College News

Every person definitely has some kind of activity he or she hates doing or gets absolutely frustrated from a thought of the necessity to do that. Say, I love writing, and always enjoyed writing various essays but when point comes to proofreading, I feel terrible, like it means more work to me than writing itself. Probably one needs to be quite self-disciplined to make oneself do hateful job if it is essential to do that. But that requires so much patience and will! Remember my cousin attending art school in his childhood. Well, haven’t seen more disciplined child since that time. He was busy with painting for half of a day, I believe. Actually, that gave positive results and his choice of profession. However, people shouldn’t force themselves doing something if it doesn’t bring pleasure at all. But if it does, one should certainly go ahead and overcome laziness that sometimes overwhelms us.

In modern world journalists play a substantial role in social life. The fact that Mass Media are called the fourth branch of power along with traditional executive, legislative and judicial ones, demonstrates to what extent journalists are influential. Actually, nowadays one article may spoil reputation and career of a politician or cause disrespect to the whole political party or government. Such stories are numerous and they prove that journalism is in fact a crucial profession for society. Journalists hold double responsibility, because they influence public opinion and have to be very careful to not abuse public trust. To be a good journalist one has to be, first of all, an intelligent person, a person who has broad knowledge of various spheres, a person to whom a book is a usual companion. If you want to become a journalist you simply cannot be indifferent towards processes that take place in society. You have to be very attentive and aware of what is going on around and what impact it will have. Of course, journalism is a profession that is impossible without communication. That is why anyone striving to become a good journalist should possess perfect communication skills. There are nuances depending on whether you want to be a TV journalist or wanting to write for newspapers or magazines. Different spheres require different skills, but overall you have to be partial, intelligent, communicative and possess some kind of charisma to become a really good journalist.

Even professional writers claim that they need some special atmosphere when they have to write something. That is quite understandable for creative writing is not a technical process and lots of factors play their role in what will be as final result. It is known that some fiction writers may even go to the mountains if they want to get special inspiration. Moreover, some of them prefer absolute solitude when creating their masterpiece work. That’s because writing requires a lot of meditation and reflections. Sure, some people may write even newspaper articles being surrounded by other correspondents in the office, where telephone is constantly ringing and the sounds of printers, voices of workers are filling the room. Others may find difficulties in writing an ordinary essay, if it is too loudly or hot in the room. So, it depends. Actually, there is no single way that would be appropriate for everyone. That’s because as it was already said, some people need solitude, and they might go to parks for impulse to create, while others can get incentive in the overcrowded places. In fact, one and the same person can get inspiration in different places, depending on mood, etc. However, most people say that when they really have to write something, they need peace and quietness, in order to mobilize their ideas, skills and talent and give way to something authentically creative.

What we’ve been witnessing in Western societies concerning technological development for the last decade is more than impressive. Top plasma TVsets are considered such banalities that are even seldom mentioned when speaking about high-tech products. Actually, novelties are so many and they are so various that a common person can hardly even keep track of them. One more phenomenon is the one which impact on society should be well researched not only by IT specialists, but by philosophers, sociologists, and other scholars. That phenomenon is Internet. Indeed, nowadays people not only search for information there, they even buy lots of stuff through Internet. There are so many diverse internet services that they can satisfy needs of most demanding users or customers. That one can easily buy food via Internet shop would have probably sounded like some fantasy for a person from the 1980s, let alone, from earlier years. Data reveal that Internet shopping is becoming more and more popular, and the number of people who use such kind of service is growing rapidly. Sure, that is a characteristic of Western societies. Still, there are similar tendencies even in some developing countries. Some observers fear that purchasing on-line may substitute traditional way one day. We can hardly stand for one or the other answer, because future is indeed unpredictable, as we can see it. However, in the visible future traditional shops, super-markets and other market places are unlikely to disappear. And reasons are numerous. First of all, such trade makes an enormous share of both world and national economies. Secondly, people are prone to keeping traditions and they will hardly give up habitual shopping. Besides, we shouldn’t depend on our Internet provider if we want to buy some food for the supper. So, in the nearest future Internet selling will function along with traditional forms of trade and may even expand. Eventually, we are here to observe the way our world is developing.

