Standard Deviation use in the Business World Essay Example for Free

Standard Deviation use in the Business World Essay Abstract This paper evaluates the role of standard deviation in business. As part of the evaluation, a brief summary of five different peer reviewed papers has been presented. Topics such as, the purpose of the study, the research questions, the hypothesis of the study, and the main findings of the study for the five papers, have been summarized by each of the learning team members. Standard Deviation use in the Business World Standard Deviation is a statistical measurement that shows how data are spread above and below the mean. The square root of the variance is the standard deviation (Cleaves, Hobbs, Noble, 2012). It plays a key role in business management, with one of its benefits being that it simplifies the determination of variability in a given symmetrical data set. In this paper, the role of Standard Deviation in business has been presented by means of summarizing five peer-reviewed papers. Summary of Paper 1 In order to understand the role of standard deviation in business world, the first paper reviewed is on the topic ‘Risk: An uncommon deviation’, by Scott, D (2006). Standard deviation has a critical role to play in evaluating the risks involved in the field of business investments. Below is the summary of the findings from the paper: Purpose of the Study The paper focused on understanding the role of using standard deviation in estimating the risks involved in investments. According to Scott (2006), historically few, if any, real world investors naturally think in terms of standard deviations when they think about risk. The traditional risk models did not take into account standard deviation. In this paper, the author has evaluated the impact of using standard deviation in enhancing risk management strategies. Research Questions The key questions discussed within this paper are 1. Does use of standard deviation help in estimating all possible outcomes involved in business investments? 2. Does use of standard deviation help in mitigating risks? Hypothesis The hypothesis used in the paper is that the risk in the real world includes a set of situations and outcomes that no model can ever capture and no statistic can ever express. However, the usage of standard deviation can possibly help in building a more predictable risk management strategy. Findings of the study Below are the findings of the study 1. Standard deviation can help in predicting many of the possible risks, but there will always be rogue risks, which are very hard to predict. Risk that can be modeled mathematically is only part of the risk. However, standard deviation can help in greatly enhancing the traditional risk evaluation models, since most of the times the performance outcomes stay within the realms of a normal distribution (Scott, 2006). 2. It is essential to diversity the risk management techniques used. According to Scott (2006), it is essential to pay attention to correlation coefficients, covariance matrices and other statistical analyses by all means, but also assess the actual financial exposure to any one issuer, economic happening or institutional structure. 3. Challenge those whose professional training encourages them to equate risk and standard deviation (Scott, 2006). Summary of Paper 2 The second paper chosen is titled â€Å"Implied Standard Deviations and Post-earnings Announcement Volatility† by Acker, D (2002). Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study is to investigate if there is increase in volatility of stock prices following annual earnings announcements. The study is using implied standard deviations (ISDs), which are derived from option prices to establish the day-by-day changes in volatility within the announcement period. The focus is primarily on the timing of the volatility increase, rather than on the level of increase. Research Questions 1. Can the timing of market volatility due to reaction to bad news or good news, be predicted using the ISD? 2. Is there difference in the timing of reaction between, good news, easy to interpret news vs bad news, or difficult to interpret news? 3. Is the delayed reaction to bad news a manifestation of their lower degree of earnings persistence? Hypothesis The hypothesis is that good news announcements are associated with positive returns and bad news is associated with negative returns. Announcements of bad news have generally been established to have lower earnings response coefficients. The conditions of changing volatility, the ISD of an at-the-money option can be interpreted as an estimate of the expected standard deviation of the return over the life of that option, and can therefore be used to analyze the pattern of volatility, which the market expects to occur around an announcement. Announcements of earnings per share (eps) figures with a high transitory component, whose implications for the future are more difficult to assess, should be associated with a delayed volatility reaction. Findings of the study 1. If the day of the of the anticipated volatility increase is known, then by measuring the ISD at two points before that day, the `basic volatility and the amount increase can be deduced. 2. The ISDs tend to rise before the announcement date and fall after it. The day 10 ISDs suggest that volatility rises again roughly two weeks after the announcement. 3. Announcing bad news and announcing news that is difficult to interpret both have an incremental effect on delaying the volatility reaction, but the effect of bad news appeared to be dominant. 