How To Write An Essay Essays - International Baccalaureate, Essay

How To Write An Essay 1 Approaching the Essay As a student you will almost certainly have to produce essays during your course. Some will be written during term time and contribute to course work assessment, others will be answers to questions set in formal examinations. An essay is usually defined as a continuous piece of writing ranging in length from at least 500 words to about 5,000 words for a special or extended essay. But this booklet is not just about 'writing' essays, it's about the various stages you need to consider when producing an essay and about the ways in which producing an essay helps you to learn. The time given to each of these stages will of course vary according to the conditions surrounding any particular essay. Let's look at the first stage -which is approaching the essay. Why write essays? If we understand the value of doing something, it usually helps to make us feel more positive and confident about the task. So what is the value of writing an essay? Here are some ideas - you might think of more. It forces you to organize your own thinking and develop your own point of view on issues. In one sense, writing is the crucial step which helps you get to grips with new ideas and new experiences. Without that step, it's very difficult or impossible to know how much you've really understood. Expressing yourself - ideas, new information, or whatever, in written form, really is a life skill -which you will need in almost every area of work. Essay writing gives you practice and develops that skill. If it's a term time essay, you can see it as giving you practice for writing under exam conditions. And don't forget that the essay provides very useful revision material. Lastly, it gives you a chance to get feedback from your tutor about their assessment of how much you've understood and how well you are able to communicate this. With your tutor's help, you can identify areas of strength and weakness so you know where to concentrate your energies next time. So, approach your essay positively. It can be a very valuable learning opportunity. Course conventions? Of course, you must also check out any particular requirements your course or department might have for that particular essay. How long should it be? Should it be presented in a particular way -typed, for example? If you know the answers to these questions, it will help you to feel more confident about the task. Written versus spoken One last point in this preliminary stage is to remember that there is a difference between written and spoken communication. You must select your words more carefully and make your meaning absolutely clear. Remember you won't be beside your reader to explain any difficult or obscure points. It's more important too, to have a sequence of logical steps so that your reader can follow your train of thought. Any emphasis has to be conveyed through vocabulary, sentence rhythm or punctuation. And because your reader can go at his own pace, even go back, if necessary, writing can be much more concentrated than speech. All this has been about the general framework in which you approach your essay. Now we'll go to the next stage which is to examine the task. 2 What is the Question? Understanding the question You need to examine the precise wording of the question, in order to decide exactly what you are being asked to do. You will also need to consider the assumptions behind the question and the implications that arise from the question's statement or assumptions. Does the topic require general treatment or specific reference to certain aspects? Are your own experiences and opinions worth expressing - or should you refer only to the knowledge of others? Key words It is often useful at this stage to underline what you think are the key words in the way in which the question is worded. Look for the vital words or phrases which will determine the style and structure of the answer you will write. A list of the key directive words frequently found in essay titles is given below and this might help you understand what is being asked of you in an assignment. Some terms frequently used in essay questions: Compare Look for similarities and differences between; perhaps reach a conclusion

