Scooper Bowl

Scooper Bowl Apparently, Boston has the highest per-capita consumption of ice cream. Im not surprised. As you may have learned from an old entry by Bryan, Boston has some of the worlds best ice cream makers and shops (for example, the New York Times called Toscaninis the best ice cream in the world), most within walking distance of MIT. Today is the second day of an amazing three day event here called the Scooper Bowl. It is billed as nations largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival. For $7 (kids: $3), you can consume Bostons favorite treat to your hearts (stomachs?) content. Here are this years offerings: Baskin-Robbins * Pralines n Cream * Rock n Pop Swirl * Tripple Play * Apple Pie a la Mode * Oreo Cookies n Cream Ben Jerrys * Turtle Soup * Jamaican Me Crazy Sorbet * Bananas On The Run * Chocolate Fudge Brownie Breyers * Vanilla * Mint Chocolate Chip * Oreo * Homemade Double Chocolate Fudge * MM Brighams * Just Jimmies * Fluffernutter * Wicked Chocolate * Curse Reversed! Cold Stone Creamery * Birthday Cake Remix * Mint Mint Chocolate Chocolate Chip * Chocolate Devotion * Beary Beary Blue Edys * Orange Sherbet * Espresso Chip * Toll House Cookie Swirl * Strawberry * Double Fudge Brownie Elan Frozen Yogurt * Low-Fat Strawberry Kiss * Non-Fat Black Raspberry * Vanilla Heath Bar * Non-Fat Coffee Haagen-Dazs * Raspberry Sorbet * Cookies n Cream * Mint Chip * Light Dulce de Leche * Light Cherry Fudge Truffle * Pineapple Coconut HP Hood * Maine Blueberry Sweet Cream * Boston Cream Pie * New England Lighthouse Coffee * Light French Silk Garelick * Butter Crunch * Cookies n Cream * Mocha Chip * Peppermint Stick Yum!

Exercise in Sentence Combining with Adverb Clauses

As discussed in part one and part two, adverb clauses are subordinate structures that show the relationship and relative importance of ideas in sentences. They explain such things as when, where, and why about an action stated in the main clause. Here well practice building and combining sentences with adverb clauses. Practice Exercise:Building Combining Sentences with Adverb Clauses Combine the sentences in each set below by turning the sentence(s) in bold into an adverb clause. Begin the adverb clause with an appropriate subordinating conjunction. When youre done, compare your new sentences with the sample combinations on page two, keeping in mind that multiple combinations are possible. Example:Sailors wear earrings.The earrings are made of gold.Sailors always carry the cost of a burial.They carry the cost on their own bodies.Combination 1: So that they always carry the cost of a burial on their bodies, sailors wear gold earrings.Combination 2: Sailors wear gold earrings so that they always carry the cost of a burial on their bodies. It is unlikely that Cleopatra actually committed suicide with an asp.The species is unknown in Egypt.The boy hid the gerbil.No one would ever find it. Our neighbors installed a swimming pool.The pool is in their backyard.They have gained many new friends.My parents and I watched in awe.We watched on a hot August evening.Erratic bolts of lightning illuminated the sky.The bolts of lightning were from a distant storm. Benny played the violin.The dog hid in the bedroomThe dog whimpered.Natural rubber is used chiefly to make tires and inner tubes.It is cheaper than synthetic rubber.It has greater resistance to tearing when wet. A Peruvian woman finds an unusually ugly potato.She runs up to the nearest man.She smashes it in his face.This is done by ancient custom.Credit cards are dangerous.They encourage people to buy things.These are things that people are unable to afford.These are things that people do not really need.I kissed her once.I kissed her by the pigsty.She wasnt looking.I neve r kissed her again.She was looking all the time.Some day I shall take my glasses off.Some day I shall go wandering.I shall go out into the streets.I shall do this deliberately.I shall do this when the clouds are heavy.I shall do this when the rain is coming down.I shall do this when the pressure of realities is too great. When youre done, compare your new sentences with the sample combinations on page two. Here are sample answers to the practice exercise on page one: Building and Combining Sentences with Adverb Clauses. Keep in mind that multiple combinations are possible. Because the species is unknown in Egypt, it is unlikely that Cleopatra actually committed suicide with an asp.The boy hid the gerbil where no one would ever find it.Since our neighbors installed a swimming pool in their backyard, they have gained many new friends.On a hot August evening, my parents and I watched in awe as erratic bolts of lightning from a distant storm illuminated the sky.Whenever Benny played the violin, the dog hid in the bedroom and whimpered.Natural rubber is used chiefly to make tires and inner tubes because it is cheaper than synthetic rubber and has greater resistance to tearing when wet.By ancient custom, when a Peruvian woman finds an unusually ugly potato, she runs up to the nearest man and smashes it in his face.Credit cards are dangerous because they encourage people to buy things that they are unable to afford and do not really need.I kissed her once by the pigsty when she wasnt looking and never kissed her again although she was looking all the time.(Dy lan Thomas, Under Milk Wood)Some day, when the clouds are heavy, and the rain is coming down and the pressure of realities is too great, I shall deliberately take my glasses off and go wandering out into the streets, never to be heard from again.(James Thurber, The Admiral on the Wheel)