If count time spent at school, we may see that students indeed spend a really great part of their day at school, which means that school life is an indispensable element of students’ life and feelings about being at school influence satisfaction from life as such. Most students go to school every day but how many of them enjoy schooling? Polls indicate that students are very often reluctant to go to school and feel depressed there. Reasons are different and they are many. Very often teachers do not motivate or encourage students, instead they treat students the way that discourages them to learn and even go to school. What is important in this respect is that teachers had a special approach towards each of the students and were able to see peculiarities of character and capabilities of this or that student. It does not often go that way. Careless attitude towards students leads to frustration of the latter and no need to explain why it is bad for students themselves, for schools, and last but no least for the entire society. Of course a lot of students do not enjoy schooling not because of bad teachers but rather because of laziness and lack of personal motivation. Writing a common book review. may seem unbearable burden to them, because that requires reading some book and personal reflections. Besides, there are many other reasons which discourage students to study or which influence their behavior at school. However, as students we should try to find motivation to acquire knowledge for ourselves and mobilize all our abilities, skills and will. As teachers, we should find a common language with students and evoke interest in learning.

Values shared by people can be compared to anchors that keep society stable. Values not only unite people; values become a component of identity. That is why nowadays we hear so many discussions on different values of different communities and subsequent conflicts. Although, as any statement, it might be debated, still there is a commonly shared view that western civilization is characterized with specific values. Traditionally, such values as liberty, individualism, progress, development and growth in various respects are considered to be social values of the West. Are these values still valued, pardon for tautology? At first sight, the answer seems evident. “Yes, these values are shared by majority in the society”, one would reply. Indeed, individual liberty now allows lots of things, even getting a custom made paper instead of writing your own essay when assigned at school. But the problem is that all the values mentioned above have turned into truisms and are so widely used that authentic meaning has been lost to some extent. Sure, there are philosophers, sociologists, and other scholars who would offer their opinion with a full-fledged report on tendencies in modern society. Actually, the whole issue of values and their modification is for debates and there is no one set answer that would reflect reality, because when speaking of values we come to many options and that is quite natural. Scholars can and should observe everything and make theoretical stands, but there is something anyone might feel about changes in society. The most important thing is not to stop reflecting and thinking about such phenomena.

Television is probably one of indispensable attributes of modern man’s daily life. Sure, some people ignore TV and do not even want to have TV sets, those hated machines, at their places. However, most people can hardly get without TV. Television was first designed to provide information and entertain, but with time people use it most as a source of entertainment.

Many people complain that Television takes too much time of theirs. The question is, why then not to switch it off and do what you have to do? Evidently we do not voluntarily stop doing something as long as we like doing it. What do people like about TV? The results of various polls indicate that people like watching TV, because thus they have some kind of ‘activity’ and don’t have to think of what to do while resting. Nowadays there are so many TV channels for any taste that you can watch whatever you wish. If you are keen Formula 1 and feel crazy about cars, it’s all available to you through Television. If you want to watch a concert of some pop-star, that is held 3 thousand mile away from your place, just tune your TV to the right channel and you can watch it on-line. Fantastic, isn’t it? World of politics, culture, sport (to name but a few things) is opened to you through TV. But that’s only one side. And, as usual, there is an opposite one, which claims that TV makes us lazy and offers us a slight copy of the world, while we should rather discover authenticity of the world by ourselves.

The word ‘censorship’ often if not always arouses negative associations and feelings. For a long time Internet was praised for providing free communication possibilities. But as it often happens, too much freedom turns into chaos. People started submitting inadequate information in Internet, misrepresent truth. A lot of web-sites of doubtful content appeared. Which is more, feeling secure in their home places or offices, a lot of Internet users post different comments on various blogs, forums. And what they post often demonstrates lack of communication culture.

Taking all these aspects into consideration, we may come to conclusion that certain censorship can be justified. Freedom of expression is a great thing but it should go in line with ethics and proper understanding of how to interact with others. The whole issue is quite problem-bearing, because a lot of questions appear. Who will determine a measure of ethical or non-ethical on-line presence? Will Internet users be deprived of freedom of speech under the cover of “ethic censorship”? Besides, there are a lot of technical aspects, which are not easy to comprehend for vast majority of users. What can be actually done by each of us is ignoring certain web-pages, which present stuff we find inadequate or promote unethical communication or behavior. This may sound a bit moralistic, but actually any website is a special piece of virtual life and Internet as such reflects everything we have in daily life, comprising great things or phenomena and shameful ones. Ignoring shameful ones in Internet is a possible option if we want to cultivate tolerance as such.

It is evident that people started advertising various products and services long time ago. However, due to development of technologies, today’s advertising is unique phenomenon in variety of forms and reaching capability.

