Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Three Free Essays

string(94) " worn it since I was last in the Belikov house and had set it on the table next to the nazar\." Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember where I’d felt it before. Considering everything else that had been happening to me, the fact that I’d even recalled it at all was remarkable. My memories were a little scattered, but I did my best to sift through them, wondering where I had experienced that tickling in my brain. We will write a custom essay sample on Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Three or any similar topic only for you Order Now I received no answers, and pondering it all soon became as frustrating as coming up with an escape plan. And as more time passed, I realized I really did need an escape plan. The endorphin withdrawal was killing me, but I was thinking more and more clearly as the effects left my system. I was astonished at how out of it I’d let myself become. As soon as I’d allowed Dimitri to bite me†¦ I’d fallen apart. I’d lost my higher reasoning. I’d lost my strength and skills. I’d become soft and silly and stupid. Well, not entirely. If I’d completely lost it, I’d be a Strigoi now. There was some comfort, at least, in knowing that even while high on bites, some part of me had still fought through and refused to succumb. Knowing I wasn’t as entirely weak as I’d believed helped keep me going. It made it easier to ignore the yearning in my body, to distract myself with bad TV and eating all the food in the little refrigerator. I even stayed awake for a long time in the hopes of exhausting myself. It worked, and I crashed as soon as I hit the pillow, drifting into a dreamless sleep with no withdrawal effects. I was awakened later when a body slid into bed beside me. I opened my eyes and stared right into Dimitri’s red ones. For the first time in days, I looked at him with fear, not love. I kept that off my face, though, and smiled at him. I reached out and touched his face. â€Å"You’re back. I missed you.† He caught my hand and kissed my palm. â€Å"I had things to do.† The shadows shifted on his face, and I caught the tiniest glimpse of dried blood near his mouth. Grimacing, I rubbed it off with my finger. â€Å"So I see.† â€Å"It’s the natural order, Rose. How are you feeling?† â€Å"Better. Except†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"What?† I looked away, conflicted again. The look in his eyes just then was more than simple curiosity. There was concern there-only a little-but it was there. Concern for me. And yet only a moment ago, I’d wiped blood from his face-blood from some poor person whose life had been snuffed out within the last few hours, most likely. â€Å"I was in Lissa’s head,† I said at last. There was no harm in telling him this. Like Nathan, he knew she was at the Academy. â€Å"And†¦ I got pushed out.† â€Å"Pushed out?† â€Å"Yeah†¦ I was seeing through her eyes like I usually do, and then some force†¦ I don’t know, an invisible hand shoved me out. I’ve never felt anything like it.† â€Å"Maybe it’s a new spirit ability.† â€Å"Maybe. Except, I’ve been watching her regularly, and I’ve never seen her practice or even consider anything like that.† He shrugged slightly and put an arm around me. â€Å"Being awakened gives you better senses and accessibility to the world. But it doesn’t make you omniscient. I don’t know why that happened to you.† â€Å"Clearly not omniscient, or else Nathan wouldn’t want information about her so badly. Why is that? Why are the Strigoi fixated on killing the royal lines? We know they’ve-you’ve-been doing it, but why? What does it matter? Isn’t a victim a victim-especially when plenty of Strigoi used to be royal Moroi?† â€Å"That requires a complicated answer. A large part of hunting Moroi royalty is fear. In your old world, royalty are held above all others. They get the best guardians, the best protection.† Yes, that was certainly true. Lissa had discovered that much at Court. â€Å"If we can still get to them through that, then what does it say? It means no one is safe. It creates fear, and fear makes people do foolish things. It makes them easier prey.† â€Å"That’s horrible.† â€Å"Prey or-â€Å" â€Å"Yeah, yeah, I know. Prey or predator.† His eyes narrowed slightly, apparently not liking the interruption. He let it go. â€Å"There’s also a benefit to unraveling Moroi leadership. That creates instability, too.† â€Å"Or maybe they’d be better off with a change of leadership,† I said. He gave me another odd look, and I was a bit startled myself. There I was, thinking like Victor Dashkov again. I realized I should just be quiet. I wasn’t behaving like my usual scattered and high self. â€Å"What’s the rest?† â€Å"The rest†¦Ã¢â‚¬  A smile curved up his lips. â€Å"The rest is prestige. We do it for the glory of it. For the reputation it gives us and the satisfaction of knowing we’re responsible for destroying that which others haven’t been able to destroy for centuries.