Responses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Responses - Essay Example This is because through the humanistic approach employed by John Calvin and Martin Luther among others, they were able to go back to the sources with the aim of critically and carefully studying the past documents and texts which they discovered to be governed differently from the Roman church of their time .These studies led to the radical critique of the institutional church and traditional theology. Luther used a new edition in the Greek New Testament in 1516 to attack the practices and indulgences of the roman church. I feel the protests erupted because the Roman Catholic Church defended themselves by producing a counter history (George, 40) to come up with a factual interpretation of the bible which later led to conflicts between them and new protestant church. The author was not successful in making me think that the Roman Catholic Church attacked the protestant church and the new writings, although I feel that the Roman church defended itself instead of pointing out the weaknesses of the protestant church. Luther’s and Calvin’s goal was to prove that the Roman Catholic Church did not follow traditions the early church had laid for them. Tension grew among these two groups especially in the publication of â€Å"Ecclesiastical Anals† written by Italian Cardinal and Historian Caesar Baronius (George, 40) to prove that the church did not follow its traditions. In addition the use of â€Å"Madgeburg Churches† by Lutheran Theologies was also a means of attacking the Catholic Church via writings. Generally in my opinion, it’s fascinating that the religious revolution in Europe was majorly based on writings although a few persecutions were

Porter Essay Example for Free

Porter Essay Porters Five Forces Analysis Threat of New Entry There are many companies manufacturing and selling office products at an International level. New entrants can find it easy to enter and establish their position In the market by basing their strategy on low cost. The market offers growth opportunities to new entrants as well Indicating low entry barriers for the firms wanting to enter into the area of office products. Therefore It can be stated that Staples Inc Is operating In an Industry where the threat of new entry Is high. Buyer power The bargaining power of buyers Is determined In an Industry on the basis of the Influence that they can have on the price structure of the products of a firm. In case of organizations manufacturing office related products the issue they are facing is that few of the products that they are manufacturing are easily available in the market, such as stationery items. Staples Inc is dealing with medium organizations and fortune 1000 companies as customers of their products. They need to provide these organizations with a competitive price structure or the customers can shift to another company for the supply of office items. But the company also has an dvantage that it provides them with products that have unique designs and packaging. Therefore it can be stated that Staples Inc is operating in an industry where the customers have moderate bargaining power. Supplier Power There are many suppliers operating in the industry of office supplies and office related products. The large number of suppliers has resulted in low level of bargaining power of suppliers. The companies that are manufacturing the office related products can select the suppliers that offer them the most suitable package. In case of Staples Inc they have strong ties with their suppliers and are taking dvantage from a network of supply parties that maintain the effective flow of raw materials being supplied to the company. Threat of Substitutes There are many companies manufacturing office related products and offering them at a lower cost than the price charged by Staples Inc for their products. This situation has resulted in moderate level of threat of substitutes. In case If an organizations is not satisfied with the price structure offered by Staples Inc for their products, It can opt for other companies which are manufacturing slmllar products and charging less for them. Threat of Competitors The Industry In which Staples Inc Is operating In, It has many small and large scale companies. Therefore the Industry has a high level of threat of competitors. Staples Inc Is dealing with competitors such as Office Depot Inc ; OfficeMax Inc (Staples Inc TOP competitors, 2011). PESTEL Analysis Political Factors The political disturbance in US or in other countries of the world disrupts the supply and manufacturing process of Staples Inc. Other political factors such as changes in tne rules ana pollcles developed Dy OITTerent governments 0T tne world In wnlcn Staples Inc has its stores also have an impact on the profitability of the organization. Economic Factors Financial condition of a country has an influence on the price and purchase of the raw material, manufacturing of the number of products and buying behaviour of the people. Staples Inc also faced problems due to global financial crisis. Abelson (2008) has reported that due to the economic crisis, Staples Inc had to take steps such as decreasing the rate of capital investment for manufacturing of certain products which were facing low demand due to recession. One of the products that were ompromised on during economic downturn was office furniture, as the sales of these products had declined and customers were avoiding the purchase of these items. Social Factors Many organizations around the world have been trying to bring in changes in their set up and to participate in activities that are a reflection of corporate social responsibility. Staples Inc has also been focusing on participating in community building activities to create a positive image in the mind of the consumers. Staples Inc has been trying to share in the process of community development by providing unds for social causes and benefit of the people (What is Staples Soul, 2010). Technological Factors Staples Inc is a supplier of computer related products and also offers after sales services related to these products to the organizations that are their customers. Technological changes and advancements enable the company to bring in necessary modifications and provide its customers with the latest version of the computer and its related accessories. Technological factors have a significant impact on the production of Staples Inc as they can not only develop new product designs but also evelop low cost manufacturing means. Environmental Factors Many organizations around the world have been required to alter their business processes top meet the policies developed by the governments and environmental protection agencies. As stated by the annual report of the company, the Race to the Top strategy applied by the management of the company is a reflection of the efforts they have been putting in to obtain a competitive position in the market through effective business practices and environment friendly products (Staples, Inc Annual Report, 2010). Legal Factors Staples Inc is currently dealing with legal issues related to the lawsuits filed by its employees with the claim that the organization has been indulging in unjust business practices. For instance the company had to manage the case in which claim was made that it was not paying the workers with over time charges (Lawsuits: Staples Inc, 2007). Along with that the company has also been dealing with the patent issues. These issues not only portray a negative image of the company in front of the public but also require capital investment by the company.

Gender Differences In Students Academic Performance :: essays research papers

Gender Differences in Students' Academic Performance Students with urban and suburban backgrounds consistently outperformed students from rural and small-town areas. Parental education levels correlated with academic success. Considering the background of the study's female participants one could reasonably expect women to outperform men. However, in spite of the higher indicators of success possessed by women, this expectation was not fulfilled. Data and background predictions did not match up with what actually occurred. Men received better grades, retained more of their self-confidence, and more men stayed in chemical engineering than women. When students run into math difficulties, men are more likely to credit math difficulties to challenges inherent in the subject, while women are more likely to explain away failure by lack of ability. This is the first of many discrepancies in men and women's perception of their own performance. Regarding general academic performance, women are more likely to attribute it to lack of ability while men more often attribute it to lack of hard work or unfair treatment. If students do well, women will more likely chalk it up to outside help while men see it as a reinforcement of their own ability. Regarding course performance, women were asked to indicate what grade would satisfy them and what grade they actually expected to receive in a course. The women's expectations decreased as the term progressed; they downrated their ability and ended up underestimating themselves. Courses involving group work were included in this study. Although group work was found to be generally positive and well-received by students, the findings inspired the authors to caution educators about potential reactions of students to group work.

Guilt in a Heartbeat

Guilt in a Heartbeat Through the heart beat from the Tell-Tale Heart Edgar Allan Poe shows that all bad deeds come with endless guilt. This short story illustrates that the obsession of the narrator, who is an everyday man, drives him to commit murder to an old man that has done no harm nor insult the narrator. This also goes to show that a man’s conscience can be his own enemy. The Tell-Tale Heart explores various ideas that reassure the insanity that drove the narrator to commit unjustified murder, and the narrator provides this information by describing what kind of character he is.Poe also writes in a very effective point of view that allows the audience to understand completely all the narrators transitions, then the audience is able to see how the setting of the story fits perfectly in this story, finally Poe is able to create various symbolisms injected in the story that justify the narrator’s actions. The narrator does not reveal a specific name, but does reveal that he is a care giver to the old man which is the only identity given in the short story.Through the short story it’s shown that the narrator is not a dynamic character, because at the beginning of the story he is insane and at the end he is still insane, which reveals that the character has no change or growth throughout the whole story. But the only part where he develops a kind of change and growth is when the narrator hears the corpse’s heartbeat from beneath the floor he screams in agony saying â€Å"Villains! Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! — tear up the planks! —here, here! —it is the beating of his hideous heart! (Poe 18) which makes him a conscious of the big mistake and horrible crime he has committed. This small change and growth of the main character is very visible in the story due to the point of view that the story is being told. The point of view of the story is very effective because the Tell-Tale Heart is written in first person. The narrator is the main character in the story, which allows the reader to explore and view in a deeper way the feelings, thoughts, and macabre imaginations of him.The narrator also helps the reader understand in which moment the story is being told because the story begins in the middle where the narrator is trying to convince the police man that he has done no wrong in the house and trying to make them believe that the old man is in vacations out of the country. The point of view takes us to see the setting of the story that helps the narrator to feel more comfortable. The setting of the story is very important.The narrator has a comfortable way of walking through the house like it was his own. What shows that he is comfortable is that he takes a full hour to open the door just enough to fit his head, which makes him seem very insane with an obsession that is not letting him go to sleep or at least not spy to the old man. The house allows the narrator to create a darker atmosphere in which he is able to kill, dismember, and bury the old man’s body.The nature of each character is very different, because the old man with a helpless nature is not able to take care of himself, or even live by himself. On the contrary the narrator reveals himself to be a selfish, crazy, and a lonely person that is not able to coexist well with other people. Edgar Allan Poe was able to give great symbols in the Tell-Tale Heart. The â€Å"vulture† eye is what starts driving the narrator insane, because the narrator does not have interest in the old men’s money nor has the old man done bad to the narrator.The eye symbolizes the obsession the narrator has, which indicates the insanity and craziness of him. The caution that the narrator has while going into the old man’s room symbolizes that the narrator has a true obsession over the old man’s eye. The narrator has a goal and he will do anything to complete the murder. The narrator cannot e ven sleep or do his regular duties just to be thinking and being horrified by the old man’s vulture eye.The last symbol that it was in this short story is the heart beat at the end of the story where he hears a heartbeat through the wooden floor while the policemen are there. That symbolizes his guilt where he finds himself feeling bad and rather to be dead than to keep listening to the olds man’s heart that it is buried under the floor he expresses this by screaming â€Å"But anything was better than this agony† and â€Å"I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! † (Poe 17).The human mind can be a wonderful and terrible thing. People are soon to forget the good but continue to be haunted by the bad. The narrator’s mind did not allow him to forget the deeds that he was just recently so proud of. They haunted him by means of a beating heart, that although was only in his mind, he believed it was real. Work C ited Poe, Edgar A. The Tell-Tale Heart. 2010. Literature an Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing. By X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. New York: Pearson-Longman, 2010. 36-40. Print.

