Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Learning Challenges Associated With Adhd / Add Essay

Learning Challenges Associated with ADHD/ADD Foundations I (Psychological) Sydni Thompson Howard Payne University October 19, 2016 Introduction What is ADHD/ADD? The National Institute of Mental Health (2016) describes Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a neurodevelopment disorder that has an effect on someone s functioning or development. ADHD affects the way someone functions because of the chronic conditions of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. However, it is possible that while some people with this neurodevelopment disorder experience both hyperactivity and inattention, that others may only experience one of the behaviors. Although Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) is not a term used in the medical field anymore, I will still explain the difference. ADD is a type of ADHD that is also a brain disorder that has an effect on someone s functioning, but without the hyperactivity or impulsivity behaviors (Kinman, 2015). When a student has the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity associated with ADHD and ADD, then it may cause learning challenges in the classroom that will impact their academic su ccess. Therefore, it is crucial for teachers to know and understand how to identify ADHD in their students, what to do when they suspect that one of their students may have ADHD, and what teaching strategies will be beneficial to that student. ADHD/ADD in Students How to identify ADHD/ADD in students? A parent or teacher can identify when aShow MoreRelatedBeing A Hyper, Inattentive Or Child1698 Words   |  7 Pagesstatistics and data gathered over the years, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Attention). For years children have been shamed, punished, and even spanked for â€Å"misbehaving† or â€Å"acting out†. Attention Deficit Disorder also associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a syndrome that affects millions of children and adults that’s commonly misdiagnosed. A.D.D. /A.D.H.D. are disorders defined by inattention, impulsivity, dreaminess, and/or hyperactivity that affectRead MoreAttention Deficit Disorder ( Add ) Essay937 Words   |  4 PagesAttention Deficit Disorder (ADD) LeeAnn Larsen Community College of Aurora Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is â€Å"a syndrome of disordered learning and disruptive behavior that is not caused by any serious underlying physical or mental disorder and that has several subtypes characterized primarily by symptoms of inattentiveness or primarily by symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsive behavior (as speaking out of turn) or by the significant expression of allRead More Learning Disabilities: ADHD Essay1709 Words   |  7 PagesLearning Disabilities: ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can affect any person’s behavior and way of life. In their book, Special Education, J.Ysseldyke and B. Algozzine state that no area has experienced as much growth as learning disabilities. It is by far the largest of all special education categories. Enormous changes in the last century have changed the way society treats children with disabilities. Psychologist William Lee Heward affirms that in theRead MoreDifferences in Perception in Children with ADHD Essay example1093 Words   |  5 Pageswith ADHD ADHD children seem to always be in motion. They can find it hard to complete tasks they ¡Ã‚ ¦ve begun and planning ahead is difficult. These children occasionally appear to be oblivious to what takes place around them. Then there are other days when these children appear to behave just fine, apparently unaffected by the disorder. This can pose a problem for the affected youngsters as it leads others to think that the ADHD children can readily control these behaviors. ADHD is non-discriminatingRead More Attention Deficit Disorder in American Children Essay1414 Words   |  6 PagesDeficit Disorder in American Children Approximately 3-5% of all American children have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADD is a leading cause of school failure and under-achievement. ADD characteristics often arise in early childhood. As many as 50% of children with ADD are never diagnosed. Boys significantly outnumber girls, though girls are more likely to be undiagnosed with ADD. ADD is not an attention disorder, but a disorder of impulse control (Pfiffrer 184). Characteristics of AttentionRead MoreAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( Adhd )971 Words   |  4 PagesHyperactivity Disorder in Children ADHD a condition characterized by an inability to focus attention or to inhibit impulsive, hyperactive behavior, according to cdc.gov this is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of children, which it is normally diagnosed in early childhood and may last into adult hood, children experiencing persistence of symptoms into adolescence and adulthood, can cause a lifetime of frustrated dreams and emotional pain ADHD was first mention back in 1902 by theRead MoreWorking with Students who have Learning Disabilities Essay examples1481 Words   |  6 PagesWorking with Students who have Learning Disabilities Over the past 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. I need to be aware of how to help those students who have learning disabilities and teach to the best of my ability. I also need to be supportive and understand not every student learns in the same way which is why it is important for me to be flexible in my own style of instruction. I need to be knowledgeableRead MoreEssay Understanding ADD and ADHD3219 Words   |  13 PagesUnderstanding ADD and ADHD First, it is important to understand ADD and ADHD and how they can be identified. Within the classroom, a teacher may encounter a student who constantly squirms in their seat, stares out the window, and has a desk that is a complete mess. These are not poor students who do not care about school and learning. Often these students may be undiagnosed cases of Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These students can often be disruptiveRead MoreAdhd And Social Functioning With Adhd1796 Words   |  8 Pagesassociations between ADHD and social functioning with the use of a longitudinal aging study. A diagnostic interview to diagnose ADHD was given to a subsample of 231 people, age 60-94 years. The ADHD diagnosis along with the levels of their symptoms were assessed. The results were that those diagnosed with ADHD were more associated with never being married/divorced, having a smaller family network, and emotional loneliness. The article concludes wit h the study revealing that ADHD is most related toRead MoreAdhd And Its Effects On Children3168 Words   |  13 PagesADHD was first mentioned in a 1902 speech by George Still of England. It was characterized as hyperactivity, behavioral problems with lack of concentration and learning difficulties. Some viewed it as â€Å"advanced lack of moral control†. George Still wrote â€Å"I would point out that a notable feature in many of these cases of moral defect without general impairment of intellect is a quite abnormal incapacity for sustained attention.† His conclusion was: â€Å"there is a defect of moral consciousness which cannot

Monday, December 23, 2019

Managed Health Care Essay - 1029 Words

Managed Health Care Managed health care is a system used to control costs, quality of and access to health care services, as well as the delivery of health care services to it’s members. Managed health care started in the 1980’s in response to rising health care costs and new, advancing technology and equipment, which costs more to operate. Members can enroll in one of these three types of health care plans. Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) is one in which doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals together form a provider network. They provide services at a discounted rate in exchange for receiving health plan referrals. Then an individual would select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) from a list of approved PCP’s.†¦show more content†¦Some people may feel that managed care is violating their right to choose this isn’t completely true. If you want more freedom in choice then you can pick a PPO or POS. If not, then a HMO is the one you could choose. Y ou have to find what best fits your needs, but also be prepared to pay more in co-payments and deductibles if you select a more flexible plan. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or more commonly known as HIPAA was made into a federal law in 1996 and came about to serve multiple tasks, to improve efficiency of health care by reducing costs, lift administrative burdens on health care and to better protect the privacy of patients personal health care information. Medical Assistants are the ones that work with patients the most and need to take great caution to make sure they follow HIPAA guidelines and the proper procedures. While also making sure the office and their selves are protecting the privacy and confidentiality of their patients information. HIPAA was designed to minimize disruptions in patient care and there are no regulations on exchanging information to fulfill treatment. Providers can also continue to exchange patient information related to referrals and consultations. It also requires providers to inform their patients of their rights through a notice of privacy practices statement. According to HIPAA if you are in violation of anyShow MoreRelatedManaged Care Through The Delivery Of Health Care854 Words   |  4 PagesManaged care integrates the delivery of health care and financing of health care. In managed care, insurance companies controls the cost, quality, and access of medical care to beneficiaries by limiting the reimbursement levels paid to providers,, by reducing utilization, or both (Beik, 2014, p. 116). There are different types of managed care. Some of the most common types of managed care are Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Health Maintenance Organizations. Managed care programs uses differentRead MoreManaged Care : A Complex Health Care System1469 Words   |  6 PagesManaged Care is a complex health care system in which physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals organize in an interrel ated system of people and facilities that communicate with one another and work together as a unit, commonly referred to as a network. This network coordinates and arranges health care services and benefits for a specific group of individuals, referred as enrollees, for the purpose of managing costs, quality, and access to health care. The Managed care program mayRead MoreThe Managed Health Care System1678 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The managed health care system is a complex process that must align financial incentives and goals. Therefore, managed care is thought of as a complex puzzle that once one piece is moved it will affect the outcomes of the rest of the system (Boyd Finamn, 2010). As a result, it is essential that the managed care organization have the ability to align its financial incentives with the goals of all parties involved, such as the providers who deliver healthcare services and the health insuranceRead MoreManaged Health Care Analyzed Essay1837 Words   |  8 PagesThe health care industry in the United States is very diverse and dynamic. The continued growth of managed health care is influenced by the economy, the need, and the regulatory regulations set forth on the industry. If one of these forces changes, it can affect the entire group; this causes the managed health care industry to be at the mercy of its roots and the industry’s need for it. What started out as a simple idea has turned into a complex and ever growing industry that is necessary for theRead More Managed Health Care Issues Essay3222 Words   |  13 Pages When one examines managed health care and the hospitals that provide the care, a degree of variation is found in the treatment and care of their patients. This variation can be between hospitals or