themselves want to be heard through the legal process, as the outcome has a major effect on their lives (Cashmore and Parkinson, 2008). Adolescents, in particular, have expressed that they want to be involved in major decisions, and be able to make choices (Neale, 2002). A childs participation in the decision-making processes of parental divorce and separation can be largely diverse; direct or indirect. Children can voice their opinion and be involved in contact or residence arrangements that affect them, they can provide input into the development of services, or participate in the development of broader policy issues (Birnbaum, 2009). Legislative and Policy Perspective: It is evident in legislation within Northern Ireland, the UK and Internationally that children have theright to be heard. Article 12 of The United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) stipulates â€Å"children have the right to express their opinions and have their opinions considered†. The Convention encourages adults to listen to the voice of children and involve them in decision-making. The Children (NI) Order 1995 (Article 3: 3), and The Children Act 2004 (Article 54) both stipulate the need for the â€Å"childs wishes and feelings to be ascertained, and taken account of according to the childs age and understanding† (http://www.opsi.gov.uk). Yet, despite legislation, research and social trends in Northern Ireland specifically, no single government policy or strategy has been developed to indicate how best to support the needs of children experiencing parental separation (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Certain apprehension, within legislation and polic y, remains in respect of allowing children to participate in the decision-making process of parental separation. This apprehension is created by â€Å"attempts to balance the vulnerability of children, given their age and development, with their rights as individuals† (Smart, Wade and Neale, 1999: 152). There is also much debate about how children should be included in which circumstances and in what way. Argumentsfor the inclusion of children during parental separation: Those who are in support of including children during times of parental separation claim a number of rights-based reasons. The most significant being that the child has a right to be included, according to theConvention on the Rights of the Child (1989), and a right to have their wishes and feelings ascertained (Children (NI) Order 1995). In addition to this, theory suggests that children should be seen as active participants in decision making and not as parental property to be controlled (Atwood, 2003). The United Nations Convention also suggests that children have the right to be respected and heard, and also indicates that they have a right to full access of social, economic, and civil rights that are given to everyone else (Birnbaum, 2009). Secondly, and perhaps most significantly, those in support of including children explain that children want to be involved in decision-making during parental separation, as it affects their lives (Cashmore and Parkinson, 2008). Children understand the difference of providing input and reaching the final decision (Kelly, 2002). Smith (2007) states that by being open and honest with children, and allowing them to participate in separation processes translates into better communication and respectful listening. Research also suggests that children themselves rate their participation as important when it comes to family issues (Taylor, Smith and Nairn, 2001). Thirdly, from a policy perspective, childrens participation is linked with a wider form of social inclusion. Namely, policies, services and programs are more effective if children are included in their design, planning, delivery and implementation (Lansdown, 2005). Smart, Neale and Wade (2001: 269) suggest that â€Å"family policy issues must include childrens viewpoints if children are to be treated ethically† and respectfully. Jameson and Gilbert (2000) claim that childrens views should be incorporated into policy development, as it impacts directly on them. Without doing this decision-makers cannot benefit from childrens perspectives or suggestions about how to resolve the problem. The same argument can be made about the inclusion or exclusion of the child during parental separation. Through a legal and legislative point of view, some have argued that the inclusion of children during private law proceedings can help parents to focus on their children, as opposed to the adversarial ‘blame role. â€Å"Focusing on the needs of children early in the process of parental law proceedings can reduce both the intensity and duration of conflict† (McIntosh, 2003: 232). Goldson (2006) also suggests that focusing on the needs of the children may enhance communication between parents, as it helps them identify common ground. Gray (2002) has also indicated that the childs participation in private law proceedings can facilitate understanding their own wants and needs, and can help develop advocacy skills regarding communication and negotiation within the family. Williams (2006: 158) also suggests that â€Å"by including the child in decisions about parental separation can enhance their sense of self-esteem and control, thereby enhancing their resiliency†. Argumentsagainst the inclusion of children during parental separation: As mentioned above, there are firmly held viewpoints about children being involved in the decision-making process of their parents separation, however, there are a similar number of arguments against the inclusion of children. Firstly, from a rights-based understanding, researchers mention some concerns when adhering to childrens rights. Atwood (2003) argues that a balance needs to be found between protecting children from emotional harm and protecting their rights and Guggenheim (2003) expresses that there is a certain price associated with providing children with rights; he indicates that rights are relational. He claims that â€Å"if children have a right then someone else has a duty and childrens legal rights are always in the hands of adults† (Birnbaum, 2009). Secondly, concerns have been expressed by those who ascertain the wishes and feelings of children. Mediators suggest that children can often be manipulated by a parent, and can take sides accordingly during contact and residence disputes, creating stress and worry for children (Saposnek, 2004). Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) is becoming increasingly significant also this is described as the child expressing unjustified hatred for one parent due to the influence (direct or indirect) of the other parent, which does not benefit the child. Garrity and Baris (1994) argue that involving children in parental disputes can also lead the child to tell each parent what they want to hear, which has no benefit to the child. The child is then seen as wanting to please both parties, rather that choose between them, which again has no benefit. Another concern in the debate of including children in disputes is that the child may not want to become involved for fear of feeling responsible for the outcome, and causing hurt to their parent. Furthermore, some children withhold theirtrue feelings as they fear their parents may get upset with what they say, and therefore should not be placed in such a position (Brown, 1996),. Thirdly, research conducted by Kelly (2003) and Saposnek (2004) indicates that not all children essentially want or need their voice to be heard. They point out that unless a child specifically makes a request to voice their opinion, there is no reason to do so. Research reported from McIntosh (2007) also claims that children would not benefit from being included in the separation process in certain circumstances where there is high conflict between the parents, including previous allegations of domestic violence, or mental health issues. This is due to the power and control issues one parent may have over the other, or the child. Involving the child; Mediation: Mediation has been used for decades as an alternative to court processes, in separation and divorce proceedings (Folberg, Milne and Salem, 2004). Mediation provides parties with an alternative to the traditional adversarial approach, by introducing a neutral third-party to assist in reaching agreement about the child(ren) (Birnbaum, 2009). Children are therefore more likely to benefit emotionally and socially from parental cooperation. However, childrens involvement in the mediation process is relatively new (Austin, Jaffe, and Hurley, 1991). A childs participation in mediation varies from country to country. Saposnek (2004) indicates that childrens direct participation in mediation only occurred in 4%-47% of cases across public and private sectors, in the United Kingdom, the US and Australia. This illustrates that despite adults finding an advantage to mediation, children continue to remain the silent majority, with their parents making decisions. It can therefore be understood that this may leave the child feeling powerless, and disempowered by the process (Birnbaum, 2009). The differing attitudes over whether to incorporate children in mediation are similar to those who debate on the overall process of including children in divorce and separation decisions the child rights versus shielding them from emotional harm (Elrod, 2007). The Child and Legal Proceedings: As mentioned above, within Northern Ireland there are contradictory principles on the inclusion of children in the public and private legal systems. Children within public law proceedings have a guardian and a separate legal representative to advocate on their behalf in court, but children within private law proceedings are not contributors to the process and have no direct involvement (Timms, 2003). â€Å"Northern Ireland stands apart from the United Kingdom for having no legislative provision for the separate representation of children in specific private law proceedings† (COAC, 2005b cited in Weatherall and Duffy, 2008: 279). According to Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 279) this is interesting considering there were â€Å"2,186 Children Order applications brought to Court between January and June 2007, of which 1,925 were private law cases and only 261 were public law cases† and public law children were represented separately. The concerns about children becoming involved in private law proceedings originate from the Human Rights Act 1998 (Article 8) which states that an adherence is needed in respect for private and family life, with minimal state intervention, unless deemednecessary for the protection of others. However, Timms (2003) argues that due to the number of children involved in private law proceedings, compared to public law proceedings, there needs to be a balance found between minimal state intervention and the protection of vulnerable children. Some researchers suggest that childrens voices are being silenced by traditional reluctance to interfere in private and family life, causing concern that some children are being forced to remain quiet in situations of violence, neglect or child abuse, due to a lack of appropriate representation (Radford et al, 1999 cited in Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). The differentiation between public and private law proceedings is not recognised in other countries, such as