Friday, August 21, 2020

Considering Overdraft Protection Here Are the Pros and Cons

Considering Overdraft Protection Here Are the Pros and Cons Considering Overdraft Protection? Here Are the Pros and Cons Considering Overdraft Protection? Here Are the Pros and ConsOverdraft protection can be a handy last line of defense. But the more you use it, the more dangerous it becomes to your financial wellbeing.Nobody likes having a card declined. That’s why people sign up for overdraft protection, Even if you don’t have the cash in your account, overdraft protection will have you covered.But here’s the thing: overdraft protection could actually be providing you the opposite of protection. It could be posing a huge threat to your long-term financial stability.So which is it? Well, the answer’s a little more complicated than that. What is overdraft protection?Overdraft protection comes in a couple different forms, but the basic idea is this: If you make a transaction on your debit card that exceeds the funds in your account, overdraft protection will provide you with the extra money you need to cover it. Of course, this service won’t often be performed free of charge, but it does save one the embarrassment of having their card declined.The first type of overdraft protection comes by linking the checking account to another account, most likely a savings account or a credit card. (Some banks will let you link multiple accounts.) If the account owner then overdraws their checking account, funds are transferred in from that linked account to cover the transaction. A transfer fee will usually be charged.The other type of overdraft protection is an overdraft line of credit. With this form of overdraft protection, your bank is essentially loaning you money to cover the cost of your overdraft. Depending on the bank, you might get charged interest on this line of credit, and you will almost always be charged an overdraft fee to cover the transaction.What are the pros of overdraft protection?The most obvious upside to overdraft protection is that it will save you the embarrassment of having your card declined or having a check bounce. While having a card declined can be d eeply embarrassing, a bounced check will likely result in a hefty Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) fee and a black mark on your banking history.If your overdraft protection involves a linked savings account, you’re not actually borrowing money to cover the shortfall. You’re using your own money, which can prevent you from overloading yourself with debt. And the transfer fees for linked account transfers are usually fairly reasonable.A final argument for overdraft protection is that it allows you to cover emergency expenses, even if you don’t currently have the funds in your account. Otherwise, you’d be stuck with high-interest bad credit loans and predatory no credit check loans like cash advances and title loans.Even if overdraft protection isn’t a great option, it’s definitely better than a predatory payday loan, right?What are the cons?Actually, overdraft protection might not be much better than a predatory payday loan. Even after legal reforms in the wake of the 2008 finan cial crisis that prevented banks from automatically opting customers into overdraft protection, overdraft fees are still a huge business.And those fees are on the rise. In 2017, American consumers paid over $34 billion in overdraft fees alone, the most they’ve paid since 2009.In some ways, overdraft protection is a much better proposition for banks that it is for their customers. So much so that the line between overdraft protection and predatory lending can get very blurry indeedâ€"starting with the fees.Overdraft fees are high, with an average fee of $30. And when customers are using an overdraft line of credit instead of a linked account, many banking institutions will charge a separate overdraft fee for every transaction that exceeds the account balance. Imagine paying $34 on a five small $4 transactions. That’s $170 in fees for $20 in spending, an effective interest rate of 850 percent!And since many banks prioritize processing large transactions before they process smaller ones, the likelihood that you’ll rack up multiple overdraft fees is high. Getting charged one $34 fee on a $600 transaction wouldn’t leave you feeling great, but it’s a heck of a lot better than getting charged those $34 fees on the ten smaller transactions that came after it.Lastly, while avoiding an NSF fee is great for your Chexsystems Consumer Score (which is like a credit score for your banking history), overdrafts are also recorded on your Chexsystems report. Too many overdrafts and you could find yourself unable to open a checking account for the next five years.So is overdraft protection a good idea?Sort of. The thing about overdraft protection is that its just like any other kind of emergency bridge financing. Overdraft protection can be great as your last line of defenseâ€"an account feature that gives you peace of mind, even if you almost never use it. But if you find yourself regularly overdrafting your account, overdraft protection is a bad idea.For people with l ow incomes and bad credit, overdraft protection can end up trapping them in a dangerous cycle of debt. Those fees eat away at their account balances, which then lead them to  overdraft  even more frequently.If this sounds like you, go ahead and shut off your overdraft protection. Sure, dealing with the embarrassment of having your card decline is going to suck, but clawing back all that money that’s currently going towards overdraft fees is well worth the trade-off.Finally, if you are going to use overdraft protection, make sure it’s through a linked savings account instead of a credit line. Even linking a credit card to your checking account is a better option than an overdraft line of credit. The fees are lower, the interest rates are more manageable, and you can use your cards 30-day interest-free grace period to your advantage.There are very few easy answers in personal finance. The pros and cons of overdraft protection will ultimately be decided on a case by case basisâ€"by what works best for you. To learn more about managing your finances, check out these related posts from OppLoans:What’s the Quickest Way to Fix Bad Credit?How to Save Money When You’re Already on a Tight BudgetFrom Budget to Baller: 6 Tips to Grow Your Money8 Ways To Save Money Today, Tomorrow and Every Day AfterWhat other questions do you have about personal finance? We want to hear from you! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.Visit OppLoans on  YouTube  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  LinkedIN

