The Fair Labor Standards Act Essay - 1747 Words

The Fair Labor Standards Act The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was passed by Congress on June 25th, 1938. The main objective of the act was to eliminate â€Å"labor conditions detrimental to the maintenance of the minimum standards of living necessary for health, efficiency and well-being of workers,†[1] who engaged directly or indirectly in interstate commerce, including those involved in production of goods bound for such commerce. A major provision of the act established a maximum work week and minimum wage. Initially, the minimum wage was $0.25 per hour, along with a maximum workweek of 44 hours for the first year, 42 for the second year and 40 thereafter. Minimum wages of $0.25 per hour were†¦show more content†¦Wage Standards and Exemptions Covered nonexempt workers are entitled to a minimum wage of not less than $5.15 an hour. Overtime pay at a rate of not less than one and one-half times their regular rate of pay is required after 40 hours of work in a workweek. Wages required by FLSA are due on the regular payday for the pay period covered. Who is Covered? All employees of certain enterprises having workers engaged in interstate commerce, producing goods for interstate commerce, or handling, selling, or otherwise working on goods or materials that have been moved in or produced for such commerce are covered by FLSA. Employees of firms which are not covered enterprises under FLSA still may be subject to its minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor provisions if they are individually engaged in interstate commerce or in the production of goods for interstate commerce, or in any closely-related process or occupation directly essential to such production. Recent Changes to FLSA The U.S Department of Labor (DOL) has strengthened overtime rights for 6.7 million American workers, including 1.3 million salaried white-collar employees who were denied overtime pay under previous rules.Show MoreRelatedThe Fair Labor Standards Act1845 Words   |  8 Pagesthey had to at least be paid. Thus, in 1938, Congress invoked its constitutional powers to regulate interstate commerce and passed a law known as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that addresses these malpractices by employers. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments (Society for Human Resource Management,Read MoreFair Labor Standards Act ( Flsa ) Essay1841 Words   |  8 Pages In 1996 the amendments to the fair Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) was created. This law was established to provide a 50 percent â€Å"tip credit† for tipped workers employers. It allowed tipped workers income from tips to count toward half the regular minimum hourly wage which was guaranteed to workers by the FLSA. Over the years, the federal tipped provision minimum wage dropped to at least 40 percent from 1980 to 1989. During that time period, the amount of tips received by workers has never exceededRead MoreFair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA)758 Words   |  3 Pagesand laws were enacted to put into place fair employment for tho se in the workforce. In 1938, congress would pass and President Roosevelt would sign the Wages and Hours Bill, more commonly known as the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). This federal statute introduced a 44 hour, seven day work week, established the national minimum wage, guaranteed overtime pay in specific types of jobs at a rate of â€Å"time and a half†, and it defines oppressive child labor, which prohibits most employment of minorsRead MoreFederal Fair Labor Standards Act Case Study1822 Words   |  8 Pagesviolates the federal fair labor standard acts by designating an employee as a â€Å"manager† who is entitled to overtime pay when that employee’s primary job responsibilities do not require supervising other employees or exercising independent judgment, but do require day to day maintenance activities as well as retail sales. Appellant, Mr. Bubbenmayer was working at BOCA BARGOONS OF MELBOURNE as a â€Å"manager† until the time his employment with appellee ended. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act he should haveRead MoreThe Gender Pay For The Workforce Ever Since The Fair Labor Standards Act Of 19382627 Words   |  11 Pagesthe workforce ever since the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 was enacted. Since this time, there has been a huge influx of women entering into the job market, where there had not been prior to the law. This meant that during the time of the laws creation there had not been near the women receiving pay for their services like there were in the years to follow. To help modernize this change amendments needed to be added and this included the Equal Pay Act of 1963. This Act made it mandatory for employersRead MoreFair Labor Standards Act1423 Words   |  6 PagesFair Labor Standards Act Overview The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended is also referred to as the Act or FLSA. The Act provides for minimum standards for both wages and overtime entitlement, and spells out administrative procedures by which covered work time must be compensated. FLSA also include provisions related to child labor, equal pay, and portal-to-portal activities. A general overview of FLSA is that it establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and childRead MoreFair Labor Standards Act2693 Words   |  11 Pageswas able to have the â€Å"Fair Labor Standards Act† passed and signed into law. This piece of legislation was a land mark in our history. It banned most child labor; it set a minimum hourly wage and set the standard work week. This was the beginning that made employers develop records