What geologic time period/epoch do you find most interesting, and why?

The geologic time scale might seem confusing with all the different names and dates, but it is a really helpful way to think about Earth’s protracted history. Some of the names may already be familiar (like the Jurassic), but others might be a bit alien (like the Oligocene). The University of California Museum of Paleontology has a virtual “time machine” that allows you to explore Earth’s past online. Start on this page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. to learn more about the geologic time scale in general, and then go to this page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. to select a period and explore more. *Note: for the most current accepted dates for the boundaries on the geologic time scale, visit this page (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Here are some important things that you should include in your post:

What is the name of the period or epoch that you have chosen?
At least three things that you find interesting or unusual about this time
At least one source in addition to the UCMP website where you obtained more information about the time that you selected
Be sure that your post is in your own words (read this page about Avoiding Plagiarism). Cite your references (for information on how to reference, check out the Purdue Online Writing Lab (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.).

After you have posted your essay, you will be able to view the posts of other students. Comment on the posts of at least two other students. To receive full credit, your comments should be substantial (more than just one or two sentences, more than just something along the lines of “that’s interesting”).

Example post

I’ve selected the Miocene epoch, which began 23 million years ago and lasted until about 5.3 million years ago (Walker et al., 2018). I picked this time because there are beautiful outcrops of Miocene age rocks in Southern California, near the town of Barstow (The Desert Way, n.d.). Also, I conducted my PhD research in this area (Cole et al., 2005).

The climate of the Miocene was fairly warm (UCMP, 2011), and grasslands expanded in North America and Africa (Retallack, 2001) during this time. There were many interesting animals that lived in North America during the Miocene, including three-toed horses and pygmy rhinos (Hillinger, 1990), and kelp forests first appeared then (UCMP, 2011).

The image below from UCMP (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. shows a fossil kelp from the Miocene Monterey Formation of California.

photo of kelp fossil

The images below are from a rock that I collected from the Barstow Formation, near Barstow, CA. The rock is called tufa, and it formed in an ancient lake. The image on the left is a normal photograph of the specimen. The image on the right is a “phosphor image” that shows areas of high radioactivity. This sample has a lot of uranium in it, which allowed me to use it for U-Pb dating (Cole et al., 2005).

rock from the Barstow Formation

Sources:

Cole, J.M., Rasbury, E. T., Hanson, G. N, Montanez, I. P., and Pedone, V. A. 2005. Using U-Pb ages of Miocene tufa for correlation in a terrestrial succession, Barstow Formation, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin 117(3/4): 276-287. https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article-abstract/117/3-4/276/2146/using-u-pb-ages-of-miocene-tufa-for-correlation-in (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Hillinger, C. (1990, January 15). Barstow’s Fossil-Rich Desert a Gold Mine for Students and Scientists. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-15/news/mn-199_1_barstow-fossil-beds (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Retallack, G.J. (2001) Cenozoic Expansion of Grasslands and Climatic Cooling. The Journal of Geology 109: 407–426. Retrieved from https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.uoregon.edu/dist/d/3735/files/2013/07/grasslandscooling-ni1ucb.pdf (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

The Desert Way (n.d.) Rainbow Basin: A Coat of Many Colors. Retrieved from https://www.thedesertway.com/rainbow-basin-ca/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

UCMP (2011) The Miocene Ephoch. Retrieved from http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/tertiary/miocene.php (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

Walker, J.D., Geissman, J.W., Bowring, S.A., and Babcock, L.E. (2018) Geologic Time Scale v. 5.0: Geological Society of America, https://doi.org/10.1130/2018.CTS005R3C.

Topic: Names!

Authors make deliberate use of names to allow greater insights into individuals and relationships in their stories. Your first formal paper asks you to discuss this idea based upon the readings “Those Who Walk Away From Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin, “Araby” by James Joyce, and Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka we have done to date. You will explore how the writers use various words to refer to characters. These words serve to both name/identify and provide insight into characters and enhance your understanding of their relationships. Although you do not have the opportunity to confirm why authors wrote the way they did, your task is to discuss the possible intentions and support your thoughts to the best of your ability. This paper asks you to explore ideas and support them. Have Fun!

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Structuring your Paper
Introduction
You must have a traditional one-paragraph introduction where you discuss in general the topic of your paper. Typically, writers have 3-4 sentences before stating a 1-2 sentence thesis. Your thesis is the key to your paper. You may begin with a working thesis and modify it as you write but your body paragraphs must always connect back to your thesis.