Internet Marketing: A blessing or a curse Essay

Internet marketing is a phenomenon that was introduced recently due to the sudden boom in the usage of internet. People have not only become used to the internet and its ease, in fact, they have become so reliant and dependant on it that it can qualify as an addiction these days. Now, life without internet has become unimaginable for all age groups and backgrounds (Benkler, 2006). This is something that marketers capitalized on. Marketers aim to reach their consumers and catch their attention in whatever way possible through whatever medium that is the most effective and efficient. Every target market/segment uses internet; that is, the entire customer base is available to the marketer online; thus, using the internet as a platform to promote their product is nothing but a wise idea. Marketers had flooded the television, thinking that customers are now more easily available on the TV compared to newspapers and posters. As strange as it may sound, gradually, the amount of people of ages 18 – 26 watching TV has reduced (Ginster, 2005). Viewing of TV shows, movies and programs are easier online on either the home website or Youtube because of the ease of timing and general conveniences. Thus, at the end of the day, it is all about internet marketing if a marketer wants the product to succeed (Malan, 2006). The reason for this is that there is a product purchase journey which has steps such as familiarization and awareness as the first ones – the internet is used as a medium to instil the familiarity and position the product in the appropriate manners in the heads of the potential customers. (Mangold & Faulds) Internet marketing’s basic tools are emails, websites, advertisements on various websites, youtube, social media like Facebook and Twitter. However, it is not limited to these tools – when an online record of all the customers is kept to provide them with better customized and personalized service, this is called an Electronic Customer Relationship Management Database. This has become more and more critical today because of the increasingly sharper customers each day who need to be provided with value and will not settle for something that does not meet the expectations and the promise made by the companies. Blessings  Internet marketing has helped companies cut down on their advertising budgets and save up a lot of finances that were earlier utilized for heavy marketing all over the cities and countries. However, in the case of internet marketing, every customer, no matter which corner of the world they are physically present at can access the same advertisement and look at the brochures etc. The geographical advantage helps the marketers a lot, but not just them (Bove, 2000). The customers are also at an advantage because they can look at the product, research on it and purchase it according to their convenience. This also increases the purchasing frequency of the customers along with the speed of transaction, creating an advantage for the company (Story, 2008) Another advantage is that the marketers do not need to worry about keeping a track or record of all the transactions. There is an automatic electronic record generated as and when activity takes place. There are several methods of doing that – per click, per purchase, per action etc. This way, the statistics can help the marketers figure out what is more popular amongst the customers. In a way, via internet marketing, the marketer can receive feedback about the campaign instantly and make amendments and more appealing (Czepiel, 1990) Tools like Facebook, Twitters, Linkedin are used so much by almost everybody that even if the marketer gives one single ad to be placed right next to a Facebook page, a huge difference can be made. Curse In a way, internet marketing creates a barrier between those users who have a fast internet connection and those who own a slower one. These advertisements sometimes have pictures and videos which are heavy to download and cannot be accessed with a low quality internet connection. In some areas, the internet is always low – thus, this in a way limits the customer market and the number of people they can target. (Anonymous, 2008) The establishment and installation of internet marketing as a system in the organization needs a few initial costs which are pretty huge. These include higher technology equipments and programs that help design internet advertisements (Kotler & Armstrong, 1996). For customers, sometimes it is a turn off because buying a product without holding it is a little more of a gamble than usual. The sense of touch, sight, smell and taste in some cases is very important for the customer to be able to judge how well the product fits into his/her requirements (Strativity Group, Inc. , 2009). Very importantly, sometimes, the internet becomes so messy and cluttered with ads and information and the advertisement put by the marketer does not remain visible, evident and unique anymore. It becomes part of that clutter and eventually feels annoying and unappealing to the eyes. Keeping everything aside, the biggest curse of internet marketing is the security concern. Information provided by both the marketers and the customers is confidential for them and they do not want it to be disclosed it to anybody (Bitner, 1995); however, when it comes to the internet, nothing is guaranteed – hacking is extremely common. Also, online purchases that charge the money on the credit card before the delivery of the item have no guarantee. There is also no guarantee of the security of the credit card number added to the website for payment (Gentle, 2009) Conclusion My personal opinion is that internet marketing has been a blessing and not a curse for all of us. The reason for this is that as customers, it has helped us mature because of being right there in front of us all the time. Our awareness levels have increased and our understanding of a product and its analysis is just a click away. Everything has become so convenient and quick. It has helped us gain more perspective because information is only a second away. There are issues as well but everything has issues; if the usage is done properly and if a structure which does not have all of the above mentioned issues is developed, then internet marketing can be a complete blessing for all.

Dealing With Divorce Through Humor

Dealing With Divorce Through Humor Divorce is not funny business. Its hard to laugh when two people are fighting over money, property, and kids. However, divorce is  gaining social acceptance in many parts of the world.  Humor helps to alleviate the pain of separation, and sarcasm brings out your witty side. So, if you feel like being nasty, it is better to release your nastiness through sarcastic quotes  than by snapping at your friends and family. If you are going through a difficult divorce, you may want to lighten up. Make room for humor in your heart, however bitter you feel right now.  Find ways to vent your disappointment. Rant  out loud with friends. If you are seething with anger, let off some steam with these funny divorce quotes. A sense of humor may be your best friend during this difficult time. Divorce Quotes Lewis GrizzardInstead of getting married again, Im just going to find a woman I dont like and give her a house. Oscar WildeDivorces are made in heaven. Dave BarryToday, it is easier to get divorced in most states than to get a transmission repaired properly. Garry TrudeauIn Palm Springs, they think homelessness is caused by bad divorce lawyers. John Kenneth GalbraithThe happiest time of anyones life is just after the first divorce. Zsa Zsa GaborHe taught me housekeeping; when I divorce I keep the house. Woody AllenThe only time my wife and I had a simultaneous orgasm was when the judge signed the divorce papers. I should have known something was wrong with my first wife. When I brought her home to meet my parents, they approved of her. Mary Kay BlakelyDivorce is the psychological equivalent of a triple coronary bypass. After such a monumental assault on the heart, it takes years to amend all the habits and attitudes that led up to it.   J. B. HandelsmanJust another of our many disagreements. He wants a no-fault divorce, whereas I would prefer to have the bastard crucified. Jimmy FallonA 99-year-old man is filing for divorce from his 96-year-old wife, making them the worlds oldest divorced couple. Its got to be weird when a divorce lawyer is fighting for your kids to get custody of you.A new study found that women gain more weight after marriage, but men gain more weight after a divorce. Yeah, the divorce usually takes place after men point out that women gained more weight after marriage. Groucho MarxMarriage is the chief cause of divorce. Jean KerrBeing divorced is like being hit by a Mack truck.  If you live through it, you start looking very carefully to the right and to the left. Johnny CarsonThe difference between a divorce and a legal separation is that a legal separation gives a husband time to hide his money. Wendy LiebmanMy mother always said dont marry for money, divorce for money. Robin WilliamsAh, yes, divorce... from the Latin word meaning to rip out a mans genitals through his wallet. Helen RowlandLove, the quest; marriage, the conquest; divorce, the inquest. Dave BarryYou should be prepared for anything during divorce proceedings- even the truth. James CaanTo get over my divorce, I got a prescription to live at the Playboy Mansion for a while. Ruth GordonIn our family, we dont divorce our men- we bury them.   Mike TysonYou cant stay married in a situation where you are afraid to go to sleep in case your wife might cut your throat. Bette DavisI’d marry again if I found a man who had $15 million and would sign over half of it to me before the marriage and guarantee he’d be dead in a year. Lenny ClarkeI can’t get divorced because I’m a Catholic. Catholics don’t get divorced. They stay together through anger and hatred and festering misery, just like God intended. Mickey RooneyA lot of people have asked me how short I am. Since my last divorce, I think Im about $100,000 short. Evan EsarSome women get divorces on the grounds of incompatibility; others, on just the first two syllables. Many a woman would get a divorce if she could do it without making her husband happy. Tommy ManvilleShe cried- and the judge wiped her tears with my checkbook. Louis C.K.Divorce is always good news. I know that sounds weird, but its true because no good marriage has ever ended in divorce. That would be sad. If two people were married and they just had a great thing and then they got divorced, that would be really sad. But that has happened zero times. Chelsea PerettiMy parents divorced when I was one year old so I don’t really remember any of the details, but luckily, my mom does so she’s been really helpful. John CleeseI got off lightly. Think what I’d have had to pay Alyce if she had contributed anything to the relationship- such as children or a conversation. Russell BrandWhen youre a monk, youre not allowed to have sex with anyone. When youre married, its one person. Thats one more than a monk. Its not that different.

Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview Essay Example

Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview Essay Example Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview Paper Exploring the genre and style of the Political Interview Paper Politics is an area in society which is accepted as an important aspect of our lives. It governs our country and, as a result, affects how we conduct our everyday affairs. Since the commercial availability of television, politicians have had the opportunity to express party views, promote their manifesto and justify controversial actions. Live interviews have allowed the nation to put forward questions they want answered, significantly progressing the basis on who we decide to vote for to govern our country. These interviews are perhaps most notable on Newsnight, hosted by Jeremy Paxman. Paxman became a presenter of Newsnight in 1989 and has since been a pioneer in the interrogative style used to unnerve his interviewees. This topic is of particular interest due to the nature of the interaction between a representative of the audience (the interviewer) and the politician. In many cases, it is evident that politicians adopt a tactful stance when answering questions in order to prevent perceptions and retain popularity. Interviews often gain entertainment value when questions are put forward that place the interviewee in a difficult stance, and more so when an attempt is made to divert the topic to suit the interviewees position. This is a typical method used in order to gain control of conversation, and power struggles for the ownership of a conversation are regularly detectable. Studying this topic will allow an analysis of the interviews to be made. This can help determine whether language used conforms to the ideas of theorists such as Tannen, who states that, for men, the world is a competitive place in which conversation and speech must be used to build status or gain the upper hand. Trudgills theories can also be explored; in particular, his belief that men would often use a low prestige pronunciation thereby seeking covert prestige by appearing tough or down to earth. Hypothesis Both Paxman and the political interviewees will display typical male speech to gain dominance and authority over the conversation. Aims The aims will be to: Investigate how male language is used to assert ownership of a conversation Compare my findings with research on male gender language from theorists such as Tannen and Trudgill. Methodology For this investigation, secondary source data was gained in the form of two individual transcripts of Newsnight interviews between Paxman and George Galloway and Theresa May. These were obtained from the internet as opposed to being recorded from live programmes for numerous reasons. Firstly, the recording of transcripts is time consuming, thus meaning it would not have been viable to collect primary data from live programmes. Researching readily available transcripts allowed a range of interviews to be read, meaning the most linguistically interesting extracts could be used. Five possible transcripts were collected, and of that, two were chosen for further analysis. A male politician and female politician were used in order to gauge differences, if any, in the language style used, and whether this had a profound effect on the effectiveness of dominance in conversation. Had two male politicians been selected, it would have been hard to conclude that the language used was typically male as there would be no reference for comparison. Despite the fact that only qualitative data will be used, the analysis that can be made from these sources will be sufficient in meeting the aims and proving or disproving the hypothesis. Quantitative data is largely irrelevant for this investigation. To ensure validity, the transcripts have all been sourced from the reputable news websites. The BBC is the producer of Newsnight, so there is little chance of alteration or manipulation of the transcripts to portray a subjective view. The BBC is also fairly reputable in their political neutrality. This cannot be said for The Telegraph, where Theresa Mays transcript was sourced. However, both Theresa May and The Telegraph hold conservative views and therefore alteration is also unlikely. In terms of the ethicality of the data collected, the participants, being Jeremy Paxman and the three politicians, would have been aware that they were being filmed and broadcasted. Therefore, their consent would have been given at the time they were recorded and quoting extracts from the transcript will be ethical. In order to satisfy my aims, I will explore a variety of qualities that make up the linguistic framework such as the interactional, grammatical, lexic-semantic, syntactical and phonological features. Analysis The first data extract is from a Newsnight interview between Jeremy Paxman and George Galloway on the 5th May 2005. The interview was conducted shortly after George Galloway gained a seat for the left wing political party Respect in Bethnal Green and Bow, replacing Labour MP, Oona King. Paxman initiates conversation by addressing the audience with the clause Were now joined from his count in Bethnal Green and Bow by George Galloway. The contraction were provides unity and sense of cohesion between the interviewer and audience, perhaps done so in order to entice prejudicial bias. The question are you proud of having got rid of the very few black women Parliament is then asked. The adjective proud infers a sense of pleasure or satisfaction over a particular action, which Galloway dismisses immediately with the simple sentence What a preposterous question. This matter of fact statement allows Galloway to gain high ground as it addresses the absurdity of what is essentially an accusation of racism. As a result, a role reversal can be seen. Galloway uses the personal pronoun you to pose a question towards Paxman. This is perhaps the first clear evidence of a battle of ownership of the conversation and conforms to aspects of Tannens theory. She argues that conversation for most men is a primary means to preserve independence, and negotiate and maintain status in a hierarchical social order, opting for a report stance as opposed to a females rapport stance. A battle for social hierarchy can be seen when Paxman avoids answering the question, with the ironic and somewhat hypocritical reply Youre not answering that one?. According to Tannen, competition for status drives men; therefore they are more at ease with conflict. Galloway proves this theory when conflict arises after telling Paxman to move on to [his] next question. The imperative command move acts as an order, thus challenging Paxmans control over the interview. This can be supported with Tannens theory of male language using orders, whilst women would use proposal s to communicate a desire. A bid for higher status can be seen when Galloway states If you ask that question again, Im going, I warn you now. This goes against the norm of interview etiquette in that the interviewer has been challenged. The response Dont try and threaten me Mr Galloway, please reveals numerous techniques in attempt to restore protocol. The verb try suggests Galloway failed in issuing the threat. Furthermore, the use of the title Mr and the politicians surname is excessively formal for use during the middle of the conversation, perhaps done so to assert prestige. This could have also been done in attempt to belittle Galloway, yet this is undermined by the adverb please. This changes the sentence from a command to a request, and the position of the word at the end infers an afterthought from Paxman. Galloway diffuses the intensity of the exchanges by replacing the verb threaten with badger Youre the one whos trying to badger me. The connotation of annoyance from this word infers the severity of the interview is little more than a quarrel to Galloway. This could be a dismissive strategy to highlight Paxmans trivial retaliations. Towards the end of the interview, Jeremy Paxman again insinuates that Galloways motives were to insight racial tensions. At this point, George Galloway deviates from response and again directly confronts the questioning- You are actually conducting one the most even by your standards one of the most absurd interviews I have ever participated in. Use of the parenthesis even by your standards shows Galloway is aware of the language techniques Paxman employs, as if trying to lure the interviewee into giving a desired response. This indicates the demise of the interview as the off topic nature shows a refusal to answer. An attempt to win authority of the conversation is made with the simple sentence I have just won an election. This comes as a declaration of power and popularity, which arguably, portrays Galloway in an egotistical light, yet proves supremacy nevertheless. Paxmans response Im not insulting them, Im not insulting you displays subtle male gender language. The contraction Im leans towards Covert prestige, a theory first introduced by William Labov. The language, despite being inferior to the formal I am, suggests a more secure and less socially aspirational stance, conveying a tough or down to earth message. Peter Trudgills research in the 1970s into language and social class also comes to similar conclusions in regard to covert prestige. The role reversal of questions by the interviewee and answers by the interviewer continues as Galloway asks for congratulations on his victory. Paxmans response is one of obedience, and offers his congratulations, possibly to appease Galloway and regain focus. However, before the next question can be presented, the politician thanks Paxman before removing his microphone and leaving the studio. Due to this, the language used towards the end is perhaps misleading, giving the impression that Galloway successfully used male language to assert dominance. However, the hasty exit infers escaping any more questioning, and consequently, it could be assumed Paxman retained higher ground. The second extract is between BBC Newsnight interviewer Jeremy Paxman and Theresa May in which the home secretary repeatedly refused to disclose whether she knew in advance about George Osbornes child benefit announcement. When Jeremy questions May when was this policy actually cooked up?when did you first learn about [the policy]?, the politician responds Well, you use terms like cooked up as if somehow this was just something that was done on the back of an envelope. Well serves as a hedge word which Robin Lakoff (1975) classified as a key assumption of language used by women. Doing so gives an appearance of weakness yet it could equally be an indication of respect for the other speaker by offering some courtesy. Another key assumption that can be identified in this initial response is the intensifier just. The use of the verb before the adverb something de-intensifies meaning and infers that Paxmans questioning was irrational. The confidence of May is undermined by her inability to express her thoughts as she starts This is, we have been having to make before being interrupted by Paxman. This conforms to the idea of the Dominance Theory, in that in mixed-sex conversations, men are more likely to interrupt than women. In this sense, it is evident that male language has been used to gain an authoritative stance whilst Theresa May appears weak upon initial impression. The interruptions from Paxman continue throughout the interview with the repetition of the question When did you first hear about it?. Mays response deviates from what the interviewer wants by trying to put across the information she desires instead. Whilst answering with Tax and benefit decisions, use of the additional phrase as you well know suggests Paxman is playing a game for entertainment value. In this sense, Theresa may gains an improved stance over the conversation as it is suggested to the audience that Paxman holds no real substance to his questioning. In a tactful reply, Paxman puts questioning on hold by making the conclusive statement So you first heard about it on breakfast television yesterday?. After Mays reply no, interruption and the same questioning is then continued, giving the impression of a futility in Theresas avoidance. Paxman later introduces the same question, beginning with Now. This preposition of time shows Paxmans want of immediacy and quickening of pace. This could perhaps be an impatience developing from the interviewee, which would contradict the belief that he has control over the conversation. Another technique Paxman uses is referring to May as a senior member of government. This choice in mode of address reminds the audience of the politicians position. The connotations of power and intellect are intertwined, and thus failure to answer gives the damaging impression to the audience that she is not fitting for her job. Mays perceived level of intellect is again weakened when Paxman asks for the final time my question is, obviously, did you know in advance. The adverb obviously conveys a demeaning tone, and is used to summarise the theme of the interview. Despite this, Theresa May remains relentless in avoiding to give a direct response. Ownership of the conversation is arguably the interviewers as a result of this, yet Paxmans failure to withdraw the desired information perhaps suggests otherwise. Furthermore, when Paxman states you havent tried to give me a date so far, May seizes upon the opportunity to make a humorous response Oh, youre asking me for a date, Jeremy?. This alteration in level of tone is in recognition of the fact the interview has become trivial, and the laughter that follows from both members indicates a transition to informality. As a result, it can be deduced that possession of authority remains disputed. The interjection of humour does however conflict with Lakoffs belief of a lack of sense of humour from women, and thus the appropriateness of theories can be questioned. Conclusion From the two extracts, there is strong evidence to suggest that the ownership of a conversation is very much determined by the use of typical male speech. In data extract one, between two males, the struggle for dominance is apparent, and both members employ a variety of linguistic techniques in order to do gain high ground. Covert prestige and want of status are both seen which conforms to ideas from theorists such as Tannen and Labov. However, more subtle features such as use of personal pronouns were used in gaining authority. In comparison, extract two between Paxman and May shows a more weighted conclusion towards Paxman in ownership. Theresa May, despite successfully avoiding answering Paxman, showed several weaknesses which can be highlighted in her initial response of the extract. Use of hedging and intensifiers revealed insecurity in her position within the interview, and the inability to confront the repetitive questions suggests a defensive position. Consequently, the findings concur with the hypothesis in that male language is used to assert ownership of a conversation. When two males are in conversation, ownership is hard to distinguish whilst between a male and female, analysis suggests it is generally one sided. Overall, the theories do apply to the analysis that is made, but it is inevitable that language traits from both genders will be seen in all speech, as the humour from Theresa May proved. Evaluation The choice of two extracts allowed me to gain an in depth analysis on the language used in more that once case, thus improving the reliability of my findings and allowing me to establish generalisations. However, the level of analysis was limited in that only one male-male extract and one male-female extract was used. It was my intention to include a mixed gender interview, despite the aims being male language orientated, so the effectiveness of male language in asserting authority could be gauged against a control (female language). Yet the use of two extracts means that generalisations cant realistically be drawn from the findings. Use of a third extract would have allowed me to confirm concordance in analysis making the results more valid. Having said this, it can be assumed that interviewers, in this case Jeremy Paxman, do not always dictate the way an interview is conducted, as politicians deviate from questions posed by stating information that helps their political stance, despite this often being irrelevant. This investigation does help contribute to the idea that men still retain an air of dominance in language use, perhaps suggesting men and women are not on a level playing field in the practice of, in this case, politics. However, due to the limitations in the amount of data used, such an assumption is questionable. The fact that women do play a very large part in politics in modern society poses the question are male language traits adopted by females in order to establish equality, or are other techniques used to earn powerful positions. This would be a possible avenue for future research. Some would say the use of language to express an idea is extraneous, but rather it is the significance and quality of the idea that gains a position of authority.