We can barely make a single step out of our apartment without getting into the flood of commercials. City-lights, bill-boards, brochures, newspaper ads, TV commercials, radio shows, printed production – all these types of advertising are around us almost every minute of our life. We often get irritated with the same pictures of the same products, with repeating slogans and annoying advertising agents. Still, we go to the supermarket and among two similar products choose the one which looks familiar to us due to previously watched TV commercial of that very product. This effect of being familiar with some product is no more than illusion imposed via means of advertising. This illusion makes us choose what producers want. Of course no one forces us to buy well advertised juice brand instead of the other, but we often do that. There is one more interesting thing about commercials. Commercials kind of create an atmosphere of belonging to one group. Thus, if you buy some expensive watch you become a member of a virtual community of people wearing the same brand of watches. Commercials are a great driving force. When hearing an ad on some extra sales offer a student would rather rush into mall instead of writing a term paper. We are unlikely to get out of influence of commercials. However, we can make their influence not so crucial for our daily life and everyday choices.

Parties, busy campus life, interesting (or boring) lectures…These are our memories of college life.  Sorry, I forgot to mention “N” number of sleepless nights struggling over another writing assignment.  Writing assignments are meant to develop literary orientation and analytical thinking, teach us to express our ideas in a clear and convincing way. Good. But do they attain their goal in present academic realities? I doubt.

The terrifying statistics show that most of academic projects are almost 99,9% plagiarized: students  just  rewrite the content of their textbooks,  or use the prewritten essays from online databases. As a result the educational value of the assignments is nullified.  At best mechanical copying will help the student better to memorize the topic in question.

However writing a paper on a particular topic will not give you understanding of the whole subject. Working on the paper requires a lot of time and most probably spending this time on studying the subject you will attain higher educational effect.

It’s not a secret that many students prefer to order their papers from custom writing services than to work on the papers themselves.  I am not going to blame them, as they have their motives for doing so.  Ordering your paper from a quality writing service makes sense if you are going to spend the saved time on something really valuable.

This or another day each of us faces the necessity to look for a job for him. Few would deny that this process is time consuming and efforts taking, and may even bring frustration. People are stressed when they have to find a job, because any change of conditions or life style is stressful. Besides, a lot of people are dismayed with the necessity to make a choice.

So what are the things we should think of when searching for job? First of all, one should always keep in mind what activity he truly wants to perform. Although some companies claim they will guarantee satisfaction of all your rights, like, for example, employee privacy rights in workplace, numerous bonuses and fascinating prospects for promotion, always think well if this is the position you would like to spend your time for. Of course, materialistic aspects very often turn into nice motivation, but that’s not only it. You may feel like being a librarian or a gardener or providing professional assistance writing and that even may be your calling. In this case never be afraid of trying and go ahead. Certainly, rationality is still a good thing and we have to search reasonable grounds when estimating this or that proposal. Anyway, the more extensive experience you possess, the more flexible you become and the more prospects to succeed you get. Thus take as many instruments, putting it figuratively, as possible when starting search for a job. And do not forget that any experience, even of going into interviews, will be useful to you and might bring unexpected results.

The world has changed dramatically for the last decade in terms of information circulation. If in the 1980s you had to go to the library when preparing to some common classes, now Internet is at hand and you can find whatever information. Sure there are problems with search of information, because not all information is relevant or actual, there are lots of advertisement and spam, etc.

However, one definitely has got much more options for making a research on this or that topic in any field. Society now faces the problem of people addicted to computers and Internet as a powerful source of information. Children do not read books, because they know they can type some word in Google and they will get many answers. There are numerous on-line encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses and many other tools that assist in studying process and substitute real books; even book reports are available online. A lot of entertainment opportunities, abundance of movies, video games make children forget about books. That is why the level of kids’ acquaintance with literature is constantly getting lower, according to various researches. Well, from time to time extremely popular bestsellers appear and gain tremendous attention. An evident example that comes to mind is J. K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter”, which popularity arouses no slightest doubt. Thus, despite a general tendency of books becoming less popular, the whole industry is still on the run. And probably that can be explained not only in terms of book industry business, but because literature is still appreciated and valued in society.

Education has always had a special value in society. In the modern world higher education is among top requirements when applying for a good job. Being a university student is quite prestigious and once you graduate you become a young specialist in your sphere and get social respect. Holding a degree gives more options.

Secondary education is compulsory in most civilized countries. And that is quite understandable for any person needs to possess some educational background and have certain amount of knowledge. Is higher education that necessary for everybody? What does it give to a person? Studying in the university has various advantages and opens many opportunities for students. First of all, you get into academic institution, plunge into this atmosphere and receive knowledge and, moreover, specialization. Secondly, you become a member of student community with its special students interests and with options to share those interests and find your circle of communication. However, do really all people need diploma saying they graduated from this or that university and hold this or that degree? Not all people feel like studying heavily, writing research papers and preparing serious academic projects. Some people feel quite satisfied with their non-intellectual work. Should they be disrespected only because they do not possess a university diploma? Certainly, they should not. Any person performing his or her work deserves respect. There is place for people with different qualifications.