Symptoms And Symptoms Of Infectious Diseases - 1680 Words

1.1 Explain the term infectious disease Infectious disease are diseases or illnesses caused by micro-organisms that become harmful in the body, these micro-organisms are called pathogens. Pathogens are any organism that cause disease, these can include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Not all the micro-organisms mentioned above are harmful to the body, although, under certain conditions such as an immunocompromised individual or the age of a person, can produce an onset of signs and symptoms of an infectious disease. Infectious diseases are communicable, which means they can be spread from person to person, either through direct contact or through bodily fluids. Infectious diseases can also be spread infected vectors which are inhaled or†¦show more content†¦Bacteria are unicellular organisms that replicate and multiply by mitosis. Fungal infections occur due to fungi including organisms such as dermatophytes and yeast, which are made up of structures called hyphae. On the other hand, viruses are parasites and therefo re require a host cell to replicate and spread. Distinctions in the micro-organisms structure can be pivotal to not only the function of the pathogen within the body, but also the means by which it may spread. An example of a bacterial infection is Tuberculosis, which is a disease of the lungs caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a contagious disease which has various phases to it; each stage gaining in its severity. An infected person with active TB will show symptoms of shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, weight loss and possible signs of coughing up blood. The bacteria is spread when a person with an active infection in their lungs coughs or sneezes and another person inhales the air containing the bacteria. The bacteria go on to infect white blood cells called phagoyctes. These may become affected, however, the body s immune response will seal off the infected cells in the lungs. The bacteria can become dormant inside the tubercules of the lung and therefore the infected person may not show any symptoms or signs as the infection is

Why Women Are Paid Less Than Men Free Essays

Sample Teacher Interview Questions Teacher Relationships With Students 1. What kind of students do you like to work with? What type of students could you teach most effectively? 2. You give an assignment. We will write a custom essay sample on Why Women Are Paid Less Than Men or any similar topic only for you Order Now A student ridicules the assignment, saying it doesn’t make sense. What would you do? 3. How do you help students experience success? 4. How would you individualize instruction for students? 5. What procedures do you use to evaluate student progress besides using tests? 6. How would you challenge the slow learner and the advanced learner within the same class? 7. What would your students say about you? Teacher Relationships With Colleagues 9. Tell us about yourself, and specifically what brought you to want to be an English, math, science teacher? 10. What is your philosophy about teaching English, math, science? 1. What kind of teachers would you prefer to work with? Why? 2. What activities would you like to work with in our school? 3. What quality or qualities do you have that would enhance our teaching staff? 4. What are some personality characteristics you find undesirable in people? 5. Who should be responsible for discipline in a school? Why? 6. What needs and/or expectations do you have of the school administration? . How do you collaborate with your colleagues? Teacher Relationships With Parents 1. What do you feel is the most effective way to communicate with parents? Describe how you have used this/these technique(s). 2. Describe the reasons why you would contact parents. 3. What would you include in your Open House presentations to parents? 4. What community activities w ould you like to be associated with? Why? Instructional Techniques 1. Describe any school experience you have had, particularly in student teaching (or in another teaching position) that has prepared you for a full-time position at our school. . How would you integrate technology into the curriculum you would teach? 3. Describe any innovative projects you have been involved in developing. 4. Give an example of how you have used cooperative learning in your classroom. 5. What four words would students use to describe your teaching strategies? 6. What rules do you have for your classroom . Describe your teaching style and how you accommodate the different learning styles of the students in your classes. 8. What do you consider to be your strengths and how will you use them in your teaching? 