What Were Reading This Week

What Were Reading This Week In this feature at Book Riot, we give you a glimpse of what we are reading this very moment. Here is what the Rioters are reading today (as in literally today). This is what’s on their bedside table (or the floor, work bag, desk, whatevskis). See a Rioter who is reading your favorite book? I’ve included the link that will take you to their author archives (meaning, that magical place that organizes what they’ve written for the site). Gird your loins â€" this list combined with all of those archived posts will make your TBR list EXPLODE. We’ve shown you ours, now show us yours; let us know what you’re reading (right this very moment) in the comment section below! Liberty Hardy   Firstborn (Descendants of the House of Bathory) by Tosca Lee (Howard Books, May 2): Binge-watching all three seasons of Penny Dreadful last week has made me nostalgic for all the historical murder I read about as a ghoulish teen. (Is ‘ghoulish teen’ redundant?) Reading up on recent books about Countess Elizabeth Báthory led me to this series, about one of her descendants. This is the second book I inhaled the first one earlier in the day. (e-galley) The Strings of Murder by Oscar de Muriel: See the Penny Dreadful excuse above. Give me all your historical murder book recommendations, please and thank you. (hardcover) Stephen Florida by Gabe Habash (Coffee House Press, June 6): I’m willing to bet that this book’s cover ends up being my favorite cover of 2017. I can’t stop staring at it. I hear the book is amazing, too. (galley) No One Can Pronounce My Name by Rakesh Satyal (Picador, May 2): Also in love with this cover. (I am a Henry Sene Yee fangirl.) The description of the book had me at “Reminiscent of Angela Flournoy’s The Turner House, Ayad Akhtar’s American Dervish, and Jade Chang’s The Wangs vs. the World.” (galley) Susie Rodarme   Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: I’m not sure how I didn’t read this sooner. I think I wasn’t in the mood for something this heavy. Now I’m crying while listening to it at the gym. (audiobook) Glaxo by Hernan Ronsino, translated by Samuel Rutter (Melville House, January 2017): Gotta get those small press reader copies in for January, and this Latin American mystery caught my eye. (e-galley) The Gloaming by Melanie Finn: I had tucked a copy of this away earlier this year and somehow tucked it away so well I didn’t ever read itrectifying that now, since it’s from my fave small press, Two Dollar Radio. (trade paperback) Erin Burba   Shrill by Lindy West: West is so fascinating, funny, and talented I can see why her book is earning so much praise. I wish I could listen to this book for the first time again. And again. (audiobook) The Mothers by Britt Bennett: This book didn’t initially jump out at me. However, I was at my favorite bookstore last week and an employee recommended it so fervently I walked out with a copy. She was so right. I think about the characters throughout the day and look forward to returning to them each evening. (hardcover) Casey Stepaniuk If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo: This one I originally heard about from a rave, thoughtful, smart review of it by Casey Plett. (Spoilers abound though, in that review, so beware). The audiobook has won me over, and has already made me cry twice. (audiobook) Andi Miller   The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett: The last of Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching books, the last of the Discworld series, and the last of Pratchett’s remarkable life. I’m sad and humbled reading this book, and I’m sure to be teary by the end. Sarah Nicolas   Truthwitch by Susan Dennard: Picked this up after my #pitchwars co-mentor said it was a comp title for the book we had chosen to mentor this year. I had trouble paying attention when it first started, but it picks up about halfway through. (Library audiobook) Fairest by Marissa Meyer: Decided to read this primarily so I can figure out how Levana became the absolutely terrible person she is in the rest of the series. I just keep thinking how fortuitous it is that Cinder also didn’t grow up there (yes, like she’s a real person). (audiobook) What’s Left of Me by Kat Zhang: This has been on my Overdrive “wishlist” for so long and I finally felt in the mood for it! (Library Audiobook) Nicole Brinkley   Girls made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust: Im currently reading Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust, a feminist reimagining of Snow White that wont hit shelves for quite a while. Its definitely the sort of book you sink into slowly rather than one that grabs you from the first page, but Ive been fascinated with the character choices so far. It tells the tale of both the Snow White character and the stepmother character, their ambitions, and their choices in romance including, for Snow White, falling for the lady surgeon that moves to her castle. Give me queer fairy tale retellings any day of the week. (advanced reader’s copy, Flatiron Books, September 5 2017) Tasha Brandstatter   The Chocolate Kiss by Laura Florand: My reread of all the Laura Florand books continues! (ebook) Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L Sayers: I feel somewhat guilty for only ever having read one Sayers book, so I’m trying to correct that. (audiobook) But First, Champagne by David White: I mean, champagne. (hardcover) James Wallace Harris   Everybody Behaves Badly: The True Story Behind Hemingway’s Masterpiece The Sun Also Rises by Lesley M. M. Blume. I’ve read Sun three times now, and have always been mystified why Hemingway left his wife Hadley out of this highly autobiographical novel. Hope this book solves that mystery. Who Wrote the Bible? by Richard Elliott Friedman, which I find absolutely riveting, even though I’m an atheist. Friedman’s textual analysis is a brilliantly deduced extension of the documentary hypothesis that began its evolution in the 18th century. I keep trying to read The Old Testament, which scholars call the Hebrew bible, but always bog down in the sections everyone traditionally finds boring. Friedman has made these tedious parts significant, and exciting, by explaining who wrote them and why. The Bible is far more compelling when you believe humans wrote it, rather than it being the word of God. Claire Handscombe   Love in Lower Case by Francesc Miralles, transl. Julie Wark   I’ve been curious about this book for a while about a lonely languages professor for a while and when I spotted it on a table during the Politics and Prose member sale I took the plunge. It’s charming so far. (Paperback) Jessica Yang   Beyond Clueless by Linas Alsenas: Was looking for a lighthearted contemporary YA book at the library and decided to give this a try! (hardcover) Emma Nichols   A Rather Haunted Life by Ruth Franklin:  I read both Shirley Jackson’s memoirs early this year and have thus become slightly obsessive about the author. Franklin’s biography is a thorough and fascinating look at not only Jackson, but also her husband, the writer Stanley Edgar Hyman, and the historical and social context in which they lived and wrote. (audiobook) My Favorite Thing Is Monsters by Emil Ferris (Fantagraphics Books, Feb 14):  My partner read this book and described it as Harriet the Spy meets Maus steeped in pulp horror imagery. How could you not pick that up? (paperback) Jaime Herndon   All the Lives I Want by Alana Massey (Grand Central, Feb 7): It’s a collection of essays about female figures Sylvia Plath, Winona Ryder, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courtney Love, and more and how their lives and crafted images collide with female reality. I wanted to read it because I’m a big pop culture junkie. I’m loving it. (galley) Abandon Me: Memoirs by Melissa Febos (Bloomsbury, Feb): I’m interviewing her for a literary site, and having read her first memoir, Whip Smart, I was eager to read more of her razor-sharp corporeal writing. (galley) The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch (Harper, April 18): Her writing will rip the breath from your lungs and slowly siphon it back to you, resuscitating things you never knew you could feel. (galley) Steph Auteri   Kindred by Octavia Butler: A fellow Book Rioter recommended this book when I was putting together