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Moral Issue of Death Penalty Free Essay Example, 1250 words

The argument is especially credible because a criminal who is fully aware that the criminal justice system will hand him or her death penalty will seek more favorable penalties by refraining from murder. It is rational, therefore, to argue that the average criminal may refrain from robbery even if they did not have the intention of murdering the property owner or possessor, because they are aware that ordinary cases of crime might lead to the death of those who are in the scene of crime (Moore, 2014). The argument is particularly logical in the sense that if the average criminal was aware of the fact that they might be forced to use excessive force in their commission of a property crime, most cases are likely to be dissuaded from executing the crime in the first place in a jurisdiction where death penalty is real and generously applied. Apart from crime deterrent functions, death penalty brings about closure for victims of murder. There are numerous victims of every murder case, in cluding relatives, friends, workmates and the immediate community in which a deceased party belonged. We will write a custom essay sample on The Moral Issue of Death Penalty or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now The quest for settlement of every murder case starts with the apprehending of the criminal, his or her trial, and conviction (Rachels, 1997). During the long and tedious process, the victims normally anticipate that courts will hand in the severest of punishment to bring about some settlement in the case even if the penalty will not bring the dead person back to life. Despite the fact that the overwhelming grief of the loss of a loved one begins with the knowledge of the murder and may not end with the execution of the culprit, capital punishment creates a sense of relief that the criminal has been handed a punishment that is commensurate to his or her murderous actions or inactions. The primary argument against death penalty is that it does not punish the criminals. Neither does it work towards rehabilitating the individuals who are condemned of murder (Moore, 2014). The punishment test requires all criminals to be handed some kind of experience th at is commensurate with the crime they committed.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

