Theories of Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Theories of Management - Essay Example Informal networks tend to be personal, voluntary, and have fluid boundaries. Participation in informal networks is not formally governed or officially recognized. Informal personal and social network activities are with organizational members who share, for instance, common social interests and are often used as a means to socialize among colleagues and to participate in activities they enjoy. Organizational issues are often discussed unofficially. (Ibarra, 2003, 58) Both engagement in formal and informal networking activities and career satisfaction can be expected to be dependent on the availability of time. Being scarce of time may diminish the amount of time that employees interact with their coworkers and this can be reflected in their network characteristics. Individually, a network whether it is an acquaintance, business partnerships and the likes is an advantage on the person who has it against a person who has no network at all. A certain network could be utilized for advancement of an individual in dealing instances such as selling of goods, interaction with others and promoting one's self. Knowing these premises, it is very important to build networks.

Report Education System in Japan Essay Example for Free

Report Education System in Japan Essay Japan has already begun to experience a population decline, with the result that many universities are already having difficulty maintaining their student populations, although entry into top ranks of the universities remains hugely competitive. The emerging and foreseeable trend is that many universities will have to try to attract large numbers of foreigners or diversify or face closure. It is also now said that a university education in Japan is within easier reach of students today, but that the quality of that higher education is now in question despite the many educational reforms that have been set in motion. Each academic year begins in April and comprises of two semesters. Basic general degrees are four-year degrees, a feature adapted from the American system. Undergraduate students receive instruction via the lecture and seminar group method. The general degree may be followed by two-year Masters degrees (generally a combination of lectures and guided research) and then a three year Doctorate (largely based on research) where these are offered. Graduate education in Japan is underdeveloped compared to European countries and the United States with only slightly more than 7 percent of Japanese undergraduates going on to graduate school as compared to 13 percent of American undergraduates. Postgraduate educational offerings are weak and the number of universities offering postgraduate programmes or a wide variety of programmes, is small, compared to that in other industrialized western countries. Japan has about three million students enrolled in 1,200 universities and junior colleges and consequently the second largest higher educational system in the developed world. Japan also has one of the largest systems of private higher education in the world. The 710 odd universities in Japan can be separated into 3 categories: highly competitive, mildly competitive and non-competitive (the schools that are first-tier being the infamously difficult to enter ones). Public universities are generally more prestigious than their private ones with only 25 percent of all university-bound students being admitted to public universities. More than 65 percent of high school graduates continue their studies; of these, over 70 percent are enrolled in private colleges and universities. Only about 10 percent of private institutions receive their financial resources from public funding, with most public funds on higher education being spent on the national and local public universities. Despite the impressive statistics, Japanese universities are considered to be the weakest link in the countrys educational system. While many western writers have, time and time again, attributed the economic success of Japan to the well-educated and highly literate population of Japan, recent writings and studies tend to be far more critical, lamenting the deplorable state and quality of higher education in Japan today. Despite the famed exam rigors and competitiveness, declining standards in education and the high school students lack of interest in studying have lately been under spotlight. Some attribute this disinterestedness to the fact that academic effort no longer assured automatic rewards with the disintegration in the formerly stable and guaranteed lifetime employment system. Japanese students are also widely known to traditionally consider their university days to be a social playground, a reward for the hard work and having made it there, and, as many critics have recently pointed, professors demand relatively little from their students. Despite the institutional change and sweeping national reforms underway in response to these criticisms, the key problems remain unresolved: the pyramidal-structure of the university system and entrance exam wars; the centrally-controlled curriculum and lack of individuality and creativity of students as well as the lack of competitiveness in educational suppliers.

