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Freelance Designer Career

Databases For Your Research

April 29, 2018April 29, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

I’m really interested in questions that might deal with children’s education you know like are charter schools better than public education might be a question that I would be interested in because my children attend public school I might also be interested in something like is technology harmful to student literacy because I’m a big reader and I’ve heard rumors and I’ve wondered about how you know how distracting and how we live in a culture now that really it becomes hard to be a reader it becomes hard to quiet your mind enough to spend those hours reading alone with a book all our social media is kind of built around the opposite of being alone with a book and so how does that affect our literacy skills you can also go to certain websites so like this one pro con org I’ll take you there in a second and there are a couple databases that are useful. See more articles on databases and research for essay at Robotdon.

Also if you have a favorite news website especially the opinion pages can be useful or are LSSC library website you can ask a librarian to help you so I’m gonna go quickly to a few of these and I’m not gonna spend a lot of time browsing because I’ve already been more to lengthy than I like to be so news websites you can go to like a well-known news website like the New York Times and a great place to go when you get on these websites is maybe something like have you scrolled down a lot of them have like the most emailed or the most viewed this is recommended for me because I go here a lot and so they trace what I click on a little creepy but it’s also kind of cool so I can look at things like Oh op-ed op-ed means like opinion editorials so that’s good that that has to deal with it has to deal with opinionated writings and so with argument that’s what we’re looking at and again I’m not going to go into these articles but Confederate statues in our history right.

so one of the things that’s been debated widely lately has been because of the march in Virginia has been the idea of should we take down Confederate statues or replace Confederate names on buildings and schools there is this history there that many people think is tainted and it deals with the idea of kind of going back to the debate that’s been around for a while which is is the Confederate flag a symbol of heritage or hate and you’ll find debate on both sides they’re trying to think if there’s any thing else there that looks exciting but um but yeah you can click around you don’t have to necessarily just go to the most emailed or the most viewed you can go to the op-ed page here in The New York Times and scout around for what people are writing about and see if anything interests you.

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Essay Bullet Points

April 1, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

Like any other skill as a writing is a complex skill and it is a means of communication all writing using even email writing letter writing is a means of communication essay writing is a notch higher is a notch above because of the the complexities of skills involved say am very often you will realize that if you practice writing it impacts your other skills as well the more you write the better you are able to organize your thoughts it will also help you in speaking better and also in reading better and all these things in effect your listening abilities as well you know you understand the nuances of words you understand vocabulary fast you don’t have to really grow up around with and understanding or inferring the meanings of various words so everything is interconnected you know that we have done so much of reading and listening as well.

And you know how much let’s say reading is connected to listening and how much writing is connected to speaking so all these skills are interconnected and they should be given equal attention now I said I think can be descriptive it can be narrative and it can be analytical descriptive is when when we describe we have been describing processes remember in some of our earlier classes we have seen how descriptions are then how equipment are described how processes are described narrative is when you narrate something and let’s say you’ll write a narrative about your personal experience how you felt about doing this research it becomes a narrative almost like sharing your thoughts telling a story analytical this is something that most of you need at the essay level which means that you have to analyze a given question approach a given problem and discuss it and discuss it how for and you have to present arguments for and against that is approaching analytically of course there are various types of essays.

If you pick up any book of essay writing it would give you bullet points about various types of essays we will do that also soon but understand that generally this is what we need descriptive is more elementary narrative maybe more creative analytical is more academic because you speak for and against an argument you take a stand descriptive is more like how I did something or how this let’s say how this experiment was conducted and I have to right a short report a short description of it you don’t need to be terribly creative in writing a description for analytical writing you have to be not creative but you have to be acutely sensitive to the nuances of the English language so just writing a string of sentences wouldn’t do in the analytical kind of writing one key element of writing an essay is that it’s important to be aware of your own strengths and limitations for example if you have a choice let’s say you have been given a choice in your exam or by your instructor that here is a choice here’s a list of topics write anything.