Body Paragraphs
In a paper of this length, your paper will probably contain a minimum of 4-6 body paragraphs, plus an introduction and conclusion. Each paragraph must contain a topic sentence related to the thesis along with several sentences of support, explanation or examples of how certain “names” have enriched your understanding of the reading.

Each paragraph must contain one idea or argument to help prove your thesis. Make sure to support that idea with an explanation and/or an example. Do not use more than one idea per paragraph. For this formal paper, you should also refrain from direct quotes unless the language cannot be paraphrased. Direct quotes can be distracting and dilute your argument. Use your own words.

Body paragraphs are not summaries of the story. The reader is looking for support or an explanation of your ideas, not unnecessary information about the story. It was interesting to learn that smiles were archaic but has no bearing on the thesis for this assignment. Since your word count is limited, using a summary-style which many of you may have learned in English 125 is not what you want to do. You also should not be adding your opinion or any first-person positions (e.g., I call my mother by her first name but she does not mind).

Conclusion
In your final paragraph, you will conclude or wrap up your argument without just restating the thesis. It need not be long but it should bring closure to your paper.
Important Rules
Sources
You may only use the readings assigned to date. You do need a Work Cited page of the readings you used in your paper. These are your only allowable sources. Your Work Cited page must follow MLA guidelines. If you wonder if you can use something else, don’t. If necessary, double-check with me first. This paper style is based on your reading, our discussions, and your thoughts and ideas explored through writing.

Plagiarism You are expressly forbidden to “consult” the Internet at any point while writing your paper. Your paper must be 100% your ideas and words. You cannot allow anyone to write even a word of your paper. You may use a tutor from the Writing Center or another program on campus but your family and friends must not help, even to proofread your work.

More information about Deadlines and Points

All assignments must be placed properly in the BB space assigned for that work to receive credit. Technological issues must be handled by the York Tech team members and usually are not an excuse for late papers. If you have already had an issue so far with your work/submissions, make plans to upload your paper on a safe computer.

Do not wait until the last moment to hand in your work. If you submit the wrong file, you must let me know 36 hours in advance for me to clear it out for you. Last minute requests coupled with desperate language (E.G., HELP!! READ ASAP) are not granted. It is NEVER acceptable to email me your work because you are having a problem. The only place I can view and grade your work is the assigned space. I am sorry to be repetitive about telling you not to email me your work but I just received an email from a student who attached a Google Docs file and wanted my help. It is troublesome as I do not know how many times I need to say the same thing.

1. Initial Version – 4 Points
These points are to encourage you not to procrastinate and allow me time to give some feedback to you. I will only give individual feedback via BB comment section to those who submit the first version on time.

The deadline for your initial version will be at midnight. Since it is a first version, it does not have to meet the final word count but it must be at least 600 words but not more than 1,000 words. Anything outside that range (+/- 10%) will lose ½ credit automatically. There will be absolutely no extensions for your initial version. It will be worth 4 out of 15 points so do not lose those points for time management issues!

2. Class Blog/ Peer Review – 2 Points. Using the Class Group Blog after you write your draft, you will share your drafts. I will form groups based upon when you hand in your paper. You will do this work online and I will provide a rubric which you will use to critique group members’ paper. This will not be an exercise in proofreading, nor should you say everything is “good” or “fine.” That is never helpful. Following the rubric guidelines, you will identify and write in the blog for each person in your group. Depending on how many people submit drafts, you will have 3-4 members in your group.

Structuring your Paper
Introduction
You must have a traditional one-paragraph introduction where you discuss in general the topic of your paper. Typically writers have 3-4 sentences before stating a 1-2 sentence thesis. Your thesis is the key to your paper. You may begin with a working thesis and modify it as you write but your body paragraphs must always connect back to your thesis.

Body Paragraphs
In a paper of this length, your paper will probably contain a minimum of 4-6 body paragraphs, plus an introduction and conclusion. Each paragraph must contain a topic sentence related to the thesis along with several sentences of support, explanation or examples of how certain “names” have enriched your understanding of the reading.

Do not use your body paragraphs to summarize the story. The reader is looking for support or an explanation of your ideas. Since your word count is limited, summary-style you may have learned in English 125 is not what you want to do. You also should not be adding your opinion or any first-person positions. For example, if you discuss how the young child in Omelas did not have a name in the story, you do not have to say that it was sad how the child lived.

