The Power of Setting Using Vivid Description to Enthrall Your Readers - Freewrite Store

The Power of Setting Using Vivid Description to Enthrall Your Readers - Freewrite Store Starting out as a fiction writer, you’ll be told to focus on plot, dialogue, and characterization - but there’s something else that should be on that list - that often gets relegated to the ‘not-so-important’ pile. The power of evocative description of the setting of your story is frequently overlooked - but it shouldn’t be. I did a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing in my mid-twenties, aftermy first novel was published. (Yeah, I know that’s backward way on, but it seemed a good idea at the time!) It surprised me that vivid description of the story setting didn’t really come up until a module on ‘world-building’ for fantasy fiction. The story setting isn’t just important in fantasy fiction. It’s important in all fiction, offering the opportunity to enthrall your readers and bring your story to life. Great fiction, I believe, is the kind that has you dreaming about the setting and the characters long after the book is finished - and if you don’t offer a vivid description of the setting to your readers, they can’t dream about it. So, now you know why creating vivid and evocative descriptions of your setting is so important, let’s look at what goes into crafting the kind of descriptions that stick in your readers’ minds. The Essential Ingredients of Vivid Settings If you’re cooking a complex meal, you know that you have to measure out the exact ingredients in the recipe if you want it to turn out as expected. With vivid descriptions of settings, you also need to include a range of ingredients - although you have a little more freedom with the quantities. The ingredients of an evocative setting are the same whether you’re writing fantasy or romance, historical fiction or a crime thriller. Let’s take a look at what you need. Sensory Details The best descriptions of settings use a lot of sensory details. As humans, we explore our world using our five senses, so it’s only natural to use the senses to craft realistic and vivid details that your readers can easily imagine. Sensory details - which evoke smells, colors, textures, sounds, and sensations - can instantly add power to any description of a setting. Of course, different settings will evoke different senses - and you don’t have to evoke all five senses in each description. Let’s look at the difference that sensory details can add to your writing in the contrast between these two descriptions: Alex forged ahead. There was a path leading through the trees and into some bushes A path of crushed pine needles wound among the trees and into a shadowy clump of bracken and snow-laden rhododendron bushes. A sharp, icy wind carried the sharp tang of pine and the damp decay of leaves on the forest floor. Sunlight spilled through the canopy of trees and reflected off droplets of water clinging to the sleeve of Alex’s jacket. A twig snapped beneath his boot, and he froze, holding his breath as the deer’s head turned sharply towards him. It sniffed the air, and then, as if it could smell the danger, bolted away through the undergrowth, its hoof-beats seeming to echo the frustrated beating of Alex’s heart. If you struggle with bringing sensory details into your writing, you could try keeping a ‘sensory diary’. By this, I mean carrying a notebook with you and spending a few minutes every day describing your setting. Focus on: What you can hear What you can see What you can smell What the surface you’re sitting on feels like What you can taste (this applies even if you’re not eating or drinking anything!) Metaphors and Similes Metaphor: A word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show or suggest that they are similar; An object, activity, or idea that is used as a symbol of something else For example: â€Å"Love is a battlefield† Simile: a type of figurative language that describes something by comparing it to something else with the words like or as. For example, â€Å"Life is like a box of chocolates.† As literary devices, metaphors and similes are tools that every writer should have in their toolbox. Although metaphors and similes can become tired with overuse, their familiarity can help instantly connect your reader with the setting you’re describing - evoking powerful sensory details without having to articulate those details. Both metaphors and similes have extensively been used throughout the centuries - and to great effect. Take a look at these examples:   Ã¢â‚¬Å"The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold that slid near and nearer the sill of the world.† - Lord of the Flies, William Golding â€Å"Small flames stirred at the trunk of a tree and crawled away through leaves and brushwood, dividing and increasing. One patch touched a tree trunk and scrambled up like a bright squirrel. The smoke increased, sifted, rolled outwards. The squirrel leapt on the wings of the wind and clung to another standing tree, eating downwards. Beneath the dark canopy of leaves and smoke, the fire laid hold on the forest and began to gnaw.† - Lord of the Flies,William Golding â€Å"But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!† - Romeo Juliet,William Shakespeare â€Å"In the eastern sky there was a yellow patch like a rug laid for the feet of the coming sun . . .† - The Red Badge of Courage,Stephen Crane â€Å"The water made a sound like kittens lapping.