4. Companies reporting bad news deliberately convey less precise information, thereby extending the period required by the markets to analyze its implications. 5. When there is no news, ISD and hence volatility did not appear to change significantly around the announcement. Summary of Paper 3 The third paper chosen is titled â€Å"Forecasting the pulse: How deviations from  regular patterns in online data can identify offline phenomena† by Andreas and Pascal (2013). Purpose of the Study With steady increase of data availability of human behavior collected through online social services, there is a big potential for data scientist to leverage standard deviation as the tool to conduct real time detection and analytic studies of extraordinary offline phenomena. Such detection helps build foundational marketing opportunities for social commerce. Research Questions 1. Does communication environment (i.e. facebook, twitter, match.com) has its normal state of user behavior? 2. Is there seasonal trend in the patter? How big are the variations? 3. What is the dynamic empirical state base on the historical data pattern? Do large deviations detected between system states versus empirical state work as indicators of user’s offline phenomenon? Hypothesis Large deviations between the states of the social platform as forecasted by the empirical model can be used as indicators of extraordinary events, which led users to deviate from their regular usage patterns. Findings Studies launched on Twitter base on historical usage in 2011 – 2012 concludes that each social platform has its own variable of usage pattern that is specific to individual user. The normal state of communication environment can be measure by specific variables in the data documenting the user behavior online. After removing the seasonal trends, statistic model can determine the large deviations between the state of the system as forecasted and the empirical state. These large deviations are later validated as truly extraordinary events that led the users to deviate from the normal usage patterns (Andreas Pascal, 2013). These variations act as predictors for the social companies to proactively launch market campaign to target audiences. Summary of Paper 4 The fourth paper chosen is titled â€Å"Standard deviation of anthropometric Z-scores as a data quality assessment tool using the 2006 WHO growth standards: a cross-country analysis†, by Mei, Z., Grummer-Strawn, L.  (2007). Purpose of the Study Worldwide nutritional status of population can be measured using height and weight anthropometric indicators. In 1978, World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that the Standard Deviation of the Z scores of these indicators remains relatively constant across population, irrespective of nutritional status. In 2006, WHO published new growth standards and purpose of study is to find whether above standards can still be used to access data quality. Research Questions 1. Are previous measures of Z scores calculation still applicable to measure worldwide nutritional status of population? 2. Can nutritional status, especially in children, from both developed and developing countries, be used as international references? 3. Will Z-score rages still apply to data collected after the application of 2006 WHO growth standards? Hypothesis Since the Z-Score scale is linear, summery statistics i.e. mean, Standard Deviation, and standard errors caused through delta of application can be computed from Z-Score values. Z-Score summery statistics is also helpful for grouping growth data, irrespective of age, sex and nationality. The summary statistics obtained for current application model can be compared with earlier references. Findings Available Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) represent nationally and contains large sample sizes. As these surveys are supported by United States Agency for International Development (USAID), they can be used authentically and contain wide range of monitoring and impact evaluation indicators. As per 51 DHS surveys obtained, 32 were from 23 African countries, four from three Asian countries and 15 from eight Latin American countries. The Z scores were obtained for height for age, weight for age, and weight for height and body mass index for age. For all these four indicators, Z-score in Latin American countries were higher than in African and Asian countries, even though the Standard Deviation for all the three indicators were relatively stable and did not vary much with the Z-Score means. References Acker, D. (2002). Implied Standard Deviations and Post-earnings Announcement Volatility. Journal Of Business Finance Accounting, 29(3/4), 429. Andreas, J., Pascal, J. (2013). Forecasting the pulse: How deviations from regular patterns in online data can identify offline phenomena. Internet Research, 23(5), 589 607. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IntR-06-2012-0115 Cleaves, C., Hobbs, M., Noble, J. (2012). Business Math (9th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Retrieved from VitalBook file. Scott, D. (2006). Risk: an uncommon deviation. JASSA, n.a.(2), 30. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/docview/89211018?pq-origsite=summon Mei, Z., Grummer-Strawn, L. (2007). Standard deviation of anthropometric Z-scores as a data quality assessment tool using the 2006 WHO growth standards: A cross country analysis. World Health Organization.Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(6), 441-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/22955688 7?accountid=458

