Relationship between child maltreatment and youth violence

Abstract Background: The developmental relationships between child maltreatment, youth violence, and intimate partner violence (IPV) are well documented. However, very few studies document the relationship between child abuse/maltreatment and youth violence as separate entities. In the present study, the relationship between child maltreatment and youth violence is examined in the presence of other modifying socio-economic factors.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Relationship between child maltreatment and youth violence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Method: Using a quasi-experimental design, the present study will examine the conduct/behavior of 14,000 participants drawn from different parts of the United States. Further, the researchers will collect data from three different waves of measurements using three various forms of questionnaires. Subsequently, the data will be analyzed using the STATA SE (Version 9) software application to evaluate the impact of different kinds of child violence on the development and perpetration of youth violence in later stages of lifespan development. Results: Relative to non-victims, the results of the present study are expected to show a direct link between child maltreatment and youth violence in the presence of other modifying socio-economic factors. Furthermore, it is expected that the percentage probability that abused victims will perpetrate youth violence in the future is expected to be higher than that recorded in previous studies. Conversely, gender differences are also expected in the way males and females respond to different forms of child maltreatment in perpetrating youth violence in later stages of lifespan development. Conclusion: From the study findings, it will be apparent that there is a direct link between child maltreatment and youth violence in the presence of other modifying socio-economic factors. Introduction Literatur e Review It is certain that many socio-economic risk factors are implicated in the development and progression of youth violence. However, there are relatively few research studies documenting the impact of child maltreatment and abuse on the future perpetuation of youth violence. As a result, the present study takes a closer look into the relationship between child maltreatment and youth violence as separate entities through evaluating the cycle of violence among a specific group of participants right from preschool stage to adolescence. In this way, the study aims at providing insights into youth violence across the lifespan development process in order to inform future programs aimed at designing prevention intervention strategies for violent youth.Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Accordingly, most preliminary studies have documented the relationship between child maltreat ment and youth violence in the presence of other factors such as domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV), and thus, locking out further investigations into the individual contribution of child maltreatment in the development of youth violence. Here, Fang and Corso (2007, p. 281) examined the development of interrelationships among different forms of child abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), and youth violence relative to a host other factors such as contextual, family background, and socio-economic factors. The study utilizes data on self-reported incidences among participants drawn from a representative sample at a national level to analyze various developmental relationships between different variables. The study results suggest that relative to non-victims, victims experiencing child abuse/maltreatment demonstrate a higher probability toward engaging in youth violence as they grow. Further, the study notes that the likelihood that abused female children will bec ome violent youth ranges from 1.2% to about 6.6%, and for abused male children, the probability ranges from 3.7% to about 11.9% with variations occurring relative to different forms of child abuse/maltreatment (Fang Corso, 2007, pp. 281-290; ScienceDaily, 2007, p. 1 of 1). However, the study is limited in that it fails to account for the gender differences observed in youth violence among the participants. Further research documents that in the presence of domestic violence and child maltreatment, which are suspected to occur in the same social set up at the same time, there is an increased probability that children raised in violent environments will become violent youth in future (Carter, 2004, para. 1). Furthermore, Carter (2004, para. 1-10) notes that the socio-economic risk factors observed in youth violence closely resemble those observed in domestic violence and child maltreatment. This then leaves one wondering whether the relationship between child maltreatment and youth v iolence is unidirectional or multidimensional. Moreover, very few research studies document the link between child abuse and youth violence in the presence of various socio-economic risk factors and protective factors, which according to Cox, Kotch, and Everson (2003, p. 6) play a significant role in modifying the developmental relationships between child abuse/maltreatment and youth violence. Here, Cox et al. (2003, pp. 5-16) posit that various socio-economic factors such as young maternal age, low income, lack of religious intervention, low education, divorce, and separation from caregivers are implicated in child maltreatment and subsequently in youth violence among the victims rather than the non-victims.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Relationship between child maltreatment and youth violence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conversely, additional studies note that in predicting youth violence, va rious factors such as the bonds between the family and children, involvement in school activities, bonds with antisocial/violent peers, and one’s perspective of the use violence provide clear insights into the link between child abuse and youth violence. Here, the study employs 457 children who are examined right from preschool stage through adolescence, and the results suggest that child abuse/maltreatment is highly mediated by different socio-economic factors, which will also influence the impact of child abuse in youth violence in later stages of lifespan development (Herrenkohl et al., 2003, pp. 1189-1208). This study employs the correct approach in examining the link between child abuse and youth violence. However, it is limited in terms of sample size since the number of participants does not reflect the status at the national level. As a result, the present study will utilize the same approach through conducting a longitudinal study involving a national representative sample of children in order to investigate the link between child maltreatment and youth violence right from preschool stage through adolescence. This study it is hypothesized that there is a direct link between child maltreatment and youth violence in the presence of various socio-economic risk factors. Further, gender differences are expected in terms of how males and females are impacted by child maltreatment as they develop into violent youth. Methodology Participants The study entails 14,000 participants (7,000 males and 7,000 females) drawn randomly from different states/schools in the United States. The eligibility of the participants depends on whether an informed consent of the parents/guardians/caregivers/teachers will be obtained since the study involves investigating/examining the conduct/behavior of the participants right from preschool level through adolescence. Design Materials The research design used in the current study is the quasi-experimental design considering that the study entails about three waves of measurements. In wave I measurements, respondents will be interviewed on the basis of a 45-item questionnaire designed to gather information regarding the individuals, their families, schools, and their communities, which will also form the basis of sampling. Subsequently, wave II measurements will entail gathering self-reported information regarding youth violence victimization relative to a 30-item questionnaire applicable to young adults. Further, in wave III measurements, researchers will embark on gathering self-reports on youth violence perpetration relative to a 30-item questionnaire applicable to young adults (Note: The questionnaires described herein are available elsewhere).Advertising Looking for research paper on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Procedure As a noted earlier, using the questionnaires described in the foregoing discussions, researchers will conduct wave I measurements after obtaining informed consents from the participants and their caregivers who will also take part in answering questions regarding the socio-economic environments available to the participants. For instance, the researchers may wish to inquire from the respondents whether they have been slapped, kicked or left home alone when the presence of an adult is highly valued in order to rule out cases of child abuse/maltreatment. After a significant amount of time (7-8 years) has passed, the researchers will embark on interviewing the same number of respondents (14,000) from wave I in order to inquire whether they are victims or perpetrators of youth violence relative to wave II and III questionnaires. Here, it is worth noting that the researchers may wish to inquire whether the respondents have ever been involved in shooting or wounding other person s, and maybe whether they have ever pointed a gun or knife to another person. Subsequently, the statistical analyses will entail applying bivariate regression methods to investigate the link between child maltreatment and various forms of youth violence (victimization and perpetration). Additionally, the maximum likelihood methods will inform the estimation of different recursive simultaneous equations. Furthermore, the sample means will be used in determining the direct or indirect impact of a particular variable on others. Conversely, estimates of standard errors will be determined through bootstrapping techniques, especially in case one intends to determine the indirect impact of a given variable. Additionally, it is paramount to note that all the statistical analyses will be conducted using the STATA SE (Version 9) software application. Results After successful statistical analyses as described under the methodology section, it is expected that the results will coincide with oth er documented evidence, which shows