Scotland, Canada, and Australia with children being seen as having independent rights with an important emphasis placed on having their wishes and feelings ascertained, in legal separation disputes (Timms et al., 2007). This is worth considering in order to examine the effectiveness of our court processes compared to other systems. Child and Parental Perspective: As a Court Childrens Officer (social worker) based in Belfast Family Proceedings Court I had a range of experience working with parents and children during private law proceedings. My role was to adhere to the Children (NI) Order 1995 to provide Article 4 reports to the court, when directed to do so. This was to provide the court with any welfare concerns for the child and/or the childs wishes and feelings having contact or residing with a parent. To provide Article 4 reports the Court Childrens Team first had to receive a court direction to do so, and not all cases requested the CCO to ascertain the childs wishes and feelings separately from the parents. Other roles, through a court direction, included parental conciliation, mediation, and contact observation for the welfare of the child. In cases where there had been previous social services involvement, the article 4 request was transferred to the appropriate social work team in Belfast for further involvement. Through working with children and parents through the court process I was able to ascertain their perspectives on separation disputes and court processes. Child E (14), who had recently moved in with his father, following the separation of his parents, stipulated that he did not understand the court process and would like someone to explain how it would affect him. He continually requested that he wanted limited contact with his mother (maximum two days per week), due to frequent arguments, yet the court continually directed more contact with his mother, and he could not understand why. I feel through this case and others that children are not being listened to, despite their wishes and feelings being ascertained. Child G (12) expressed that he was told â€Å"not to interfere† by his parents, as they had already came to an agreement about contact arrangements. The child articulated that he was concerned about the arrangements, as he wanted to take part in other activities on the same days, with his friends. This is cause for concern as contact arrangements in this case suited the interests of the parents, as opposed to the child. This created anxiety for the child, and as a result the child refused to attend contact, so the case returned to court. The above cases represent just two of the children I had the privilege of working with during my practice placement, but both represent, the need for the child to be involved in court proceedings and listened to when they express their wishes. Parents, however, display relief and satisfaction with the court childrens team involvement in private law disputes. This is due to a neutral third party mediating between parties to discuss unresolved issues. Many parents have expressed thankfulness for the service, as it helped them to focus on their children, as opposed to â€Å"hear say† about one another, from other people. Thankfully, then, many parents do begin to work together to consider their childs needs, without the continual intervention of a CCO, or constant court proceedings. When asking parents how they would improve the service, most claimed they would like continuous mediation, and the opportunity to discuss issues of separation as an ongoing process, with a neutral third party. When gaining child feedback about speaking with me as a CCO, Child G expressed that it was nice to have someone to listen to whathe wanted. Service Provider Perspective: Through the help of my manager and research conducted for this project, I have identified criticisms and gaps in the court childrens service, and provided recommendations on how these can be addressed, to better facilitate service users; 1.Time restraints for involvement due to the court process In my experience, the CCO service had limited time to gather appropriate information about the families involved. Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 287) explain that â€Å"the danger for Article 4 work is that the meaningful engagement that promotes cooperation for full assessment and therapeutic potential is encroached by time pressures.† This then provides difficulties in building a relationship with a child and gaining their trust, to be able to express their wishes and feelings about contact or residence issues. Limited assessment of the child and family may also pose risks and potential significant oversights. However, due to the â€Å"no delay† principle applied to the courts through the Children (NI) Order 1995, it may not be feasible to carry out lengthy assessments that may delay proceedings. Recommendation 1: What is necessary is that decisions for children are reached through appropriate information gathering and careful consideration. A child should be assessed appropriately, but if support services are needed, CCOs should be permitted to make referrals to other organisations. 2.The majority of the court childrens officers time is spent with parents In my experience, the central role of the CCO was to mediate and conciliate between parties to help reach agreement about the child. It is assumed that by helping the parties agree, will therefore benefit the child as less conflict will occur, through better cooperation for contact arrangements. However, this leaves a critique to be made in respect of â€Å"acting in the childs best interests†, or on the agenda of the parents (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Child oppression can therefore be implied, if the childs feelings are assumed on the basis of their parents point of view. Recommendation 2: Children should be given the opportunity to take part in mediation. All children involved in private law proceedings should be given the opportunity to have a third party involved to represent their wishes and feelings. 