4 Fast-Growing Temp Jobs to Focus on Now

4 Fast-Growing Temp Jobs to Focus on Now If you’re like most people, salary may be the first thing that comes to mind when evaluating what makes a â€Å"good job.† However, according to recent research, more and more workers - both young and old alike - are now prioritizing a different factor when assessing a job’s potential: job security. In fact, 56 percent of younger workers and 59 percent of older workers preferred security to salary when asked to choose between two jobs. For most people, the concept of a temp job and the concept of job security aren’t necessarily congruent; however, a new breed of temp positions offer unprecedented job security. Formerly the domain of the unemployed and job searchers passing the time until a permanent job can be found, temp jobs are now a valuable tool for companies looking to keep pace with the latest trends and technologies in a dynamic market - and for employees looking to capitalize on new demand. Based on research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statis tics, Forbes rounded up the list of 2015’s fastest growing temp jobs. Let’s take a look at four of the top picks.1. Home Health Care AideIn addition to helping seniors in need of assistance, home health care aides also help people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and cognitive impairment. With millions of Baby Boomers hitting retirement every day and most suffering from multiple chronic conditions, it’s no surprise that there is a growing demand for healthcare professionals.Although they work in a variety of settings, ranging from private homes to large-scale communities, home health care aides are typically employed by certified home health and hospice agencies - both of which will be looking for qualified labor to fill vacancies. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of home health care aide temp jobs is predicted to rise by 15 percent.  2. Childcare WorkerAs the bulk of the Millennial generation - the first generation in American history to top the Boome rs in sheer numbers - enters its childbearing years, their offspring will need care. And while many have delayed having kids because of the challenging conditions under which they came of age (resulting in an oft-publicized â€Å"baby bust†), the time is drawing nigh when the delayers will take the leap. It’s no surprise, then, that temp positions for childcare workers are expected to jump by 14 percent over the next five years.3. Registered NurseThe buzz surrounding the imminent nursing shortage is well-founded: with up to three million Baby Boomers entering Medicare each year and the Affordable Care Act having already added eight million to the growing list of the insured, the demands on the healthcare industry will be significant, with registered nurses topping the list.Nurse staffing agencies will race to fill the void through a variety of temp nursing opportunities, including contract, travel and per diem positions. All in all, an average increase of 6,200 jobs - or 14 percent growth - is predicted over the next five years alone.Meanwhile, an alternate healthcare profession expects to experience almost equally meteoric growth: Pharmacy technicians.4. Computer Systems AnalystAs companies struggle to keep up with changing technologies while balancing their business initiatives, computer systems analysts are expected to play a vital role. These hybrid professionals offer a unique blend of information technology knowledge and business acumen, qualifying them not just to offer computer expertise, but to apply it within the context of a company’s overall objectives in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.In addition to being in demand with a whopping 19 percent increase in anticipated jobs by 2019, computer system analysts are also well-compensated, thanks to a median salary of more than $81,000 in 2013. Temp workers with skills and experience in this field are well-positioned for ongoing success.Software developers and computer user support specialists are also expected to see growth in tech temp jobs over the next half-decade.

ARE THERE ENOUGH RESSOURCES FOR YOUNG MUMS AFTER PREGNANCY Dissertation

ARE THERE ENOUGH RESSOURCES FOR YOUNG MUMS AFTER PREGNANCY - Dissertation Example Conversely, collecting primary data is often prohibitively expensive. (Brown & Semradek, 1992). Primary data can take years to compile; secondary data, a matter of months. (Hopperth, 2005). Also, there is the issue of sample size – secondary research is often compiled by a government agency, with well-documented collection procedures and well-maintained data files. The information that is compiled is often comprehensive – everything from information on births, deaths, employment, income, etc. to specialized information, such as information about participant's attitudes, beliefs, and related family issues. (Hopperth, 2005). That said, there are issues with using secondary research. One of the issues is that of validity and reliability. Validity is if the study measures what it purports to measure, while reliability refers to the ability to give the same result consistently, even with different researchers, instruments and events. (Harris, 2001). Reliability can be reprod ucible, which means that different researchers will get the same result; stable, which means that the results do not change over time; and accurate, which means that process conforms to a known standard and yields what it is supposed to. (Harris, 2001). In order for the study to be valid, the outcome data needs to be complete. This is especially crucial when looking at statistical evidence over a period of time between different populations. (Sorensen et al., p. 436). Validity, as well as reliability and accuracy are all sensitive issues when dealing with secondary data, because of the problems with conceptualizing of the data, as well as dealing with errors that can occur when selecting, collecting, recording, filing, analyzing and publicizing the data. (Brown & Semradek, 1992). Therefore, the information that is compiled in desk based research, or secondary research, is often found on the Internet by using cites that cater to the topic at hand. Since the topic at hand is not one t hat is overly reliant upon statistics and other types of information that is kept by such organisations as the World Health Organisation, the information may be obtained through other means. One of these means is the database JStor, which provides a wide range of academic articles, as well as Google Scholar. SSRN is another database that has a wide range of articles. These sites were chosen because they provide a comprehensive database of academic articles that are written for topics such as this and other topics. These articles are often studies which are noted by the researchers who wrote the individual article, which provides valuable insight into the topic. The topic may be researched by inputting certain key words, such as lone parent, young mother, and services, and then the topics can be expanded from there. For instance, in this topic, there are a wide range of issues that need to be addressed. Social exclusion is one issue, and the way that this is researched is by inputtin g the key words of social exclusion and getting articles about this topic. Another topic is that of housing, and the same procedure can be used for this topic. In other words, there are issues that young mothers face that are not exclusive to young mothers – these issues are more universal. However, since desk based research is meant to be comprehensive, these secondary topics are included. Another way of approaching the desk based resea