a direct link between child maltreatment and youth violence in the presence of other socio-economic factors. Here, relative to non-victims, the likelihood that abused children will become violent in later stages of development is expected to be higher for both males and females compared to the one documented in previous studies considering that the current research entails a larger representative sample. Furthermore, it is expected that gender differences in perpetration and victimization of youth violence will be more apparent, with the males expected to demonstrate more effects relative to there female counterparts. Here, the study results are expected to show that males are more likely to perpetrate violence in case at any one point in their lifespan development process, they encountered child abuse/maltreatment in the presence of other modifying socio-economic factors such as domestic violence and low income. Discussions Using the experimental design described in the foregoing discussions, and comparing the data collected with other research studies, the present study results are expected to show a clear link between child maltreatment and youth violence in the presence of other modifying socio-economic factors. However, it should be noted that this is a general view regarding victims of child maltreatment as opposed to their non-victim counterparts. Further, considering that the study entails a representative sample drawing participants from different parts of the United States, the present study is more likely to reinforce the results documented by various researchers who are of the idea that the interventions aimed at preventing child maltreatment will go a long way in preventing youth violence perpetration and the subsequent IPV cases reported among different young families. On the other hand, it is essential to note that despite the study showing a direct link between child maltreatment and youth violence, there is the risk that the present study is limited in terms of addressing the direct and indirect impact of different forms of child maltreatment on the subsequent perpetration of youth violence. Here, child neglect during the early childhood stage and the subsequent physical maltreatment of victims are part of several factors implicated in youth violence perpetration in later stages of lifespan development, the gender factor not-withstanding. Therefore, the present study may fail to answer the question whether the link between childhood neglect and physical maltreatment is stronger among the males or females. As a result, future research studies should be designed in such a way that the link between the two factors is clearly examined to bring out the underlying gender factor. On the other hand, it is apparent from the discussions above that sexual abuse has not been treated as a separate entity in child maltreatment. According to Fang and Corso (2007, p. 279), the link between child sexua l abuse and the subsequent perpetration of youth violence appears to differ with the one observed in child neglect and physical maltreatment. As a result, it is expected that gender differences will arise relative to the way males and females are bound to perpetrate future youth violence in case they are sexually abused in childhood. However, the present study fails to consider this paramount factor, which leaves room for future studies aimed at examining the impact of sexual abuse on the development of youth violence as a separate entity. Overall, by looking at the individual contribution of child maltreatment in youth violence, the present study offers an in-depth insight into the significance of developing interventional strategies aimed at combating child maltreatment and youth violence in cases whereby the two appear as separate entities. In this way, the study aims at saving the community-based health professionals the additional resources channeled toward combating socio-econ omic factors that do not have any significant impact in some cases of child maltreatment and the subsequent youth violence. References Carter, J. (2004). Domestic violence, child abuse, and youth violence: Strategies for  prevention and early intervention. San Francisco, CA: Family Violence Prevention Fund. Cox, C. E., Kotch, J. B., Everson, M. D. (2003). A longitudinal study of modifying influences in the relationship between domestic violence and child maltreatment. Journal of Family Violence, 18 (1), 5-16. Fang, X., Corso, P. S. (2007). Child maltreatment, youth violence, and intimate partner violence: Developmental relationships. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33 (4), 281-290. Herrenkohl, T. I., Huang, B., Tajima, E. A., Whitney, S. D. (2003). Examining the link between child abuse and youth violence: An analysis of mediating mechanisms. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 18 (10), 1189-1208. Science Daily. (2007). Victims of child maltreatment more likely to perpe trate youth  violence, intimate partner violence. Science News. Web. 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The Importance Of Determining A Plant Location The location of a plant or facility is the geographical positioning of an operation relative to the input resources and other operations or customers with which it interacts. Andrew Greasly (2003) identified three main reasons why a location decision is required. The first reason is that a new company has been created and needs a facility to manufacture products or deliver a service to its customers. The second reason is that there is a decision to relocate an existing business due to a number of factors such as the need for larger premises or to be closer to a particular customer base. The third reason is relocate into new premises in order to expand operations. Decisions with regards to where an organisation can locate its plant or facility are not taken often, however they still tend to be very important for the firms profitability and long-term survival. 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These include the nature of the labor force, proximity to suppliers and other markets, distribution and transportation costs, the availability of energy and its cost, community infrastructure, government regualtions and taxes, amongst others (Russell and Taylor, 2003). Location Strategy The facilities location problem is one of major importance in all types of business. It is important to notice the different problems that may arise whilst trying to choose a suitable location. Normally, the decision on siting proceeds in two stages: in the first, the general area is chosen; and then a detailed survey of that area is carried out to find suitable sites where the plant or facility could be located (Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, 1992). However, the final decision as to where to locate a facility is made by taking into consideration more detailed requirements. The following are a number of factors which might influence the choice of location (Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, 1992). Proximity to market: organisations may wish to locate their facility close to their market, to be able to lower transportation costs, and most importantly, to be able to provide their customers with a better service. If the plant or facility is located close to the customer, the organisation would be in a better position to provide just-in-time delivery, to respond to fluctuations in demand and to react to field or service problems. Availability of labour and skills: a number of geographical areas have traditional skills but it is very difficult for an organisation to find a location which has the appropriate skilled and unskilled labour, both readily available and in the desired quantities. Even so, new skills can be tought, processes simplified and key personnel moved from one area to another. Availability of amenities: organisations would prefer to locate their facilities in a location which provides good external amenities such as housing, shops, community services and communication systems. Availability of inputs: a location which is near main suppliers will help to reduce cost and allow staff to meet suppliers easily to discuss quality, technical or delivery problems, amongst others. It is also important that certain supplies which are expensive or difficult to procure by transport should be readily available in the locality. Availability of services: there are six main services which need to be considered whilst a location is being chosen namely; gas and electricity, water, drainage, disposal of waste and communications. An assessment must be made of the requirements for these, and a location which provides most or all of these services will be more attractive than another which does not. Room for expansion: organisations should leave room for expansion within the chosen location unless long term forecast convey very accurately that the plant will never have to be altered or expanded. This is often not the case and thus adequate room for expansion should be allowed. Safety requirements: certain production and manufacturing units may present potential hazards to the surrounding neighbourhood. For example certain plants such as nuclear power stations and chemical factories should be located in remote areas. Site cost: the cost of the site is a very important factor, however it is necessary to prevent immediate benefit from jeopardising the long-term plans of an organisation. Political, cultural and economic situation: it is also important to consider the political situation of potential locations. Even if other considerations demand a particular site, knowledge of the political, cultural and economic difficulties can assist in taking a number of decisions. 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Each factor is then given a weighting that conveys its importance compared with the other factors. Each location is then scored on each factor and this score is multiplied by the factor value. The alternative with the highest score is then chosen (Greasly, 2006). Locational Break-Even Analysis This technique makes use of cost-volume analysis to make an economic comparison of location alternatives. An organisation would have to identify the fixed and variable costs and graphing them for each location, thus determining which one provides the lowest cost. Locational break-even analysis may be carried out mathematically or graphically. The procedure for graphical cost-volume analysis is as follows (Falzon, 2009): Determine the fixed and variable costs for each location. Plot the total cost (i.e. the fixed + the variable) lines for the location alternatives on the graph. 