9. In what ways do you keep students on task and well behaved during collaborative group activities? A Potpourri of Topics and Background Information 1. Why did you choose to become a teacher? 2. What are your hobbies and interests? 3. What are your plans for continuing your professional growth? 4. Tell me about an interesting article you have read recently in a professional journal. 5. What contributions can you make to our school? 6. What current trends in public education please you? Displease you? 7. Tell me about the three people who have most influenced your own education and educational career. . Tell us about a golden teaching moment? Questions for Management Expertise1. Describe the management strategies and techniques you use to maintain an effective classroom environment2. In what ways do you keep students on task and well behaved during collaborative group activities? 3. Describe your expectations for student behavior? In other words, if I were to enter your class on an aver age day, what should I expect to see with regard to student behavior? 4. Keith is your busy seventh-grader. He is constantly moving in your class and always ready to throw spitballs. Although his behavior is not seriously disruptive, it is annoying. He is especially active when he believes that you cannot see him. How would you deal with this situation? 5. Describe the management strategies and techniques you use to maintain an effective classroom environment6. Describe your expectations for student behavior? In other words, if I were to enter your class on an average day, what should I expect to see with regard to student behavior? 7. Keith is your busy seventh-grader. He is constantly moving in your class and always ready to throw spitballs. Although his behavior is not seriously disruptive, it is annoying. He is especially active when he believes that you cannot see him. How would you deal with this situation? Personal Characteristics Questions1. How would a colleague describe you? 2. What are your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher? 3. As a teacher, how do you relate to students, colleagues, and parents? 4. What do you consider to be a major issue in public education today? Questions for Content Area Expertise:1. Describe your knowledge and experience with the California content standards applicable to your content area. . Describe any specific areas of strength within your content area (e,g. , Physical Science, Writing Workshop, Algebra, etc. ). 3. If you could teach just one grade level and subject within your content area, what would you choose? Why? 4. What sorts of assessment, both formal and informal, do you view as being important indicators of successful performance for students learning your content area? 5 . If you could teach any novel, what would it be and what would your students be doing? 6. How do you adjust for reading level differences within your classroom? Questions for English Learner Expertise:1. We have a large number of English learners in our district. What knowledge and experience do you have that is representative of your ability to teach English learners? 2. What knowledge and experience do you have regarding the California English Language Development Standards? 3. Imagine that you are teaching a â€Å"regular† mainstream class in your content area. A new student arrives in your class one day, and you soon find out that this student possesses only limited English fluency (that is, some oral fluency but very limited reading and writing fluency). You realize that this is probably not the correct placement for the student, so you approach the counselor in charge of scheduling students. You are told that there is no room in the other classrooms for the foreseeable future and that you will just have to do the best you can. What would you do to accommodate this student until a better placement comes up? 4. In what ways, both formal and informal, might you assess a student with limited English fluency to be sure the student is truly learning the content of your course curriculum? Short Interview Questions § How would a colleague describe you? What are your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher?  § As a teacher, how do you relate to students, colleagues, and parents?  § What do you consider to be a major issue in public education today?  § Describe your knowledge and experience with the California content standards applicable to your content area.  § Describe any specific areas of strength within your content area (e,g. , Physical Science, Writing Workshop, Algebra, etc. ).  § If you could teach just one grade level and subject within your content area, what would you choose? Why? What sorts of assessment, both formal and informal, do you view as being important indicators of successful performance for students learning your content area?  § We have a large number of English learners in our district. What knowledge and experience do you have that is representative of your ability to teach English learners?  § Imagine that you are teaching a â€Å"regular† mainstream class in your content area. A new student arrives in your class one day, and you soon find out that this student possesses only limited English fluency (that is, some oral fluency but very limited reading and writing fluency). You realize that this is probably not the correct placement for the student, so you approach the counselor in charge of scheduling students. You are told that there is no room in the other classrooms for the foreseeable future and that you will just have to do the best you can. What would you do to accommodate this student until a better placement comes up?  § In what ways, both formal and informal, might you assess a student with limited English fluency to be sure the student is truly learning the content of your course curriculum?  § Discuss a curriculum project you developed which generated high motivation and engagement among your students. Tell us what the project looked like and what resources you used to develop it.  § How do you feel about participating in an advisory period or other master-scheduled differences?  § What kinds of strategies do you use to challenge students to have an in-depth understanding of mathematics, science, English literature?  § What strategies do you use to make curriculum meaningful and relevant to students?  § Since we will be held accountable for standardized test results, what will you do in the area of curriculum development to e3nsure that students do well on the test without teaching the test? Describe the evaluation instruments you use to assess student learning.  § Describe your ideas for ensuring that you have positive communication with parents and the larger community.  § What do you envision will be your biggest challenge this year?  § How do you excel in working with students from diverse populations?  § Why are you interested in working at this school?  § Sh are with us your philosophy of teaching and learning?  § What is the role/responsibility of a teacher in a classroom?  § Tell us about a time when a student really got what you were hoping they would. An â€Å"Ah HA† moment. Why do you think students from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds do not excel in school in comparison to more traditional students?  § What kinds of things can be done to compensate for inadequacies in English or prior knowledge?  § Tell us about your approach to classroom discipline – how do you ensure your students are on-task, and what steps do you take when they are not?  § What do you think was your most successful lesson you have taught and why?  § What was the most challenging lesson you have had to teach, and how did you overcome the obstacles?  § What would be the ideal teaching position be? | How to cite Why Women Are Paid Less Than Men, Papers

Don Quxiote Essay Example For Students

Don Quxiote Essay Don Quxiote Don Quixote: Renaissance humor with a modern translation A Spanish knight, about fifty years of age, gave himself up so entirely to reading the romances of chivalry, that in the end they turned his brain, and nothing would satisfy him but that he must ride abroad on his old horse, armed with spear and helmet, a knight-errant, to encounter all adventures, and to redress the innumerable wrongs of the world. As is the case in this epic tale by Cervantes, modern man is not immune to prolonged sustained suggestion. All irony criticizes the imperfect ideas and theories of mankind, not by substituting for them other ideas and other theories, less imperfect, but by placing the facts of life, in mute comment, alongside of the theories. To be put in a more tangible sense, after addressing a subject matter over a sustained period of time one is apt to view them selves in the same light as the character of which they are enamored by. It plagues the news as high school children take a rms and seek vengeance inside schools today. As the Scapegoat they place the blame on television, violent movies, and video games. Theorists and psychologists say that the harsh and abrasive nature of movies like the Matrix and Rambo are absorbed into the maturing mind of adolescence and are seen as fact. As is the case in Don Quixote where our chivalric hero takes arms after reading one to many romance novels. Every one sees the irony of Don Quixote, and enjoys it in its more obvious forms. This absurd old gentleman, who tries to put his antiquated ideas into action in a busy, selfish, prosy world, is a figure of fun even to the meanest intelligence. But, with more thought, there comes a check to our frivolity. Is it possible that the criticism is double-edged, and that what we are celebrating with our laughter is the failure of the world? But, Don Quixote, it may be objected, is mad. Here the irony of Cervantes finds a deeper level. Don Quixote is a high-minded idealist, who sees all things by the light of his own lofty preconceptions. He shapes his behavior in accordance with the ideas genuine chivalric behavior, and is laughed at for his pains. Much like how out of the norm children are chastised and ridiculed for their absence from normality. The discernable difference between Don Quixote and the Students from high school shootings is that Don Quixote was infatuated with antiquated goodness.