The Turn of the Screw - A Look at a Criticism :: Henry James Turn Screw Essays

The Turn of the Screw - A Look at a Criticism There are many different ways to interpret The Turn of the Screw, by Henry James. Many critics over the past century have voiced their opinions about the story. Each critical analysis of the story disagrees with the beliefs expressed in another. Robert B. Heilman is a critic who wrote in the mid-twentieth century. He interprets The Turn of the Screw to be a representation of the conflict between good and evil. Heilman's points are clear and obviously well thought out, but there are flaws in his argument that make his interpretation questionable. In his 1948 essay, Robert Heilman explores the suggestion that The Turn of the Screw is a symbolic representation of the conflict between good and evil. Heilman interprets the apparitions of Peter Quint and Miss Jessel as evil forces. He explains that the ghosts only appear to the governess because evil lurks in subtlety before it strikes. It is the duty of the governess to "detect and ward off evil." She must protect the children from the awful ghosts. The governess describes Miles and Flora as beautiful little cherubs whose only fault is their gentleness (James, 18-19). Heilman views the children's beauty as a "symbol of the spiritual perfection of which man is capable." Heilman explains the ghosts' attempts to reach the children by explaining that evil forces will always try to conquer and possess the human soul. Heilman continues to draw from the descriptions of Miles and Flora to support his theories. He points out that the two children are described as having an "angelic beauty " and a "positive fragrance of purity" (James 9, 13). The governess describes them as if they are perfect and beautiful in every way. This repeated vision of beauty, radiance, and innocence parallels the image of Eden. The house at Bly also resembles this image, "I remember the lawn and the bright flowers..." (James 7). The governess makes mention of the "golden sky" and of Flora's "hair of gold," which Heilman believes connects Bly and Flora with these images of golden hues (James 7, 9). Robert Heilman perceives that the ghost of Peter Quint is a direct representation of the serpent that plagues the Garden of Eden. Heilman supports this with the description of Quint found in the text, "His eyes are sharp, strange- awfully; .

Big love: religious or criminal? Essay

Barbara, Nikki, and Margie are three women from three very different backgrounds whom share one very universal dynamic. Barbara, is an extremely devoted mother of three, elementary school teacher, and wife to her husband named Bill. Although very endearing, Barbara is no stranger to pain and struggle. After only a few years of marriage to Bill, Barbara was diagnosed with breast cancer, a terminal disease which she battled for years. Moreover, Barbara overcame her struggle and has now become a better wife and mother. Nikki, a timid young woman, is a mother of two, relentlessly inflicts her harsh religious beliefs onto others as she was raised on the same polygamous compound as her husband named Bill. Margine, a vibrant liberal young woman and mother of 3, is a housewife who has the spirit of a 16 year old girl. Despite her vivid appeal to people, life, and friendships, she constantly struggles with insecurities that prohibit her from being the woman and mother that she aspires to be and coincidentally, her husband is also named Bill. Although these three women are all married to a man named Bill, the common name sake is no coincidence. Margine, Barbara, and Nikki are all married to the same man, Bill Paxton. Bill, owner of a major retailer is a Polygamist who resides outside of Utah after being banished from the polygamist compound where he once grew up. Despite his excommunication from the ranch, Bill continued to implement the same polygamist fundamentals into this own lifestyle. Bill has 3 wives, Barbara, Nikki, and Margine, whom he married consecutively and currently has 8 children between all three wives. Barbara, the first wife is responsible for maintaining the hierarchy between all the wives, while Margine and Nikki maintain their own individual homes. Whist many outsiders of polygamy consider their relationships immoral and illegal, this family attempts to preserve their bond through the religious upbringings that they are accustomed to. This narrative is that of the HBO series, Big Love, which depicts the lifestyle of a polygamist family outside of a compound, whom consequentially attempts to apply religious beliefs and multi-marital subsistence to their family while simultaneously sheltering the world from their illegitimate existence. Despite the HBO’s depiction of polygamy in the United States, the commonality of polygamy is currently being rationalized, causing more individuals in society to evaluate the internal infrastructure of many polygamist cults as more criminal than religious. Overall, polygamy is not a new concept to the modern world. Many indigenous cultures across the globe still practice polygamy including various tribes in Africa and South America, and yet in other areas such as the United States, Europe, and Asia, monogamy is enforced, thus making polygamy illegal in many parts of these designated Areas. Polygamy in the United States can be dated back to 1929 in its association to the Mormon Church, even though the Book of Mormon was created in the late 1800s. Mormonism is quite different from traditional Christianity. Traditional Roman