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A Comprehensive Case Study Analysis

March 22, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

Try to analyze what you have to discuss subsequently both the internal as well as the external factors relevant to the organization should be elucidated this analysis provides a shape for things to come in further analysis the factors external to the organization comprised things like level of competition market share raw material prices tight labor labor market conditions price cutting customer preferences etc and the factors internal to the organization comprised mainly of its labor policies dispute regressive systems project approval schemes marketing strategy capacity expansions etc so it depends on on the environment which you are scanning whereas the external environment will talk about the external communities are the ones which are outside the organization the internal environment will talk about the internal challenges and constraints which which that particular case is posing. Learn more about different types of analysis at Edusson.

So you have to do a very very comprehensive comprehensive kind of analysis of the environment tip number four the Pacer format for case analysis now there is no one way in which you can analyze the case so this is it is only your helping tool this gives you some kind of a method to the whole process and it is very simple to remember PA CER so this gives you a sequential approach to solving the case if you remember these are these five dimensions be AC er you’ll be able to solve the case or approach the case in a more comprehensive and inclusive manner so let’s see what exactly is meant by the Pacer approach starting with the P first which is problem definition the problem should ideally be defined in a crisp single line incorporating the most important decision issue to be solved in the case now this is this is very important please most of the cases questions they go Ori they go off the handles.

Because the problem was not defined correctly let me give you an example say you are the MD of an organization and you recruit a vice-president works for a manufacturing setup the VP works he is on the shop floor day 1 and worker comes across and slaps on what should you do as the MD of the organization now the problem is not that the the VP works got slapped by the worker the problem could be much more you have to delve deeper and try to bring out you know the own set of problems which can possibly be responsible for this kind of a behavior so the worker slapping the VP works is a behavioral issue right but when you talk about a problem it is not exactly a problem this is this is the effect of the of the problem the cause has to be understood so obviously the problem would be in terms of the labor management conflict so that is the problem the problem is not the person being slack so you have to define the problem in a certain way and your ability to define the problem in a concise manner will we’ll probably talk about your objectivity and your approach to solve the case.

Literature Essay

How to Organize the Analysis Essay

January 24, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

Directions: The following outline explains how to organize the writing of timed essay questions that require analysis (FRQ#1 and FRQ#2 on the AP English Literature Exam). Remember that this is just an idea to help you organize your thoughts. There is no perfect outline that guarantees a score of 8-9!

Introduction:

Use the first sentence or two to define the meaning of the poem/passage. You can also start a general statement involving the theme of the poem/passage. You should probably mention both the title of the poem/passage and the poet/author somewhere in the beginning. Show the reader that you understood what was going on in the poem/passage! You can also allude to something here you might discuss in the concluding paragraph.
In the third or fourth sentence, discuss some of the language/rhetorical devices you see as playing an important role in the poem/passage and what they reveal or show throughout the poem/passage (they must relate to bigger picture). Examples: syntax, tone, diction, figurative language, narrative pace, etc. Be sure to use adjectives before each device such as morose diction and stygian tone. This is your thesis; you will aim to prove this throughout your entire essay.

*Important reminders: Poems are in quotes, novels are underlined. Speakers are in poems, narrators are in prose passages.

Example of a prompt:

Read the following poem carefully. Then, in a well-organized essay, indicate how the poet uses images and symbols to link the predicament of the lost boy to the domestic situation of the speaker.

Example of an intro. to that prompt:

Sometimes reading a book can be a therapeutic activity, but other times it may remind a person of lugubrious events in his/her own life. Such as is the case of the speaker in Michael Waters’ poem, “The Mystery of the Caves,” wherein a small boy’s confusion during his parent’s vociferous fight is compared to a book he is reading which portrays another young boy who is lost among the crevices of the earth. Waters correlates the two boys’ stories through an array of images and symbols to reveal that the two boys may be in different situations yet share the same feeling of being lost.

Body paragraphs: (Sometimes two, sometimes three)

First choose what device(s) (the how) plays the most important role and focus on that device in the first body paragraph. Be sure to revisit your T-Chart and annotation to decide what device to discuss first.

