Engineering Materials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Engineering Materials - Essay Example The major cause of McKinley's bid being rejected could be derived from their negligence to use the revised form. This negligence caused irregularity and that caused the department of agriculture to reject their bid. On appealing against the rejection of their bid, the panel of appeal also threw out the appeal because they were not sure if McKinley had indeed committed to the exact terms of the addendum sent to it by the department of agriculture. In my opinion, I will describe McKinley as being negligent and say that the department of agriculture was right in throwing out McKinley's bid, as it is indeed irregular. The panel that heard the appeal filed by McKinley was also right to reject the case brought before it by McKinley. Irregularity in bid documents cause problems for the party that receives the bid as the commitment of the bidding party to the terms of the bid cannot be determined, and this can lead to complicated litigations. That is why bid irregularity in my opinion should not be waived For not using the new bid form sent to it in the addendum, McKinley only showed they did not commit to the bid and thus no contract exists between them. It is known that basic elements of a contract: offer, acceptance and consideration have to be present for their to be a valid -contract between McKinley construction and the federal department of agriculture. In this case, McKinley made an offer that appealed to the department of agriculture. The department of agriculture signified their appeal to the offer and sent and addendum with a new bid form that will allow the department to consider the offer. Rather than confirm its offer with the new form, McKinley submitted the old form, which meant they did not accept the new offer as presented by the department of agriculture. This means there could not be any consideration, thus acceptance could not be made of any of the offers and counter-offers and so there is no valid contract between McKinley construction and the department of agriculture. The department of agriculture if satisfied with the bid as submitted by McKinley should have asked for McKinley to use the appropriate form to submit its bid. While McKinley on its part should have gone to the ministry to correct the error (if it was an error) of using the old bid form rather than the new one sent to the department of agriculture. What we are saying is that the department of agriculture should have checked on McKinley to make sure they were not making a mistake submitting the old form and see that they correct the mistake. McKinley should have also complained of an error and that the use of the ild form was a mistake. To avoid this kind of incident in the future, lawyers should be engaged by companies submitting bids to view their bid materials and ensure that all conditions for

The Major General Environment Developments that Impinge Upon the Europ Essay

The Major General Environment Developments that Impinge Upon the European Automotive Industry - Essay Example Further Europe has highly evolved manufacturing facilities with automobiles constituting 36% of the total manufacturing of Europe. Of the five major automobile giants General Motors, Toyota Ford, Daimler-Benz, and Volkswagen, the last two are indigenous to Europe but all have a strong European presence with a number of smaller groups adding to the competition. GM markets its products under popular brand names of Opel and Vauxhall. The Ford Europe has staged major acquisitions in Europe by buying Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo, Jaguar. Ford was the first US company to set up its manufacturing base in Europe as far back as 1920. Volkswagen, the German manufacturer is the most aggressive of all the European companies having acquired brands like Skoda, Bentley, Lamborghini, Audi, Buggati, and Seat. Since the early twentieth-century European car manufacturers enjoyed the competitive advantage due to their location. Europe accounted for the maximum percentage of consumers while it also has the largest number of manufacturers. However, it faced the first trans-continental threats first from the US car majors like Ford, GM in the early twentieth century and then from the highly efficient Japanese cars in the 70s. Political: Europe is an economically integrated region of 27 countries. The industries have to conform to near equality in trade laws and manufacturing standards especially the emission standards of the European Union. European Commission, for example, wants to do away with the rigid system of national car dealers (Madslien). Since dismantling of the Communist regimes in the Warsaw Pact countries, a large East European market has opened up for the European manufacturer. Due to the advantage provided by a common culture and proximate culture, the European automotive manufacturers were quick to capitalise on it. Companies like Volkswagen, Ford Europe, Daimler-Benz, and Peugeot Citroen have set up manufacturing facilities in East Europe.  Ã‚  

Communication in Children and Families

Communication in Children and Families Table of Contents (Jump to) Introduction Answer to Question 1 Answer to Question 2 Answer to Question 3 Answer to Question 4 Answer to Question 5 Answer to Question 6 Conclusion References Introduction Effective communication between parent and children the most important and difficult field of communication. There should be logical way and scientific approach according to different needs and requirements. To understand the process in a better way, here are some key points to be considered before stepping on to it. Answer to Question 1 Demonstrate judgements regarding the importance of effective communication with children and families It is very hard to understand the psychology of children in a family or a society but it is extremely important to understand that as it affects the behavior of a kid on a huge basis. There are some key reasons that show that why it is so important to have an effective communication with children and families:- A positive relationship between children and their families is vital for the youngs childrens well being Parents are the kids first teacher, they learn from them only Parents behavior as in what do they follow at home with their young babies and children has a major impact on intellectual, social and emotional development Better relationships amongst children and parents are achieved through better communication only A clear and thorough communication or talk can omit all the misunderstandings and the possible barriers. It is important to share your previous experience and what you already know about communicating with parents and children and its significance as it helps you a lot while learning new things. It will clear the objective of understanding the importance of communicating between children and parents more easily. â€Å"It is not who you are as a parent that enables your children to be effective learners but what you do that makes a difference† (Peers Early Education Partnership 2005) These lines says allyou need to understand your responsibility towards the children and learn how to communicate to make them better for future. Here, in the communication part with the children, the professional relationship is important as well. For brief, professionals have contracted through a formal agreement to be responsible for the care and wellbeing of someone else’s child. So, there is very thin line between professional friendliness and relationship with children and as a parent you need to understand that properly. (Anon., 2005) Answer to Question 2 Employ the principles of how communication works, children’s early communication skills and supporting strategies and approaches Communication works in many ways, it helps building relationships. Communication can actually start with children’s early communication skills as well. The children’s early communication includes various different ways:- Crying Looking into your eyes Smiling Laughing Sounds Babble and ‘talk’ – pretend conversations Now how can we, as parents talk to them? The process of communication with babies involves a many ways like as follows:- Talking to them in a very special manner Touching them and make them feel safe and secure Playing with them making expressions and faces For a babys well-being and development, emotionally and intellectually; sensitive and responsive communication is extremely important. It makes the child feel at home amongst the loved ones Babies are the most ready ones to talk and play with people when they are awake, playful and alert Recognize the babys state, try and respond to it in a particular way and support the babies in developing a sense of self You just follow what the baby is trying to convey Try and talk to the baby in the manner thinking what it is like for the baby You can help the baby regulate its own mood by playful gestures, music and expressions Read their signals and respond to them accordingly. Those who does that develops a strong bond with the babies Nonverbal communication is best at the early stage of communication with the babies Be and look positive all the time in front of the babies, it is important for their growth of the social brain. The positive looks stimulates the social growth of the babies (Anon., 2008) Answer to Question 3 Evaluate barriers and challenges which may impact upon effective communication between practitioners, children and families Barriers and challenges in effective communication are those factors that hinder good communication between practitioners, parent and children. These barriers take shape according to the situations and places such as at a societal level, Brandt (1998) notes that the parents or people in general are becoming increasingly estranged from public institutions. Sometimes it is actually very problematic and hard to reach families. To solve this problem, first of all make a note about who are the families that you think may find it hard to reach and communicate with services? Then spend time with them discussing different issues faced while establishing effective communication between parents and children. These families may have characteristics as follows: Different cultural backgrounds English as an additional language Different family backgrounds Different personalities Lack of confidence and self esteem Learning difficulties Literacy skills Physical difficulties Psychological difficulties All these characteristics act differently during the establishment of effective communication between parents and children. For example, sometimes parents cannot cope up with the changing trend and thus the gap of understanding between their cultural preferences and the children cultural preferences widens. Also, if the practitioners use â€Å"their own cultural lenses† to interact with culturally and linguistically diverse parents, there occurs a problem. Lets take another example regarding psychological difficulties. On a parental level, a parent’s own negative school experiences may impact positive relationships with teachers, or parents may simply not understand how to effectively interact with the children regarding their educational system. Similarly, economic, time constraints, lack of technology may also be primary obstacles to effective communication. All these barriers and challenges may be eliminated with a traditional yet significant 5-15 minute parent conference that offers little time for meaningful communication regarding a child’s academic and social progress. This can be act as an open platform for interaction within practitioners, parents and children. (NCB, 2008) Answer to Question 4 Reflect on the importance of enabling positive environments to promote communication between children, families and professionals For establishing an effective communication between professionals, parents and children, it is extremely vital to create a positive environment for the communication to take place. As a professional, you soon learn that children and parents are a two-for-one deal: Developing confident relationships with parents is precarious for providing the best care possible to their children. So being friends with the parents help a lot here. To ensure the same, as a parent, you can test it. For example, Amanda got into her car, really angry. When she dropped off her 22-month-old, Nyra, that morning, she mentioned to the baby sitter and her friend, Reeta (who look after Nyra), how impossible Nyra has been in the mornings. She drags her feet, doesnt want to get dressed, pitches a fit about which outfit to wear—its been practically impossible to get her out the door. But to her surprise, Radhika tells Anna that Nyra is an angel while talking to her. She listens each and everything that Radhika asks for and thus Anna is relieved that her child is in safe hands. For understanding the children in a better way, you first need to be more close to the parents by following these simple steps:- Notice how you are feeling with kids beahviour Look at the interaction from