It is up to everyone to choose for himself or herself their way and their ambitions. The most important thing is staying you rather than pretending someone else, even if this someone else is smarter or possesses a very valuable degree. Anyway, self-education is an opened option for everyone and may bring fruit not worse than classical academic education.

Any teaching, as well, as learning is accompanied with evaluation of performed work. Indeed, we study in order to achieve certain level of knowledge or master skills. To track the effects of studying process we need to somehow estimate what was done and how well it was done. For this purpose, various estimating systems were introduced. Ranking, scores, points – are all elements of students’ activity evaluation. Criteria of evaluation may be different, ways to evaluate may vary, but the key principle is the same.

A good manager will tell you that estimating results is an indispensable part of all projects implementation. So, the same thing is with studies. Assessment increases effectiveness – that is why it is so widely practiced. However, there is another side of the discussed issue. Harsh evaluation systems may turn into extremely frustrating factors for students and may even cause reluctance to study. Why? Because when facing a necessity to be constantly assessed and ranked students may feel that they lose desire to learn more, create something independent, and exchange useful links with other students via Internet. Even the word “education” may arouse negative associations and lack of any desire to discuss educational matters. Instead they feel they have to fight for scores. Well, one may argue that fighting for scores is a great motivator for studies. However, practice shows that those people who study only in order to be estimated as good students soon forget what they’ve learned. So, studying process should be followed with internal strive to learn more rather than with a threat to get low score and feel humiliated. Assessment should be merely an instrument of studying process, not end in itself. Only thus students will not feel distressed with tests or rankings.

Each of us faces the necessity to make some writing, to a lesser or larger extent. At school we are assigned to put our thoughts on paper and receive numerous tasks to prepare essays, reports etc. After graduation from the school and even after finishing studies in college or university we still have to write, for example, CV when we apply to some job. All in all, most people do quite a lot of writing in the course of their life. Of course, not everyone becomes a journalist or writer, but we all need some basic or, it would be even better, developed writing skills.

How can we develop our writing skills, despite inborn capabilities? Modern world brings new options, among which Internet is No 1. Really, if previously we had to ask a teacher about writing tips or go to the library in search of some guide, now we just need to search for ‘writing’ or ‘essay writing’ and we may find an immense number of useful links. But there comes a problem of putting all those tips into life. It may all sound quite comprehensible and clear but you do not know how to use this or that tip for a concrete essay. Well, a universal piece of advice would be practicing a lot. You first write one essay, then another, and you will definitely see the progress you make with each written paper you make. Writing is fantastic; it brings us through centuries and even through cultures; it helps to understand history better. Moreover, writing is essential even in the era of computers, because thoughts have to be somehow expressed and they have to find a form, for which writing is one of the best ones.

Practice your own original writing and you will note your personal development. While improving your writing skills you as well improve your skills to express your thoughts and actually even produce them. So, it is indeed of vital importance.

After the prom you become a potential college or university student. Even though you believed that your school years will never return, soon you’ll have to bring to school your own child for him or her to repeat the same path, acceptable for everyone. But some of your school friends may return to school even earlier, not only bringing to school their children, but also becoming a teacher for them.

Lately, a profession of a teacher was not that prestigious and it is quite understandable. Teachers can not boast with high earnings. But the situation is cardinally changing right now. With every upcoming year the budget for education is enlarged and a lot more attention is paid to some of the educational issues. Currently we may observe the development of several educational programs that will give additional working places that are oriented on young, ambitious and enthusiastic people that have never participated in academic dishonesty actions but other activities that increase their potential as tutors. The main goal of educational reform is to make a profession of a teacher, respectable, rewarding and stable. The situation on the labor market is also not that promising. It is overloaded with young specialists in business spheres like management, marketing, banking etc. As can be concluded, the competition is sharp and merciless. On the contrary, a teacher feels secure all the time and knows that he will not be fired after hitting 45. Experience and commitment determine the future of teacher’s career that is going to last till the retirement.

Exchange programs gained popularity right after the WWII and the first results showed up shortly. Everyone knows how difficult it is to break the stereotype. During half a century or even more people lived in anger and constant fear of each other and now, the wall between is crushed and people are to seek consensus and easy ways to build partnership and peaceful cooperation.