† - The Yearling,Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Similes and metaphors can be overused, however, so it’s important that you don’t rely on them too much when you’re working on writing vivid descriptions of your story setting. Instead, you should aim to balance your writing with a variety of figurative techniques. If you struggle with coming up with metaphors and similes for your writing, it may help to go through some of your favorite books and see how the authors you admire use these literary devices. Atmospheric Details Creating an atmosphere in your setting can truly take your scenes to the next level. Describing an atmosphere can add tension, a sense of urgency, apprehension, excitement, and so on. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens used atmospheric imagery in his descriptions of Miss Havisham’s house to create a vivid sense of despair and decay. The narrator, Pip, describes it as being made ‘of old brick and dismal... [with] a great many iron bars to it.’ Dickens writes: Some of the windows had been walled up; of those that remained, all the lower were rustily barred [†¦] While we waited at the gate, I peeped [†¦] and saw that at the side of the house there was a large brewery. No brewing was going on in it, and none seemed to have gone on for a long long time. ‘The first thing I noticed was, that the passages were all dark and that she had left a candle burning there. She took it up, and we went through more passages and up a staircase, and still, it was all dark, and only the candle lighted us.’ The atmosphere Dickens creates is gothic - perfect for Miss Havisham - but you can use details like these to create any kind of atmosphere. There are particular kinds of words that create an atmosphere. For example: Rattling Creaking Thumping Whistling Shuddering Echoing Try looking at how your favorite authors create an atmosphere in their novels. Why is it so effective? Do you think some types of atmosphere are more commonly evoked in settings than others? A Note on Authenticity When you’re writing vivid descriptions, it’s easy to get carried away. However, unless you’re writing fantasy fiction (where you literally have a license to let your imagination run wild) or creating your own fictional towns, it’s important that the settings that you describe are authentic. Even if you’re creating a fictional town or city, you have to make it realistic. This especially applies if you’re writing historical fiction - but it’s important for all kinds of fiction, really. Creating an authentic setting avoids jarring the reader out of the story with a detail that is out of place in the time period or location of the setting. For example, imagine you’re reading a book set in Victorian London - in 1855. The author has been using authentic dialogue and using really evocative language in describing the setting. You’re engrossed in the story, immersed in all the details that make you feel like you can actually smell the streets of London. Then, the author has a character catching a train on the London Underground. Except you happen to know that the London Underground didn’t open until 1863. This jarring detail immediately ruins the sense of authenticity. Always fact-check when you’re writing about settings that your readers may be familiar with. All the descriptive skills in the world can’t save a novel that is inaccurate! It can be helpful to keep a file with all the necessary details about any real-life settings to ensure you’re keeping to the facts. Practice Writing Vivid Descriptions If you want to master the art of vivid description, you need to hone your skills before you start working on your novel. We’ve covered all the essential ingredients for an evocative description of a setting, so now it’s your turn to put them into practice!   Here’s some prompts and exercises to get you started: Go and sit in your local coffee shop and spend ten minutes describing the atmosphere, the sounds, the smells, the sights, and so on. If you want to make this more challenging, try emailing your description to a friend to see if they can guess the location. If they can’t, keep practicing. Find a book about the history of your town or city and pick a street or location that has changed significantly during the past 100 years. Write a scene set in the location - but describe the scene 100 years ago, then 75 years ago, 50 years ago, and 25 years ago. If you know older people who may remember the location in the past, you could share your description with them to see if they would add any different details - or take some out. Create a fictional setting for your story, and spend 30 minutes writing a scene full of vivid description. Make sure you evoke sensory details, create an atmosphere, and use metaphors and/or similes to bring your description to life. Learn from one of the greatest masters of descriptive writing: J.R.R. Tolkein. In Book One of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, he wrote: "The trees do not like strangers. They watch you. They are usually content merely to watch you, as long as daylight lasts." Get hold of a copy of The Lord of the Rings and find a passage the describes a setting. Study the language that Tolkein uses and the way that he brings the locations to life. What types of words does he use? Why are they so powerful? What similes and/or metaphors does he use? Can you identify any other techniques in his writing? Now, describe a setting using the same techniques. Go through one of your past stories/novels and find a couple of scenes that you haven’t used a lot of description in. Rewrite them, putting into practice the things you’ve learned about creating vivid descriptions.