the childs point of view. Develop a sense of grasping the surroundings with a childs eye Partner with parents, talk to them more-n-more and understand their need Look for a scope of compromise Tell the parents not to fight or create an awkward situation in front of their kids Ask them not to follow their so called bad habits in front of the kids and try and avoid such stuff as much as possible Listen to children and their queries, needs and expectations and act and ask the parents too to act accordingly Promote healthy and knowledgeable practices at home and so on (McDonald, n.d.) Answer to Question 5 Importance and role of intervention strategies, approaches and techniques supporting the development of effective communication In developing effective communication between parents and children, supporting intervention strategies, approaches and techniques act as major helping factors. What is intervention strategy? According to Desforges (2003), in the intervention strategy, effective settings consider what the major barriers are for their own communities and work proactively to remove them. The strategy involves Establishing formal and casual relationships with families and children Knowing the families in a much detailed and better way but not intervening somehow is a thing to keep in mind Talking and discussing about the needs and expectations of families Offering a good range of options and choices for involvement and participation in the learning process that are truly match with the family colors Observe and observe the knowledge and understanding level of the parents, value them and try to enhance the same incorporating different techniques Now, what are techniques? You can follow several techniques to achieve your aim of effective communication:- Ensure a friendly warm welcome to parents by keeping in mind their expectations Ensure physical environment is welcoming. This is because it encourages the proximity factor Proactively plan how to include families like organizing a fun seminar or some musical learning process Ensure all staff have training in inclusion and equalities policies and procedures Home visits may be planned to help develop relationships with parents and children at the same time Ensure all aspects of family life are considered properly e.g. child-minding For the approach part, you can create and develop your own or just research and follow that suits you the best like The Hanen Approach says, there are three main steps of developing effective communication i.e. Observe Wait Listen Collectively, these steps are referred as Owling Similarly, you can consider the Camdens communication approach which says:- Stop, Look and Listen Here too, the listen factor is being emphasized. So, for any approach, the listening habit should be developed prominently. (Anon., 2012) Answer to Question 6 Professional skills and attributes in developing positive communications with children and families The professional skills and attributes while establishing or developing positive communications with children and families involve certain practices. Majorly divided in three groups namely, Collaborative, Effective and Reflective, these practices are as follows:- Collaborative 1. Family-centered practice 2. Partnerships with professionals 3. High expectations for every child Effective 4. Equity and diversity 5. Respectful relationships and responsive engagement 6. Integrated teaching and learning approaches 7. Assessment for learning and development Reflective 8. Reflective practice i.e. how to react to certain communication or actions Professionals collaborate with families and the children for effective communication. They communicate and plan partnership ways to achieve the best practice to be followed They work in groups across different planned settings so as to support the positive behavioural changes and attitude/ learning transitions for children They always ready to learn from each other as effective communication is a give and take relationship The professionals try to understand their own and others roles as well. After understanding the same, they make referrals whenever and wherever there is a need These professionals are truly committed to work in partnership and in groups so that they can achieve the best possible results for children The skills in quick look- The professionals work collaboratively to share information and messages. They logically plan communication procedures to ensure universal approaches to kids learning and development Each professional understand another’s practice, skills and expertise so as to get inspired and make referrals whenever needed according to the appropriate situation Acknowledging the significance of changes within and across early juvenile services and schools is one of the main skills the professional should possess. It is in order to ensure that children understand the process and have an active role in preparing for these transitions They build on kids’ prior learning and involvements to build continuity for their learning journey and development of personality (Aguliar, 2011) Conclusion The key formula for effective communication is to observe, listen and think and then act. You just need to be logical and updated in terms of planning procedures. Observe the behavioural pattern of children, their growing needs, expectations; understand the cultural values and beliefs of their parents and mix them well according to the latest trend because for an effective communication, one need to be updated and well informed. References Aguliar, E., 2011. 20 Tips for Developing Positive Relationships With Parents. [Online] Available at: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/20-tips-developing-positive-relationships-parents-elena-aguilar [Accessed 29 April 2015]. Anon., 2005. National Literacy Trust. [Online] Available at: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/talk_to_your_baby/policy_research/1713_research_birth_to_school_study-a_longitudinal_evaluation_of_the_peers_early_education_partnership_peep_1998-2005 [Accessed 29 April 2015]. Anon., 2008. The National Strategies. [Online] Available at: http://idponline.org.uk/downloads/ey-slcn.pdf [Accessed 29 April 2015]. Anon., 2012. Positive Approaches to Challenging Behaviors,. [Online] Available at: http://www.cmhcm.org/provider/centrain/Training_Units/POSITIVE_APPROACHES.pdf [Accessed 29 April 2015]. McDonald, K. R. a. M., n.d. Promoting positive education and care transitions for children. [Online] Available at: https://www3.aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/promoting-positive-education-and-care-transitions-childr [Accessed 29 April 2015]. NCB, 2008. Principles of engaging with families. [Online] Available at: http://www.ncb.org.uk/media/236258/engaging_with_families.pdf [Accessed 29 April 2015].

Stocking the Online Community :: Internet Web Cyberspace Essays

Stocking the Online Community I must have a net worth of one million dollars by the time I'm forty. Sounds like a plan to me. Retirement, living the good life. My plan would be to go to school full?time, quit the job, and move into the country. (Not necessarily in that order) The Ad's I see have to be working for someone. The internet and stock trading were meant for each other. More and more people are getting on the band wagon so get on early. "But these hot High?tech stocks and you can't miss," followed by, "The next five winning I.P.O.'s free, just log onto www...." Sure there is some risk involved but people are making a ton of money and I want my share. Show me where to buy. I have some cash put aside I can risk it, I'm young. I can go online find a couple reputable communities, put out the feelers and take the plunge. The help will be free, I'll just give them my email address and they can send me junk mail. It's not hard to delete it. I will have to do some research to find someone to purchase stocks thro ugh that does not charge too much. In addition, I'll need a source for researching which stocks to buy. One or two emergent stocks, buy and sell at the right time and I'm on my way to early retirement. The operation I buy the stocks from will need to have a low price for trades and a low starting balance. It must be quick and easy to trade stocks and I will need quick confirmation to know how much money I've made. Not through the web but in a magazine article I found a rating of six online trading companies they are Scottrade, E?Trade, Suretrade, Smith Barney, Charles Schwab and DLJ Direct. The two most important things to me are the cost of a trade and the amount and quality of access to research. Scottrade has the lowest trade price of $5.95 and Smith Barney with the highest at $24.95. The research is especially good with Smith Barney and Charles Schwab slightly below in quality is Suretrade. Another thing I learned is that most of these companies require a minimum balance to start, E?Trade wants $1000 while Smith Barney starts with $2000. While Suretrade requires no minimum and Scottrade requires only $200. Stocking the Online Community :: Internet Web Cyberspace Essays Stocking the Online Community I must have a net worth of one million dollars by the time I'm forty. Sounds like a plan to me. Retirement, living the good life. My plan would be to go to school full?time, quit the job, and move into the country. (Not necessarily in that order) The Ad's I see have to be working for someone. The internet and stock trading were meant for each other. More and more people are getting on the band wagon so get on early. "But these hot High?tech stocks and you can't miss," followed by, "The next five winning I.P.O.'s free, just log onto www...." Sure there is some risk involved but people are making a ton of money and I want my share. Show me where to buy. I have some cash put aside I can risk it, I'm young. I can go online find a couple reputable communities, put out the feelers and take the plunge. The help will be free, I'll just give them my email address and they can send me junk mail. It's not hard to delete it. I will have to do some research to find someone to purchase stocks thro ugh that does not charge too much. In addition, I'll need a source for researching which stocks to buy. One or two emergent stocks, buy and sell at the right time and I'm on my way to early retirement. The operation I buy the stocks from will need to have a low price for trades and a low starting balance. It must be quick and easy to trade stocks and I will need quick confirmation to know how much money I've made. Not through the web but in a magazine article I found a rating of six online trading companies they are Scottrade, E?Trade, Suretrade, Smith Barney, Charles Schwab and DLJ Direct. The two most important things to me are the cost of a trade and the amount and quality of access to research. Scottrade has the lowest trade price of $5.95 and Smith Barney with the highest at $24.95. The research is especially good with Smith Barney and Charles Schwab slightly below in quality is Suretrade. Another thing I learned is that most of these companies require a minimum balance to start, E?Trade wants $1000 while Smith Barney starts with $2000. While Suretrade requires no minimum and Scottrade requires only $200.

Crime Increase Essay

It is true that many countries have been experiencing the growth of crime rate. In response many countries are building new prisons, but they are just increase the number of inmates instead of solving this problem. Perhaps, we need to look back at the roots of this issue and facing the possible causes. The TV and computer games are considered to be one of the reasons of crime level and violence increase. see more:essay on crimes Violent actions, murders in virtual worlds or on TV screen are changing our vision of morale. I believe, that it is unrealistic to blame only the media. It is believed that the main cause of crime activity is social inequality. A child from rich family should makes much less efforts to get education and well paid job than children from poor families, because his parents are able to pay for his education. In addition, many children from unsecured families are forced to work from the very young age to support their families. What is more, many teenagers can be addicted to drugs, what in its turn can put the end to their education and further development. Solving above-mentioned problems are not easy. We need to reduce a gap between the layers of society by providing more chances for poor people to become wealthier. But not only the government should be involved in this, business structures should also take a part, creating jobs and improving education process. In relation to the drug spreading problem, I believe the government should start from itself and fight against the drug corruption. I believe that the crime level will continue to rise unless, particularly in cities, we find and apply an effective way to solve these issues. Perhaps, we should start from involving business to education of students and building theirs careers. Business will get more qualified workers, the government will get more taxpayers and everybody win.