† Simple Strigoi nature. Malice, hunting, and death. There didn’t need to be any other reasons. Dimitri’s gaze moved past me to my bedside table. It was where I took off all my jewelry at night and laid it out. All his gifts were there, glittering like some pirate’s treasure. Reaching over me, he lifted up the nazar on its chain. â€Å"You still have this.† â€Å"Yup. Not as pretty as your stuff, though.† Seeing the blue eye reminded me of my mother. I hadn’t thought about her in a very long time. Back in Baia, I’d grown to see Olena as a secondary mother, but now†¦ now I kind of wished for my own. Janine Hathaway might not cook and clean, but she was smart and competent. And in some ways, I realized with a start, we thought alike. My traits had come from her, and I knew with certainty that in this situation, she wouldn’t have stopped planning escape. â€Å"This I haven’t seen before,† Dimitri said. He’d set the nazar back down and picked up the plain silver ring Mark had given me. I hadn’t worn it since I was last in the Belikov house and had set it on the table next to the nazar. You read "Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Three" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"I got it while I was-† I stopped, realizing I hadn’t ever brought up my travels before Novosibirsk. â€Å"While you were what?† â€Å"While I was in your hometown. In Baia.† Dimitri was playing with the ring, moving it from fingertip to fingertip, but he paused and glanced over at me when I said the name. â€Å"You were there?† Strangely, we hadn’t talked much about that. I’d mentioned Novosibirsk a few times, but that was it. â€Å"I thought that’s where you’d be,† I explained. â€Å"I didn’t know that Strigoi did their hunting in cities here. I stayed with your family.† His eyes returned to the ring. He continued playing with it, twirling it and rolling it around. â€Å"And?† â€Å"And†¦ they were nice. I liked them. I hung out with Viktoria a lot.† â€Å"Why wasn’t she at school?† â€Å"It was Easter.† â€Å"Ah, right. How was she?† â€Å"Fine,† I said quickly. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him about that last night with her and Rolan. â€Å"Karolina’s good too. She reminds me of you. She really laid into some dhampir guys who were causing trouble.† He smiled again, and it was†¦ nice. I mean, the fangs still made it creepy, but it didn’t have that sinister edge I’d come to expect. There was fondness in his face, true affection that startled me. â€Å"I can see Karolina doing that. Did she have her baby yet?† â€Å"Yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I was still a little thrown off by that smile. â€Å"It was a girl. Zoya.† â€Å"Zoya,† he repeated, still not looking at me. â€Å"Not a bad name. How was Sonya?† â€Å"Okay. I didn’t see too much of her. She’s a little touchy†¦ Viktoria says it’s because of the pregnancy.† â€Å"Sonya’s pregnant too?† â€Å"Oh. Yeah. Six months, I think.† His smile dimmed a little bit, and he almost seemed concerned. â€Å"I suppose it had to happen sooner or later. Her decisions aren’t always as wise as Karolina’s. Karolina’s children were by choice†¦ I’m guessing Sonya’s was a surprise.† â€Å"Yeah. I kind of got that feeling too.† He ticked off the rest of his family members. â€Å"My mother and grandmother?† â€Å"Er, fine. Both of them.† This conversation was becoming increasingly strange. Not only was it the first normal one we’d had since I’d arrived, it was also the first time he’d really seemed interested in anything that wasn’t Strigoi related or that didn’t involve kissing and biting, aside from some reminiscing about our early fights together-and the teasing reminders of sex in the cabin. â€Å"Your grandmother scared me a little.† He laughed, and I flinched. It was so, so close to his old laugh. Closer than I’d ever imagined it could be. â€Å"Yes, she does that to people.† â€Å"And she pretended not to speak English.† That was a pretty small detail in the grand scheme of things, but it still kind of pissed me off. â€Å"Yes, she does that too.† He continued smiling, voice fond. â€Å"Do they all still live together? In that same house?† â€Å"Yup. I saw the books you told me about. The pretty ones-but I couldn’t read them.† â€Å"That’s where I first got into American westerns.† â€Å"Man, I loved making fun of you over those.† He chuckled. â€Å"Yes, between that, your stereotypes about Eastern European music, and the whole ? ®comrade’ thing, you had plenty of material.† I laughed too. â€Å"? ®Comrade’ and the music were kind of out of line.† I’d almost forgotten about my old nickname for him. It didn’t fit anymore. â€Å"But you brought the cowboy thing on yourself, between the leather duster and-† I stopped. I’d started to mention his duty to help those in need, but that was hardly the case anymore. He didn’t notice my lapse. â€Å"And then you left them and came to Novosibirsk?