to keep track of the wages that they paid to their employees and records of the hours the employees were working. The Supreme Court had been one of the major obstacles to wage-hour and child-labor laws. In the 1936Read MoreThe Fair Labor Standards Act908 Words   |  4 Pagesgain, life would be unlivable. This is the cause for the Fair Labor Standards Act, this law was the first us law to set a federal minimal wage. it has been over 76 years since this law was passed and we are now faced with the same problem. People work hard and don t make enough to live a enjoyable life. When the minimal wage is increased to fifteen dollars an hour the economy will be stimulated, worker moral will increase, and the standard of living will increase. Some people don t see how increasingRead MoreThe Fair Labor Standards Act923 Words   |  4 PagesIn general the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) has set a general rule that allows minor as young as 14 years of age to work. Of course there are limits to the amount of hours worked. The military requires a minimum age of 17 with parents consent to join. Wow a 17 year old can be allowed to carry and M16 A4 rifle and fight for his/her country. But the National Basketball Association wants to up the age to 20 years old. Adam Silver is the National Basketball Association commissioner and he isRead MoreFair Labor Standards Act of 19381718 Words   |  7 PagesFair Labor Standards Act of 1938 – as Amended As the United States endured the hardships of the Great Depression, the struggles of the working class grew and employers were able to take advantage of desperate workers by overloading hours and shrinking wages. In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt, in his New Deal legislation, saw the opportunity to attend to the issues concerning workers involved in interstate commerce. The Fair Labor Standards Act was passed, and the President described it in

History of the Internet Essay - 1836 Words

What we know today as the Internet began as a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) project in 1969, which was designed to connect several research databases across the country. However, until the end of 1991, the advances were almost completely technical, as the goals set by those responsible in its growth were beyond what the hardware was capable of providing. In 1988, the Internet began to receive attention in the popular press, when the first documented computer virus was released at Cornell University. 1991 marked the beginning of the transition of the Internet as we know it today, with the National Science Foundation’s reinterpretation of its Acceptable Use Policy to allow for commercial traffic across its network, the†¦show more content†¦Surratt in 2001 notes that some use the internet as a lawless zone to tout online hate, shielded by claims of free speech, others who have failed to grasp the technology form a sort of lower class of â€Å"have-n ots†. The Internet is frequently considered as the great meeting ground for people of different cultures. Whether these interactions are considered synergistic or simply collisions is very dependent on who the parties are, what context they meet in, and the overall social context, both online and offline that exists at the time of their interactions. One anecdote of praise from Valvovic is that the â€Å"core values of humanity seem to get hammered out at ground level rather than in the stratospheric soarings of detached thinkers.† Indeed, the Internet serves as a central hub of dialogue among all class levels, but Valvovic points out that there is a very real danger in old and new value systems will fail to meet within cyberspace, instead â€Å"quietly exchang[ing] places in the chaos of a transitional society ‘distracted from distraction,’ in the words of T.S. Eliot. As the internet becomes an increasing more accessible academic tool, it also is becoming more and more polluted with inaccurate information. Common criticism of the information onShow MoreRelatedHistory of Internet10240 Words   |  41 PagesHISTORY OF COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET OUTLINE 1B MODULE Steps Toward Modern Computing 31 First Steps: Calculators 31 The Technological Edge: Electronics 31 Putting It All Together: The ENIAC 36 The Stored-Program Concept 36 The Computer’s Family Tree 37 The First Generation (1950s) 37 The Second Generation (Early 1960s) 38 The Third Generation (Mid-1960s to Mid-1970s) 39 The Fourth Generation (1975 to the Present) 41 A Fifth Generation? 44 The Internet Revolution 45 Lessons Learned 48 Read MoreThe History Of The Internet2033 Words   |  9 PagesThe history of the Internet starts with the making of electronic computers in the 1950’s. After a bunch of rabble The first concepts of the Internet were invented in the 1960’s who saw much use in allowing computers to share information. It was mainly used for scientific and military purposes, research, development, and sorts. J.C.R. Licklider of MIT first suggested the idea of a global network of computers in 1962. He moved to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop the InternetRead MoreHistory of the Internet535 Words   |  2 PagesInternet The Internet is a child of the 1960s. 1969 was when the first network of computers, ARPANET, communicated with one another. I took a full decade before the Internet was developed. In 1984, domain names were introduced, bringing with them, the familiar suffixes of â€Å"com† and â€Å"org† (Anonymous, 2013). It didn’t become widely used until the 1990s when two significant developments arrived. In 1991, the World Wide Web (Web 1.0) was released, along with hyper-links, which made navigation easierRead More History Of The Internet Essay1527 Words   |  7 PagesHistory