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Maximum Co-ordination The layout should be designed in such a way that entry into, and disposal from, any department or functional area should be carried out in the most convenient way to the issuing and recieving departments. Maximum use of volume The facility should be considered as cubic devices and maximum use is to be made of the volume available. This principle is useful in stores, where goods can be stored at considerable heights without causing any inconvenience. Maximum visibility The authors further insists that all the workers and materials should be readily observable at all times and that there should be no hidden places into which goods or information might get misplaced and forgotten. Organisations should be careful when they make use of partitioning or screening as these may introduce undesirable segregation which reduces the effective use of floor space. Maximum accessibility The machinery, equipment and other installations should not in any way obstruct the servicing and maintenance points, which should be readily accessible at all times. Obstructing certain service points such as electricity and water mains could hinder the production process in place. Minimum distance and Material handling All movements taking place within the plant should be both necessary and direct. Handling work does add the cost but does not increase the value, thus any unecessary movement should be avoided and if present, eliminated. It is best not to handle the material and information, however if this is necessary it should be reduced to a minimum by making use of appropriate devices. Inherent Safety All processes which might constitute a danger to either the staff or customers should not be accessible to the unauthorised. Fire exists should be clearly marked with uninhibited access and pathways should be clearly defined and uncluttered. Unidirectional Flow All materials which are being used in the production process should always flow in one direction, starting from the storage, passing through all processes and facilities, and finally resulting in the finished product which is later dispatched for storage or sold directly to the customer. Management Coordination Supervision and communication should be assisted by the location of staff and communication equipment in place within the chosen layout. 2.2 Quality Management There is a widespread acceptance that organisations view quality as an important strategic core competence and a vital competitive weapon which should be used to gain a competitive advantage at the expense of rivals. Several organisations have been able to reep a number of benefits, such as substanstial cost savings and higher revenues, after implementing a quality improvement process into their operations. Subsequently, this led them to invest substantial amounts of money yearly on implementing and sustaining quality programmes and intiatives. The American National Standards Institution (ANSI) and the American Society for Quality Control (ASQC) define quality as the totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bears on its ability to satisfy given needs. Similarily, Feigenbaum (2005), who is an American quality control expert, has defined quality as the total composite product and service characteristics of marketing, engineering, manufacture, and maintenance through which the product and service in use will meet the expectation by the customer. Put simply, this refers to an organisations ability to manufacture a product or deliver a service which satisfy the customers requirements and needs, and which conform to specifications. Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, authors of Production and Operations Management (1992), noted that organisations must be dedicated to the continous improvement of quality and must implement systematic control systems that are designed to prevent the production or delivery of products or services which do not conform to requirements. To facilitate this process, organisations should first set up a quality policy statement which describes their general quality orientation and which is used to assist as a framework for action. Once set up, top management would be required to: ensure that is it understood at all levels of the organisation; identify the needs of the organisations customers; evaluate the organisations ability to meet these needs; make sure that all the materials and services supplied fit the required standards of efficiency and performance; continously train the workforce for quality improvement; assess and monitor the quality management systems in place. 2.2.1 Quality Control and Assurance in the Conversion Process Ray Wild (2002) has noted that the capability of the conversion process directly influences the degree to which the product or service conforms to the given specification. If the conversion process is capable of producing products or services at the specified level, then the products or services are provided at the desired quality level. Once the specification of the output is known and an appropriate process is available, management must ensure that the output will conform to the specification. In order to achieve this objective Ray Wild (2002) has defined three different stages which are outlined in figure 2.1; each discussed below. Figure 2.: The stages, processes and procedures of quality control and assurance Essentials of Operations Management by Ray Wild (2002) Control of Inputs Before accepting any items as inputs, organisations must make sure that they conform to the required specifications and standards. Normally, before items are supplied to an organisation, they are subjected to some form of quality control by the supplier. The organisation might also ask its suppliers for information about the quality of the items whilst they are being prepared, ask for a copy of the final inspection documentation, or ask a third party such as an insurance company to make sure that all the items supplied conform to the required quality standards. Even so, organisations still find the need to inspect the items supplied once they are recieved and before they are inserted into the conversion process. This inspection can be carried out by either inspecting every item recieved from suppliers, or by making use of the acceptance sampling procedure, which consists of taking a random sample from a larger batch or lot of material to be inspected. Organisations might also make use of the vendor rating procedure whereby suppliers are rated by taking into account a number of quality related factors such as the percentage of acceptable items recieved in the past, the quality of the packaging, and the price. Control of Process All manufacturing organisations must make sure that appropriate inspection is carried out during operations to ensure that defective items do not proceed to the next operations, and also to predict when the process is most likely to produce faulty items so that preventive adjustments could be adopted (Ray Wild 2002). The quality control of the production process is facilitated by making use of control charts, which convey whether the process looks as though it is performing as it should, or alternatively if it is going out of control. One of the benefits of this procedure is that it helps management to take action before problems actually take place. Ray Wild (2002) also notes that organisations should establish procedures for the selection and inspection of items which are used in the conversion process, for the recording and analysis of data, scrapping of defectives, and for feedback of information. Control of Outputs Organisations must ensure that the qulity inspection of output items is carried out effectively since any undetected defective items would be passed on to the customer. The inspection of output items is normally carried out by making use of a sampling procedure, such as acceptance sampling, or by carrying out exhaustive checks. Ray Wild (2002) notes that it is vital for an organisation to have in place suitable procedures designed for the collection and retention of inspection data, for the correction, replacement or further examination of defective items, and for the adjustment or modification of either previous inspection or processing operations in order to eliminate the production of defective items. 2.2.2 HACCP Nowadays, the food industry is responsible of producing safe products and also for conveying in a transparent manner how the safety of food is being planned, controlled and assured. In order to do so, organisations in the food industry need a system which will ensure that food operations are designed to be safe and that potential hazards are taken into account (Mitchell, 1992). One such system is the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points which is a scientific and systematic method used to assure food safety, and a tool for the development, implementation and management of effective safety assurance procedures (Ropkins and Beck, 2000). The HACCP is known to be one of the best methods used for assuring product safety and is considered as a prerequisite for food manufacturing companies who wish to export their products into international markets. The objective of the HACCP system is to guarantee that the safe production of food by implementing a quality system which covers the complete food production chain, from the promary sector up to the final consuming of the product (Fai Pun and Bhairo-Beekhoo, 2007). It is capable of analysing the potential hazards in a food operation, identifying the points in the operation where the hazards may take place, and deciding which of these may be harmful to consumers (Mitchell, 2002). These points, which are referred to as the critical control points, are continously monitored and remedial action is effected if any of these points are not within safe limits. The HACCP is the system of choice in the management of food safety; one which is highly promoted by the food safety authorities in the United States, Canada and European Union. 