Saturday, December 28, 2019

How Hard Is Law School

By the time you start your law school experience, you likely have heard that  law school is hard. But often students wonder, how hard is law school, and what makes law school harder than undergraduate work? Here are five reasons that law school is challenging. The Case Method of Teaching Can Be Frustrating Remember how in your previous academic life, professors lectured on exactly what you needed to know for the exam? Well, those days are gone. In law school, professors teach using the case method. That means you read cases and discuss them in class. From those cases, you are supposed to pull out the law and learn how to apply it to a fact pattern (this is how you are tested on an exam). Sound a bit confusing? It can be! After a while, you may get used to the case method, but in the beginning, it can be frustrating. If you are frustrated, go get help from your  professors, academic support or a  law school tutor. The Socratic Method Can Be Intimidating If you have watched any movies on law school, you may have a picture of what the Socratic method is. The professor cold calls on students and peppers them with questions about the reading. It can be daunting, to say the least. Today, most professors aren’t as dramatic as Hollywood would lead you to believe. They may not even call you by your last name. Some professors even warn you when you might be â€Å"on call† so you can make sure you are thoroughly prepared for class. The biggest fear law students seem to have about the Socratic method is looking like an idiot. News flash: At one point or another you will feel like an idiot in law school. It is just the reality of the law school experience. Sure, it isn’t a fun thing to live through, but it is just part of the experience. Don’t let anxiety about looking foolish in front of your peers be a focal point of your law school experience. Likely Only One Exam for the Entire Semester For most law students, it all comes down to one exam at the end of the semester. This means all your eggs are in one basket. And to top it off, you don’t really get feedback throughout the semester to help you prepare for exams, making it difficult to know if you are on the right track. This is likely a different scenario than in undergrad or other graduate work you may have done. The reality of grades depending on only one exam can be intimidating and frustrating for new law students. Given how much that exam will influence your grade, you are going to have to adopt new study techniques to help you prepare! Few Opportunities for Feedback Because there is only one exam, there are few opportunities for feedback in law school (although there may be more opportunities than you appreciate). It is your job to get as much feedback as possible whether it be from your  professors, an academic support office, or a law school tutor. Feedback is critical in helping you prepare for those all-important exams. The Curve Is Brutal Most of us haven’t experienced an educational situation where we are graded on a strict curve. The curve in most law schools is brutal. Only a fraction of the class can do â€Å"well.† That means that you not only have to master the material, but you must know the material better than the person sitting next to you and the person sitting next to them. You can’t really worry about the curve (you just need to focus on doing the best that you can). But knowing the curve is out there can make exams feel even more daunting.   Although law school is intimidating, you can be successful and even enjoy the experience. Realizing what makes law school challenging is the first step in creating your plan for success. And remember, if you are struggling, as a first-year,  make sure you get some help.

Friday, December 20, 2019

Concetps of Democracy and South Africa - 1071 Words

1.From a basic and conceptual standpoint, thin concepts of democracy are more narrow, whilst thick concepts of it take a much broader stance.(Democracy Index 2012:5) Both definitions include the fundamental electoral requirements of a democracy whilst the thin concepts seem to stay within this minimalist realm(Democracy Index 2012:5) and the thick definition encompasses more political freedoms, adding civil liberties to the list of requirements as well.(Democracy Index 2012:26) Dahls version of polyarchy and Freedom Houses electoral democracy are examples of ‘thin’ definitions where both define democracy by political freedoms only, mostly related to elections and votes. (Democracy Index, 25, 26), Freedom houses’ non electoral definition of democracy (Democracy Index 2012:5) is â€Å"thick† as it adds to it a range of political liberties and includes public freedoms.(Democracy Index 2012:5) Sometimes there are even more points added to certain â€Å"thick† definition of democracy because they do not see political and civil liberties as enough to define a country as truly democratic.(Democratic Index 2012:26, 27) The economic index does this where it sees that requirements such as a population that participates in the democratic process and a government that is able to carry out its given role must be added on to make a democracy more practically efficient.(Democratic Index 2012: 26, 27) In conclusion thin democracy is a narrow definition(Democracy Index 2012:5) leading more towards

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Strange Desire by Bleachers free essay sample