a post on books that should be made into movies. The premise intrigued me. And my mom just bought me a copy for Christmas! (Paperback) Girls Sex by Peggy Orenstein: I really enjoyed Orenstein’s Cinderella Ate My Daughter, but I held off on reading her latest because I worried it played into alarmist attitudes about teen sexuality. But the book became such a cultural phenomenon that, as someone who writes about female sexuality for a living, I felt I would be remiss if I didn’t give it a go. (Ebook) Elizabeth Allen   Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick: A fan of her Twitter life, I was excited to read Anna Kendrick’s memoir with the biting, quick-witted humor she seems to bring to everything. Kendrick was very open about some intimate moments in her life, taking the book from traditional celebrity memoir to an opportunity to gain self-awareness for her readers. Her wide-eyed surprise at where her life has taken her is endearing and serves to make her story relatable. (audiobook) Karina Glaser   Flying Lessons edited by Ellen Oh: I am a huge fan of the We Need Diverse Books organization, so I was thrilled to receive an early copy. With short story contributions by Kwame Alexander, Grace Lin, Meg Medina, Matt de la Pena, and many others, this collection adds breadth and color to the world of children’s literature. Trisha Brown   When the Sea Turned to Silver by Grace Lin: I was smart enough to take Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon with me to finish while on holiday travel. I was not smart enough to bring my copy of When the Sea Turned to Silver with me as well so that I could start it immediately after finishing Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and re-immerse myself in Lin’s deep and engaging stories. Luckily, I had something to look forward to at the end of my vacation. (Hardcover) Walking Back to Happiness by Lucy Dillon: Fellow Rioter Jen Sherman turned me on to Dillon in a conversation we had about romantic comedy, and now I’m hooked: finishing Dillon’s Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts almost kept me from Christmas Eve dinner. Thankfully, now that the holidays are over, I should be able to work my way through Dillon’s whole backlist unimpeded by familial obligation. (ebook) Eric Smith   The X-Files Origins, Agent of Chaos by Kami Garcia: When I found out there were going to be YA takes on The X-Files, introducing readers to teenage Scully and teenage Mulder, my inner teenager let out a serious scream. And now that I’m halfway through Kami Garcia’s book, which tells Mulder’s story, I can definitely say this is the book I’ve been waiting for since I was a kid. Full of mystery and suspense, with a brooding, tortured main character, it’s exactly what I’ve been waiting for. (Hardcover, January 2017, Imprint D’Arc (War With No Name #2) by Robert Repino: I definitely talked about Robert Repino’s debut novel, Morte, on here quite a bit, and haven’t shut up about it since it came out. The story of mankind’s war against giant ants and the animals they’ve made sentient, it’s one hell of an apocalyptic Animal Farm… and there’s a sequel. A killer is on the loose at the end of the war, and Morte has to rise to the task once again. It’s just as imaginative and intense as the first book. (ARC, May 2017, Soho)   Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton: Just started reading this one. I adored Hamilton’s first book in this series, Rebel of the Sands, and I’m excited to see where she goes with book two… especially since it’s almost twice as long as the first one! (ARC, March 2017, Viking) Danka Ellis   Changeless by Gail Carriger: My partner has been wanting me to read this series for months. When I finished the first book, he was very disappointed to realize that the character he was thinking of when recommending it to me doesn’t appear until the second book. I can definitely see why he thought I’d like Madame Lefoux. I also love the steampunk underpinnings and the writing style that blends Victorian sensibilities with modern humor. (Paperback) Graceling by Kristin Cashore: I have been hearing about this book for years as a Tamora Pierce readalike. Truthfully, I’ve been recommending it in the kids’ section for years, but this is my first time reading it. Unfortunately I’m not loving it? It might be just not agreeing with me in audiobook format, but it’s not clicking at the moment, partly because I wasn’t prepared for the gruesome villain (trigger warnings for violence, animal abuse, and implied pedophilia). It also seemed like every other page was revealing a new ability that the main character has. I understand that her grace incorporates a lot, and that these graces are an essential part of the world building, but when you’re 2/3 of the way through a book and still discovering more magical abilities the protagonist has, it feels a little over the top. (Audiobook) Angel Cruz   Windwitch by Susan Dennard: I loved Truthwitch last year, and I’m excited to return to Iseult and Safi’s adventures in this sequel. It promises to expand the intricate world and mythos that Dennard’s created, giving us new character perspectives to mull over. (ARC) A Shadow Bright and Burning by Jessica Cluess: I started reading this fantasy novel a few months ago, and while I liked the first few chapters, I never did quite manage to finish it. (Hardcover) Pachinko by Min Jin Lee: In Lee’s newest novel, we follow a Korean family through the last hundred years of history, seeing each generation. I haven’t read a historical novel in a little while, and this book might be just what I need. (ARC) Rebecca Hussey   The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill: for my mystery book group. I think opinions will be very divided in book group discussion, but at about three-quarters of the way through, I’m enjoying this. (Paperback) A Greater Music by Bae Suah (translated by Deborah Smith): I hope to read more books in translation in 2017 and also more books from small presses, and this book hits both those goals. (ebook) Priya Sridhar   Dancing Shoes by Noel Streatfeild: This text is from the 1950s, about two girls who get shuttled off to their aunt’s dancing school after their mother dies. Hilary was already adopted, but Rachel takes after their mother and vows to make sure she becomes a dancer. So far the prose is enjoyable, and speaks of a different time. The dancing, and the realities of the times make for  different world, when clothes were still handmade and a child could become a star in the movies without drug abuse. The Space Opera Renaissance  edited by David Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer My beta reader said that the story I had brainstormed wasn’t space opera. This rankled me for a few days. I’ve decided to absorb all I can from this short story collection, so that I can learn how to write it. Jamie Canaves   The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley: I’ve been making my way through Mosley’s very extensive back catalog and I’m kicking myself for never having read this oneI mean the premise alone is so interesting, added with Mosley’s always fantastic characters I’m loving it. (paperback) A Perilous Undertaking (Veronica Speedwell #2) by Deanna Raybourn: A mystery with an MC I love that keeps making me laugh literally out loud. I don’t want this book to end! (egalley) Mockingbird, Vol. 1: I Can Explain (Mockingbird (2016) #1) by Chelsea Cain, Kate Niemczyk (Illustrations): I have been dying to read this since the “Ask me about my feminist agenda” cover which made getting this as a holiday gift a great treat. (paperback) My Life with Earth, Wind, Fire by Maurice White, Herb Powell, Steve Harvey (Introduction), David Foster (Foreword): This is one of those books that you don’t have to be a fan of the band, music, or even author to get sucked in. And as a bonus Dion Graham is a fantastic narrator who is now on my list of he-could-read-me-a-car-manual and I’d be happy. (audiobook) Teresa Preston   The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson. All the talk about Jackson for her 100th birthday last month put me in the mood to read her. I’ve seen the 1963 movie many times, but hadn’t gotten around to the book. (library paperback) The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin. I’ve seen lots of recommendations