Marley and Me free essay sample

Marley and me: life and love with the world’s worst dog is a New York Times best-selling novel written by John Grogan , a journalist and also a non-fiction writer in America. The book , published in 2005 , is more a autobiographical book than a novel because the whole story is based on the author’s personal experience with his beloved dog Marley. So , the author John Grogan and his wife Jenny , are also the leading characters in Marley and me . The book is such a hit that in 2008 a movie was adapted from it , which also is very successful. Told in first-person narrative , the book focuses on the 13 years that John and his family spent with their dog Marley. As we can see from the subtitle of the book : life and love with the world’s worst dog , Marley is not an obedient dog. It is portrayed as a boisterous , uncontrolled yellow Labrador. We will write a custom essay sample on Marley and Me or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A new couple , John and Jenny , were thinking about having a baby. Lack of experience , they decided to raise a dog to practise being parents because taking care of a dog , just like a baby, requires patience and attention. So that is how Marley became a new member of the family. Marley was so naughty that it was always hungry and destructive of furniture. But the couple forgave it and loved it even more . As life went on with Marley , the couple decided to have their first baby . Unfortunately , Jenny had an abortion when carrying the first baby. Life was tough but Marley was always there for them. Frustrated as they were , they decided to tried again and luckily they had three children later on . Life is happy for the couple. Years elapsed before the couple realized that Marley was no longer a puppy, but an old dog. Marley was no longer naughty , boisterous as it was . It was a sad moment in the story when John had to give permission to the vet to put Marley to sleep forever. The whole family were depressed but they knew it was best for Marley. The whole family missed Marley so much that after Marley’s death , they raised another dog which greatly resembles Marley. The author himself once described Marley : In good times and bad , in sickness and health, we didn’t give up on Marley and so it was to us , and in the end he came through and proved himself a great and memorable pet. Marley and me is not a book mainly focuses on the pet , but on life and love with the pet. What is special in this book is that it seldom tells you that Marley is growing up . Instead, the author tells story about John and Jenny year after year. Thirteen years is quite a long journey for everyone. Maybe the couple never realized how different life would be if they didn’t decide to raise Marley or any other dog. Marley is so unique and special to the couple because Marley accompanied them for thirteen years. In thirteen years , many memorable things happened. When they hanged their job , when they got a promotion, when they bought a new house , when they had a really tough time when losing their first baby , when they first became parents , Marley was always there , living under the same roof with them and shared with them their happiness or bitterness. Life is a bittersweet symphony. Whatever life it is for the couple, Marley was with them. In spite of the fact that Marley was extremely naughty and boisterous , the couple didn’t abandon it . The pet and the family were bound up with each other , experiencing the taste of life together. That is the reason why Marley meant so much to John, Jenny and their children and also explains why the subtitle of Marley and me would be : life and love with the world’s worst dog. The book uses the story between Marley and the couple as a framework for talking about life, love and the struggles of beginning a marriage, starting a family and making the most of every moment , which I think is the best success of Marley and me. If it simply describes how lovely and naughty Marley is , it may only appeal to people who are fond of pets. But Marley and me is not that kind of book. If you don’t like dogs, you can still enjoy the book very much because the book reflects on life , which makes you ponder after reading it. Because it is a book based on true stories , the language of Marley and me is so vivid and heart-felt as if you could see how time flies in this precious 13 years. Marley used to be energetic , but as time went on , Marley began to cripple onto the stage and gradually lost its hearing. It a story about Marley’s whole life and a precious phase of the young couple. No one is flawless, so is the dog. But once you have been a member of a family, you never give up on each other . Instead , you choose to support and accompany them whether they are happy or they are depressed. Though John often refers to Marley as â€Å"the world’s worst dog† in the book , Marley and him come to share an unbreakable bond. Marley and me is not just a story between John and his dog, but a story between John and his best friend , who has accompanies him for 13 years and also brought so much joy as well as trouble to him.