The topic sentence (TS) should define what the author/poet does first to establish a specifically stated attitude, accomplish part of the specifically stated purpose, or create specifically stated meaning(depends on prompt). You are basically telling the reader what device is used and what it reveals or contributes to the meaning of the work. Try not to use the word “use” (yes, that’s ironic!). Try “employs, utilizes, manipulates, applies, etc.”

Example: Michael Waters employs vivid imagery to connect the boy’s disarrayed and disoriented domestic situation to the predicament of the boy who is lost in a cave (this must relate to the prompt and thesis).

The rest of the body should use specific examples from the actual poem/passage to show how the device plays an important role in revealing a character’s complexity, revealing the narrator’s attitude, revealing a theme; it depends on the prompt (here is where you use embedded quotes or paraphrase from the actual poem/passage). You must have a good combination of textual evidence and commentary to show how it reveals the meaning. Define what the author does, and analyze how the author does it.

Example: Although the boys are not in similar situations, they both feel lost which is depicted through descriptive imagery such as in lines 9-12 “I couldn’t stop reading the book because I had to know the answer, because my mother was leaving again—the lid of the trunk thrown open, blouses torn from their hanger, the crazy shouting among rooms.” The image of chaos and helplessness is revealed, and it is obvious that the young boy in the domestic situation is looking for a way out of this chaos just as the boy in the cave is “wandering a labyrinth of caverns” hoping to escape a desperate situation. The boy reading the book so desperately wants the “hero” to find a passage to safety, just as he would like to “know the answer” to his own family’s issues. Waters also uses the images of torn clothes and trunks thrown open and “crazy shouting among rooms” to connect the disordered house to a labyrinth of caverns. Both are extremely difficult to follow and seem to lead nowhere.

Once you have fully discussed everything concerning the most important device, move onto the next paragraph. What will you tackle next? Choose another device that plays a strong role in the development of the poem/passage. (tone, diction, imagery, figurative language, etc.) Once again, revisit your T-Chart to make sure you are on track and fulfilling the prompt’s requirements.

Example: Waters also utilizes symbols to represent both parallel narratives. In line 7, the speaker says about the lost boy, “would he float upward toward light? Or would he somersault forever in an underground black river?” This is the same question he is asking about himself, only in his case he will metaphorically somersault into his parent’s divorce. The poet…

Conclusion: (the worst part of the essay!)

End the same way the passage ends.
Tie up the loose ends established in the introduction by making conclusions about how the message of the work just analyzed applies to overall human experience.

Example: The poem, “The Mystery of the Caves,” reveals many of the issues some young, children face today. The only escape from listening to their parents abusive fighting is to get lost in a book before they get lost in their parents’ issues. It is their only escape.

Literature Essay

English Language & Literature Essay Strategies

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

The concept of conformity is constantly being debated in society. As each generation attempts to develop their unique perspective, the line between what is conforming versus non-conforming is constantly evolving.

Does conformity create a stagnant population that is predictable or does it allow for innovation? Then synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that analyzes the implications of conformity on society and the individual.

Make sure that your argument in essay is central; use the sources to illustrate and support your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources as Source A, Source B, etc., or by using the description in parentheses.

Format:

Essay must be typed, double-spaced using 12 point Times New Roman font. The maximum word count is 750 words and the minimum word count of 550 words.

1. Use very specific vocabulary.
Vague, abstract words can make it difficult for your reader to know exactly what you mean. You know what you mean when you use those terms, but it is likely that your reader is not so sure. Be sure that the words the reader is reading are exactly what you are thinking.

2. Craft a strong, specific thesis statement.
Take a position on the issue addressed in the prompt. Use strong, clear language.

3. Make an argument.
Don’t simply summarize the passage or the sources. Don’t just answer the prompt. Look for ways to extend and expand the argument. Offer solutions if the prompt asks you to consider a problem. Look for the broader significance of the topic or issue.

4. Summary : Commentary Ratio
Use strong, specific examples to support your argument, but be sure to adequately explain those examples. Your body paragraphs should be approximately 1/3 Summary and 2/3 Commentary.

5. Use short quotes.
Keep the actual quote length to less than a complete sentence. Long quotes can be distracting and can interrupt the flow of your essay.