even between physicians within a health care network. For managed care companies the variation may be beneficial. This may provide them with opportunities to save money when it comes to paying for their policy holder’s care, however this large variation may also be detrimental to the insuranceRead MoreHistory Of Managed Care And Health Maintenance Organizations1034 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Military a very familiar with managed care, we may not totally understand the concept of managed cared but are recipients of it daily. Unless there is a heated political debate about health care reform we usually don’t worry about health care reform. Health care cost is not something that we worry about; after all the government takes care of all our medical needs, even when we are seen out on the economy. The only time we might the troubles of health cost might visit our door steps occurRead MoreThe Organizational Theory That Drives The Managed Health Care805 Words   |  4 PagesDamaged Care Health care organizations are complex entities whose theory and structure have evolved and transitioned over time. In the late 1980s and early 1990s health care experienced a paradigm shift as managed care organizations guided health care practices by managing the care between patients and physicians in order to drive down health care costs. This transition has created controversy and discontent as physicians, patients and payers balance what is required to ensure quality care. TheRead MoreSignificant Health Care Event - Managed Care1489 Words   |  6 PagesSignificant Health Care Event - Managed Care Health care has grown and evolved over the centuries from haphazard treatment based on tradition and superstition that often times did more harm than good, to a system that is able to preserve life in situations where life was previously believed to be unsustainable as recently as just 50 years ago. The concept of managed health care began over 100 years ago as a means by which medical care could be provided to injured workers, but has undergone majorRead MoreStrategies For Reform Throughout Managed Health Care1201 Words   |  5 Pages Aubrey Runnels 9/28/15 Summary Form #2 Group focus: Strategies for reform in managed health care Reading Sections: Chapters 34 (MW), Chapter 2 (C,CC), Chapters 3, 4,5 (J), and Ted Talks: Aaron Huey: America’s native prisoners of war 1. Summary of each assigned reading and video: Ted Talks: In the Ted Talks video of Aaron Huey, Huey makes the point that the Lakota people are now suffering due to the damage that the U.S. has done over many years. This damage includes the following: TheRead MoreThe Future Of Managed Health Care Delivery System Accountable Care Organization2609 Words   |  11 Pagesï » ¿The Future of Managed Health Care Delivery System: Accountable Care Organization Veronica L Nelson MHA 628: Managed Care Contractual Services Dr. Hwang-Ji Lu June 1, 2015 Abstract The health restructuring dispute has centered on compensating providers particularly more when delivering quality care to their patients than for enhancing the volume of services they provide (Ries, 2014) Accountable care organizations (ACOs) is a single proposed way of altering compensation methods to

Sunday, December 15, 2019

The Indigo Spell Chapter Seventeen Free Essays

ALTHOUGH OUR MAGICAL PLANS had been derailed, Ms. Terwilliger had asked me to come by her room before classes started in the morning so that we could talk strategy and future assignments. I had just enough time to swing by the cafeteria for breakfast and found Jill, Eddie, and Angeline sitting together. We will write a custom essay sample on The Indigo Spell Chapter Seventeen or any similar topic only for you Order Now It felt like it had been a long time since we’d all been together in some kind of normal setting, and I welcomed this small moment of bonding. It was a refuge in the storm that had been my life recently. Jill was grinning about something that Eddie didn’t seem to find so funny. â€Å"He didn’t say anything about it to me,† he said. â€Å"Of course not.† Jill laughed. â€Å"He’s too embarrassed.† I sat down with my tray. â€Å"Who’s too embarrassed?† I assumed any â€Å"he† they were talking about must be Adrian, though it was hard to imagine Adrian embarrassed about anything. â€Å"Micah,† said Jill. â€Å"I talked him into modeling for our sewing club again. And then he got Juan and Travis to do it too. â€Å" â€Å"How’d you manage that?† I asked. Jill had originally gotten involved with Lia through the school’s sewing club. Back when Jill and Micah had dated, she’d convinced him to model some very badly made clothes. He’d done it out of adoration, though I wasn’t sure he’d really enjoyed it. Jill leaned forward, an excited sparkle in her eyes. â€Å"Claire guilted him into it! It was hilarious. But I don’t know how he talked Juan and Travis into it. Maybe they owed him a favor.† â€Å"Maybe they have ulterior motives,† said Eddie. His tone surprised me until I remembered his lesson about the latest social developments around here. What was it? Claire was Micah’s new girlfriend. Juan and Travis were his friends, who liked Jill. Eddie didn’t like that they liked her. Got it. Apparently, Eddie hadn’t kept his opinions to himself because Jill rolled her eyes. â€Å"Will you stop worrying about that?† she asked. She was still smiling but sounded just a little annoyed. â€Å"They’re good guys. And I’m not going to do anything stupid. You don’t have to lecture me about humans and Moroi. I get it.† Her jade eyes flicked over to me, and her smile faltered a little. She studied me for several long, troubled moments, and I wondered what she was thinking about. Was she still hoping for some romantic resolution between Adrian and me? Was she wondering why Adrian and I kept getting into intimate situations? I kind of wanted to know that too. She finally dragged her gaze away, letting her happy mood return. â€Å"I’m just looking out for you,† Eddie said obstinately. â€Å"You look out for assassins. I can handle these guys. I’m not a child, and besides, these are the most male models we’ve ever had. It’s great. If we could score a couple more, our club could do a whole project on men’s clothing.