of the Internet Works Cited Buick, Joanna and Jevtic, Zoran. Introducing Cyberspace. New York, NY: Totem Books, 1995. Crick, Prof. Rex E. E-Mail History. [Online] Available http://www2.uta.edu/geology/compulit/mailhist.html, December 20, 1999. Hafner, Katie and Lyon, Mathew. Where Wizards Stay up Late. New York, NY: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Simon amp; Schuster Inc., 1996. quot;Internet.quot; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1999 ed. Kristula, Dave. The History ofRead More The History of the Internet Essay1277 Words   |  6 PagesThe History of the Internet When one thinks of the internet, one may think of America Online, Yahoo!, or of Sandra Bullock being caught up in an espionage conspiracy. For me, it is a means of communication. A way to talk to some of my friends who live off in distant places such as Los Angeles, New Jersey, and the Philippines. The U.S. Defense Department originally had this intent in mind when they connected a computer network with various other radio and satellite networks.[1 Krol] They wantedRead MoreThe History of Internet Piracy1122 Words   |  4 PagesThe History of Internet Piracy and its Impacts Internet piracy and copyright infringement have become major issues around the globe. Internet piracy has also evolved significantly since its beginnings. The effects are particularly felt by multiple industries, including the music, movie and software industries. As a result of the overwhelming effects of piracy, many pieces of legislation have either been proposed or passed in the United States. Piracy has significantly impacted the Internet as aRead MoreHistory Of Internet On The World1486 Words   |  6 PagesJosh Margolis EMF140 November 2, 2015 History of Internet Before the the Internet was created, linking the world, human beings were already thinking with a connected mind. While messages obviously were unable to be transferred electronically, humans invented different ways to trade information and news with other people. Firstly was the post. In order to send a friend a message, a letter would have had to been written and mailed. Mailing messages was a long process, often taking days to getRead More The History Of The Internet Essay2287 Words   |  10 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The internet has come a very long way in the past 50 years. New inovations such as integrated software and hardware has changed the way that poeple view and obtain information today. The internet is a global computer network connecting millions and millions of users throughout the world. quot;It is a network connecting many computer networks and is based on a common addressing system and communications protocol.quot;It has become one of the fastest growing forms ofRead MoreThe History of Computers and the Internet1457 Words   |  6 PagesWith the invention of the internet in the late 1960s and early 1970s, no one had a clue what it would one day develop into. When computers started becoming an everyday household appliance and the internet became more widespread, social networking sites (SNS) were developed as a means of communicating with people across the world. Friendster was launched in 2002, and grew rapidly over the course of three months as people started connecting and networking over the internet instead of in person. MyspaceRead MoreThe History and Development of the Internet1937 Words   |  8 Pagesstart with, we have to discuss the historical backdrop of the Internet and its development. The Internet developed out of improvements in bundle exchanging and circulated machine systems intended to be secure in time of war. Throughout the last few decades, the Internet has had monstrous developing. Several years back, numerou s individuals completed not have machine information and were not mindful of how to utilize it. Today, the Internet is utilized regularly for just about every errand. A huge number

Mattel’s Chinese Sourcing Crisis of 2007 free essay sample

Chinese Sourcing Crisis of 2007 Regarding to this case study there are three parts involved, which are the Mattel Company and the Chinese manufacturer, the regulation party of Chinese authority and the governments of America and China. To each part it relates to one of the issues that involve in this case study. The first issue that was found in this case is the reputation crisis of Mattel worldwide and its sourcing failure. The failure of their partner of using over level lead paint is the starting point of series of recall. It leads to the reputation crisis of Mattel product, thousands of parents are concerning about the safety of the toy their children are playing, lawsuit are made to against the failure of Mattel. Mattel is the largest toy company in the world, and it has been practicing the outsourcing policy from China for decades due to the cheap cost of labor and intensive production there. We will write a custom essay sample on Mattel’s Chinese Sourcing Crisis of 2007 or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Mattel and its Chinese suppliers had maintained a partnership over decade. Due to the trust toward to the Chinese partner, Mattel has lost its regulation to the Chinese supplier. However due to the increasing cost of the labor and material of production, the manufacturer has no choice but to switch to a lower cost material to replace to maintain their profit. Rather to blame the evil mind of the manufacturer in China, the rising price is also one of the key factor which drive them to lost their ethics after so many years of cooperation with Mattel. The second issue that involved in this case it the Chinese government failure of regulation Due to the failure of Mattel in China, it caused not only the crisis of Mattel Company but also the product made in China. Zheng Xiao Yu, the head of Chinese State Authority who is responsible to ensure of the safety of Food and Drug was found of taking bribes to approve inferior products. The transparence of government censorship is obviously needs to be improved. In a result, People are less trust about China product and the reputation is getting worse. There are likely more strict trade restrictions or barriers toward China Products when they want to enter into foreign markets. Beside the political purpose behind it to be blame, the failure of regulation by the Chinese authority is also a big reason why the crisis may happen. The third issue is that the Trust crisis of Product made in China, and its political plot behind the screen. Regarding to the second recall, the majority of the 17. 