Atomic Radius Definition and Trend

Atomic Radius Definition and Trend Atomic radius is a term used to describe the size of an atom, however, there is no standard definition for this value. An atomic radius may refer to the ionic radius, covalent radius, metallic radius, or van der Waals radius. Atomic Radius Periodic Table Trends No matter what criteria you use to describe the atomic radius, the size of an atom is dependent on how far out its electrons extend. The atomic radius of an element tends to increase the further down you go in an element group. Thats because the  electrons become more tightly packed as you move across the periodic table, so while there are more electrons for elements of increasing atomic number, the atomic radius may decrease. The atomic radius moving down an element period  or column tends to increase because an additional electron shell is added for each new row. In general, the largest atoms are at the bottom lefthand side of the periodic table. Atomic Radius Versus Ionic Radius The atomic and ionic radius is the same for atoms of neutral elements, such as argon, krypton, and neon. However, many atoms of elements are more stable as atomic ions. If the atom loses its outermost electron, it becomes a cation or positively charged ion. Examples include K and Na. Some atoms might lose multiple outer electrons, such as Ca2. When electrons are removed from an atom, it might lose its outermost electron shell, making the ionic radius smaller than the atomic radius. In contrast, some atoms are more stable if they gain one or more electrons, forming an anion or negatively charged atomic ion. Examples include Cl- and F-. Because another electron shell isnt added, the size difference between the atomic radius and ionic radius of an anion isnt as much as for a cation. The anion ionic radius is the same as or slightly larger than the atomic radius. Overall, the trend for the ionic radius is the same as for the atomic radius: increasing in size moving across and decreasing moving down the periodic table. However, its tricky to measure the ionic radius, not least because charged atomic ions repel each other. Measuring Atomic Radius You cant put atoms under a normal microscope and measure their size- although you can kind of do it using an atomic force microscope. Also, atoms dont sit still for examination; they are constantly in motion. Thus, any measure of atomic (or ionic) radius is an estimate that contains a large margin of error. The atomic radius is measured based on the distance between the nuclei of two atoms that are barely touching each other, which means the electron shells of the two atoms are just touching each other. This diameter between the atoms is divided by two to give the radius. Its important, however, that the two atoms dont share a chemical bond (e.g., O2, H2) because the bond implies an overlap of the electron shells or a shared outer shell. The atomic radii of atoms cited in the literature are usually empirical data taken from crystals. For newer elements, the atomic radii are theoretical or calculated values, based on the probable size of the electron shells. How Big Are Atoms? A picometer is 1-trillionth of a meter. The atomic radius of the hydrogen atom is about 53 picometers.The atomic radius of an iron atom is about 156 picometers.The largest measured atom is cesium, which has a radius of about 298 picometers.

Financial ratios Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial ratios - Essay Example There are different ways in which financial ratios can be improved by the firm and hence its performance. However, it is critical to note that financial ratios can also be improved with the help of creative accounting techniques such as use of different depreciation methods, inventory value methods etc. Financial ratios are typically chracterised into five groups and each group consists of different ratios that outline the performance of the firm in that category. For example, liquidity ratios comprises of current ratio as well as acid test ratio. In order to improve upon the liquidity ratios of a firm, a firm can discipline its use of working capital. Since liquidity ratios mostly indicate the firm’s ability to pay off its short term liabilities with its short term assets therefore it is really important that both the current assets as well as current liabilities are managed in optimum manner. In order to improve this ratio, a firm can decrease its reliance on the short term finance and shall encourage the use of internally generated funds to finance its short term working capital requirement. Since current assets are considered as non-productive assets it is therefore important that a balance must be achieved between the current assets and current liabilities to bring the ratios in most favorable condition. Similarly, efficiency ratios indicate the efficiency with which the assets of the firm are managed by the managers. To improve the efficiency ratios, a firm can further tighten its credit extension policy to improve its receivable turnover. This can also be achieved by making the sales activity more robust so that inventories are rotated more frequently rather than piling them up after their production. A higher inventories turnover therefore indicates the ability of the firm to convert its inventories into cash or receivables through sales generation. Profitability ratios can be

MTA-analysis method Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

MTA-analysis method - Essay Example Therefore, the method involves two distinct stages. The first stage involves identifying different data sets and summarizing the data into a uniform set. The second stage involves making conclusions from the summarized data set. Meta-analysis requires that the data is accurate and devoid of any complications. It will not be efficient if it uses inaccurate data. In addition, the method requires the analyst to identify and collect data sets from past studies, which have some aspects of resemblance in terms of the research question they address. The method is particularly effective because it draws conclusions from data characteristics rather than making generalized conclusions about data. However, the method requires planning and some level of expertise among analysts. Advantages of meta-analysis The approach defines subjective ways of checking variability of data and enables testing of all statistical parameters. Combination of different studies summarizes data and ensures the ease of drawing conclusions from the data. Other parties can also use the data to support their studies. Review of past studies eliminates unnecessary details that are insignificant to the study. Meta-analysis makes possible the prediction of the impact of significant elements of data within a specified period (Cavanaugh, 2010). Review of past studies eliminates the threat of bias sampling. ... Researchers have found this method convenient in analyzing educational research. A single research on education can yield a range of different results due to a number of factors. Different research methods, the setting of the research and research instruments influence the nature of results (Allen, Bourhis, Burrell & Mabry, 2010). Therefore, there is a need to combine the different results and synthesize them into a single pool, from which it is easy to make viable conclusions. Meta-analysis is the best method that will help in meeting this data requirement. Furthermore, it summarizes data, which makes it possible for other researchers to extract useful information that may be relevant for their studies (Bernard, Abrami & Wozney, 2010). To understand this method, there is a need to look at the steps, methods and theories that govern its use. Steps followed in a meta-analysis The first step involves identifying the research problem. This includes identifying the variables and attribut es that are common in different data sets. The search for relevant literature sources succeeds the first stage. This stage involves identifying sources of information from available literature reviews and other relevant studies. Meta-analysis depends on other research studies and a researcher must ensure that the results of previous studies are accurate before using them in meta-analysis. The next stage involves selecting previous studies that meet the requirements of quality and that have some resemblance in addressing the same research question. Summarization of data using appropriate methods follows this stage. Summarization standardizes data