† Eddie still looked way too serious for this discussion. â€Å"Maybe Eddie would volunteer,† I suggested. â€Å"I bet guardian posture would be great on the catwalk.† He blushed, which even I had to admit was adorable. If Jill had been irritated by his earlier overprotectiveness, it was no longer obvious. From her dreamy expression, you’d think Eddie blushing was the most amazing thing she’d ever witnessed. I think he was too overwhelmed at the thought of strutting down a runway to notice. Angeline had been completely silent so far. I glanced over at her, expecting her to have something funny to say about her boyfriend being encouraged to model. But to my surprise, she wasn’t paying attention to the conversation at all. She had a geometry book open and was furiously trying to draw some circles freehand. It killed me to watch, but after Kristin’s comment about Angeline stabbing someone with a compass, freehand might be best. â€Å"What do you think, Angeline?† I asked, just to see how engrossed she was. â€Å"Do you think Eddie would make a good model?† â€Å"Hmm?† She didn’t look up. â€Å"Oh, yeah. You should let Jill try some clothes on you.† Now Jill blushed. Eddie’s deepened. Just when I thought this meal couldn’t get any more surreal, Trey stopped by. He nudged Angeline’s chair with his toe. â€Å"Hey, McCormick.† He nodded toward her graph paper. â€Å"Time to check out your curves.† Rather than answering with some biting response, she looked up instantly, a big smile on her face. â€Å"I’ve been working on them all morning,† she said. â€Å"I think they’re pretty good.† â€Å"They look good from where I’m standing,† said Trey. They were actually the worst circles I’d ever seen, but I guessed Trey wanted to encourage her. I was amazed at how seriously she was treating this math grade. It seemed to me that she was putting it above everything else, even her personal life. She gathered up all her things so that she and Trey could go to the library. Eddie looked disappointed but couldn’t protest, lest it give away the truth about Angeline and him. Trey knew we weren’t all actually related, but Eddie and Angeline’s relationship was still kept secret. I realized then that it was almost time to meet Ms. Terwilliger. I hurriedly finished a banana and told Eddie and Jill I’d see them later. Whether they would talk about male modeling or Jill’s dating life, I couldn’t guess. I showed up right on the dot for my meeting but found Ms. Terwilliger’s room locked and dark. Even in crisis mode, I supposed she was entitled to run a little late now and then, so I settled down on the hallway floor and read ahead for my English class. I grew so absorbed that I didn’t realize how much time had passed until I heard the warning bell ring and realized students were starting to fill the halls. I glanced up just as the same harried substitute teacher from before came scurrying up to the door with a set of keys. I scrambled to my feet. â€Å"Ms. Terwilliger’s out today?† I asked. â€Å"Is she okay?† â€Å"They don’t tell me the reasons,† the sub said brusquely. â€Å"They just ask me to be here. I hope she left an assignment this time.† Knowing Ms. Terwilliger, I had a feeling it was going to be another â€Å"homework† day. I shuffled into the classroom after the sub, feeling a knot of anxiety in my stomach. The next hour was agonizing. I barely heard as the sub told us to work on homework. Instead, I kept sneaking glances at my cell phone, hoping a text would come from Ms. Terwilliger. No such luck. I went from class to class but was too distracted to give anything my full attention. I even shocked myself in English when I nearly mixed up Henry IV with Henry VI while answering an essay question. Thankfully, I caught myself before committing that embarrassing mistake to paper. When I returned to Ms. Terwilliger’s classroom for my independent study at the day’s end, I was expecting the sub to tell me I could leave early again. Instead, I found Ms. Terwilliger herself, rifling through papers on her desk. â€Å"You’re back!† I exclaimed. â€Å"I thought something had happened to you.† â€Å"Not me,† she said. Her face was pale and drawn. â€Å"But someone else wasn’t so lucky.† â€Å"No. Not again.† I sank into a chair, and all the fears I’d been carrying around today came crashing down on me. â€Å"I’d hoped we’d protected those girls.† Ms. Terwilliger sat down opposite me. â€Å"It wasn’t one of them. Last night, Veronica targeted one of my coven members. Alana.† It took me several moments to truly process that. â€Å"Your coven . . . you mean, like a full-fledged witch?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Someone like you?† Her face gave me the answer before she spoke. â€Å"Yes.† I was reeling. â€Å"But you said she only went after young girls.† â€Å"Normally she does. That way she can capture youth and beauty along with power.† Ms. Terwilliger didn’t look like she had to worry about someone stealing her youth anytime soon. Fatigue and stress were taking their toll on her, making her look older than she was. â€Å"Now, some magic users who perform this spell are only concerned about power, not getting younger. That’s never been Veronica’s style, though. She’s vain. She always wanted the superficial benefits – not to mention easier victims. Someone like my coven sister would be more difficult to take, so this is surprising behavior.† â€Å"It means you could be a target,† I said. â€Å"You’ve been saying all this time that you’re safe, but now everything’s different.† Ms. Terwilliger shook her head, and a bit of steely resolve flashed in her eyes. â€Å"No. Maybe she did this to throw me off, to make me think it’s someone else behind the spells. Or maybe to make me think she’s not interested in you. Whatever the reason, she won’t target me.† I admired Ms. Terwilliger for thinking so well of her sister, but I couldn’t share her confidence that sisterly affection would overcome an evil quest for youth and power. â€Å"No offense, ma’am, but isn’t there a slight chance you could be wrong about her coming for you? You said she’d only go after young novices, but obviously, that’s not the case. She’s already doing things you didn’t expect.