Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Freeze Tag Drama Class Improv Game

Freeze Tag Drama Class Improv Game The Basics Freeze Tag (also known simply as Freeze) is an improvisation game and a great drama exercise for performers at any level. It works best in groups of eight or more. Two volunteers step onto the stage while the rest of the actors sit and wait for the right moment to join in. I Need a Location As with most improv activities, audience participation is essential. The actors on stage will request suggestions for a specific location. If this is a classroom exercise, the drama instructor should encourage the audience to be creative with their suggestions. For example, Stuck inside a giant vending machine or In the break room of Santas Workshop is far more inspiring than Shopping mall. The performers listen to a few of the suggestions. They then quickly select an interesting setting and the scene begins. The goal of the actors is to invent characters and dialogue off the cuff. They should quickly establish a storyline and conflict. Also, they should be encouraged to move about the stage space, pantomiming whatever they wish to incorporate into the scene. Calling Freeze! After the actors have been given enough time to create an interesting situation, the performers sitting in the audience can now participate. All they need to do is shout, Freeze! The actors on stage will then stand motionless. Whoever called out freeze enters the stage space. He or she takes the place of one of the actors, recreating the exact same pose. This can sometimes be challenging if the actor happens to be in a ballet position or crawling on all fours. But thats part of the fun! Keep It Going A brand new scene begins with a different setting and different characters. No more suggestions are taken from the audience. Instead, it is up to the performers to invent the situation. Drama instructors should ask students to let the physical positions influence the storyline of the next scene. For example, if one set of performers is frozen while in the middle of a tug of war contest, the next scene could take place at an Amish barn raising. Also, instructors should make certain that each scene is given enough time to develop. Usually, two or three minutes is ample time to establish character and conflict. At first, improvisation activities might be very challenging for unseasoned performers. Yet, we often played these sorts of games when we were children. Remember: Improvisation is simply an advanced form of playing pretend.