Technology and Social Skills Essay Example for Free

Technology and Social Skills Essay Not long ago people took the time to get to know a person whom he or she had just met. In years past, for a person to claim he or she had a relationship they would invest time in building that relationship. Years ago when people spent time together they paid attention to those they were with, they socialized and interacted with other human beings in a real life environment. The technology today has provided many ways to interact with others via cell phones; computers and PDA’s, just to name a few. With all this technology, it seems as though the true social interaction between people has started to disappear. This technology allows people to interact more but has it made us less sociable? The interaction is taking place in separate rooms, states and even countries, but not together. Is this true interaction? Social interaction is vital to our physical and mental health and it has been proven that maintaining healthy relationships help us to live longer. It is becoming more common for people to socialize via simulated means, internet, texting, and chat rooms to name a few, and ultimately replacing a part of human behavior that is vital for society to function. A second grade teacher of 20 years is shocked when her students do not know what to do when the time comes for recess. AIM, a feature from AOL, encourages the butchering of the English language with abbreviations such as LOL, (lots of laughs), and IDK, (I don’t know). The incentive for going out to make friends has disappeared because of the idea of hundreds of friends on Facebook and MySpace (Knapp, 2008). The dating world has also been completely turned upside-down. Just a couple decades ago chivalrous romance was the way to go about finding a date. Today one would send a friend request on facebook and the prospective date would look at the online profile to see if he or she would be interested. I must admit that I have fallen victim to these new ways of dating and technology but not to the end of chivalry and romance. In due time these ancient ways will be gone as well. Cell phone texting and social networking Web sites such as Facebook help keep today’s teens connected to their peers at all times. A recent national survey of 800 teens and nine focus groups in four United States cities revealed that half of the teens surveyed send 50 or more text messages a day, or 1,500 texts a month. One in three sends more than 100 texts a day, or more than 3,000 texts a month (Gore, 2011). The book â€Å"Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community,† by Robert D. Putnam states that over the past 30 years, nationally, community involvement has declined. In his book Putnam debates that the baby boomers and their children have contributed to this decline. Reasons blamed for this decline has been the growing availability of the Internet and electronic entertainment and gadgets such as IPods, portable computers, and smart phones (Putnam, 2000). Dr. Philip Aspden and Dr. James E. Katz conducted a study that covered several aspects of the internet; the influence on societal infrastructures, and the role the internet had in creating new modes of interaction and communication. Aspden and Katz were unable to find any support to prove that internet activity contributed to any decline in community involvement. In fact, some of the internet users that were interviewed stated they were more involved in social activities than the non-users surveyed. Also found was that 70 percent of internet users had four or more online friendships with 60 percent of this group having met at least one internet friend in person (Blair, 2001). A three year study by sociologist Barry Wellman and Keith Hampton of a social interaction in â€Å"Netville,† a community in Toronto Canada that was one of the first neighborhoods in the world to have broadband internet technology. According to Hampton and Wellman (1999) â€Å"Relationships are rarely maintained through computer-mediated communication alone, but are sustained through a combination of on-and off-line interactions. Despite the ability of the Internet to serve as a global communication technology, much online activity is between people, who live (or work) near each other, In Netville, the local network brought neighbors together to socialize, helped them to arrange in-person gatherings-both as couples and as larger groups (barbecues, etc. facilitated the provision of aid, and enabled the easy exchange of information. The high rate of online activity led to increased local awareness, and high rates of in-person activity. † People today can live in Florida, work in Texas, go to school in Arizona and never leave their house. They can buy a car in their pajamas, attend a meeting halfway around the world and do all their shopping on the Internet. Basically one can do just about anything necessary over the Internet and never see or touch a human being. At times this will be an ideal situation but society is becoming isolated and self absorbed even lonely. Indeed, the fact that people in the United States today claim to be lonelier than prior generations, suggests that although technology has increased interactions it has not created true connections between people. For children raised on the illusion of connection through technology, the danger is that of never understanding how to develop true relationships and to grow up not understanding that without social connections societies easily fall victim to self-interest and fade away. Reference http://www.strosechronicle.com/2.13878/new-technology-replaces-social-interaction-1

Pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Finance :: Graduate Admissions Essays

Pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Finance    I have an excellent job with tremendous advancement opportunities. At my well-paid job at a prestigious investment bank on Wall Street, my computer science and analytical skills are recognized and lauded. Moreover, I enjoy intellectual interactions with my Ph.D. colleagues, have many friends, and am appreciated by my managers. Still, I feel a void in my life. While my friends and colleagues do not understand my decision to leave my rewarding career, I know that I have no choice if I am to pursue my long-term goal and my childhood dream: to teach and publish research. While my friends think I am sacrificing certain career advancement for unnecessary training, I do not act impulsively, and I am certain that I have made the correct decision. What they do not understand is that I will derive even greater satisfaction by pursuing a doctoral degree than by earning a higher salary and advancing in my present career. By pursuing a doctorate, I will have the priceless opportunity to realize m y dream.    Learning gives me a world of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. The more I learn, the more fulfilled I feel. I do not learn solely to apply my knowledge in a practical setting; instead, it is the quest for knowledge and the challenge of learning that motivates me. Originally, I took my current job since I saw it as an invaluable opportunity to further my learning experience. Over the past two years, I have accumulated a good knowledge of Finance. I was introduced to Bayesian Statistics, GARCH processes, and other topics of time series analysis. I also learned how to price volatility swaps and categorize different optimization tasks.    While I never intended to focus solely on the practical side of finance, nearly all of my work revolves around it. For example, I have done research that forecasted assets' expected returns as well as research on a better way to execute a trade. These research opportunities were all results-oriented. I rarely have had the opportunity to look at the theoretical aspect of finance, like deriving closed-form solutions to evaluate financial instruments, which I sometimes find interesting. Although I try hard to broaden my knowledge of theoretical finance by reading finance and econometrics books on my leisure time, I am not able to test those theories empirically.

Content Analysis of a Recent Film Compared

The film, Perfume, which directed by Tom Tykwer and released in 2006, was rated R because of its restricted scenes. Back to the 1930 to 1968 the United States, such a film like Perfume may have difficult in being released based on the Production Code. Production Code was an industry censorship guideline that governed most of United States motion picture. It has 3 General Principles which stated the films could not lower the audiences’ moral standards, should contain the correct standards of life and not be ridiculed.According to the Production Code, Perfume will have 3 main problems, Crimes against the Law, Sex and Costume. Perfume has a subtitle called the Story of A Murderer. Obviously, it describes a story of crime. However, in the film, there are so many directly bloody, crucial scenes about murder, which are violation of the first rule in Production Code, Crime against the Law. For example, at the beginning of the film, when the main character, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille wa s a baby, he was sent to the orphanage.While other orphans wanted to suffocate him with a pillow in order to keep their own possession. In this scene, the director showed the whole process of killing, which is against the rule that indicates brutal killings are not to be presented in detail. As the same, there are also brutal scenes about the old woman being cut the throat as well as Jean’s mother and the scapegoat of the murder being hung to death. All these scenes are clearly projected without any editing. Besides the violation of the Production Code of Crime against the Law, there are also restricted scenes about Sex.For instance, one of these scenes is the birth of Jean. The director shot the whole process of the mother giving birth to Jean, even included her cutting umbilical. It must be against the rule of Sex that stated scenes of actual child birth, in fact or in silhouette, are never to be presented. What is more, in the end of the film, when Jean was about to be kil led in the square, he used his perfume to make onlookers excited and have sex with each other, even includes homosexual kiss.In order to make shaking visual effect, the director didn’t do any editing on this scene, which strongly offense the Production Code of Sex. Apart from Crime against the Law and Sex, what the film violated the Production Code most must be Costume. Perfume told a story about odor. The murderer, Jean, found the most beautiful scent came from the natural smell of virgin. So he killed 13 virgins and took off their clothes to purity their scent. After each murder, the girl’s corpus would be found naked.As a consequence, the violation of Costume can not be avoided. In the Production Code of Costume, it claimed that complete nudity is never permitted and undressing scenes should be avoided. Nevertheless, these scenes were all projected in Perfume. Moreover, the scene mentioned before about the group sex also conflict the Production Code of Costume. As a n R rated film, Perfume exactly contains various restricted scenes. Except the violations mentioned before, there are also scenes counter the Production Code.For example, Jean used a cat for experiment and put it into the distillation furnace, which can be considered as apparent cruelty to animal; as well as the violence and expletives. A movie like this apparently can not get PCA approval to be released. Nevertheless, the film can be played in theaters today without any cut and edit, even though it was rated R and could just be watched by portion of people. It witnessed that social standards of motion picture has changed a lot over time.

