How you act affects what grade you get Essay Example for Free

How you act affects what grade you get Essay The Impact of Student Behavior on Student Learning is an important subject. There are varying issues that affect student behavior, and a students ability to learn and perform efficiently. This paper will discuss some of the behaviors that are commonly demonstrated when students face one of the most common symptoms; stress. It will also cover how stress, a symptom of student behavior can affect student learning. Student behavior can be categorized two different ways. A determining factor is if the behavior is negative or positive. These behaviors can be overt or covert and can play a big part in determining a student grade in a particular class. Students demonstrating poor behavior have a tendency to get lower grades. Poor behavior, which is a symptom of stress, can be linked to lack of sleep. According to The Franklin Institute Online, â€Å"Disrupting routines and interrupting sleep-all have a cumulative effect on your brain, especially its ability to remember and learn† (Franklin, 2004). The brain is a precious organism and if it is stressed it will not perform to capacity. Stress can cause ones behavior to fluctuate in a manner that can be destructive to productivity. If a student’s behavior fluctuates and causes them to react poorly in a class room setting they may not be able to retain the information needed to qualify for the grades necessary to complete their degree (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). According to the Webster online dictionary, the definition of behavior is â€Å"the manner of conducting oneself; anything that an organism does involving action and response to stimulation† (Webster, 2011). Human beings have the capability to conduct themselves in a manner that may or may not help their capacity for learning. The wrong type of stimulation can alter the student’s ability to perform simple tasks that under normal circumstances would be easy for the student to perform. The behavior displayed by students affects the outcome of the amount of information the student retains. The more information a student can retain the better the grades that student is likely to receive. By definition, behavior is ‘the manner in which one conducts oneself’, and cannot be measured as good or bad because it is a matter of opinion (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). Behaviors can be changed or altered to fit the mood of the person. â€Å"The term stress is short for distress, a word evolved from Latin that means to draw or pull apart. The Romans even used the term ‘districtia’ to describe a being torn asunder (Franklin, 2004). To be torn from your normal routine of good study habits, exams, and team work would be understandable in the case of a stressed student. Since the student has limited, or no control over the stressors in their life; they cannot always be held responsible for their behavior. A behavior can be harmful to the outcome of a situation but does not have to mean that the person with the behavior is bad or good (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). In the same since that negative and positive behavior don’t equate to bad or good. Negative behavior is any behavior that harms the student’s learning ability (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). An example would be a student that shows signs of stress. That student may be edgy or not seem like a team player. The student may grasp the main concepts during class but not seem to put the effort forth to get good grades where tests are involved. This student may understand concepts and be able to explain to others with ease how they work. This student may also miss deadlines, or not post assignments on time. This negative behavior is harmful to the student, but due to stress the student is not able to control the negative behavior. The student may not be aware of the way their behavior is disrupting their school life and will not recognize the affect on their grades (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). â€Å"Overt behaviors are more open and observable and would include students talking during class, using their cellular phones, or eating or drinking noisily. Covert behaviors are more passive and include sleeping during class, arriving to class late, leaving class early, or generally acting bored and disengaged.† (Seidman, 2005) Demonstration of these behaviors may be done together or separately. A student can demonstrate just covert behavior and still seem defiant. Both covert and overt behaviors can be a sign of stress. The student who demonstrates these behaviors may not recognize that they are being a distraction to the class or to themselves. They can also attribute to poor or no study habits. Both behaviors can cause problems for the student because they can hinder the student’s ability to perform in a class setting. For example: A student can understand the concepts in a course but have trouble staying awake during class and miss important notes or assignment deadlines. When this student post an assignment too late to receive full credit their grade is affected. The student has shown signs of overt behavior but did not intend to be seen as disruptive. Often students have no idea that the outcome of their behavior can lead to poor grades. Some students are able to correct their poor grades with good grades by a change in their behavior. The symptom that will show in lieu of stress would be happiness or a since of calm. Students who demonstrate negative behavior will have a hard