Importance of Civic Engagement

Importance of Civic Engagement Civic engagement is whereby people work to make a difference in the local life of their communities and society, and developing combination of skills, knowledge, motivation and values in order to make that difference. Civic engagement can also mean â€Å"promoting the life value of the people in a community through both nonpolitical and political processes.†[1] There are different forms of engagement. First is political engagement. Here, the community is engaged in political activities, like voting, which involves partisan advocacy. The second form is civic engagement. This is whereby the community takes place in organizing and development activities which involves social justice. The community also engages in civic reflection that is, they are able to get into debates and discussion in the public sphere. In this case, it involves journalism and environmentalism. The third form is religious engagement. Religious engagement is faith-based, where initiatives are acted upon based on faith and religion of the community or society. In this case, there’s involvement of inter-faith dialogues and action.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Importance of Civic Engagement specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Factors Influencing Civic Engagement There are several factors that affect and / or influence civic engagement within the communities in the United States of America. These may influence civic engagement positively or negatively. First are strong traditions and beliefs, attaching them with philanthropy or humanity towards the community or â€Å"individuals (public and private).†[2] Second, strong and robust civil society organizations and nonprofit organizations in the country influence civic engagement. Third, different viewpoints of communities in the public sphere may influence civil engagement. Consecutively, government also influences civic engagement by having its policies and support of service. For instance, there are Peace Corps and AmeriCorps in America. Lastly, there exists many pressing social concerns and needs in the society which influence civil engagement in America. History of Civic Engagement Civic engagement originated between 1880 and 1900. This was due to the emergence of social work in response to the needs of immigrants in urban centers, in America. Civic engagement was also developed in civic engagement centers in university campuses due to settlement house movement. Jane Addams was the first woman in history to receive a Nobel Peace Prize in the year 1931, after coming up with the Jane Addams Hull House foundation, which seeks to improve communities’ social conditions in Chicago and Illinois area. The Civil Rights Movement (CRM) was between 1950s and 1960s whereby there was the Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus boycott. Martin Luther King Jr. said, â€Å"Everybody can be distinguished†¦ because anybody can serve, one d oes not need a college degree to serve. [3] American Democratic Protest (ADP) was introduced for civic engagement of the public. Most people may think that the American Democratic Protests only works with democratic causes, like voter registration. ADP promotes voter registration also encourages other activities. The ADP’s goals were aimed at getting students in campuses involved in advocacy activities like protests and community meetings, with the hopes of causing positive change in the social environment. The ADP also created opportunities, for example, Fishing Has No Boundaries, whereby students run the group which allows disabled people to have fun relaxing. This has facilitated students to volunteer their time on such activities.Advertising Looking for research paper on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Effects of Civic Engagement Civic engagement earns the community social capital: this is the cover title of all positive effects of interactions in the community. The benefits that come with social capital are education for the community dwellers, increased safety in the community, decreased crime, illiteracy, and health and socioeconomic disparity. Depending on engagement in civic activities, social capital can either be gained or lost according to the behavior. Civic engagement service as a strategy aimed to meet the challenges in the community and the nation at large, for instance, strengthening the schools in the community and addressing the dropout crises in the community. This improves the education in the community and the country in extension. Civic engagement also helps in improving energy efficiency also safeguarding available energy in the community. This facilitates safeguarding the environment and its resources. This in turn also helps in improving health care; it also expands the economic opportunities in communities which have low income. Civic engage ment helps in preparing for and responding to disasters and emergencies in the community and the country. All these contemporary examples of civic engagement practice and policies came into shape after the recent passing of the Edward M. Kennedy: Serve America Act. The supporters of direct democracy, since the Progressive Era, claim that the use of a ballot initiative results in strengthening democracy in the country by encouraging a more active and engaged citizenry. Advocates argued that the ballot initiative process would help in the reformation of voters by encouraging them in participative public policy making. Allowing citizens to act as lawmakers increases their interest in politics. Currently, civil engagement is an overriding theme in civil dialogues as social commentators and policy-makers search for more democratic and collective ways to send messages to the government. While the Progressive reformers in the 20th century aimed in the creation of bureaucratic, hierarchical , rule-based organizations in the administrative state to prevent corruption in politics, the current reformers, support less hierarchical governmental organizations in order to increase civil participation in enhancing government responsiveness to citizen demands and policy making.