Sunday, March 1, 2020

My Dads - Sample Common Application Essay - Option #1

My Dads - Sample Common Application Essay - Option #1 The essay prompt for option #1 of the 2018-19  Common Application allows students a lot of breadth: Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The prompt allows students to write about just about anything they find extremely important in their lives. Charlie chose this option because his atypical family situation was a defining part of his identity. Here is his essay: Charlie's Common Application Essay My Dads I have two dads. They met in the early 80s, became partners soon after, and adopted me in 2000. I think I’ve always know that we were a little different from most families, but that’s never really bothered me. My story, that which defines me, is not that I have two dads. I’m not automatically a better person, or smarter, or more talented, or better looking because I am the child of a same-sex couple. I’m not defined by the number of fathers I have (or the lack of mothers). Having two dads is inherent to my person not because of the novelty; it’s inherent because it has afforded me a completely unique life perspective. I’m very fortunate to have grown up in a loving and safe environment- with caring friends, family, and neighbors. I know for my dads, that was not always the case. Living on a farm in Kansas, my dad Jeff struggled internally with his identity for years. My dad Charley was luckier; born and raised in New York City, he was always supported by his parents and the community there. He only has a few stories of being harassed on the street or the subway. Dad Jeff, though, has a web of scarring on his right arm, from the time he was jumped leaving a bar; one of the men pulled a knife on him. When I was little, he used to make up stories about these scars; it wasn’t until I was fifteen that he told me the truth. I know how to be afraid. My dads know how to be afraid- for me, for themselves, for the life they’ve created. When I was six, a man threw a brick through our front window. I don’t remember much about that night save for a few images: the police arriving, my aunt Joyce helping to clean up the glass, my dads hugging, how they let me sleep in their bed that night. This night wasn’t a turning point for me, a realization that the world is an ugly, nasty place. We carried on as usual, and nothing like that ever happened again. I guess, in retrospect, my dads were just used to living slightly afraid. But it never stopped them from going out in public, being seen together, being seen with me. Through their bravery, their unwillingness to give in, they taught me the virtue of courage more concretely and lasting than a thousand parables or Bible verses ever could. I also know how to respect people. Growing up in a â€Å"different† family dynamic has led me to appreciate and understand others who are labeled as â€Å"different.† I know how they feel. I know where they’re coming from. My dads know what it is like to be spat on, looked down on, yelled at, and belittled. Not only do they want to keep me from being bullied; they want to keep me from bullying. They have taught me, through their actions, beliefs, and habits, always to strive to be the best person I can. And I know countless other people have learned the same things from their own parents. But my story is different. I wish having same-sex parents wasn’t the novelty it is. I’m not a charity case, or a miracle, or a role model because I have two dads. But I am who I am because of them. Because of all they’ve lived through, dealt with, suffered, and tolerated. And from that, they’ve taught me how to help others, how to care about the world, how to make a difference- in a thousand small ways. I am not just the â€Å"boy with two dads;† I’m the boy with two dads who taught him how to be a decent, caring, courageous, and loving human being. A Critique of Charlie's Common Application Essay Overall, Charlie has written a strong essay. This critique looks at the features of the  essay that make it shine as well as a few areas that could use a little improvement. The Essay Title Charlies title is short and simple, but it is also effective. Most college applicants have a single dad, so the mention of plural dads is likely to pique the interest of the reader. Good titles dont need to be funny, punny, or clever, and Charlie has clearly gone for a straight-forward but effective approach. There are, of course, many strategies for writing a good essay title, but Charlie has done a good job on this front.    The Essay Length For the 2018-19 academic year, the Common Application essay has a word limit of 650 and a minimum length of 250 words. At 630 words, Charlies essay is on the long side of the range. Youll see advice from many college counselors stating that you are better off keeping your essay short, but that advice is controversial. Sure, you dont want to have wordiness, fluff, digressions, vague language, or redundancy in your essay (Charlie is not guilty of any of these sins). But a well-crafted, tight, 650-word essay can provide the admissions folks with a more detailed portrait of you than a 300-word essay. The fact that the college is asking for an essay means that it has  holistic admissions, and the admissions folks want to learn about you as an individual. Use the space youve been given to do so. Again, there are many theories about the ideal essay length, but you can obviously do a more thorough job introducing yourself to the college with an essay that takes advantage of the space youve been given. The Essay Topic Charlie steers clear of some of the obvious bad essay topics, and he has certainly focused on a topic that the admissions folks wont see very frequently. His topic is an excellent choice for Common Application option #1 for his domestic situation has clearly played a defining role in who he is. There are, of course, a few conservative colleges with religious affiliations that would not look favorably upon this essay, but thats not an issue here since those are schools that would not be a good match for Charlie. The essay topic is also a good choice in that it illustrates how Charlie will contribute to the diversity of the college campus. Colleges want to enroll a diverse college class, for we all learn from interacting with people who are different than us. Charlie contributes to diversity not through race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, but by having an upbringing that is different from the great majority of people.   Weaknesses of the Essay For the most part, Charlie has written an excellent essay. The prose in the essay is clear and fluid, and aside from an incorrect  punctuation mark and a vague pronoun reference, the writing is pleasing free of errors. Although Charlies essay isnt likely to create any significant concerns from readers, the tone of the conclusion could use a little reworking. The last sentence, in which he calls himself a decent, caring, courageous, and loving human being, comes across as a little strong with the self-praise. In fact, that last paragraph would be stronger if Charlie simply cut the final sentence. Hes already made the point in that sentence without the problem of tone we encounter at the very end. This is a classic case of show, dont tell. Charlie has shown that he is a decent person, so he doesnt need to spoon feed that information to his reader. The Overall Impression Charlies essay has much that is excellent, and the admissions folks are likely to respond positively to how understated most of it is. For example, when Charlie narrates the scene of the brick flying through the window, he says, this night wasnt a turning point for me. This is not an essay about sudden life-changing epiphanies; rather, it is about the life-long lessons in bravery, perseverance, and love that have made Charlie into the person that he is. A couple simple questions you can ask when evaluating an essay are these: 1) Does the essay help us get to know the applicant better? 2) Does the applicant seem like someone who would contribute to a campus community in a positive way? With Charlies essay, the answer to both questions is yes. To see more sample essays and learn strategies for each of the essay options, be sure to read The 2018-19 Common Application Essay Prompts.