Breaking away from Steel Train and the popular band fun., Jack Antonoff performed with his new indie-pop band Bleachers at The House of Blues in Dallas on Nov. 2. Doors opened at 7 pm, and within 30 minutes the floor filled up with concert-goers. Wild Cub, a Nashville-based indie quintet, opened at 8 pm. The band is led by songwriter-composer Keegan DeWitt and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Bullock, and its supporting members are drummer Dabney Morris, bassist Harry West, and keyboardist and synthesist Eric Wilson. Although their song â€Å"Thunder Clatter† charted at #59 in the UK in August 2013, the band seemed relatively unknown to the crowd. It wasn’t until they played â€Å"Hidden in the Night† that the crowd started to move. From there several people were dancing, but most were waiting in anticipation for Bleachers. At 9 pm, Antonoff ran onstage with the rest of the band. Cheers erupted from the crowd as they opened the set with â€Å"Wild Heart,† a song from their album Strange Desire, which was released July 15, 2014. We will write a custom essay sample on Strange Desire by Bleachers or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Each song was written while on tour with fun. Immediately the crowd started moving along to the upbeat music. Halfway through â€Å"You’re Still a Mystery,† Antonoff stopped to talk to the crowd. He was funny and personable, bantering with several people on the floor and even a few in the balcony. He then introduced his band, which consists of Sean Hutchinson, Mikey Hart, Jon Shiffman and Evan Smith. Smith belted out the rest of the song on his saxophone. After that the band played song after song and the crowd got more and more excited. After three or four fast-paced beats, the band slowed things down a bit with their song â€Å"Take Me Away.† Then they left the stage while Antonoff performed an acoustic song called â€Å"Bullet† by his old band Steel Train. The band came back on and ended the show with their most popular single â€Å"I Wanna Get Better.† The crowd shouted the words, clapping and waving their hands. Rubber ducks were thrown up on stage as the song ended, a tradition of sorts since Antonoff’s nickname is â€Å"Ducky.† After the show, a group of fans lined up outside of the tour bus. Antonoff ran toward them and took pictures and signed autographs for everyone he could. The overall experience of the show left concert goers happy and excited about what’s to come for the new group. Bleachers is talented in more ways than one and is sure to continue to be successful.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Coms free essay sample

Persuasive Speech Outline Template Your Name: COMS 101 Section ___ Date Due: Organization:Identify your outline pattern here. Your options for this speech are Problem-Solution, Problem-Cause-Solution, or the Motivated Sequence pattern. Audience analysis:Provide a demographic, psychological, and receptivity-related description of your audience. Topic:In one or two words, identify the social problem for which you aim to prescribe a redemptive remedy in this speech (see the Persuasive Speech Guidelines document).Rhetorical Purpose:To inform my audience about (identify the topic here), and to persuade them that (a person, group of persons, organization, government, etc. ) should (do something—provide an action verb here that describes your speech’s desired outcome as specifically as possible) in response to this information. Redemptive Purpose:Explain in a brief paragraph why you regard this social problem to be one that prevents people from experiencing life as God, according to Scripture, means it to be experienced.Briefly explain, too, why your proposed solution qualifies as redemptive as the Alban text defines this term in chapter 4. We will write a custom essay sample on Coms or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Introduction: I. Attention-getter Present your attention-getter here (see Hamilton, page 156). II. Establish Credibility Present your credentials here (see Hamilton, page 163). III. Thesis Statement Present your thesis statement here (see Hamilton, page 164). State it as one complete sentence (subject, verb, complete thought) that encapsulates your speech’s main idea.Be sure it not only identifies the social problem you aim to address, but also identifies the solution to the problem that you will advocate through the information that follows in your speech presentation. IV. Preview Statement Present your preview statement here (see Hamilton, page 164). Briefly explain you will validate or prove the thesis by discussing Main Point 1 (state it), Main Point 2 (state it), Main Point 3 (state it), etc. Be sure to list each of the body section’s main points, in the order you will cover them. Body: I. Main Point 1. Works with the other main points to support the thesis. State it as a complete sentence.A. An example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 1 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). B. Another example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 1 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). C. If needed, another example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 1 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source).II. Main Point 2. Works with the other main points to support the thesis. State it as a complete sentence. A. An example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 2 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). B. Another example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 2 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). C.If needed, another example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 2 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). III. Main Point 3. Works with the other main points to support the thesis. State it as a complete sentence. A. An example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 3 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). B.Another example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 3 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). C. If needed, another example, illustration, statistic, comparison, quote from an expert or other supportive material that supports or illustrates Main Point 3 (Parenthetical Citation, if this came from a source). Other Main Points. These are optional, depending on the needs of your speech. If you use them, they function in the same way as the preceding points. Conclusion: I. SummarySummarize your presentation’s main points (see Hamilton, page 167). Your wording should be very similar to the wording you used when previewing the main points in the introduction and when presenting the main points in the body section. II. Call to Action Restate your thesis. III. Refocus Audience Attention (see Hamilton, page 167). Works Cited: Using MLA, APA, or Turabian style, present an alphabetized, properly formatted list of any sources that you cited parenthetically in the outline. For a helpful online guide to proper formatting in each of these styles, see Landmarks Citation Machine.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Mexican Economy Essays - Military History Of Mexico,