2.3 Just-In-Time Scheduling 2.3.1 Scheduling in Manufacturing Decision making with regards to scheduling has become a very important factor in manufacturing as well as in service industries. Scheduling is a decision making process whereby limited resources are allocated to specific tasks over time in order to produce the desired outputs at the desired time (Psarras and Ergazakis, 2003). This process helps organisations to allocate their resources properly, which would further enable them to optimise their objectives and achieve their goals. A number of functions, conveyed in figure 2.2, must be performed whilst scheduling and controlling a production operation. Figure 2.: Functions performed in scheduling and controlling a production operation Adopted from the journal,Production scheduling in ERP systems, by Psarras Ergazakis (2003) In manufacturing systems, scheduling is highly dependent on the volume and variety mix of the manufacturing system itself. Mass process-type systems, which normally make use of a flow (product) layout where a standard item is produced in high volumes, make use of specialised equipment dedicated to achieve an optimal flow of work throughout the system (Greasly, 2006). Greasly notes that this is very important since all items follow the same sequence of operations. One of the most important objectives of a flow system is to make sure that production is kept at an equal rate in each production that takes place. This could be ensured by making use of the line balancing technique, which makes sure that the output of each production stage is equal and that all resources all fully utilised (Greasly, 2006). 2.3.2 Just-In-Time The Just-In-Time Philosophy The just-in-time philosophy originated from the Japanese auto maker Toyota after Taiichi Ohno came up with the Toyota Production System whose aim was to interface manufacturing more closely with the companys customers and suppliers. This particular philosophy is an approach to manufacturing which seeks to provide the right amount of material when it is required, which in turn leads to the reduction of work-in-progress inventories and aims to maximise productivity within the production process (Singh and Brar, 1991). The authors, Slack, Chambers and Johnston, of Operations Management (2001) defined the JIT philosophy as a disciplined approach to improving overall productivity and elimination of waste. They also state that it provides for the necessary quantity of parts at the right quality, at the right time and place, while using a minimum amount of facilities, equipment, materials and human resources. Thus, put simply the JIT system of production is one based on the philosophy of to tal elimination of waste, which seeks the utmost rationality in the way production is carried out. Bicheno (1991) further states that JIT aims to meet demand instantaneously, with perfect quality and no waste. In order to achieve this, an organisation requires a whole new approach in how it operates. Harrison (1992) identified three important issues as the core of JIT philosophy, namely the elimination of waste, the involvement of everyone and continous improvement. The following is a brief description of these three key issues (adapted from Operations Management by Andrew Greasly, 2006). Eliminate Waste Waste may be defined as any activity which does not add value to the operation. Ohno (1995) and Toyota have identified seven types of waste, which apply in many different types of operations, in both manufacturing and service industries. All of these types of wastes are displayed in figure 2.3 below. The involvement of everyone Organisations that implement a JIT system are able to create a new culture where all employees are encouraged to continously improve by coming up with ideas for improvements and by performing a range of functions. In order to involve employees as much as possible, organisations would have to provide training to staff in a wide range of areas and techniques, such as Statistical Process Control and more general problem solving techniques (Andrew Greasley 2002). Figure 2.: Types of wastes present in different types of operations Operations Management by Andrew Greasly (2002) Continuous Improvement Slack and Johnston (2001) note that JIT objectives are often expressed as ideals. Futhermore, Greasly (2002) states that through this philosophy, organisations would be able to get to these ideals of JIT by a continuous stream of improvements over time. The Benefits of Just-In-Time According to Russell and Taylor (2003), after fives years from implementing JIT a number of U.S. manufacturers were able to benefit from 90 percent reductions in manufacturing cycle time, 70 percent reductions in inventory, 50 percent reductions in labour costs, and 80 percent reductions in space requirements. These results are not achieved by each and every organisation that implements a JIT system, however JIT does provide a wide range of benefits, including: Reduced inventory Improved quality Lower costs Reduced space requirements Shorter lead time Increased productivity Greater flexibility Better relations with suppliers Simplified scheduling and control activities Better use of human resources Increased capacity More product variety 2.4 Health and Safety Management The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) define occupational health as the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations; the prevention amongst workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions; the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health; and the placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities. Many countries have introduced legislation which requires employers to manage the health and safety of their employees, and others who might be affected (Waring, 1996). To honour health and safety legislation, organisations have found it necessary to introduce active programmes of accident prevention. The preparation of a properly though-out health and safety policy, which is continously monitored, could dramatically reduce or eliminate injuries and damage to health (Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, 1992). 2.4.1 Responsibilities for Safety All employees in an organisation should be active in creating and maintaining healthy and safe working conditions which are aimed to avoid accidents. Once a health and safety policy is established in an organisation, roles and responsibilities should be allocated within the management structure (Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, 1992). As with other areas such as quality and production within an organisation, health and safety would only be able to progress successfully if all employees are fully co-operative and committed in doing so. A number of organisations have encouraged this total involvement by creating safety representitives, committees, and group discussions whereby all employees in a particular unit meet periodically for discussions about safety (Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, 1992). 2.4.2 Planning for Safety Systematic planning is required to ensure effective planning for health and safety in all workplaces. A health and safety policy should be part of a continous review process which has no tolerance for accidents. This could only take place if the organisation in question adopts a strategy of never-ending improvement (Muhlemann, Oakland and Lockyer, 1992). It should set the scene from the top with regards to top management beliefs, intentions, priorities and requirement from managers and workforce (Waring, 1996). The overall plan should be made up of the basic elements conveyed in figure 2.4 below.

Macbeth Essay -- essays research papers

Compare and Contrast: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Ambition, the world’s driving force to achieve their goals. Ambition is a characteristic of human nature, which, if expressed in an evil manner, can turn the entire person evil. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are great examples of these types of people. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, they are torn apart due to their excessive hunger for power.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have a driving ambition that turns each of them into a spiral of guilt and evil. They are both very stubborn and set in their ways this is proven when Macbeth does not want to change his mind about killing Duncan. Their thriving ruthlessness combined is almost unstoppable, and it is their fuel to commit the terrible deeds that they do. Though they are similar in many ways, they also have many differences, which include the changing of power throughout the play. The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is a very close but a rather strange one. There are a lot of things that Macbeth does not understand about Lady Macbeth, that she knows about him, for example, she knows his weakness of character and his strengths. At the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is the stronger of the two. Although it was the witches who told Macbeth he will be king, it was Lady Macbeth who uses her art of persuasion, and knowledge of Macbeths weaknesses, to make him kill the king. Lady Macbeth uses persuasion, another factor that helps her over p...

Peoplesoft Messaging Server

Contents PeopleSoft Messaging Server Settings Guide1 Contents2 Introduction Introducing the PeopleSoft Messaging Server3 Messaging Server Processes4 Configuring Messaging Servers in PSADMIN4 Understanding Dispatcher Parameters5 Understanding Handler Parameters7 Understanding Integration Broker Parameters8 Minimum and Recommended Values. 