Serial Killers

Many misunderstand the true meaning of the term serial killer and confuse it with those of mass murderers and spree killers. However, a serial killer has much different tactics than those of mass murderers and spree killers. In order to be declared a serial killer, one must commit three or more murders over a period of more than thirty days with time in between each murder known as a â€Å"cooling off† phase. Each murder for a serial killer is committed for some sort of psychological fulfillment. Most serial killers have similar characteristics either within each murder, victim or sometimes both. These may include: occupation, sex, age, appearance, and race for the victim and molestation, rape, strangulation, shooting, decapitation, and many more gruesome acts most cannot even begin to imagine. There are many various classifications of serial killers depending on how and what they get from each murder they commit. Organized nonsocial offenders often methodically plan out each and every offense meticulously prior to actually carrying out their crime. Organized nonsocial serial killers may look and act like ones neighbor seemingly normal with a steady job and family. However, they follow their crimes through the media intently. Unlike organized nonsocial offenders, disorganized asocial offenders often act on impulse using blitz type attacks killing their victims in whichever ways they desire to at the time. They rarely cover their tracks but somehow seem to get away unnoticed. They are often socially awkward with few friends and previous mental disabilities. Jack the Ripper was the first known and reported serial killer. He first struck in 1888 in Whitechappel, London. The theory that ties into the story of the gruesome serial killer in London would be the trait theory. The sub theory of the trait theory is psychological due to lack of evidence to help support his past experiences in his life and because it was not premeditated. It was simply a rage of violence against middle class women prostitutes. The way this killer showed no remorse to the brutal mutilation of these women proved in fact to be a psychological problem. Not only did Jack the Ripper kill multiple women but he mutilated their bodies almost to the point of an unrecognizable state. He was a nonsocial offender who simply attacked his victims as he found them rather than premeditating each attack. He wanted to be known in London at the time and involved the press by writing letters in order to give himself a name. Jack the Ripper only killed within the city of Whitechappel and made most of his attacks under the cover of darkness. Mary Nichols was a 43 year old woman and prostitute who became Jack’s first murder. She was discovered at 3:40 A. M. with no clues as to who killed her and her body completely mutilated. Her lover at the time was only able to identify her remains by her eye color and hair color. By September 30, 1888 he had killed two more females; Elizabeth Stride also known as â€Å"Long Liz† who was fully recognizable and Catherine Eddowes a 46 year old female prostitute who, like his first victim, was found mutilated. Mary Jane Kelly was Jack the Ripper’s final victim before he stopped killing and vanished in February of 1891. To this day the identity of Jack the Ripper has never been discovered. During this time period it would have been difficult to stop a psychopath on a rampage to mutilate any prostitute they ran across due to the lack of privacy, security on one’s home, and lack of technology to gain significant evidence against the murderer. The evolution of society has created its own solution to stopping killers before they become serial killers, in most cases. (America’s) The Zodiac Killer attacked in Northern California where he claimed his first victim on October 30, 1966. (Newton) The Zodiac Killer used a gun and most often searched out couples to kill. He did not necessarily have a motive he was said to kill, just to kill. He claimed that his victims became his slaves for afterlife. This is another example of trait theory also with the sub theory of a psychological problem. Again, in this situation we do not know the identity or youth life of the Zodiac Killer therefore we are unable to determine if this possibly could be a biological sub theory. The Zodiac Killer shows that he has a psychological problem by not premeditating his attacks and choosing his victims at random. It is also apparent that the Zodiac Killer had a psychological problem by his desire to involve the media and lead police directly to his victims through phone calls and letters without a trace of evidence and or remorse. Some say that the Zodiac Killer is the perfect serial killer because his letters were written in a cryptic cipher. The first letter began, â€Å"I like killing people because it is just so much fun. † (Newton, 254) By the end of the Zodiac’s killing rampage he has an estimated 40 victims with 39 of them being female. At this time the case remains open and the identity of the Zodiac Killer unknown. Our society could improve or lessen the chances drastically of another Zodiac-like killer from striking again by keeping better ballistic records of evidence along with using more advanced diagnostic tools on the letters and phone calls to the media. Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer both killed at random without previously planning any one specific murder. Both had psychological problems but managed to go on killing with their identities undiscovered. Neither one showed any signs of remorse throughout their killings or contacts with the media proving that killing to them, was just a game. There are many reasons serial killers chose to kill, and with these two psychopaths it was the thrill of the kill. Albert Fish was a serial killer who killed his first victim, Billy Gaffney, in February of 1927. It was with his first victim that Fish became known as not only a serial killer but also as a pedophile and cannibal. Albert ate Gaffney’s ears, nose, and face in a stew and roasted his butt and genitals in the oven before consuming those too. America’s) Fish is an example of trait theory with sub theories of biological and psychological problems. Albert Fish was born into an unstable household and not long after his mother put him up for adoption. When no one adopted him, he was placed in an orphanage where he witnessed and endured many beatings. It was then that he realized he enjoyed watching others endure pain and would eventually grow to enjoy these beatings himself. He went to the extreme as to insert needles under his nails and into his genitals to feel the rush of pain. Rumor has it that on Fish’s execution day, January 16, 1936, he shorted out the electric chair because of the amount of metal inserted into his abdomen and groin. Fish stated, â€Å"If only pain were not so painful! † (Newton) Authorities compiled that Fish went on to molest and castrate at least 100 victims before Fish declared himself that he had children in every state leaning authorities to the possible victim count being closer to 400. It was realized that Fish also carried the sub theory of a psychological problem when he abducted Grace Budd, taking her to a cottage and dismembering her body before slowly cooking and eating her remains. Fish had premeditated this murder and wanted the Budd family to know that six years later he was still thinking of their daughter. In 1934, he wrote a letter to the Budd family stating that Grace had, â€Å"died a virgin† and it had taken him nine days to eat her remains. (Newton, 63) Due to the knowledge of Fish’s childhood and understanding of the premeditated murders he committed, we are able to determine that Fish has both sub theories of psychological and biological problems. Our society can prevent another psychopath serial killer like Fish from victimizing children across the nation by using better analysis of criminals childhood’s and keeping better records of where criminals known to molest children are located. Jeffery Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Monster, was also a serial killer who had cannibalistic tendencies. He grew up in a middle class family in Wisconsin and was molested by neighbor boy. This became a pivotal turning point in Dahmer’s life leading him to begin experimenting with animals’ carcasses and bones. Dahmer’s first kill came the summer after his graduation as he picked up a hitch hiker and continued to slaughter him, beat his skull with a barbell, strangle him to death, and dismember and bury his body. Dahmer was shocked with himself after this happened and tried college for a short time before entering the military on a 6 year enlistment. He was discharged after 2 years due to heavy drinking and returned home to live with his grandmother in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Newton) Dahmer carries the trait theory with both sub theories of biological and psychological problems. Proof shows Dahmer was part of an unfit household as a child due to the facts that his molestations and obsessions with mutilating animal carcasses went unknown by his family or ones caring for him. His parents separated and neither of them felt the need to take Dahmer with them so Dahmer fell under the supervision of his grandmother. Jeffery’s grandmother soon kicked him out of the house due to the stench of his â€Å"experiments†. (Newton) His psychological problems become apparent with the victims he chose and how he became aroused by the smell of decaying flesh and the sight of lifeless prey. America’s) He chose his victims by meeting men at gay bars and bringing them home merely to kill, dismember, cook and eat them. Our society could prevent another Dahmer-like serial killer from presenting themselves by making records of child molestations more public and getting children who have been molested proper counseling and treatment post attack. Both Albert Fish and Jeffery Dahmer had instances in their childhoods that can be deemed as pivotal turning points creating the psychopath serial killers they became. Unlike Dahmer, Fish preyed on children while Dahmer preyed on men his age. The murders by Albert Fish and Jeffery Dahmer were committed out of a desire for power and lifelong attachment to their victims. By eating their victims’ remains they felt as if they would forever be attached to them. This proves both Dahmer and Fish had sub theories of psychological and biological problems that led each of their killings. Gary Ridgway began his killing spree in January of 1982 with 16 year old victim Leann Wilcox. (Newton) His second victim was a 36 year old female named Amina Agisheff. His first two victims were not recognized as â€Å"Green River Killer† victims until two years after their deaths due to lack of patterns tying these murders and the Green River Killer’s later murders together. Ridgway continued to kill with victims multiplying by the week. All of Ridgway’s victims had one thing in common; they were all thought to be prostitutes. The Green River Killer always did one thing the same in each of his murders; before he killed each victim he had sex with them. In some of the victims he went as far as placing a triangle shaped stone inside the vagina of the victim, the significance of this is unknown. Newton) Gary Ridgway carries the trait theory with a psychological sub theory. There is no evidence as to his past family life to prove that he could also carry a biological sub theory but the way in which he killed each of his 48 victims proves that his desire to kill was based upon sexual desires. (Schechter) Our society could protect a gainst another serial rapist-killer like Ridgway by technological advances and obtaining DNA samples from each victim. Ted Bundy was born in November 1946 at a house for unwed mothers in Vermont. He never knew his father and was forced to live with his strict Methodist grandparents pretending that his mother, Louise Cowell, was in fact his sister. He described his grandfather Sam as a loving man who in reality was a â€Å"bitter racist and wife beater, who also enjoyed kicking dogs and swinging cats through the air by their tails† (Newton, 24). These intimate details of Bundy’s childhood prove to society that he carries a trait theory with a sub theory of a biological problem. He also carried a psychological sub theory proved by each of his victims having shoulder length brown hair parted down the middle. Ted was a good looking man with a â€Å"chameleon-like ability to blend† which gave each of his victims a sense of security when they were with him. (Newton, 24) With the beginning of Bundy’s murders was Linda Healy, a blood stained night gown was found hanging in her basement but was gone without a trace. His killings continued one by one with each victim looking eerily similar to an ex girlfriend of his who had shoulder length brown hair, parted down the middle who had broken up with him for having no ambitions in life and being immature. With each victim he first raped them then proceeded to murder them with savage blows to the head. He was sought by police multiple times but deemed â€Å"squeaky clean† by authorities since they were looking for a savage killer not a clean cut law student. (Newton, 25) It took months and multiple escapes by Bundy for police to finally charge him with the murders of two Florida sorority girls and a female in Colorado. It was after he was charged with these murders and punished to death by the electric chair that he confessed to up to 40 murders. Some say that he took more murders to his grave having the ability to have killed closer to 100 victims. Our society can prevent another rapist-serial killer like Bundy from taking the lives of innocent females by keeping better DNA records and evidence from each known victim in order to compare it to future victims. Although this may not prevent all murders from occurring it may help keep the number of victims to a minimum. Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway are similar in the fact that both serial killers murdered for sexual desires. They both grew up in unfit homes proving their sub theories of biological problems but different from Ridgway, Bundy also carried the sub theory of psychological due to his choice of victims being mirror images of his ex girlfriend. Both Bundy and Ridgway killed females and had sex with them before they murdered them. Ridgway chose prostitutes as his victims and used similar dumping grounds around the Green River for each victim despite police surveillance of the areas. Bundy also used similar dumping grounds in each of the states he committed murders mostly dumping them in wooded areas covering them with brush. The way in which each serial killer was raised proves that this had a large affect on the people and serial killers they became. Charles Manson was born in 1934 to 16 year old prostitute Kathleen Maddox and took the name Manson from a man she later married. By the time Manson was five years old he had been sent to live with his strictly religious aunt and husband. Her husband however, treated Manson as if he were a â€Å"sissy† dressing him up in girl clothes on the first day of school to show him to act more like a man. (Newton, 149) After paroled Kathleen gained custody of Charles but was still deemed unfit after leaving Manson with neighbors for â€Å"an hour† and disappearing for days on end. Manson was then sent to Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute, Indiana for ten months before fleeing. He wound up living on the streets having numerous bouts with the law being in and out of juvenile centers being abused by both guards and older boys at each center. After being jailed multiple times for petty crimes Manson finally stepped it up and called himself a follower of Scientology. In San Francisco Manson gained a group of male and female followers who were impressed by his charisma. He led them to believe he was a Christ incarnate, or as he liked to call it â€Å"God of Fuck† (Newton, 150). These followers grew into what Manson called his â€Å"family† and traveled up and down California gaining more followers along the way topping off at 50 followers at their peak. Newton) Manson grew largely obsessed with death and certain songs pertaining to death like the popular Beatle’s song at the time, â€Å"Helter Skelter†. He defined this song to be speaking about a race war to come in America and used these terms at his â€Å"families† future crime scenes. While Manson may not have committed any of the murders himself, it is known he was at some of the crime scenes and behind all of the murders through his c ult-like leadership. Even after Manson was jailed for these numerous crimes the violent murders did not stop. He had impacted too many â€Å"family† members already and so they carried on what Manson had previously began brutally killing more and more victims. These actions prove to society that Manson had the trait theory with both sub theories of psychological and biological problems. The biological problem is proved by his treatment as a child being born into an unfit home to a prostitute mother who brought home lovers of both sexes, being treated unfairly by his uncle, and his abuse within different juvenile detention centers whether it was sexual abuse or simply physical abuse. The psychological problem within Manson is proved by his desire to manipulate young, out of touch males and females into thinking he is a God-like figure and do everything he says. Even if what he said meant killing innocent victims. To this day Manson has showed no remorse for his actions and very few of his â€Å"family† members still in jail for these crimes have either. â€Å"Learning theorists view a troubled home life and deviant friends as a precursor of criminality; structural theorists maintain that acquiring deviant cultural values leads to criminality† (Siegel, 258). Manson portrayed both troubled home life and deviant cultural values, deeming him to inevitably become a criminal. Many other serial killers in history dealt with both of these social and personal problems making it more difficult for society to have in any way prevented these occurrences from happening. Sure authorities may have been able to lessen the magnitude of these horrific crimes, but inevitably it is within one’s own desire to become a criminal or become a model citizen of society. Serial Killers Many misunderstand the true meaning of the term serial killer and confuse it with those of mass murderers and spree killers. However, a serial killer has much different tactics than those of mass murderers and spree killers. In order to be declared a serial killer, one must commit three or more murders over a period of more than thirty days with time in between each murder known as a â€Å"cooling off† phase. Each murder for a serial killer is committed for some sort of psychological fulfillment. Most serial killers have similar characteristics either within each murder, victim or sometimes both. These may include: occupation, sex, age, appearance, and race for the victim and molestation, rape, strangulation, shooting, decapitation, and many more gruesome acts most cannot even begin to imagine. There are many various classifications of serial killers depending on how and what they get from each murder they commit. Organized nonsocial offenders often methodically plan out each and every offense meticulously prior to actually carrying out their crime. Organized nonsocial serial killers may look and act like ones neighbor seemingly normal with a steady job and family. However, they follow their crimes through the media intently. Unlike organized nonsocial offenders, disorganized asocial offenders often act on impulse using blitz type attacks killing their victims in whichever ways they desire to at the time. They rarely cover their tracks but somehow seem to get away unnoticed. They are often socially awkward with few friends and previous mental disabilities. Jack the Ripper was the first known and reported serial killer. He first struck in 1888 in Whitechappel, London. The theory that ties into the story of the gruesome serial killer in London would be the trait theory. The sub theory of the trait theory is psychological due to lack of evidence to help support his past experiences in his life and because it was not premeditated. It was simply a rage of violence against middle class women prostitutes. The way this killer showed no remorse to the brutal mutilation of these women proved in fact to be a psychological problem. Not only did Jack the Ripper kill multiple women but he mutilated their bodies almost to the point of an unrecognizable state. He was a nonsocial offender who simply attacked his victims as he found them rather than premeditating each attack. He wanted to be known in London at the time and involved the press by writing letters in order to give himself a name. Jack the Ripper only killed within the city of Whitechappel and made most of his attacks under the cover of darkness. Mary Nichols was a 43 year old woman and prostitute who became Jack’s first murder. She was discovered at 3:40 A. M. with no clues as to who killed her and her body completely mutilated. Her lover at the time was only able to identify her remains by her eye color and hair color. By September 30, 1888 he had killed two more females; Elizabeth Stride also known as â€Å"Long Liz† who was fully recognizable and Catherine Eddowes a 46 year old female prostitute who, like his first victim, was found mutilated. Mary Jane Kelly was Jack the Ripper’s final victim before he stopped killing and vanished in February of 1891. To this day the identity of Jack the Ripper has never been discovered. During this time period it would have been difficult to stop a psychopath on a rampage to mutilate any prostitute they ran across due to the lack of privacy, security on one’s home, and lack of technology to gain significant evidence against the murderer. The evolution of society has created its own solution to stopping killers before they become serial killers, in most cases. (America’s) The Zodiac Killer attacked in Northern California where he claimed his first victim on October 30, 1966. (Newton) The Zodiac Killer used a gun and most often searched out couples to kill. He did not necessarily have a motive he was said to kill, just to kill. He claimed that his victims became his slaves for afterlife. This is another example of trait theory also with the sub theory of a psychological problem. Again, in this situation we do not know the identity or youth life of the Zodiac Killer therefore we are unable to determine if this possibly could be a biological sub theory. The Zodiac Killer shows that he has a psychological problem by not premeditating his attacks and choosing his victims at random. It is also apparent that the Zodiac Killer had a psychological problem by his desire to involve the media and lead police directly to his victims through phone calls and letters without a trace of evidence and or remorse. Some say that the Zodiac Killer is the perfect serial killer because his letters were written in a cryptic cipher. The first letter began, â€Å"I like killing people because it is just so much fun. † (Newton, 254) By the end of the Zodiac’s killing rampage he has an estimated 40 victims with 39 of them being female. At this time the case remains open and the identity of the Zodiac Killer unknown. Our society could improve or lessen the chances drastically of another Zodiac-like killer from striking again by keeping better ballistic records of evidence along with using more advanced diagnostic tools on the letters and phone calls to the media. Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer both killed at random without previously planning any one specific murder. Both had psychological problems but managed to go on killing with their identities undiscovered. Neither one showed any signs of remorse throughout their killings or contacts with the media proving that killing to them, was just a game. There are many reasons serial killers chose to kill, and with these two psychopaths it was the thrill of the kill. Albert Fish was a serial killer who killed his first victim, Billy Gaffney, in February of 1927. It was with his first victim that Fish became known as not only a serial killer but also as a pedophile and cannibal. Albert ate Gaffney’s ears, nose, and face in a stew and roasted his butt and genitals in the oven before consuming those too. America’s) Fish is an example of trait theory with sub theories of biological and psychological problems. Albert Fish was born into an unstable household and not long after his mother put him up for adoption. When no one adopted him, he was placed in an orphanage where he witnessed and endured many beatings. It was then that he realized he enjoyed watching others endure pain and would eventually grow to enjoy these beatings himself. He went to the extreme as to insert needles under his nails and into his genitals to feel the rush of pain. Rumor has it that on Fish’s execution day, January 16, 1936, he shorted out the electric chair because of the amount of metal inserted into his abdomen and groin. Fish stated, â€Å"If only pain were not so painful! † (Newton) Authorities compiled that Fish went on to molest and castrate at least 100 victims before Fish declared himself that he had children in every state leaning authorities to the possible victim count being closer to 400. It was realized that Fish also carried the sub theory of a psychological problem when he abducted Grace Budd, taking her to a cottage and dismembering her body before slowly cooking and eating her remains. Fish had premeditated this murder and wanted the Budd family to know that six years later he was still thinking of their daughter. In 1934, he wrote a letter to the Budd family stating that Grace had, â€Å"died a virgin† and it had taken him nine days to eat her remains. (Newton, 63) Due to the knowledge of Fish’s childhood and understanding of the premeditated murders he committed, we are able to determine that Fish has both sub theories of psychological and biological problems. Our society can prevent another psychopath serial killer like Fish from victimizing children across the nation by using better analysis of criminals childhood’s and keeping better records of where criminals known to molest children are located. Jeffery Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Monster, was also a serial killer who had cannibalistic tendencies. He grew up in a middle class family in Wisconsin and was molested by neighbor boy. This became a pivotal turning point in Dahmer’s life leading him to begin experimenting with animals’ carcasses and bones. Dahmer’s first kill came the summer after his graduation as he picked up a hitch hiker and continued to slaughter him, beat his skull with a barbell, strangle him to death, and dismember and bury his body. Dahmer was shocked with himself after this happened and tried college for a short time before entering the military on a 6 year enlistment. He was discharged after 2 years due to heavy drinking and returned home to live with his grandmother in West Allis, Wisconsin. (Newton) Dahmer carries the trait theory with both sub theories of biological and psychological problems. Proof shows Dahmer was part of an unfit household as a child due to the facts that his molestations and obsessions with mutilating animal carcasses went unknown by his family or ones caring for him. His parents separated and neither of them felt the need to take Dahmer with them so Dahmer fell under the supervision of his grandmother. Jeffery’s grandmother soon kicked him out of the house due to the stench of his â€Å"experiments†. (Newton) His psychological problems become apparent with the victims he chose and how he became aroused by the smell of decaying flesh and the sight of lifeless prey. America’s) He chose his victims by meeting men at gay bars and bringing them home merely to kill, dismember, cook and eat them. Our society could prevent another Dahmer-like serial killer from presenting themselves by making records of child molestations more public and getting children who have been molested proper counseling and treatment post attack. Both Albert Fish and Jeffery Dahmer had instances in their childhoods that can be deemed as pivotal turning points creating the psychopath serial killers they became. Unlike Dahmer, Fish preyed on children while Dahmer preyed on men his age. The murders by Albert Fish and Jeffery Dahmer were committed out of a desire for power and lifelong attachment to their victims. By eating their victims’ remains they felt as if they would forever be attached to them. This proves both Dahmer and Fish had sub theories of psychological and biological problems that led each of their killings. Gary Ridgway began his killing spree in January of 1982 with 16 year old victim Leann Wilcox. (Newton) His second victim was a 36 year old female named Amina Agisheff. His first two victims were not recognized as â€Å"Green River Killer† victims until two years after their deaths due to lack of patterns tying these murders and the Green River Killer’s later murders together. Ridgway continued to kill with victims multiplying by the week. All of Ridgway’s victims had one thing in common; they were all thought to be prostitutes. The Green River Killer always did one thing the same in each of his murders; before he killed each victim he had sex with them. In some of the victims he went as far as placing a triangle shaped stone inside the vagina of the victim, the significance of this is unknown. Newton) Gary Ridgway carries the trait theory with a psychological sub theory. There is no evidence as to his past family life to prove that he could also carry a biological sub theory but the way in which he killed each of his 48 victims proves that his desire to kill was based upon sexual desires. (Schechter) Our society could protect a gainst another serial rapist-killer like Ridgway by technological advances and obtaining DNA samples from each victim. Ted Bundy was born in November 1946 at a house for unwed mothers in Vermont. He never knew his father and was forced to live with his strict Methodist grandparents pretending that his mother, Louise Cowell, was in fact his sister. He described his grandfather Sam as a loving man who in reality was a â€Å"bitter racist and wife beater, who also enjoyed kicking dogs and swinging cats through the air by their tails† (Newton, 24). These intimate details of Bundy’s childhood prove to society that he carries a trait theory with a sub theory of a biological problem. He also carried a psychological sub theory proved by each of his victims having shoulder length brown hair parted down the middle. Ted was a good looking man with a â€Å"chameleon-like ability to blend† which gave each of his victims a sense of security when they were with him. (Newton, 24) With the beginning of Bundy’s murders was Linda Healy, a blood stained night gown was found hanging in her basement but was gone without a trace. His killings continued one by one with each victim looking eerily similar to an ex girlfriend of his who had shoulder length brown hair, parted down the middle who had broken up with him for having no ambitions in life and being immature. With each victim he first raped them then proceeded to murder them with savage blows to the head. He was sought by police multiple times but deemed â€Å"squeaky clean† by authorities since they were looking for a savage killer not a clean cut law student. (Newton, 25) It took months and multiple escapes by Bundy for police to finally charge him with the murders of two Florida sorority girls and a female in Colorado. It was after he was charged with these murders and punished to death by the electric chair that he confessed to up to 40 murders. Some say that he took more murders to his grave having the ability to have killed closer to 100 victims. Our society can prevent another rapist-serial killer like Bundy from taking the lives of innocent females by keeping better DNA records and evidence from each known victim in order to compare it to future victims. Although this may not prevent all murders from occurring it may help keep the number of victims to a minimum. Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgway are similar in the fact that both serial killers murdered for sexual desires. They both grew up in unfit homes proving their sub theories of biological problems but different from Ridgway, Bundy also carried the sub theory of psychological due to his choice of victims being mirror images of his ex girlfriend. Both Bundy and Ridgway killed females and had sex with them before they murdered them. Ridgway chose prostitutes as his victims and used similar dumping grounds around the Green River for each victim despite police surveillance of the areas. Bundy also used similar dumping grounds in each of the states he committed murders mostly dumping them in wooded areas covering them with brush. The way in which each serial killer was raised proves that this had a large affect on the people and serial killers they became. Charles Manson was born in 1934 to 16 year old prostitute Kathleen Maddox and took the name Manson from a man she later married. By the time Manson was five years old he had been sent to live with his strictly religious aunt and husband. Her husband however, treated Manson as if he were a â€Å"sissy† dressing him up in girl clothes on the first day of school to show him to act more like a man. (Newton, 149) After paroled Kathleen gained custody of Charles but was still deemed unfit after leaving Manson with neighbors for â€Å"an hour† and disappearing for days on end. Manson was then sent to Gibault School for Boys in Terre Haute, Indiana for ten months before fleeing. He wound up living on the streets having numerous bouts with the law being in and out of juvenile centers being abused by both guards and older boys at each center. After being jailed multiple times for petty crimes Manson finally stepped it up and called himself a follower of Scientology. In San Francisco Manson gained a group of male and female followers who were impressed by his charisma. He led them to believe he was a Christ incarnate, or as he liked to call it â€Å"God of Fuck† (Newton, 150). These followers grew into what Manson called his â€Å"family† and traveled up and down California gaining more followers along the way topping off at 50 followers at their peak. Newton) Manson grew largely obsessed with death and certain songs pertaining to death like the popular Beatle’s song at the time, â€Å"Helter Skelter†. He defined this song to be speaking about a race war to come in America and used these terms at his â€Å"families† future crime scenes. While Manson may not have committed any of the murders himself, it is known he was at some of the crime scenes and behind all of the murders through his c ult-like leadership. Even after Manson was jailed for these numerous crimes the violent murders did not stop. He had impacted too many â€Å"family† members already and so they carried on what Manson had previously began brutally killing more and more victims. These actions prove to society that Manson had the trait theory with both sub theories of psychological and biological problems. The biological problem is proved by his treatment as a child being born into an unfit home to a prostitute mother who brought home lovers of both sexes, being treated unfairly by his uncle, and his abuse within different juvenile detention centers whether it was sexual abuse or simply physical abuse. The psychological problem within Manson is proved by his desire to manipulate young, out of touch males and females into thinking he is a God-like figure and do everything he says. Even if what he said meant killing innocent victims. To this day Manson has showed no remorse for his actions and very few of his â€Å"family† members still in jail for these crimes have either. â€Å"Learning theorists view a troubled home life and deviant friends as a precursor of criminality; structural theorists maintain that acquiring deviant cultural values leads to criminality† (Siegel, 258). Manson portrayed both troubled home life and deviant cultural values, deeming him to inevitably become a criminal. Many other serial killers in history dealt with both of these social and personal problems making it more difficult for society to have in any way prevented these occurrences from happening. Sure authorities may have been able to lessen the magnitude of these horrific crimes, but inevitably it is within one’s own desire to become a criminal or become a model citizen of society.