Mexican Economy I. Historical, Population, Culture, Political, and Economic Information History Mexico was the site of some of the earliest and most advanced civilizations in the western hemisphere. The Mayan culture, according to archaeological research, attained its greatest development about the 6th century AD. Another group, the Toltec, established an empire in the Valley of Mexico and developed a great civilization still evidenced by the ruins of magnificent buildings and monuments. The leading tribe, the Aztec, built great cities and developed an intricate social, political, and religious organization. Their civilization was highly developed, both intellectually and artistically. The first European explorer to visit Mexican territory was Francisco Fern?ndez de C?rdoba, who in 1517 discovered traces of the Maya in Yucat?n. In 1535, some years after the fall of the Aztec capital, the basic form of colonial government in Mexico was instituted with the appointment of the first Spanish viceroy, Antonio de Mendoza. A distinguishing characteristic of colonial Mexico was the expl oitation of the Native Americans. Although thousands of them were killed during the Spanish conquest, they continued to be the great majority of inhabitants of what was referred to as New Spain, speaking their own languages and retaining much of their native culture. Inevitably they became the laboring class. Their plight was the result of the 'encomienda' system, by which Spanish nobles, priests, and soldiers were granted not only large tracts of land but also jurisdiction over all Native American residents. A second characteristic of colonial Mexico was the position and power of the Roman Catholic church. Franciscan, Augustinian, Dominican, and Jesuit missionaries entered the country with the conquistadores. The Mexican church became enormously wealthy through gifts and bequests that could be held in perpetuity. Before 1859, when church holdings were nationalized, the church owned one-third of all property and land. A third characteristic was the existence of rigid social classes: the Native Americans, the mestizos, mixed Spanish and Native American (an increasingly large group during the colonial era), black slaves which were brought from Africa and the Caribbean, freed blacks and white Mexicans. The white Mexicans were themselves divided. Highest of all classes was that of the peninsulares, those born in Spain, as opposed to the criollos, or Creoles?people of pure European descent who had been born and raised in New Spain. The peninsulares were sent from Spain to hold the highest colonial offices in both the civil and church administrations. The peninsulars held themselves higher than the criollos, who were almost never given high office. The resentment of the criollos became an influential force in the later movement for independence. In 1808 the viceroy, under pressure from influential criollos, permitted them to participate in the administration. Other peninsular officials objected and expelled the viceroy. In the midst of these factional struggles a po litical rebellion was begun by the Mexican people. Mexico has been rocked by political rebellion during most of its entire history in one way or another. Under the various dictatorships that Mexico found itself under at times in history, it made tremendous advances in economic and commercial development. Many of the new undertakings were financed and managed by foreigners (mostly American and European). This was and continues to be a major factor in the discontent of most Mexicans. Moreover, the government favored the rich owners of large estates, increasing their properties by assigning them communal lands that belonged to the Native Americans. When the Native Americans revolted, they were sold into peonage. Discontent, anger and a spirit of revolt continued to grow throughout Mexico. Madero was elected president in 1911, but was not forceful enough to end the political strife. Other rebel leaders, particularly Emiliano Zapata and Francisco (Pancho) Villa, completely refused to sub mit to presidential authority. Victoriano Huerta, head of the Madero army, conspired with the rebel leaders and in 1913 seized control of Mexico City. New armed revolts under Zapata, Villa, and Venustiano Carranza began, and Huerta resigned in 1914. Carranza took power in the same year, and Villa at once declared war on him. In addition to the ambitions of rival military leaders, intervention by foreign governments seeking to protect the interests of their nationals added to the confusion. In August 1915, a commission representing eight Latin