6. Introduce your quotes.
Do not begin body paragraphs with a quote. Imbed your quotes two or three sentences into your paragraphs. Introduce the quote so that the reader knows it is coming.

7. End well.
Conclude your essay with a statement about the importance of the topic/issue/prompt. Make sure your essay feels complete.

Expository Essay

Expository Essay Hollywood Movie Review

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

For this expository essay you will need to go to a local theater and view a current movie. Yes, that’s right; you get to watch a movie! You may also choose to watch a DVD instead; however, it must be new release. Also, I would prefer that you pick a movie that you had already planned on viewing, rather than one you would not normally see.

The idea behind this assignment is to get you to start looking at media entertainment—in this case movies—in an objective and critical way, and to open your eyes to the various ways we are persuaded by what we see.

You will need to bring a pencil and paper with you to the movie so you can take notes on the following questions:

What ideas or beliefs are being projected as acceptable (i.e. drugs, sex, underagedrinking, religion, state of mind, ways of viewing society, political)? How does the director show this in his or her movie?
What are the actors/actresses trying to persuade you to do? How are they doing this? Look for hidden or not so easily recognized persuasion (i.e. characters are all drinking the same product or vacationing in certain place). How might this be part of a hidden marketing technique to sell products?
Which products are being promoted (this can be as simple as a high school character wearing a designer label shirt or as complex as a party scene with multiple items being promoted)?
Where and when are persuasive messages used in the film, both directly and indirectly?

When you are finished, write a 2-3 page expository essay about the film and its use of persuasion. Please use your answers to the above questions in your expository essay as support/evidence.

Statement of Purpose

College Statement of Purpose Portfolio guidelines

January 24, 2018January 24, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

Choose from the following topics for your personal statement of purpose:

A. Common Application Topics
1. Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their personal statement of purpose would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same
decision again?
4. Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood
within your culture, community, or family.

B. Gates Millennium Scholarship Essays
Note: You must complete all 8 personal statements of purpose for the scholarship.

Statement of Purpose 1 Discuss the subjects in which you excel or have excelled. To what factors do you attribute your success?

Statement of Purpose 2 Discuss the subjects in which you have had difficulty. What factors do you believe contributed to your difficulties? How have you dealt with them so they will not cause problems for you again? In what areas have you experienced the greatest improvement? What problem areas remain?

Statement of Purpose 3 Briefly describe a situation in which you felt that you or others were treated unfairly or were not given an opportunity you felt you deserved. Why do you think this happened? How did you respond? Did the situation improve as a result of your response?

Statement of Purpose 4 Discuss your short and long-term goals. Are some of them related? Which are priorities?

Statement of Purpose 5 Discuss a leadership experience you have had in any area of your life: school, work, athletics, family, church, community, etc. How and why did you become a leader in this area? How did this experience influence your goals?

Statement of Purpose 6 Discuss your involvement in and contributions to a community near your home, school or elsewhere. Please select an experience different from the one you discussed in the previous question, even if this experience also involved leadership. What did you accomplish? How did this experience influence your goals?

Statement of Purpose 7 Other than through classes in school, in what areas (non-academic or academic) have you acquired knowledge or skills? How?

Statement of Purpose 8 Is there anything else you would like to tell us about that may help us evaluate your nomination (i.e., personal characteristics, obstacles you have overcome)?

College Research

College Research Project

January 24, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

Writing Content (1 paragraph summarizing your research):

Typed in MLA format

12 pt Times New Roman font

1 inch margins

MLA heading

Header with last name and page number

Must have Works Cited page

Thesis Statement

This research project will allow you to gather information about three different colleges or vocational schools. After you have conducted your research, you will form your own opinion regarding the three choices and decide which one would be best for YOU. Fill in the blanks below, and you will have a thesis statement. This will be the topic sentence for your research summary paragraph.

Information I need:

Name of school
Location (Be specific! City, State, how far from your home, near any important places?)
Mascot and school colors (if any)
Athletics
Admission Requirements (Include ACT/SAT score): Recommendation letters? Interview?
School size, Student to faculty ratio, Graduation rate
Estimated cost of tuition per semester: (Is this school in Oklahoma? If not, how much is the out-of-state tuition?)