for Jesmyn Ward’s The Fire This Time, but I decided I wanted to start with the book that inspired it before trying the new collection. (library paperback) The Wangs Vs the World by Jade Chang. I’m reading some of the books that appeal to me from the Tournament of Books (ridiculously long) long list. (library hardcover) Kelly Anderson   Capability Brown: Designing the English Landscape by John Phibbs: I found this gorgeous thing on a bookstore table and couldn’t put it down- someone who saw me enthralled bought it for me for Christmas and I’ve been picking up a little bit every day since. It’s about how Capability Brown transformed the English gardening movement- but honestly for me it’s more about falling into the gorgeous photographs that fill this book of parkland and forest and misty vistas of rolling hills dotted with sheep and hedged lanes and wildflowers. If you’re needing something to calm you as you start to face the new year, and this sort of landscape porn is your bag, look no further. The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell: I’ve come to adore Nancy Mitford’s writing (particularly her biographies) over the past several years, and it was only a hop, skip and a jump over to wanting to know more about the rest of her famous sisters. Lovell’s certainly done her research. While she’s clearly fallen a little bit in love with her subject and you should take things with the grain of salt they therefore deserve, it’s not hard to see why that was the case. The words “epic” and “saga” truly apply here. I’m halfway through and enthralled. City of Stairs: The Divine Cities by Robert Jackson Bennett: Every so often I reach out to my bookfriends and  ask for what books have absolutely swept them away lately- and this one came up the last time I asked, and was immediately endorsed by a crowd of “me too!”s as soon as its name came up. I’ve just started it, but I can definitely see where they’re coming from so far. Jessi Lewis   The Brothers Vonnegut by Ginger Strand. So excited about this because Kurt Vonnegut and his brother’s led bizarre parallels in their lives. Christmas present for the win. (hardcover) Upstream by Mary Oliver. A long-going poet, Oliver’s short essay work reads more like poetry and has a natural rhythm to it that connects well to its natural content. Loving the depth of this. (hardcover). Molly Wetta   Fragile Like Us by Sara Barnard: I have been on a good streak with YA after almost a year of only reading a handful throughout 2016, and this British import sounds right up my alley: complicated friendship of teen girls. The blurb says “no one can break your heart like your best friend” and I think there’s a need for contemporary YA that focuses on friendship rather than romance, because for most teens, those are the defining relationships of that time period. (ARC) The Cool Factor: A Guide to Achieving Effortless Style with Secrets from the Women Who Have It by Andrea Linett:  I have always secretly wanted effortless and cool style, but never knew where to start but have never managed to achieve that. I worked for years where I could wear jeans and t-shirts to work and loved it, but now I’m expected to like, dress up, so I’m slowly trying to figure out a way to do that and still be comfortable and not put a lot of work into it. When browsing for a book on the subject that might help me develop a personal style, this one caught my eye because it has a section on black and white.

Karl Marx Essay - 1110 Words

Most people think of communism as a bad thing. Karl Marx would disagree. He formed the basic ideas of communism in his writings. He argued that communism was the eventual government that formed out of many unsuccessful governments. Many modern communists either use his ideas or use parts of his ideas to form their own. Karl Marx is the true father of communism. Marx was born in Trier, Prussia on May 5, 1818 (Beales). His family was Jewish, but his father converted the family to Protestantism when Marx was born. When he was seventeen, he went to the University of Bonn to earn his degree in law (Kreis). He left and attended the University of Berlin where he studied philosophy and earned his doctorate in 1841. His first job was†¦show more content†¦He and Engels joined the communist league in the spring of 1847. They were then asked to write The Communist Manifesto by the league (Engels). It was published in 1848 and became their most famous work. In it Marx stated that history consisted of many class struggles between upper and middle classes. He believed that this would eventually lead to a revolution and then a classless society, or communism (Beales). When the February Revolution broke out in 1848, he was expelled from Brussels and, after being invited back by the French government, moved back to Paris. He and some leaders of the Communist League traveled to Germany (Engels). In Cologne, he started another radical paper, which was quickly suppressed. He then fled to London, where he would spend the rest of his life (Kreis). In the 1850s, Marx was highly dependant on Engels for income. During this time, he was occupied with writing the three volumes of Capital. The first volume was not published until 1867 and the other two were not completely finished, although Engels had them published after Marx died. Marx was slow to publish his works because of his devotion to the First International, which was an international socialist group. When the Paris Commune of 1871 occurred, he was inspired to write one of his most famous pro-communism pamphlets, The Civil War in France (Kreis). During the last years ofShow MoreRelatedKarl Marx Essay922 Words   |  4 PagesKarl MarxKarl Marx was an influencell economist during the 1800s. Marx has his own economic theory, called Marxism. Marx, a radical Communist ideas and philosophies played important roles int the forming of Communist nations during the twentieth century. Marx’s ideas would and have influenced the course of history. Even today, well past his death his philosophies and ideas are still talked about. Marx’s ideas are captured in his book the Communist manifesto. Communism is â€Å"a theory or system ofRead MoreKarl Marx And Karl Polanyi1668 Words   |  7 PagesAdam Smith, Karl Marx and Karl Polanyi are writer of capitalism, that have influenced capitalism in different ways to making capitalism what it is today. Adam Smith known as the father of the political economy, developed the concept of the invisible hand; which explains how self-interest and competition in a free market economy, would allow economy prosperity. Another concept Smit developed is division of labour which say that jobs a business should be specialised, instead of one person having toRead MoreTheories of Karl Marx1427 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION Karl Marx, also a philosopher was popularly known for his theories that best explained society, its social structure, as well as the social relationships. Karl Marx placed so much emphasis on the economic structure and how it influenced the rest of the social structure from a materialistic point of view. Human societies progress through a dialectic of class struggle, this means that the three aspects that make up the dialectic come into play, which are the thesis, antithesis and theRead MoreEssay on Karl Marx827 Words   |  4 Pages The Life of Karl Marx Karl Marx was one of the greatest thinkers ever. Studying law and philosophy, he became an important social philosopher and revolutionary. He influenced the lives of millions of people in generations well past his. A man of mystery in the democratic societies, Karl Marx led an interesting life of new ideas that would influence millions in the future. Karl Marx was born on May 5th, 1818 (Karl Marx). He was the eldest son of Heinrich and Hennrietta Marx. He was bornRead More Karl Marx Essay1509 Words   |  7 PagesKARL MARX: A CRITICAL PROFILE 1. Contribution Like Charles Darwin (1809-82), his contemporary, Karl Marx (1818-83) has had a profound impact on modern thought. This German philosopher, social scientist, and professional revolutionary formulated a theory of social change that influenced most modern forms of socialism and communism. Marx pioneered conflict theory. Motivated by a belief in human emancipation, he tried to discover a way to free people from the social, political, and