Conclusion
In your final paragraph, you will conclude or wrap up your argument without just restating the thesis. It need not be long but it should bring closure to your paper.
Important Rules
Sources
You may only use the readings assigned to date. You do need a Work Cited page of the readings you used in your paper. These are your only allowable sources. Your Work Cited page must follow MLA guidelines.

Plagiarism You are expressly forbidden to “consult” the Internet at any point while writing your paper. Your paper must be 100% your ideas and words. You cannot allow anyone to write even a word of your paper. You may use a tutor from the Writing Center or another program on campus but your family and friends must not help, even to proofread your work. For those used to working with others to write their papers, this may seem scary but it is worth it to develop you own skills for the long run!

The Internal Environment
Heartsong LLC is a designer and manufacturer of replacement heart valves based in Peoria, Illinois. While it is a relatively small company in the medical devices field, it has established a worldwide reputation as the provider of choice for high-quality, leading-edge artificial heart valves. Most of its products are sold to large regional hospital systems and research hospitals. Specialty heart centers are another emerging but fast-growing market for its valves. While Heartsong would like to grow quickly, its growth is constrained by the need to finance larger production runs and then carry this additional inventory. For products like those of Heartsong, vendors typically do not collect payment until the unit is actually used in surgery. Moreover, heart valves are usually required on short notice, which means that they must be either onsite or inventoried at a nearby location. If they are nearby, then the transport of the unit to a hospital or heart center occurs within a matter of hours, and sometimes minutes. For this reason, accelerated growth would require Heartsong to both finance increased production of its heart valves and carry increased levels of inventory that are sitting on their customers’ shelves. In fact, inventory-carrying cost is the company’s single largest cost outside of research and development. While profitable growth is necessary, if Heartsong is to continue extending its competitive advantage through increasingly greater investments in basic heart valve R&D, it is not clear that the company can internally support all these increased financial commitments (R&D, manufacturing, and inventory). Doc Watson, the CEO of Heartsong, is considering an outside contractor, EdFex, to handle the inventorying, warehousing, and delivery of its valves. EdFex has secure, high-tech warehouses in most major population centers around the country and can ensure delivery of a product to these markets from its warehouses in less than one hour.
Discuss Heartsong’s competitive advantage, including the value-chain activities that appear to underlie this advantage, and the implications of an EdFex outsourcing arrangement to support the competitive advantage that make it attractive to Heartsong.

The External Environment

The Boys and Girls Club (BGC) is a national non-profit organization geared to provide America’s youth with the tools and skills they need to become healthy adults, responsible citizens, and effective leaders. By bringing parents, neighbors, educators, and civic leaders together with our youth, the BGC believes it can instill these crucial life lessons at an age when they are most needed. The national organization is headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and it serves as a service hub for over 3,700 club locations around the U.S. Each local club is directed by a volunteer board of directors and staffed by professional youth development workers (usually including an executive director, a program director, and an arts director) and many volunteers who just enjoy working with young people and making a difference in their lives. Although the organization is affiliated with the national center, each local BGC is locally funded.

Keeping in mind the importance of the various facets of the general environment to the BGC, discuss the threat to donations caused by the organization’s focus on the victims of natural disasters and how the BGC might respond to this and other threats to donations.

Introduction

A critical aspect of knowledge creation and application comes from the understanding of the nexus between justice, security, and democracy. As the justice system rapidly changes, many opportunities arise for analysis and discussion. Through this assignment, you should strive to broaden your understanding of this nexus, focusing on the assigned reading from this week’s Studies as well as starting to understand the global nature of the criminal justice environment in which we operate.

Instructions

In this unit’s Studies, you viewed the media piece Riverbend City: Justice and Democracy: An Exploration. For this assignment, you are tasked with identifying an aspect of the criminal justice system or process that relates to the nexus between justice and democracy.

Based on the media piece, write a paper in which you focus on the following three areas:

Explain democratic modes of criminal justice structuring and functioning.
Evaluate the strengths and challenges of democratic criminal justice functioning.
Evaluate the consequences of non-democratic principles in criminal justice.
Writing Requirements

Length: At least 8–12 double-spaced pages (excluding the cover page and references list). Include page numbers, headings, and running header.
References: At least 3 peer-reviewed resources formatted following current APA guidelines.
Formatting: Use correct APA style and formatting, paying particular attention to citations and references.
Font size and type: Times New Roman, 12 points.
A scoring rubric communicates expectations of quality around assignment tasks. Be sure to review the Justice and Democracy: An Exploration Scoring Guide to ensure that you understand the grading criteria for this assignment.