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Importance of Civic Engagement specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This model of participation suggests that there’s improved and strengthened relation between policy-makers and citizens that will improve policy-making. This is a core element of moral governance. Digital democracy, e-government, deliberative democracy and strong democracy are participatory mechanisms, which are designed in expanding the circle of people involved in policy-making, thus allowing civic officials to get new sources of information and ideas when making decisions. Proponents of these mechanisms of civic engagement a lso suggest that they will help in building public trust in the country’s government, also strengthen civic capacity of the community. As per Progressive reformers and contemporary normative theorists, in order to make the government to function well, one needs to foster collective and individual participation in decision-making processes. While civic engagement is public-based, with the public deciding on public issues by a direct vote, political scientists have begun to explore empirically whether giving the public a direct voice in the legislature procedure, in fact, improves the public’s participation and interest in politics. Recent studies conclude that civic engagement or direct democracy have a positive effect on voter turnout. The state-level data was the basis of this conclusion. The ballot data from 1972 to 1996 indicates that, the presence of outstanding initiatives and popular referenda increases the turnout in interim elections by around 3% above the stat es without civic engagement, but not present in the presidential election years. It is evident that the states with more public initiatives on the ballot have higher voter turnout in both presidential election and interim elections, around 4% and around 8% respectively, than states without ballot initiative. These studies suggest that there is more pronounced turnout in interim elections, which have low information, low turnout affairs and fewer mobilization sources, because of the initiative. In such elections, the marginal voters may be sensitive to the mobilization sources that exist, such as ballot propositions. Ballot initiatives may generate interest and bring information in an election, which may further lead to higher voter turnout. On the other hand, presidential elections have high information, high motivation, which may weaken the mobilization influence on ballot measures.Advertising Looking for research paper on political sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Using more recent data and sophisticated methods for research challenge previous studies that did not find a positive impact of ballot measures on voter turnout. There is lower turnout in the American electorate compared to other western countries, especially among the less affluent, younger, non-white, and less partisan citizens. If citizen political participation is preferred in a country and ballot measures increases voter turnout, then the initiatives are a reasonable thing despite their content, policy or outcome. Scholars of electoral studies should be interested in the impacts of initiatives on voter turnout, as there are more initiatives on local and state ballots presently more than ever before. Another civic engagement or political participation, in addition to voting, is the contribution of money to political causes. The exposure to initiative campaigns enables citizens to donate money to political parties, candidates, and interest groups. The enhanced image and visibilit y of worth that groups receive from this activity may stimulate more individuals to make donations. Such process would be necessary for implications for democratic theory. Pluralist scholars have been arguing that wide civic engagement ensures that the diverse interests will add into the political process. Recent research suggest that the states with civic engagement have more diverse, and larger interest group systems compared to states without civic engagement. Other scholars suggest that citizen groups are the main beneficiaries in direct democracy elections, rather than economic groups. A mechanism through which the initiative process may increase the diversity and size of interest group representation is through citizen contributions to them. It has been proven that citizens living in states with civic engagement are more likely to give money to interest groups, than those living in states which do not have this institutional mechanism. Civic engagement or direct legislation wo uld make the voter recognize that he/she is independent, since decision making on ballot actions bring voters into a nearer touch with vast affairs, and allows voters to start taking shape and becoming a sovereign in both fact and fancy. If ballot initiatives help in producing a more engaged and politically self-confident electorate, they also create a more informed electorate. The exposure effects on civic engagement at political knowledge may be similar to the effect of media exposure. Watching the news on TV has been positively associated with knowledge on politics. While