† Ms. Terwilliger refused to back down. â€Å"Veronica may do any number of terrible things, but she won’t face me unless she’s absolutely forced to.† She handed over a new spell book and a small drawstring bag. â€Å"Just because she went after an older witch, it doesn’t mean you’re out of danger. I’ve marked some pages I want you to go over. There’s a spell there I think will prove particularly useful. I’ve gathered some components for you, and you should be able to cast the rest yourself – just make sure you do it somewhere remote. Meanwhile, I still need to make you that secondary charm. There’s just so much to do lately.† A mix of emotions swirled within me. Once again, I was amazed that Ms. Terwilliger would go to such lengths for me. Yet I couldn’t shake my fear for her. â€Å"Maybe you should make one for yourself, just in case.† She gave me a wan smile. â€Å"Still pushing that, hmm? Well, once I’ve secured yours, I’ll see about another. It may take a while, however. What I have in mind for you is particularly complex.† That made me feel even worse. She always looked so worn out lately, and all these things she was doing for me were only intensifying the situation. But no matter how many arguments I made, she refused to listen. I left her classroom feeling upset and confused. I needed to vent to someone. Obviously, my choices were limited in this matter. I texted Adrian: V attacked a real witch last night. Ms. T won’t protect herself. She’s only worried about me. As usual, I received a quick response: Wanna talk about it? Did I? I wasn’t the type to sit and analyze my feelings, but I did actually want company. I knew I shouldn’t spend more time around Adrian than I had to when my feelings for him were already so mixed. But he was the only person I wanted to talk to. I have to cast some spells for her now. Want to pick me up and come along? My answer was a smiley face. She’d told me to go somewhere remote, so I picked Lone Rock Park again. When Adrian and I arrived, it was smoldering in the late-afternoon heat, and I found it hard to believe Christmas was only a couple weeks away. I’d dressed in layers, just like before, and took off my Amberwood hoodie as Adrian and I trekked across the rocky terrain. He took off a coat as well, and I had to do a double take when I saw what he was wearing underneath. â€Å"Really?† I asked. â€Å"Your AYE shirt?† He shot me a grin. â€Å"Hey, it’s a perfectly good shirt. I think I’m going to see if I can start a chapter on Carlton’s campus.† Carlton was the college he took art classes at. It was pretty small and didn’t even have fraternities or sororities. â€Å"A chapter?† I scoffed. â€Å"Don’t you mean the only chapter?† â€Å"Gotta start somewhere, Sage.† We reached the same spot where I’d practiced with Ms. Terwilliger, and I tried to ignore the scorch marks on the ground. Adrian had decided to turn this into a desert picnic and had brought along a basket containing a blanket and a thermos of lemonade. â€Å"I figured we could stop at Pies and Stuff on the way back since I know how much you like that place,† he explained, deadpan, as he poured me a cup. â€Å"Hopefully this’ll tide you over after the spell.† â€Å"I wish this was over,† I said, running my hand over the weathered leather of Ms. Terwilliger’s latest book. It was an old handwritten one called Summonings and Conjurations. â€Å"I hate living with the uncertainty, worrying that Veronica’s lurking behind every corner. My life’s already complicated enough without witches coming after me.† Adrian, face serious, stretched out on the blanket and propped his head up with his elbow. â€Å"If she’s even coming after you.† I sat down cross-legged, careful to keep a lot more distance than in the Velvet Suite. â€Å"Ms. Terwilliger won’t listen to me. She just keeps stressing over me.† â€Å"Let her,† he suggested. â€Å"I mean, I totally get why you’re worried about her. I am too. But we have to accept that she knows what she’s talking about. She’s been involved with this stuff a lot longer than we have.† I couldn’t help but smile at that. â€Å"Since when are you involved with magic?† â€Å"Since I started looking after you and being all manly and brave.† â€Å"Funny, I don’t remember it that way.† I worked to keep a straight face. â€Å"If you think about all the rides I gave you, me getting you into college . . . well, it kind of seems like I’m looking after you.† He leaned toward me. â€Å"I guess we look after each other.† We locked eyes and smiled, but there was nothing sensuous about it. There was no trick here, no sly move on Adrian’s part to advance on me. And there was no fear on my part. We were just two people who cared about each other. It reminded me of what had initially drawn us together – before all the romantic complications. We connected. Against all reason, we understood each other, and – as he said – we looked out for each other. I’d never had a relationship quite like that with anyone and was surprised at how much I valued it. â€Å"Well, then, I guess I’d better get to work.† I glanced back down at the book. â€Å"I haven’t had a chance to look at what she wants me to do. It doesn’t sound like a defensive book.† â€Å"Maybe you’re graduating from fireballs to lightning bolts,† Adrian suggested. â€Å"I bet it’d be a lot like throwing ninja stars. Except, well, you could incinerate people.† When I found the page Ms. Terwilliger had marked, I read the title aloud: â€Å"Callistana Summoning.† â€Å"What’s callistana mean?† asked Adrian. I scrutinized the word, making sure I was deciphering the elaborate script correctly. â€Å"I don’t know. It’s kind of like the Greek word for ‘beautiful,’ but not quite. The spell’s subtitle is ‘For protection and advanced warning.'† â€Å"Maybe it’s some kind of shield, like the one Jackie had,† suggested Adrian. â€Å"An easier one.