4 million toys were due to the failure of the American toys’ designer rather than Chinese manufacturer. However the truth seems to be covered by the western media and more blame was given to the china made product, which cause the discrimination about Chinese product. A survey of consumers in UK found that around 37% of the audiences lose their trust over Chinese product. There are rising anxieties over Chinese product. This can be explained by the increasing trade deficit of American toward their trade with China, the rapid increasing Chinese economy has cause the panic of American government. Due to large number of American companies move their production to China in order to seek a lower cost, huge amount of worker domestic lose their job opportunities, and cause great social instability. This is the problem the American government has to solve. Therefore, beside the problem it can be view, we can say it has political purpose at the back. Overall in this case study, the failure of Chinese manufacture industry is a great lesson for all the parties. For the manufacturer in China, in order to survive in the increasing competition environment, the cost advantage is not the only way to dominate the market, but quality does too. For the Chinese authority of regulation, their failures of taking their responsibility to ensure the safety of product made in china will cause China lose the cost advantages. For the American government, shift the crisis to another country it is a way to solve its own problem.

Strategic mgt free essay sample

Rogers’ was a healthy company with significant assets. Rogers’ chocolate used to produce 24000 square foot manufacturing facility on the outskirt of Victoria . There were about 110 non-unionized retail and production employees. It had large retail outlets about 50% of the company’s sales come from Rogers’ 11 retail stores. Consequently, it had widespread distribution system which is based on geographic, demographic, cultural, socio-economic and all other demographic factors. Financial Resources: The company was in a good financial position with great cash flow and good margins. It had well designed financial strategies and it followed the Canada Revenue Agency’s guidelines. Strong Brand Name: Rogers’ had positive brand image. The brand was established around Rogers’ long history, with traditional packaging, including pink or brown gingham-wrapped Victoria creams, Chocolate Almond Brittle and Empress Squares. An Attractive Customer Base: Rogers’ chocolates were of the highest quality; and the company had many loyal customers around the world. The people who knew the brand were willing to pay for the product. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic mgt or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Technology: Rogers’ most production system consisted of batch processing, utilizing technology. It had the ability to improve its production processes by advancing the technology related aspects. Such as –Online phone and Mail orders Website etc. Orders that are received by phone, mail were generally processed within three to four days and they used to wrap them with attractive packaging style then shipped via FedEx. Human Assets: Rogers’ company had a talented workforce capability through national or global distribution capabilities . Their employees learned multiple job functions and they enjoyed a variety of work and tasks. Strong Advertising and Promotion: Rogers’ used several types of advertising. To reach tourists, the company advertised in guide magazines, in hotel magazines. They also used seasonal print advertising, radio spots and a small amount of TV advertising. Good Customer Service Capabilities: Rogers’ had capabilities to provide good customer service. They tried not to make mistake or disappoint customers. They followed old-fashioned service system. If products were not good, they did apologize and replace them immediately. Better Product Quality Relative to Others: Rogers’ chocolates were high quality than rivals. 3. VALUE CHAIN OF THE COMPANY: Value chain is the series of activities that a firm has to do to create value to customers. Rogers’ value chain is given below- Rogers’ primary Activities are given below- Supply Chain Management: Rogers’ collected raw materials, inputs from supplier, retailing, wholesaling. Operations: Production, packaging, operations. Distribution: Delivery chocolates through trucks, shipping. Sales and Marketing: Advertising and promotion. Service: Customer service, product replacement. Rogers’ support activities are given below- Human Resources Management: Recruitment, hiring, development. General Administration: General management, accounting and finance and other overhead functions. 