Friday, February 14, 2020

Discussion Board Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Discussion Board - Essay Example Conversely, "passive" ITS probe vehicles are vehicles that are already in the traffic stream for purposes other than data collection. passenger in the test vehicle; Historically, the manual method has been the most commonly used travel time data collection technique. This method requires a driver and a passenger to be in the test vehicle. The driver operates the test vehicle while the passenger records time information at predefined checkpoints to the transmission of the test vehicle; Technology has automated the manual method with the use of an electronic DMI. The DMI is connected to a portable computer in the test vehicle and receives pulses at given intervals from the transmission of the vehicle. Distance and speed information are then determined from these pulses satellites. GPS has become the most recent technology to be used for travel time data collection. A GPS receiver is connected to a portable computer and collects the latitude and longitude information that enables tracking of the test vehicle. Each of these test vehicle techniques is described in detail in the following sections of this chapter. The following elements are included for each technique: overview, advantages and disadvantages, cost and equipment requirements, data collection instructions, data reduction and quality control, and previous experiences. Since the driver of the test vehicle is a member of the data collection team, driving styles and behavior can be controlled to match desired driving behavior. The following are three common test vehicle driving styles (1): - Average car - test vehicle travels according to the driver's judgement of the average speed of the traffic stream; - Floating car - driver "floats" with the traffic by attempting to safely pass as many vehicles as pass the test vehicle; and - Maximum car - test vehicle is driven at the posted speed limit unless impeded by actual traffic conditions or safety considerations. The floating car driving style is the most commonly referenced. In practice, however, drivers will likely adopt a hybrid of the floating car and average car because of the inherent difficulties of keeping track of passed and passing vehicles in high traffic volume conditions Advantages and Disadvantages The manual method (pen and paper) has the following advantages: - No special equipment needs; - Low skill level (no special hardware training); and - Minimal equipment costs. The manual method (pen and paper) has the following disadvantages: - High labor requirements (driver and observer); - Low level of detail (average speeds for 0.4 to 0.8 km, or 0.25 to 0.5 mi). Average speed and delay are reasonable while queue length and speed profiles are difficult; - Greater potential for human error (potential for marking wrong checkpoints or inaccurate times); - Potential data entry errors (e.g.,

Saturday, February 1, 2020

Inquiry of The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood Essay

Inquiry of The Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood - Essay Example Enric Miralles, the Catalan architect and designer of the building died while the project was in progress. The former Lord Advocate Peter Fraser in his Holyrood Inquiry in 2003 has identified the Construction Management method of procurement as one of the major factors affecting the final cost of the project (White and Sidhu 2005). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to outline the alternative methods of construction procurement that may have been considered for the Scottish Parliament building. One of the methods will be selected as the most suitable, and the reasons for the choice will be explained. The Scottish Parliament building has won numerous awards including the 2005 Stirling Prize for its architecture. The design of the construction was conceived as a poetic fusion of the â€Å"Scottish landscape, its people, its culture and the city of Edinburgh† (Satellite Sites 2008). However, the unrealistic cost estimates at the conception stage, the lack of true comprehension of the architects’ evolving design, requirement for changes and increases approved by the client: the Secretary of State and later the Parliament, and the consequent rise in costs resulted in financial difficulties during the construction. Most significantly, there was inadequate understanding of the Construction Management route of procurement, with no information given to the ministers regarding the risks involved in this method. Moreover, due to the complexity of the project, high maintenance costs are being incurred in an ongoing manner (White and Sidhu 2005). The procurement system is the project organisational structure adopted by the client. It is defined as the â€Å"collective action required to acquire the design, management and installation of inputs† (Ngowi 2000, p.362). According to Morledge (2006), over the last twenty-five years, there have not been any significant changes in the United Kingdom strategies for the procurement of new

Friday, January 24, 2020

Alternatives to Human-embryo Stem-cell Research Essay -- Argumentative

Alternatives to Human-embryo Stem-cell Research      Ã‚   This essay counters the media and many scientists' claims that there are no viable alternatives to human-embryo stem-cell research (ESCR).    The media restate the claim (made repeatedly in NIH documents) that adult stem cells do not have the same potential as embryonic stem cells, which in theory can form any tissue. But studies done with adult stem cells (studies which mirror the ones done with embryonic stem cells) show that adult stem cells do have the capacity to form essentially any tissue.    The most misleading term which continues to be used is "pluripotent." Literally, this means able to form most (but not all) tissues. This term continues to be used incorrectly, primarily to imply that human embryonic stem cells can form all human tissues except "trophoblast" tissue - this is an essential outer layer of cells in the early embryo which allows it to implant into the uterine wall and nourishes early development. The trophoblast is also the part of the embryo removed in its destruction to harvest the inner embryonic stem cells. The phrase "human pluripotent stem cells" has been used to counter the question of whether human embryonic stem cells in culture could actually reform a human embryo, implying that this is not possible. Yet in testimony before the Senate, then-Director of the NIH, Harold Varmus, said that this possibility was uncertain, and that in fact it would be unethical to attempt such an experiment to determine whether this was possible (Varmus). Enter the te rm pluripotent - if the embryonic stem cells cannot form trophoblast, they cannot form an embryo. Mouse embryonic stem cells cannot form trophoblast tissue. BUT, as stated in Thomson... ... disputing that we are a human being even at the one-cell stage. It has never been acceptable to sacrifice one set of human lives for the potential benefit of others (and they are only potential benefits at this point.) Human embryonic stem cell research assigns different values to different human beings, designating some as people and some as property.    It is totally UNNECESSARY. Ethical alternatives exist such as adult stem cells which have already shown much more promise than embryonic cells, these results for adult stem cells are fully detailed in the scientific literature, and that adult stem cells are already being used clinically, making good on the potential that embryonic stem cells only promise.    WORKS CITED: Varmus, Harold. http://www.nih.gov/news/stemcell/statement.htm Thomson, Professor. http://www.erp.wisc.edu/faculty/thomson/