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Top 5 School Administrator Interview Questions

Top 5 School Administrator Interview Questions You know that whatever job you’re seeking, we have you covered on how to tackle interview questions- the good ones, the bad ones, and the ugly ones. You may know what general pitfalls to avoid, but what if you’re going into a very specific field as a school administrator? Your interview isn’t likely to be one-size-fits-all, so we’ve got you covered there, too. Let’s look at some common interview questions you may see in your job interview, and how to face them. 1. Why do you want to be a school administrator?This is one you’re likely to see if you’re already a teacher, looking to move into a leadership administrative role. And if the answer to this question were a simple â€Å"fame and fortune,† you probably wouldn’t have chosen the challenging, rewarding-but-not-super-glamorous path of becoming an educator in the first place, right? This is a question where you can draw on the legitimate reasons you chose to teach in the first place, and be honest about what is making you strive for more.For this question, it’s good to have at least two reasons in your back pocket, so you’re not scrambling on interview day.Some examples:I am ready for more of a leadership role in shaping educational process and policy for all students.As much as I’ve loved the classroom experience, I want to focus more on big picture education questions.I want to work more directly with students and their families on discipline and their progress in school.I want to build on my expertise in maximizing resources and curriculum planning as a vice principal.2. What are your professional goals for the next 5 to 10 years?This is a question designed to gauge your commitment. After all, you’re applying for a role that has significant impact on the school, and potentially the community. If the interviewer thinks you’re a turnover risk, or looking to jump as soon as something better comes along, that will hurt your chances of snagging this job.For this question, be as specific as possible. If you’re interviewing for an administrative role at a particular school, include information that shows you’ve thought about what you can bring to the school itself. Using specific goals (and statistics, if you can find them) will show that you’re a thoughtful, committed candidate who isn’t just applying to every administrative position he or she can find.Some examples:I’m committed to raising the school’s state standardized math test score average raised by at least five points over 2017’s average score.I’d really like to see the school’s technology program fully brought online with our peers, supplementing our curriculum with updated computers and new devices to keep our students competitive. Ideally, I’d want to implement this program by 2022.With graduation rates dipping over the past few years, my main goal is to turn that around, and make sure that students are receiving the resources they need to graduate on time.Because studies have shown that students who play instruments perform better on standardized tests, my pet project is to implement a district-wide music program that encourages students to learn and appreciate music as part of a balanced curriculum.3. Describe how you would deal with budget cuts.As an educator, you probably know all too well the challenges of trying to accomplish your educational goals with a limited budget, or with year-to-year fluctuations handed down from your state. Budget issues are a fact of life in education, and they’re often an even harsher fact of life for an administrator, who may have to make difficult, impartial decisions about how and where resources are used. The pressure is real, and the interviewer wants to make sure you’re up to that task, should it arise.For this question, start with any real-life examples you have, of a time you were faced with making professional choices at school based on resources.Some examples:I’ve actually faced this in my career before. It is never easy, but I found myself making changes to my science lesson plans based on a lack of funding for lab equipment. Instead, we used a â€Å"virtual lab† that allowed students to conduct their chemistry experiments digitally.As an administrator, my priority would be keeping the core curriculum intact. My first step would be locating opportunities where we can streamline the support and non-essential budgets, perhaps by using more digital processes, or implementing cost-cutting measures for extracurricular activities. 4. How would you engage students’ parents as active participants in their children’s education?This question is meant to gauge your public relations skills. Parent relationships can make or break an administrator- without their trust and engagement, it can be difficult to accomplish the school’s goals. This is also a chance to see how you adapt to dealing with different kinds of people- from non-involved parents to helicopter parents who may be camped out outside your office to discuss the issue du jour affecting their student. And with more diverse communities means more diverse students and families, so this question is also a chance to showcase your ability to engage people across cultural, socioeconomic, or language lines.For this question, use at least one specific instance of a time you engaged a student’s parents as part of the classroom. You can also mention how engaging parents and community members factor into your own goals as an administrator.For parent-teacher conferences, I created an infographic for each student, which I then reviewed with the parents. It was a fun, visual way to show what their student was learning and doing, and what I thought we could do better.I would really like to host a series of monthly town-hall meetings, with all parents (and interested community members) invited to talk about new initiatives at the school, get feedback, and make sure voices are heard.Participation in the Parent-Teacher Organization at this school has steadily fallen for the past few years, so I would be committed to getting the participation rate up by having more frequent meetings, and opening up an online forum so that parents can participate fully even if their schedules don’t allow them to come to the school for meetings. I want to update the format so that we can get as many parents involved as possible, even as they are juggling many priorities for their families. 5. Why should we hire you over other applicants who have similar backgrounds?The interviewer has your CV right in front of them. They know that you graduated summa cum laude, or that you were the Teacher of the Year four years running. This is more of a free-form answer, designed to see how you see yourself as an applicant. And it’s a tough one- it’s a danger spot for getting caught in the headlights while you try to come up with what makes you special.For this questions, the key is to prepare an answer, but not make it sound too canned or rehearsed. Think about what you bring to the table that no one else does, and your core values.For example:My parents emigrated to this country 40 years ago, and through my family’s struggles and successes, I’ve learned how much can be accomplished through effort and hard work. That’s a perspective I bring to my school every day.As much as I’ve loved teaching, I’ve discovered that my real passion is working on fundraising and building awareness for the wonderful things happening in the classroom. I am a tireless advocate for improvement, inside the classroom and out.My experience as a teacher working with special needs students has taught me that students need a strong advocate and guiding hand, maximizing their resources and opportunities so that they can thrive and learn.The best approach you can take to your interview for a school administration position: be yourself. Your resume and list of accomplishments are great, and essential parts of the hiring process. But by the time you get to the interview stage, they already know those things about you. This is your chance to fill in any gaps, and tell the stories that have helped to shape the professional you are today. Your goals, your vision, your leadership skills, your problem-solving skills- these are all fair game, and are likely to come up as part of the process. It’s definitely in your best interest to come up with a stash of go-to stories that you can bust out without having to pause too much. And don’t be afraid to tell stories that show you in a less-than-stellar light, as long as you can explain what you learned from them, and how they affected your path as an educator. This is your chance to shine, and we know you will!