A Graphic History Of The First Atomic Bomb - 918 Words

Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb takes the reader back in time to the beginning of where the atomic bomb comes from. The story starts out with Marie Curie and Pierre’s findings of new radioactive elements known as polonium and radium. From there the story talks about the science behind the findings of this element and how scientists believed that this new element could be used for great energy sources and nuclear fission. The scientists took these findings extremely seriously and disclosed the information to the President of the United States at that time. The President, Franklin Roosevelt, saw that this nuclear fission was important but did not think that it was such a big deal. As soon as Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, sending the U.S. into the war, the leaders of the country decided that it was necessary to be the first country to build this atomic bomb. Once the United States joined the war, the efforts to create this bomb were put at the highest priority due to the fact that most of the leaders believed with this bomb being created, it would end the war completely. The most brilliant scientists were recruited to get the job done. These bombs were built and tested on the secure site in New Mexico. Once they were tested it was time that these bombs were going to be put to use. The United States offered the Japanese the chance to surrender or they would have to release this technology on them and let them feel the wrath of this weapon. The JapaneseShow MoreRelatedThe Enola Gay Exhibit At The National Air And Space Museum1552 Words   |  7 PagesEnola Gay exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM) has helped to revive a spirited debate between professional, scholarly historians and amateur historians who are likely to have some first hand experience with significant historical events. Questions have arisen concerning the ownership of history and the role that professionals and amateurs should have in the retelling of events in our nations past. Regardless of the different answers to these questions what is clear is that it is upsettingRead More Was the U.S. Right or Wrong Using the Atomic Bomb in ?Hiroshima?674 Words   |  3 Pages nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The history over few centuries shows that the Japanese never gave up, that they always choose â€Å"death† than â€Å"surrender†. These two articles which I was studying very carefully, shows two opposite opinions about the necessity of using the atomic bomb to the end of World War II. Gar Alperowicz, in his article, â€Å"Hiroshima Remembered: The U.S. was Wrong†, the evidence to prove that America didn’t need to use atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagashaki to end the war. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;ContraryRead MoreThe Lottery By Shirley Jackson Analysis1085 Words   |  5 Pagesmade by appeasing to this violent and sadistic tradition of stoning, in like manner the propelling of the stones reference the propelling of The Atomic Bomb. Consequently, the people of this village were forced to conform with the inability to observe humanity. Jackson’s purpose of writing â€Å"The Lottery† was, â€Å"to shock the story’s readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives† (236). In this story, she was trying to present a barbarous traditionRead MoreThe Cold War And The War Era1687 Words   |  7 PagesThe Cold War era was an infamous time in United States history. The stand-off between the USSR and the US lasted nearly forty-five years, and began shortly after World War II had ended. Even though the USSR and the US had been Allied Powers during the war, Stalin’s ruling o f his country frightened the United States, and the US’s late entry in the war caused Russian resentment. The tension the Cold War caused terrified everyone and pressured the United States government to start preparing for desperateRead MoreCompetition Is The Driving Factor Of Technological Innovations1440 Words   |  6 Pagescellular phones claiming that if there has not been a Samsung S5 there would not have been an iphone 6. In a more historical context the Manhattan project would have not been in place if it wasn’t for the war and Germany trying to produce the nuclear bomb. In later years the competition in the cold war era would take Man into space then to the moon. Another argument suggests that the need for new luxury technologies does not arise until these technologies are marketed. Simply there would not have beenRead MoreWar Is A Very Traffic And Devastating Event That Not Only1637 Words   |  7 Pageswaiting back in their homes. The idea of war such as the Cold War being associated with Dr.Suess s, The Butter Battle Book, should not be the focus of a children s book. People like Joseph Stalin and events such as the creation of missiles and bombs and the cuban missile crisis played a significant role in the Cold War. Joseph Stalin was a powerful and aggressive soviet leader. Stalin focused on creating a model communist state. I m doing so, he made both agricultural and industrial growth theRead MoreThe Graphic Novel Watchmen By Allen Moore967 Words   |  4 PagesThe graphic novel Watchmen by Allen Moore paints a picture of an alternate history. There are many differences between our history and the history of Watchmen, the first being that superheroes exist. Other differences such as Nixon being the president in 1985 and the United States winning the Vietnam War all contribute to Watchmen’s alternate history. In our history by 1985 the communist paranoia, and threat of nuclear war in America was winding down. The United States president and the leader ofRead MoreThe On The Gaming Industry1323 Words   |  6 PagesThe gaming industry took America so far in entertainment for generations of young and old to play for decades to come. Starting from one of the developers of the atomic bomb used in World War II to the present day console wars of PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo games have been played. Computer engineers took steps and chances with their ideas, making them into successful business men in a brand new industry, creating new products of imagination, science, and reality. If there were no video gamesRead MoreTheme in Literature Essay4725 Words   |  19 Pages Name__________________ CH. 14 America and World War II Study Guide It was the bloodiest, deadliest war the world had ever seen. More than 38 million people died, many of them innocent civilians. It also was the most destructive war in history. Fighting raged in many parts of the world. More than 50 nations took part in the war, which changed the world forever. For Americans, World War II had a clear-cut purpose. People knew why they were fighting: to defeat tyranny. Most of Europe hadRead MoreEssay on A Century of Physics3573 Words   |  15 Pages In the cosmic realm, General Relativity provided the theoretical framework, and the giant telescopes built in the clear air of California the observational foundation, for the emergence of physical cosmology-- the science of the structure and history of the universe. An essential preliminary step was a test of General Relativity. In 1919, when the bending of starlight by the sun, as predicted by Einstein, was observed, he instantly became an international media star. The curvature of of space

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Creative Writing A Short Story - 2216 Words