3.The consideration of the welfare of all children involved in private legal proceedings Only a minority of children are involved with the court welfare service, as it is directed by the court. This indicates that the majority of children are not involved, and remain silent through their parents decisions. This poses two significant risks to these children; a) Social service safeguards are not implemented to assess child welfare i.e. to indicate previous instances of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, in order to protect the child. â€Å"Domestic violence is present in 50% of cases whichrequire Article 4 reports† (Timms, 2003: 165) and safety needs to be addressed for children during contact. b) The child remains powerless and oppressed by not being involved in decisions made about them. Recommendation 3: Children through private legal proceedings should have the right to separate legal representation by a third party, to ensure their needs, wishes and feelings are being met, and welfare is protected. Recommendation 4: Social services should carry out checks to ensure no previous cases of child abuse or domestic violence have occurred, when the welfare of the child is questioned. 4.Lack of support services available to children following parental separation Through my own experience it is evident that any work completed with the child is for the production of an Article 4 report. This lack of time provision and nature of involvement does not supply the child with any level of intervention or understanding of parental separation. Weatherall and Duffy (2008: 288) express that â€Å"in light of research findings indicating the short-term and long-term effects of parental separation on children, it is concerning that the need for therapeutic services is seldom considered† in private law proceedings. Recommendation 5: Provide children and families with the opportunity to seek therapeutic support services, further mediation, and person centred work for parental separation. The Court Childrens Team could have the opportunity to provide these provisions with a further expansion of the service. 5.Public Law versus Private Law:As highlighted above, the Children (NI) Order 1995 amalgamated public and private legislation in relation to children, yet the processes for listening to the child still remain entirely contradictory. Children are separately represented in public law cases, despite fewer children being involved; therefore, children involved in private proceedings do not have the same rights as their counterparts, in terms of representation or service provision (Weatherall and Duffy, 2008). Recommendation 6: The conflicting rights of the child through public and private law should be addressed. Children should have equal rights to represent their views. In Northern Ireland specifically, I would recommend government policy development, and further social service provision to protect vulnerable children in private law proceedings. Recommendation 7: Involve children as participants in private law proceedings, as opposed to them remaining silent in the majority of cases. This would promote ethical practice, partnership and anti-oppressive procedures. Conclusion What I have tried to identify within this Evidence Based Project is to highlight that childrens voices are an important aspect in the separation process between parents. This is evidenced from practitioners and experts through legislation, policy, and research. Regardless ofhow childrens wishes and feelings are ascertained, what remains important is that childrenare acknowledged and listened to. This is not only good, ethical practice, but also helps to promote anti-oppressive practice and partnership with the child. The debate between researchers regarding childrens inclusion continues, but what should remain important is that parents are further encouraged to have better relationships, and helped to focus on what is important the needs of their children throughout the process of separation. The Children (NI) Order 1995 merged public and private law, but what seems to remain is its conflicting views of children. In Northern Ireland there are approximately two thousand children every year who are unrepresented through private law proceedings. To provide them with separate representation, from that of their parents, would offer an independent person to represent their feelings, not only acting in the childs best interests, but addressing some of theConventions rights of the child.The differentiation between public and private law only seems to be evident in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, so perhaps conducting research into international successes is what is needed to gain consistency locally. Throughout this project I have identified that not only does research, policy and legislation support the inclusion of children, children themselves express to be involved in the processes. In Northern Ireland there seems to be a lack of consistency in childrens law, and there is no current policy that seems to be addressing the needs of children suffering family breakdown. This needs to be tackled multi-disciplinarily if we are to protect and support children. The Court Childrens Service could address some of the childrens needs, if the service was expanded, and provided with new policy and legislation