Shipping Industry in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Shipping Industry in the UK - Essay Example Ninety-five per cent of Britain's external trade by weight, (77% by value) moves by water. "The World Bank estimates that seaborne trade in Britain will increase by 4% a year over the next decade, yet UK ship ownership and registration have fallen substantially over the past 30 years and there seems to be a maritime staff crisis, with a decline in the number of qualified seafarers". http://www.kmcinternational.com/about_us/sector_profile.cfmid=14 The numbers of the UK seafarers are declining at a rate which is not only hazardous to the shipping industry itself, but this in turn will also affect the many other industries which employ the trained seafarers when they come ashore. There are about 17,000 such jobs available, these jobs range from surveying to shipbuilding and from marine equipment services to insurance - for many of these jobs the experience which seafarers have is essential. The moribund sea industry would leave the maritime related economy faltering. Recently, the British government has issued new taxation laws and these laws will not only indefinitely affect the shipping businesses in the UK but also the shipping mercantile which do business with Britain. Trade and shipping have been interconnected through the ages. Initially there was a 25% capital allowance and ... It is obvious that those tax- breaks were not cost-effective. In the July of 2000, the tonnage tax was introduced into the British shipping industry. Instead of charging ships to be taxed by the profits they made, ships started to be charged by their tonnage. It was of the collective opinion that this taxation was gravely needed by this particular industry to reverse the downward trend it was facing for the past 25 years. There were many suggestions to overturn this development but none actually came through. Then the head of Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions is a former seafarer by the name of John Prescott, who founded the Shipping Working Group. This group was supposed to help design a taxation policy in accordance with employers and unions - the Chamber with officers and ratings and the Government. They started working together on the campaign to reverse the decline and when everyone joined forces they managed to achieve speedy progress. In the March of 1998 the group reported to the Secretary of State and in December of 1998 John Prescott introduced what is known as "British Shipping: - charting a new course". http://www.british-shipping.org/british/delivering.htm The problem with the White Paper however was that there was no mention and no didn't have any solutions to the financial and economical problems of the British shipping industry - the industry couldn't compete with other nations, such as Norway, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands, who already had such policies in place. It merely suggested that the tonnage based tax system be reviewed. It was up to the Treasury and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to step up and solve the dilemma. In the March of 1999, in

Categorical clustering Essay Example for Free

Categorical clustering Essay Theories which link recall directly to the way in which the information is encoded are very well supported and accepted among cognitive theorists; however, there is a lack of research on specific tricks to encoding which may aid in recall efficiency (Roy, 1967). The theories on this are widely accepted but, in fact, are poorly supported due to their common sense value. There is a need for more research about the ways in which environment directly effects efficiency of recall. Considering all of the research done on the correlation between encoding methods and recall, it can be seen that recall is directly affected by the modality and physical characteristics of encoding (Squire, 1987). Mnemonic devices are techniques to improve retention and most involve some combination of vivid visual imagery, organization of information into meaningful units, and hierarchies, and association with well-learned information (Winn, 2001). Many different memorization techniques have been designed to accommodate the unique way that every brain encodes the most effectively. Mnemonic devices have been devised to help the naturally most effective way for each individuals brain to encode information, but are geared towards visual learners. Kinetic and Auditory Learners need to modify what is being encoded in order for it to be effectively recalled later (Expanding, 1996). These specific techniques add meaning to an otherwise meaningless list of items (Sternberg, 1999). Common mnemonic devices include categorical clustering, interactive images, pegword systems, method of loci, acronyms, acrostics, and keyword systems. Henry Roediger has studied the comparative effectiveness of these mnemonic strategies and found that it was influenced by the kind of task required at the time of retrieval. He went on to suggest that when choosing a method for encoding, one should keep in mind the purpose of recalling the information (Sternberg, 1999).. Students are often asked to memorize large amounts of information at one time. There is a very small amount of research on the effectiveness of different mnemonic devices specifically effective for the purpose of recalling scholastic information. One method which has been theorized to fit this type of purpose of recall is categorical clustering. It has already been theorized by Weston Bousfield that the human brain automatically separates information into categories. In 1953 he tested this theory by showing that if sets of test words can be divided into categories, participants will automatically cluster their recall output by these categories. Aiding the natural inclination to categorize with mnemonic devices could greatly help memorization. Theories about this are very poorly supported. Further investigation of this specific mnemonic device is important in investigating how it affects the recall of lists of words. Knowing this would be relevant in scholastic and other environments in which this device could be especially helpful. Hypothesis  IB Juniors given a list of 18 words with a list of 3 category titles will recall the items on the list more accurately than those given the list without the category titles  Null Hypothesis  There is no difference in recall between IB Juniors given a list with category titles and those given the list without the titles. Methods: Design  Design  The design that will be used for this experiment is independent samples, because it meets the needs of the experiment and also minimizes error and is effective in controlling specific internal validity concerns. This specific design controls for testing and progressive errors, most order effects, maturation, and mortality. This design, however, does not control for history. The only unwanted subject variables in this experiment would be learning or memory deficit disorders. Drastic problems that keep a student from being able to memorize or learn new things effectively would negatively affect the experiment and make the results more difficult to generalize. To control for this, as a sort of pre-screening, only juniors enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program will be used as volunteers. It can be ensured that any student which has made it that far within that rigorous an academic program has no drastic disorders which effect his or her memory or ability to learn and retain information. This also controls for selection in that all IB Juniors are statistically equivalent. Diffusion of treatment in this experiment could be a problem if the subjects share words or information from the lists while trying to recall them. This could largely alter the results of the experiment and therefore the researchers will be preventing subject interaction and supervising them as they are recalling remembered words. All subjects will be given the exact same list of words, only 1/2 will be given simple category titles. The words will still be in the same order and place on the page to control for instrumentation errors. Ethics Because subjects will be tested in front of a teacher, it will be made fully aware that they will be ethically treated and that in no way will this experiment alter their status in that classroom. The researchers will establish a clear and fair agreement with the research participants prior to their participation. This agreement will clarify the aim of the study, that it is completely optional, and ensure that the results will be shared with the participants after all data is collected and analyzed. The researchers will make the subjects fully aware that the study is not only optional, but that the subject can decline to participate or withdraw from the research at any time without any repercussions whatsoever. All necessary aspects of the research will be described and the volunteers will give their informed consent prior to participation. Results will remain confidential and anonymous, but the final purpose of the study shall be revealed in a follow up session. Since all of the participants are under 18, the principal and the party who is legally responsible for the students while they are on campus (Mrs. Benware) will be made aware of the aim of the study and give her consent to let any volunteers participate in the study. III. Methods: Participants The entire population of IB Juniors may be used in the experiment; however, the statistical concepts of sampling make it unnecessary. The sample will consist of IB Juniors from Mrs. Jamisons 3rd and 6th period classes, and from various other teachers which give informed consent for the researchers to talk to their classrooms about the experiment and offer the opportunity for the students to volunteer. The participants will be a representative group of the entire population of IB juniors. Students which are taking psychology dont create any errors in population validity, as they havent participated in enough training in psychology for their results to be altered in any way because of it. To obtain a random sample from the IB Junior class, students from random classrooms will be asked to volunteer. A random sample of 30 IB Juniors is used in the experiment. They are all 16-17 years of age and have similar academic backgrounds and capabilities, as they are all in the International Baccalaureate program.