time retaining information or keeping up with their courses. Students with positive behavior will have a better chance of retaining the maximum amount of information possible. Positive behavior helps the student to create an environment within themselves that is conducive to learning (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). Students who are stress free in mind, body, and soul are free to work at full capacity to achieve their academic goals. When a student feels comfortable with their surroundings and is freed from worrying about the outside world, the student will have a higher level of concentration on school work as all other distractions have been managed or eliminated. They will be able to focus their energy on studying , and processing the information studied. (K. White, personal communication, June 29, 2011). Behaviors can be changed or altered with help of others. Most schools have an academic advisor who is able to handle student issues. They may not be able to completely assist in matters of home life but may have some good suggestions and or referrals that may help the student get back on track. A change in student behavior for the good can impact student learning in a positive way. â€Å"Bear in mind that an appropriate stress response is a healthy and necessary part of life. It improves mood. Problems feel more like challenges, which encourages creative thinking that stimulates your brain to grow new connections within it.† (Franklin, 2004). In conclusion, student behavior can be a symptom of underlying issues that can affect student learning for different reasons and in many different ways. Poor behavior, which is a symptom of stress, can be linked to lack of sleep. The wrong type of stimulation can alter the student’s ability to perform simple task that under normal circumstances would be easy for the student to perform. Since the student has limited to no control over the stress in their life they cannot always be held responsible for their behavior. The student may not be aware of the way their behavior is disrupting their school life and will not recognize the affect on their grades. A happy, content students mind, body, and soul are free to work at full capacity to achieve the goal of good paper writing, testing, and team work. Both behaviors can cause problems for the student because they can hinder the student’s ability to perform in a class setting. Some students are able to correct their poor grades with good grades by a change in their behavior. A change in student behavior for the good can impact student learning in a positive way. References The Franklin Institute Online. Retrieved on June 29, 2011 at 7:47 PM from Web stream at http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/stress.html#how The Learning Killer: Disruptive Student Behavior in the Classroom. Journal article by Alan Seidman; Reading Improvement, Vol. 42, 2005 Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved on June 29, 2011 at 3:43 PM from website http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/behavior, Merriam-Webster, Incorporated

WHERE THERE IS SECURITY THERE IS PEACE! :: essays research papers

When most people think of Egypt they picture pyramids, mummies, deserts and beautiful beaches. While Egypt is best known for these things, many may not know that Egypt has had a long history of wars and violence with Israel. Ever since the beginning, Arabs and Israelis have been in hostility with one another. Up till this day Israelis and Palestinians still continue to commit violent acts against each other. This is why it is more important than ever now to enforce security everywhere in the Middle East. To prevent future suicide attacks and bombings committed by the Palestinian nation. The way Egypt sees security is a way to counter terrorism. With a good security plan and enforcement there is no way terrorist can commit violent acts. The Arab-Israeli conflict is a long-running conflict in the Middle East regarding the existence of the State of Israel and its relations with Arab peoples and nations. Egypt’s three wars with Israel were in 1948, 1967 and 1973, then its eventual peace agreement with its rival in 1979. In both 1948 and 1967 warfare’s with Israel, Egypt had lost both of them, and then finally in 1973 Egypt won their first war against Israel known as the Yom Kippur war which resulted to the signing of a peace treaty with Israel. The biggest issue Egypt faces right now is forming enemies with Israel, Palestine or any other surrounding Middle Eastern countries. For example if Egypt sides with either Israel or Palestine they will most definitely form bad relations with other countries. The search for peace in the Middle East dates back to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and it still remains a big issue in the Middle East. Both Israel and the Palestinians have said that their lack of their populations’ safety is a major obstacle to peace. The major keep back to the process of Peace in the Middle East is between both Israel and the Palestinians. Both countries have called for the end of violence as a requirement to returning to the negotiating table. But, Israelis, for example, have refused to speak to Palestinian negotiators while its citizens, both civilian and military, are being blown up in terrorist acts on buses, cafes, marketplaces and checkpoints. It’s a fact that without security there is no peace! Though peace is a large issue in the Middle East, many Arabs of Egypt believe that without a stable security system in the Middle East there is no way peace can be formed.