4. COMPETITIVE SCOPE OF THE FIRM: Rogers’ competitive scopes are given below- Segment Scope: In the segment scope, there are two types of scope- types of product Rogers’ offered and types of customer the had. I. Types of product Rogers’ offered: Rogers’ main products were high-quality, hand-wrapped chocolates including its premiere line, the Victoria creams, along with truffles, nuts and chews, almond bark, nutcorn, and various assortments. In addition to, Rogers’ also produced pure milk chocolate, dark chocolates, white chocolates bars, baking/fondue chocolate blocks, other specialty items, such as chocolate-covered ginger, truffles, caramels, brittles, and orange peel. Rogers’ also produced no sugar-added chocolates. The company also produced and sold a line of premium ice cream novelty items through its retail stores. II. Types of customer Rogers’ had: Rogers’ had various types of customers. These ares- Aging baby boomers- They purchased more chocolate and emphasized quality and brand in their purchases. Heavy users- These heavy users tended to be established families, middle-aged childless couples and empty nesters with high income. Cruise ship visitors and general tourists. Local businesses as their corporate gift of choice. Affluent people who want to give something unique. Geographic Territory: Rogers’ offered their product within certain geographical territory. They offered their chocolate in Canada and America. Industry Scope: Industry scope is the range of related industries in which the firm competes with a coordinated strategy. Rogers’ sold chocolates but also run a cafeteria-style restaurant called Sam’s Deli on the Inner Harbour in Victoria. Sam’s Deli featured made-to-order sandwiches, soups and salads, deserts, and wine and beer. Sam’s had strong sales of ice cream as well. Degree of Integration: Degree of integration is the extent to which activities are performed in-house instead of by independent firms. Rogers’ delivered their products using their own trucks. Their choice had a great impact on quality products. 5. GENERIC STRATEGY PURSUED: Rogers’ had different types of chocolates like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate bars, chocolate-covered ginger, truffles, caramels, brittles, and orange peel. They also produced ice cream. On the other hand, sales agents maintained agreements with Rogers’ to sell Rogers’ product within a certain geographical territory. Rogers’ offered their chocolate within a narrow market segment. It means that Rogers’ followed focused differentiation strategy. 6. KEY SUCCESS FACTORS: Rogers’ key success factors are given below- Product Quality: Rogers’s products were high-quality, hand-wrapped chocolates. In 2006, the company won an award from the International Taste Quality Institute. Production Capability: Rogers’ had huge production capabilities. Rogers’ had 24,000 square-foot manufacturing facility. An Ideal Customer Profile: Rogers’s had an ideal customer profile. Rogers’ had a very loyal following, particularly in the Victoria area. Phoenix said ‘Our best and most loyal client base comes from customers that have been an emotional connection to Rogers’. Effective Leadership: The company had experienced and capable leader. Jim Ralp had been president of Rogers’ and he had been a well networked sales manager. Then Steve Parkhill joined the company and he was exceptional leader with empowering style and significant personal integrity. Interpersonal-Social Duties: Rogers’ performed social duties. The company supported a local social service agency by allowing a group of brain-damaged individuals in every Friday. Rogers’ also donated product to charitable events. Vertical Integration: Rogers’ were retailing chocolate products through company-owned stores. Each of Rogers’ retail stores was located in a tourist area. They also wholesale their chocolate products. Customer Service: Rogers’ provided smaller customers and other retailers. Sometimes Rogers’ were crediting them for stale stock and paying the shipping expenses on orders more than $350. The also provided delivery services and they had purchased a delivery truck for Victoria. 7. SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT: Rogers’s achieved a classic premium brand and loyal customers. Rogers’ had an easy-to-navigate website and a superior search engine ranking that attracted web shoppers. In 2006, the company won a prestigious 2006 Superior Taste Award from the International Taste Quality Institute, an independent organization of leading sommeliers, beverage experts and gourment chefs, based in Brussels, Belgium. The company achieved financial strategies that were able to design to minimize taxable earnings. Rogers’ had won the Retail Council of Canada’s Innovative Retailer of the year award. The company achieved 11 retail stores and 585 active wholesale customers. The company achieved well depreciation method. For that reason assets were depreciated as quickly as possible. 8. PROBLEMS OF THE COMPANY: Rogers’s demand forecasting was difficult due to the seasonality of sales. There are out of stock problem due to complicated nature of seasonal production. In the case of ice cream, it was difficult to predict sales volume. Rogers’ chocolates were fairly expensive relative to others in the market. Due to their quality ingredients and their hand-packaging processes. Rogers’ growth had slowed in the past few years. Rogers’ bought their raw product from West Africa. For that reason many customers did not buy their products. Because, in West Africa some of the production of cocoa beans, were produced by forced labor and child labor. Set-up times and equipment cleaning times were a significant component of costs. Production planning was more complicated and plant was non-union. Rogers’ packaging system was traditional. In the case of Sam’s Deli, stuff recruiting was a problem. For that reason, Sam’s had to curtail its evening hours of operation.