personal narrative Essay -- essays research papers

The Gift After what seemed like an eternity of rigorous tests and dealing with the painful longing of wanting to hold a precious baby of my own in my arms, it happened; my dreams at long last came true. I was pregnant! But something happened; I felt my world come crashing down. The thought of bringing another life into this world terrified me. After marriage, my husband and I immediately wanted to start a family. A year or so went by and still nothing, no baby. I decided to check myself out to see if anything was wrong. I went through all the normal tests to see if there were any problems. The doctors couldn’t find any concrete explanation why I wasn’t able to conceive. As a last resource, before getting into more invasive measures, my doctor wanted me to try a fertility pill called Clomid. Figuring I didn’t have anything to loose, I started taking the pills. A few months after taking Clomid, I realized I was feeling a bit strange. I was more tired then I normally felt. I decided to take a pregnancy test. Assuming I was going to get the same negative result, I take the test, walk away and gather my thoughts. Hoping and praying for a different outcome that I had become accustomed to. I walked back to read the results. Expecting to see a negative test, I stare at the test in disbelief. Two pink lines! I blink my eyes to make sure I am not seeing things, it was true. A positive pregnancy test, some...

The Importance of Good Writing Skills for Prospective University Students

Introduction In the age of technology, most students are absorbed in using electronic sources to either read or listen to academic information and usually attempt to memorize facts as far as possible. While electronic devices such as Android phones, iPads, Kindles, and other devices provide students with an amalgamation of information at their fingertips and students are very well informed regarding what is happening in the world and how various things work, they often lack the ability to form and express their opinions in their own words. This skill is often seen non-existent amongst prospective university students, who possess a great degree of knowledge regarding numerous topics, but struggle when they are required to write their personal statements to when they are required to write their dissertations in their final years. It is important for prospective university students to recognize the importance of good writing skills in order to help them get through their university years. The issues of plagiarism, use of vocabulary, and proper structuring must be addressed adequately in order to help prospective university students achieve good grades. The following tips may help university students improve their writing skills: Adopting the habit of reading: Listening to music, playing sports, and hanging out with friends are common activities found in young adults nowadays. However, a study found that approximately 21% of university-aged students said that they enjoyed reading while the majority of students did not express this interest (CollegeXpress, 2013). However, this hobby is highly important for students in order to help them improve their structuring, their ability of expression, and their vocabulary skills. Writing a diary or a blog: While diaries may be slightly out-dated, students can create a blog on a topic of interest which will help them regularly post their thoughts, feelings, and opinions regarding various topics. This will help enhance their creativity, expressive abilities, and enable them to generally enhance their writing skills to capture the interest of readers. Becoming a freelance writer: While prospective university students search for various part-time jobs, it may be beneficial for them to look for jobs as freelance writers. Indulging in activities such as writing advertising and marketing messages, writing emails, and other small tasks to earn a small income may pay a long way in their future. Avoid using slang when chatting, writing emails, or in any other form of communication: Using slang impairs a person’s spelling and vocabulary skills and may often hinder a person’s ability to write properly structured sentences. Hence, avoiding the use of such language can help a student write more appropriately in the future. Having good writing skills can help prospective students in their university years and can also pay a long way when looking for prospective careers. Most employers are looking for candidates with a good level of expression, excellent writing skills, and a high level of creativity. Research has found that individuals with good writing skills score 80% higher than those who do not possess such skills in university and tend to find jobs 30% quicker than others (Aims Community College, 2013). References Aims Community College. (2013) Online Writing Lab. [online] Accessed on: November 10, 2013 Available at: http://www.aims.edu/student/online-writing-lab/overview/why CollegeXpress. (2013) â€Å"Cultivating Exceptional Writing Skills for Success and Beyond†. Accessed on November 11, 2013 Available at: http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/majors-and-academics/articles/college-academics/cultivating-exceptional-writing-skills-success-college-and-beyond/