Oh my goodness look at how tall you’ve gotten, oh my.† â€Å"hi grandma missed you.† Jennifer’s mom, Elizabeth, hugged Ruth, â€Å"Hi mom how are you feeling?† â€Å"I’m fine honey, how are you, are you hungry i made some breakfast,† Ruth looked back at Jennifer, â€Å"I made some chocolate chip pancakes.† Jennifer ran to the kitchen and met her grandfather at the table with a large stack of pancakes and sat next to her grandpa. He looked up from his newspaper and gave her a smile, he set the paper next to her and Jennifer smiled at him, and then glanced at it and saw an article that read, â€Å"Beware Going Out at Night!†. Local police say to avoid going out after dark at any cost, late on Friday night a deranged psycho had escaped the city jail 5 miles out of†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Are you sure you’re ready to date again? It’s only been a year since the accident.† â€Å"Yes mother I kno w I’m ready, Mark is very nice and a gentleman. He is as nice as he was.† Jen was listening from the stairs, she started to tear up when she heard this, â€Å"Alright as long as you think you’re ready I’ll support you, just call me tomorrow ok?† â€Å"Yes mom,† Jen quietly stood up and walked up the stairs to her room. She had a large room with a big french window and a balcony, she liked to sit out there before she went to bed to look at the bright moon, she could see it so clearly no matter where it was in the dark sky. She set her suitcase down on her bed and opened the windows and let the wind flow through her room, she did this out of habit. She heard her name being called, it sounded like her mother. She went to the staircase and waited to hear her name again, but this time she did not hear it downstairs†¦ it was down the hall, she sprinted down the hall and waited again, she called out, â€Å"Yes? Where are you?† She heard her name again, â€Å"...Jennifer†¦Show MoreRelatedCreative Writing : A Short Story1020 Words   |  5 PagesThe girls sat seperated in two stark, cold rooms. Each of the girls was sat at a table with a clear plastic cup of water sitting at arm’s length from them, both cups untouched. How could they drink when their best friend was no where to be seen? They had been having an innocent night of fun at Mercedes’ house three weeks ago, the first of many planned for the spring break, watching movies on Netflix and eating a pizza they ordered. The night was full of rambling about how classes were, drama floatingRead MoreShort Story : Creative Writing1550 Words   |  7 PagesIn the woods when the sun was just starting to set, there was a van driving on a long-abandoned road, behind the wheel of said van was a tired looking girl who seemed to be about 19. She took a sip of the long cold coffee, and turned to the turquoise haired girl sitting next to her. Hey uhhhh Cas, Cassie? Where are we? Noting the headphones, she stopped the car and turned around to inquire of the two boys in the back, Kenny, Timmy, do either of you have an idea where we are? It seems like weveRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1281 Words   |  6 PagesSMACK! I was on my back, peering up at Josh as he laid on top me. â€Å"Gotc....† He begins to say but stopped. The look of victory slowly vanished from his face at the realization of how little space was between us. I could feel his heart hammering in his chest or maybe it was mine. Because, Josh was now searching my eyes as if he was looking for an answer to a question. His lips were only inches from mine and I could feel the heat coming off of them. Everything inside of me screamed to move awayRead MoreShort Story : Creative Writing865 Words   |  4 Pages Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! Brrring! â€Å"What is someone doing calling at 2am† whispers Dave groggily as he wipes his eyes and p icks up the phone. Yawning, somehow he manages to make something comprehendible come out of his mouth, â€Å"Hello? This is Dave speaking.† â€Å"Dave! This is Joe†¦ your old roommate from college. How are you doing?† â€Å"I am doing fine.† says Dave thinking and thinking about who Joe is when suddenly he remembers. At that moment he groans but manages to put out a polite response,Read MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1037 Words   |  5 PagesThere she goes again. Mother can’t ever mind her own business, Seriously will it kill her to just leave her thoughts to herself. Little Mike came up tugging at her sleeve, his soft little fingers grasping at the cloth, a pull then another. â€Å"Yes sweetheart.† Mike looked at her, his finger pointed forwards, just at the edge of my vision. â€Å"It’s our turn now mommy.† She looked up; Mike quickly ran forward. â€Å"Woah slow down buddy, you can’t walk away by yourself.† Mike came to a sudden stop;he turned toRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1102 Words   |  5 PagesWhen their parents entered their room, Charlie watched as Maggie walked to the window and kept her back to them. They could al l tell she was upset about something. Looking at Elliot, she pushed herself up further in the bed, as Callum grabbed Ian and took a seat on the chair next to her. Ben clasped his hands in front of him as he took a deep breath. â€Å"Ive been asked to stay here in order to help Rachel on her work supplying the Republic with power. I plan on asking Miles to let all of you andRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1148 Words   |  5 Pagesbench nearby. And that’s what she was doing now. She sighed and stood up to go home. The next day she went to school and her best friend Sarina asked, â€Å"What’s wrong?† She then told her the whole story as she didn’t know what happened yesterday because she was absent. Hearing the story she said, â€Å" It’s a good thing that I upgraded my remote few days ago. You should go to the remote shop today after school.† Then they both went to class. When Maya entered her first class she saw Tasha andRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1583 Words   |  7 Pagesforbid, if you don’t find it within two seconds, then youre most definitely an incompetent driver. Almost needless to say, Jason didn’t follow in the outlier’s footsteps, and he aced the questionnaire. Though he did take note that his examiner was creative with her questions. She was probably was deeply saddened that there wasn’t a convoluted touch screen to inquire about, Jason thought to himself. Finally all the formalities were complete, consequently, he took a second to get himself mentally, andRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1440 Words   |  6 PagesPayday arrived for both me and Patsy, giving us the opportunity to attend the luxurious cinema and a wider variety of movies. As we stand before the array of movie posters, deciding between an action or comedy, somehow, how conversation shifts over to John. â€Å"He was so excited about the other night,† says Patsy. I abandon the posters and give her a questioning look. â€Å"About what?† â€Å"Well, first of all spending the evening with you, and then because you hugged him the way you did.† She taps her fingerRead MoreCreative Writing : A Short Story1615 Words   |  7 Pagestown to barter, we’ll ask around.† Shocked that her husband knows about Miles tattoo on her arm, Rachel clings to him in the silence, her mind racing at the possible implications. XXX Rachel sits stunned at the table, listening to Ben relay the story that he’s heard over and over in the village nearest to the house they’ve decided to ride out the winter in. â€Å"Soul Marks? How is that possible? These are just replicas of tattoos,† she replies with a disbelieving shake of her head. Ben shrugged