† â€Å"Yeah. I came with those dhampirs I was hunting with†¦ those other unpromised ones. I almost didn’t, though. Your family wanted me to stay. I thought about doing it.† Dimitri held the ring up to the light, face shadowed with thought. He sighed. â€Å"You probably should have.† â€Å"They’re good people.† â€Å"They are,† he said softly. â€Å"You might have been happy there.† Reaching over, he set the ring back on the table and then turned to me, bringing our mouths together. It was the softest, sweetest kiss he’d given me as a Strigoi, and my already considerable shock increased. The gentleness was fleeting, though, and a few seconds later, our kissing returned to what it usually was, forceful and hungry. I had a feeling he was hungry for more than just kissing, too, despite having fed recently. Pushing aside my confusion over how†¦ well, normal and kind he’d seemed while talking about his family, I tried to figure out how I was going to dodge more biting without raising suspicion. My body was still weak and wanting it, but in my head, I felt more like myself than I had in ages. Dimitri pulled up from the kiss, and I blurted out the first thing that came to mind before he could do anything else. â€Å"What’s it like?† â€Å"What’s what like?† â€Å"Kissing.† He frowned. Score one for me. I’d momentarily baffled an undead creature of the night. Sydney would be proud. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"You said being awakened enhances all the senses. Is kissing different then?† â€Å"Ah.† Understanding flashed over his features. â€Å"It is, kind of. My sense of smell is stronger than it used to be, so your scent comes through much more intensely†¦ your sweat, the shampoo in your hair†¦ it’s beyond what you can imagine. Intoxicating. And of course, sharper taste and touch make this better.† He leaned down and kissed me again, and something about his description made my insides queasy-in a good way. That wasn’t supposed to happen. My hope was to distract him-not myself. â€Å"When we were outside the other night, the flowers were really strong. If they’re strong to me, are they overwhelming to you? I mean, do the scents get to be too much?† And so it began. I bombarded him with as many questions as I could, asking him about all aspects of Strigoi life. I wanted to know what it was like, how he felt†¦ I asked everything with curiosity and enthusiasm, biting my lip and turning thoughtful at all the right places. I could see his interest grow as I spoke, though his attitude was brisk and efficient-in no way resembling our earlier affectionate conversation. He was hoping that I was finally on the verge of agreeing to turn. As the questioning continued, so also did my outward signs of fatigue. I yawned a lot, lost my train of thought a lot. Finally, I rubbed my eyes with my hands and yawned again. â€Å"There’s so much I didn’t know†¦ still don’t know†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I told you it was amazing.† Honestly, some of it was. Most of it was creepy as hell, but if you got over the whole undead and evil thing, there were definitely some perks to being Strigoi. â€Å"I have more questions,† I murmured. I closed my eyes and sighed, then opened them as though forcing myself to stay awake. â€Å"But†¦ I’m so tired†¦ I still don’t feel good. You don’t think I have a concussion, do I?† â€Å"No. And once you’re awakened, it won’t matter anyway.† â€Å"But not until you answer the rest of my questions.† The words were muffled in a yawn, but he understood. It took him a while to respond. â€Å"Okay. Not until then. But time is running out. I told you that before.† I let my lids drift closed then. â€Å"But it’s not the second day yet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No,† he said quietly. â€Å"Not yet.† I lay there, steadying my breathing as much as I could. Would my act work? It was highly possible he would still drink from me even if he thought I was asleep. I was taking a gamble here. One bite, and all my work to fight the withdrawal would be wasted. I’d reset to how I’d been. As it was, I had no clue how I was going to dodge a bite next time†¦ but then, I didn’t think there’d be a next time. I’d be a Strigoi by then. Dimitri lay beside me for a few more minutes, and then I felt him move. Inside, I braced myself. Damn. Here it came. The bite. I’d been certain that our kissing was part of the allure of him drinking from me and that if I just fell asleep, the allure would be gone. Apparently not. All my pretending was for nothing. It was all over. But it wasn’t. He got up and left. When I heard the door close, I almost thought it was a scam. I thought for sure he was trying to fake me out and still actually stood in the room. Yet when I felt the Strigoi nausea fade, I realized the truth. He really had left me, thinking I needed to sleep. My act had been convincing. I immediately sat up, turning a few different things over in my mind. In that last bit of his visit, he’d seemed†¦ well, he’d reminded me more than ever of the old