Revolutionizing Filipino Mindsets Essay

National consciousness among Filipinos is faced with a lot of challenges today. There is a need to revolutionize mindsets and one big factor that has a big impact in the process of revolutionary mindsets is the Media. It is unfortunate that a lot of what the media shows to the public represses transformation. A lot of soap operas that are being shown are remakes of western ones which are usually Korean or Mexican. Products like food and gadgets that are being endorsed are often western brands. In the news, a lot of political issues are centered on corruption making the Political world of the Philippines very controversial. With all these that represses transformation, there is also a rising movement in the process of revolutionizing mindsets. A lot of local commercials or advertisements are using concepts that depict Filipino culture. Examples would be the â€Å"Lucky Soda† crackers that shows the Filipino value of hating-kapatid; Nestle: 100 years na pag-ibig; â€Å"Alaska† with the concept of fiesta sa baryo; Blend 45: Gising Pinoy; Modess: Makabagong Pilipina. A rising number of TV series are contributing to the transformation such as â€Å"MagTV na:atin to!† featuring the different landmarks and cultures around the Philippines; â€Å"Jessica Soho† and â€Å"Rated K† featuring not only interesting stories and topics related to the Filipino culture or heritage but also the modern Filipinos of today; The channel IBC 13 has a lot of shows relating to Filipino consciousness: â€Å"Cooltura† which feature various landmarks around the Philippines including the rich culture of the Philippines; â€Å"Tipong Pinoy† , â€Å"Landmarks† and â€Å"Balay, Tirahan, Kanlungan† featuring landmarks around the Philippines together with the rich history that is attached to the place . In the news, Filipino achievements around the world, big or small are being given emphasis. The Filipino people should be made aware that cultural identity is an unrealized asset for national development. Movements that help transformation should be supported and be given much importance to preserve our culture and to awaken the national consciousness of Filipinos.

Medical Billing Changes Create a Whole New World of Jobs

Medical Billing Changes Create a Whole New World of Jobs Physicians’ offices and hospitals are introducing many changes in the ways they bill insurance. The need for individuals skilled in this venue has increased, and is expected to continue growing. Let’s take a look at  why this is happening and what it means for you  if you are interested in pursuing this career. What is ICD-10?Understanding what the latest International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) entails is complex. It replaces the ICD-9 system that has been in use for years. Both systems code for a particular disease, along with modifiers for identification and billing purposes. The ICD-10 system lists more than 140,000 codes used for diagnosis, treatment, and  procedures. Some codes are detailed, and finding the right code might be difficult. Doctors, already burdened by a complicated health care system, may find it difficult to easily find the right code. If the correct code remains unfound, the cost may revert back to the patient. Hiring individuals tr ained in this new system is important to making it run smoothly.The codes are based on an official list originating with the World Health Organization. It is not dependent on a particular health care plan and has no link to the incorporation of the Affordable Care Act in the United States.Readiness for the new ICD-10 implementationPhysician readiness for using the new system is lacking, according to the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange or WEDI. About 25 percent of physicians are not going to be ready, and possibly an additional 25 percent will not be acclimated. This may cause delays in using the new ICD-10 system, and many providers are looking to hire those trained in the new system.Why is ICD-10 so difficult?Part of the problem with the new coding is precision. While this might sound oversimplified or at odds with the delicate balance found in proper billing, it isn’t. For example, there are about  18 codes for a patient who ate a toxic mushroom that  adequate ly describe the patient’s medical  situation. Another example: looking at a fractured leg and properly coding it may mean choosing among  dozens of codes to find the right one.The  ICD-10 coding employs more than 70,000 diagnostic codes, compared with 15,000 in ICD-9. Procedures done in the hospital will rise from 4,000 to 72,000. The transition from the old system and the sheer number of increased codes mean that both office and hospital billing will need people  trained in ICD-10.Increased training for ICD-10Some schools have increased the amount of training for coding based on the new guidelines by providing ICD-10 courses. Those taking refresher courses are poised to take advantage of the need for billing personnel. Hospitals, health insurance plans, and physician and other health care professional offices will have a need for this skill. In addition, the work will become more demanding, and medical professionals who work with coding will be  expected to pass a certification exam.More job opportunities in 2016 for medical billingvia GIPHYJobs in medical coding are expected to increase by 18 percent through 2016, according to the Department of Labor. Due to demand, experts believe many positions will be based on a 40-hour workweek with overtime. Salaries will range between $23,000 and $43,000 based on experience, geographical area, and whether the job is in a hospital or office.Finding the right medical billing job as well as other healthcare jobs depends on having a way to finding positions right for you. TheJobNetwork makes it easy by sorting through jobs meeting your qualifications and needs. After you enter your qualifications and job interests, TheJobNetwork searches around the clock for jobs that match that description and sends you notifications by email. Sign up with TheJobNetwork to get started.