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Minicase Raines and Warren Finance free essay sample

The disadvantage of using company collateral to back the bonds is, the asset used as collateral cannot be sold during the term of the bond and must maintain its value. 2. Seniority of the bond. The seniority of the bond is the order in which bonds will be paid in the event of bankruptcy. The more senior the bond, the higher priority of being paid if there is a bankruptcy, and the lower the coupon rate because the risk to the bond owner is lower. 3. The presence of a sinking fund. A sinking fund is an account set up by the trustee of the bonds. The trustee saves and pools money to purchase, pay off, or call bonds early. Setting up a sinking fund will lower the risk, thus lowering the coupon rate. The risk to the company is not having available funds to feed the trust. 4. A call provision with specified call dates and call prices. We will write a custom essay sample on Minicase Raines and Warren Finance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A call provision could be included to call the bonds if interest rates drop substantially. The call provision will raises the coupon rate but protect you from paying a high rate for a long period in the event rates drop. 5. A deferred call accompanying the call provision. A deferred call accompanying the call provision would give the bond purchaser a protection period where the bond could not be called. Adding this provision will prohibit you from calling the bond for a set time (call period), and puts you at risk of paying a high interest rate for the deferred period. Therefore, you have a lower coupon rate than a call provision with no deferral period but still higher than a bond with no call provision at all. 6. A make-whole call provision. A make-whole call provision is the safest call for the investor and a lower coupon rate for you. The discount rate is based on the current Treasury rate plus a small-specified percentage. The investor is protected by being made whole if there is a call. 7. Any positive covenants for purchaser and some SS might consider. Positive covenants on bonds are proactive and reduce the coupon rate. Applying positive covenants to the bond makes it more attractive and secure to the investor by applying conditions that protect the investor’s interest. You may wish to consider a covenant to furnish your audited financial statements to the investors. This is something you already do and it would decrease the coupon rate. If you choose to secure with assets (see number 1), including a covenant to assure that the asset is in good working condition would lower the coupon rate. 8. Any negative covenants for purchaser and some SS might consider. Negative covenants on bonds are restrictive and reduce the coupon rate. Applying negative covenants to the bond makes it more attractive to the investor but may hinder the operation by putting limitations on your business actions. You may want to consider a clause that you will not merge with another firm and that you will not issue any additional long-term debt. 9. A conversion feature. A conversion feature allows a bond to convert to stock and unless your company is planning to go public, this would not apply to you. If SS has any plans to go public, you should consider a conversion feature. This feature would benefit the bondholders if the company did go public and if included could lower the coupon rate. 10. A floating-rate coupon. A floating-rate coupon is much like an adjustable rate loan. The coupon rate, tied to a published rate such as the Treasury bill interest rate over a set period, is adjusted per a set schedule such as every six months. There is a disadvantage of doing this when rates are low but will be more attractive to the investor, thus a lower margin. A cap on how much the rate can be increased or decreased would be a good addition if you choose this option. This would be a consideration if you choose not to have a call provision.