The Debate Over the Clearcutting Method

The Debate Over the Clearcutting Method Clearcutting is a method of harvesting and regenerating trees in which all trees are cleared from a site and a new, even-aged stand of timber is grown. Clearcutting is only one of several methods of timber management and harvest on both private and public forests. However, this single method of harvesting trees has always been controversial but even more so since mid-1960s environmental awareness. Many conservation and citizen groups object to clearcutting on any forest, citing soil and water degradation, unsightly landscapes, and other damages. The wood products industry and mainstream forestry professionals defend clearcutting as an efficient and successful silvicultural system but only used under certain conditions where non-timber issues are not degraded. The choice of clearcutting by forest owners is much dependent upon their objectives. If that objective is for maximum timber production, clearcutting can be financially efficient with lower costs for timber harvesting than other tree harvesting systems. Clearcutting has also proven successful for regenerating stands of certain tree species without damaging the ecosystem. Current Status The Society of American Foresters, an organization that represents mainstream forestry, promotes clearcutting as a method of regenerating an even-aged stand in which a new age class develops in a fully-exposed microclimate after removal, in a single cutting, of all trees in the previous stand. There is some debate about the minimum area that constitutes a clearcut, but typically, areas smaller than 5 acres would be considered patch cuts. Larger cleared forests more easily fall into the classic, forestry defined as clear-cut. Removing trees and forests to convert land to non-forest urban development and rural agriculture would not be considered clearcutting. This is called land conversion - converting the use of land from forest to another type of use. What's All the Fuss About? Clearcutting is not a universally accepted practice. Opponents of the practice of cutting every tree within a specific area contend it degrades the environment. Forestry professionals and resource managers argue that the practice is sound if used properly. In a report written for a major private forest owner publication, three extension specialists, one forestry professor, one assistant dean of a major college of forestry and a state forest health specialist agree that clearcutting is a necessary silvicultural practice. According to the article, a complete clearcut usually creates the best conditions for regenerating stands under certain conditions and should be used when those conditions occur. Check out these clearcut myths and facts developed by the Virginia Department of Forestry (pdf). This is opposed to a commercial clearcut where all trees of marketable species, size, and quality are cut. This process does not take into account any of the concerns addressed by forest ecosystem management. Aesthetics, water quality, and forest diversity  are the main sources of public objection to clearcutting. Unfortunately,  an often disinterested public and casual viewers of forestry activities have overwhelmingly decided that clearcutting is not an acceptable social practice simply by looking at the practice from their car windows. Negative terms like deforestation, plantation forestry, environmental degradation and excess and exploitation are closely associated with clearcutting. I have written a history of how forest ecosystems are now treated by natural resource professionals to include most foresters. Clearcutting in national forests can now only be done if it is used to further the improvement of ecological objectives to include wildlife habitat improvement or to preserve forest health but not for specific economic gain. Pros Proponents of clearcutting suggest that it is a sound practice if the right conditions are met and correct harvest methods used. Here are conditions that can include clearcutting as a harvest tool: When regenerating tree species that need full sunlight to stimulate seed sprouting and seedling growth.When dealing with sparse or exposed or shallow-rooted trees that are in danger of being damaged by  wind.When trying to produce an even-aged stand.When regenerating stands of tree species that are dependent on wind blown seed, root suckers or cones that need fire to drop seed.When faced with salvaging over-mature stands and/or stands killed by insects, disease or fire.When converting to another tree species by planting or seeding.To provide habitat for wildlife species that require edge, new ground and high-density, even-aged stands. Cons Opponents of clearcutting suggest that it is a destructive practice and should never be done. Here are their reasons, although not  every one of these can be supported by current scientific data: A clearcut increases soil erosion, water degradation and increased  silting  in creeks, rivers, and reservoirs.Old growth forests, which have been systematically clearcut, are healthy ecosystems which have evolved over centuries to be more resistant to insects and disease.Clearcutting inhibits sustainability of healthy and holistic forest ecosystems.Aesthetics and quality forest views are compromised by clearcutting.Deforestation and the resulting removal of  tree  from clearcutting  leads  to a plantation forestry mentality and results in environmental degradation.

A bureaucracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

A bureaucracy - Essay Example Specialty is the first characteristic of bureaucracy as outlined by Max Weber. Each employee has official jurisdictional and reinforced areas of work as shown by Office Space in the company Initech. Each clerk has a specialized job description, though some are ranked higher than others, making Weber’s hierarchy of offices the second characteristic of bureaucracy. Lumbergh in the movie was seen as Initech’s head. Weber’s theory would put him at the top of the pyramid. Bureaucracy according to Weber had several different levels of management but very few leaders in a pyramid fashion. With Lumbergh at the top, Peter Gibbons was right below him and was followed downwards by Michael Bolton, Samir and Milton. His position at the bottom of the pyramid meant that Milton had no authority over any employee. Due to this pyramid management, employees hold grudges against higher ranked employees. Lumbergh was particularly menial for his leadership role. Bureaucracy should be regular and follow given rules and regulations. Workers at Initech were even instructed on the type of stapler to use and were required to regularly fill out TPS reports. They were expected to dress nicely except on Hawaiian shirt day, as well as regulate their radio usage, get to work on time and park on designated spots. As Weber puts it, Initech used rules and regulations to thrive and operate in a completely predictable fashion. Weber argues that bureaucracy seeks the ultimate technical competence beyond following rules and regulations. Bob and Bob were hired by Initech to evaluate the technical qualification and specialization of its workers thus needed to evaluate the effectiveness all employees. Bureaucracy is not interested in the employee as a person but rather the employee’s technical competence. Impersonality is confirmed in a bureaucracy’s work area as Weber deduced. Lumbergh was not

Co-sleeping is natural Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Co-sleeping is natural - Research Paper Example Therefore co-sleeping is a standard practice in most parts of the world. Co-sleeping involved bed-sharing amongst infants as well and room-sharing is also based on the same tangents (Petr 2004). At times, co-sleeping is linked very closely with the ailments and health issues that children might have and thus it is best for the parents to be close to their young ones. The close proximity that co-sleeping brings with it is something that one can understand within the thick of things. There are different views on co-sleeping with regards to these healthcare professionals. Some suggest that bed-sharing techniques are against ethical standards and must not be taught to the young ones. Its effectiveness is also questioned at times but generally co-sleeping amongst parents and their young ones who are just babies is not discouraged at all (O’Mara 2007). This is a matter of immense debate because co-sleeping brings together the child with his/her parents and gives him/her the safety and security that is derived through co-sleeping. Some of the advantages related with co-sleeping include the fact that mothers get to sleep more through this phenomenon and breastfeeding than any other way. It is very effective in preventing the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Stress hormones are very less in mothers and the babies who are involved in co-sleeping with their mothers balance this stress hormone cortisol where this control plays a vital part in the healthy growth regimes of the baby (Stearns 1996). There is a good amount of research done which suggests that co-sleeping is effective for the babies and their mothers and that there are more regular heart rhythms as well as less long pauses in breathing patterns when compared to the babies who sleep alone (Carskadon 2002). Co-sleeping is effective when parents are more vigilant about their kids. They must know that their

THE LECTORAL SYSTEM OF GERMANY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 10000 words

THE LECTORAL SYSTEM OF GERMANY - Essay Example The parliament is usually given fourteen days to elect its chancellor officially after the final election results. Normally, elections happen after every four years and the same process begins all over again. There are no by-elections in Germany - if members of the Bundestag die or resign in office, those next on the list of the party in the appropriate State/Land automatically succeed them (Welle, 2009, para13). 30 Like all countries in Western Europe that have adopted the proportional system, Germany has more than twenty percent female parliamentarians, which clearly indicates a strong correlation between the type of electoral system and the level of female representation. As expounded earlier on, Germany uses a mixed or double electoral system with both a proportional representation system and single member constituencies and each of them selects half of the Bundestag members. However, the election of the majority of German female politicians is through the proportional representation list. Unlike in other countries such as the United Kingdom where voters and local parties object to having imposition of all-women shortlists on them, the list system in Germany has enabled parties to increase the proportion of female members of parliament in the Bundestag quickly.   38 The system of proportional representation also includes a quota that requires from each province, a minimum of two female delegates. This means that the parliament body will be at least twenty-five percent women. In full representation, there is an increase in the access of greater number of candidates. Sun argues that holding all other factors constant, under proportional representation system, the likelihood of electing women is almost twice as compared to majoritarian systems. Furthermore, under full representation system, measures such as quotas for minimum number of candidates aimed at increasing the representation of women are much easier to implement since the

Internet Usages Affect People's Tourism Booking And Decision-making Essay

Internet Usages Affect People's Tourism Booking And Decision-making - Essay Example This report stresses that most people prefer internet travel planning and booking due to its efficiency. It offers more information and costs lesser than a travel agency. It also has no time limit for information search and one can see videos or movies of the chosen destination. The internet is also non-stop available hence one can access the information from anywhere with internet access. One can compare offers quickly and at the same time find opinions of other persons since the internet provides some degree of freedom. This paper makes a conclusion that internet travel planning and booking also has its disadvantages. The website is not able to distinguish between cheap and best value ,for example a room may be deemed as cheap whereas it does not fit the client’s expectations. The internet websites do not understand the clients. The client often does not know what they are getting themselves into. Unlike a travel agent who can know what the client can and cannot put up with, the internet is not able to know. The internet websites are also not proactive. This implies that they do not understand the clients and they do not offer the best value but just raw price. Websites cannot be able to look into the whites of the eyes. An agent can use their skills to read an itinerary, to understand it, analyze any real issues and then communicate them to the client. This study shows that an increasing number is turning to social media to help them with the research.