Investment vs fiscal regime in small scale solid mineral mining in west africa The WritePass Journal

Investment vs fiscal regime in small scale solid mineral mining in west africa Introduction Investment vs fiscal regime in small scale solid mineral mining in west africa Introduction 1. Analysis 1.1. Literature Review 1.2. Research Methodology 1.3. Deductive and inductive reasoning 1.4. Research Limitations 1.5. Data Analysis 1.6. Overall analysis ConclusionREFERENCESRelated Introduction Small scale solid mineral mining (SSM) in the West African region of Nigeria and Ghana has been subject to analysis by many writers before to bring out the hidden aspects related to the outcomes of taxation and investment in the industry. However most of these studies are focused on the volume related outcomes rather than the strategic scenarios of the region. SSM industry output in Nigeria in 1959 contributed a mere 1% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.   By 2010 mining contributed just 0.3% to the total GDP[1]. This insignificant contribution made by the mining industry to the country’s GDP is attributed to the vast petroleum deposits (African Development Bank and the African Union, 2009). In Nigeria the existing mining law is incorporated in the Federal Minerals and Mining Act of 1999 and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development[2] is responsible for the oversight of all management of mineral resources in the country. The Law has been developed from the rudimentary system of regulations starting from 1903 when mining industry in Nigeria was launched by the British colonial government (Ayine, 2011). By the 1940’s the country was one of the leading producers of coal, columbite and tin. The government monopoly over SSM in Nigeria came to an end in 1999 when the government began to sell assets in mining corporations to private entrepreneurs. However, it must be noted that the Law governing the SSM in Nigeria [3]was not as sophisticated as that of Ghana. Ghana’s fiscal policy measures were particularly conducive for the development of the SSM industry on a small scale. Though the country too has a sizable amount of oil it did not neglect the SSM related developments. The fiscal policy regime in Nigeria concerning SSM has been described by researchers as one-sided, i.e. it is overloaded with petroleum resources related developments while tax concessions to SSM business, especially private is almost non-extant. Thus this study analyses the outcomes related to the possibility developing SSM related fiscal and investment framework in Nigeria in comparison to Ghana (The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007). 1. Analysis 1.1. Literature Review Nigeria’s SSM cannot be well understood without a reference to its gradual neglect of the industry as well. For instance according to many writers on the subject during the 1980’s the country had relied on coal and wood as a source of fuel for most of the countryside population’s day-to-day cooking needs (www.dundee.ac.uk). Subsequently coal was sought to be replaced by diesel for the railways though the rural communities continued to use coal and wood into the foreseeable future for their cooking needs. Just 73,000 tons of coal were produced in 1986 as against a whopping figure of 940,000 tons in 1958. The same fate befell the columbite and tin mining because by the end of 1980’s high grade iron ore was almost completely depleted. The  Ministry of Mines and Steel Development  was created with a view to developing the solid mineral industry in the country (www.mmsd.gov.ng). Though the Minster himself has assured the international investors of good opportunities and invited them to come and invest in the SSM industry there is a general trend of reluctance among investors primarily due to the inadequacy and inefficiency of fiscal regulations to assure good returns on their investments (Alison-Madueke, 2009). Fiscal policy [4]measures adopted by Nigeria concerning SSM have been known to be scanty and sparse.   SSM related fiscal policy and investment measures in Nigeria have to be studied against the Ghanaian developments in SSM because the latter has adopted some of the far reaching changes in respect of the country’s SSM thus encouraging the small scale investors to identify and invest in more lucrative areas of the industry (Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Department, 2006). Nigeria right now has one of the most undeveloped fiscal policy regimes in the whole continent concerning SSM while on the other hand Ghana has adopted some advanced features in the system of taxation. In addition to the macroeconomic policy reforms the country has extensively adopted MMS related policy reforms in order to attract investment to the country. The Mineral and Mining Law (PNDCL 153) of 1986 [5]vests all rights of ownership in the Ghanaian government thus creating one of the most successful pillars for effective governance of the industry (files.africanstudies.webnode.com). Subsequently two addendums were introduced – the Additional Profit Tax Law (PNDCL 122) and Minerals (Royalties) Regulations (LI 1349). These laws along with highly generous tax incentives and exemptions to foreign investors have served as the cornerstone of the entire SSM in Ghana. But nonetheless these laws were codified in the Ghana Internal Revenue Act [6]since 2000. By 1994 the level of corporate tax in the industry was brought down to 35% in Ghana while the capital expenditure allowance to investors was increased to 20% in the first year. Subsequently in each year the investor is entitled to 15% .of allowances from 1986. The Royalty rate calculated at 6% of the total worth of the mineral was subsequently reduced to 3%. All other duties such as import duty, mineral duty and the foreign exchange tax were done away with. The import taxes on machinery and equipment were also exempted (www.dundee.ac.uk). These developments created a positive cumulative impact on the SSM scenario in Ghana. There was also the provision to permit the leaseholder to retain 25% of the foreign exchange earnings in a foreign bank account. This is intended to facilitate the purchase of equipment and machinery. Ghana’s fiscal policy measures on SSM are wide and varied. For instance the net present value of the investment is sought to be maximized for the investor in conformance with a comparison on probable net returns from alternative investment vehicles such as purchasing government or/and corporate bonds, shares and other investments in funds (www.ghana-mining.org). After tax yield of the investment matters so much that the net present value of the company ought to be maximized especially in an SSM environment. Mineral taxation systems [7]ought to take into consideration the realized profitability as against the potential and empower the firm to pay back capital borrowings at an early date. Tax duplication must be avoided and any structural adjustment initiatives undertaken by the company must come to a successful conclusion with the help of the tax system (Hossain, 2003). Since the SSM industry requires a higher level of capital investment for a longer period of time before adequate positive earnings are made the tax system of the country must be designed to accommodate concerns of the investor. According to some recent research works tax systems on mineral exploration and development often run into rough weather in times of economic recessions because governments fail to provide adequate buffer against the investment failure (Economic Commission for Africa, 2004). If the government fails to maximize the net present value of tax revenue and earn more tax revenue during periods of high profit earnings by companies, then there would be some incapacities coming into the system to prevent it from registering positive growth. Marginally productive mines have to be brought into higher yield capacity through capital intensive production techniques. Internal cost drivers like administration and research development [8](RD) must be controlled in such a manner to avoid cost rises in production. 1.2. Research Methodology Secondary data was collected through an extensive research effort conducted in libraries and online. The information regarding SSM was collected in order to analyze and come to conclusions. Secondary data is regarded as the second hand data or the data that have been exposed before for various reasons. It is not fresh data as the primary data. It is relatively easier to find secondary data than the primary data (Twerefou, 2009). Various sources are used to implement the objective by using secondary data gathered from such sources as textbooks, professional journals, and various university publications, corporate reports of various companies and the government, and university theses. These sources were used to analyze and provide the reliable accurate inferences regarding the SSM in Nigeria and Ghana. These secondary data sources have provided an extensive understanding of the fiscal policy measures adopted by Nigeria and Ghana (Davis, Ossowski Fedelino, 2003). The comparison has been made to show that Ghanaian system of taxation [9]is far superior in the solid mineral mining and exploration industry when compared to the Nigerian system.   Ã‚  Various textbooks and publications were used to build and draw reliable theoretical conclusions and make findings. References were taken from most of the research material available in the field.   Theoretical analysis is much well facilitated than primary material which is basically limited to responses in the questionnaire and the survey. Also there is considerable reflection on the state and relevance of current research.   Relevant web sites and official documents links were accessed to provide more credibility to the study and for further reference (Onugu, 2005).  Ã‚   Future research possibilities in the field are discussed in depth to show how theoretical underpinnings evolve with time and space with specific reference to the current developments in the SSM field. 1.3. Deductive and inductive reasoning This paper used deductive reasoning as against inductive reasoning. Deductive research refers to a process in which a more general approach leads to a more particular approach. For example the researcher may start off with a theory on the subject and then build up a series of hypotheses to arrive at specific details of the research topic (Campbell, 2009). Deductive reasoning is sometimes known as top-down approach. On the other hand inductive reasoning refers to the opposite process or approach. In inductive research the researcher starts from more specific hypotheses and then go on to generalized areas of study. This is sometimes known as bottom-up approach. 1.4. Research Limitations The industry-centric research methodology aspect was focused on both the quantitative and qualitative paradigms but nevertheless the qualitative aspect was hindered by a variety of shortcomings including the inability of this researcher to obtain quality testing measures.   However it must be noted here that this detailed study would pay more attention to qualitative shifts than to quantitative data shifts caused by an industry in transition (Daniel Keen, 2010). The skewed nature of published data cannot be stressed on too much either because such bias and prejudice are only too common at each level. However for the purpose of ascertaining the tax system related outcomes such skewed data did not have a greater negative impact on conclusions. Next the all too well known limitations, viz. cultural bias [10]and prejudice displayed by researchers in Nigeria and Ghana might have hampered the efforts of this researcher to a certain extent. By following strict control mechanisms and a set of relevant guidelines the accuracy of the analysis can be made right though. This tendency apart some data sets were characterized by a degree of inaccuracy with regard to analysis. The recent developments in the SSM were not adequately borne out by these analyses (MBendi, 2011).   Thus the qualitative research aspect also assumes a significant dimension of right or wrong. Organizational settings could have hampered the data collection efforts of many researche rs and as a result they might have been influenced by cultural attachments and biases. The most significant data sets for any serious conclusions have been sifted to come to some conclusions that have a direct bearing on the learning outcomes of this study. For instance the Nigerian fiscal policy measures as based on attracting foreign investors to invest in solid mineral mining and exploration is particularly influenced by a desire on the part of the government to provide employment to local population (Chamber of Mines Newsletter, 2001). 1.5. Data Analysis Source: developingmarkets.com/dma/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/minister-of-mines1.pdf Table 2.5.1: Nigeria’s seven strategic solid minerals Source:developingmarkets.com/dma/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/minister-of-mines1.pdf      Table 2.5.2: Gold Production in Ghana Source:ghana-mining.org/ghweb/en/ma/mincom/mainStageParagraphs/06/childParagraphs/01/document/Major%20Minerals%20Prod%2090-07.pdf 1.6. Overall analysis Tax analysis with emphasis on fiscal policy in Nigeria requires a systematic theoretical analysis of the net present value. When corporate taxes are considered the firm is entitled to interest expense deduction which enables it to increase value of its assets. According to Modigliani Miller (1963) the tax exemption allows the firm to reduce the leverage-based premium in the cost associated with raising the equity capital. Subsequently Miller added personal taxes to the equation. An investor ought to make an investment only when it has a positive Net Present Value (NPV). Those investments or projects whose returns are negative must be disregarded.   