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Obedience Essay

One of the most prominent studies of obedience in the study of psychology was performed by Stanley Milgram. The intent of this study was to research how far individuals would go in obeying a command while it involved hurting someone. Milgram’s curiosity to see how normal individuals could be influenced by enormity seems to be an influence for this study. My initial reaction to Milgram’s study video was pure disgust. In my opinion, he treated his participants like animals. Due to his own fascination, he did not care about the well being of his participants, but rather to fulfill his own thirst for knowledge. During the video, a man pleads to let him out and the responded says, â€Å"Go on, I will not be responsible for it†. A few seconds later he yells and continues to ask to let him out. The presence of the administrator affect obedience because of his authoritative role, and continues to reassure the subjects that the volts were not harming them. It is anticipat ed that individuals are to follow directions accustomed by an administrator. For instance, authority affects obedience in our everyday lives. When we attend school, there are different layers of authority. You have your teachers, security services, a vice principal and a head principal. It is important to show respect, listen and engage what is being ask of you because there is a higher level of authority. In my opinion, when individuals do things against their personal ethics when an authority asks can have many different reasons. This study confirms that obedience can take precedence over moral code (Myers, 2012). Obedience to authority is implemented in our brains at a very young age. As children it is integrated to follow authority, whether it be a parent, teacher, boss etc. Normative influences can also be a result. References Myers, D. G. (2012). Exploring social psychology (6th ed.). Boston, MA:McGraw-Hill. retrieved from:http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073531871/student_view0/module14/video.html