† â€Å"Maybe,† I agreed. I wouldn’t mind a little bit of invulnerability. I opened up the bag Ms. Terwilliger had given me. Inside, I found dragon’s blood resin, a small bottle of gardenia oil, branches of juniper berries, and a glittering smoky quartz crystal, rutilated with lines of gold. Although she’d provided the ingredients, the spell’s directions required that I use and measure them in a very specific way, which made sense. As usual, it was the caster’s work that powered the magic. Adrian sat up and read over my shoulder. â€Å"It doesn’t really say what happens when you cast it,† he pointed out. â€Å"Yeah . . . I’m not really excited about that part.† Presumably, the caster was supposed to just know what she was doing. If this was some kind of protective shield, then maybe the shield would materialize around me, just as it had for Ms. Terwilliger. â€Å"Well, no point in wasting time. We’ll find out soon enough.† Adrian chuckled as he watched me walk over to a clear piece of land. â€Å"Am I the only one amazed that you now perform magic blindly?† â€Å"No,† I assured him. â€Å"You’re not the only one.† I had to pluck the juniper berries off one by one and make a small ring with them, saying, â€Å"Fire and smoke,† each time I placed one on the ground. When I finished, I anointed each berry with a drop of the oil and recited, â€Å"Breath and life.† Inside the circle, I lit a small pile of the resin and rested the smoky quartz on top of it. Then I stepped back and reread the spell, committing the words and gestures to memory. Once I was satisfied I knew it, I handed it to Adrian and shot him a hopeful look. â€Å"Wish me luck,† I said. â€Å"You make your own luck,† he replied. I tried not to roll my eyes and turned toward the circle. I recited the spell’s complex Greek incantation, pointing in the four cardinal directions as I spoke, per the book’s instructions. It was startling how quickly the magic welled up within me, filling me with that blissful power. I spoke the last words, pointing at the juniper circle as I did. I felt the magic pour from me and into the quartz. Then I waited for something to happen. Nothing did. I looked back at Adrian, hoping he noticed something I hadn’t. He shrugged. â€Å"Maybe you did it wrong.† â€Å"It worked,† I insisted. â€Å"I felt the magic.† â€Å"Maybe you just can’t see it. At the expense of getting myself in trouble here, you should know how amazing you look when you do that stuff. All graceful and – † His eyes went wide. â€Å"Um, Sydney? That rock is smoking.† I glanced back at the circle. â€Å"That’s just the resin that’s – â€Å" I stopped. He was right. Smoke was coming out of the quartz. I watched, fascinated, and then slowly, the quartz began to melt. Rather than dissipate into a puddle, though, the liquid began to re-form into a different shape, one that soon hardened into something new and unexpected: a crystalline dragon. It was small, able to fit in a palm, and glittered just like the dark brown quartz had. The dragon looked more like the serpentine kind usually associated with Chinese culture rather than the winged types of European myth. Every detail was meticulously carved, from the tendrils of its mane to the scales on its hide. It was stunning. Also, it was moving. I screamed and backed up, running into Adrian. He put an arm around me and held me as protectively as he could, though it was clear he was just as freaked out. The dragon opened its crystal eyelids and peered at the two of us with tiny golden eyes. It elicited a small croak and then began walking toward us, its small claws scraping against the rocks. â€Å"What the hell is that?† Adrian demanded. â€Å"Do you really think I know?† â€Å"You made it! Do something.† I started to ask what had happened to him looking out for me, but he had a point. I was the one who’d summoned this thing. No matter where we moved or backed up to, the dragon continued to follow and make a small, high-pitched screeching noise that sounded like nails on a chalkboard. I groped for my cell phone and tried to dial Ms. Terwilliger, but there was no reception out here. Darting over to the blanket, I grabbed the spell book and then hurried back to Adrian’s side. I flipped to the index, looking up callistana. There I found two entries: Callistana – Summoning and Callistana – Banishing. You would’ve thought the two would be near each other in the book, but they were pages apart. I flipped to the latter and found the instructions brief and to the point: Once your callistana has been fed and rested, you may summon and banish it at will for a year and a day. A short incantation followed. I looked up at Adrian. â€Å"It says we have to feed it.† â€Å"Will that make it shut up?† he asked. His arm was around me again. â€Å"I honestly don’t know.† â€Å"Maybe we can outrun it.† All my instincts about hiding the supernatural world kicked in. â€Å"We can’t just leave it for some hiker to find! We have to get it some food.† Not that I had any clue what to feed it. Hopefully humans and vampires weren’t on the menu. A look of determination crossed Adrian’s features. In a great show of bravery he lunged for the picnic basket and actually managed to scoop the dragon up in it. He slammed down the lid, and the mewling faded but didn’t stop. â€Å"Wow,† I said. â€Å"Manly and brave.† Adrian regarded the basket with dismay. â€Å"I just hope that thing doesn’t breathe fire. At least it’s contained. Now what do we do?† â€Å"Now we feed it.† I made a decision. â€Å"We take it to Pies and Stuff.† I didn’t know if dragons ate pie, but that was the closest food source we had. Besides, I was pretty sure I’d be able to get a cell phone signal there. So, Adrian drove us back to the little diner while I gingerly held the noisy basket. He went inside, and I stayed in the car and tried to call Ms. Terwilliger. I was sent to voice mail and didn’t even bother with formalities. Was she never near her phone anymore? â€Å"Call me now,† I said through gritted teeth. The dragon’s screeching was really starting to get to me. Adrian returned in about ten minutes carrying two bags. I stared in amazement as he got in the car. â€Å"Did you buy out the store?