Friday, April 10, 2020

Plagiarism Impact on Academics free essay sample

This is a true statement; however these terms mask a bigger sue ? the issue being the commission of literary theft that amounts to fraud. While this may seem extreme and overly critical, to steal anothers work and claim it as original material disdains the time and energy with regard to the research effort put forth by the original author and exhibits a lack of respect for research material in general. If plagiarism is the root of academic dishonesty, why is it so prevalent?Many factors set the stage for plagiarism to occur in an academic setting. They range from pressure to meet an assignment deadline, the tool as a means to remain academically eligible for athletics, procrastination, and the ease with which the internet enables one to download portions, if not the entire contents of a paper. In a review study conducted by Park (2003), the motives for plagiarism included a lack of understanding, poor personal values, denial, opportunity and lack of deterrence (Park 2003, 479). We will write a custom essay sample on Plagiarism: Impact on Academics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page By and large, academic dishonesty lies in the passive deception of knowledge. This occurs when the passive deceiver allows another to copy material be it an assignment or a whole paper. The passive deceiver uses the logic that they are helping a friend, when in reality they are s culpable of fraud as the person copying the work. In a study done by Waistcoat (2008), academic dishonesty was regarded as the students attempt to appear more knowledgeable or skillful than was really the case.Students who reach levels of higher education do not wish to appear as though they dont belong. This desire to perform well in the classroom nurtures the condition whereby control is shifted from student to external sources. It has been shown that a substantial number of university students have committed plagiarism to some extent; either cutting or pasting parts of papers to archiving an entire ghost-written paper from an online paper mill source (College and Flint 2006).Even as the internet is recognized as an easy way to find and copy material, the temptation to plagiarism e ncompasses the old fashioned format of printed matter. Students view books as a covert way to plagiarism and not get caught; however many, if not all printed books are now available online. Whilst these practices may be seen as having a negative affect on students alone, the bigger picture shows a different perspective.In an effort to combat plagiarism, universities have invested much in the way of racking and monitoring academic dishonesty. The consequence comes in the form of substantial monetary and physical resources directed towards the development and implementation of online plagiarism detection tools. This has resulted in what Young (2001 ) labels as a cat-and-mouse game of plagiarism detection between universities and students that now constitutes a multi-million dollar time consuming enterprise of university administration.The end products of this venture are online tools such as [emailprotected], My Drop Box, EVE, Wisconsin and Workforce available as either free or commercially sciences products. Although these tools can be a n effective means of detecting where plagiarism is occurring, the onus remains with the teaching professional to determine if plagiarism exists within the context of his or her students by way of experience, depth of knowledge of the subject matter and familiarity of the students. The philosophical and practical debate rages on with regard to the ethical usage of detection software.Opponents contend that if plagiarism is to be clearly understood, simply using a software program to detect verbatim copying of words rather than understanding plagiarism in he broader context of misappropriation of ideas signals a fallacy in the reliance of technology to distinguish academic dishonesty. Insofar as cheating remains at the forefront of academic integrity, it can be argued that the possibility exists for dishonest behavior to extend beyond the classroom. A person may learn that cheating and suffering no repercussions equates to dishonest behavior being acceptable.This behavior modeled early on in a students life tends to carry over from one environment to another. The student who cheats in high school and receives no reprimand will likely intention the behavior in college. More so, the behavior, once established has the potential to permeate into the workplace. A survey facilitated by (Harding, Carpenter, Finely and Passes 2004) attempted to identify a link between dishonest behavior in school and the same dishonest behavior in the workplace. Of those surveyed, 80% admitted to cheating at least once in college (p. 14) while only 30% thought about dishonest behavior at work. Sims (1993) does not view the data as being accurate because employees dont view themselves as violating company policy even when they do so. Though the majority of employees would consider it stealing for someone to take a box of stationery, they themselves see nothing wrong with using an occasional piece of paper for their own personal use. This occasional piece added up and multiplied by the entire work force turns out to be a much greater total loss than the stealing that rarely happens (Sims, 1993, Dishonesty).There also seems to be an unawareness of respective university policies regarding plagiarism. Notwithstanding an institutions policy on dishonest practices, the fear of being caught does little to dissuade a student from heating. On the contrary, students polled in the united Kingdom stated that with the dawn of the internet, it has become morally acceptable to copy information and pass it off as original work. Most students surveyed proffered that online plagiarism is not necessarily a bad thing, unless I get caught (Selwyn, 2008).Whereas plagiarism is widely perceived as fraud, students in todays academic arena make a good case that while cheating is not an acceptable practice; universities have not done an adequate job of defining exactly what plagiarism constitutes. Some students interpret a cheers request for facts in a paper to mean that they need to copy verbatim from a source in order to receive credit. One response from a student elicited an alleged ignorance of teaching material: l did not know we had to use what we learned in tutorials.You know, we just do the tut orials and then forget about them (Leery, 2008). In conclusion, it is clear that academic dishonesty remains an issue of both student ignorance and university clarification. Students are at fault for failing to take teaching materials as serious tools towards higher learning. The institution can likewise be faulted for failing to roved clarity with regard to plagiarism in its all-encompassing form. The best way in which both parties can bridge this gap is to view academic writing as a process and not merely a product to gain a degree.Although there exist writing programs, university workshops, peer review and other tools to assist in preventing plagiarism, there must be continued support for inexperienced writers to gain the skills necessary to communicate clearly and effectively in both the academic and professional world. If we are serious about avoiding plagiarism and improving the writing skills of students, there need be reference assessments incorporated in all levels of study.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Cynognathus Facts and Figures