COLLEGE RESEARCH PROJECT RUBRIC

PROJECT GRADE: (counts 5 times)

Z (zero)

59 and below

F _____

60-69

D _____

70-79

C _____

80-89

B _____

90-100

A _____

The student did not turn in a project.

(NO CREDIT)

The student did not meet any of the requirements.

The student met few requirements.

The project had no color/detail and was not well constructed.

The student met most of the requirements.

The project was of average quality and showed a limited amount of creativity.

The student met all of the requirements.

The project was colorful and showed some detail and creativity.

The student met all of the requirements plus went above and beyond.

The project was colorful, organized, detailed, and creative.

PRESENTATION GRADE: (counts 2 times)

Z (zero)

59 and below

F _____

60-69

D _____

70-79

C _____

80-89

B _____

90-100

A _____

The student did not give a presentation.

(NO CREDIT)

The student did not effectively present an informative message or give accurate facts.

The student did not use effective verbal and nonverbal strategies such as pitch and tone of voice, posture, and eye contact during the presentation.

The student presented a small amount of information. Some facts were accurate.

The student rarely used effective verbal and nonverbal strategies such as pitch and tone of voice, posture, and eye contact during the presentation.

The student effectively presented information about his/her project.

The student sometimes used effective verbal and nonverbal strategies such as pitch and tone of voice, posture, and eye contact during the presentation.

The student was prepared, organized and presented a variety of accurate information.

The student used effective verbal and nonverbal strategies such as pitch and tone of voice, posture, and eye contact during most of the presentation.

The student was prepared, organized and presented a variety of accurate information.

The student used effective verbal and nonverbal strategies such as pitch and tone of voice, posture, and eye contact during the entire presentation.

Argumentative Essay

Argumentative Essay Structure

January 24, 2018
by Gordon Watkins

Introductory Paragraph: Summarize the two arguments in a sentence or two. Then state your claim (State which text has the strongest argument)
Supporting Paragraph: Support your claim with specific evidence from the text. Then comment on the effectiveness of that information.

“One of the strongest arguments in the text is…” (Refer to specific information in the text: examples, facts, statistics, studies, etc.)
“This strongly supports the position because…” (How is this information important/relevant/convincing?)

Supporting Paragraph: Support your claim/argument/thesis with more specific evidence from article. Then comment on the effectiveness of that information.

“Another powerful point addressed in the text is…” (Refer to specific information in the text: examples, facts, statistics, studies, etc.)
“This further supports the claim by…” (How is this information important/relevant/convincing?)

Concession/Rebuttal: Acknowledge the opposing argument’s main points. Then rebut (refute/disprove/invalidate) them

“The opposing text makes some valid points. For example,…”

(Specifically mention strong opposing points in counter argument)

“However, those arguments are weak because…”

(Rebut/disprove/invalidate the opposing claim and reemphasize your claim)
5. Conclusion: Creatively restate your claim and leave readers with strong final thoughts on your position.

Summarize the topic of the two arguments and state which argument is strongest (claim)
Note specific arguments & facts from the speech to support your claim
Note more specific arguments & facts from the speech to support your claim
Concession/Rebuttal: Acknowledge opposing arguments. Then refute or invalidate them
Restate your claim (reiterate who has the strongest argument)

Are Tweens Ready for Cell Phones?
Exemplar:

The two speeches debate the appropriate age for children to own cell phones. While both speakers make valid points regarding safety, Deborah Pendergast’s speech, which is in favor of tweens having cell phones, presents the strongest argument.

To begin, Pendergast says that cell phones give parents and their kids a sense of empowerment and security. Cell phones connect children to their parents while simultaneously allowing them to feel independent and learn responsibility. The line of communication allows parents to keep in close contact with children, which, often times, can help ensure children’s safety. For example, if a parent is late picking up his child, he can make a phone call to ensure his child is not waiting anxiously and avoid potentially risky situations.