† â€Å"I didn’t know what kind it wanted,† he protested. Between the two bags, we had half a dozen slices of different kinds of pies. Each one’s container was neatly labeled. â€Å"I really don’t know either,† I said. Adrian sifted through the bags and pulled out a slice of coconut cream. â€Å"If I were a dragon, this is what I’d go for.† I didn’t argue, mainly because that statement had no logical argument. He took the lid off the pie and then looked at me expectantly. With a gulp, I opened the basket’s lid and prayed the dragon wouldn’t climb out and claw my face off. Adrian quickly set the pie down in the basket. Nervously, we both leaned forward to watch. At first, the dragon looked as though it really would climb out after us. Then it noticed the pie. The little crystal creature sniffed at the slice, circled it a few times, and then began gnawing at the pie in teeny-tiny bites. Best of all, the screeching stopped. We watched in wonder as the dragon made its way through a third of the coconut cream pie. Then, without warning, it rolled over onto its back and began to snore. Adrian and I sat there, frozen, and then finally dared to look at each other. â€Å"I guess you were right about the flavor,† I said. â€Å"Do you think you can banish it now?† he asked. â€Å"Is it fed and rested enough?† I retrieved the spell book to double-check the incantation. â€Å"Time to find out.† I recited the words. Smoke fluttered from the dragon’s body. He began to shimmer, and within moments, we were looking at an inert piece of smoky quartz. In another valiant display, Adrian picked it up but held it as far away as possible as he studied it. The ringing of my phone startled both of us, and he dropped the crystal back into the basket. I looked at the phone’s screen and saw Ms. Terwilliger’s name. â€Å"You made me summon a dragon!† I exclaimed. â€Å"I most certainly did not,† she responded. â€Å"Callistanas are a type of demon.† I froze. â€Å"A demon.† â€Å"Well,† she amended. â€Å"A very minor and generally benign kind.† I didn’t reply for a while. â€Å"Sydney? Are you still there?† â€Å"You had me summon a demon,† I replied, voice stiff. â€Å"You know how I feel about evil and the supernatural. You’ve spent all this time trying to convince me that the magic we do is all for some greater good in the battle against evil, and yet you made me summon a creature of hell.† â€Å"Creature of hell?† She snorted. â€Å"Hardly. You know nothing about demons. I told you it’s benign, didn’t I? Callistanas can be very useful. They’ll warn you if dark magic is nearby and will even try to defend you if you’re attacked – not that they can do much damage.† I wasn’t buying it. â€Å"If they’re so useful, then why don’t you have one?† â€Å"Oh, well, I’m at a level where I can sense dark magic on my own. That, and – if you’ll forgive my language – callistanas are a real pain in the ass. They make the most irritating noise when they’re hungry. Cats are more than adequate for my needs.† â€Å"Yeah,† I said. â€Å"I kind of noticed the noise part. I fed it some pie and turned it back into a rock.† â€Å"There, you see?† She sounded happier than I’d heard her in days. â€Å"Look at the progress you’ve made already. No matter what comes of this mess we’ve found ourselves in, I’m more convinced than ever that I made the right choice in guiding you on the magical path.† I had too much going on to really appreciate the compliment. â€Å"So what do I do now?† â€Å"It’ll disappear on its own after a year and a day. Until then, you can call it when you need it. You can try to train it. And of course, you’ll have to feed it. Whatever you choose to do, it will be loyal to you. It bonds with the first person it sees and will need to spend time with you . . . Sydney? Are you there?† I’d gone silent again. â€Å"The first person it sees?† I finally managed to ask. â€Å"Not the caster?† â€Å"Well, usually they’re one and the same.† I glanced over at Adrian, who was eating a piece of blackberry pie while listening avidly to my side of the conversation. â€Å"What happens if there were two people there when it opened its eyes? Adrian was with me when I summoned it.† Now she paused. â€Å"Oh? Hmm, well, I probably should’ve said something before you cast the spell.† That had to be the understatement of the century. â€Å"You should’ve told me a lot of things before I cast it! What does it mean that the dragon – demon, whatever – saw both of us? Did it bond with both of us?† â€Å"Look at it this way,† Ms. Terwilliger said, after several moments of thought. â€Å"The callistana thinks of you two as its parents.† How to cite The Indigo Spell Chapter Seventeen, Essay examples

Friday, December 6, 2019

Compare and Contrast the Political System of Nigeria and the Uk free essay sample

A brief history of the political system of the UK in the eleventh century shows that it has not always been the way it presently is. The monarchy was all powerful, absolute and ruled without a representative of the people, chosen by the people. This gradually came to an end with an evolution that started in the year ‘1215 when King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta which involved him sharing power with the barons. This is regarded as the first statement of citizen rights in the world’ (Darlington, 2013). The first model of parliament was formed by King Edward the 1st in 1295. And in 1341the present day bi-cameral (House of Lords and Commons) style of parliament was formed, making the UK a kind of Democracy (Ibid). For this reason, the Monarch in the British system of government does not have political powers. The Queen is the head of state with a prime minister as the head of government, making it a constitutional monarchy. We will write a custom essay sample on Compare and Contrast the Political System of Nigeria and the Uk or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a constitutional monarchy, the government in power governs in the name of her majesty. Officials that constitute this government are placed into power through elections apart from the members of the House of Lords. The members of the House of Lords, are people of