First students were called future leaders, for only young individuals that showed exceptional skills and abilities, ambitions and desire to develop, academic achievements and diplomatic behavior and ability to cooperate may build a future without conflicts and wars. Students flooded major universities of the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and other countries actively participating in the campaign that left practically no hope for restoration of peace. Now the majority of the programs have been closed either because of the budget shortage or other reasons unknown to the public. Organizers state that exchange programs contribute to the crisis of migration for third world countries to highly developed ones. Intelligent students with unique talents seek possibilities to stay abroad and settle down in another country that gives more perspective. This way developing countries loose potential leaders. But can this issue be a serious reason for such programs to be closed? This is an opened question. The main goal of such a program is to bring up a feeling of social equality of all the peoples and possibility to build cooperation on good basis. Maybe, participating in such a program one can explain the importance of such activity existence.

The fourth meeting followed three earlier meetings covering the information exchange phase of the negotiations. Discussions at this meeting covered a range of areas including education. The aim for this meeting was to obtain agreement on how both sides would approach negotiation of the provisions of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (that is, the structure of the agreement).
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In the twenty first century technology is developing very fast. Advanced technological wonders still surprise us and make us wanting more and more comfort that they create. One of them is television that became popular all over the world now and there is no country, region or village where people don’t know what a TV is. It is also considered that Television has both advantages and disadvantages and for one it is very difficult to decide what to watch and if to watch at all. Certainly, television is the main source of information. Daily people listen and watch a short news sequence that provides us with the necessary information and keeps informed during the day. Also, no doubt, television is the way to entertain oneself, for it offers a variety of possibilities to have fun sitting on your couch and relaxing. Another way to capture people minds on a live TV screen is advertisement. Commercials have become inseparable part of broadcasting and live coverage. Even favorite movies are interrupted by short ad. Though commercials are what holds television together and there is nobody who can prove this wrong. Besides there have to be some ways to show what lies on the shelves at supermarkets. When it comes to disadvantages one may prepare for a long story, but after all, despite these trifles we continue to do it, no matter what we are said.
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It is amazing how blind we can sometimes be. We never have time to stop and look around, all wrapped up in our everyday routine. It is absolutely necessary to pay attention to all that surrounds you and appreciate it. Just imagine yourself a picture. Beautiful summer night. Not even a cloud in the sky. The air is fragrant and the darkness around is crisp. You look up to the sky and what you see is a myriad of bright lights and it seems like you are able to touch a one, though it is a million years away from you. They dance and twinkle like thousands of eyes watching you. They get together in weird combinations giving something to your imagination. Here and there different images appear and there is nothing in the whole world that can be compared to that. You stay motionless, touched and overwhelmed by feelings that are breaking you head apart. This makes you feel warm and feverish, now you know, there is nothing you can t manage and can t do. You are inspired by the beauty of what you ve witnessed.
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Now that college has opened the door for you and you safely got in with a full time scholarship in your hands, you can and have to be happy about what you have so far accomplished. But don t get too excited. If you think that the strain is over and you can now relax for a bit you are wrong. College is the place where the actual strain starts. You could be one of the best students in your class and best athlete at school, but it doesn t mean that you will keep the crown without proving it. You ll have to work pretty hard to prove that you are right, for you ll compete against the best of the best.
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Psychology is a very interesting science. With the help of it s achievements we can research the hidden corners of our souls. This can be really exciting and even make you discover something new about your personality and traits of your character. You can make numerous tests to determine what will your reaction be to a certain event, how you act in extreme situations, what is your aim that you don t notice, how well you get along with others. All the above stated questions and the answers you ll get make up your temperament, a psychological term used to show types of personality by I.P. Pavlov, famous scientist from Russia.
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There are many types of the writing projects you can be assigned with during your study at the University. Some of them are designed to reveal your point of view on several matters, some of them are written to check your understanding of the subject, and some of them are assigned in order to teach you to describe events, people or other things.
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BEI staff have been working throughout 2005 on major revision of the management and delivery of the office’s information services. Though currently invisible to users of the site those developments will lead to changes to the search interface to freely-accessible services during 2006, and to the general structure of the site in the longer term. Invited participants in a TLRP seminar on March 17 2006 will get an early view of the new functionality. That event, New technologies for the development of research knowledge in education is part of ESRC Social Science Week. News about changes to the BEI site will appear here in due course.
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Regardless of what service you provide or what type of products you produce, in today highly competitive and rapidly changing world one should always have appealing, attracting and interesting content on the web site. Web copywriting process is destined to help you to create well-written content copy. Copywriters will be able to design and compose the copy that gain attention of major search engines and increase the traffic on your web site; yet it not enough. One should never forget how the text on your web site should look like.
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