The Academic Decathlon †How to Prepare for the USAD Test

The Academic Decathlon – How to Prepare for the USAD Test The Academic Decathlon – How to Prepare for the USAD Test Academic competitions are common. There are spelling bees and robotic competitions on a national level, for example. There are school-wide, regional, and state competitions. One of the most interesting national academic competitions is the Academic Decathlon, a product of the U.S. Academic Decathlon Association (USAD). The competition was created in 1968 by the Superintendent of Schools for Orange Country, California just for California. It was later expanded to a national competition, and today most states and a few international schools now participate. What is Unique About the Academic Decathlon Most competitions involve the very best students that schools can put together as competitors. But this one is different, in the following ways: Each team is made up of 9 students. 3 are considered â€Å"honors† with GPA’s between 3.75-4.0; 3 are named â€Å"scholastic, with GPA’s between 3 – 3.74; 3 are named â€Å"varsity† with GPA’s of 0.00 – 2.99). There are ten events, and all students compete as individuals in their classified divisions. Team scores are determined by taking top scores from each division in each of the events and then added up for a total score for the team. Competitions begin at the local level, and the winning team from each state then moves on to the national competition. Tests of the Competition The ten events of USAD cover all academic disciplines that typical high school students study. These are as follows: 7 multiple-choice tests in language literature, math, science, social studies, economics, art and music. There is a Super Quiz that is either in science or social studies There is an essay to write, based upon optional prompts Each student must prepare a speech on a pre-selected topic Each student will be interviewed by judges. Obviously, the multiple-choice tests are objective measurements. The other three events are assessed subjectively by the judges, although the judging criteria is published on the organization’s website. Students don’t Go In â€Å"Blind† Every year the organization publishes its curriculum in every subject on its website. This provides students with an outline of the skills and content to be included in the 7 objective tests. This curriculum is developed by a 10-member panel. Anyone contributing to the curriculum must have a Bachelor’s degree in the subject. Once the curriculum is created, it is then checked by others for accuracy. There is also a USAD â€Å"theme† developed for each year, and the tests all relate to the theme. In the language and literature section, for example, a novel or set of plays is selected each year and provided to students. In music and art, students are provided with specific works that they must research and study. If, for example, the theme were to be â€Å"Africa,† as it was one year, social studies, language and literature, economics, art, and music tests will all relate to that continent, and contestants are provided specific topics to study. The Subjective Portions of the Competition As the term implies, there are no right or wrong answers to these parts of the event. Speech: This event is divided into two parts. The first is a prepared speech on a pre-provided topic, and it is to be 3  ½ - 4 minutes long. The second part is an impromptu speech. Contestants are given three optional prompts, choose one, and then deliver a 1  ½ - 2minute speech on that topic. The Interview: This is a formal event, during which the student is asked a series of questions and expected to respond. Questions have included such things as â€Å"Who is your role model and why?† The Essay: Contestants are given three prompts, choose one, and have 50 minutes to write their essays on the chosen topic. The prompts relate to the theme of that year and come from the language and literature or the Super Quiz areas. How to Prepare for the USAD Test There is a wealth of information published and updated each year on the organization’s website. This includes the theme and â€Å"curriculum† in each of the seven objective testing content areas. Information is released according to a calendar. For the 2017-2018 USAD competition, for example, the theme and general topic was posted March 1, 2018; the outlines for each curricular topic area on May 1; and more specific curriculum materials (e.g., study guides) will began to be shipped out to team coaches and state directors on May 15. The competition takes place in November, 2018, giving teams the summer months to spend time in strong preparation. Materials for Study – The Objective Multiple-Choice Tests The study materials that are provided by the USAD, including the topic areas and outlines are all free and can be downloaded from the website, and this is a good start for preparation. The more specific study materials – resource guides, study guides, etc. must be purchased by each team, and the cost is $1000. While there have been lots of complaints about charging for these materials, the organization claims that it has to in order to meet its over $1 million budget each year. This can put an additional burden on schools and school districts that are from poorer areas, and that has been a point of controversy. There are also USAD practice tests that are developed each year by third-party for-profit companies. These are sold to teams, and, when schools are able to provide this kind of financial support, the tests can be a big help. The USAD does not support or encourage the purchase of the practice tests; however, they are well-done and can give a team a pretty big advantage. Any time students have the opportunity to take practice test, research shows that they do better on the real thing. With all of this information and all of these study materials, most teams can be well-prepared for the objective testing events, provided they have a good coach and they spend a lot of time studying the material. The objective tests are very fact-based and do not require critical or creative thinking. It is really a matter of memorization. Because of this, a number of educational associations, such as the ASCD, have criticized the objective portion of the event. The criticism relates to the fact that students are basically engaged in straight memorization of facts rather than any higher-level thinking skills, such as application, analysis, or synthesis. The Association’s response is that, because the event is theme-based, students will become â€Å"experts† of sorts on those wider curricular areas and will have a knowledge base that they would not get in a regular school curricular environment. Materials for Study – The Subjective Portion of Testing No one can completely prepare for this portion of the event. However, given that the USAD theme for each year is published, and given that the essay and speech prompts will all relate to this theme, preparation can be in the following forms: For the essay portion of the exam, students can review and study essay samples in the general topical theme areas. And just as they would practice for an ACT or SAT essay, they should write several essays on their own that also relate to the theme and the language and literature and super quiz curricula. Speech Preparation: The ability to deliver a good speech is as much about self-confidence as it is about the content. Students should practice preparing and delivering speeches on the thematic topic areas of course. It is the impromptu speech event that will probably present the greatest challenge. But there are tactics and strategies that can be learned and practiced. During the time they have to prepare for USAF test, students should be given topics from their coaches that relate to the theme and take the one-minute of allowed preparation time to gather their thoughts. The most important parts of any speech are the opening and the ending. Practice using your minute of allowed preparation time to craft a great opening sentence and a solid ending. These will be the most memorable. Again, practice is the one thing that will get you over that anxiety and nervousness. The Interview: you will not be able to anticipate the questions you might be asked in a formal interview situation. The key to success, though, will be in your ability to stay calm, focused, and poised. Again, the key to a successful interview is practice. Your USAD coach should set up several interview sessions and ask difficult questions. Your goal is to take a minute, think about the question being asked, and form a response that relates directly to that question. Part of evaluating your performance will be your ability to stick to the topic of the question, to speak clearly and with confidence, and to keep your response relatively brief. The biggest mistake that people make during interviews is veering off topic and giving an answer that is disjointed and incoherent. Outside Research – It is Valuable You have the outlines and the study guide and resource materials. You know what the theme is. This year, for example, it is Africa. So, how much do you really know about Africa – it’s history, its development, it political, economic and social challenges? Most high schools do not offer a course in African studies, so you may not know much. You can take the study guides and gain a lot of factual information about Africa, but do you really have a solid, general understanding of the continent? Chances are you don’t. Take some time during the summer months before the competition to make Africa your focus of study. There is an amazing amount of online resources about this continent and the richness of its history, geography, and societies. Your goal should be to get a broad base of general knowledge, so that the factual information you may need to memorize actually makes sense to you. For example, you can access the National Geographic website and find a huge amount of information about Africa. In fact, there is a TV series on our African beginnings, narrated by Morgan Freeman, that is soon to start. Likewise, there are news stories about Africa published daily by online news organizations. The more general knowledge you can absorb about Africa, the more you will be able to appear as an â€Å"expert,† especially during the subjective portions of the event. You just never know when you may be able to throw in some information you have about Africa that will impress the judges. Above All – Take the Time You Need When you study for final exams, you have two choices. You can organize your material regularly throughout the semester and study a bit at a time. Or, you can â€Å"cram† at the last minute, perhaps 1-2 days before that exam and get help from essay services. Students who choose either option can be successful and get good exam grades. But preparing for the Academic Decathlon is different. It’s not like a final exam in history or social studies that covers a finite amount of material. It is an examination that covers all content areas. There is no way to â€Å"cram† at the last minute. Fortunately, your team will have a coach who will prepare a schedule of work and study over a longer period of time. You can study and learn in a relatively stress-free environment, and this means that you will retain much of what you learn long-term. So, if you study a piece of literature without the stress of an immediate exam, that more relaxed environment allows you to absorb information, to think critically about the piece, and to â€Å"cement† your understanding. Likewise, the longer preparation time will allow lots of practice for the subjective parts of the event – those speeches, the interview, and that essay. In these areas, it is practice, not study, that will make the difference. Above all, you need to understand that you are a part of a team with a coach. While you will be scored on your individual performance, it is important that you have the mindset of being a member of a team. Each member’s accomplishments should be encouraged and applauded – that’s what teamwork is all about.