9 Edit History10 Introduction Introducing the PeopleSoft Messaging Server PeopleSoft Messaging Services exist on the application server and are the heart of the Integration Broker.Before using Integration Broker, you must configure and start the Messaging Server, aka PUB/SUB. Although the server processes devoted to your messaging system are all part of the larger application server domain, they comprise a distinct set of processes that aren’t involved with the ordinary transactions associated with PIA connections. Six processes of two different types, dispatchers and handlers, are combined in pairs to produce the messaging servers needed for t ransmitting messages throughout your messaging system. Each messaging server is a different type.A set of three — a publication broker, a publication contractor, and a subscription contractor — constitute the messaging server set required by Integration Broker. Following is a listing of the generic names for the processes: Messaging ServerDispatcher NameHandler Name Publication Broker (BRK)PSBRKDSPPSBRKHND Publication Contractor (PUB)PSPUBDSPPSPUBHND Subscription Contractor (SUB)PSSUBDSPPSSUBHND PeopleSoft delivers default PUB/SUB services with _dflt added to the above naming convention. For example PSBRKDSP_dflt. It is recommended that you use these services unless you have a specific need for dedicated handlers.To boot PUB/SUB use PSADMIN to configure your domain and simply answer Y to the following question at the end of the configuration process: Command to execute (1-7, q) : 4 Do you want the Publish/Subscribe servers configured (y/n)? [y]:y For typical implementa tions, there is no need to configure custom or additional dedicated messaging servers as the default messaging services will handle all basic messages. Please see the last section of this guide for recommended values More information about managing the application server can be found in the PeopleSoft Server Tools Administration Peoplebook.Additional Information available in Peoplebooks under: Home > PeopleBooks Library > PeopleSoft Integration Broker > Configuring the Messaging Messaging Server Processes There are a variety of server processes devoted to application messaging. If you are not implementing the application messaging technology then you may skip through the delivered, default server processes. The delivered server processes are: †¢PSBRKDSP †¢PSBRKHND †¢PSPUBDSP †¢PSPUBHND †¢PSSUBDSP †¢PSSUBHND These server processes act as brokers, dispatchers, and handlers of the messages in your messaging system.For the purposes of this paper we will div ide these into two categories: Dipatchers and Handlers. Configuring Messaging Servers in PSADMIN This section provides overviews of messaging server configuration, dispatcher parameters, and handler parameters. Understanding Messaging Server Configuration Once you create dedicated messaging servers, you must configure their dispatcher and handler processes so they boot when you start the application server. You configure these processes using PSADMIN just as you do any other server process that runs on the application server.Before you attempt to configure additional messaging server processes, you should be familiar with the other server processes that run on the application server. For more information, please see Peoplebooks Working With PSADMIN Menus. As stated earlier, two types of server processes comprise each messaging server: a dispatcher and a handler. Each process type requires you to set a different set of parameters. Most of the parameters are similar to other server pr ocesses, such as PSSAPPSRV, but some parameters are specific to messaging servers. Note.The following sections also apply to the _dflt messaging server processes. Only one parameter is different between a dedicated messaging server process and its _dflt counterpart: the Channels parameter, which enables you to add message channels to the channel list. The _dflt server processes can’t be associated with any specific message channel. Understanding Dispatcher Parameters There are three generic process types that are the basis for all dispatcher processes: †¢PSBRKDSP — the publication broker dispatcher. †¢PSPUBDSP — the publication contractor dispatcher. PSSUBDSP — the subscription contractor dispatcher. The following parameters apply to all three process types. Recycle Count Specifies the number of times each dispatcher process will be executed before being terminated (intentionally) by the system and then immediately restarted. Servers must be int ermittently recycled to clear buffer areas. The time required to recycle a server is negligible—occurring in milliseconds. Recycle Count does not translate into a native Tuxedo parameter in the PSAPPSRV. UBB file. Instead the value is stored in memory and is managed by the system.Allowed Consec Service Failures This option allows for dynamic server process restarts in the event of service failures. To enable this option, enter a number greater than zero, and to disable this option enter 0. The default value for this parameter is 2. The value you enter is the number of consecutive service failures that will cause a recycle of the server process. This is a catchall error handling routine that allows a dispatcher to terminate itself if it receives multiple, consecutive, fatal error messages from service routines.Such errors should not occur consecutively, but if they do it indicates that the server process needs to be recycled or cleansed. A â€Å"Retry† message appears w hen the number of service failures you specified occurs. Handler Status CheckcountHandler check count is used to determine how often the dispatcher should look to get the number of associated handlers. The value of Handler Status Checkcount is the number of cycles that the dispatcher will perform before reading the MIB and getting the number of associated handlers. This comes into play when the number of handlers change (add more, some crash etc. by having the proper count , the dispatcher can queue up messages to the handler more efficiently. Also if there are no handlers, then the dispatcher will not queue up any publications causing the application server log to fill up. For 8. 4 it is simply used to determine if there are any handlers, and if not don't send the message to the handler. This is to eliminate any the informational messages in the appserv. log if the handlers are down. For 8. 42 it is used to merely look at see if any associated handler is booted. Going forward 8. 3 it will be used as one of the determinate of how much work should the dispatcher send out at one time. Scan IntervalSpecifies the number of seconds between scans of the work queue when idle. The scan interval is necessary to detect messages published from two-tier connections, because when a message is in the queue the broker server doesn’t receive a notice of the publication. A scan interval is required to make sure that two-tier messages get processed in a timely manner. The scan interval is analogous to the Process Scheduler polling the Process Request table.In addition, the scan interval detects messages that have been resubmitted after an error, for example. Decreasing the scan interval will decrease latency for two-tier publishes and error recovery Ping RateUsed for PSPUBDSP only. After this many seconds of inactivity, the server will scan the database queues and restart any stalled/crashed items. The scan rate and Ping rate (as percentage) will determine the actual int erval for pinging any unavailable remote nodes (algorithm used: Attempts * Ping Rate * Scan Inteval).Maximum Ping IntervalThe maximum Ping Interval (in Hours) is the maximum interval between subsequent attempted pings of any unavailable remote nodes. Memory Queue Refresh Rate PeopleSoft Integration Broker maintains current asynchronous messaging queues in system memory for quick access. On rare occasions these cached queues can become corrupted, at which point they must be refreshed from the Integration Broker data tables. The likelihood and frequency of cache corruption depends on a combination of factors specific to your messaging system.If you need to periodically refresh the in-memory queues, you can use this parameter to tailor the frequency of the refresh to fit your situation. Each dispatcher on your system has its own queue. For each queue you set the rate equal to the number of dispatch attempts that must occur before the queue is refreshed. The refresh occurs only when the specified number of dispatch attempts is reached for a given message channel. For example, with a memory queue refresh rate of 8, multiple channels could have up to seven dispatch attempts each without triggering any refresh.The following settings are also significant: †¢A setting of 0 disables the refresh altogether. This is the default value. A setting of 1 triggers a refresh immediately after every dispatch attempt, effectively disabling memory caching. Restart Period Specifies the number of seconds between restart attempts on Started items in the work queue. An item which stays in Started state for more than a few seconds might be stalled — for example, the service request might have been lost, or the handler might have crashed. Decreasing the restart period will reduce the latency for recovering stalled items with a status of Started.However, under high load, items might stay in the Started state longer than normal for valid reasons — all the handlers might be busy, and the handler service request for the item might be queued at the Tuxedo level. Setting the restart period too low will result in redundant restarts — the dispatcher will dispatch the item again, even though the original request is still in the Tuxedo queue. A small number of extra restarts is benign, but at higher volumes, the unnecessary restarts can fill up the queue and block real requests.The formula for a reasonable value for the Restart Period is: ((incoming requests per second) / (# of handlers)) * (average processing time per request) For example, if you have an incoming rate of twenty per second, and you have four handlers, each handler will be busy processing one item and will have four others waiting in the queue. A new item will have to wait for the currently processing item, plus the four enqueued items, before it will be processed. If each item takes 10 seconds to process, the new item will stay in â€Å"started† status for approximately 50 se conds before the handler works on it.If it stays in â€Å"started† status longer, it's likely that the request to the handler has been lost, and the item should be restarted. Understanding Handler Parameters There are three generic process types that are the basis for all handler processes: †¢PSBRKHND — the publication broker handler. †¢PSPUBHND — the publication contractor handler. †¢PSSUBHND — the subscription contractor handler. The following parameters apply to all three process types. Min Instances Specifies the number of handler server processes started at boot time. Max Instances Specifies the maximum number of handler server processes that can be started or spawned.Service Timeout Specifies the number of seconds a handlers waits for a service request before timing out. Service Timeouts are recorded in the TUXLOG and APPSRV. LOG. In the event of a timeout, the handler terminate itself and Tuxedo automatically restarts the process. Re cycle Count Specifies the number of times the system executes each server before PeopleSoft intentionally terminates the process. Server processes must be intermittently recycled to clear buffer areas. The time required to recycle a server is negligible—occurring in milliseconds. Recycle Count does not translate into a native Tuxedo parameter in the PSAPPSRV.UBB file. Instead the value is stored in memory and is managed by PeopleSoft. Allowed Consec Service Failures This option allows for dynamic server process restarts in the event of service failures. To enable this option, enter a number greater than zero, and to disable this option enter 0. The default for this parameter is 2. The numerical value you enter is the number of consecutive service failures that will cause a recycle of the server process. This is a catchall error handling routine that allows a handler to terminate itself if it