Furthermore, Pendergast reinforces her argument in favor of children having cell phones by referring to developmental research. She states that psychologists say between the ages of 10 and 12 is the ideal time to teach independence. Allowing children to have cell phones, she argues, is an opportunity to help children develop age appropriate responsibility.

Linda Sidner, who argues that cell phones makes children less safe, makes some valid points. For example, she states that parents might be become careless about knowing where their children are, simply because they have cell phones, so they may take the easy access for granted. She also states that cell phones give children access to dangerous sites on the internet, which parents may not monitor. Furthermore, she warns that allowing children to have cell phones puts them at risk for cyber-bullying. While these arguments are valid, they are weak compared to the opposing view, which emphasizes the benefit of safety and age-appropriate personal growth. There may always be potential risk involved with cell phone use, but the sure benefits outweigh those risks.

Sidner and Pendergast both present valid arguments, but Pendergast’s speech in favor of providing children with cell phones provides more reasonable arguments.

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Tips to Create an Audio Book

October 29, 2017October 30, 2017
by Gordon Watkins

The more formats you can offer your book in the better as each one represents an additional revenue stream. In spite of this, many authors fight shy of audio thinking it is a difficult and time consuming exercise.

Surprisingly it isn’t as complex as you would think and once you have done one, it gets progressively easier. I produced an audio book of one of my longish short stories which as it was written in dialect, suited the audio format well. Please, note that you have to edit your book in assignment writing service before audio recording.

Audio files take the form of several formats with MP3 being the most commonly used and the one I chose for my story. This is a very basic tutorial which explains what is need and how to set up the recording equipment.

You will need:

Suitable software
A computer to run it
A microphone to record

SOFTWARE

Lots of this available but I to used Audacity. This is an excellent programme which is easy to use and gives very good results. It is also free!

Your first task is to download.

Make sure that you download the correct version for your computer set up. In most cases it will be Windows or Mac.

Very important! To create MP3 files with Audacity you must also download and install the LAME MP3 encoder. You will see the download link for it on the same page as the Audacity download.

HOW TO INSTALL AUDACITY & LAME MP3

You need to look for the Audacity installer which suits your operating system. It is an executable file. Just click it and follow the onscreen instructions. (Dead easy!)

Lame Mp3 Encoder

You also need to install the Lame Mp3 encoder. The link is on the download page along with other plugins you might like to add, but are not necessary for the purpose of this tutorial.

RECORDING

You will need a microphone to record your voice. You can pay all kinds of prices but there is no need to splash out on a really expensive model, but it is worth noting that sound quality tends to improve in proportion to price! A unidirectional, dynamic-type microphone is a good option to start with.

Ebay lists microphones at all prices and specifications. Just ensure that you select one that works with your PC or Mac!

When you are ready to record, plug your microphone into your soundcard’s mike input. Where you find this will vary depending on your computer spec. On mine it is a little pink socket at the rear of my computer.

Launch Windows’s Volume Control. You may see the icon, it looks like a loud hailer in the bottom right hand corner of your desk top. If not:

Click: Start

Navigate to: Programs|Accessories|Entertainment|Volume Control

On Volume Control in the upper left hand corner Click: Options and highlight Properties

Select: Recording

Press: OK

Make sure you put a check in the Select box under where it says MIC

The Volume switch can be adjusted using the slider control as you begin to do your recording.

Open Audacity and select New from the File menu.

From the Edit menu select Preferences/Quality

Ensure the bit rate is 32 bit and sample rate is 44100

From Edit menu select Preferences/Audio I/O

Ensure Channels is set to stereo.

Click the Red record button at the top of the task pane and begin speaking.

You can use the other buttons to pause and stop.

You can explore the other menu options to play around with your recording, but for now save your work to an easily remembered place on your computer.

The file will be saved in Audacity’s own file format which is .aup This file can only be read by Audacity. To play it on the web or any other device you need to convert it to a compatible format.

Provided you installed the LAME MP3 encoder correctly you will be able to export a copy of the file as an MP3 or other audio format.

Click File and select Export.

Select MP3 from the options and save.