The following formula is generally used to depict the NPV [1]of an investment or a project. The hypothetical example that follows the formula shows a positive NPV equal to  £123,928.60 at the end of the five year period. Here the opportunity cost of capital is assumed to be 12%. Year  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cash flow  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Discounted cash flow 0  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   =    £-(10,000.00) 1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   10,000.00  Ã‚  Ã‚   =     Ã‚  Ã‚    £ 8,928.57 2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   20,000 .00  Ã‚   =       £ 17,857.14 3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   40,000 .00  Ã‚   =       £ 35,714.28 4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   50,000.00  Ã‚   =  Ã‚     Ã‚    £44,642.85 5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   30,000 .00  Ã‚   =       £ 26,785.71 NPV  Ã‚   =  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚    £123,928.60 Thus by adopting it as the discount rate for all future cash flows one can effectively obtain the NPV for them. This gives a few advantages. In the first place proper financial management requires a realistic opportunity cost to be set against capital. Though over a period of 5 years there can be considerable pressure on interest rates, a steady return of earnings would be ensured through proper cash flow management. After all the above cash flow forecasts are assumed to be constant though, in reality they might vary. The decision to make the investment is based on the apparent returns by way of future cash flows and it does not take into account the risk factor involved. For instance the investor has totally disregarded DCF method because he probably considers those future returns to be final and conclusive with respect to their values. The DCF calculations and the NPV figure of the total investment show that the decision is fairly justifiable because the NPV is equal to  £ 123,928.60 which is a considerable value against probable future inflationary pressure, i.e. the opportunity cost of capital. The importance of discounting future cash flows by using these formulas also depends on other factors as well. Discounted cash flows give a real picture of the future possibilities.   Since DCF[2] is what an individual is willing to pay at present in order to have what he   expects to have in the future, it’s a process of expressing future revenue flows in terms of today’s value. Probably the most important reason behind DCF is the fact that inflation erodes the value of money in times to come, i.e. future. Therefore it’s essential to make up for the loss. That is why in each subsequent DCF multiplied by the number of years, a lower value comes up (Notermans, 2000). The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) [3]sets the present value of all future cash flows of an investment equal to zero. IRR usually holds the assumption that all future cash inflows would be reinvested at the internal rate as calculated at present. Assuming that there are investment projects with returns that exceed the cost of capital or interest, such projects would be seriously considered for investment. In other words when the IRR is greater the investment is more attractive. However it’s the NPV that every investor seeks to adopt because it has a less number of disadvantages or flaws. However there is abatement or mitigation of systematic risk through hedging. Individual investment decisions concerning risk mitigation are inevitably focused on the capital adequacy rules. Concurrent decisions to mitigate risk and maintain capital adequacy are nothing new in the investment sphere. Sharpe ratio is used to calculate the amount of systematic risk: Here the performance evaluation is based on risk-adjusted measures. Now the question â€Å"is the return adequate compensation for the risk?† has to be answered by working out the returns given the risk involved. The following explanations are used to work it out. The Sharpe ratio enables the adjustment of returns on investments to be conclusive with respect to risk-free returns and the degree of volatility of an investment. Rp   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = Average return on the portfolio Rf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = Average risk free rate Sp  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = Standard deviation of portfolio return (total risk). While Sharpe ratio is useful in determining adjusted risk and performance of a portfolio, there are other measures as well that have to be used in order to determine the level of risk accurately. Treynor ratio: rp   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = Average return on the portfolio rf   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = Average risk free rate ÃŽ ²p  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   = Beta of portfolio (systematic risk) Treynor ratio is used to measure returns that are in excess of what could have been made on risk-free investment.   For example Treasury Bills are less risky than other volatility-prone assets. That’s why it’s sometimes called reward-to-volatility ratio. It uses systematic risk. Thus higher the Treynor ratio, the higher the returns made on investments. However it is not like Sharpe ratio which is a measure of the excess return and does not help much. Next there is the Jensen’s Alpha, a measure that calculates the excess returns above the security market line as done in the capital asset pricing model (CAPM).[4] CAPM also uses beta as a multiplier to determine the total value of returns. Jensen’s Alpha is a risk adjusted portfolio performance metric. It’s calculated by using a regression technique to determine the performance of a given portfolio of a manager tested against a benchmark. On the other hand unsystematic (un-systemic) risk refers to a risk inherent in a particular industry or market that falters due to a specifically divergent variable. Unsystematic risk[5] (or residual risk or diversifiable risk) can be overcome by resorting to diversification of one’s portfolio (Lo, 2005).   Since unsystematic risk is specific to a particular market/industry or market segment, diversification helps investors either to reduce risk or totally cancel out depending on the relative offsetting effect of less risky investments. Unsystematic risk essentially presupposes the existence of a remedial measure without resorting to hedging which can be uncertain for a number of reasons. In the first place hedging is carried out with the intention of obviating systematic risk which occurs as the result of an exogenous variable going astray. In the case of unsystematic risk exogenous variables are assumed to behave in the predictable way (Lehmann, 1990). Thus forecasts are reliable to the extent that the individual potential investor does not feel the need to shuffle the basket of investments. Fund managers whose instincts the investor relies on, do not feel obliged to advice clients on the contrary decisions. In fact such advice depends not only the instincts of fund managers but also statistical forecasts. As the portfolio is more diversified unsystematic risk moves closer to zero. Accounting risk[6], financial risk [7]and economic risk[8] are all part and parcel of unsystematic risk. They signify the very nature of risk. For instance a financial risk might involve mistakes in cash flow forecasts thus leading to liquidity problems. These residual risks do not have a big impact on the whole system. The systemic imperviousness stands out as the most credible security against risk. But nevertheless the degree of this imperviousness is determined by a number of other factors that are inherent to the system itself. Calculations involve the same process as above. However, CAPM is often used to measure an individual security or a portfolio. Additionally the security market line [9](SML) is used to measure the reward-to-risk ratio of a security in relation to the total market as shown below. Finally total risk is the sum total of systematic risk and unsystematic risk. While the choice of the individual investor between different types of securities or investment instruments matters here, there is the need for the investor to make some decisive decisions involving which risk out of systematic and unsystematic risks to be reduced visvis the other. The following graph illustrates the hypothetical scenario of a company which invests in a given portfolio of securities. The red line is the Security Market Line. the horizontal axis shows the betas of all companies in the market   the vertical axis shows the required rates of return, as a percentage Assuming that the risk free rate is 5%, and the overall stock market will produce a rate of return of 12.5% next year the following would give a clearer picture of fundamental financial ratio analysis. The imaginary investor/shareholder/company has a beta of 1.7. This result is obtained by substituting a few sample betas into the CAPM equation as follows. Ks = Krf + B (Km Krf). Table 2.5.3: Beta Values Security Beta (It’s a measure of risk) Rate of Return Risk Free 0.0 5.00% Overall Stock Market 1.0 12.50% Utopia Company 1.7 17.75% Source: www.teachmefinance.com    This figure and hypothetical data can be applied to understand all three types of risks in investing in the Nigeria’s solid mineral mining and exploration industry.    Conclusion Time and again it has been argued that Nigeria’s existing fiscal policy regime in general and the tax system in particular regarding the SSM requires urgent revision to invite both local foreign investors. It has also been suggested that such a revision or an overhauling would be worked out in conformance with SSM’s current developments. Nigeria has been heavily dependent on its oil resource and in fact has been neglecting solid mineral mining industry [1]while another West African country Ghana has been systematically developing its solid minerals industry at a consistent pace. Thus the analysis is focused on a distinction between industry related features in Nigeria and Ghana to bring about a conviction of the existing tax anomalies in the former. While the paper focuses attention on a variety of tax related shortcomings in Nigeria ranging from the near total absence of a well structured corporate tax system in the solid mineral mining industry[2] in general and the SSM sector in particular, it has stressed on the significance of fiscal policy measures that require a systematic effort sustained over the years to bring about both a qualitative and quantitative shift in the solid mineral mining industry. The comparison with Ghana is made to in order to delineate a series of positive developments that have taken place within the Ghanaian taxation system in the solid mineral mining and exploration sector. Ghana has put in place a number of corporate tax incentives and relaxed its rules and regulations on the acquisition of mining rights[3] to assure the potential foreign investor that net returns on their investment in the sector would produce more than anticipated net returns. Nigeria just needs this kind of change in its tax sys tem to create a series of positive synergies. REFERENCES Books African Development Bank and the African Union, 2009. Oil and Gas in Africa, New York: Oxford University Press. Campbell, B., 2009. Mining in Africa: Regulation and Development, New York: Pluto Press. Daniel, P. Keen, M. (Eds), 2010. Charles McPherson (Editor) the Taxation of Petroleum and Minerals: Principles, Problems and Practice, Oxon: Routledge. Notermans, T., 2000. Money, Markets, and the State: Social Democratic Economic Policies since 1918 (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Journals Lehmann, B., 1990. ‘Fads, martingales, and market efficiency’, Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol .105, pp. 1–28. Lo, A., 2005. ‘Reconciling efficient markets with behavioral finance: the adaptive markets hypothesis’, Journal of Investment Consulting, vol.7, pp.21–44. Modigliani, F. Miller, M. H., 1963). â€Å"Corporate Income Taxes and the Cost of Capital: A Correction†, American Economic Review.   Articals Alison-Madueke, D., 2009. Opportunities in Nigeria’s Minerals Sector, Available at: developingmarkets.com/dma/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/minister-of-mines1.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Ayine, D., 2011. Natural Resource Investment Review In Developing Countries: Ghana’s Mininng Sector In Perspective, Available at: http://www2.americanbar.org/calendar/section-of-international-law-2011-spring-meeting/Documents/Friday/The%20New%20Gold%20Rush/NATURAL%20RESOURCE%20INVESTMENT%20REVIEW%20IN%20DEVELOPING%20COUNTRIES-%20GHANA’S%20MININNG%20SECTOR% [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Chamber of Mines Newsletter, 2001. Tanzania Chamber of Mines Newsletter, Available at: chamberofmines-tz.com/newsletter/news4a33b01078f7a.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Davis, J.M., Ossowski, R, Fedelino, A. (Eds), 2003. ‘Fiscal Policy Formulation and Implementation in Oil-Producing Countries’, International Monetary Fund, Available at: imf.org/external/pubs/nft/2003/fispol/index.htm#ch1 [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Economic Commission for Africa, 2004. Harmonization of Mining Policies, Standards, Legislative and Regulatory Frameworks in Southern Africa, Available at: http://vi.unctad.org/files/wksp/oilgaswksptanz10/docs/Background%20readings/SRO-SA%20Mining%20Report_final%20Harmonisation%20Study.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Department, 2006, Ghana Country Environmental Analysis, Available at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTRANETENVIRONMENT/3635842-1175696087492/21919456/Ghana_CEA.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Hossain, S.M., (2003). ‘Taxation and pricing of petroleum products in developing countries: A framework for analysis with application to Nigeria’, International Monetary Fund Working Paper, Available at: imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2003/wp0342.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. KopiÅ„ski, D., Undermining mining: the impact of the financial crisis on the mineral based economies of Sub-Saharan Africa, Available at: files.africanstudies.webnode.com/200000108/Undermining%20mining.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Lawal, M. A., Constraints to Small Scale Mining in Nigeria: Policies and Strategies for Development, Available at: dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/car/assets/images/Nike.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Nwete, B.O.N., Mineral and Petroleum Taxation How Can Tax Allowances PROMOTE Investment in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, Available at: dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/car/html/car8_article14.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Onugu, B. A. N., 2005, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In Nigeria: Problems and Prospects, Available at: stclements.edu/grad/gradonug.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. The Minerals Commission of Ghana, The Minerals Commission of Ghana, Available at: ghana-mining.org/ghweb/en/ma/mincom.html [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Twerefou, D.K., 2009. Mineral Exploitation, Environmental Sustainability and Sustainable Development in EAC, SADC and ECOWAS Regions, Available at: uneca.org/atpc/Work%20in%20progress/79.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Websites MBendi, 2011. Mining in Nigeria, Available at: mbendi.com/indy/ming/af/ng/p0005.htm [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. Acts Ministry Of Mines And Steel Development, National Minerals and Metals Policy, Available at: mmsd.gov.ng/Downloads/NATIONAL%20POLICY%20ON%20MINERALS%20METAL.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011]. The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007. Mining In Nigeria, Available at: gbc-law.com/Mining_in_Nigeria.pdf [Accessed 03rd May 2011].