Genetically Modified Foods, Pros and Cons persuasive essay Essay

â€Å"When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow. † – Ursula K. Le Guin. No matter what good some people believe they are doing, everything seems to come with a consequence, and the question is whether or not the good overpowers the bad. Many experts argue that Genetically Modified foods are actually beneficial to, not only people, but animals, plants, and the world overall. Some experts even state that, not only are they beneficial, but that they also protect the environment and aid food productivity. Most farmers actually recommend GMO’s because they are easier to grow, maintain, and tend to be more profitable; however, countless other experts have come to realize that GMO foods are untested, unsafe, and unhealthy. Studies indicate that these â€Å"acclaimed† GMO foods will not, feed the world, end hunger, increase the profit of farmers, or reduce the cost of farming. GMO’s even have long term effects that haven’t been adequately tested, and the effects could be catastrophic if they are not handled with caution. Although some experts claim, â€Å"GM foods reduce effectiveness of pesticides. † However, that is the point. GM foods are created in order to decrease the amount of pesticides. It is a healthier and safer option than the use of chemicals going into your body. For example, members of the Northern Canola Growers Association express, â€Å"GM foods such as BT corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides. † Because pesticides are harmful to humans, GM foods are the better solution; they decrease the danger. This quote shows that GM foods are already being produced in foods such as corn, and nothing has gone wrong yet. They are actually healthier because pesticides aren’t used. In a 2000 Washington Post editorial, Hassan Adamu, Nigeria’s minister of Agriculture, explains to readers that, â€Å"in Africa, GM foods could almost literally weed out poverty. † And, â€Å"many African countries face poor growing conditions that thwart any attempts to grow traditional crops. † Since the world population is growing rapidly everywhere each day, eventually there will not be enough land to feed everyone. GM foods wound not only create more food for people all over the world, but would also create more jobs across the world. GM foods would increase food production and decrease world hunger and unemployment. Contrary to popular belief, most farmers actually recommend the use of genetically modified foods, because they are easier to grow, and are more profitable. An example of how they are easier to grow is that genetically modifying plants can make them more resilient and tolerant to harsh conditions. According to UC Southern California Professor of Biology Terrel Edwards, â€Å"a gene from the grey manganese has been genetically implanted into tobacco in order to make it tolerant to salt and many other ionic stresses. † These recent developments in biotechnology make it possible for plants to grow in places that have harsh conditions such as deserts. This is good for farmers around the world, because they can utilize land that was once useless, and baron land is extremely cheap, so farmers could make more profit. Furthermore, GMO crops have been in use since the early nineties in the United States, and have changed the way farming has been done forever. According to Hembree Brandon, an advisor to the National Research Institute, â€Å"In 2009, GE crops have accounted for more than 80 percent of all soybean, corn, and cotton acres. † Clearly, modified foods have already been in our society for over eighteen years. Also, GE crops are more profitable, because a farmer yields more crops per acre than ever before, like in corn. Farmers are now getting six times more corn out of a crop, making the need for gargantuan farms go down. This downsizing makes room for more homes and different crops. In addition, GE crops are easier to grow. For some crops, it’s not cost efficient to remove weeds by physical means, such as tilling, so famers will often spray large quantities of different herbicides to destroy weeds, a time consuming and expensive process that requires care so that the herbicides don’t harm the plants or environment. A farmer grows these soybeans which then only require one application of weed killer instead of multiple applications, reducing production cost and limiting the dangers of agricultural waste. In initiation, Agribusinesses, who promote their GMO foods, have asserted fallacies about their GMO’s, stating that they will save the world from hunger by generating more food, create more productive crops, and reduce the cost of farming; those of which have all been invalidated by experts. For example, Andrew Kimbrell , the executive director of the International Centre for Technology Assessment, argues that food production is not the problem , and in fact â€Å"The world produces more than enough food to feed its current population†, that the problem is in distribution. The world actually produces so much food that â€Å"enough is available to provide 4. 