economic constraintsRead MoreEssay on karl marx2434 Words   |  10 PagesKarl Marx is one of the most reputed philosophers of the 19th Century. Born in 1818 in a middle class family, Marx studied law in Bonn and Berlin and later plunged deeper into the ideas of Hegel and Feurbach (Wheen, 2007). It is after receiving his doctorate in philosophy in 1841 from the University of Jena that he moved with his family to Paris where he became a radical revolutionary communist and teamed up with Friedrich Engels, another radical philosopher of his time. They coll ectively authoredRead More Karl Marx Essay1742 Words   |  7 Pagesher particular contribution. There are many of sociologys founding figures that have extremely well-built ideas, practices and studies that I could explore, but one renowned philosopher stands out amongst the crowd, and that person is named Karl Marx (1818-1883). In this essay I aim to explore and critically assess his ideas, theories, and studies in his contribution to sociology, and if his ideas, theories and studies are useful to this contribution to sociology. Sociology began in theRead MoreKarl Marx and Marx Weber Essay1141 Words   |  5 PagesKarl Marx and Marx Weber The latter part of the nineteenth century was teeming with evolved social and economical ideas. These views of the social structure of industrial society came about through the development of ideals taken from past revolutions such as the Industrial Revolution which steamed ahead paving the way for growing commerce, and widened the gap between the classes. The developmentRead More The Life of Karl Marx1160 Words   |  5 PagesThe Life of Karl Marx Karl Marx was the co-author of The Communist Manifesto, along with Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto is a pamphlet that was written to let the public know how the working class was being treated, and to try to get rid of the class system that existed at the time. Marx believed that many of the workers throughout England were not being treated fairly and that something needed to be done about it. Marx explains, â€Å"The history of all hitherto existing society is theRead MoreThe Contribution Of Karl Marx Essay1337 Words   |  6 Pagescontribution of Karl Marx to the study of sociology, throughout this essay I will be discussing what Marxism is, how Marxism has affected today’s society as well as academics that did not agree with Marx’s theories. Marxism is the social and economic system based on the theories of Karl Marx and Freidrich Engels. Karl Marx was born in Trier, Germany in 1818, Marx studied law and Berlin University but later changed to philosophy until finally perusing his interest in journalism. When Marx finished his

The Journey Of A Person s Coming Of Age - 2293 Words

The journey of a person’s coming of age is influenced by many, many factors. Economic status, race, gender, geographic location, religion, and sexuality all play large roles in shaping our personalities and our experiences, but it really all comes down to one very important aspect. Family and the people we interact with. Those closest to us have the most influence on us. The decisions we make, the way we feel, how we act, even leading up to our personalities and how we answer the question we are always asked once we hit young adulthood, â€Å"Who are you?†; these all depend on who we surround ourselves with, what those people contribute, and what we take away from them. Different factors include the size of the family, birth order, support and†¦show more content†¦According to a March 1985 research article in ‘The Journal of Genetic Psychology,’ children of larger families are more prone to delinquent behavior.† Carly Seifert wrote the quote above in her article for GlobalPost, â€Å"The Family’s Influence on a Child’s Personality,† in which she briefly goes over and discusses different ways that certain aspects of family can contribute to how a child grows up and their effects how they become their own person. The quote can be very closely related the size of the immediate and extended family, not just the number of siblings. It is often seen that children who experience being around a large family, especially in settings such as high-occurrence family gatherings, have more evolved social skills and more knowledge on how to better create and keep healthy relationships. On the other hand, children who grow up around mostly adults have been more influenced by older family which gives reason to those children acting more mature than their peers as time goes by. While there are generalities in studies of different children being raised in different sizes of families, there are traits found in children that have a correlation to both extremes of family size. A larger family can often overwhelm children, especially if they are not eased into the massive groups of people, leaving that child more shy and introverted because that experience was too much for them to handle at the time. All I can remember is being shy, but there

Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper Free Essays

Planning is when the financial manager identifies the steps that must be taken to accomplish the organization’s objectives. The purpose is to identify objectives and then to identify the steps required for accomplishing these objectives. Controlling is when the financial manager makes sure that each area of the organization is following the plans that have been established. We will write a custom essay sample on Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now The purpose of controlling is to ensure that plans are being followed. Organizing is when the financial manager decides how to use the resources of the organization to most effectively carry out the plans that have been established. Directing is when the manager works on a day-to-day basis to keep the results of the organizing running efficiently. The purpose is to ensure effective resource use and provide daily supervision. Decision making is when the financial manger makes choices among available alternatives. Decision making actually occurs parallel to planning, organizing, and controlling. All types of decision making rely on information, and the primary tasks are analysis and evaluation. The purpose is to make informed choices (Baker and Baker, 2001). Summary of generally accepted accounting principles and general financial ethical standards Most healthcare organizations operate on the accrual accounting basis. With this type of accounting; revenue is recorded when it is earned-not when payment is received; and expenses are recorded when they are incurred-not when they are paid. Ethical decision making is required when the healthcare executive must balance the needs and interests of the individual, the organization and society. Those involved in the decision making process must consider ethical principles such as justice, autonomy, beneficence and fairness, as well as professional ethical standards and codes. Physicians, nurses, and other caregivers may primarily address ethical issues on a case-by-case basis. Healthcare executives also have a responsibility to address those issues at broader organization, community, and social levels ACHE, 2007). Examples from articles that reflect ethical standards of conduct and financial reporting practices. Explain significance of each example. In May 2004, Larry J. Tyler wrote in an article that financial managers need to keep their own personal finances in order. If a financial manager is living too close to the edge on his/her own finances or are in fear of losing their job, and then they are more likely to â€Å"be nd† their convictions (Tyler, 2004). The importance of this example is so financial managers do not â€Å"fix† the books to make the organization look better than it actually is. If someone thinks that their job is on the line, they are more likely to do what others want them to do as well. In an article written by Joe Batte, a healthcare compliance specialist, he reported that state and federal agencies are increasing their efforts to eliminate fraud and abuse in healthcare. Batte defines fraud as: Knowingly and willfully executing or attempting to execute, a scheme or artifice to defraud any health care benefit program. Or to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations or promises, any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody of, or control of, any health care benefit program. Batte defines abuse as: Abuse is defined as receiving payment for items and service when there is no legal entitlement for that payment and the provider has not knowingly or intentionally misrepresented the facts to obtain payment. Abuse may, directly or indirectly, result in unnecessary costs to the Medicare or Medicaid programs for services which fail to meet recognized standards of care, or that are medically unnecessary. Whether it’s abuse or fraud, the fact that a provider can lose everything through being excluded from state and Federal health care program’s participation makes it imperative to run the providers company in a professional, compliant, and business-like fashion. It is also wise to know what is currently being done by the agencies that oversee our health care systems (Batte, Joseph R. 2001). In the articles above, knowledge of what can happen to someone, or the organization as a whole, will deter managers of falsifying financial reports. Education is key to any position, whether healthcare or another. Knowledge of the consequences will help keep managers on the straightened arrow. Conclusion It is incumbent upon healthcare executives to lead in a manner that sets an ethical tone for their organizations. Education in ethics is an important step in healthcare’s executives’ life-long commitment to high ethical conduct, both personally and professionally. In today’s more aggressive enforcement environment it pays to have an active compliance program in effect, make sure that documentation is complete and legible, and don’t assume that the small or medium sized provider is not going to be reviewed on a regular basis. The medical industry is held to a higher standard of ethics and many of the overseeing agencies are now using their considerable arsenal to make sure that fraud and abuse reduction is on everyone’s front burner. How to cite Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper, Papers Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper Free Essays Financial management of health care organizations can be a complex challenge for health care managers, from the basic elements of financial management to the heavy burdens of ethical compliance and accuracy. In this paper the subject to discuss is financial reporting practices and ethical standards in health care, how health care reform is changing and making these organizations more accountable, and summaries of generally acceptable accounting principles and general financial ethical standards. Financial Management There are four recognized elements of financial management: (1) planning, (2) controlling, (3) organizing and directing, and (4) decision making. We will write a custom essay sample on Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now The four divisions are based on the purpose of each task†. (p. 5) (Baker Baker, 2011) These elements help to make the manager’s choices informed and effective. When looking at each element individually, the first one is planning; a manager must identify what steps and tasks need to be accomplished for the organization, he or she may ask what the next step is or what the procedures are. Next, controlling is making certain that a plan is in place and followed in each area of the organization. Organizing staff and identifying the right skills with the right employees, making certain that plans are followed. Study financial reports and keeping past reports to compare the reports to ensure that the reporting lines are clear. The third element is organizing and directing, deciding what resources are most effective and how to use those resources. The purpose is to run the organization smoothly, effectively and that comes with daily supervision of all the elements described so far. The last element of financial management is decision making. Managers make choices among the available information and alternatives given in the reports, logs, tracking made. All his or her decisions rely on this information; this is why it is imperative to have clear and accurate reporting. General Accepted Accounting Principles The General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are defined by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board as â€Å"standards, conventions and rules accountants follow in recording and summarizing transactions, and in preparing financial statements†. (Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, 2011) This gives the guidelines for consistent reporting of transactions. Recent changes in our health care reform laws are changing the manner in which health care organizations are reporting finances. â€Å"Overall, health care-related items are going to become reportable within one or more financial categories. And that means companies will need to have controls and policies in place around that health care data. Whether companies store it in a human resources application or in a financials package, they need to consolidate that information and put the controls in place to ensure its integrity†. (Capobianco, 2010) Financial reporting is already a well documented in most organizations, however these new reform laws are making the reporting not only a priority but also a necessity and accuracy a must. â€Å"It may be cheaper to pay the fines; however, that may not be the best business position to take†. General Financial Ethical Standards A simple definition of financial ethical standards is the accuracy of books and records, disclosures of reports and filings, and safeguarding personal and confidential information in compliance with regulations and laws. In recent years it seems the line between unethical and ethical standards becomes gray or blurry; however it is a black and white issue. To omit information or make something more or less than the numbers show it to be is unethical. With financial reporting the manager has a duty to his or her employees to disclose the information to staff and staff to his or her manager. â€Å"The employer has an ethical obligation to the employee to provide and publicize a safe and convenient mechanism for reporting violations or irregularities that raise compliance concerns. An effective corporate compliance program, with appropriate communication channels to facilitate employee reporting and a mechanism to ensure the employer’s response to an employee’s concerns, can be critical to fulfilling this obligation†. Conclusion Managers are the key to the essentials of finances in health care organizations. Attention to detail from the staff to the reports can make monumental changes in the direction of the organization. In past decades, organizations have made the news over and over again because management was ineffective, unorganized, and even unethical. A managers’ goal is to command control over effective resources and allocate those by making decisions that are clear. How to cite Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper, Essay examples

Suitability for purpose Research Paper Example

Suitability for purpose Paper 1. Suitability for purpose: It was met as it will be obviously decipherable by the user. The main theme of the website is based around the environment and such is shown by the theme/house-style used. The purpose of my website was to make others more aware of environmental issues and this was covered clearly and linked to from the Equipment page for every piece of recycling equipment.Another purpose of the website is to allow those who do not already own any of those pieces of equipment to easily acquire it this was engaged with the viewer by using a different, larger font size which, when clicked on, will link the user to an external website. The final purpose of the website is to make youngsters aware of global issues and how these can be assuaged. This purpose was successfully communicated by the use of simple words, images and an animation, aiding understand.2. Suitability for audience: The likely audience of the website is diverse. Some of those may be randomly browsing to see i f there is anything is interesting, others may want to find out more on how to use their recycling equipment, others want aid in ordering this equipment and, finally, an audience may even be youngsters.Needs for each different group is provided; those browsing around can use