receives multiple, consecutive, fatal error messages from service routines.Such error s should not occur consecutively, but if they do it indicates that the server process needs to be recycled or cleansed. A â€Å"Retry† message appears when the number of service failures you specified occurs. Max Retries Specifies the maximum number of times the server should attempt to restart a failed action. This parameter prevents a bad item from continuously crashing a handler process — its counter is incremented when the handler sets the status to â€Å"working,† but before it actually starts processing the item. Understanding Integration Broker Parameters The following parameters applies to the Integration Broker technology.Min Message Size for Compression The Min Message Size for Compression parameter enables you to configure the threshold of message before the system compresses the message. Local Compression The integration engine compresses and base64 encodes messages destined for the PeopleSoft listening connector on its local integration gateway, bas ed on a setting for the application server domain in the PSAPPSRV. CFG file, which you can configure using the PSADMIN utility. The setting is a threshold message size, above which messages will be compressed. PSADMIN presents the setting as follows: Values for config section – Integration BrokerMin Message Size For Compression=10000 Do you want to change any values (y/n)? [n]: The value is the message size in bytes; the default value is 10000 (10 KB). You can specify a setting of 0 to compress all messages. See Understanding Application Server Domain Parameters. Note. This setting has no effect on the compression of messages that the integration gateway sends using its target connectors. Information Set Profiling information for both Sync and Async processing External Configuration Set External Configuration =Y if you run the Pub/Sub processes on a different domain then where the appserver processes are run for PIA/ PORTAL.This will enhance the Integration Broker performance for Asynchronous processing Minimum and Recommended Values. Specific application server tuning needs vary by customer site based on volume and server capacity. Requests for tuning issues and assistance should be addressed to Peoplesoft Consulting. However, some specific information is available below: PSAPPSRV should have a minimum of 3 instances booted when starting Pub/Sub. PSBRKDSP/HND settings should be sized up. A minumum of 3 instances should be used for all application messaging scenarios. For one particular customer I recommend increasing the PSBRKHND settings to 10/10.Same with the PUB and SUB handler settings: set min/max of 10/10. Other customers have used as many as 20 instances for PSSUBHND. This is generally a tuning issue, and settings vary greatly from site to site. Recycle count: For dispatchers this should always be 0. For Handlers this can be 0, or reduced based on need. A single handler is restarting itself after this number services (this is not the number mess ages, but the number of calls from the tuxedo service). Setting this too low can create performance problems. When a service recycles itelf, all requests must wait for the handler to come back up and re-submit.It is generally recommended using 0 for this value. Otherwise a high number like 100,000 is recommended unless memory problems are encountered in which case this value can be lowered. Restart Period. Since restart period controls how long before a started item will be resubmitted, dispatcher requests may be resubmitting themselves over and over again resulting in a higher queue number. This can be adjusted by changing Restart Period=5 to a higher number. Customers will need to play with this and monitor results, but setting this to 120 would be better than the delivered 5 second interval, especially when using a lower value recycle count.

How to Write an ACT Essay Step-by-Step Example

How to Write an ACT Essay Step SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Sometimes writing- especially writing for standardized tests- can feel like something you "get" or "don't get." That's primarily because it's very difficult to explain and teach writing in a mechanical way, especially when you're up against time limits. In this article, we've broken how to write the ACT essay into eight steps that work for every essay, every time. Then, we show you exactly how to do it with an actual ACT essay example. Many students ask us how to write an ACT essay, and while the answer is simple enough to explain in eight steps (as we do below), it's not necessarily simple to do. As with any skill, the key to learning how to write an ACT essay is to study a good model (which we are going to cover in this article) and then practice, practice, practice. Tackling ACT Writing, Step by Step The ACT essay plan below has been modified from our ACT Essay Tips article to fit the new ACT Writing Test. The template includes three sections: planning, writing and revising. If you practice using this template to write ACT essays, you'll get much faster and (probably) more precise. Here's the sample prompt we'll be responding to: Intelligent Machines Many of the goods and services we depend on daily are now supplied by intelligent, automated machines rather than human beings. Robots build cars and other goods on assembly lines, where once there were human workers. Many of our phone conversations are now conducted not with people but with sophisticated technologies. We can now buy goods at a variety of stores without the help of a human cashier. Automation is generally seen as a sign of progress, but what is lost when we replace humans with machines? Given the accelerating variety and prevalence of intelligent machines, it is worth examining the implications and meaning of their presence in our lives. Perspective One: What we lose with the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity. Even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people. Perspective Two: Machines are good at low-skill, repetitive jobs, and at high-speed, extremely precise jobs. In both cases they work better than humans. This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. Perspective Three: Intelligent machines challenge our long-standing ideas about what humans are or can be. This is good because it pushes both humans and machines toward new, unimagined possibilities. Write a unified, coherent essay about the increasing presence of intelligent machines. Stage 1: Planning Time: 8-10 minutes It may feel like you won't have time to plan your essay before you write, but really, it's something you can't omit. Trust us. Organizing your thoughts as you write will cost you way more time than if you take the time to plan out your essay before you begin writing. Step 1: Read the Prompt and the Perspectives Provided, Then (Tentatively) Choose a Position Because addressing the relationship between your perspective and at least one of the other three perspectives is an integral part of the essay task, you need to make sure you understand what each prompt is saying. The good news is that each perspective includes both a general assertion about intelligent machines as well as an opinion that places the topic in a broader context, saving you some work in coming up with your own, independent perspective. While it is possible to come up with a fourth point of view on the topic, I don't recommend it. The added time you'll have to spend coming up with your own point of view could be better spend developing your comparison of your perspective to at least one of the other perspectives. If your perspective is a "blending" of multiple perspectives, that's also fine, as long as you make sure you compare your blended perspective to each of the perspectives it combines; otherwise, you won't fulfill the "analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective" part of the task. Bottom line: choose the perspective you think you can support the best. For this sample ACT essay, I'm going to tentatively choose to argue Perspective Three (that intelligent machines challenge long-standing ideas about humanity, which in turn pushes humans and machines toward new, previously unimaginable possibilities), simply because that happens to be the position I think I'll be able to support the best. Step 2: Quickly Brainstorm Evidence and Explanations to Support Each Perspective Because the ACT essay involves discussing the relationship between your perspective and at least one of the other perspectives given, not just the one you agree with, you'll have to use multiple pieces of evidence in your essay. During this step, if you find that you're able to find more convincing evidence to support a different perspective than the one you've chosen, you can always switch- after all, you're still planning. Also, you don't have to write in complete sentences, or phrase things as elegantly as you will in the actual essay, so don't worry about that. Here are some potential places you can look to for evidence and examples: Opening Paragraph of the Prompt If you haven't already, read through the paragraph at the beginning of the essay prompt. You can appropriate some or all of the examples in it to use in your own essay. Personal Experience You can tell any story (real or not) about you or someone else you know (or make up) that supports any one of your points. Statistics Again, these can be real or made up. You could invent a research study that looked at recordings of phone calls and found 80% of people end up cursing while using automated phone menus (to support perspective one), make up statistics that show automated cashiers are able to process three times as many check-outs as human cashiers (to support perspective 2), or come up with any other kind of statistics that support one of the perspectives. Specifics from Sources Use knowledge of events from history or current events to support your points. If you're not certain of the details, it's all right- the essay graders won't deduct points for factually inaccurate information. For this essay, you could use the invention of the printing press (and its effects) as an example of how mechanization can lead to "unimagined possibilities." Here's the evidence I came up with for my essay: Perspective One: What we lose with the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity. Even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people. Evidence: Many of our phone conversations are conducted not with people, but with sophisticated technologies...that don't necessarily work at 100% Explanation: People get so frustrated with the technology that when they press "0" to speak