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Alzheimers and Dementia Risk Factors - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1498 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/04/04 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Tags: Alzheimer's Disease Essay Did you like this example? A very thorough study by The Alzheimers Association states that, 5.7 million Americans are living with alzheimers in 2018. Seniors, 65 or older, are more likely to get the disease (Alzheimers Association). Dementia is not reversible and progressively destroys memory over the course of a few years.When most people think if dementia, they think of Alzheimers, but many people do not know that that is just one out of quite a few forms of dementia. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Alzheimers and Dementia Risk Factors" essay for you Create order Dementia is more common as people grow older. Before all of the research, developing dementia was mostly based on family history, genes and age. Now, research is beginning to reveal more information that we could use to prevent this disease (Alzheimers Association). Factors such as bad health, head injuries and smoking can put someone at a greater risk for developing Alzheimers or other forms of dementia in their later years of life. There is a link between head injuries and Alzheimers that puts you at more risk to develop Alzheimers or any other form of dementia. There are ways you can protect your brain like wearing a helmet when you participate in sports and wearing a seatbelt when riding in a car. All of these can decrease the chance of developing dementia such as Alzheimers disease. Once known as dementia pugilistica, head injuries that cause dementia are now known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is caused by protein deposits formed in the brain from a head injury (Alzheimers Society). Head injuries can be preventable. On the website National Center for Biotechnology, an article written by Anna Nordstrom, from the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, states, a meta-analysis of 15 case-control studies determined that individuals who suffered severe brain injuries were approximately 50% more likely to develop Alzheimers. With that information, when are the chances worse? The same stu dy states, researchers found out that the risk of a dementia diagnosis is highest during your first year after the injury (National Center for Biotechnology). Even though your chances are greater after the first year, your overall chances of developing dementia never really goes away. During this time, people were four to six times more likely to get a dementia diagnosis after a traumatic brain injury than those without the injury. Even though the overall risk decreased over time, patients still faced higher risk even thirty years later (National Center of Biotechnology). According to Jesse Fann, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Our data showed that even if you have multiple head injuries in your early twenties, the risk of developing dementia in your fifties increases by 60% (UW Medicine2:20-32). My great grandfather and both of his brothers were boxers, they all went through bad head injuries during their career and all three developed dementia as they grew older. Many boxers, football players and wrestlers develop a form of dementia; which means that even if you have a traumatic brain injury when you are fairly young, it could still affect you later down the road. At the fifteen year follow up, researchers found the risk for a dementia diagnosis increased 80 percent in those who have had at least one traumatic brain injury compared to those who havent (National Center of Biotechnology). Your overall health also has an affect on your chances of developing Alzheimers later down the road. In an article from Alzheimers Society, authors state, there is very strong evidence that conditions that damage your heart, arteries or blood circulation such as Type 2 Diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels and obesity all significantly affect a persons chances of developing Alzheimers. These all can be avoidable so your health doesnt affect you when you grow much older. In the book Understanding Alzheimers the author Dr. Naheed Ali stated, Poor lifestyle habits that could lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis, and diabetes are now risk factors for Alzheimers disease (25). These conditions can contribute to the damage and and death of brain cells by hardening the blood vessels and blocking oxygen flow to the brain. Which means that there are steps you can take to control high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. While keeping yo ur blood pressure under control is important, over treating it can be just as harmful as undertreating it says Dr. Levine from an article in Everyday Health. When blood pressure is low it becomes difficult for our bodies to supply the exact amount of blood we need to our brains. Having cardiovascular disease or Type 2 Diabetes, the risk of developing dementia increases by up to two times, which is most typically known as vascular dementia; this is caused by problems that have to do with blood supply to the brain (Alzheimers Society). Having poor mental health also puts you at risk for developing dementia. Depression is a big leading factor. Esther Heerema, who is a licensed social worker and has worked with hundreds of people with Alzheimers dementia and other types of dementias stated, In a study involving 1,764 participants who were tested and monitored for eight years to evaluate depression symptoms and dementia symptoms, the researchers found that there was a significant correlation between late-life depression and the risk of dementia (Very Well Health). Depression in late-life is unhealthy for your brain, as well as early life depression. Depression in early life can also affect your chances of developing this disease. After more studies, researchers concluded that individuals with either early or late life depression were both up to four times more likely to develop dementia than those without depression (Very Well Health). A lot of people do not realize the overall effect that your health can have on your brain. Depression and Type 2 Diabetes pose a significantly higher risk of developing dementia, and that when the participants had both type 2 diabetes and depression, the risk was even greater than expected (Very Well Health). There are ways that you can keep your mental health strong. Improving your mental health can include eating well and exercising. Gisele Wolf-Klein a professor of medicine at Hofstra Medical School and director of geriatric education for the North Shore LIJ Health System in New York states, Very much of what applies to prevention and good healthy habits in general, applies also to the prevention of dementia (Everyday Health). A very healthy habit to take up to improve your mental health includes exercising. You dont have to go crazy overboard with the exercising, exercising for just a little bit everyday can help. Studies show that just walking more than a couple blocks a day will reduce dementia risk says Dr. Wolf-Klein (Everyday Health). Exercise is helpful for your body to continue good blood flow to the brain. We already know that smoking causes serious health risks, but did you know it increases your chances of developing Alzheimers, too (Cognitive Vitality)? Smoking is very unhealthy for your brain. Cigarettes and cigarette smoke contains more than 4,700 chemical compounds, including some that are highly toxic such as vinyl chloride, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and heavy metals (Cognitive Vitality). None of these can be good for you nor healthy for your brain. The World health Organization now estimates that up to 14% of Alzheimers, most common form of dementia, cases are caused by smoking (Health and Wellness Alerts). There have been quite a few studies on smoking and how it is related to dementia. A 2015 analysis published in the online scientific journal PLOS ONE evaluated the results of 37 studies that compared current smokers with people who never smoked or who quit; the authors found that current smokers were 30 percent more likely to develop some for m of dementia than people who never smoked (Health and Wellness Alerts). Which means, that even if you quit smoking, your chances go down. Smoking leads to cognitive decline in many ways. Smoking harms DNA cells throughout the body, which promotes the formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain; both are closely associated with Alzheimers disease (Cognitive Vitality). Alzheimers is not the only form of dementia you can develop from smoking. Tobacco smoke damages arteries, which interferes with flow to the brain (Cognitive Vitality). When you have poor blood supply to your brain you can develop vascular dementia. Smoking is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so it makes sense that it would also make you vulnerable to Alzheimers disease and other dementias, John H. Growdon, MD who studies neurology, states (Sharecare). Cardiovascular disease is also linked to vascular dementia and Alzheimers. As earlier mentioned, there has been many studies on smoking and how it is related to Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. Anthony Cirillo who studies Geriatric Medicine says, A Kaiser Permanente study reported that an analysis of more than 20,000 men and women, studied since 1978, found a 157% heightened risk of Alzheimers for people who smoked two packs or more a day (Sharecare). Smoking two packs a day is a whole lot of smoking, but even less than that can still heighten the risk.