Afro-Caribbean Poetry Essay

In this essay I will be studying the various items of poetry from manyAfro-Caribbean poets. One of the poets is Langston Hughes who was  born in Joplin, Missouri on the first of February 1902. He started  writing poetry after moving to Lincoln, Illinois. The poems I will be  studying are â€Å"Mulatto† and â€Å"I, Too†.  The next poet I will be looking at is Grace Nichols. Nichols was born  in Guyana in 1950, she came to England in 1977 this is when she  developed her fiction and verse writing. The poem I will be studying is  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Praise song for my mother†. The next poet I will look at will be Dr Benjamin Obadiah lqual  Zephaniah, he was born in Birmingham, but he spent most of his  time in Jamaica. After he spent some time in prison he decided to use  his energy for good and educate himself. The poem I will study â€Å"I love  me mudder†.  The last poet work I will be looking at will be John Agard. Agard was  born in Guyana in 1949, the country was still a British colony until  1966. In 1977 Agard moved to England. This is where he became the  light of the new West Indian British dawn of various bardic  compositions. Agard is a poet whom blends calypso styled language  with unique sounding spoken word. The work I will be studying is  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Half-caste†Ã‚  I have paired the poems up. The pairs either share the same topic,  tone or language. One of the pairs is â€Å"Half-caste† by John Agard and  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Mulatto† by Langston Hughes, because they have the same type of  topic and also tone.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Half caste† is about weather: the term half-caste can be applied to  any thing else apart from people. John Agard has written a very good  poem witch makes you think about the words we use every day with  out knowing the proper meanings and whether it makes any sense  when you break the word down. I think that many words we use now  are â€Å"out of date† and should be changed for politically correct terms  and alternatives. Agard also uses some stunning references to get you  thinking. The other half of this pair â€Å"Mulatto† tells us about the harsh  treatment black women faced at the hands of their white bosses in  the slave era and how the women were only used as play things, this  is shown in the part â€Å"What’s a body but a toy?†. The word â€Å"mulatto†Ã‚  means the same as â€Å"half caste† but not as many people use it  nowadays. The boy in the story has a trouble fitting in with black  people and white people and does not have that sense of belonging if  he had been born to parents of the same race. The next pair is â€Å"Praise song for my mother† by Grace Nichols and â€Å"I  love me mudder† by Benjamin Zephaniah. I’ve paired these poems  because they share the same topics which is their mothers.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Praise song for my mother† is about how Grace Nichols loved her  mother and how she inspired to do the best she could. It’s also how  she looked up to her, and how her mother was all the things she likes  such as the sunrise and the fried plantain smell. The poem is set in a  past tense which seems to tell us the readers that her mother has  died. The second half of my pair is â€Å"I love me mudder†. This poem is about  how Benjamin Zephaniah’s mother came from Jamaica on a boat  called Windrush. Many people came from Jamaica because they  thought they would have a better life than the one they all ready had.  In black family family (need to delete this) life the figure of the  mother is very strong and is the main rule maker in the house, and  this poem shows how she works so hard just to make sure her familydon’t go without. The last pair of poems is â€Å"taint† by Grace Nichols and â€Å"I, Too† by  Langston Hughes these two poems have been joined together because  they both have kind of the same topic which shows the pain black  people have overcome but still yet we are strong.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"taint† is about the treachery that this person has had cast upon  them while they where a slave, the fact that they where stolen by men  the colour of their own skin. This reminds me of the black on black  gang warfare and killings. This person who trusted the people of their  same skin colour was betrayed. This work also shows how these  people where traded like they where animals. The poem has a  message to everyone: to stop fighting and live peacefully together.  The second half of the pair is â€Å"I, Too† which shows how black people  had to eat in a kitchen when company came but they ate well and  became strong. So when company comes no one will dare tell me to  eat in the kitchen and now you are ashamed about what you did to  me when I was mentally weak. This poem has a promise of hope for  Ã‚  change. Hughes suggests that â€Å"Tomorrow† things will be different and  people will see that beauty and equality of all peoples.