the navigation bar to quickly search for what they may find interesting, those wanting to find out how use their equipment merely have to browse to the next where they can choose their required equipment the ordering link is also provided there. Youngsters wanting to access the environmental section only have to click once on Recycling and the Environment button of the navigation bar.3. Readability: Font size has been adjusted to fit the reading atmosphere and purpose of the text. The main heading, Recycle GB, has been inserted into the master-page in order to become common on all the other pages. Sub-headings have also been kept around the same size, with the exception of when there is too much text, protect t he ecosystem recycle.Text colour has also been used with the intention of fitting into an independent theme. Red text, used on the first page, represents urgency and hence is used to prompt users that if there are any problems, they could email the customer support team. Blue text is used casually to introduce/explain text; it is the standard font colour used for this website. Black text is used for formal issues, such as the form and in tables which present information.Arial MT Bold is used for the main heading as it looks more user-friendly than, say, Times New Roman, yet still being standard; it is also easy to read for some people who require more viewing assistance (accessibility). Arial Narrow is used for normal text as it looks different, smaller than most other fonts (therefore more flexible when stretched to fit a box) and looks more formal when is not bold.Language used throughout the website is simple-moderate. There are not many descriptions, those are replaced with tex t-tables, images and animations to aid easier understanding, pertain interest and support the user-friendliness, which users can comment on in the form.4. Usability: Navigation is consistent throughout all pages. Forward and Backward buttons are implemented into each page according to whether they are needed or not. They link a page to another page, in priority/chronological order. For example, the Homepage links users to the Equipment page, where they can either click each individual hotspot to their desired location or could merely click Next until they get there. For those who are not keen on persistent clicking can use the navigation bar. If a person wanted to, say, go to The Black Bin page without having to go to the Equipment page and clicking can hover over Equipment on the navigation bar, highlighting The Black Bin and clicking. The navigation components are clearly sized for users to see and recognise. Highlighting of hyperlinks is automatically used to aid users for clicki ng there. The form is laid out so that users can easily understand it and additional information is provided in brackets: 1=Bad 10=Fantastic. Text to aid the user is provided to ensure they understand the components around the website, The table on the right shows to you more specifically5. Accessibility: As demonstrated in AO2 Evidence, by screenshots, I could create a different master page with contrasting colours and larger-sized fonts in order to make the pages viewable for those with accessibility issues for example I have used a black, white and yellow theme, both the white and yellow contrast with the black to make it easier. Tables have also been used to organise all elements consistently at a suitable size, for example in the hotspot on the Equipment page.ALT tags have also been added to most images in order to help those who cannot see images, either due to accessibility or slow-speed connections, to at minimum read what the picture is displaying.Strengths:* When choosing this assignment title, I had a rigorous idea of what how I was to plan my website, organise it and what to insert in every page this is reinforced by my site-plan* Implementing most components, which were used on the website, from previous units, accurately; Roll-over buttons and the navigation bar from Unit 21, the advertising animation from Unit 20, and various skills from Unit 1 (mainly through the Publisher task)* Good at finding appropriate images of good quality and size using appropriate search functions* I have given each task of the project appropriate timings, building on and linking from previous steps (for example I have consciously structured Task 2, inserting the components into the website, to follow-on to Task 3, inserting the hyperlinks)* Before inserting the components into the website, I have planned thoroughly where they are going to go, what is going to be said (in text) and the reasons for such choices* From visiting internet websites so much, I had a firm id ea about whether my website was actually looking like one or something else, like a Newsletter, for example* From previous practice assignments/tutorials, I had prior experience with the web-design software used, WebPlus 10, before undertaking the assignment.Weaknesses:* Some pages do look as if they have been rushed as they do not contain much activity* Viewers may not understand why different font colours, other than green, like blue, have been used when it does not fit the general house-style. I could have made these inconsistencies more decipherable.* Using tables for some of the components did not fit in well as different images were of different sizes. This often over-squashed images, distorting general readability.* There was some wasted space which I couldnt effectively fill in with more components. This should encourage me to plan with greater precision next time.* More interactivity could have been applied to the website by the use of video and/or background sound* User-fo rm could have been linked to in more ways to encourage user feedback.

The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay Example

The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay Example The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Essay International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 The Mediating Effect of Cognitive and Emotional Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty Maznah Wan Omar Universiti Teknologi MARA Kedah Peti Surat 187, 08400 Merbok, Kedah, Malaysia [emailprotected] uitm. edu. my ABSTRACT Loyal customers are among the greatest revenue producer and are more likely to occur in a form of word-of-mouth. In the compound and vibrant Malaysian home computer retail market today, customer loyalty through word-of-mouth marketing tends to occur very slowly and is limited geographically but is a very potent method of marketing. The influence of cognitive and emotional satisfaction on the relationship between salesperson presentation skills and customer’s loyalty through intention to promote by word-of-mouth is vital. This will then lead to increased benefits for the organization in the form of customer loyalty. The cognitive evaluation of customer satisfaction was found to explain customer loyalty in a retail setting more than the emotional reaction. This finding holds importance to those retailers who have been able to generate high expectations in the eyes of their customers. Keywords: Adaptive selling skills, sales presentation skills, Customer satisfaction, Customer loyalty INTRODUCTION As competition deepens, products and services become more indistinguishable, and markets become established, it is becoming increasingly tougher for companies in retailing industries to distinguish themselves from other stores. Simply offering customers with technical solutions to problems does not be sufficient anymore to be competitive and obtain and retain market share. Various value-added services, which commence before the actual operation begins, had gone far beyond it, so as to stay competitive and develop customer loyalty. Research and business customs have shown that upholding customers through value-added services costs less than obtaining new ones (Wetzels et al. , 1998). A prevailing belief holds that an essential key to performance rests with the ability to sustain 1 www. macrothink. org/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 ustomer relationships (Anderson et al. , 1994). Correspondingly, as relational value continues beyond price, customer bond are particularly effective when involved in long-term relationships (Wood, 1995). LITERATURE REVIEW Salesperson Behavior