Consultation Skills In Relation To Non Medical Prescribing Nursing Essay

Consultation Skills In Relation To Non Medical Prescribing Nursing Essay To illustrate this I will utilise the model of reflection adapted from (Boud, Keogh and Walker 1985) as to focus on influences on prescribing, psychology of prescribing working through the consultation, decision-making and therapy, and referral. Being present in the consultation as a non-medical prescriber challenged me to ask questions about my own practice and the consultant psychiatrist, focussing on how we arrived at our decisions and occasionally resulting in contrasting views. According to (Butler et al 1998) many authorities advise that the prime skills associated with the prescribing process are: Adequate exploration of the patients worries Adequate provision of information to the patient regarding the natural processes of the disease being treated The advisability of self-medication in trivial illness The issue pertaining to poor communication has a negative impact with patient-practitioner relationship and was acknowledged in an informative paper by (Britten et al 2000). Ultimately, all of the failures of communication were linked with an absence of the patients involvement during the consultation process. There is evidence that failure to actively engage in, or even consider, the patients perspective is a common failing amongst prescribers. (Britten et al 2000). Very often there is a focus on the term compliance and it is only recently that nurses are focussing on the more apt term of concordance. The term compliance was viewed as being authority laden (Marinker 1997) where it was expected that patients complied implicitly and without question when a prescription was given. There was little acceptance that patients would actively participate in the decision making process that surrounded the generation of the prescription. (Cox et al. 2002) Objective recognition of the patients perspectives, requirements and beliefs need to be acknowledged and then the recognition of any major differences between these and the prescribers needs could be perceived when providing nursing care. It is not just the act of writing out the prescription that is important, but it is the understanding of the processes and dynamics of the interactions that are taking place between prescriber and patient that are the fundamental key to good prescribing practice (Kuhse et al 2001). The consultation I chose to focus on was carried out by a consultant psychiatrist who for the purposes of this work shall be known as DR S, with myself as an observer of the consultation. The patient to be seen was a 45 year old gentleman who will be known for the purposes of this work as Mr A, who had been referred by dermatology to the mental health out-patients clinic as a new patient. Dermatology had referred this gentleman after a 12 month history of attending their department where Mr A had complained of persistent generalised skin irritation, and despite receiving treatment with them it appeared he may have an underlying mental health issue. Dr S began the interview by thoroughly reading the referral from dermatology and establishing what had been the concern from their point of view. The patient was then seen and before Dr S had chance to ask the patient anything Mr A expressed that he was confused as to why he had been referred to the mental health department, and not dermatology, which he perceived his medical complaint to be related to. The British Medical Journal (2000) has recognised a common theme amongst studies of patients in that they have a tendency to prefer prescribers (doctors or nurses) who listen and provide time for the individual to express their concerns without feeling hurried Dr S asked Mr A why he had been attending Dermatology to which Mr A detailed a 12 month history of describing an itchy scalp, generalised skin irritation and said no treatment had so far helped him. Mr A then went on to express that he felt all of these symptoms may be due to a parasite, or a bug which was doing something to him, and described a feeling of the bug weaving something on his face which enveloped his eyes. Other symptoms he described was that this bug or parasite was all the time making him feel thirsty and taking moisture from his body, and could somehow transpose itself to other people, including his own GP and friends describing like a magnetic type effect. From this initial information it was evident that Mr A was suffering from a delusional disorder which was quite systemised and concrete and Mr A appeared not to display any other symptoms of mental health. A diagnosis of parasitosis delusional disorder was made. It was clear Mr A needed treatment but the main factor to consider was that Mr A did not believe he any form of mental disorder and therefore there was a real issue surrounding concordance with proposed treatment. Usually, it is difficult to obtain informed consent to treat patients with delusional parasitosis with antipsychotics. Therefore experienced clinicians tell their patients that the antipsychotics are effective `against the itch or the `problems with the pests in order not to have to lie. (Musalek, 1991; Driscoll et al, 1993; Winsten, 1997; Freudenmann, 2002). This is due to the patients level of insight hindering their decision to accept treatment, because they hold a non-reality based idea that it is a somatic illness. It is therefore found that the patient will normally have sought help from their G.P., dermatologists and will often be adverse to the idea of seeing a mental health professional A full medical history was taken, looking at any familial medical problems, family composition and looking at the social aspects of MR A to include areas of employment, relationships, and any drug/alcohol usage. There have been some criticisms of the education of nurse prescribing in relation to the communication skills of nurses, where it is felt that historically there has been too much of a focus on taking a history and coming to a diagnosis. It was apparent to me that Dr S had to use his skill as an experienced mental health clinician to challenge Mr As concept of his illness not being related to a problem with his mental health Dr A approached the issue of explaining Mr A symptoms, not referring to mental health or delusions, but explaining Mr As perceived   symptoms by informing him that although he believed that these experiences were real to MR A , that his brain was interpreting false signals resulting in these unusual thoughts. Dr A went on to use the analogy of an amputee who perceives that he can still feel is amputated leg, through false interpretations of the brain. Drew et al. (2001). found that prescribers would emphasise the positive benefits of the medication far more frequently than they would discuss the risks and precautions, despite the fact that the patients perception was that such a discussion is seen as essential. Therefore looking at this, this could lead to patient confusion, with patient anxieties, and a degree of ambivalence to medication being offered to them. It is transparent that if there is a degree of empathic display between that of the patient and the prescriber, there is a greater chance of concordance. This will hopefully lead to an increased level of compliance/concordance and patient satisfaction resulting in desired clinical results Here we face the issue surrounding honesty, integrity, consent and acting in the best interest of the patients in focussing on treatment The issue of treatment was then discussed by Dr A, who said to Mr S that he believed he could help him by prescribing some medication for him that would help relive the distressing symptoms he was experiencing. Mr A initially expressed some confusion once more why he was not seeing dermatology as he perceived the problem needed treating by them This indicates that Mr S was still not displaying any insight and the questions of concordance issues were reconsidered. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE 2002) recommends that a risk assessment should be performed by the mental health clinician responsible for treatment and the multidisciplinary team regarding concordance with medication, and depot preparations should be prescribed when appropriate. Mr A questioned the proposed medication and it was explained to him that he would be given a course of Neuroleptic medication of a new medication called Aripiprazole. Dr A said that although the medication leaflet would mention the medication was used for Schizophrenia, that Mr A should not be too worried about that as that was not the reason why he would be taking it. Dr A then went on to say that the leaflet would also explain possible side-effects and that although it listed quite a few they were quite rare. The paper by (Cox et al.2000) found that it was common practice for prescribers to initiate the discussions about just what medication they were going to prescribe, rarely refer to the medicine by name and equally rarely refer to how a newly prescribed medication is perceived to differ in either action or purpose, to those previously prescribed. Patient understanding is rarely checked as it is usually assumed after the prescriber has given the prescription. Even when invited to do so, patients seldom take the opportunity to ask questions. (Cox et al 2000) I felt it was the right thing to initiate pharmacological treatment, although on reading further research surrounding the best treatment for Parisitosis I would question the choice of medication Mr A was commenced on However, after spending many clinical hours with this particular Consultant Psychiatrist, I am aware that he has high tendency of prescribing Aripiprazole for the majority of his clients. On questioning Dr A about his decision for choice of medication, Dr A commented that it is the newest and most effective of the atypical medications with lesser incidence of side effect relative to other medications in its group.   I had to question myself that there may be other factors influencing in the prescribing decision which were not based on any of the NICE guidance or that of the British Journal of Psychiatry. In fact, Dr A replied to me with medical jargon relating to molecular structures of both the brain and chemical make-up of Aripiprazole which was hard to follow due to its complexity. I was conscious that as a consultant psychiatrist of many years experience, I was not sure of the honesty or consequences if I had challenged Dr A about his continued choice of Aripiprazole against other choices of medication any further. After researching treatment for this disorder, I felt that the initiation of a typical antipsychotic should have seriously been considered due to its proven faster working efficacy. However, it is known that typical antipsychotics have an increased prevalence of side-effects. Therefore I had considered the preliminary use of typical antipsychotics to establish a degree of insight into the beneficence of taking medication, and if it was felt that further pharmacological treatment is required then switch to a typical antipsychotic as recommended by the NICE guidelines. An article in the British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) highlighted that delusional parasitosis has shown significant treatment results with the use of typical antipsychotics. (Traberts 1995) found that the introduction of typical antipsychotics has substantially improved remission rates (Frithz 1979) described another important treatment in delusional parasitosis is to consider typical anti-psychotic depot medication. This was suggested, as was earlier highlighted that one of the main stumbling blocks is a lack of insight that causes patients t be reluctant to accept oral medication. However, the administration of medication in injection form might be viewed by the patient as the answer to their somatic perception of their illness. It would be hoped that the injection would lead to a degree of insight where the patient may be more open to accept regular medication At the end of the consultation the patient Mr A agreed to take the medication as prescribed and was offered a further out-patients appointment in 2 weeks time. Ultimately, I accept a clear indication for medication, and in conjunction with this at a later stage this could be combined with some cognitive behavioural therapy should symptoms persist. Clinical Governance plays an important part in relation to prescribing., and in particular for non-medical prescribers role .(Bradley E and Nolan P 2005) state that training courses must remain up-to-date and flexible and must change in response to changes in government policy on non-medical prescribing, with nurse prescribing leads being involved in any discussion about course development.

Postmodernist vs. Modernist vs. Personal position on Faith :: essays research papers

Topic 1: Postmodernist vs. Modernist vs. Personal position on Faith Topic 2: What did you learn in this class? Written By: Angela Gonzalez Topic 1: Postmodernist vs. Modernist Position on Science and Religion We have all at one time or another asked ourselves the question â€Å"Should I believe this?† Doubt is simply another part of the human experience. When we doubt our faith, however, it can be more crucial than many other doubts we have, because of the believed consequences that come along with it. Where there is doubt people begin to look for ways to rationalize whether what they believe is more right than what someone else believes. Science and religion, two means in which knowledge is obtained from the world, are used by post modernist and modernist to justify faith or lack there of. In this paper I will discuss the contradicting views postmodernist and modernist have on the separation and overlap of scientific knowledge and religious knowledge. Whether you believe one view over the other boils down to personal choice and acceptance of the idea based on ones experiences, therefore I will also discuss my opinion on the connectivity among faith, rationality, objective truth an d ways of gaining and testing the truth of knowledge for both science and religion. Let’s begin by discussing the Enlightenment thought of modernist’s that only that which can be scientifically measured and quantified and reasoned through logically is true knowledge. We can have true knowledge about time in space, fitness, age or the power of your punch, but what, about things that can not be scientifically measured such as beauty, morals, and other matters of the spirit. It does not seem right to say that we can not obtain true knowledge of such things so we have inherited the modernist belief that such things are matters of opinion. In other words, they are subjective matters having only to do with the individual’s experiences and preferences. This modernist scientific mindset is devastating for religious beliefs. Though some religious beliefs can be empirically tested there are others, such as the nature of God and justification by faith which cannot be weighed or measured. These central elements of religious knowledge can therefore be said to be matters of personal opinion, or worse figments of imagination. This contradicting relationship between the scientific and religious approach of knowledge can have a tragic effect on a believer of faith because it is very easy for the individual to get caught up in providing for themselves the kind of impossible logical certainty for their beliefs a nonbeliever might demand.

The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 15. WAGER

I STARED AT HIM FOR A LONG MINUTE, SPEECHLESS. I could not think of one thing to say to him. As he watched my dumbfounded expression, the seriousness left his face. â€Å"Okay,† he said, grinning. â€Å"That's all.† â€Å"Jake -† It felt like there was something big sticking in my throat. I tried to clear the obstruction. â€Å"I can't – I mean I don't . . . I have to go.† I turned, but he grabbed my shoulders and spun me around. â€Å"No, wait. I know that, Bella. But, look, answer me this, all right? Do you want me to go away and never see you again? Be honest.† It was hard to concentrate on his question, so it took a minute to answer. â€Å"No, I don't want that,† I finally admitted. Jacob grinned again. â€Å"See.† â€Å"But I don't want you around for the same reason that you want me around,† I objected. â€Å"Tell me exactly why you want me around, then.† I thought carefully. â€Å"I miss you when you're not there. When you're happy,† I qualified carefully, â€Å"it makes me happy. But I could say the same thing about Charlie, Jacob. You're family. I love you, but I'm not in love with you.† He nodded, unruffled. â€Å"But you do want me around.† â€Å"Yes.† I sighed. He was impossible to discourage. â€Å"Then I'll stick around.† â€Å"You're a glutton for punishment,† I grumbled. â€Å"Yep.† He stroked the tips of his fingers across my right cheek. I slapped his hand away. â€Å"Do you think you could behave yourself a little better, at least?† I asked, irritated. â€Å"No, I don't. You decide, Bella. You can have me the way I am – bad behavior included – or not at all.† I stared at him, frustrated. â€Å"That's mean.† â€Å"So are you.† That pulled me up short, and I took an involuntary step back. He was right. If I wasn't mean – and greedy, too – I would tell him I didn't want to be friends and walk away. It was wrong to try to keep my friend when that would hurt him. I didn't know what I was doing here, but I was suddenly sure that it wasn't good. â€Å"You're right,† I whispered. He laughed. â€Å"I forgive you. Just try not to get too mad at me. Because I recently decided that I'm not giving up. There really is something irresistible about a lost cause.† â€Å"Jacob.† I stared into his dark eyes, trying to make him take me seriously. â€Å"I love him, Jacob. He's my whole life.† â€Å"You love me, too,† he reminded me. He held up his hand when I started to protest. â€Å"Not the same way, I know. But he's not your whole life, either. Not anymore. Maybe he was once, but he left. And now he's just going to have to deal with the consequence of that choice – me.† I shook my head. â€Å"You're impossible.† Suddenly, he was serious. He took my chin in his hand, holding it firmly so that I couldn't look away from his intent gaze. â€Å"Until your heart stops beating, Bella,† he said. â€Å"I'll be here – fighting. Don't forget that you have options.† â€Å"I don't want options,† I disagreed, trying to yank my chin free unsuccessfully. â€Å"And my heartbeats are numbered, Jacob. The time is almost gone.† His eyes narrowed. â€Å"All the more reason to fight – fight harder now, while I can,† he whispered. He still had my chin – his fingers holding too tight, till it hurt – and I saw the resolve form abruptly in his eyes. â€Å"N -† I started to object, but it was too late. His lips crushed mine, stopping my protest. He kissed me angrily, roughly, his other hand gripping tight around the back of my neck, making escape impossible. I shoved against his chest with all my strength, but he didn't even seem to notice. His mouth was soft, despite the anger, his lips molding to mine in a warm, unfamiliar way. I grabbed at his face, trying to push it away, failing again. He seemed to notice this time, though, and it aggravated him. His lips forced mine open, and I could feel his hot breath in my mouth. Acting on instinct, I let my hands drop to my side, and shut down. I opened my eyes and didn't fight, didn't feel . . . just waited for him to stop. It worked. The anger seemed to evaporate, and he pulled back to look at me. He pressed his lips softly to mine again, once, twice . . . a third time. I pretended I was a statue and waited. Finally, he let go of my face and leaned away. â€Å"Are you done now?† I asked in an expressionless voice. â€Å"Yes,† he sighed. He started to smile, closing his eyes. I pulled my arm back and then let it snap forward, punching him in the mouth with as much power as I could force out of my body. There was a crunching sound. â€Å"Ow! OW!† I screamed, frantically hopping up and down in agony while I clutched my hand to my chest. It was broken, I could feel it. Jacob stared at me in shock. â€Å"Are you all right?† â€Å"No, dammit! You broke my hand!† â€Å"Bella, you broke your hand. Now stop dancing around and let me look at it.† â€Å"Don't touch me! I'm going home right now!† â€Å"I'll get my car,† he said calmly. He wasn't even rubbing his jaw like they did in the movies. How pathetic. â€Å"No, thanks,† I hissed. â€Å"I'd rather walk.† I turned toward the road. It was only a few miles to the border. As soon as I got away from him, Alice would see me. She'd send somebody to pick me up. â€Å"Just let me drive you home,† Jacob insisted. Unbelievably, he had the nerve to wrap his arm around my waist. I jerked away from him. â€Å"Fine!† I growled. â€Å"Do! I can't wait to see what Edward does to you! I hope he snaps your neck, you pushy, obnoxious, moronic DOG!† Jacob rolled his eyes. He walked me to the passenger side of his car and helped me in. When he got in the driver's side, he was whistling. â€Å"Didn't I hurt you at all?† I asked, furious and annoyed. â€Å"Are you kidding? If you hadn't started screaming, I might not have figured out that you were trying to punch me. I may not be made out of stone, but I'm not that soft.† â€Å"I hate you, Jacob Black.† â€Å"That's good. Hate is a passionate emotion.† â€Å"I'll give you passionate,† I muttered under my breath. â€Å"Murder, the ultimate crime of passion.† â€Å"Oh, c'mon,† he said, all cheery and looking like he was about to start whistling again. â€Å"That had to be better than kissing a rock.† â€Å"Not even remotely close,† I told him coldly. He pursed his lips. â€Å"You could just be saying that.† â€Å"But I'm not.† That seemed to bother him for a second, but then he perked up. â€Å"You're just mad. I don't have any experience with this kind of thing, but I thought it was pretty incredible myself.† â€Å"Ugh,† I groaned. â€Å"You're going to think about it tonight. When he thinks you're asleep, you'll be thinking about your options.† â€Å"If I think about you tonight, it will be because I'm having a nightmare.† He slowed the car to a crawl, turning to stare at me with his dark eyes wide and earnest. â€Å"Just think about how it could be, Bella,† he urged in a soft, eager voice. â€Å"You wouldn't have to change anything for me. You know Charlie would be happy if you picked me. I could protect you just as well as your vampire can – maybe better. And I would make you happy, Bella. There's so much I could give you that he can't. I'll bet he couldn't even kiss you like that – because he would hurt you. I would never, never hurt you, Bella.† I held up my injured hand. He sighed. â€Å"That wasn't my fault. You should have known better.† â€Å"Jacob, I can't be happy without him.† â€Å"You've never tried,† he disagreed. â€Å"When he left, you spent all your energy holding on to him. You could be happy if you let go. You could be happy with me.† â€Å"I don't want to be happy with anyone but him,† I insisted. â€Å"You'll never be able to be as sure of him as you are of me. He left you once, he could do it again.† â€Å"No, he will not,† I said through my teeth. The pain of the memory bit into me like the lash of a whip. It made me want to hurt him back. â€Å"You left me once,† I reminded him in a cold voice, thinking of the weeks he'd hidden from me, the words he'd said to me in the woods beside his home. . . . â€Å"I never did,† he argued hotly. â€Å"They told me I couldn't tell you – that it wasn't safe for you if we were together. But I never left, never! I used to run around your house at night – like I do now. Just making sure you were okay.† I wasn't about to let him make me feel bad for him now. â€Å"Take me home. My hand hurts.† He sighed, and started driving at a normal speed, watching the road. â€Å"Just think about it, Bella.† â€Å"No,† I said stubbornly. â€Å"You will. Tonight. And I'll be thinking about you while you're thinking about me.† â€Å"Like I said, a nightmare.† He grinned over at me. â€Å"You kissed me back.† I gasped, unthinkingly balling my hands up into fists again, hissing when my broken hand reacted. â€Å"Are you okay?† he asked. â€Å"I did not.† â€Å"I think I can tell the difference.† â€Å"Obviously you can't – that was not kissing back, that was trying to get you the hell off of me, you idiot.† He laughed a low, throaty laugh. â€Å"Touchy. Almost overly defensive, I would say.† I took a deep breath. There was no point in arguing with him; he would twist anything I said. I concentrated on my hand, trying to stretch out my fingers, to ascertain where the broken parts were. Sharp pains stabbed along my knuckles. I groaned. â€Å"I'm really sorry about your hand,† Jacob said, sounding almost sincere. â€Å"Next time you want to hit me, use a baseball bat or a crowbar, okay?† â€Å"Don't think I'll forget that,† I muttered. I didn't realize where we were going until we were on my road. â€Å"Why are you taking me here?† I demanded. He looked at me blankly. â€Å"I thought you said you were going home?† â€Å"Ugh. I guess you can't take me to Edward's house, can you?† I ground my teeth in frustration. Pain twisted across his face, and I could see that this affected him more than anything else I'd said. â€Å"This is your home, Bella,† he said quietly. â€Å"Yes, but do any doctors live here?† I asked, holding up my hand again. â€Å"Oh.† He thought about that for a minute. â€Å"I'll take you to the hospital. Or Charlie can.† â€Å"I don't want to go to the hospital. It's embarrassing and unnecessary.† He let the Rabbit idle in front of the house, deliberating with an unsure expression. Charlie's cruiser was in the driveway. I sighed. â€Å"Go home, Jacob.† I climbed out of the car awkwardly, heading for the house. The engine cut off behind me, and I was less surprised than annoyed to find Jacob beside me again. â€Å"What are you going to do?† he asked. â€Å"I am going to get some ice on my hand, and then I am going to call Edward and tell him to come and get me and take me to Carlisle so that he can fix my hand. Then, if you're still here, I am going to go hunt up a crowbar.† He didn't answer. He opened the front door and held it for me. We walked silently past the front room where Charlie was lying on the sofa. â€Å"Hey, kids,† he said, sitting forward. â€Å"Nice to see you here, Jake.† â€Å"Hey, Charlie,† Jacob answered casually, pausing. I stalked on to the kitchen. â€Å"What's wrong with her?† Charlie wondered. â€Å"She thinks she broke her hand,† I heard Jacob tell him. I went to the freezer and pulled out a tray of ice cubes. â€Å"How did she do that?† As my father, I thought Charlie ought to sound a bit less amused and a bit more concerned. Jacob laughed. â€Å"She hit me.† Charlie laughed, too, and I scowled while I beat the tray against the edge of the sink. The ice scattered inside the basin, and I grabbed a handful with my good hand and wrapped the cubes in the dishcloth on the counter. â€Å"Why did she hit you?† â€Å"Because I kissed her,† Jacob said, unashamed. â€Å"Good for you, kid,† Charlie congratulated him. I ground my teeth and went for the phone. I dialed Edward's cell. â€Å"Bella?† he answered on the first ring. He sounded more than relieved – he was delighted. I could hear the Volvo's engine in the background; he was already in the car – that was good. â€Å"You left the phone . . . I'm sorry, did Jacob drive you home?† â€Å"Yes,† I grumbled. â€Å"Will you come and get me, please?† â€Å"I'm on my way,† he said at once. â€Å"What's wrong?† â€Å"I want Carlisle to look at my hand. I think it's broken.† It had gone quiet in the front room, and I wondered when Jacob would bolt. I smiled a grim smile, imagining his discomfort. â€Å"What happened?† Edward demanded, his voice going flat. â€Å"I punched Jacob,† I admitted. â€Å"Good,† Edward said bleakly. â€Å"Though I'm sorry you're hurt.† I laughed once, because he sounded as pleased as Charlie had. â€Å"I wish I'd hurt him.† I sighed in frustration. â€Å"I didn't do any damage at all.† â€Å"I can fix that,† he offered. â€Å"I was hoping you would say that.† There was a slight pause. â€Å"That doesn't sound like you,† he said, wary now. â€Å"What did he do?† â€Å"He kissed me,† I growled. All I heard on the other end of the line was the sound of an engine accelerating. In the other room, Charlie spoke again. â€Å"Maybe you ought to take off, Jake,† he suggested. â€Å"I think I'll hang out here, if you don't mind.† â€Å"Your funeral,† Charlie muttered. â€Å"Is the dog still there?† Edward finally spoke again. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"I'm around the corner,† he said darkly, and the line disconnected. As I hung up the phone, smiling, I heard the sound of his car racing down the street. The brakes protested loudly as he slammed to a stop out front. I went to get the door. â€Å"How's your hand?† Charlie asked as I walked by. Charlie looked uncomfortable. Jacob lolled next to him on the sofa, perfectly at ease. I lifted the ice pack to show it off. â€Å"It's swelling.† â€Å"Maybe you should pick on people your own size,† Charlie suggested. â€Å"Maybe,† I agreed. I walked on to open the door. Edward was waiting. â€Å"Let me see,† he murmured. He examined my hand gently, so carefully that it caused me no pain at all. His hands were almost as cold as the ice, and they felt good against my skin. â€Å"I think you're right about the break,† he said. â€Å"I'm proud of you. You must have put some force behind this.† â€Å"As much as I have.† I sighed. â€Å"Not enough, apparently.† He kissed my hand softly. â€Å"I'll take care of it,† he promised. And then he called, â€Å"Jacob,† his voice still quiet and even. â€Å"Now, now,† Charlie cautioned. I heard Charlie heave himself off of the sofa. Jacob got to the hall first, and much more quietly, but Charlie was not far behind him. Jacob's expression was alert and eager. â€Å"I don't want any fighting, do you understand?† Charlie looked only at Edward when he spoke. â€Å"I can go put my badge on if that makes my request more official.† â€Å"That won't be necessary,† Edward said in a restrained tone. â€Å"Why don't you arrest me, Dad?† I suggested. â€Å"I'm the one throwing punches.† Charlie raised an eyebrow. â€Å"Do you want to press charges, Jake?† â€Å"No.† Jacob grinned, incorrigible. â€Å"I'll take the trade any day.† Edward grimaced. â€Å"Dad, don't you have a baseball bat somewhere in your room? I want to borrow it for a minute.† Charlie looked at me evenly. â€Å"Enough, Bella.† â€Å"Let's go have Carlisle look at your hand before you wind up in a jail cell,† Edward said. He put his arm around me and pulled me toward the door. â€Å"Fine,† I said, leaning against him. I wasn't so angry anymore, now that Edward was with me. I felt comforted, and my hand didn't bother me as much. We were walking down the sidewalk when I heard Charlie whispering anxiously behind me. â€Å"What are you doing? Are you crazy?† â€Å"Give me a minute, Charlie,† Jacob answered. â€Å"Don't worry, I'll be right back.† I looked back and Jacob was following us, stopping to close the door in Charlie's surprised and uneasy face. Edward ignored him at first, leading me to the car. He helped me inside, shut the door, and then turned to face Jacob on the sidewalk. I leaned anxiously through the open window. Charlie was visible in the house, peeking through the drapes in the front room. Jacob's stance was casual, his arms folded across his chest, but the muscles in his jaw were tight. Edward spoke in a voice so peaceful and gentle that it made the words strangely more threatening. â€Å"I'm not going to kill you now, because it would upset Bella.† â€Å"Hmph,† I grumbled. Edward turned slightly to throw me a quick smile. His face was still calm. â€Å"It would bother you in the morning,† he said, brushing his fingers across my cheek. Then he turned back to Jacob. â€Å"But if you ever bring her back damaged again – and I don't care whose fault it is; I don't care if she merely trips, or if a meteor falls out of the sky and hits her in the head – if you return her to me in less than the perfect condition that I left her in, you will be running with three legs. Do you understand that, mongrel?† Jacob rolled his eyes. â€Å"Who's going back?† I muttered. Edward continued as if he hadn't heard me. â€Å"And if you ever kiss her again, I will break your jaw for her,† he promised, his voice still gentle and velvet and deadly. â€Å"What if she wants me to?† Jacob drawled, arrogant. â€Å"Hah!† I snorted. â€Å"If that's what she wants, then I won't object.† Edward shrugged, untroubled. â€Å"You might want to wait for her to say it, rather than trust your interpretation of body language – but it's your face.† Jacob grinned. â€Å"You wish,† I grumbled. â€Å"Yes, he does,† Edward murmured. â€Å"Well, if you're done rummaging through my head,† Jacob said with a thick edge of annoyance, â€Å"why don't you go take care of her hand?† â€Å"One more thing,† Edward said slowly. â€Å"I'll be fighting for her, too. You should know that. I'm not taking anything for granted, and I'll be fighting twice as hard as you will.† â€Å"Good,† Jacob growled. â€Å"It's no fun beating someone who forfeits.† â€Å"She is mine.† Edward's low voice was suddenly dark, not as composed as before. â€Å"I didn't say I would fightfair.† â€Å"Neither did I.† â€Å"Best of luck.† Jacob nodded. â€Å"Yes, may the best man win.† â€Å"That sounds about right . . . pup.† Jacob grimaced briefly, then he composed his face and leaned around Edward to smile at me. I glowered back. â€Å"I hope your hand feels better soon. I'm really sorry you're hurt.† Childishly, I turned my face away from him. I didn't look up again as Edward walked around the car and climbed into the driver's side, so I didn't know if Jacob went back into the house or continued to stand there, watching me. â€Å"How do you feel?† Edward asked as we drove away. â€Å"Irritated.† He chuckled. â€Å"I meant your hand.† I shrugged. â€Å"I've had worse.† â€Å"True,† he agreed, and frowned. Edward drove around the house to the garage. Emmett and Rosalie were there, Rosalie's perfect legs, recognizable even sheathed in jeans, were sticking out from under the bottom of Emmett's huge Jeep. Emmett was sitting beside her, one hand reached under the Jeep toward her. It took me a moment to realize that he was acting as the jack. Emmett watched curiously as Edward helped me carefully out of the car. His eyes zeroed in on the hand I cradled against my chest. Emmett grinned. â€Å"Fall down again, Bella?† I glared at him fiercely. â€Å"No, Emmett. I punched a werewolf in the face.† Emmett blinked, and then burst into a roar of laughter. As Edward led me past them, Rosalie spoke from under the car. â€Å"Jasper's going to win the bet,† she said smugly. Emmett's laughter stopped at once, and he studied me with appraising eyes. â€Å"What bet?† I demanded, pausing. â€Å"Let's get you to Carlisle,† Edward urged. He was staring at Emmett. His head shook infinitesimally. â€Å"What bet?† I insisted as I turned on him. â€Å"Thanks, Rosalie,† he muttered as he tightened his arm around my waist and pulled me toward the house. â€Å"Edward . . . ,† I grumbled. â€Å"It's infantile,† he shrugged. â€Å"Emmett and Jasper like to gamble.† â€Å"Emmett will tell me.† I tried to turn, but his arm was like iron around me. He sighed. â€Å"They're betting on how many times you . . . slip up in the first year.† â€Å"Oh.† I grimaced, trying to hide my sudden horror as I realized what he meant. â€Å"They have a bet about how many people I'll kill?† â€Å"Yes,† he admitted unwillingly. â€Å"Rosalie thinks your temper will turn the odds in Jasper's favor.† I felt a little high. â€Å"Jasper's betting high.† â€Å"It will make him feel better if you have a hard time adjusting. He's tired of being the weakest link.† â€Å"Sure. Of course it will. I guess I could throw in a few extra homicides, if it makes Jasper happy. Why not?† I was babbling, my voice a blank monotone. In my head, I was seeing newspaper headlines, lists of names. . . . He squeezed me. â€Å"You don't need to worry about it now. In fact, you don't have to worry about it ever, if you don't want to.† I groaned, and Edward, thinking it was the pain in my hand that bothered me, pulled me faster toward the house. My hand was broken, but there wasn't any serious damage, just a tiny fissure in one knuckle. I didn't want a cast, and Carlisle said I'd be fine in a brace if I promised to keep it on. I promised. Edward could tell I was out of it as Carlisle worked to fit a brace carefully to my hand. He worried aloud a few times that I was in pain, but I assured him that that wasn't it. As if I needed – or even had room for – one more thing to worry about. All of Jasper's stories about newly created vampires had been percolating in my head since he'd explained his past. Now those stories jumped into sharp focus with the news of his and Emmett's wager. I wondered randomly what they were betting. What was a motivating prize when you had everything? I'd always known that I would be different. I hoped that I would be as strong as Edward said I would be. Strong and fast and, most of all, beautiful. Someone who could stand next to Edward and feel like she belonged there. I'd been trying not to think too much about the other things that I would be. Wild. Bloodthirsty. Maybe I would not be able to stop myself from killing people. Strangers, people who had never harmed me. People like the growing number of victims in Seattle, who'd had families and friends and futures. People who'd had lives. And I could be the monster who took that away from them. But, in truth, I could handle that part – because I trusted Edward, trusted him absolutely, to keep me from doing anything I would regret. I knew he'd take me to Antarctica and hunt penguins if I asked him to. And I would do whatever it took to be a good person. A good vampire. That thought would have made me giggle, if not for this new worry. Because, if I really were somehow like that – like the nightmarish images of newborns that Jasper had painted in my head – could I possibly be me? And if all I wanted was to kill people, what would happen to the things I wanted now? Edward was so obsessed with me not missing anything while I was human. Usually, it seemed kind of silly. There weren't many human experiences that I worried about missing. As long as I got to be with Edward, what else could I ask for? I stared at his face while he watched Carlisle fix my hand. There was nothing in this world that I wanted more than him. Would that, could that, change? Was there a human experience that I was not willing to give up?

5 Tips for Writing an Opinion Essay

5 Tips for Writing an Opinion Essay You may be required to  write an essay  that is based on your own personal opinion about a  controversial topic. Depending on your objective, your composition could be any length, from a short  letter to the editor  to a medium-sized  speech, or a long  research paper. But every piece should contain some basic steps and elements. Collect Research to Support Your Opinion Make sure that your supporting statements match the type of composition you are writing. For example, your evidence will vary from observations (for a letter to the editor) to  trustworthy statistics(for a research paper). You should include examples and evidence that demonstrate a real understanding of your topic. This includes any potential counterclaims. In order to truly understand what you are arguing for or against, it is imperative that you understand the opposing arguments of your topic. Acknowledge the Previous Opinions or Arguments That Have Been Made More than likely you are writing about a controversial topic that has been debated before. Look ​at the arguments made in the past and see how they fit in with your opinion in the context in which you are writing. How is your point of view similar or different from those articulated by previous debaters? Has something changed in the time others were writing about it and now? If not, what does the lack of change mean?   â€Å"A common complaint among students is that the dress code restricts their rights to freedom of expression. Or â€Å"While some students feel uniforms restrict their freedom of expression, many feel the pressure to uphold certain standards of appearance by their peers.† Use a  Transition Statement Transition statements show how your opinion adds to the argument or suggests those previous statements and arguments are incomplete or faulty.  Follow up with a statement that expresses your opinion. While I agree that the regulations do hamper my ability to express my individualism, I think the economic burden that the new code brings about is a bigger concern. Or â€Å"The administration has developed a program for students needing assistance in purchasing the newly required uniforms.† Be Careful Not to be Too Sarcastic Many students come from low-income families and they simply dont have the resources to buy new clothing to suit the headmasters fashion whims. This statement contains a bit of a sour note. It would only make your argument less professional-sounding. This statement says enough: Many students come from low-income families and they simply dont have the resources to buy new clothing on short notice. Use Supporting Evidence to Back up Your Position The recent increase in fees has already led to a decrease in enrollment.Some of my friends are struggling to purchase necessities, due to the rising costs. It is important to keep the tone of your essay professional, by avoiding emotional language and any language that expresses an accusation. Use factual statements that are supported by sound evidence. Note:  Any time you develop an argument, you should start by thoroughly researching your oppositions point of view. This will help you to anticipate any potential holes or weaknesses in your own opinion or argument.