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Key Characteristics That Define a Leader and How Leadership Can Essay - 1

Key Characteristics That Define a Leader and How Leadership Can Motivate Employees - Essay Example The paper tells that presence of motivating and inspiring leaders elicits responses from followers that work to the advantage of every stakeholder involved. Gandhi, Abraham Lincon, and Napolean are examples of great leadership that led their nations forward. There is, however, considerable debate as to what constitutes inspiring and motivating leadership. The usual suspects are personality traits, which are further subdivided into five traits, nurturing, and training, environment and heredity. Some of the key ingredients necessary for leadership in the new age are the vision and the ability to handle new situations and adapt aptly. Furthermore, the presence of charisma and a good feel elicits positive responses necessary to bring about change. While one may have the personality traits, he must also understand what motivates employees and subjects and how their motivation can be aligned with the goals of the organization. The ability to empathize with the employees is one of the key f actors that determine the quality and success of leaders. While we shall discuss what motivates employees in detail, a key motivating factor is the kind of work they are doing. This is where the leadership’s role to identify what is best for each individual employee comes into play. Leadership is different to management and the differentiating factor is the role of charisma. Leadership and management are two completely different phenomena and most individuals do not exceed at both simultaneously. Organizations today need to breed leadership rather than waiting for a leader to come along. It is also important that while nurturing leadership, management skills and tactics are kept intact. The importance of vision and a clear sense of direction into the long-term goals of the organization cannot be underplayed at any stage. This is what differentiates the functional leaders from the visionary leaders.