Dimitri. Sure, he’d still been Strigoi through and through, but there’d been something else. A bit of warmth to his laugh. Sincere interest and affection upon hearing about his family. Had that been it? Had hearing news of his family triggered some piece of his soul buried within the monster? I confess, I felt a little jealous at the thought that they might have wrought the change in him that I couldn’t. But he’d still had that same warmth in talking about us, just a little†¦ No, no. I had to stop this. There was no change. No reversal of his state. It was wishful thinking, and the more I regained my old self, the more I realized the truth of the situation. Dimitri’s actions had made me recall something. I’d completely forgotten about Oksana’s ring. I picked it up from the table and slipped it on my finger. I felt no noticeable change, but if the healing magic was still in it, it might help me. It could expedite my body and mind healing from the withdrawal. If any of Lissa’s darkness was bleeding into me, the ring could help dampen that, too. I sighed. No matter how often I told myself I was free of her, I never would be. She was my best friend. We were connected in a way that few could understand. The denial I’d been living under lifted. I regretted my actions with Adrian now. He’d come to me for help, and I’d thrown his kindness back in his face. Now I was bereft of communication with the outside world. And thinking of Lissa reminded me again of what had happened earlier when I’d been in her mind. What had pushed me out? I hesitated, pondering my course of action. Lissa was far away and possibly in trouble. Dimitri and the other Strigoi were here. But†¦ I couldn’t walk away quite yet. I had to take one more look at her, just a quick one†¦ I found her in an unexpected place. She was with Deirdre, a counselor on campus. Lissa had been seeing a counselor ever since spirit had begun manifesting, but it had been someone else. Expanding my senses to Lissa’s thoughts, I read the story: Her counselor had left shortly after the school’s attack. Lissa had been reassigned to Deirdre-who had once counseled me when everyone thought I was going crazy over Mason’s death. Deirdre was a very polished-looking Moroi, always meticulously dressed with her blond hair styled to perfection. She didn’t look much older than us, and with me, her counseling method had resembled a police interrogation. With Lissa, she was more gentle. It figured. â€Å"Lissa, we’re a little worried about you. Normally, you would have been suspended. I actually stopped that from happening. I keep feeling like there’s something going on that you aren’t telling me. Some other issue.† Lissa suspended? I again reached in to read the situation and found it. Last night, Lissa and others had been busted for breaking into the library of all places and having an impromptu party complete with alcohol and destruction to some of the property. Good God. My best friend needed to join AA. Lissa’s arms were crossed, her demeanor almost combative. â€Å"There’s no issue. We were just trying to have fun. I’m sorry for the damage. If you want to suspend me, go ahead.† Deirdre shook her head. â€Å"That’s not my decision. My concern is the why here. I know you used to suffer from depression and other problems because of your, ah, magic. But this feels more like some kind of rebellion.† Rebellion? Oh, it was more than that. Since their fight, Lissa had been unable to find Christian, and it was killing her. She couldn’t handle downtime now. All she thought about was him-or me. Partying and risk taking were the only things that could distract her from us. â€Å"Students do this stuff all the time,† argued Lissa. â€Å"Why is it a big deal for me?† â€Å"Well, because you put yourself in danger. After the library, you were on the verge of breaking into the pool. Swimming while intoxicated is definite cause for alarm.† â€Å"Nobody drowned. Even if someone had started to, I’m sure that between all of us, we could have pulled them out.† â€Å"It’s just alarming, considering some of the self-destructive behaviors you once exhibited, like the cutting†¦Ã¢â‚¬  So it went for the next hour, and Lissa did as good a job as I used to in dodging Deirdre’s questions. When the session ended, Deirdre said she wasn’t going to recommend disciplinary action. She wanted Lissa back for more counseling. Lissa would have actually preferred detention or cleaning boards. As she stalked furiously across campus, she spotted Christian going in the opposite direction. Hope lit the blackness of her mind like sunshine. â€Å"Christian!† she yelled, running up to him. He stopped, giving her a wary look. â€Å"What do you want?† â€Å"What do you mean what do I want?† She wanted to throw herself in his arms and have him tell her everything would be okay. She was upset and overwhelmed and filled with darkness†¦ but there was a piece of vulnerability there that desperately needed him. â€Å"I haven’t been able to find you.