3 pounds of food to every person, every day† (Kimbrell 1998). Agribusinesses lie to the people claiming that their GMO’s are saving people, and ending hunger in the world to try and convince you to buy their product, when in effect food production is not the problem. Secondarily, GMO’s are said to be more productive, and create greater yields; however Stated by Kimbrell, â€Å"there are currently two principal types of biotech seeds in production: Herbicide Resistant, and ‘Pest’ resistant seeds. And in â€Å"A Two year study by the University of Nebraska† revealed that the GMO â€Å"Soya beans actually resulted in lower productivity that achieves with conventional Soya beans† (Kimbrell 2003). The claims that GMO’s will produce more yields are false and will hurt farmers everywhere. The GMO manufacturers have brought nothing good to the table, and are only deceiving people with fallacies in order to make money. As a final point, GMO’s are supposed to reduce the cost of farming and create cheaper products; all the same, GMO’s have failed to do that as well. GMO companies have created what is called â€Å"Terminator Technology†. â€Å"TT† is when the companies genetically engineer plants to â€Å"Produce a sterile seed after a single growing season† (Kimbrell 2003) ensuring that farmers cannot save their seed, having to buy their seed every year. With â€Å"More than half of the world’s farmers relying on saved seeds for their harvest† this technology can have a cataclysmic impact on food production, the cost of food, and could spark mass starvation. GMO’s have yet to bring a single product to the table that actually benefits consumers, or farmers. These products are only full of risks, more costs, and dangerous effects on the market; therefore they aren’t the solution, only a major part of the problem. Genetically modified foods have long term effects that have not been adequately tested, and in order to assure the consumer that what they’re purchasing is safe, extensive testing is mandatory, otherwise, there could possibly be catastrophic effects in the future no one suspected to occur. For example, Dr. Keith Kantor, who was appointed CEO of Service Foods, Inc. in 1994, all the while working with food sciences for 27 years, expresses that GMO’s have antibiotic features included within them, making them â€Å"resistant to certain diseases and viruses†. At first glance, this fact appears to be a plus side of GMO foods, but Kantor explains how, when humans consume GMO’s, our very own genetic structure changes and the â€Å"antibiotic features persist in our bodies and make actual antibiotic medications less effective†. In addition, Kantor’s own studies with his patients involved with nutrition were observed to have an improved state of being, both in weight and health, when they discontinued the use of all GMO products; therefore, Dr. Kantor does â€Å"not recommend using any GMO foods until more testing is done†. Next, Jeffery M. Smith, world’s bestseller on the topic of GMO foods – â€Å"Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating† and â€Å"Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods† –, has many expert opinions and horrifying facts about these products. Smith reviews the few tests that have been done on rats and mice and produces shocking evidence of genetically modified food dangers; some of the mice and rats who were fed strictly GMO foods ended up developing tumors, widespread organ damage, premature death (50% males, 70% female), most of their babies dying in the womb, the babies that were born were smaller in size and quantity and grew up to have problems becoming pregnant, and some embryos had significant changes in their DNA. Male rats and mice became infertile or had altered sperm during these tests as well. All these signs not only appear in test rats and mice, but in our world’s livestock, such as in the US, where various farmers reported that â€Å"thousands of pigs became sterile after consuming GM corn varieties†. Some of the pigs had â€Å"false pregnancies† while â€Å"others gave birth to bags of water†. Not only have there been effects on animals, but on humans as well; Smith’s research shows that, in the Pacific Northwest, about â€Å"five-hundred people reported allergy or flu-like symptoms†, and some of those same people â€Å"had to go to the emergency room† because the effects were so severe. These same symptoms were repeatedly reported in India in 2008 by farm workers who worked around GMO cotton containing Bt, or a self-produced herbicide built inside the engineered foods. Yes, herbicides are used in organically grown crops, but the built-in herbicides contained in GMO crops are â€Å"thousands of times more concentrated than natural Bt spray†, so it’s basically food