Media in China Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Media in China - Term Paper Example This is entirely wrong. The Chinese people have revered the color red since ancient times . . . The color red represents life, vitality, youth, ardor, brightness, vividness, strength, fullness of life force. (Bandurski, 2011, para. 14) In a press conference last week, Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan announced that CTV could expect to lose 300 million yuan in advertising revenues due to its â€Å"red† makeover. The city will reportedly subsidize its local television channels under CTV at a rate of 150 million yuan. Purpose of the Study CTV’s revolutionary reform comes at a time when neoliberalism and the commercialization of media are the dominant and overwhelming platforms on which China is making its ascension atop the global economy. While the party-state has maintained its firm grip, and is gradually modernizing its methods of control, market forces have permeated and transformed every aspect of the media system. Party-state power is increasingly converging with the powe r of capital in the Chinese media through a series of intertwined processes of accommodation, appropriation, state-engineered market consolidation, and selective incorporation of private and foreign media capital (Zhao, 2004, p. 1). This fusion of party-state and market power has resulted in a media system that preserves the well being of the country’s political and economical elite, while silencing and marginalizing any and all opposition (Zhao, 2004). As a result, journalists avoid revealing conflicting stories to maintain social balance. The issue of media and openness must be understood in terms of elite and popular politics and reconstituted class and power relations. It has become institutionalized to avoid coverage of domestic... CTV’s revolutionary reform comes at a time when neoliberalism and the commercialization of media are the dominant and overwhelming platforms on which China is making its ascension atop the global economy.   While the party-state has maintained its firm grip and is gradually modernizing its methods of control, market forces have permeated and transformed every aspect of the media system. Party-state power is increasingly converging with the power of capital in the Chinese media through a series of intertwined processes of accommodation, appropriation, state-engineered market consolidation, and selective incorporation of private and foreign media capital (Zhao, 2004, p. 1). This fusion of party-state and market power has resulted in a media system that preserves the well being of the country’s political and economic elite while silencing and marginalizing any and all opposition (Zhao, 2004). As a result, journalists avoid revealing conflicting stories to maintain social balance. The issue of media and openness must be understood in terms of elite and popular politics and reconstituted class and power relations. It has become institutionalized to avoid coverage of domestic social conflicts, and focus on entertainment and stocks, for financial rewarding in a market is driven media system. Due to a vested interest in the stability of Chinese media, major US media conglomerates will protect that investment through biased and subjective media coverage to suppress social threats from lower classes.  CTV’s revolutionary reform comes at a time when neoliberalism and the commercialization of media are the dominant and overwhelming platforms on which China is making its ascension atop the global economy.   While the party-state has maintained its firm grip and is gradually modernizing its methods of control, market forces have permeated and transformed every aspect of the media system. Party-state power is increasingly converging with the power o f capital in the Chinese media through a series of intertwined processes of accommodation, appropriation, state-engineered market consolidation, and selective incorporation of private and foreign media capital (Zhao, 2004, p. 1). This fusion of party-state and market power has resulted in a media system that preserves the well being of the country’s political and economic elite while silencing and marginalizing any and all opposition (Zhao, 2004). As a result, journalists avoid revealing conflicting stories to maintain social balance. The issue of media and openness must be understood in terms of elite and popular politics and reconstituted class and power relations. It has become institutionalized to avoid coverage of domestic social conflicts, and focus on entertainment and stocks, for financial rewarding in a market is driven media system. Due to a vested interest in the stability of Chinese media, major US media conglomerates will protect that investment through biased an d subjective media coverage to suppress social threats from lower classes.  

Internet Usages Affect People's Tourism Booking And Decision-making Essay

Internet Usages Affect People's Tourism Booking And Decision-making - Essay Example This report stresses that most people prefer internet travel planning and booking due to its efficiency. It offers more information and costs lesser than a travel agency. It also has no time limit for information search and one can see videos or movies of the chosen destination. The internet is also non-stop available hence one can access the information from anywhere with internet access. One can compare offers quickly and at the same time find opinions of other persons since the internet provides some degree of freedom. This paper makes a conclusion that internet travel planning and booking also has its disadvantages. The website is not able to distinguish between cheap and best value ,for example a room may be deemed as cheap whereas it does not fit the client’s expectations. The internet websites do not understand the clients. The client often does not know what they are getting themselves into. Unlike a travel agent who can know what the client can and cannot put up with, the internet is not able to know. The internet websites are also not proactive. This implies that they do not understand the clients and they do not offer the best value but just raw price. Websites cannot be able to look into the whites of the eyes. An agent can use their skills to read an itinerary, to understand it, analyze any real issues and then communicate them to the client. This study shows that an increasing number is turning to social media to help them with the research.

The impact of the internet on plagiarism in student papers Annotated Bibliography

The impact of the internet on plagiarism in student papers - Annotated Bibliography Example In the above report, the authors identify the online research behaviors of teenagers in the modern digital world. Among other things, the authors identify the types of information easily obtained by students online. Among the examples given include online encyclopedia, e-books, and news sites among others. This is an extensive research that helps to fully uncover the types of materials available on the internet today used by students. The research is based on an online survey of more than 2400 teachers in the US. The major limitation is that the authors do not focus on how students use these materials to plagiarize. Carpenter, J et al (2012). Researchers of Tomorrow: the research behavior of Generation Y doctoral students. Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) of the Higher Education Funding Council (HEFCE). Pp. 1-83. Retrieved on 12 April 2014 from http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/reports/2012/researchers-of-tomorrow.aspx#finding This report attempted to evaluate the research behavior of doctoral students born between 1982 and 1994 in the United Kingdom. This is a through and detailed research in which 17000 students took part in the three year study. The results help understand some of the online sources of information used by students, and these include video recording, news articles, e-books and e-journals among others. The limitation of the study is that the authors did not evaluate how these doctoral students use these online sources to committee plagiarism. In addition, the research was only based in UK, and therefore the results obtained may not be a fair reflection of this trend in other institutions. Conradson, S & Pedro H (2004). Computers, the internet, and cheating among secondary school students: some implications for educators.  Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 9(9). Retrieved April 12, 2014 from http://PAREonline.net/getvn.asp?v=9&n=9 This article evaluates how computers and the internet have contributed to cheating