To prepare for the case, please answer through analysis the indicated questions for each case. The report should be three pages, 1 ½ spaced, 11 font, not including cover page or any supporting appendixes you deem necessary.Questions 1. How did Uber achieve its present position? Is it losing momentum?2. Was surge pricing a distraction or core part of the business model? 3. Why did social media use fail in Seattle?4.What should Uber do moving forward? Ideal case summaries will refer to theories and concepts from the book, as well as what has been discussed in class. The report should not simply repeat the facts of the case but should offer personal insight and interpretation. Grading will be based on the following criteria:C- and below – Addresses the topic minimally, with virtually no support offered for the answerC/C+ – Addresses the topic fairly, but offers little support from facts, theory or interpretationB/B- – Addresses the topic sufficiently, with some support from facts and theory, and offers reasonable insight and interpretationA-/B+ – Addresses the topic well with complete and sufficient support from facts and theory with good insight, understanding and interpretationA/A+ – As above but offers a unique insight and personal interpretation beyond the facts researched. Shows an exceptional understanding of the concepts in marketing, and undertakes own analysis and logic to justify opinions and recommendations

Within a 400-600 word original post, please present a thorough and clear discussion of the question assigned, keeping in mind that your original post will be the basis for responses from your classmates. Be sure to note that you must use APA/MLA format within your original post. You must use in text citations and provide a reference section. Keep in mind that it is important to continually use in text citations in order to adequately back up your points and properly credit your research materials. Please note that you are not allowed to use Wikipedia as a research resource. Wikipedia is highly unreliable since anyone may go and post within it!!

Please take note of the statement of the Syllabus which states that you are not allowed to directly take passages from the textbook, websites or other students. This will result in a zero grade. It is not acceptable to take passages from research resources even if you have provided the proper in text citations. Remember, the point of the assignment is to hear from you!! Also, keep in mind that changing a word or two in a sentence is not proper paraphrasing!!

Please choose one of the following topics to discuss:

Sacco and Vanzetti-Please use this as the heading and title.
Chapter 21

Research the case of Sacco and Vanzetti. How was this case indicative of the Red Scare fears that gripped the nation at that time? By researching this case and looking at the evidence presented, were Sacco and Vanzetti guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt? In your opinion, could a case like Sacco and Vanzetti occur today?

The “Lost Generation”-Please use this as the heading and title.
Chapter 22

Research the “Lost Generation”. Who were the main writers of this movement? What were the main themes of their works? How were these writers products of the era in which they wrote and lived? How are the “Lost Generation” still influential today?

Scottsboro Boys-Please use this as the heading and title.
Research the Scottsboro Case. Discuss the facts of the case? What are the factors that led to the conviction of the Scottsboro boys? Why did it take so long for these gentlemen to receive justice? What does this case indicate regarding race relations within the United States during the 1930s?

Social Contexts of Criminal Justice Policy

Introduction

This assignment is intended to provide an introduction to the relationship between physical deterioration and crime. Using the Riverbend City: Disorder and Crime media piece, you will evaluate the importance of using theory within a criminal justice organization. In addition, the links between theory, policy, and program administration will be explored, providing an illustration of how theory facilitates understanding of real-world issues in criminal justice organizations.

Instructions

View Riverbend City: Disorder and Crime (linked in the Resources), and then use the scenario to write an academic paper in which you address the following:

Examine the critical social problems being addressed by the Riverbend City police in the scenario.
What were some of the positive and negative outcomes of the application of strategic and tactical approaches in the scenario?
Explain strategic and tactical approaches developed by the Riverbend City police in the scenario that address the external political and social pressures presented. How might the strategic and tactical approaches be evaluated?
Discuss how criminal justice theory might be applied to the resolution of community crime problems presented in the scenario. Evaluate positive and negative outcomes of the application of strategic and tactical approaches for crime reduction.

Remember that you must use three different plays for each question, so you will have addressed 6 plays in total between the two questions. Each question should be a page answer.

1. Choose two themes that you think are important to Shakespeare’s plays and discuss how he explores those themes in at least three of the plays we studied this term. Try to draw both similarities and differences in the way he handles the themes in the different plays. Use specific references for support.