Choose a topic Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Choose a topic - Research Paper Example l conditions, certain pests, chemicals, or even spoilage as an example of characteristic traits that technology in genetic engineering aims to introduce in a plant. Hillstrom (2012) explains that GM crops are always generated in a laboratory, and this is through an alteration of the genetic makeup of the crops. To achieve this objective, Hillstrom (2012) explains that scientists will add one, or more genes to the genome of the plant, by using techniques of genetic engineering. Arvanitoyannis (2005) manages to explain that majority of genetically modified crops are produced through the biolistic method, or through the mediated transformation of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Arvanitoyannis (2005) further denotes that crops that are modified and developed by the use of the GM technology do not have any changes that was not intended by the scientists, while producing the crop under consideration. The tobacco crop plant is the most genetically modified crop. This is because tobacco is easy t o propagate, and there is an extensive study of its genomes. On this basis, Arvanitoyannis (2005) explains that the tobacco crop plant serves as a model for other species of plants. In using the biolistic method to create a genetically modified plant, Healey (2010) explains that the DNA material is bound to a tiny particle of tungsten or gold, which are then shot to the single plant cell or plant tissue under high pressure. After this occurs, the accelerated particles are able to penetrate the membrane and cell wall of the plant. The DNA thereafter separates from the metallic substances and is then integrated into the genome of the plant, within its nucleus. This method is widely used in the genetic production of cultivated monocots, such as maize and wheat. Arvanitoyannis (2005) denotes that genetically transforming these substances by the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens has not always achieved success. However, one of the major disadvantages of using this technique is that it can

Shard Tower Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Shard Tower - Essay Example Designing of the Shard tower was done in 2000 by Renzo Piano and in 2007 construction begun. In July 2012, the project was completed and opened by Prime Minister of Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. The opening ceremony was also attended by Prince Andrew, Duke of York (Mace Group 2010). The tower is serviced and maintained by central London’s amenities, facilities and transport infrastructure. The tower is located next to London bridge station thus making it easier for people to connect from the station to work place (Sellar Group 2011). This paper will focus on the Shard tower project and the project management. The core objectives of the Shard project was to; make positive changes, improving one’s life chances, ensure development in growth areas and deliver quality and standard public service This paper aims to look at project management in the construction industry and the relationship between the levels of risk management and the different stages of a cons truction project. The conventional techniques of project management will be mentioned as well as the current innovations in the field. Moreover, the paper will discuss the benefits and costs, barriers, of the trends and finally discuss relevant recommendations. Projects within Shard programme 1. Southwark tower demolition Stephen Furnell assisted by Len Abbott in the year 1969 to 1970 designed the Southwark tower. The tower was the head quarter of price waterhouse. The tower had 25-storey office (The Rubble Club 2009). The building was demolished to allow construction of Shard tower. It was the tallest building to be demolished in the United Kingdom. They demolition was done behind acoustic screen so that they could reduce noise pollution levels. 2. Fixing glass The Shard tower is also known as the shard of glass. The reason behind the name it is because the tower is covered in glass, which makes it crystal. The developers designed a glass roofed, which was done by Renzo Piano build ing. The design included both the ceiling and floor, which brought light to the offices during dimmest days. 3. Sensors The sensors activate grey blinds on each glass panels. In 2009, Claxton gave advice operational and budget for developing blind control system. The blind system control was to take and avail readings from sensors. The sensors would communicate to shreds to either lower or raise heat entering the tower. The solar track servers were installed in the basement while photometer and radiometer sensors we installed on the roof. The sensors positioned at the roof are called level 96. Claxton were able to successfully install solarTrac system, which is a product of Mechoshade. 4. Kone jump lifts The first Kone jump lift was installed in Shard Tower in August 2010. The jump lift is a self-climbing system developed by Kone. The lift uses the building shafts during construction. The lift can accommodate 21 people and 1600kg. Its main use was to carry Shard site workers up and down the construction site. Mace, the Shard principal contractor, collaborated with Kone to ensure the jump lift meets the standards and quality of the delivery program. Tony Palgrave, the Mace construction director, suggested that the jump lift was a solution to transporting materials and people effectively and quickly. It has been the safest way to move up and down the building. Michael Williams, KONE U.K. managing director, said feel privileged working together with Mace in the Shard tower project. They ensure that the lifts were well installed to unsure they ran smoothly (Chatham 2010). Project management Robert Deatker was the project director at the London Bridge quarter and Shard Tower. Robert says the work of the project management is to knot thing