How to Format A College Essay 15 Expert Tips

How to Format A College Essay 15 Expert Tips SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips When you’re applying to college, even small decisions can feel high-stakes. This is especially true for the college essay, which often feels like the most personal part of the application. You may agonize over your college application essay format: the font, the margins, even the file format. Or maybe you’re agonizing over how to organize your thoughts overall. Should you use a narrative structure? Five paragraphs? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll go over the ins and outs of how to format acollege essayon both the micro and macro levels. We’ll discuss minor formatting issues like headings and fonts, then discuss broad formatting concerns like whether or not to use a five-paragraph essay, and if you should use a college essay template. How to Format a College Essay: Font, Margins, Etc. Some of your formatting concerns will depend on whether you will be cutting and pasting your essay into a text box on an online application form or attaching a formatted document. If you aren’t sure which you’ll need to do, check the application instructions. Note that the Common Application does currently require you to copy and paste your essay into a text box. Most schools also allow you to send in a paper application, which theoretically gives you increased control over your essay formatting. However, I generally don’t advise sending in a paper application (unless you have no other option) for a couple of reasons: Most schools state that they prefer to receive online applications. While it typically won’t affect your chances of admission, it is wise to comply with institutional preferences in the college application process where possible. It tends to make the whole process go much more smoothly. Paper applications can get lost in the mail. Certainly there can also be problems with online applications, but you’ll be aware of the problem much sooner than if your paper application gets diverted somehow and then mailed back to you. By contrast, online applications let you be confident that your materials were received. Regardless of how you will end up submitting your essay, you should draft it in a word processor. This will help you keep track of word count, let you use spell check, and so on. Now I’ll go over some of the concerns you might have about the correct college essay application format whetheryou're copying and pastinginto atext box or attaching a document, plus a few tips that apply either way: Plus, online submission doesn't require any stamps! If You'll Be Copy-and-Pasting Into a Text Box: The main thing when you copy and paste into a text box is to double- and triple-check that everything transferred over correctly. First, check that your whole essay transferred over and wasn’t cut off! Word counts can get messed up by wonky formatting or be counted differently in the text box, so be aware that you may need to make slight adjustments there. When you copy and paste, you may lose formatting like bold or italics. Sometimes bold and italics also just won’t work in the text box, so you may be better off just not using them. Your paragraph spacing may get messed up when you copy and paste your essay over. So make sure that all of your paragraphs are clearly delineated, either through tabs or through a skipped line if tabbing doesn’t work. Font will probably be standardized, but if it’s not, choose a standardfont like Times New Roman or Arial (you’ll probably have limited options anyways) and a normal size (12 pt). If You'reAttaching a Document: If you’re attaching a document, you have to be more concerned with the overall college essay format. Things like margins and spacing become more important. Use one-inch margins all around. This is standard and easy to read. While single-spaced essays are usually acceptable, your essay will be easier to read if it’s 1.5 or double-spaced. Clearly delineate your paragraphs. A single tab at the beginning is fine. Use a font that’s easy to read, like Times, Arial, Calibri, Cambria, etc. Avoid fonts like Papyrus and Curlz. And use 12 pt font. You may want to include a college essay heading with a page number and your application ID. Don’t include your name unless it’s specifically requested. Oftentimes, you’ll need to submit your college essay in a specific file format. The application may only accept certain versions of Word files (i.e. only .doc and not .docx), .rtf or .pdf files. So just be sure that you are saving your file in an accepted format before you upload it! I recommend .pdf files whenever possible, because they are uneditable and always look the same. Want to write the perfect college application essay? Get professional help from PrepScholar. Your dedicated PrepScholar Admissions counselor will craft your perfect college essay, from the ground up. We'll learn your background and interests, brainstorm essay topics, and walk you through the essay drafting process, step-by-step. At the end, you'll have a unique essay that you'll proudly submit to your top choice colleges. Don't leave your college application to chance. Find out more about PrepScholar Admissions now: Formatting Guidelines That Apply No Matter How You End Up Submitting the Essay: Unless it’s specifically requested, you don’t need a title. It will just eat into your word count. Avoid cutesy, overly colloquial formatting choices like ALL CAPS or ~unnecessary symbols~ or, heaven forbid, emoji and #hashtags. Your college essay should be professional, and anything too cutesy or casual will come off as immature. Keep these out of your essay! How To Structure Your College Essay Maybe you’re less concerned with the micro-level college essay format,like fonts, and more concerned with the macro-level format,like how to structure your college admissions essay. Is there’s some secret paragraph formula that will make writing easy and clearly express all of your strengths to an awestruck admissions committee? Sadly, no. However, the good news is that a college essay is actually a good opportunity to play with structure a little bit and break free from the five-paragraph essay. (You’re certainly not disallowed from writing a five-paragraph essay, but it’s by no means guaranteed to be the best college essay structure.) A good college essay is like a sandwich, where the intro and conclusion are the pieces of bread and whatever comes between them is the sandwich toppings. A sandwich without bread is a bad sandwich, but a good sandwich could have any number of things between the bread pieces. So you need a clear introduction that gives a pretty clear idea of where you will be going in the essay and a conclusion that wraps everything up and makes your main point clear. However, how you approach the middle part is up to you. You could structure your essay more like a narrative, relating an important experience from your life. You could use an extended analogy, where each paragraph is a part of the analogy. You want to adhere broadly to the wisdom that each paragraph should have an identifiable main idea, but a college essay is definitely a great chance to break free from the five-paragraph essay. For more in-depth advice on how to structure your essay, check out our expert step-by-step guide on tackling the essay. Mmm, delicious essay...I mean sandwich. Why College Essay Templates Are a Bad Idea You might see college essay templates online that offer guidelines on how to structure your essay and what to say in each paragraph. I strongly advise against using a template. It will make your essay sound canned and bland- two of the worst things a college essay can be. It’s much better to think about what you want to say, and then talk through how to best structure it with someone else and/or make your own practice outlines before you sit down to write. You can also find tons of successful sample essays online. Looking at these to get an idea of different styles and topics is fine, but again, I don’t advise closely patterning your essay after a sample essay. You will do the best if your essay really reflects your own original voice and the experiences that are most meaningful to you. College Application Essay Format: Key Takeaways There are two levels of formatting you might be worried about: the micro (fonts, headings, margins, etc) and the macro (the overall structure of your essay). Tips for the micro level of your college application essay format: Always draft your essay in a word processing software, even if you’ll be copy-and-pasting it over into a text box. If you are copy-and-pasting it into a text box, make sure your formatting transfers properly, your paragraphs are clearly delineated, and your essay isn’t cut off. If you are attaching a document, make sure your font is easily readable, your margins are standard 1-inch, your essay is 1.5 or double-spaced, and your file format is compatible with the application specs. There’s no need for a title unless otherwise specified- it will just eat into your word count. Tips for the macro levelof your college application essay format: There is no super-secret college essay format that will guarantee success. In terms of structure, it’s most important that you have an introduction that makes it clear where you’re going and a conclusion that wraps up with a main point. For the middle of your essay, you have lots of freedom, just so long as it flows logically! I advise against using an essay template, as it will make your essay sound stilted and unoriginal. Plus, if you use a college essay template, how will you get rid of these medieval weirdos? What's Next? Still feeling lost? Check out ourtotal guide to the personal statement, or see our step-by-step guide to writing the perfect essay. If you're not sure where to start, consider these tipsfor attention-grabbing first sentences to college essays! And be sure to avoid these 10 college essay mistakes. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: