The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) - Assignment Example At long last, it is finished by indicating the inclusion and movement of organizations that are liable for law implementation through checking the quantity of captures and utilizing the quality information of police worker (Siegel, 2009). In Uniform Crime information detailing, reports for violations are acquired from offices answerable for law implementation by means of the country dependent on revealing strategies and uniform groupings. So as to give the most complete standpoint of wrongdoing in the U.S information is gotten uniquely on offenses that are generally known by cops. A significant perspective on wrongdoing can be seen by looking at the seven significant Crime Index offenses. These are picked for their reality, probability of a report being made and the recurrence of event: coercive assault, murder, theft, thievery, bothered attack, engine vehicle burglary and robbery burglary. The FBA can get the quantity of wrongdoing offenses from reports of law authorization organizations. The law requirement offices have records of casualty grievances, witness reports and wrongdoing reports found during activities of the organization. The reports can be gotten from the contributing law requirement organizations on a month to month premise. To guarantee that there is consistency and that nature of the information is kept up for any got information, Uniform Crime Reporting ought to guarantee arrangement of preparing on completely itemized methodology utilized for grouping and scoring offenses (Leonard, 2001). Since it was begun, the uniform Crime Reporting plan has had the option to give a solid, consistent progression of data concerning wrongdoing in the nation. In any case, since Uniform Crime Reporting is a synopsis announcing framework, individuals may not give information concerning singular wrongdoing rates. The synopsis based technique, despite the fact that it is dependable, has impediments in different viewpoints which can frustrate accommodation of data from the inspected populace. These incorporate absence of adequate data with respect to different

Arrogance or Persistance?

Flashes was In a similar business space for more than 75 years. One day in February 2006, a man entered Sparks and began estimating the entryways and windows. I asked him for what good reason he was estimating my bar's entryway and windows. He expressed, â€Å"l am wanting to redesign my new bar. † He presented himself as Eric Hamburger, stepson of my late proprietor. Two or after three days, I got an ousting letter that requested that I evacuate the bar gear and decorations from the space in 60 days. I quickly began the way toward purchasing a business building o move my bar in to.I purchased a business working in the city of Lemon Grove. I had figured out how to spare about $50,000. 00 while I claimed Sparks. This cash was reserved for financing the Small Business Administration credit and to cover the application expenses for the entirety of the necessary allows and licenses. I finished the entirety of the suitable applications, frames, and paid the charges. I was certain t hat I would be good to go inside the 60 days that I needed to move. I was unable to have been all the more off-base In my inure life. The city of Lemon Grove's Mayor, Ms. Mary magnificent and the LemonGrove city gathering had an arrangement for the property that I had Just bought. They had a concurrence with Tipping Point Partners, a designer in La Jolly, to form the property Into a blended use uber venture. I didn't realize that a half year before my endeavor to purchase the property at 3496 Main Street, the Supreme Court had maintained Keel vs†¦ New London. This law permits a city to utilize prominent space to redistribute actually claimed land to build up extra duty income. The city of Lemon Grove purposefully denied me any license to work a business in Lemon Grove.The rest behind their choice was to compel default on the business property that I had bought. I had no lawful response. I needed to suck it up and take it. $60,000. 00 was gone before it was finished. Losing the bar cost 200 focuses on my financial assessment. My alcohol permit and business hardware have yearly and capacity charges. Pulverizing! Fascination's employed me and my life balanced out. My contemplations were about how I was treated by some childish associated individuals. This made me extremely frantic. The unfeeling way that I was dealt with made me need to know how the procedure functioned and convent toss a wrench here and there.I decided to run for San Diego City Council. My battle spending plan was $1,000. 00. My better half and four of my companions turned into my crusade staff. It took 11 days strolling in the area gathering 2000 marks important to run on the voting form without paying an expense. We went to each 1 OFF for the entirety of the workplaces that were on the ballot. There was a long way to go about San Diego governmental issues. It showed up as though the entirety of the up-and-comers were either possessed by a unique intrigue, or were frail and incapable. It w as obvious at the primary applicant's arum who was going to win the election.Todd Gloria was next in line for the workplace. He was on Congresswoman Davis' staff. He was the dear of the associations, LEGIT, and the travel industry enterprises. He had 26 supports one year preceding the race. Man, was he associated! Cash was no article in making Mr†¦ Gloria a city councilman. This reality formed my system. I decided to utilize my application as a podium cutting straight to the chase and bring issues up that I believed should have been tended to. A portion of the places that I took during the political race was setting lattice tie sun based electric frameworks on each city possessed building.San Diego Gas and Electric was distraught about that. That didn't make a difference, they supported Todd Gloria. I got an overwhelming applause at Earth Day in Balboa Park for supporting the sanctioning of cannabis for recreational purposes. This response caused Todd Gloria to rehash his situa tion from zero resilience to permitting clinical pot sanctioning. Our significant battle issue was the San Diego Wastewater Treatment Plant in Point Loam. This wastewater treatment plant isn't at present up to code in the National Pollution Discharge Permitting Elimination System.In 2008, a great many people didn't see the coming severance and were bringing in cash by overdeveloping each market and asset in San Diego. My battle staff was working for thoughts in those days that are well known at this point. We didn't win the political decision. We got 7. 8% of the vote. We sensed that we had a major effect. I have utilized this experience to guide and mentor each individual who is not kidding about rolling out an improvement in their political authority. Being seen as presumptuous is anything but a terrible thing. You don't need to win a political race to be a champ. Thoughts are infectious. You do have any kind of effect, here and there a little one I award you, however you do have any kind of effect.

The issue of racial prejudice

Chapter by chapter list Importance of race in the play Cultural treatment of outsiders The social setting of Othello Works Cited The play of Othello has been one firmly bound up with the subject of race and prejudice. It is the fundamental issue of racial partiality in Venetian culture that impacts Iago’s plot against Othello, a bias both Othello and Desdemona are a lot of mindful of its reality. Desdemona denies preference in her own life. Her center is just her adoration, of which she is faithful in safeguarding. Be that as it may, Othello doesn't know about how profound the issue of Elizabethan partiality has vanquished his own character. Publicizing We will compose a custom research paper test on The issue of racial partiality explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Prejudice causes Othello to subvert himself by saying â€Å"I am not attractive†. â€Å"I am not deserving of Desdemona†. â€Å"It can't be genuine that she truly cherishes me,â₠¬  and â€Å"If she adores me, at that point there must be some kind of problem with her† (Shakespeare 72). Such contemplations keep Othello from talking about the issue with Desdemona, so he acts with the terrified suspicions affected by Iago’s lies and indications. Enduring the Elizabethan’s partiality expects Othello to be close to consummate in quality and information. For example, Iago expressly alludes to Othello with a foul preference by attesting that â€Å"These Moors are alterable in their wills†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Shakespeare 30). We can't overlook this attestation Iago makes about Othello. This revolting bias against Othello is the thing that perusers can support as reality with regards to racial preference during Elizabethan period (Graham 23). Different pundits think about Othello as probably the best accomplishment of Shakespeare, yet additionally as one of the most outrageous plays making distress the two perusers and watchers. A few pundits contend that Shakespeare committed an error by making a â€Å"Moor† his focal character on the grounds that solitary white characters could be disastrous saints. Others contend that Shakespeare was just communicating the estimations of Elizabethans with respect to race issue, which he thought was a hostile depiction of dark individuals during his occasions. Simultaneously, different pundits accept that Shakespeare was intentionally uncovering the issue of racial bias of his individual comrades by speaking to a dark grievous saint. Shakespeare’s characters are among the bigot in Elizabethan period. They often utilize the word â€Å"black† to allude to Othello. For example, Iago looks at Othello to â€Å"an old dark ram† (Shakespeare 5). This depicts the view of Elizabethans toward dark race. Elizabethans consider dark to be as creatures that don't have human thoughtfulness, yet bestial senses. Brabanzio biases against dark race because of their skin shading. Subs equently, he can't believe his own daughter’s relationship with Othello since it conflicts with his conclusion concerning outside race. Brabanzio reasserts his preference judgment by utilizing the word â€Å"fear† to mirror his thought regarding blacks for example blacks are savage and unseemly people. Brabanzio goes further to substitute Othello’s pride by alluding to him as a â€Å"thing†. Publicizing Looking for inquire about paper on english writing? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More simultaneously, Desdemona must legitimize why she should wed a â€Å"Moor†. The white society doesn't acknowledge racial relationships. When Desdemona affirms that she saw Othello in her psyche, it implies that she should defend and approve her adoration to Othello in her brain and not her heart. Iago reveals to Othello that Desdemona as his better half is so unnatural to the point that she denied â€Å"many p roposed matches †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Of her own clime, appearance, and degree† (Shakespeare 70). prior utilizations these depictions on Othello to conjure a feeling of dread, insidiousness, brutality and racial mediocrity of the blacks. The way of life of the whites depicts dark race as declined and ignoble. Othello must act inside the restrictions of a supremacist society to manage the supposed treachery of Desdemona (Adelman 45). The Elizabethan definitions and personality of the â€Å"Moor† fluctuated. They utilized the term to allude to blacks or somebody outside their race. Along these lines, some other race outside the white’s society was inconsequential. Iago revoltingly alludes to Othello as a â€Å"Barbary horse†. Elizabethans utilized the term â€Å"black† regarding â€Å"Moor†, dark or some other individual with Arabic inceptions. Iago alludes to Othello with derogative terms due to his skin pigmentation and his developing affection and want for a white lady. We can reason that racial preference pivots around racial sexual association of Othello and Desdemona. Characters think about Othello as good and excellent individual. Be that as it may, Iago blends sexual and race issues in order to discover methods of assaulting Othello from all sides. In this manner, Elizabethans use black’s physical highlights to characterize Othello’s personality. Significance of race in the play Racial preference denotes the watershed in this play. The noteworthiness of Othello’s race and pigmentation endeavor to uncover racial preference in the Elizabethan period. This powers the crowd not to consider Othello to be a generalized Moor, however as an unfortunate saint. The deplorable occasion sustained by Iago change Othello into what Iago needs him to be. This makes the play makes some uneasiness among white crowd. Shakespeare joins race, partiality and sex issues so as to make a snare of disasters. The play uncovere d the whites’ dread of miscegenation and blending of races through Othello. Shakespeare is utilizing the Moor to challenge the philosophies of race, sex and miscegenation in the Elizabethan time frame. The play mixes the crowd compassion through portrayal of the adoration for a white lady for a dark man (Hadfield 30). Promoting We will compose a custom research paper test on The issue of racial preference explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This was a no-no during the Elizabethan time with the dread of blended race posterity. An appropriate situation comes out through Roderigo when he discloses to Desdemona’s father that, â€Å"you’ll have your girl secured with a Barbary horse, you’ll have your nephews neigh to you† (Shakespeare 29). Social treatment of outsiders The depictions different characters use concerning Othello lead the crowd to accept that Elizabethan individuals treated outsiders with a distinction. Different charact ers utilize various socially generalized names to allude to Othello. For example, Emilia alludes to Othello as the â€Å"Moor† by saying â€Å"The Moor’s abus’d by some incredible knave†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ And made you to presume me with the Moor† (Shakespeare 30). Such references cause the perusers to imagine the story as one loaded up with generalized treatment of the Negros during Shakespeare’s period. The supremacist depictions pervade the play all through as clear in Roderigo and Iago. Be that as it may, as Shakespeare builds up his character, Othello, we understand that a few characters around him treat him as an equivalent. Othello has a rich history of lineage. We should consider Othello to be a Negro, however as a high and polite Moorish boss. As it were, Shakespeare checks the Moorish references by building up the characteristics of Othello with the goal that perusers may overlook his skin shading. Afterward, Shakespeare presents Othello as an edified, ace of language, regarded or more all, fit for energy past race. As the play closes, we understand that it isn't about race, yet an account of a shocking character who submits a heartbreaking demonstration of homicide. It is basic to take note of that the play begins in murkiness. Abnormally, the characters don't utilize Othello’s name concerning him. Perusers can just think about who could be â€Å"the dark ram† through the terms different characters use regarding Othello. The reference to the terms Moor, thick lips and a Barbary horse compare Othello to a creature. Roderigo sees the joining among Othello and Desdemona as a demonstration which will just outcomes into a making of a â€Å"beast with two backs† (Shakespeare, 29). We realize that ponies have wide lips, and by saying that the grandson will be a half-horse in view of the â€Å"animal blood† in Othello is an outrageous demonstration of sex and racial partiality social treatment of outs iders. Perusers just have traces of Othello through references to creatures Roderigo and Iago make. We can reach a determination between the Moor and creatures. Roderigo and Iago make references to creatures. They show that the Moors need consideration, and are half-human animals that can just fit the meaning of animals.Advertising Searching for look into paper on english writing? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More Brabanzio encounters disarray at his daughter’s issue with the outsider, the Moor. Contemplations and dread divert Brabanzio to infer that Othello is utilizing the dark enchantment and witches to bait Desdemona. It is similarly interesting to take note of that Brabanzio offers such comments before knowing the character of Othello. He just depends on the depictions Iago and Roderigo give Othello. The Elizabethans related the dull and savage to dark people’s enchantment. Since Othello is a â€Å"Moor†, Brabanzio mourns, and considers how Desdemona could have begun to look all starry eyed at him â€Å"against all standards of nature† (Shakespeare 31). Brabanzio takes it to the outrageous by considering how his little girl could have fallen â€Å"in love with that she dreaded to look† (Shakespeare 31). This reference gives perusers thoughts how Shakespeare’s peers treated foreigne

Diversity in instructional methods toward meaningful learning Essay Example for Free

Assorted variety in instructional strategies toward important learning Essay Theoretical There is assorted variety in instructional techniques that educators can use to realize important learning. This paper talks about five of them; to be specific incorporated request approach, 5-model of request, the dance sawing approach, pretending and WebQuest. These instructional techniques are student focused strategies that consider earlier information, mentality and abilities and advance improvement of new information and relate them to an assortment of settings. Every one of them likewise manage genuine circumstances that basically create relational connections, critical thinking abilities and substance information among others. The teachers’ undertakings are to plan and do effectively the instructional structures to have important learning among assorted students, instructional strategies and learning situations. Assorted variety in Instructional Methods Toward Meaningful Learning Diversity is a basic element of accomplishment of all endeavors in life including training. There are various types of students as there are educators, instructional techniques and learning conditions; however there is just a single objective in training and this is for a compelling and important learning. Educators should set situations for understudies so they could think fundamentally and freely and relate new information learned with an assortment of settings for significant learning. It is the assignment of the educators to coordinate the students, the learning situations, the information to be scholarly and the instructional strategies. Adapting genuinely implies that students relate new information to what they definitely know. Significant learning is non-subjective, non-verbatim, meaningful intentional exertion to interface new information with higher request ideas in psychological structures. It is a learning identified with encounters with occasions or questions and emotional responsibility to relate new information with earlier learning. The differing instructional plans towards important learning ought to distinguish results, direct the improvement of guidance content and set up its viability. Endeavors to consider significant learning in the various phases of instructional plan are basic. Gagne et al. (1992) distinguished the various phases of instructional structures as: characterizing instructional objectives; directing instructional investigation; recognizing section practices and student qualities; creating execution targets; choosing an instructional technique; amassing instructional materials and arranging developmental and summative assessments. He and his partners additionally refered to that ebb and flow instructive hypothesis and looks into help the utilization of instructional techniques that make understudies dynamic students. Among the various instructional techniques accessible to instructors to investigate and utilize, the generally used methodology towards development of new information seriously are the issue â€based learning and request approach, agreeable learning, and innovation systems. Every one of these techniques has its own focal points and detriments, yet when utilized viably can expand learning. Issue Based and Inquiry Approach Students in the issue based and learning request approach take part in important learning through being effectively engaged with their own learning and remaking these dependent on their encounters. They further take part in dynamic examination, a greater amount of coordinating information as opposed to isolating them with the goal that profound comprehension create from procurement of new realities. In this technique, understudies are given applicable issues by educators which request must be finished. The general strides in this request approach are: recognizing the issues, social event of information, arranging the information in endeavor to break down the issues and examinations of the techniques to use to take care of the issues. Coordinated Inquiry In the Integrated Inquiry arranging process, a model of request approach created by K. Murdoch, groupings of exercises and encounters are created to expand on and challenge understudy recognitions. These successions start with students’ earlier information and encounters and travel through conscious procedures wherein that information is broadened, tested and refined. Understudies have their own related involvements that they bring to their classes and educators ought to know about how to address this circumstance. Exercises and learning encounters in this model are gathered as: tuning on, discovering, sifting through, going further, making ends and taking activities (Murdoch, 1999). Moreover, making arrangements for evaluation is a significant component of getting ready for Integrated Inquiry. Murdoch (1999) features the requirement for the assortment and examination of data about what and the how understudies have learned. The appraisal in the Integrated Inquiry model is to decide how to improve understudy learning as these new data assist instructors with changing their arrangements of work to suit the necessities of the students. Students’ contribution in getting ready for appraisal as in choosing reactions to specific learning encounters and planning showings of comprehension are exceptionally supported. Consequently, instructors are likewise entrusted to recognize and configuration learning encounters that will give data to evaluation purposes. The qualities of this model are focussed on appraisal of learning in setting and empowering an assortment of exhibitions of understanding dependent on the learning encounters that understudies embrace. Students that may profit most from this Integrated Inquiry Approach are those fit for defining objectives in their own learning and essentially contribute in deciding how appraisal could be successfully done. 5-E Model In the book â€Å"Activities for Teaching Science as Inquiry† via Carin, Bass Contant (2005) numerous lab examinations were refered to as request way to deal with learning. They concentrated on the 5-E Instructional Model with the five fundamental segments recognized as Engagement, Exploration, Explanation, Elaboration and Evaluation. Every one of these segments is student focused. This investigatory strategy perhaps time and asset expending however it permits the students to create basic reasoning and critical thinking abilities experientially. The utilization of this strategy isn't restricted to showing sciences, which are viewed as not exceptionally simple subjects. This experiential learning carries more open doors for students to deliver better understanding and longer maintenance of information learned. Helpful Learning Cooperative learning is an instructional strategy that happens in a little gathering of students of various degrees of capacity and in conditions of obligation not just for their own comprehension of the subject yet in addition for his co-students. It carries additionally significance to learning since it gives shared intellectual arrangements of data between understudies, propelling them to get familiar with the materials, guaranteeing that they build their own insight, giving developmental criticism, creating social and gathering abilities important for progress outside the homeroom. Agreeable inclining advances learning and scholarly accomplishment, expands maintenance and fulfillment with their learning encounters among understudies, creates abilities in oral correspondence, social aptitudes, advances understudy confidence and encourages common obligation. In spite of the fact that this technique encourages understudies figure out how to be progressively persistent, not so much basic but rather more humane, a few understudies may discover trouble with this strategy. Understudies who work alone discover trouble in sharing answers while forceful understudies will in general dominate and more splendid understudies to act better than the rest. Instructors who will utilize helpful ought to set up their understudies how to function in bunches for this strategy to be effective. Dance Sawing Approach The â€Å"Jig Sawing† Approach is a helpful learning methodology wherein understudies turns into a â€Å"expert† in a specific region, at that point imparts their learning information to different individuals from the gathering that in the end all individuals from the gathering become familiar with the ideas. In the Modified Jigsaw, the class is partitioned into equivalent master gatherings, with every one of these gatherings chipping away at secluded segments of the movement. When every master bunch has finished the errands, they report their discoveries as gathering to the class. Gathering report takes into consideration more noteworthy adaptability in understudy introduction style and forestalls the chance of inadvertently deception of data (Beaudrie et al. 1998). This technique best suits heterogenous students across disciplines. It gives chances to students to show different abilities. Besides, understudies are increasingly agreeable to trade thoughts with their co-students on account of their dynamic open relationship. Pretending Another instructional technique for intrigue is pretending. It additionally manages taking care of issues yet through activities. In pretending, issues are distinguished, investigated through activities and talked about. The understudies contribution to their pretending their earlier information, qualities and perspectives. A pretending procedure appears to work best when there are various right ways to deal with taking care of issues. It urges thinking and imagination to create and rehearse new practices in non-compromising setting. It gives chances to understudies to investigate further their sentiments; acquire bits of knowledge about their perspectives and furthermore improve their critical thinking aptitudes. It likewise advances viable relational relations. The learning in these pretending exercises are significant as they are held longer and would have liked to be useful to the genuine of the students. Terms which are utilized, regularly conversely with pretending are reenactment, game, pretend, recreation game, pretend reproduction, and pretending game. Pretending progressively advances powerful relational connections and social exchanges among students. Innovation Supported Approach Technology gives a lot of hardware to tending to the issues on improving understudy l

Key Tips For Writing Effective Essays for Hiset Essay Topics

Key Tips For Writing Effective Essays for Hiset Essay TopicsWhen it comes to writing your essay for a high school, college or university level exam, it is essential that you consider how best to structure your essays and write about your topic to create strong academic results. You must also be willing to learn the skills necessary to deliver an essay of quality and which can be written quickly by a student with limited reading ability.It is essential that you first learn how to improve your writing skills as a student, this is one of the most essential steps in order to be successful in all subjects. By working with your English teacher, you will be able to gain an understanding of what they expect of you and how you can best adapt your writing style. You will also learn how to structure your essay so that it comes out as effective as possible.A good essay that is properly structured is essential in achieving a passing grade on an exam and if you have considered your topic well you will not only come up with a well researched and written essay but you will also write in a manner that your teacher or examiner will find impressive. If you find yourself unable to write about a particular topic, you should think about writing about another. You do not need to write about each topic that you choose, although it may seem like a good idea to do so, you may actually find that it is only causing you more stress.A good use of background information is also vital when writing about a subject. If you are to discuss a topic with little background knowledge about it then you will find that you will become less knowledgeable as the discussion goes on. You should be able to start off your essay with an introduction to the topic and this will also give you a chance to demonstrate that you have taken the time to gather basic information about the topic.A great way to learn how to properly structure your essay is to read some of the examples that are available on the Internet or from your English teacher. There are some websites that will allow you to download free templates for example and you should look at these templates when you are finished.Heet Essay Topics is more likely to include critical thinking topics as well as essays about the rules of grammar, education and even politics. You will also find that some subjects will include short stories, scientific studies and even a lot of interesting myths and legends. The students who choose to write about subjects such as social studies, religion and politics as well as others tend to write more about their personal experience rather than presenting facts and figures.You will find that some topics are focused on one topic and others are more general and will cover many different subjects. Many times these subjects will include science, history, literature, politics and even sports. You will be able to choose subjects that appeal to you and which can make you appear more professional as well as developing your writing skills.Most of the essays that you will get are by students who have spent lots of time doing research and writing. It is important that you keep these qualities in mind and you should put into practice these skills in order to come up with effective essays. This is a skill that is not only easy to learn but will bring you success in the future.

What Role Has Silicon Played In Architecture & Construction - 275 Words

What Role Has Silicon Played In Architecture and Construction? (Essay Sample) Content: What Role Has Silicon Played In Architecture And Construction?Name {}Institution {}Silicon is a metalloid which was discovered by Jacob Berzelius in the year 1824 (Lodders, 1999). The element has a symbol of Si with an atomic number of 14, and it exists in both crystalline and amorphous forms. Silicon has an electronic configuration of [Ne] 3s23p2 and the atomic mass of 28.0855 u 0.0003 u. The melting point of silicon is 1,4140C while its density is 2.3296g/cm. Since its discovery, the element has been used in various sectors to advance infrastructure, and the element has proofed to be of great importance worldwide. The element has substantially enhanced development in electronics, glass industry, and architecture (Buriak, 2002).According to Lodders (1999), silicon metalloid possesses both metallic and non-metals properties. The metalloid characteristics of silicon depend on the bonds formed with another element. As a metal, the element silicon is used in the electr onic industry while, as a non-metal, the element is used to make glass. On earth, silicon occurs as silicon (IV) oxide found in quartz and sand. When silicon joins with atoms of different elements, it creates tetrahedral structures, which form compounds called silanes. Silanes are utilized in architecture as well as in construction in the enhancement, and consolidation of advanced building structures (Wicks and Block, 1961).Buriak (2002) suggests that silicon element is of great importance and is one of the substances that have seen the massive advancements concerning construction and infrastructure in the entire world. The evident improvements in the elec...

Teens and Service Trips

Contributed by Diana H. Rodgers, Fit Education Consulting LLC Service or mission trips have become a rite of passage for many high school students. However, short-term voluntourism (a form of tourism in which travelers participate in voluntary work, typically for a charity) experiences have begun to raise red flags among many people, including many college admissions officers. There is growing consensus that going on service trips does little or nothing to help a student’s chances of admission. In some cases it can even hurt if the student is not able to clearly reflect on his or her experience in terms of its impact on oneself and others. Criticism of voluntourism and mission trips is not unique to the college application process. Ron Lieber, a New York Times financial columnist, has covered both the up and down-sides of service trips in the paper and in his book, The Opposite of Spoiled (a worthwhile read for every parent). Additionally, many religious leaders are using their blogs and websites to encourage a different approach to youth service. Essentially, the pattern of students going to an exotic, often warm and beautiful, locale to perform labor that they are not fully equipped to do offers little actual service to the community and can even potentially hurt the economic and social development of the people they are supposed to be serving. This is further complicated when done in the context of a post-colonial country or an area of the United States that has a history of deep poverty. That is, we never want students to be cast in the role of the white or wealthy savior who is only there to witness the reality of disadvantage. For example, I recently worked with a student who wanted to write his college admissions essay on his service trip to Puerto Rico during which he and his friends â€Å"volunteered in an orphanage and painted some walls.† The reality is that this student has never so much as made his own bed or served as a camp counselor, so what specific skills was he bringing to this experience? Further, the rotating cast of American high school students does little to increase the feeling of stability and emotional well-being of the children with whom he interacted. Yet, my student felt an incredible sense of pride in and fondness for his service trip experience. His planned takeaway for his personal statement fell into the â€Å"I went to help other people, but they really changed me† genre. And therein lies the rub. Service shouldn’t be about the fact that you had a great experience. It should be about making significant improvements in the lives of the people you are serving . Most American teenagers, through no fault of their own, do not have the requisite skills to make a positive impact on a short-term mission trip. The other problem with mission and service trips is the price. Many private businesses operate expensive service trips with the promise that they will help students enhance their college applications, when in reality the only people who are being helped are the for-profit organizers. If you’re a parent of a high school student, you probably regularly receive emails and mailings advertising these programs, some of which cost several thousand dollars. Going on a 10-day service trip to volunteer at a school in India does not show that the student has a deep passion for Hindu culture or international development. It shows that the student’s parents had $5000 to spend on a service trip. So, as you and your student are organizing your summer plans, reconsider the service trip, even if it is part of the culture of your student’s high school. Instead, think about ways your student can complete sustained and meaningful service in your community. Colleges would much rather see a Montgomery County teen spend every Sunday for three years at a soup kitchen in Norristown than see him jet off to Haiti, South Africa, or even Appalachia to bring non-existent skills to a culture about which he knows nothing. Moreover, by doing sustained and regular service, students have the opportunity to gain the skills to be assets to organizations over time. In this way, although students will be changed through the service, it is much more likely that they will actually be making a worthwhile impact on those they are serving. Ultimately, when students are planning to serve, parents should have a thorough conversation with them about the ways they can leverage their existing skills to improve their immediate community. Diana H. Rodgers, Fit Education Consulting LLC, Founder www.fiteducationconsulting.com diana@fiteducationconsulting.com Mobile: 610.715.6789 Fit works with high school students and their families in order to ensure that their college application process is alow-stress, organized, educational, and FUNexperience that leads to exciting admissions results.