with a real human they are often rude and discourteous Perspective Two: Machines are good at low-skill, repetitive jobs, and at high-speed, extremely precise jobs. In both cases they work better than humans. This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. Evidence: Robots build cars on assembly lines Explanation: Lower cost, decreases risk of injury to human workers Perspective Three: Intelligent machines challenge our long-standing ideas about what humans are or can be. This is good because it pushes both humans and machines toward new, unimagined possibilities. Evidence: Brain-computer interfaces that allow people to control computers with their brains are a thing Explanation: Allow people to overcome physical limitations, inspire us to continue researching and expanding knowledge Step 3: Brainstorm Your Counterarguments to, or Analyses of, the Other Perspectives There's no one right way to respond to the perspectives the ACT gives you. Some of it depends on what point of view you take. For instance, if I agreed with Perspective One, which takes a negative view of the effects of intelligent machines, I might want to discuss both of the other two perspectives (which both take positive views of intelligent machines) in one paragraph, and then disagree with them in the next paragraph as I present my support for Perspective One. Since I'm arguing for Perspective Three (machines challenge our ideas about what humans are or can be, which pushes us and machines toward new possibilities), I'm going to argue against Perspective One and Perspective Two separately, because I have strong evidence for my analyses of each perspective. Because the essay only requires you to analyze the relationship between your perspective and at least one other perspective, if I had lots of evidence to use in my comparison of my perspective and Perspective One, but nothing to say about Perspective Two, I could also decide not to discuss that perspective at all. In this case, I was able to think of solid arguments for and against both of the other perspectives, so I chose to analyze both of them and their relationship to my perspective below. Again, these are not necessarily worded in their final form. Perspective One: What we lose with the replacement of people by machines is some part of our own humanity. Even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people. Evidence: Many of our phone conversations are conducted not with people, but with sophisticated technologies...that don't necessarily work at 100% Explanation: People get so frustrated with the technology that when they press "0" to speak with a real human they are often rude and discourteous Counterargument/analysis: The benefits outweighthe costs, because providing people with the option to submit prescriptions or ask about store hours through an automated menu frees up customer service reps to answer real questions. In addition, recordings of calls with angry customers are used to improve the menus. Perspective Two: Machines are good at low-skill, repetitive jobs, and at high-speed, extremely precise jobs. In both cases they work better than humans. This efficiency leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. Evidence: Robots build cars on assembly lines Explanation: Robots take over dangerous jobs which decreases risk of injury to human workers, lowering cost to employers Counterargument/analysis: This perspective is true, but is limited in its consideration of the implications. Robots can not only do things instead of humans, but can actually work with humans, as in precise surgery, to a better result than either humans or machines alone. Step 4: Organize Your Essay Now that you have the main points of your essay, it's time to organize them in a way that makes sense. Make sure to include your introduction (with your thesis statement containing your point of view, or at least a rough sense of your thesis statement) and conclusion in this organization. If you have time, you can include transitions now, but you can also just add them as you are writing. Introduction The increasing prevalence of machines challenges us, etc, will put this in fancy words when I write the essay for real Body Paragraph 1 Perspective One argues that replacing humans with machine leads us to lose part of our own humanity, because even our mundane daily encounters no longer require from us basic courtesy, respect, and tolerance for other people. I have witnessed this in my own life through watching my mother interact with some of those "sophisticated" automated phone systems. She sometimes gets so frustrated with the technology refusing to do what she wants that, by the time the menu allows her to speak to a real human, my mother is no longer courteous or respectful. Despite this frustration, I think the benefits outweighthe costs, because providing people with the option to submit prescriptions or ask about store hours through an automated menu frees up customer service reps to answer real questions. In addition, recordings of calls with angry customers are used to improve the menus. Body Paragraph 2 In contrast to Perspective One, Perspective Two argues that the main utility of machines is in their ability to perform repetitive tasks more preciselyand efficiently than humans. In auto plants around the world, robots build cars on assembly lines, performing their jobs with high precision and at lower overall cost to employers, who can make a one time purchase rather than having to pay a human a yearly salary (and worry about liability issues) This perspective is fine as far as it goes, but is limited in its consideration of the implications. Robots can not only do things instead of humans, but can actually work with humans, as in precise surgery, to a better result than either humans or machines alone. Body Paragraph 3 The true impact of intelligent machines in our lives is that they challenge us to re-think our preconceived notions of what people can do or become in the future. An example of this is brain-computer interfaces that allow people to control computers with their brains. With BCIs, people can overcome physical limitations.. In addition, BCIs have capture the interest of people from all different backgrounds and are being applied to non-scientific fields to create new, previously unimagined inventions and ways to interact with the world. Conclusion In conclusion, rather than taking away from our humanity, intelligent machines help us to move forward as a species to new heights. By the end of this step, you should try to have about 30 minutes left so you have enough time to write. If you don't, just keep in mind that you might have to skimp on some of your explanations/counterarguments for the perspective(s) you compare to your own. Stage 2: Writing Time: 25-28 minutes Once you've structured your argument, it's time to write it all down! Step 5: Introduction Paragraph Thesis Write your introduction. If you can think of an interesting first sentence that brings your thesis into a larger discussion, start with that. (If writing the introduction stumps you, just leave 10-15 lines blank at the beginning of the paper and come back to it.) From the simplest system of pulleys and ropes in ancient Greece to the most complex supercomputer in the world today, machines have had (and continue to have) a profound influence on the development of humanity. Make sure you clearly state your thesis. For a 3+ (out of 6) essay, this should include your perspective on the issue and how it relates to at least one of the other perspectives presented in the prompt. While some argue that machines have a negative impact on us, the increasing prevalence of intelligent machines in the world challenges us to change long held beliefs about our limitations and to continue forward to new and even more advanced possibilities. Step 6: Body Paragraphs When you start your first body paragraph, try to think of a first sentence that refers back to the first paragraph. Ideally, you'll start every paragraph by referring back to your thesis to create a unified argument. One common argument against the increased presence of machines in our day-to-day lives (seen in Perspective One) is that machines leach away at our basic humanity. Next, address the argument opposing yours (in this case, Perspective One). Explain the evidence that supports this perspective in three to five sentences. I found this to be true in my own life as a result of witnessing many a phone conversation between my mother and an automated telephone menu. For whatever reason, she consistently has issues with the menus that try to verify her date of birth. The automated system never understands what she says (possibly because of her accent), and asks her to input the numbers via her keypad; of course, my mom's smartphone is so smart that the screen turns off while she is on a call, making it impossible for her to follow the automated phone system's instructions. By the time the system gives up and routes her to speak to a "human representative," my mother is often so frustrated that she is far from courteous and respectful to that person. Then, make sure to explain your counterargument to this perspective, tying it back to your thesis. Despite my mother's understandable frustration with automated phone systems, however, overall the benefits outweigh the costs. Providing people with the option to submit prescriptions or ask about store hours through an automated menu frees up customer service representatives to answer questions machines are incapable of addressing. In addition, the recordings of angry phone calls (where customers are not courteous, respectful, or tolerant of other humans) are used to improve the phone menus to make them more user-friendly. Thus, the momentary disrespect toward other humans caused by machines is more than compensated for by the positive effects of those same machines. Body Paragraph 2 If you're only comparing your perspective against one of the others, then this paragraph should contain further analysis of the relationship between the two perspectives. If you're comparing your perspective against both of the other perspectives (as I did in this essay), then this is where you introduce your thoughts on the second perspective. Another school of thought, exemplified by Perspective Two, argues that the main utility of machines is their ability to perform repetitive tasks more preciselyand more efficiently than humans, which leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. Address the argument of this second perspective (in this case, Perspective Two). Explain the evidence that supports this perspective in three to five sentences. In