Choose 3 from any of these plays

The Tempest
The Merchant of Venice
King Lear
Much Ado about Nothing
Hamlet
Othello
Henry IV Part 1 and Henry V

2. What can a Christian learn from Shakespeare, and how can reading Shakespeare’s plays help a Christian better understand or appreciate God, human nature, and/or the world? Use at least three of the plays we’ve studied this term in your essay. Be specific in your references.

Choose another 3 from any of these plays

The Tempest
The Merchant of Venice
King Lear
Much Ado about Nothing
Hamlet
Othello
Henry IV Part 1 and Henry V

ABA Question 2:
Part One: Methods of Differential Reinforcement

Compare the various forms of differential reinforcement that you can use when working with a client, namely, differential reinforcement of other, differential reinforcement of incompatible, differential reinforcement of low or higher rates, and differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors; be sure to discuss specific considerations and unintended effects associated with each form.

Part Two: Apply Differential Reinforcement to a Case

For each DR procedure identify a specific client of choice, a problem behavior, the hypothesized function of the problem behavior, a replacement behavior, and the process for identifying reinforcers as appropriate. The same hypothetical case can be used, as appropriate, for more than one DR procedure. However, the case must match the intended outcome of the DR process being discussed, so more than one case scenario may be necessary.

Design examples for each (DRO, DRA, DRI, and DRL/DRH) where you would clearly want to use one method of differential reinforcement over the other. Explain how you would calculate the initial schedule of reinforcement for each example taking baseline measures into consideration. Discuss whether the process of extinction would be integrated into the various differential reinforcement procedures and provide a rationale for your determination. Then, articulate how you would go about thinning the schedules of reinforcement to promote maintenance and generalization of behavior by transferring stimulus control to naturally occurring contingencies.

Part Three: Important Considerations

Finally, address any ethical, legal, cultural and social validity issues. Throughout your discussion, synthesize the key ethical considerations that will support the necessary steps in the intervention process. Be sure to use the BACB Professional and Ethical Compliance Code (2014) as a framework, and take careful thought in supporting your discussions with specific codes and relevant rationale. Also, include a discussion to address any potential legal, cultural and social validity issues (10-15 pages)
Other Requirements
You should apply APA Style formatting throughout your paper. Include a title page, section headings, in-text citations, and a references page. Keep direct quotes to a minimum. You should also include an introductory paragraph, thesis sentence, and summary paragraph.
You should cite relevant empirical research and scholarly articles within Applied Behavior Analysis. You should cite a minimum of seven peer-reviewed journal articles. You should carefully select sources after reviewing the literature and evaluating the credibility, relevance, quality, and research merit of each source.

ABA Grading Rubric
Grading Elements Comments

Student compares the methods of Differential Reinforcement (DRI, DRA, DRO, and DRL/DRH) and discusses specific unintended effects or special considerations for each method.
Student identifies a hypothetical client, problem behavior, function of problem behavior, a functionally equivalent replacement behavior, and the process for identifying effective reinforcement as appropriate for each DR procedure.
Student designs a procedure using each of the methods of Differential Reinforcement. For each procedure:
a. Provide an explanation as to why the DR method is appropriate for the case presented.
b. Discuss how you would determine an initial schedule of reinforcement, and how you would consider thinning the schedule to promote generalization to naturally occurring contingencies.
c. Explain whether extinction should be incorporated into each procedure to increase the intervention’s effectiveness with a clear rationale for your decision.
Student analyzes ethical, legal, cultural, and social validity factors associated with the establishment of a reinforcement procedure. Ethical discussion is supported by codes outlined in the BACB Professional and Ethical Compliance Code and the core ethical principles.
Writing Mechanics
Includes a clear, concise introduction (ending in a solid thesis statement), complete paragraphs, and a final conclusion. Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation following Standard American English guidelines; free of typographical errors. Provides a clear and logical order of presentation where ideas transition from one topic to the next reflecting a scholarly tone. Meets the minimum page length requirement, not including the title page or reference page.
APA Style
Proper use of APA style. Title page, abstract, headings, in-text citations, and reference page are formatted correctly containing no errors. Integrates the appropriate number of primary, peer-reviewed academic sources to support conclusions. Primarily student’s own words paraphrased correctly with direct quotes used sparingly.
Decision–Pass or Needs Revision
An explanation of the points earned, as well as where the Assignment could be strengthened will be included with your grade.