The Prevention Of The Stock Market Crash Economics Essay

The Prevention Of The Stock Market Crash Economics Essay The Great Depression was an economic slump in North America, Europe, and other industrialized areas of the world that began in 1929 and lasted until 1939. It was the longest and most severe depression the world had ever seen. What happened and how did the stock market crash occur? Could it have been avoided? Simply put, yes! There were numerous issues and oversights that were made during that time by all Americans. Obviously, it did not occur overnight. Where had the consumers, government, and/or businesses gone wrong? There is no doubt that we, as Americans, have become smarter in terms of our economic knowledge, but are we doomed to go through another Great Depression in the future? What have we done, or what can we do to avoid this from happening again? To understand the Great Depression we first must look back at the economy prior to that time. For most Americans the stock market crash of 1929 has become the symbol marking the beginning of the Great Depression. The economic boom of the 1920s was reflected in a stock market which rose from 60 in 1920 to its peak of 381 on September 3, 1929 (Tothero Crowley, 2008). After World War I, the soldiers returned home. They had money in their pockets and many new products to spend their money on. Prior to the war, many products on the market were considered a luxury, but with the onset of mass production, many of those items that were considered a luxury were now common. With the soldiers returning from the war, everyone having money in their pockets, and having products and services readily available, this put the world in a euphoric state, with the idea that everything was ideal. The Roaring Twenties, as they were referred to, was a time of great economic prosperity. This was mostly due t o the wide array of consumer goods that were available. New technologies, soaring business profits, and higher wages allowed more and more Americans to purchase a wide range of consumer goods. Prosperity also provided Americans with more leisure time (The Great Depression (1920-1940), 2009). Americans were purchasing more consumer products on credit such as automobiles. As the economy blossomed, suburbs were created, U.S. cities had drastically changed, radios began broadcasting news and music, and the aviation and motion picture industry had grown, as well. Times were good for the American people during the Roaring Twenties. The decade saw North America becoming the richest region on the earth, with industry aligned to mass production, and a society with a culture of consumerism (Roaring Twenties Economy of the 1920s, 2005). With so much growth in the economy at that time, the government did not feel that they were in jeopardy of a crash so they did not intervene. Since the war was over and all the men were home, there were goods and services being pumped into the economy and everyone had money to spend. People were borrowing and spending money without a care, and thought nothing could go wrong. By the time the government figured out there was a problem with the economy, it was already too late. Prior to the Great Depression, governments traditionally took little or no action in time of business downturn, relying instead on impersonal market forces to achieve the necessary economic correction. From one extreme to the other boom to bust. The magical prosperity vanished almost overnight as people lost confidence following the stock market crash (Nelson, ed., 2000). This could have possibly avoided the crash had the government had the foresight to be more strict with the financial institutions and their lending habits. Individuals should have been wiser with their spending. They should have saved money rather than buying things they did not nece ssarily need. During the early 1920s, federal spending grew three times larger than tax collections and when the government cut back spending to balance the budget, a severe recession was the result of those actions. The value of farmland fell 30-40 percent, and the middle class comprised about 15 to 20 percent of all Americans, while the richest one person owned 40 percent of the nations wealth. Between 1920 and 1929, individual worker productivity rose 43 percent and the number of people reporting half-million dollar incomes grew from 156 to 1,489 between this time period; a phenomenal rise compared to other decades, but still less than the one percent of all income-earners. In the early 1930s, more than half of all Americans were living below the minimum subsistence level and the annual per-capita income was $750; and $273 for farm people. Construction was down by $2 billion and then a recession began, approximately two months before the stock market crash. During this timeframe, production dec lined 20 percent, wholesale prices were at 7.5 percent and personal income was at 5 percent. Then, on October 24, the stock market crashed. Investors called October 29th Black Tuesday for the loss of $16 billion, which was a lot of money in those days. Also during this time, the gross domestic product (GDP) fell 9.4 percent from the year before and the unemployment rate rose from 3.2 to 8.7 percent. During this time there was absolute panic, no major legislations were passed addressing the depression, a second banking scare occurred in the spring, the GDP fell another 8.5 percent, and unemployment rose to 15.9 percent. The decline in the GDP, while dramatic, was not as spectacular as the explosion in the unemployment rate. Mainly because the unemployment rate represents what was not produced that could have been produced. Consumer purchasing somewhat fell, government purchases did not fall at all compared to 1929, but there was a dramatic collapse of investment purchases. Why did investment purchases collapse so dramatically? Because interest rates affect investments. The problem in the early 1930s was that the rate of inflation was negative, meaning there was deflation instead of inflation. This meant that borrowers were not paying back as much money as they borrowed. The table below shows the nominal interest rate was declining during this period, but because the rate of inflation was negative, the real interest rate was much higher than the nominal interest rate. YEAR PRICE INDEX RATE OF INFLATION % NOMINAL INTEREST RATE % REAL INTEREST RATE % 1929 13.12 5.85 1930 12.60 -3.96 3.59 7.87 1931 11.34 -10.00 2.64 14.04 1932 10.05 -11.38 2.73 15.92 1933 9.78 -2.96 1.73 4.54 In the years leading up to the stock market crash, the stock market had gained much popularity as a way of making money. Because stock prices had been on the rise, they gained the reputation of being a safe way to invest. Beginning in 1926 and ending with the crash in 1929, the market moved up nearly 400%. Many investors believed stocks were their ticket to riches (Valentine, 2009). Investors were talking up the idea of how much money could be made by investing in stock. With all the talk of the get rich quick scheme and the relaxed credit terms from banks, the buying frenzy began. Simply put, people were naive, greedy, and wanted a way to get rich quickly. American businesses and the people placed too much faith on what they did not fully understand, and they did not think of the long-term repercussions that could occur in the event of an economic crisis, such as a recession, or in this case, with the Great Depression. Problem one: People were too loose with their money. Rather than to save for their families, they placed their money in the stock market in hopes of receiving a nice return. People were purchasing stock on