Performance In recent years, a number of authors have been confronted with this issue of the changing role of the sales force. Up-and-coming trends of the extent and scope recorded above require a re-evaluation of the activities that salespeople must execute in order to successfully build and manage customer loyalty. Marshall et al. , (1999), interviewed a diversity of professional salespeople to give evidence for 49 new sales activities that were not pointed out in Moncrief’s (1986) original list. These latest activities fall into the following main categories: communication technology, selling technology, activities related to adaptive and consultative selling, and team-oriented activities. Many of the specific activities within these categories involve skills and content knowledge dissimilar from those traditionally observed in the past as key salesperson success factors. This study therefore will consider how cognitive and emotional satisfaction mediates the relationship between salesperson presentation skills and customer’s intention to word-of-mouth. These situational factors have not been considered in prior research and provide new avenues for examining salesperson presentation skills in Malaysian market and its consequences. Additionally, as most studies have considered salespeople as their unit of analysis, this study will add to the small but imminent body of research that investigates performance and effectiveness relationships at the customer’s level. Formation of loyalty through satisfaction It is by and large believed that satisfaction leads to repeat purchase and positive word-of-mouth recommendation, which are the main indicators of loyalty. Marketing literature has paid much attention to the relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty (Chi, 2005). A number of studies have confirmed a significant positive relationship between customer satisfaction and loyalty/retention (Chi, 2005). If consumers are satisfied with the product or service, they are more likely to carry on purchasing, and are more willing to spread positive WOM. Salesperson presentation skills Churchill et al. , (1997, p. 367) define selling skill as a salesperson’s â€Å"learned proficiencies at performing job activities,† and describe Salesperson presentation skills as the skills that are associated to successfully conducting the personal selling process (i. e. the series of interconnected steps that salespeople generally use to link with the influence customer). 2 www. macrothink. org/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. , No. 2: E5 Recognizing the importance of salesperson presentation skills, Marshall et al. (2003) gathered and ranked sales manager perceptions of â€Å"success factors† that contribute to salesperson job performance. They report that managers feel that six specific salesperson presentation skills: listening, adaptive selling, handling objections, closing, negotiating, and prospecting (in descending order of perceived importance) are highly important t o salesperson performance (Johlke, 2006). Accordingly, this group of salesperson presentation skills will be used at the heart of the hypothesized model. Customer satisfaction The importance of customer satisfaction to the success of consumer goods manufacturers (Burns Neisner, 2006) and to the success of retailers (Darian et al. , 2001) has been well documented. Customer satisfaction is regarded as a primary determining factor of repeat shopping and purchasing behavior. The greater the degree to which a consumer experiences satisfaction with a retailer, for instance, the greater the probability the consumer will revisit the retailer (Burns Neisner, 2006, p. 49; Wong Sohal, 2003). In summary, we note the distinction between transaction-specific and overall satisfaction, and for this study, we adopt the broader definition of satisfaction whereby the overall measure is an aggregation of all previous transaction-specific satisfaction, and involves both cognitive and affective components. Recently, the overall measure has been shown to be a better predictor of repurchase intentions (Jones Suh, 2000). Research Framework and Hypotheses Based on the review of literatures concerning the study variables on salesperson presentation skills, customer satisfaction, and customer’s intention to word-of-mouth, the theoretical framework for this study was developed based on Oliver’s (1997, p. 392) Cognitive-Affective-Conative Behavior pattern model. This research model has been adapted and used in this study. Relationship between Salesperson presentation skill and Intention to WOM Although a customer’s personality and the employee’s customer orientation were considered an important antecedent to relationship strength, salesperson presentation skill rather than his/her personality would perform a greater part in determining relationship strength (Foster Cadogen, 2000). Salespersons are social actors who learn behaviors that are appropriate to the positions they take up (Bove Johnson, 2000). In other words, salesperson can be motivated to adapt their behavior to situational requirements in spite of personal preferences (Bove Johnson, 2000). To date, there is a lack of studies investigating the numerous aspects of service that are imperative to customer retention (Zeithaml, 2000)? Furthermore, the different outcomes (i. e. 3 www. macrothink. org/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 attitudinal and behavioral) of relationship strength are left predominantly unexplored in the relationship marketing literature. In addition, there is a lack of studies that explore the impact of factors such as salesperson presentation skill on customer’s intention to WOM. Conclusively, there is little empirical work investigating customer relationship economies, which is the link between attitudinal measures (i. e. salesperson presentation skill, customer satisfaction) and behavioral measures (i. e. customer loyalty, intention to repurchase, intention to WOM, and long-term customer relationship profitability), Wong and Sohal, (2006). Therefore, in line with the above reasoning’s and findings, it is conjectured that: H1: There is a direct positive relationship between salesperson’s presentation skills and intention to word-of-mouth (WOM). Relationship between Customer satisfaction and customer’s intention to WOM Customer satisfaction is important to marketers because it is usually assumed to be a significant determinant of recurring sales, positive word-of-mouth, intention to repurchase, and customer loyalty. It is worthy to consumers because it reflects a positive outcome following the outlay of limited resources and/or the positive accomplishment of prior needs. As a consequence, maximizing satisfaction is seen as a significant objective, collectively for both the firm and the consumer (Mouri, 2005). Likewise, theory suggests that satisfaction feeds back into the system to influence ensuing intentions and behaviors (Wallace et al. , 2004). Customer’s satisfaction with the shopping experience should reflect well on the retailer. An increase in satisfaction has been shown to result in increased customer loyalty (Donio et al. , 2006). From the above arguments it is hypothesized that: H2: There is a direct positive relationship between customer satisfaction and intention to word-of-mouth. H2a: There is a direct positive relationship between cognitive satisfaction and intention to word-of-mouth. H2b: There is a direct positive relationship between emotional satisfaction and intention to word-of-mouth. The mediating effect of Customer Satisfaction on Salesperson presentation skill and Customer’s intention to WOM relationship. Overall satisfaction with an experience does lead to customer loyalty (Caruana, 2002). Bearden and Teel (1983) argue that customer satisfaction is imperative to the marketer because â€Å"it is generally assumed to be significant determinant of repeat sales, positive word of mouth, intention to repurchase, and consumer loyalty†. Similarly, Bloemer and Poiesz (1989) have also argued that â€Å"satisfaction can be thought of as an important determinant of customer loyalty†, while Selnes (1993) argues that it is satisfaction with a brand or service that leads to 4 www. macrothink. org/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 customer loyalty. This view is also supported