Catholicism has divisional leaders such as priests and or deacons whist Mormon church officials are deemed prophets. Traditional Mormonism is classified under a branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Under Mormonism, The Book of Mormon is a companion of the traditional holy bible and teaches that as God was man, man can become a god as well. Additionally, Mormons also believe that God was not created on earth, but on another planet under his god. Just as humans must adhere to commandments, God also had to conform to a set of conventions in order to please his god. After complying under god’s rule, God came to earth where he married a goddess with whom he produced children. These children, deemed the spiritual offspring whom later developed as humans on earth, are brothers and sisters of Adam and Eve. Modern Mormonism under the sect of Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints should not be confused with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) openly practice and support polygamy within secluded compounds or polygamist epicenters where this practice is legal in portions of the United States such as Texas and small areas within Utah. The official leader and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, has denounced polygamist practices, promising to excommunicate any member whom participates in polygamy activities. Furthermore, Hinckley has stated that there is no such thing as a Mormon Fundamentalist, which refers to the FLDS church, thus regarding the church and its members as complete contradictions (â€Å" ‘Mormon’ Polygamy: Misconceptionsâ€Å"). Nonetheless, Mormon polygamist lifestyles are undergoing unprecedented scrutiny in light of recent media debuts, consequently permanently damaging its already impaired reputation. Although many television portrayals of polygamy such as HBO’s tele-series, Big Love, do not exploit criminal behaviors of neglect and the abuse of children, the current disbursement of hundreds of children from a Mormon based polygamist cult in Texas has begun to provide attentive outlook on illicit violations that have occurred. The situation began in April of this year after police received a frantic 911 call from a girl who claimed that she had been abused, forcefully married, and impregnated by an older man. Investigators, already watchfully suspicious after previous abuse allegations surfaced almost 4 years earlier, had finally acquired enough evidence to disembark upon the compound territory. The call caused a surge of law enforcement and child protective services to recover over 400 children and teenagers from the compound and over 150 adults. Despite America’s unfavorable views towards polygamy, the plural aspect of the polygamist society is not the trigger behind disapproving conjectures, yet the abuse of young women and children remain problematic to accept. Women and children are considered the most feeble members of society, and although polygamists claim that the procreation of children into a whole family as a society is a major basis of their religion, it will always remain a substance of abuse. For instance, in many religions such as Mormonism and the polygamist sect of the Fundamentalist Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), marrying and impregnating girls as young as 12 is permitted regardless of the criminal facets. Andrew Gumble states that â€Å"the police and child protection services knew as soon as the El Dorado ranch was built in 2004 that the fundamentalists were polygamists, with a track record of marrying off girls as young as 14 or 15 to church elders who might be in their 70s or 80s† (6). Under the law, any girl wed under the age of 18 without parental consent to marry is illicit. Marriage is a contract which minors cannot enter without parental consent. Additionally, any adult 18 years or older that engages in a sexual act with anyone under the age of 18 is committing a rape. Ethically speaking, children are vastly inept during developmental stages of adolescence and childhood which inhibits their ability to conduct relationships in respect to marriage and child-rearing. Jodi Grizzle, of the Children’s Service Society of Utah, says most girls that age are already going through the oftentimes rocky and rough years of adolescence. â€Å"Teenagers don’t have the ability to think abstractly. Our brains don’t finish developing until we’re in our 20s. So you have a teenager with a significant life event, and they aren’t necessarily capable of comprehending all of the implications† (â€Å"Over 50 percent). In spite of a common misconception that many young females are willing contestants, hundreds of young girls are not consenting participants. Many of these ostensible leaders of the FLDS often engage in forced marriages and sexual acts with many young women whom are compulsorily admitted into polygamist compounds. In fact, Andrew Gumble also attests that â€Å"their ‘prophet’ and leader Warren Jeffs, now serving prison time for his role in arranging the forced marriage of a teenage girl in Utah, has a reputation as a hardliner and a man who inspired great fear even in his own followers† (6). Warren Jeffs, a former FLDS prophet, is currently awaiting trial for accessory to rape. Warren Jeffs, took over the FLDS empire consisting of over 12,000 members after the death of his father, Rulon Jeffs, in 2002. Warren Jeffs was accused of sexually abusing a nephew for over 10 years in addition to forcefully arranging the polygamous marriage of a 16 year old girl to an older man. Warren Jeffs was on the run