When Do PSAT Scores Come Out The PSAT Results Release Schedule

When Do PSAT Scores Come Out The PSAT Results Release Schedule SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The wait for PSAT results can be nerve-wracking. It's likely your first time taking an SAT-like test, and the PSAT can give you a sense of what range your final SAT score is likely to be. Plus, if you score high enough, there's a lot of potential scholarship money available. So when is the wait over? When are PSAT scores released? In this guide, we explain when you'll get your PSAT results, walk you through the complete PSAT timeline, and offer some suggestions on what to do once you have your scores. Exclusive Free Bonus: Download a free guide containing our top 5 strategies for improving your SAT score by 160 points. After you get your PSAT score back, you'll want to know how to improve it. When Do PSAT Scores Come Out? First off, how long does it take to get PSAT results? You'll usually get your PSAT scores in December, six to eight weeks after taking the exam. Scores for the 2018 PSAT were released online December 10-12, 2018. The exact date on which students received their scores varied depending on where they took the test. The College Board doesn't have the 2019 PSAT score release date finalized yet, but based on past years, we expect 2019 PSAT scores to be available online beginning around December 9, 2019. However, note that your guidance counselor and school will be able to see your scores one week earlier- around December 2. Those who took the PSAT outside the US will get their scores a little later than those in the US will and can expect to see them around December 10, 2019. PSAT Results Timeline Now, let's go into more detail: how long does it take to get PSAT scores? Here's a complete look at the PSAT timeline for 2019-20 so you can see exactly when you'll take the test and when you'll get your scores back. Bonus: Do you know what score you need on the PSAT? Check out our guide on what's a good PSAT score to help you set a goal! Step 1: Take the PSAT in October The PSAT is generally administered in mid-October, though there are a few possible dates. The 2019 PSAT test dates are as follows: Primary Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2019 Alternate Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019 Saturday Date: October 19, 2019 The exact logistics of taking the PSAT depend on your school. Some schools make each 11th grade student take the test, some offer PSAT sign-up, and others don't administer the PSAT at all (meaning you'll have to arrange to take the test somewhere else). To make sure you're not stuck without a PSAT score, ask your school by September 1 how they plan to prepare for and administer the test. If you don't like your school's method, you'll have plenty of time to consider other options and make plans accordingly. Step 2: Get Your PSAT Scores Online in December PSAT scores will come out in mid-December 2019 (the exact date you get yours depends on what state you took the test in). Once PSAT scores are released, you can access them online by signing into your College Board account: If you haven't made a College Board account, you can do so here. Once you've logged in, click "PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9 Scores" to get to your PSAT scores. You’ll then be taken to a page that has your PSAT results. For more details on how to get your PSAT scores, including what to do if you can’t see your PSAT scores online, read our complete guide to the PSAT score report. Step 3: Schools Distribute PSAT Paper Reports In addition to the online reports, the College Board is still sticking to its tradition of giving paper PSAT score reports to schools and then having schools distribute those to students. Assuming the College Board sticks to its schedule from last year, you can expect to get your paper score report sometime in January 2020, but the exact date hasn't been released yet. PSAT Results: What Now? Here are some options for what you can do once you get your PSAT scores back. Option 1: Plan for the National Merit Scholarship If you scored high enough on the PSAT (and are a junior), you might qualify as a Semifinalist for the National Merit scholarship competition. Each year this program awards Semifinalist status to the top 1% of PSAT scorers, or about 16,000 students. Becoming a Semifinalist for this program is contingent only on your PSAT scores. The exact score needed to qualify varies depending on the state, so if your aim is to win a scholarship, it's a good idea to get a feel for what score you'll need before you take the PSAT. If you become a Semifinalist, note that becoming a Finalist requires a little more effort, including keeping up your GPA. Lay the groundwork for becoming a National Merit Finalist senior year by doing some research into what’s required. Option 2: Retake the PSAT as a Junior (If You Took It Early) If you're an early bird who took the PSAT as a freshman or sophomore, it's a smart idea to retake the PSAT your junior year, especially if you're hoping to qualify for National Merit and want to eventually get a super high SAT (or ACT) score. What's great about taking the PSAT as a freshman or sophomore is that it exposes you early on to the types of questions you'll see on the SAT. What's more, it lets you get a feel for where your weaknesses lie and what skills you need to hone in your prep, ultimately raising your chances of becoming a National Merit Semifinalist and hitting your SAT/ACT goal score on a first or second attempt. Option 3: Prep for the SAT (or ACT) The main purpose of the PSAT is to prepare students to take the SAT, either later on in their junior years or in the fall of their senior years before they apply to colleges. In fact, your PSAT score is intended to be a good estimate of how you’ll do on the actual SAT. This means that if you get 1200 on the PSAT and take the SAT without any prep, you’ll likely get around the same score. What's more, since the structure of the SAT is so similar to that of the ACT, you can use the PSAT to prepare for the ACT as well. (Note, though, that there are a handful of differences between the two tests, the biggest of which is the inclusion of a Science section on the ACT. In addition, it's probably a better idea to take the PreACT instead of the PSAT if you plan to take the ACT.) Don't despair if you get a low PSAT score. Instead, analyze what went wrong and then use that information to improve your knowledge and skills so that you can do better on the SAT or ACT. The process of analyzing your errors will be helpful even if you scored extremely well on the PSAT, since the content on the PSAT and SAT aren't exactly the same. PSAT scores only go up to 1520 instead of 1600 as they do on the SAT. The reason for this is that the SAT has higher-level reading passages, tests trickier grammatical rules, and includes more trigonometry and harder math. So even if you get a perfect score on the PSAT, you're not guaranteed a perfect SAT score! Your PSAT results will include information about whether you’re meeting the benchmarks for Reading, Writing, and Math, as well as a more detailed look at which subskills you excel at and which ones you need to improve. Rather than beating yourself up over what you did wrong, try to focus on figuring out why you did poorly on a given section. Was it because you’d never taken a standardized test before and got nervous? Maybe you felt rushed for time on certain parts, or just flat out didn’t know some of the material covered. Whatever the reasons for your issues, make sure to start your SAT or ACT prep by addressing your weaknesses revealed by the PSAT. For more advice on what to do with your PSAT scores, read this article! What's Next? Want to see how your score stacks up against other students’ scores? Find out with our coverage of the most recent PSAT percentiles and Score Selection Index. Learn all about the National Merit scholarship competition with our in-depth articles on how to become a Semifinalist and how to win the scholarship. Already taken the PSAT as a junior? Start to plan out when you’ll take the SAT with our up-to-date list of test dates. Alternatively, if you took the PSAT as a freshman or sophomore, find out when the next PSAT will be offered. Finally, when you get your scores back, you'll probably want to know how to improve your score for the big test: the SAT. We've researched hundreds of student stories and academic studies and found the 5 principles you need to follow to improve your score. Click the link below and enter your email address to get the best SAT prep advice you can get anywhere. Follow these 5 strategies to improve your SAT score by 160 points or more.