Assessment Of Learning Essay Example for Free

Assessment Of Learning Essay Assessment of learning refers to strategies designed to confirm what students know, demonstrate whether or not they have met curriculum outcomes or the goals of their individualized programs, or to certify proficiency and make decisions about students’ future programs or placements. It is designed to provide evidence of achievement to parents, other educators, the students themselves, and sometimes to outside groups (e. g. , employers, other educational institutions). Assessment of learning is the assessment that becomes public and results in statements or symbols about how well students are learning. It often  contributes to pivotal decisions that will affect students’ futures. It is important, then, that the underlying logic and measurement of assessment of learning be credible and defensible. TEACHERS’ ROLES IN ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING Because the consequences of assessment of learning are often far-reaching and affect students seriously, teachers have the responsibility of reporting student learning accurately and fairly, based on evidence obtained from a variety of contexts and applications. Effective assessment of learning requires that teachers provide †¢ a rationale for undertaking a particular assessment of learning at a particular  point in time †¢ clear descriptions of the intended learning †¢ processes that make it possible for students to demonstrate their competence and skill †¢ a range of alternative mechanisms for assessing the same outcomes †¢ public and defensible reference points for making judgements Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind. †¢55 The purpose of assessment that typically comes at the end of a course or unit of instruction is to determine the extent to which the instructional goals have been achieved and for grading or certification of student achievement. (Linn and Gronlund, Measurement and Assessment in Teaching ) Reflection: Think about an example of assessment of learning in your own teaching and try to develop it further as you read this chapter. 56 †¢ Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind Chapter 5 †¢ transparent approaches to interpretation †¢ descriptions of the assessment process †¢ strategies for recourse in the event of disagreement about the decisions With the help of their teachers, students can look forward to assessment of learning tasks as occasions to show their competence, as well as the depth and breadth of their learning. PLANNING ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING. The purpose of assessment of learning is to measure, certify, and report the level  of students’ learning, so that reasonable decisions can be made about students. There are many potential users of the information: †¢ teachers (who can use the information to communicate with parents about their children’s proficiency and progress) †¢ parents and students (who can use the results for making educational and vocational decisions) †¢ potential employers and post-secondary institutions (who can use the information to make decisions about hiring or acceptance) †¢ principals, district or divisional administrators, and teachers (who can use the information to review and revise programming). Assessment of learning requires the collection and interpretation of information about students’ accomplishments in important curricular areas, in ways that represent the nature and complexity of the intended learning. Because genuine learning for understanding is much more than just recognition or recall of facts or algorithms, assessment of learning tasks need to enable students to show the complexity of their understanding. Students need to be able to apply key concepts, knowledge, skills, and attitudes in ways that are authentic and consistent with current thinking in the knowledge domain. What am I  assessing? Why am I assessing? Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind †¢ 57 Assessment of Learning In assessment of learning, the methods chosen need to address the intended curriculum outcomes and the continuum of learning that is required to reach the outcomes. The methods must allow all students to show their understanding and produce sufficient information to support credible and defensible statements about the nature and quality of their learning, so that others can use the results in appropriate ways. Assessment of learning methods include not only tests and examinations, but  also a rich variety of products and demonstrations of learning—portfolios, exhibitions, performances, presentations, simulations, multimedia projects, and a variety of other written, oral, and visual methods (see Fig. 2. 2, Assessment Tool Kit, page 17). What assessment method should I use? Graduation Portfolios Graduation portfolios are a requirement for graduation from British Columbia and Yukon Senior Years schools. These portfolios comprise collections (electronic or printed) of evidence of students’ accomplishments at school, home, and in the community, including demonstrations of  their competence in skills that are not measured in examinations. Worth four credits toward graduation, the portfolios begin in Grade 10 and are completed by the end of Grade 12. The following are some goals of graduation portfolios: †¢ Students will adopt an active and reflective role in planning, managing, and assessing their learning. †¢ Students will demonstrate learning that complements intellectual development and course-based learning. †¢ Students will plan for successful transitions beyond Grade 12. Graduation portfolios are prepared at the school level and are based on specific Ministry criteria and standards. Students use the criteria and standards as guides for planning, collecting, and presenting their evidence, and for self-assessing. Teachers use the criteria and standards to assess student evidence and assign marks. There are three major components of a graduation portfolio: 1. Portfolio Core (30 percent of the mark). Students must complete requirements in the following six portfolio organizers: arts and design (respond to an art, performance, or design work); community involvement and responsibility (participate co-operatively and respectfully in a  service activity); education and career planning (complete a graduation transition plan); employability skills (complete 30 hours of work or volunteer experience); information technology (use information technology skills); personal health (complete 80 hours of moderate to intense physical activity). 2. Portfolio Choice (50 percent of the mark). Students expand on the above areas, choosing additional evidence of their achievements. 3. Portfolio Presentation (20 percent of the mark). Students celebrate their learning and reflect at the end of the portfolio process. ( Portfolio Assessment and Focus Areas: A Program Guide  ) 58 †¢ Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind Chapter 5 Assessment of learning needs to be very carefully constructed so that the information upon which decisions are made is of the highest quality. Assessment of learning is designed to be summative, and to produce defensible and accurate descriptions of student competence in relation to defined outcomes and, occasionally, in relation to other students’ assessment results. Certification of students’ proficiency should be based on a rigorous, reliable, valid, and equitable process of assessment and evaluation. Reliability  Reliability in assessment of learning depends on how accurate, consistent, fair, and free from bias and distortion the assessment is. Teachers might ask themselves: †¢ Do I have enough information about the learning of this particular student to make a definitive statement? †¢ Was the information collected in a way that gives all students an equal chance to show their learning? †¢ Would another teacher arrive at the same conclusion? †¢ Would I make the same decision if I considered this information at another time or in another way? Reference Points Typically, the reference points for assessment of learning are the learning  outcomes as identified in the curriculum that make up the course of study. Assessment tasks include measures of these learning outcomes, and a student’s performance is interpreted and reported in relation to these learning outcomes. In some situations where selection decisions need to be made for limited positions (e. g. , university entrance, scholarships, employment opportunities), assessment of learning results are used to rank students. In such norm-referenced situations, what is being measured needs to be clear, and the way it is being measured needs to be transparent to anyone who might use the assessment  results. Validity Because assessment of learning results in statements about students’ proficiency in wide areas of study, assessment of learning tasks must reflect the key knowledge, concepts, skills, and dispositions set out in the curriculum, and the statements and inferences that emerge must be upheld by the evidence collected. How can I ensure quality in this assessment process? Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind †¢ 59 Assessment of Learning Record-Keeping Whichever approaches teachers choose for assessment of learning, it is their records that provide details about the quality of the measurement. Detailed records of the various components of the assessment of learning are essential, with a description of what each component measures, with what accuracy and against what criteria and reference points, and should include supporting evidence related to the outcomes as justification. When teachers keep records that are detailed and descriptive, they are in an excellent position to provide meaningful reports to parents and others. Merely a symbolic representation of a student’s accomplishments (e. g. , a letter grade or percentage) is inadequate. Reports to parents and others should identify the  intended learning that the report covers, the assessment methods used to gather the supporting information, and the criteria used to make the judgement. Feedback to Students Because assessment of learning comes most often at the end of a unit or learning cycle, feedback to students has a less obvious effect on student learning than assessment for learning and assessment as learning. Nevertheless, students do Ho w can I use the information from this assessment? Guidelines for Grading. 1. Use curriculum learning outcomes or some clustering of these (e. g. , strands) as the basis for grading. 2.Make sure that the meaning of grades comes from clear descriptions of curriculum outcomes and standards. If students achieve the outcome, they get the grade. (NO bell curves! ) 3. Base grades only on individual achievement of the targeted learning outcomes. Report effort, participation, and attitude, for example, separately, unless they are a stated curriculum outcome. Any penalties (e. g. , for late work, absences), if used, should not distort achievement or motivation. 4. Sample student performance using a variety of methods. Do not include all assessments in grades. Provide ongoing feedback on formative  performance using words, rubrics, or checklists, not grades. 5. Keep records in pencil so they can be updated easily to take into consideration more recent achievement. Provide second-chance assessment opportunities (or more). Students should receive the highest, most consistent mark, not an average mark for multiple opportunities. 6. Crunch numbers carefully, if at all. Consider using the median, mode, or statistical measures other than the mean. Weight components within the final grade to ensure that the intended importance is given to each learning outcome. 7. Make sure that each assessment meets quality standards (e.g. , there should be clear targets, clear purpose, appropriate target-method match, appropriate sampling, and absence of bias and distortion) and is properly recorded and maintained (e. g. , in portfolios, at conferences, on tracking sheets). 