margin. What does this mean? They were only required to pay 10% down and borrow the other 90%. For example, if $10 worth of stock was purchased, the investor put in $1, while the mortgage broker put in the other $9. It was a good deal as long as stocks were gaining value. However, if the stock lost value, the stockbroker would issue a margin call requiring the investor to pay back the loan. In the example above, not only did the investor lose the $1 he invested, he also had to pay back the $9 hed borrowed (Valentine, 2009). As you can see from the example, stocks could go awry at any given time injuring the broker, but more specifically injuring the investor. People were disillusioned that stocks would always rise and never fall. Today, not all stocks and investors are eligible for a margin account. This is a great benefit in determining what stocks investors are safer using, such as a margin account, and may not be so prone to losing the funds that are invested. Do you recall the definition of a margin call? Money placed for the original purchase of a stock needed to be paid back by someone; the investor. The economy rapidly deteriorated as people sold their stocks to hold on to their hard earned money, and brokers wanted their borrowed money back. Resolution: In general, there is no resolution on how people should spent their money. We cannot tell another individual what they can or cannot buy. Some people save, while others do not. An option that is current in present times, but could have been an acceptable solution prior to the crash, could have been to have financial regulators increase their financial ratio requirements for banks so less money would have been borrowed. Banks would have had less of a money supply by doing as such. Perhaps by increasing the banks financial ratio requirements, Americans generally could have spent less and purchased less in stocks. The stock market crash devastated the American economy because not only had individual investors put their money into stocks, so did businesses. When the stock market crashed, businesses lost their money. Consumers lost their money too, because many banks had invested their money without their permission or knowledge (Valentine, 2009). Problem 2: There were no programs that would protect the consumers from having their money be used, without their permission, by banks to pay back debts for the stocks. As you can imagine, American consumers and businesses were losing money, which caused people to panic and pull their life savings from the banks to hold on to what they had left in order to feed their families. Resolution: Unfortunately, without the regulations in place, there were no regulatory rules on what could or could not be done by the banks. The financial institutions were stealing money from the American people without permission. Until the proper regulations were put into plac e, there was nothing that could have been done at that time. Resolution: Eventually, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was createdto regulate stocks, bonds, and other commissions. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was also created to insure consumers deposits in FDIC-enrolled financial institutions. In addition, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) was created to insure crops planted by farmers (Valentine, 2009). Soon after Herbert Hoover became president, the stock market began to take a turn for the worst. In 1929, some of the larger investors realized the stock prices were artificially high as a result of the mass investments from speculative investors. So, those savvy investors started trading their stocks and consequently, stock prices began to fall. Then, brokers issued margin calls leading to further stock market drops (Valentine, 2009). Problem three: The way the stock market was handling the tracking of the volume of buying and selling of stocks. As stocks were traded and falling in price, investors started selling their shares over the course of several days, being Black Thursday through Black Tuesday, which caused the stock market to crash because millions of shares were being sold too rapidly. The technology then was not what it is today. This should have been taken into consideration when dealing with something of this magnitude. At one point the ticker tapes were nearly 90 minutes behind the market causing the market to drop by 33 points or 9% by the end of the day. Also, by Tuesday, the ticker tapes fell nearly 3 hours behind causing another 12 % drop in the market. Due to the issues with tracking most of the time investors were trading blind (Stock Market Crash of 1929, 2007). Knowing what we know today, regulations should have been put into plac e to help keep things under control. For example, today if the DOW drops by 10% before 2 p.m., trading will be halted for one hour. If the DOW drops by 20% before 2 p.m., trading will be halted for two hours. If the DOW drops 30% before 2 p.m., trading will be halted for one day and if another event such as September 11, 2001 occurs, they will either close early or not open at all to prevent panic (Little, 2009). Besides the issues of tracking, another subject to address is the relaxed credit terms. When stock prices began to drop, the market started changing. In turn, investors were requiring the loans to be paid in full. If the individual had their money in the bank, there was a good chance the bank had invested their money without their permission causing yet another loss of funds on top of the money they had already lost themselves in the stock market. Although President Hoover believed that the government should not intervene with the economy, he said families could turn the economy around if they continued to work hard and rely on themselves (Valentine, 2009). Of course, we all know hindsight is 20/20, but by creating the SEC, FDIC, and FCIC I believe that it helps the economy have a little assurance that the government is trying to help anyway that they can to prevent the stock market from crashing again. In conclusion, it takes more than the government, investments, and American people to change economic activity. It takes everyone in the U.S. to contribute, in one way or another, to the overall health of the economy. In regards to government involvement, money supplies and/or government spending can be increased or decreased, and/or taxes can be lowered or raised in order to assist in the health of an economy. Businesses can invest in new equipment or buildings, and/or construct new homes. We, as consumers, should find a happy medium, if applicable, to our spending habits. For instance, do not borrow more than you can pay back or afford. On the same note, do not spend more of your income on unwanted items and only spend on what is absolutely needed, such as food, clothing, bills, and leisurely activities. Unlike many Americans prior to the stock market crash, do the needed research prior to blindly committing and purchasing any good or service that is not 100% understood. It is best to financially access your individual needs based on your income. Take into consideration the chances of a potential layoff or the future health of a loved when considering a major purchase of something. It is best to plan for the future and to invest in something that is thoroughly researched and understood prior to placing your life, and that of your family, at stake. With all the more economic knowledge we know today, can we avoid another Great Depression? Only time will tell if lessons have been learned, but knowledge is the first step in understanding how to avoid disasters such as those that had occurred 80 years ago.