royal breeding who have either inherited their position, had been appointed by the Queen. ‘Since 1999, the UK government has shared executive powers with the devolved governments of the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and Northern Ireland Assembly’ (Orange,2009). The United Kingdom even though a democracy, is one of the few nations without a written constitution. There are three types of members of the House of Lords; ‘Bishops from the Church of England, nobility (British honours system) and Law Lords (Judges). Its members are not elected and appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister’ (Ibid). The party system in the UK can be dated back to the eighteenth century with the emergence of the conservative party. There are three main political parties in the UK: the Conservatives, the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats which was the product of the merging of the liberal party and the social democratic party. Some of the not so popular parties are: ‘the Plaid Cymru (founded in Wales in 1925) and the Scottish National Party (founded in 1934). In Northern Ireland there are a number of parties. They include the Ulster Unionist Party, formed in the early part of this century; the Democratic Unionist Party, founded in 1971 by a group which broke away from the Ulster Unionists; and the Social Democratic and Labour Party, founded in 1970’ (britannia. com/Gov. /). Elections in the UK are held every five years although it is subsequent to change with the emergence of a new government as the UK has no written constituting. The present coalition government is motioning for the election of some members of the House of Lords. The leader of the party with the most seats in the house of parliament becomes the leader of that government i. . the prime minister. Other than the house of parliament which is in Westminster, London, there are three other assemblies. They are: The Scottish Parliament, The Welsh Assembly and The Northern Ireland Assembly. Apart from Wales which has the same legal system as England so cannot make any judicial decisions, the other two countries can (Darlin gton, 2013). Nigeria being an ex-colony of the United Kingdom did not have democracy even after she gained her independence from the UK. The ideology of democracy started in the year 1999 after the end of the military regime. There was a general election and former President Olusegun Obasanjo was elected executive president. Although he was not the first civilian president of the country, he was the first after the over throw of the military regime. Even though the country was colonised by the British, she copied the American system of government which is the Federal system and has a written constitution. The Nigerian party system is a multi-party system. There are 63 registered political parties in Nigeria of which the ruling and most popular party is the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) (www. nairaland. com). This party has been the ruling party for over a decade. Not because all elections has been won by it, but because the opposition parties are divided and weak. Elections are held every four years for Presidential, Governorship, House of Assembly and House of Representatives. Similar to the American system, the Nigerian political system is three tiered; the Federal, State and Local Governments. Local government elections are held at a three year interval unlike the state and federal elections. Elected government officials can only serve two tenures. There was an attempt to increase it to three or more tenures, but it failed massively. The political system in Nigeria is one in which majority of the masses has lost faith in due to constant political corruption. Especially in the electoral process where there has been persistent instances of rigging. This has led to the failure of the success of the ideology of democracy in the country. Democracy in plain words is supposed to be the government of the people, for the people and by the people (Solon, 559 B. C) which is obviously not the case in the Nigerian political system. These systems are similar in some ways but very different in many ways. The Nigerian system like that of the UK is bi-cameral but in different ways. Members of both houses of the Nigerian legislature are elected by the electorate while in the British system; only the members of the House of Commons are elected by the electorate. The British System is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen as the head of state and the prime minister as the head of government. On the other hand the Nigerian system is a federal system with the president acting as both head of state and head of government. Power is focused at the centre in both political systems i. e. Westminster and Abuja are where the most important decisions are made. In conclusion, both political systems claim to be democratic but after critically observing them, we find that the term democracy is just an ideology. The political system of any nation, determines the governing style of the country or leaders of the country. Nigeria being an ex -colony of the UK still has several hiccups in her political system, most of which were not discussed in this essay but are known to every Nigerian. The UK being an older nation, has a more organised and developed political system. Reference List: Anonymous, 2004 . The British Government: The Political Party System [Available at http://britannia. om/gov/gov9. html] [assessed on the 06/05/2012] Anonymous 2013 [http://www. nairaland. com/584400/63-registered-political-parties-nigeria] [assessed on the 06/05/2012] Orange, P. 2009 The political system of the United Kingdom Darlington, R. , 2013 [http://www. expatica. co. uk/essentials_moving_to/country_facts/Political-union-and-the-British-system-_14550. html] [a ssessed on the 06/05/2012] Hanson, S. Nigeria’s Creaky Political System: Stephanie Council on Foreign Relations April 12, 2007 [http://www. cfr. org/nigeria/nigerias-creaky-political-system/p13079][ assessed on the 06/05/2012] Word count:1,259