for 2 years before he was caught in August of 2006. Not only are young women victims of abuse in these compounds, but children also exert signs of abuse under polygamous governance. Indirect abuse of children has also been corroborated under the recent compound investigations. Many of the children were not properly cared for, as the result of medical examinations confirmed broken bones and lack of vaccinations that are required of school aged children and babies. Although it has not been determined if the children’s broken bones were the result of direct abuse or circuitous negligence, high scrutiny and speculation has already characterized the parents of the children as abusive and incompetent. Despite FDLS religious values, the religious aspect cannot compensate rationale for forced marriages, rapes, and neglect of young women and children unwillingly involved in polygamist existence. Many polygamist agree that the prosecution of their actions are not based upon criminal measures but their religious beliefs. For instance, Rodney Holm, an ex-police officer convicted of bigamy, refutes his conviction on the grounds of violation of the 1st and 14th amendments as the conviction aims to attack those whom are attempting to implement a holy religious based lifestyle (Winslow â€Å"Polygamist appealsâ€Å"). Furthermore, Holm’s lawyer, Rod Parker contests that â€Å"The Utah court’s criminalization of polygamous relationships that do not seek recognition as legal marriages violates the Equal Protection Clause because it discriminates on the basis of religious affiliation† (Winslow â€Å"Polygamist appeals†). However, despite the negative outlook on polygamy for its illegitimacy and immorality to some, the religion is not under question in any way, it is the abuse and violation of laws that coincide with polygamy that is being addressed. Under the law, polygamy is illegal and has been illegal since 1879 which makes bigamy illegal as well. Polygamy is not a religion but a breach of the law. Holm was also charged with committing a sex act with a minor, his 16-year-old wife Ruth Stubbs. Sex with a minor is illegal under the law. Incorporating illegalities into a religion does not make it legal. For instance, if Tom Cruise would like to incorporate snorting cocaine into Scientology, it would still make snorting cocaine illegal because cocaine is illegal in the United States, despite his religious beliefs. Legal issues are being addressed, not religion. Consequentially, sex with minors is illicit and it’s a form of abuse, just as forced marriages and child neglect which are core facets. Although it is difficult to reform individuals from a way of life that is viewed to some as holy and religious, it is better to curb problematic behaviors including domestic violence and child abuse. Domestic violence hubs should be implemented in order to curtail the occurrence of violence within polygamist households. Seminars within polygamist communities should become mandatory. Traditionally, polygamist households could consist of one wife to upward amounts of 30 wives over a man’s lifespan. Each wife could have up to 11 to 15 children during the span of her ability to reproduce. Any mother, young or old, can understand the stress that comes along with raising children. A family of that magnitude could cause any woman to exert nontraditional parenting practices such as yelling or excessive hitting to discipline children. In the eyes of the law, excessive hitting or beating a child is considered child abuse, excluding moderate spankings. This situation was observed in the house of a woman named Heidi Mattingly, a 33-year-old mother of 11 and member of the Kingston Polygamist Clan in Utah. The judge found that Heidi hit her children in the face until they bled, hit babies, and verbally abuses her children, however, the court also founded that Heidi was also abused by her husband and prophet of the clan, John Daniel Kingston and other members of the society as well, which explained why she behaved accordingly towards her children. (Thompson). Heidi was provided with individual and group therapy in order to sustain a healthy disciplinary role for her children. Established organizations that work within polygamous compounds such as The Primer are advocated for domestic violence reforms. Many social workers agree that groups such as The Primer are very helpful because of their insight into polygamist groups. A social worker named Madsen said â€Å"It opened my mind to how many people live the lifestyle,† he said. â€Å"There’s like 50 groups. I had no idea. It told me some of the history that I didn’t know. For example, this group (the Kingstons) doesn’t dress in bonnets and long dresses† (Winslow). Although anti-polygamists discourage The Primer and organizations like it because of its encouragement of polygamy, it has definitely provided a safe haven of resources for victims of abuse. In conclusion, polygamy is not a current phenomena, as many tribes still practice polygamy in portions of Africa and South America. The United States is not a stranger to polygamy as well, as polygamy has existed as far back as 1929, even though the Book of Mormon was created in the late 1800s. Although Mormons believe in one god, they are vastly different than traditional Christians. For example, traditional Roman Catholicism heads each dioceses with a priest, deacon, and or bishop, whist Mormonism believe that prophets should be the head of a sect. A spin-off of traditional Mormonism is the Fundamental Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also called FLDS. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints should not be confused with FLDS because of different views towards polygamy. In fact, the current prophet of the Church of Latter Day Saints, Gordon B Hinckley, vows to excommunicate any individual involved with polygamy. Additionally, Hinckley says that the Mormon Fundamentalists are a complete contradiction to the Mormon church. This severance from the mainstream religions is not the first portion of negative propaganda that polygamist cults have received. In April of 2008, a frantic 911 call from a 16-year-old girl tipped police off to a polygamous compound in Texas, after years of being under observation. During the raid, over 400 children and 150 adults were taken into police and protective custodies. Signs of abuse, towards children and young women were all implicated in forced marriages, rapes, and neglect. Although there are many participants, many of the young women are forced to marry older men, which is illegal. In fact, marriage to a minor without parental consent is illicit in the eyes of the law. Additionally, if an adult engages in a sexual act with a someone under the age of 18, it is also illicit and considered rape. Many young women from polygamous lifestyles can attest to this behavior, just as the young woman who pressed charges against former FLDS leader, Warren Jeffs. Warren Jeffs headed a polygamist empire consisting of about 12,000 members after the death of his father, Rulon Jeffs in 2002. Warren Jeffs was also accused of molesting his nephew for over 10 years. Furthermore, many of the young women are also mothers at young ages of 12, the beginning of adolescence, which is additionally problematic for teens as well. Many mothers at polygamist compounds are additionally under added stress of being a role model to 11 to 15 children that are conceived throughout their lifetimes. Many women such as Heidi Mattingly resorted to nontraditional parenting methods such as over excessive spankings or brutal beatings, and verbal abuse. Heidi Mattingly, mother of 11 children was found guilty of abusing her children by hitting them in the face, hitting babies, and verbally abusing her children. In order to curtain her behavior, individual and group treatments were granted to Heidi to help her maintain a healthy disciplinary figure towards her children in addition to reversing abuse that she sustained under her husband and â€Å"Prophet†, John Daniel Kingston of the Kingston Polygamist Clan. Groups such as The Primer have become a special aid to social workers involved in polygamist groups for their understanding of the infrastructure in each group. Although anti-polygamist activists disagree with The Primer’s actions, deeming their participation as encouraging polygamy, their presence within the polygamist community draws much needed attention towards the realization of abuse within polygamist communities in tandem with providing resources for victims of abuse. BIBLIOGRAPHY Buncombe, Andrew. â€Å"Cult leader accused of making under aged girls marry adults. † The Independent (London) 1 Sept. 2006: Gumble, Andrew. â€Å"The ranch has not yet revealed all its secrets.. .† The Independent on Sunday 13 Apr. 2008: 6. † ‘Mormon’ Polygamy: Misconceptions. † 2007. . â€Å"Over 50 percent of teen girls on FLDS ranch are mothers. † Narr. Lori Prichard& Carole Mikita. KSL Television and Radio. NBC, Salt Lake City. 28 Apr. 2008. Thompson, Linda. Deseret Morning News â€Å"Polygamist mom guilty of child abuse. † Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Jan 13, 2005. FindArticles. com. 08 May. 2008 Winslow, Ben. Deseret Morning News â€Å"Polygamist appeals conviction to top U. S. court. † Deseret News (Salt Lake City). 17 Oct. 2006. Find Articles. com 08 May 2008 Winslow, Ben. Deseret Morning News â€Å"‘Primer’ details intricacies of polygamist life†. Deseret News (Salt Lake City). Jun 11, 2006. FindArticles. com. 08 May. 2008. .

Essay on Plagiarism

Essay on Plagiarism Plagiarism is an intentional appropriation of ideas, inventions, words and masterpieces, created by other people and passing them off as one’s own. Plagiarism is prosecuted by the law and very much disrespected by people in general. There exist several types of plagiarism, known nowadays: Stealing the ideas or words of another person and passing them off as one’s own. Using the results of other person’s work without indicating the origin they were taken from. Stealing a piece of literature. Representing an already existing idea (product) as a new and original one. Of course, while writing any type of research, it is impossible to build your own ideas and assumptions without considering the researches on the same topic, held by other people. But to avoid plagiarism, one has to follow simple, but necessary rules. They are such as following: Whenever you use the words of another author in your research, use quotation marks and make proper reference. Do not paraphrase. Put into words your own ideas and thoughts the way you would do that, and not the way some respected author does. Don’t be ambiguous in revealing the author of the words you are using. Develop you own style of writing and do not try to be a spitting image of the author you are fond of. Imitation is always obvious for an experienced reader. Never start writing on a topic you do not understand. Deep understanding of an idea you are trying to convey in your research paper or an essay is the best assistant in finding your own proper words and expression, that will build up you style and make you a gifted author.