Cynognathus Facts and Figures Name: Cynognathus (Greek for dog jaw); pronounced sigh-NOG-nah-thus Habitat: Woodlands of South America, South Africa, and Antarctica Historical Period : Middle Triassic (245-230 million years ago) Size and Weight: About three feet long and 10-15 pounds Diet: Meat Distinguishing Characteristics: Dog-like appearance; possible hair and warm-blooded metabolism About Cynognathus One of the most fascinating of all prehistoric creatures, Cynognathus may have been the most mammalian of all the so-called mammal-like reptiles (technically known as therapsids) of the middle  Triassic period. Technically classified as a cynodont, or dog-toothed, therapsid, Cynognathus was a fast, fierce predator, much like a smaller, sleeker version of a modern wolf. Clearly it thrived in its evolutionary niche, since its remains have been discovered on no less than three continents, Africa, South America and Antarctica (which were all part of the giant landmass Pangea during the early Mesozoic Era). Given its wide distribution, you may be surprised to learn that the genus Cynognathus includes only one valid species, C. crateronotus, named by the English paleontologist Harry Seeley in 1895. However, in the century since its discovery, this therapsid has been known by no less than eight different genus names: besides Cynognathus, paleontologists have also referred to Cistecynodon, Cynidiognathus, Cynogomphius, Lycaenognathus, Lycochampsa, Nythosaurus and Karoomys! Further complicating matters (or simplifying them, depending on your perspective), Cynognathus is the only identified member of its taxonomic family, the cynognathidae. The most interesting thing about Cynognathus is that it possessed many features normally associated with the first prehistoric mammals (which evolved from therapsids tens of millions of years later, during the late Triassic period). Paleontologists believe Cynognathus sported a thick coat of hair and may have given birth to live young (rather than laying eggs, like most reptiles); we know for a fact that it possessed a very mammal-like diaphragm, which enabled it to breathe more efficiently. Most startlingly, evidence points to Cynognathus having a warm-blooded, mammalian metabolism, quite unlike most of the cold-blooded reptiles of its day.