by Dick and Basu (1994). LaBarbera and Mazursky (1983) show empirically that brand and service loyal customers had a lower probability to substitute brands or service due to higher levels of satisfaction. On the basis of the above findings, customer satisfaction is indicated as having a function and acting as a mediator in the link between salesperson presentation skills and customer loyalty (Lim, 2004). Therefore, in line with the above reasoning’s and findings, the following were hypothesized: H3: Customer satisfaction mediates the relationship presentation skills and intention to word-of-mouth. H3a: between salesperson Cognitive satisfaction mediates the relationship between salesperson presentation skills and intention to word-of-mouth. H3b: Emotional satisfaction mediates the relationship between salesperson presentation skills and intention to word-of-mouth. METHODOLOGY Sampling Design To have a representative finding, the sampling technique used must be objective. This is an important effort adopted by most researchers in order to furnish a finding pertinent to the general. To choose the sample for this study, probability random sampling was used. A probability sample is necessary if the sample is to be representative of the population (Reeves, 1992). Therefore, a two-stage systematic sampling technique is employed in this study. Population and sample size In determining the sample size for this study, sample size selected was based on the criteria set according to Sawyer and Ball (1981). According to Sawyer and Ball (1981), it is estimated that a proportion of 13% of the explained variance to effect size values is a medium effect size for regression analysis. One common measure of effect size is eta squared. Eta squared represents the proportion of variance of the dependent variable that is explained by the independent variable (Pallant, 2005). According to Cohen (1988), the strength of the effect size are interpreted as follows; 0. 01 = small effect size, 0. 06 = moderate effect size, and 0. 14 = large effect size. Thus five independent variables were used and using the statistical significance of 0. 05 (95% confidence level) and an effect size values of . 13 is found to be truly sufficient and not by chance. Goodness of Measure In determining the goodness of data for the study, factor analysis and reliability analysis were performed. Factor analysis was used to assess the convergent validity of the items used in the 5 www. macrothink. org/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 questionnaire while Cronbach’s alpha was performed to examine the internal consistency of the factors obtained. The result of the reliability test are presented in Table 1 Table 1. Reliability Coefficients for the Variables in the Study Construct/Variables Number of Items 3 Cronbach’s Alpha . 75 Mean Std. Dev Sales Presentation skill/Knowledge 3. 78 0. 72 Customer satisfaction Emotional Satisfaction 4 . 84 4. 10 0. 64 Cognitive Satisfaction 4 . 76 3. 85 0. 58 Customer loyalty Word-of-mouth (WOM) 2 . 69 3. 93 0. 59 Note: All items used a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree) The result of the reliability analysis sum up in Table 1 confirmed that all the scales shown, reveal a high internal consistency and reliability with Cronbach’s alpha values higher than the minimum perimeter, (Cronbach’s alpha gt; 0. 60). Research Findings and Discussion Hypotheses Testing Multiple regression tests were conducted in order to test the relationship between the predictor variable and the criterion variable. Respondents’ demographic variables such as salesperson are younger or older than the customers, gender, and ethnicity were statistically controlled (Connel et al. , 2003; Hemdi, 2006). Hence, these variables were entered into the regression equation in the first step. The predictor variables were entered in the second step. The following Table’s below summarizes the result of the analyses. Regression Analysis with Control Variables The relationship word-of-mouth between salesperson presentation skills and intention to Table 2. Results of hierarchical regression analysis of salesperson presentation skills on intention to word-of-mouth Predictors Step 1: Control Variables Younger or older Gender Ethnicity 6 Model 1 Std. ? -. 05 -. 01 . 09 Model 2 Std. ? . 01 -. 01 -. 02 www. macrothink. org/ijmis International Journal of Management Innovation Systems ISSN 1943-1384 2009, Vol. 1, No. 2: E5 Step 2: Sales presentation skills R? Adj. R? R? Change F-Change Note. Significant levels: *p

How Are Coral Reefs Formed

How Are Coral Reefs Formed Reefs are centers of biodiversity, where youll find many types of fish,  invertebrates and other marine life. But did you know that coral reefs are also alive? What Are Coral Reefs? Before learning how reefs form, its helpful to define a reef.  Acoral reef is made up of animals called stony corals. The stony corals are made up of tiny, soft colonial organisms called polyps. Polyps look a lot like a sea anemone, as they are related to these animals. They are invertebrates in the Cnidaria  phylum. In stony corals, the polyp sits within a calyx, or cup that it excretes. This calyx is made of limestone, also known as calcium carbonate. The polyps are interconnected to form a mass of living tissue over the limestone skeleton.  This limestone is why these corals are called stony corals.   How Do Reefs Form? As the polyps live, reproduce, and die, they leave their skeletons behind.  A coral reef is built up by layers of these skeletons covered by living polyps. The polyps reproduce either through fragmentation (when a piece breaks off and new polyps form) or sexual reproduction through spawning. A  reef ecosystem  may be made up of many species of corals.  Healthy reefs are typically colorful, highly biodiverse areas made up of a mishmash of corals and the species that inhabit them, such as fish,  sea turtles, and invertebrates such as  sponges, shrimp, lobsters,  crabs, and  seahorses.  Soft corals, like  sea fans, may be found within a coral reef ecosystem, but do  not build reefs themselves.   The corals on a reef are further cemented together by organisms like coralline algae, and physical processes like waves washing sand into spaces in the reef.   Zooxanthellae In addition to the animals living on and in reefs, the corals themselves host zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae are single-celled dinoflagellates that conduct  photosynthesis. The zooxanthellae use the waste products of the coral during photosynthesis, and the coral can use the nutrients provided by the zooxanthellae during photosynthesis. Most reef-building corals are located in shallow water where they have plenty of access to the sunlight needed for photosynthesis. The presence of the zooxanthellae helps the reef to thrive and become larger. Some coral reefs are very large. The  Great Barrier Reef, which stretches more than 1,400 miles off the coast of Australia, is the worlds largest reef. 3 Types of Coral Reefs Fringing reefs: These reefs  grow close to the coast in shallow waters.Barrier reefs: Barrier reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef, are large, continuous reefs. They are separated from land by a lagoon.Atolls:  Atolls are ring-shaped and located near the sea surface. They get their shape from growing on top of underwater islands or inactive volcanoes. Threats to Reefs An important part of coral reefs is their calcium carbonate skeleton.  If you follow ocean issues, you know that animals with calcium carbonate skeletons are under stress from ocean acidification  Ocean acidification causes a lowering of the oceans pH, and this makes it difficult for corals and other animals that have calcium carbonate skeletons. Other threats to reefs include pollution from coastal areas, which can affect reef health, coral bleaching due to warming waters, and damage to corals due to construction and tourism. References and Further Information: Coulombe, D.A. 1984. The Seaside Naturalist. Simon Schuster. 246pp.Coral Reef Alliance. Coral Reefs 101. Accessed February 22, 2016.Glynn, P.W. Corals. In  Denny, M.W. and Gaines, S.G. Encyclopedia of Tidepools and Rocky Shores. University of California Press. 705pp.NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. Coral Anatomy and Structure. Accessed February 22, 2016.