covered in poison, and since it is built-in, one cannot wash it off the plants. Not only does this affect humans, but ecosystems; ecosystems are in danger from the pollen coming from these plants since they could perish from all the toxins built inside them to kill weeds, and when the plants start to die out, so do the herbivores who eat them. Moreover, even if the purpose of the built-in herbicides are to kill the weeds, there would be cross-pollination that would create a â€Å"superweed†, continuing to compromise ecosystems as it would overtake other plants and become immune to current made weed-killers. Every story has two points of view; however, it’s up to the individual to decide for oneself what the truth is. Many experts argue that GMO foods are actually beneficial not only to people, but animals and plants as well. Some experts even go as far as to say that not only is it beneficial, but also protects the environment and aids food productivity. With any positive side, there are adverse effects, however. GMO foods have long term fallouts which are somewhat unknown due to lack of testing from agribusinesses, but the ones made clear consist of animal deaths and cancer. GMO foods are becoming part of our society whether we like it or not. Many truths have been stated in this argument, but one has to decide for his or herself what they believe. GMO’s will be on shelves, labeled and unlabeled, whether they are an iniquity to life as we know it, or the cure and wonderful elucidation to all our problems.

The Human Tendency Towards War Exemplified in William...

Thomas Hobbes once said, â€Å"Hereby it is a manifest, that during the time man live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war . . .† (Hobbes 64). Thomas Hobbes, an enlightenment thinker, believes that humans are born evil, and without a good leader, everything will turn into chaos. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies rightly gives examples on Hobbes’ viewpoint. Throughout the story, it shows the process in which the boys slowly loses their civilized self and turn into savages, how the boys would do anything just for survival or just purely entertainment. William Golding shows the innate evilness within humans by employing religious allegory as by using events, characters, and settings that†¦show more content†¦Furthermore, the characters in the story parallels to other characters in the Bible. When Ralph starts condemning himself, Simon cheers him up by saying, â€Å"You’ll get back to where you came from† (Golding 111). According to the Bible, only Satan causes condemnation. By interrupting Ralph and giving him hope, Golding illustrates Simon as Jesus because he saves Ralph from being torn apart by Satan. The quote also suggests Simon knows something Ralph does not know. It shows that Simon may have the ability to foresee future events. Later, when Simon talks to the beast, or Lord of the Flies, it says, â€Å"I’m the reason why it’s no go? Why things are what they are?† (Golding 143). The Lord of the Flies symbolizes Satan. In the New Testament, after baptism, Satan temps Jesus with various things for forty days. Simon is the only person that is able to speak to the beast on the island. His innate goodness helps him to be able to speak to the Lord of the Flies without being afraid, which is something only Jesus can do. Throughout the story, Simon displays various traits of Jesus such as being deeply spiritual, compassionated, and non-violent . The setting of the story are also related to stories in the Bible. The island is described as â€Å"The air was thick with butterflies, lifting, fluttering, settling† (Golding 28). The image described resembles to that of the paradise. Just like the Garden of Eden, the island has an ideal weather, an abundance of fruits,Show MoreRelatedLord of the Flies and World War Ii1737 Words   |  7 Pagescan impact literature. British involvement in WWII directly influenced Goldings novel, Lord of the Flies. As all authors use their life and times as reference points in their works, Golding drew heavily on sociological, cultural, and military events. Lord of the Flies is an allegorical parallel to the world, as Golding perceived it. The island, the boys, and many other objects and events described in his work represent Goldings view of the world and humankind in general. He specifically incorporatesRead MoreThe Theme of Lord of the Flies Essay2118 Words   |  9 PagesThe theme o f Lord of the Flies has been questioned and speculated about for decades. To answer the critics, Golding said that the theme was to trace the problems of society back to the sinful nature of man. The theme of Lord of the Flies has been questioned and speculated about for decades. To answer the critics, Golding said that the theme was to trace the problems of society back to the sinful nature of man. He wrote the book to show how political systems cannot govern society effectively