an extensive prose, documents how citizens can make voting decisions on the initiative with clear directives from the elected officials, media, interest groups and political party endorsements, scholars have not systematically explored how civic engagement campaigns may advance political knowledge among citizens. Scholars have found, from pioneers of political surveys and contemporary researchers, that Americans have little interest in political knowledge. However, it is evident that political learning is profoundly influenced by the political environment. Sophistication politically is endogenous to three broad factors: the ability to organize and assimilate political information; the desire or motive to follow political affairs; and exposure to information on politics. Exposure to information on politics may be a function of the quantity of times with which such information is availed, media use, and communications technology. Civic engagement campaigns may create marginal opportunities for political learning, thus increasing political sophistication and political knowledge. In relation to civic engagement, there are nonprofit organizations, which are involved in civic engagement campaigns and initiatives. â€Å"Citizen Schools† is a nationally recognized organization that is dedicated to educating using service learning outside of the classroom. They provide programs for middle-sc hool-aged youths, connecting them with businesses, adult volunteers and nonprofit organizations, in order for them to learn about their roles as citizens and learn more about their communities. â€Å"Do something† is an initiative aimed at making the service more appealing to the youth. The program includes ideas floated monthly to â€Å"challenge the youth to engage in the community and presents awards to service role-models.†[4] They have come up with a magazine titled BUILD. â€Å"Hands on a Network† is an organization that seeks to solve the hardships in a society through service. This network realizes the dimensionality of civic engagement and service by emphasizing the work done by volunteers and the meaning of experience to them. â€Å"Sustainable Seattle† is an organization which utilizes the social capital building and civic engagement in its economic, ecological and community sustainability programs. This organization is an example of a metropol itan level model of civic engagement, focusing on education, local business and neighborhood development. There are also websites that are related to civic engagement. â€Å"American Psychological Association’s Civic Engagement and Service-Learning† is a site which emphasizes on the psychological connection between service-learning and civic engagement. â€Å"Journal of Civic Commitment† is an online academic journal that provides research and ideas on how to slot in commitment to the community with learning. â€Å"Community College National Center for Community Engagement†, is a site that provides information on current and past issues. â€Å"Learn and Serve America† is part of Corporation for National Community Service, which includes Senior Corps and AmeriCorps. â€Å"Social Capital Gateway†[5] is a domain of sites, events, and research that are related to social capital and its relationship to other phenomenon. In conclusion, civic eng agement is normally influenced by several factors, including traditions and beliefs, civil society organizations and nonprofit organizations different perspectives of communities, the government and pressing social concerns. Civic engagement earns the community social capital. The benefits that come with social capital are education for the community dwellers, increased safety in the community, decreased crime, illiteracy, and health and socioeconomic disparity. Civic engagement service as a strategy meets the challenges in the community and the nation at large, for instance, strengthening the schools in the community. This improves the education in the community and the country in extension. Civic engagement also helps in improving energy efficiency also safeguarding available energy in the community. Civic engagement or direct legislation would make the voter recognize that he/she is independent, since decision making on ballot actions bring voters into a nearer touch with vast af fairs, and allows voters to start taking shape and becoming a sovereign in both fact and interpretation. Bibliography Brehm, John. Individual Level Evidence for the Causes and Consequences of Social Capital. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997 Jarvik, Erik. Inequality, Trust, and Civic Engagement. Boston: Academic Press, 1980. Robbins, Sarah and Mimi Dyer. Writing America. New York: Teachers College Press, 2005. Sen, Vicheth. Higher Education and Civic Engagement in Cambodia A Case Study at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. München: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2010. Yang, Kaifeng and Erik Bergrud. Civic Engagement in a Network Society. Greenwich: Information Age Publishing, 2008. Footnotes Vicheth Sen, Higher Education and Civic Engagement in Cambodia : A Case Study at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (München: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2010), 19 Kaifeng Yang and Bergrud Erik, Civic Engagement in a Network Society (Greenwich: Information Age Publishing, 2008), 108 Sarah Robbins and D yer Mimi, Writing America (New York: Teachers College Press, 2005), 68 Erik Jarvik, Inequality, Trust, and Civic Engagement (Boston: Academic Press, 1980), 234-238 John, Brehm, Individual Level Evidence for the Causes and Consequences of Social Capital(New York: Oxford University Press, 1997), 92