10 Jobs Perfect for People Who Value Freedom and Want to Travel

10 Jobs Perfect for People Who Value Freedom and Want to Travel So you love to travel. The trouble is, you also, you know, have to work most days. Thank goodness it is possible to get paid to travel- oh yes, it is. Travel jobs might not be the easiest to find, but they are out there. Figure out how to earn a salary while traveling the world by checking out a few of these choice job options. 1. ArcheologistFor this, you need to have a passion both for traveling and ancient artifacts. It will require a good deal of schooling, but then you’ll be out in the field as much as you’ll be in a classroom or a lab. So get your Ph.D. or master’s, and start taking those long research trips to keep you going.2. Athletic RecruiterFind a job through a college or professional sports organization and travel the country- even the globe- scouting out talent. Being an avid sports fan is a requisite, as well thriving when you are living on the road and seeing the world.3. English Teacher AbroadYou might take for granted that you speak English, but did it ever occur to you that your natural ability is actually an asset in foreign countries? Find somewhere you really want to go and then figure out how and where you can teach English there. Any required certification is easy to acquire. You can also consider becoming an au pair and caring for children while helping them to learn English.4. Tour GuideEspecially if you’re an extrovert, you can get a job as a tour guide sharing your passion for a foreign place with other travelers. If your memory is good and you learn fast and chat well with people, you’ll be a natural.5. WWOOFLove traveling, the outdoors, and organic produce? Try WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). You’ll get paid and you’ll be doing something good for the planet and for small farms and your travel will be super ethical, rather than super frivolous or exploitative. Give back!6. Flight AttendantThis seems like a pretty obvious travel-friendly career choice, but it’ s also quite enjoyable and jobs are not that hard to come by. See the world, get paid rather well, and score discounted flights for life! You’ll have to be a people person and put up with some unorthodox hours, but it’s a great way to get around.7. Cruise EmployeeThere are lots of these jobs out there in a wide variety of areas, but lots of people want them. If you do get one of these coveted gigs, you’ll be getting free room and board, and a chance to see some of the most beautiful places on earth.8. YachtieGet paid a great amount of money to work insane hours in some of the most beautiful places in the world. Free room and board, though you’ll be slaving away for almost all of your waking hours. But for the right people, this job is a dream.9. Travel AgentIf you love travel so much that you feel the need to share tips and help people plan their own travels, then why not get paid for it? Plus, you’ll enjoy deep discounts and perks when it comes ti me for your own vacations.10. Travel WriterIt’s not as impossible as you might think to get paid to write about travel. Just remember you’ll have to start somewhere- likely small and unpaid, and work your way up to recognition and compensation. But the more interesting your travels, and the better your writing, the easier a time you’ll have setting up your audience and your career.

Instrument History Report ( Strings ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Instrument History Report ( Strings ) - Essay Example Different tones or pitches can be achieved with varying thickness and tightness of the strings, as well as with changing lengths. A string instrument may have strings already of various lengths played separately or in combinations, such as with harps and zithers. They can also have strings of the same length that are varied by pressing them against the instrument’s body, such as with lutes and lyres. Stringed musical instruments are said to have existed way back in 3500 BC with lyres and harps made by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia, and the harps of 3000 BC in the Old Empires of Egypt. But even before that time, the early civilizations in Africa and South America already developed the musical bow. Some say that it was made from the hunter’s bow and arrow, but others suggest that the bow and arrow evolved from the musical bow. In any case, the resemblance between the two seems to indicate that they are in a way related. From this simple single-stringed instrument, it is believed that the first harps were made. In form, these first harps were very similar to a simple bow in that a string is attached from one end of a bent piece of wood to another. However, unlike the musical bow, more strings have been added to produce a variety of tones in the harp. These harps were found in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia as early as 3000 BC. Harps were later adopted by the early Christian Church as one of the appropriate musical instruments. During these times, very few instruments were acceptable as most of them were considered tools of the devil. The harp also plays a significant role in European nations where it has evolved through the Medieval age and the Renaissance into the harps we know today. In fact, quite a number of early cultures in Europe had harps in their myths and legends. In Ireland, the harp has become the national instrument because of its Celtic heritage. Similar to the harp, the lyre is another string instrument deeply rooted in