8. Discuss and involve students in grading at the beginning and throughout the teaching and learning process. (Adapted from O’Connor, How to Grade for Learning ) Resource: Marzano, Transforming Classroom Grading 60 †¢ Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind Chapter 5 rely on their marks and on teachers’ comments as indicators of their level of  success, and to make decisions about their future learning endeavours. Differentiating Learning In assessment of learning, differentiation occurs in the assessment itself. It would make little sense to ask a near-sighted person to demonstrate driving proficiency without glasses. When the driver uses glasses, it is possible for the examiner to get an accurate picture of the driver’s ability, and to certify him or her as proficient. In much the same way, differentiation in assessment of learning requires that the necessary accommodations be in place that allow students to make the particular learning visible.  Multiple forms of assessment offer multiple pathways for making student learning transparent to the teacher. A particular curriculum outcome requirement, such as an understanding of the social studies notion of conflict, for example, might be demonstrated through visual, oral, dramatic, or written representations. As long as writing were not an explicit component of the outcome, students who have difficulties with written language, for example, would then have the same opportunity to demonstrate their learning as other students. Although assessment of learning does not always lead teachers to differentiate  instruction or resources, it has a profound effect on the placement and promotion of students and, consequently, on the nature and differentiation of the future instruction and programming that students receive. Therefore, assessment results need to be accurate and detailed enough to allow for wise recommendations. Reporting There are many possible approaches to reporting student proficiency. Reporting assessment of learning needs to be appropriate for the audiences for whom it is intended, and should provide all of the information necessary for them to make reasoned decisions. Regardless of the form of the reporting,however, it should be honest, fair, and provide sufficient detail and contextual information so that it can be clearly understood. Traditional reporting, which relies only on a student’s average score, provides little information about that student’s skill development or knowledge. One alternate mechanism, which recognizes many forms of success and provides a profile of a student’s level of performance on an emergent-proficient continuum, is the parent- student-teacher conference. This forum provides parents with a great deal of information, and reinforces students’ responsibility for their learning. The Communication System Continuum: From Symbols to Conversations (O’Connor, How to Grade for Learning ) Grades Report cards (grades and brief comments) Infrequent informal communications Parent-teacher interviews Report cards with expanded comments Frequent informal communication Student-involved conferencing Student-led conferencing Reflection: What forms do your reports of student proficiency take? How do these differ according to audience? Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind †¢ 61 Assessment of Learning An Example of Assessment of Learning  Elijah was interested in assessing student mastery of both the modern and the traditional skills required for survival in the Nunavut environment where he teaches. The overarching theme of survival is taught in the early grades and culminates at the senior level in a course delivered in Inuktitut. Students learn how to take care of themselves and others, and how to adapt what they know to the situation at hand. Survival requires not only skills and knowledge, but also a concept the Inuit people call qumiutit, or the ability in an emergency situation to pull out of stored memory information that will enable a person to cope, not panic. Traditionally, this was learned in a holistic manner, grounded in Inuit traditional guiding principles that were nurtured and developed from birth, and taught and reinforced in daily living. Throughout the term, Elijah took his students to an outdoor area to practise on-the-land survival activities, using both traditional and modern methods. He always took with him a knowledgeable Elder who could give the students the information they needed to store away in case of emergency. The students watched demonstrations of a skill a number of times. Each student then practised on his or her own, as Elijah and the Elder observed and assisted. Elijah knew that students need to have a high level of expertise in the survival skills appropriate for the northern natural environment. Elijah assessed each student on each survival skill (e. g. , making fire the traditional way, tying the knots required for the qamutik cross-pieces on a sled). What am I assessing? I am assessing each student’s performance of traditional and modern survival skills. Why am I assessing? I want to know which survival skills each s tudent has mastered and their readiness to s urvive in the natural environment. 62 †¢ Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind  Chapter 5 Elijah knew that the best way to determine if students have mastered the skills is to have them perform them. When students believed they were ready, Elijah created an opportunity for them to demonstrate the mastered skill to a group of Elders, who then (individually, then in consensus) determined if the performance was satisfactory. A student’s competence in a survival skill is often demonstrated by an end product. For example, competence in knot tying is demonstrated by a knot that serves its purpose, and competence in fire building is demonstrated by a fire that is robust. As the Elders judged each student’s performance of the skills, Elijah recorded the results. He shared the information with each student and his or her parents in a final report, as shown here. Ho w can I use the informatio n from this assessment? Now that I know which skills each of the students has mastered, I can report this information to the s tudents and their parents. I can use this information to identify a learning path for each s tudent. How can I ensure quality in this assessment process? Ensuring quality with this approach involves clear criteria: either the student performs the skill s uccessfully or does not. I need to provide adequate opportunities for the s tudent to demonstrate the skills under various conditions and at various times. What assessment method should I use? I need an approach in which students can demonstrate the traditional survival skills that they learned. The method I choose should also allow me to identify which skills they did not master. Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind †¢ 63 Assessment of Learning Shelters: †¢ emergency shelters †¢ igloo building4 †¢ qamaq5 †¢ tents Transportation needs: †¢ making the knots required for the qamutik cross pieces on a sled †¢ building a kayak/umiak. †¢ fixing a snowmobile (spark plugs, repairing track, drive belt) †¢ keeping a boat seaworthy Navigational issues: †¢ reading the land †¢ reading the sky †¢ understanding seasonal variations †¢ reading inuksuit †¢ using GPS †¢ map reading Preparation for land travel: †¢ packing a qamutiq (sled) †¢ load, balance †¢ necessities: snow knife, rope, food, water, heat source †¢ letting others know where you are going †¢ necessary tools, supplies, snowmobile parts, fuel †¢ using communication devices Food sources: †¢ plants and their nutritional properties †¢ hunting, skinning, and cutting up seal, caribou, etc. †¢ kinds of food to take on the land,  and their nutritional properties ____________________ 4. Expertise in igloo building includes understanding of types of snow, the shape and fit of blocks, and the use of a snow- knife. 5. A qamaq is a rounded house, built of scrap wood or bones, and covered with skins, cardboard, or canvas. Report on Survival Skills Student: _______________________________________________ Date: _______________________ Traditional Survival Skills Modern Survival Skills Adaptability to the Seasons Attitude Success Next Steps 1) Skills Building a fire / means of keeping warm: †¢ fuel sources †¢ getting a spark †¢ propane heaters, stoves †¢ clothing. 2) Relationship to the Seasons Assessing conditions / recognizing danger signs: †¢ seasonal changes †¢ land changes †¢ water changes †¢ wind changes †¢ weather changes Climatic changes: †¢ weather changes and how this affects the land and water †¢ knowledge of animals and their characteristics and behaviours 3) Attitudinal Influences (Having the right attitude to learn) †¢ respect for the environment (cleaning up a campsite upon leaving, dealing with the remains of an animal, not over-hunting/fishing) †¢ respect for Elders and their knowledge †¢ ability to learn from Elders 64 †¢ Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind Chapter 5. Elijah’s report identified which of the students had mastered the specified skills required to survive in the Nunavut environment. It outlined other areas (such as adaptability to the seasons and attitudinal influences) about which peers, parents, and family members would need to provide input before a comprehensive assessment could be made. The assessment also identified those students not yet ready to survive in the natural environment. But the Elders did not stop working with the students who did not reach mastery. Elders see learning as an individual path in which skills, knowledge, and attitudes are acquired along the way. If a particular skill was beyond the capability of a student, the Elders identified other areas where that person could contribute to the common good of the community, and was accepted for the gifts he or she brought to the group. In this way, the Elders helped Elijah differentiate the learning path for each of his students. SUMMARY OF PLANNING ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING Assessment for Learning Assessment as Learning Assessment of Learning Why Assess? to enable teachers to determine next steps in advancing student learning to guide and provide opportunities for each student to monitor and critically reflect on his or her learning, and  identify next steps Assess What? Each student’s progress and learning needs in relation to the curricular outcomes each student’s thinking about his or her learning, what strategies he or she uses to support or challenge that learning, and the mechanisms he or she uses to adjust and advance his or her learning What Methods? a range of methods in different modes that make students’ skills and understanding visible a range of methods in different modes that elicit students’ learning and metacognitive processes Ensuring Quality †¢ accuracy and consistency of observations and interpretations of student learning. †¢ clear, detailed learning expectations †¢ accurate, detailed notes for descriptive feedback to each student †¢ accuracy and consistency of student’s self-reflection, self-monitoring, and self-adjustment †¢ engagement of the student in considering and challenging his or her thinking †¢ students record their own learning Using the Information †¢ provide each student with accurate descriptive feedback to further his or her learning †¢ differentiate instruction by continually checking where each student is in relation to the curricular outcomes †¢ provide parents or guardians with descriptive feedback about student  learning and ideas for support. †¢ provide each student with accurate descriptive feedback that will help him or her develop independent learning habits †¢ have each student focus on the task and his or her learning (not on getting the right answer) †¢ provide each student with ideas for adjusting, rethinking, and articulating his or her learning †¢ provide the conditions for the teacher and student to discuss alternatives †¢ students report about their learning Rethinking Classroom Assessment with Purpose in Mind. †¢ 65 Assessment of Learning to certify or inform parents or others of student’s proficiency in  relation to curriculum learning outcomes the extent to which students can apply the key concepts, knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to the curricular outcomes a range of methods in different modes that assess both product and process †¢ accuracy, consistency, and fairness of judgements based on high-quality information †¢ clear, detailed learning expectations †¢ fair and accurate summative reporting †¢ indicate each student’s level of learning †¢ provide the foundation for discussions on placement or promotion †¢ report fair, accurate, and detailed information that can be used to decide the next steps in a student’s learning.