Essays --

Robert Miyoshi Dr. Conti CPRL 110-04 15 December 2013 The Religious Journey of Malcolm X Malcolm X is widely known as one of the most influential figures in the movement of Civil Rights. Although his views did change over time, he was always very sincere about his beliefs and stood by them one-hundred percent. He was born Malcolm Little, to a Baptist lay speaker and a Grenada-born homemaker, Malcolm’s family had to be relocated several times because of constant death-threats toward his father. At the age of six, Earl, Malcolm’s father was killed in a streetcar accident that the family believed was the work of a white supremacist group called the Black Legion. At thirteen, Malcolm’s mother was institutionalized at a mental hospital, leaving her children to be separated into foster homes. Although an excellent student in junior high school, Malcolm dropped out of school when a white teacher told him that his dream of practicing law was â€Å"no realistic goal for a nigger†. After a youth of petty crime and a young adulthood of larger infractions, Malcolm found himself in jail for larceny and breaking and entering. While serving his eight to ten year sentence at Charlestown State Prison, Malcolm began reading and furthering his education through reading. Also while in prison, Malcolm’s brother, Reginald visited him bearing news of a religion called the â€Å"Nation of Islam†. This belief system fit well with Malcolm’s views of white people: that they are devils and that black men and women are truly the superior race. While still in prison, Malcolm maintained correspondence with Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam. The ‘X’ in Malcolm’s name began appearing in 1950 and replaced his surname â€Å"Little† because, â€Å"[his] ‘X’ replac... ...s as they saw that Nation as only a role-reversal of the white/black conflict in the United States. The Nation of Islam was labeled as hatemongers, black supremacists, racists, violence-seekers, segregationists, and a threat to improved race relations. Malcolm X went even as far as to denounce the civil rights movement and called Martin Luther King Jr. a â€Å"chump† and other civil rights leaders â€Å"stooges† of the white establishment. While in the height of his popularity among the Nation of Islam and as numbers of blacks in the United States joined the Nation, Malcolm had internal conflicts. These were because he had found out that Elijah Muhammad had had extramarital affairs with other members of the Nation of Islam; a huge sin within the religion. Muhammad had had as many as six women that he had slept with and Malcolm X was deeply affected by his leader’s actions.