auto plants around the world, robots build cars on assembly lines. Instead of having to pay a human employee a yearly salary, invest time in training that employee, and worry about liability should that employee be injured, manufacturing plants can now make a one-time purchase of an intelligent machine that will perform that same job at higher levels of precision. This leads to a more prosperous world for the manufacturers, as they are able to invest less money to get a better product. Then, make sure to explain how this perspective relates back to your perspective. This perspective is fine as far as it goes, but is limited in its consideration of the implications. Robots can not only work in place of humans, but can also work cooperatively with humans to a greater results than either could have hoped for alone. This can be seen in highly complex and delicate surgeries, where a surgeon controls robotic microtools to perform operations that even ten years ago would have been unimaginable and impossible. Body Paragraph 3 Introduce your main perspective, linking it back to the counterarguments you've made against at least one of the other perspectives. I agree with Perspective Three that the true impact of intelligent machines in our lives is that they challenge us to re-think our preconceived notions of what people can do or become in the future. Present one final example in support of your perspective. A final example of this is brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs. Humans are able to manipulate computers with their brains via electrodes that are either implanted in their brains or attached (temporarily) to their heads. With these intelligent machines, formerly paralyzed people who had no hope of communicating with others are able to transcend their physical limitations by concentrating to form words out of keyboards on the computer screens. In addition, BCIs have captured the interest of people from all different backgrounds and are being applied to non-scientific fields like music to create new, previously unimagined instruments that react to people's thoughts, adding a new dimension to an ancient art form. Truly, intelligent machines are providing the impetus not just for greater efficiency, but for greater accomplishments. Step 7: Conclusion Check your time. Try to have 5-6 minutes left at this point. Come up with a quick sentence that restates your thesis to wrap up the essay. In conclusion, rather than taking away from our humanity, intelligent machines actually help us to move forward as a species to achieve new, previously unimagined possibilities. Stage 3: Revising Time: 2-4 minutes You've written out a full ACT essay now, which is great! The final step is to see if you can fix any errors or improve anything else about the essay. Step 8: Reread Revise Let's look at our complete ACT essay example: [1] From the simplest system of pulleys and ropes in ancient Greece to the most complex supercomputer in the world today, machines have had (and continue to have) a profound influence on the development of humanity. While some argue that machines have a negative impact on us, the increasing prevalence of intelligent machines in the world challenge us to change long held beliefs about our limitations and to continue forward to new and even more advanced possibilities. [2] One common argument against the increased presence of machines in our day-to-day lives (seen in Perspective One) is that machines leach away at our basic humanity. I found this to be true in my own life as a result of witnessing many a phone conversation between my mother and an automated telephone menu. For whatever reason, she consistently has issues with the menus that try to verify her date of birth. The automated system never understands what she says (possibly because of her accent), and asks her to input the numbers via her keypad; of course, my mom's smartphone is so smart that the screen turns off while she is on a call, making it impossible for her to follow the automated phone system's instructions. By the time the system gives up and routes her to speak to a "human representative," my mother is often so frustrated that she is far from courteous and respectful to that person. Despite my mother's understandable frustration with automated phone systems, however, overall the benefits outweigh the costs. Providing people with the option to submit prescriptions or ask about store hours through an automated menu frees up customer service representatives to answer questions machines are incapable of addressing. In addition, the recordings of angry phone calls (where customers are not courteous, respectful, or tolerant of other humans) are used to improve the phone menus to make them more user-friendly. Thus, the momentary disrespect toward other humans caused by machines is more than compensated for by the positive effects of those same machines. [3] Another school of thought, exemplified by Perspective Two, argues that the main utility of machines is their ability to perform repetitive tasks more preciselyand more efficiently than humans, which leads to a more prosperous and progressive world for everyone. In auto plants around the world, robots build cars on assembly lines. Instead of having to pay a human employee a yearly salary, invest time in training that employee, and worry about liability should that employee be injured, manufacturing plants can now make a one-time purchase of an intelligent machine that will perform that same job at higher levels of precision. This leads to a more prosperous world for the manufacturers, as they are able to invest less money to get a better product. This perspective is fine as far as it goes, but is limited in its consideration of the implications. Robots can not only work in place of humans, but can also work cooperatively with humans to a greater results than either could have hope d for alone. This can be seen in highly complex and delicate surgeries, where a surgeon controls robotic microtools to perform operations that even ten years ago would have been unimaginable and impossible. [4] I agree with Perspective Three that the true impact of intelligent machines in our lives is that they challenge us to re-think our preconceived notions of what people can do or become in the future. A final example of this is brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs. Humans are able to manipulate computers with their brains via electrodes that are either implanted in their brains or attached (temporarily) to their heads. With these intelligent machines, formerly paralyzed people who had no hope of communicating with others are able to transcend their physical limitations by concentrating to form words out of keyboards on the computer screens. In addition, BCIs have captured the interest of people from all different backgrounds and are being applied to non-scientific fields like music to create new, previously unimagined instruments that react to people's thoughts, adding a new dimension to an ancient art form. Truly, intelligent machines are providing the impetus not just for greater e fficiency, but for greater accomplishments. [5] In conclusion, rather than taking away from our humanity, intelligent machines actually help us to move forward as a species to achieve new, previously unimagined possibilities. In these last 2-4 minutes, you want to read over your essay and trying to pick up a point or two by revising. In this time, you can do a number of things. You can, of course, correct mistakes: Paragraph 1, Sentence 2: [subject/verb agreement; change is bolded] The increasing prevalence of intelligent machines in the world challenges us to change long held beliefs about our limitations and to continue forward to new and even more advanced possibilities. You can replace dull or problematic words or phrasing with fancier words or clearer turns of phrase: Paragraph 2, last sentence Thus, the momentary disrespect toward other humans caused by machines is more than compensated for by the positive effects of those same machines. We can change it to: Thus, any momentary disrespect my mom might show to a customer service representative (as a result of frustration with the automated system) is more than compensated for by the positive effects of those same machines. There you go! Now you know how to write a good ACT essay. If any part of this was confusing, re-read that section. Then try to write a full essay yourself using a sample ACT essay prompt. Next Steps for Writing Your Own ACT Essay Practice planning your essays in eight to ten minutes before you start writing. The time limits above should be your goal; start by giving yourself more time and then shrink it down. You can use the list from our ACT essay prompts blog post or any list of ACT-like questions and start with the planning stage. Don't forget to check out our full analysis of the ACT Writing Rubric, with strategies and explanations that can guide you in your essay planning! Our blog post about ACT essay tips has more in-depth information about the details of planning and arguing in the ACT essay. If you've already taken the ACT and are wondering how to get your essay up to a perfect 12 score, definitely be sure to check out our article on getting a 12 on the ACT Writing section. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by ACT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. 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Countershading Definition and Examples

Countershading Definition and Examples Countershading is a type of coloration commonly found in animals and means that the animals back (dorsal side) is dark while its underside (ventral side) is light. This shading helps an animal blend in with its surroundings. Description In the ocean, countershading camouflages an animal from predators or prey. When viewed from below, an animals lighter belly would blend in with the lighter sky above. When viewed from above, its darker back would blend in with the ocean bottom underneath. Countershading in the Military Countershading has also had military applications. German and U.S. military planes used countershading to hide from their enemies by  painting the bottom of the plane white and the top of the plane to match the color of the surrounding area.   Reverse Countershading Theres also reverse countershading, light on top and dark on the underside, which can be seen in skunks and honey badgers. Reverse countershading is typically seen in animals with strong natural defenses.   Alternate Spellings: Counter Shading, Counter-Shading Several rorqual whales are counter-shaded, including fin whales, humpback whales, and minke whales.