Renewable Energy Sources In Malaysia

Renewable Energy Sources In Malaysia Today, energy challenge turned out to be a grave threat to sustainable development in developing countries since their energy needs is increasing more quickly than advanced countries. On the other side, fossil fuel combustion cannot maintain longer in the foreseeable future because of the environmental impact and the reduction of resources. Malaysia is experiencing dramatic growth of population and the economy and need to search for options energy sources in support of its inhabitants and business energy needs. Fourth-largest energy source in the world is biomass and was rich in the countries. Malaysia blessed with the tropical forests and moist climate all the year round which is a wonderful opportunity for full exploitation of agricultural and tropical rain forests possible. Term of waste-to-wealth has been started at the end of 1990, and it has become common. This idea is based on undesirable waste that is converted into useful energy while minimizing waste generation and to increase the economic-impact used primarily for cooking, for heating and electricity. Presently, coordinated attempts and different biomass energy plans are persuaded by the government for growth, commercialization and demonstration. This studys purpose to this present state and perspectives of the biomass use and strategy promoted to the future development of Malaysia. Keywords: Renewable Energy biomass potential Policy Sustainable Malaysia Introduction Malaysia covers a landmass of 329,847 square kilometers which consist of two regions; Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo which are separated by the South China Sea [1]. With its population growth of 1.7% 1.6% per annum [2], Malaysia is heading to its governments vision to become a humane industrialized country by year 2020 and with such ambitious vision, the growth of Science and Technology is continuously developing hence contributing to increase need of energy [3]. Malaysia relies on non-renewable energy and is currently venturing into renewable energy. There are a number of identified renewable energy sources ; for example solar power, hydro power, oil palm biomass and waste materials [4] which are being used and further studies are being conducted to improve its quality and performance. The usage of renewable energy has contributed to reduced pollutions to the environment, cost saving cheaper source of energy [5], and does not reduce the natural sources [6]. As a developing country, Malaysias population continues to grow and live increasingly energy dependent lives the future of energy supply is growing. This paper is revised the present potentials of energy resources especially biomass and then the future contributions to the national energy generation in Malaysia. Information Analysis Energy crisis is becoming a serious threat to sustainability mainly in developing countries and communities of the last decades. Between 1990 and 2000, the Asia Pacifics developing countries met 27% increase in conventional energy consumption whereas the consumption of world energy was 11% [7]. Growing in the energy demand is predicted to continue in the future. Fossil fuels have been the main source of energy since first sparks of technology appeared in mankind lives, however, depletion of fossil fuel reserves as well as significant environmental impacts, leads the governments and authorities to focus on renewable energy resources. In most recent years, demand for petroleum-derived fuels is increasing as a result of grow in population and economy [8]. The contemporary Malaysian economy is a net energy exporter with 11% of export income in 2004 derived from crude oil, LNG and petroleum products [9]. The final energy demand of Malaysia is expected to grow at 2.9% per year, reaching 69.39 MTOEÂ  [1]Â   in 2020, nearly double the 2002 level. The industry sector will have the highest growth rate of energy demand at 3.38%, followed by transport at 2.74%, residential at 1.86% and commercial at 1.14%, as shown in Fig.1 [10]. Fig.1. Predictions of Malaysian energy demand by sector (1980-2020) [11] Energy position in Malaysia Malaysia produces and utilizes both conventional and renewable sources of energy. The largest conventional energy resource found in Malaysia is petroleum (i.e. oil and gas). According to the Oil Gas Journal (OGJ), Malaysia held proven oil reserves of 4 billion barrels as of January 2010, and its oil reserves are reported to be the third highest in the Asia-Pacific region. Malaysia was the worlds tenth largest holder of natural gas reserves in 2010 and the second largest exporter of liquefied natural gas after Qatar in 2009. OGJ states that Malaysia held 83 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves as of January 2010. Coal deposits can also be found in Malaysia. However, only a small percentage is being mined [12]. Malaysia is a significant oil and natural gas producer and is strategically located amid important routes for the seaborne energy trade. Malaysias oil reserves are the third highest in the Asia-Pacific region after China and India. Fig.2. The electric power generated by different sectors in Malaysia (in 2009) (Source: trading economics) [13] It is evident that Malaysia is still very much dependent on fossil fuels in all its commercial energy demand and electricity generation (Table 2). Table2. Percentage of electricity generation based on fuel types [14] Year Coal (%) Petroleum (%) Gas (%) Hydro (%) 1994 9.30 22.30 51.70 16.70 2000 15.00 5.00 70.00 10.00 2010 18.00 2.00 50.00 30.00 2020 29.00 1.00 40.00 30.00 The most important sources supplies were crude oil and petroleum products and then followed by the natural gas. It can be stated that the total supply of energy is increased gradually from 1978 to 2013 (Fig.3). In 2013, the percentage of crude oil and petroleum products descending to under 10 % but the percentage of natural gas is ascending to just over 62 %. Although crude oil and petroleum had contributed the largest percentage of total amount supply, an increase in the usage of coal and coke had reduced the annual growth rate of oil supply. The contribution of the other sources whereas had remained the same. The cost effective, quality, reliability, and security supply need to be considered to produce optimal energy mix from domestic sources. The international market price of crude oil is projected to remain high so that alternative approaches need to be make to reduce the dependency on petroleum products. Fig.3. Fuel mix trend in power generation in Malaysia [15] Renewable energy resources The most important sources of renewable energy in Malaysia are biomass and solar and sustainable use of energy has been emphasized in the countrys development plans and supported by Government initiatives. Under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the Government will be introducing the feed-in tariff (FiT) of 1% to be incorporated into the electricity tariffs of consumers to support the development of renewable energy (Fig.4). 330 MW Biomass Biogas Mini-hydro Solar PV Solid Waste 100 MW 290 MW 65 MW 200 MW 41.5 23 X 2015 2009 5.5 % % of total electricity generated Planned increase in renewable energy capacity Fig.4. Moving towards renewable energy replaces the need for fossil-fuel power plants [16] Solar power The RE sector is fast gaining ground as a new growth area for many countries with the potential it presents environmentally and economically. It plays a major role in meeting energy needs, making it possible for businesses to reap energy cost savings while combating global warming. Currently, Malaysia is world the third largest producer of solar cells after China and Germany (Fig.5). Malaysia already has companies across the entire value chain, from silicon production to solar cell manufacturing and module assembly. With the committed amount of fund for the rolling out of the first FiT incentive for 2012 2014, Malaysia is on the right direction to achieve a targeted revenue of at least RM70 billion from the private sector by 2020. Fig.5. Predicted solar manufacturing from 2006 to 2020 by different regions [17] Predicted to be a clean energy of the future, solar energy has been at the forefront of power development in the developed countries and a possible source of energy for developing countries similar to Malaysia. This paper introduces Malaysias solar energy or solar photovoltaic development prospects. The study was carried out by first searching in the countrys energy policy linked to solar power. Key players in solar power development as government organizations are presented. Initial solar energy programs and key projects entitled Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic (MBIPV) and the successful initiatives will be submitted. Measures that adopted by the government of Malaysia include appealing incentives to promote solar photovoltaic development, solar energy potentials of the country, foreign investment and the future direction and the feed-in tariff plan will be submitted with a length provide a wide range of solar power development in Malaysia. The prospects were positive and the country was actively promoting solar as alternative energy sources and aware of the benefits it bring for economy development in future [18]. Hydropower Hydropower is the only renewable energy technology that is presently commercially viable on a large scale. It has four major advantages, namely it is renewable, it produces negligible amounts of greenhouse gases, it is the least costly way of storing large amounts of electricity, and it can easily adjust the amount of electricity produced to the amount demanded by consumers. Hydropower accounts for about 17% of global generation capacity and about 20% of the energy produced each year [19]. Malaysia has a total land mass of 332,000 km2 and its mean elevation is about 300m. The average rainfall is slightly more than 2,600mm per year. The total gross hydro potential is 414,000 GWh/year, of which about 85,000 GWh/year is available in Peninsular Malaysia. Hence, whilst Peninsular Malaysia has 39% of the land area, its share of hydropower resources is only slightly more than 20% [20]. Tenaga Nasional Berhad operates three hydroelectric schemes in the peninsular with an installed generating capacity of 1,911 megawatts (MW). They are the Sungai Perak (1249 MW), Terengganu (400 MW) and Cameron Highlands (262 MW) hydroelectric schemes with 21 dams in operation. A number of Independent Power Producers also own and operate several small hydro plants. At present, hydro power is the only renewable energy source in Malaysia that is considered to be economically viable on a large scale. As for future hydro development in Peninsular Malaysia, several projects have been identified and studied at feasibility and pre-feasibility levels. These potential projects have to compete with alternative energy sources such as coal and gas in terms of economic viability. Wind The potential for wind energy generation in Malaysia depend on the availability of wind resource that varies with location. Understanding the site specific nature of wind is a crucial step in planning wind energy project. Detailed knowledge of wind on site is needed to estimate the performance of wind energy project. Average wind speeds are low in Malaysia and harnessing wind energy is only practical on remote islands or east coast states of peninsular Malaysia where the wind may reach 30 knots or more during periods of strong surges of cold air from the north. 30 knots is equivalent to about 15.4 m/s, which is about 55 km/h. However, application of wind energy at Malaysia can be used widely if the turbine can operate in country average wind speed which is 3-5 m/s. There was some study [21] done successfully to produce the electricity that suitable with wind condition of Malaysia, classified as low wind speed wind turbine. The northwest coast of Sabah and Sarawak region also potential to application of wind energy due to strength wind that reach 20 knot or more [22]. Due to maximum wind can be obtained during monsoon season which is between Octobers to March, the hybrid system of wind energy is feasible to compliment electricity supply during monsoon season. The first wind farm in Malaysia was set up on Terumbu Layang-Layang Island, Sabah. A Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia study in 2005 has shown that the use of 150 kW turbine on the island has shown a good degree of success [23]. This study mentioned that Terumbu Layang-Layang Island has the largest wind energy potential compared to other places in Malaysia. Tidal energy is also promising renewable energy source available in Malaysia. Until recently, a preliminary study was carried out to explore the potential of ocean energy for electricity generation in Malaysia [24]. Study by Ref. [25], identified that Pulau Jambangan, Kota Belud and Sibu are the locations with great potential for tidal energy extraction. The total amount of electricity that can be generated on those locations is about 14.5 GWh/year. Biomass Nowadays, biomass is regarded as one of the primary sources of energy in the developing and developed countries. Malaysia with a large quantity of biomass waste as a source of power generation is considered as one of the possible countries in this area [26]. Oil palm is one of the main economic plants in the large number of countries. Malaysia alone generates about 47% of the global palm-oil supplies and can be regarded as the worlds leading manufacturer and exporter of oil palm. Malaysia also produces great quantities the oil palm biomass as oil coconut stems, oil palm leaves, blank product bundles, shells and fibres as waste from palm-oil product harvesting and oil extraction treatment. At now there is a constantly growing interest in the use the oil palm biomass of the source of cleaner energy. One of the main interests is hydrogen fuel from oil palm biomass. Hydrogen from biomass is clean and effective source of energy and is expected to make a major role in the future energy needs because of the raw material availability [27]. There are different types of thermo-chemical processing to convert the oil palm biomass to hydrogen wealthy petrol. Fig. 6 shows the cultivated area for oil palm in Malaysia (divided into three categories, i.e. Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak) within 34 years. The total oil palm planted area in the country increased by 4.5% to 4.69 million ha in 2009 [28]. In Sabah and Sarawak, the drastic increase in the 1990s can be attributed to the government policy in the intensification of palm oil industries in East Malaysia [29]. Malaysia produces about 15 million metric tonnes of palm oil per year. One tonne produces about 414 kg of biodiesel. With a caloric value of about 40,000 kJ/kg, this results in a total energy supply of about 7.8 GW/year from palm oil. Cultivated areas for oil palm in Malaysia.jpg Fig.6. Cultivated areas for oil palm in Malaysia, 1975-2009 [22] While the total energy available from residues and landfill gas has been estimated as 3.1 GW [30]. Major agriculture crop in Malaysia are oil palm (43.67%), rubber (30.56%), rice (12.68%), cocoa (6.75%) and coconut (6.34%). These provide Malaysia huge of biomass resources. In fact, government of Malaysia has announced the 5th Fuel Policy that states To supplement the conventional supply of energy, new sources such as renewable energy will be encouraged and biomass resources such as oil palm and wood waste as well as rice husks, will be used on a wider basis mainly for electricity generation [31]. Currently, residue from agriculture crops like paddy, rubber and sugar are use as fuel for generation of electricity in Malaysia using the cogeneration system. However, the percentage of using this residue for electricity generation is still low. Biomass residues are the main source of energy input to the mills using cogeneration system. It has been estimated the total biomass energy potential is equivalent to 2-3% of total power production in the country [32]. Report from [33], about 14 mills already used agriculture waste for energy demand, both for steam and electricity wit h total capacity amount 1567.2 MW. The increasing amount of paddy production make highly potential in CHP technology to convert the paddy husk residue for energy purpose. Around 20% of paddy is husk, rice husk in turn contains 16-22% ash, and 90-96% of the ash is composed of silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2). According to [34], by 2020 Malaysia will produce 768,290 tonnes of rice husk. As refer to [35], 1.5 kg of rice husk can generate 1 kWh, this mean by 2020 Malaysia can produce 512 TWh using rice husk residue. Some example of cogeneration project based on rice husk installed in Pendang Kedah Darulaman, which uses a steam boiler, 6.5 tonnes/h, 30 bar, saturated, connected to a 450 kW back pressure turbine and heat exchanger [36]. Electricity produces use for their owned consumption. Other example of rice husk project cogeneration that connected to system grid is installed at Titi Serong Rice Mill [37]. In Malaysia, the annual production of sugarcane bagasse reaches a number of million tonnes [38]. Nearly 30% of that number will turn into bagasse when it is crushed in a sugar factory [39]. Sugarcane baggase is the fibrous waste that remains after recovery of sugar juice via crushing and extraction. A ton of bagasse (50% mill-wet basis) is equal to 1.6 barrels of fuel oil on energy basis. The total of sugarcane energy content on dry basis, excluding ash (around 2-3% of weight) can be divided into three main parts. Malaysia produces 274,620 tonnes of sugarcane for 2009, with a moisture content of 50%. This means we can get 150,000 tonnes of dry bagasse annually. The caloric value for dry bagasse comes to be 17.33 MJ/kg, which make to total energy potential of 0.421 million boe per year. At the time, all the bagasse is being used as boiler fuels in sugar mills operating in the country. Most agriculture crops in Malaysia can be used to generate electricity. If all crops are fully utilize can help reduce the dependency on fossil fuel sources. Conclusion Biomass could be Remarkable as a stable and suitable replacement for fossil energy in Malaysia that cover appropriates 76% of land by thick and compact kind of tropical agricultural and forest. Currently, high motivation of biomass consumption in order to generate energy, sustainability of bio-sources, economic impact and environmental aspects are considered. Therefore, improving technologies related to bio-power and bio-fuel is continued. Recycling and using residues of forest and agriculture are valued in order to convert to useful energy and by product. Establishing biomass projects such as CDM by Malaysian Government is prominent in order to allocate subsidy to this kind of projects. Allocated subsidy is one common way of support biomass project. However, still there are many obstacles such as , knowledge development of biomass in Malaysia, risky situation for applying new technology, cost-benefit with financial indicators in comparison with conventional energy, energy demand in market place, speed of commercialization, feasibility of knowledge transferring, and the policies of government still are not successful to persuade and encourage industries to use biomass and efficient communication and negotiation with suitable strategy including integration, alignment and balancing situation between government and industries concern based on win-win is considered. Outlook of using biomass depends on the total cost of producing biomass energy in compared with fossil fuels. Using biomass instead of fossil energy with the decreasing cost of biomass is achievable and it can respect to environment.