Contrast and compare occupational therapist and registered nurse Essay

Contrast and compare occupational therapist and registered nurse - Essay Example A Registered Nurse (RN), on the other hand is a professional qualified to perform health care and practice nursing through assessment, planning and implementation of the required level of nursing for the sick and injured. While therapists concentrate more on physical rehabilitation, disabilities in learning and improving mental health, registered nurses are widely associated with the care, medication and health maintenance of a patient. â€Å"Nurses do a lot of chores that occupational therapists don’t have time for. This includes feeding, bathing, administering oral, subcutaneous, injectable and IV medications (Gavin R, 2008). Gavin R (2008), a retired nurse, also pointed out that nurses tend to the cleaning of wounds, console and comfort the patients and are a vital cog in medical emergencies. They can also assist the surgeons if there is a need. They keep all lengthy records and progress reports and also influence charting down of treatment and progress plans. Gavin (2008) further emphasised that a therapist’s job is not that easy but it does not contain the variations that a nursing job has; a therapist normally devises rehabilitation plans on the basis of well-known methods. Nursing is mainly controlled and regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in the UK. It lays down all of the things that a person needs to do to qualify as a registered nurse and stay registered. To work as a registered nurse, the person must complete an education program that is recognized by NMC and meet the required standard proficiency level. This includes completing a degree or a diploma from a university offering a course in the chosen speciality. This leads to an academic award and professional registration as a 1st level registered nurse. These courses are normally three to four years long and are a 50/50 split between learning in university, and practicing patient care in a hospital or community