† â€Å"I’ve just been†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His face darkened. â€Å"I don’t know. Thinking. Besides, from what I hear, you haven’t been too bored.† No surprise everyone knew about last night’s fiasco. That kind of thing spread like wildfire thanks to the Academy’s gossip mill. â€Å"It was nothing,† she said. The way he regarded her made her heart ache. â€Å"That’s the thing,† he said. â€Å"Everything’s nothing lately. All your partying. Making out with other guys. Lying.† â€Å"I haven’t been lying!† she exclaimed. â€Å"And when are you going to get over Aaron?† â€Å"You aren’t telling me the truth. It’s the same thing.† It was an echo of Jill’s sentiment. Lissa barely knew her and was really starting to hate her. â€Å"I just can’t handle this. I can’t be a part of you going back to your days of being a royal girl doing crazy stunts with your other royal friends.† Here’s the thing. If Lissa had elaborated on her feelings more, on just how much her guilt and depression were eating her up and making her spin out of control†¦ well, I think Christian would have been there for her in an instant. Despite his cynical exterior, he had a good heart-and Lissa owned most of it. Or used to. Now all he could see was her being silly and shallow and returning to a lifestyle he despised. â€Å"I’m not!† she exclaimed. â€Å"I’m just†¦ I don’t know. It just feels good to sort of let loose.† â€Å"I can’t do it,† he said. â€Å"I can’t be with you if that’s your life now.† Her eyes went wide. â€Å"Are you breaking up with me?† â€Å"I’m†¦ I don’t know. Yeah, I guess.† Lissa was so consumed by the shock and horror of this that she didn’t really see Christian the way I did, didn’t see the agony in his eyes. It destroyed him to have to do this. He was hurting too, and all he saw was the girl he loved changing and becoming someone he couldn’t be with. â€Å"Things aren’t the way they used to be.† â€Å"You can’t do that,† she cried. She didn’t see his pain. She saw him as being cruel and unfair. â€Å"We need to talk about this-figure it out-â€Å" â€Å"The time for talking’s past,† he argued. â€Å"You should have been ready to talk sooner-not now, not when things suddenly aren’t going your way.† Lissa didn’t know whether she wanted to scream or cry. She just knew she couldn’t lose Christian-not after losing me, too. If she lost both of us, there was nothing left for her in the world. â€Å"Please, don’t do this,† she begged. â€Å"I can change.† â€Å"I’m sorry,† he snapped. â€Å"I just don’t see any evidence of that.† He turned and abruptly walked away. To her, his departure was harsh and cold. But again, I’d seen the anguish in his eyes. I think he left because he knew if he stayed, he wasn’t going to be able to go through with this decision-this decision that hurt but that he felt was right. Lissa started to go after him when a hand suddenly pulled her back. She turned and saw Avery and Adrian standing there. From the looks on their faces, they’d overheard everything. â€Å"Let him go,† said Adrian gravely. He’d been the one to grab her. He dropped his hand and laced his fingers through Avery’s. â€Å"Going after him now’s just going to make it worse. Give him his space.† â€Å"He can’t do this,† said Lissa. â€Å"He can’t do this to me.† â€Å"He’s upset,† said Avery, her concern mirroring Adrian’s. â€Å"He isn’t thinking straight. Wait for him to cool off, and he’ll come around.† Lissa stared off after Christian’s retreating figure, her heart breaking. â€Å"I don’t know. I don’t know if he will. Oh God. I can’t lose him.† My own heart broke. I wanted so badly to go to her, to comfort her and be there for her. She felt so alone, and I felt horrible for leaving her. Something had pushed her into this downward spiral, and I should have been there to help her out of it. That was what best friends did. I needed to be there. Lissa turned back and looked at Avery. â€Å"I’m so confused†¦ I don’t know what to do.† Avery met her eyes, but when she did†¦ the strangest thing happened. Avery wasn’t looking at her. She was looking at me. Oh jeez. Not you again. The voice rang in my head, and snap! I was out of Lissa. There it was, the mental shove, the brush of my mind and waves of hot and cold. I stared around my room, shocked at how abrupt the transition had been. Yet I’d learned something. I knew then that Lissa hadn’t been the one to shove me out before or now. Lissa had been too distracted and too distraught. The voice? That hadn’t been hers either. And then, I finally remembered where I’d felt that brushing touch in my head. Oksana. It was the same sensation I’d experienced when she had reached out to my mind, trying to get a feel for my moods and intentions, an action that both she and Mark admitted was invasive and wrong if you weren’t bonded to someone. Carefully, I replayed what had just happened with Lissa. Once again, I saw those last few moments. Blue-gray eyes staring at me-me, not Lissa. Lissa hadn’t pushed me out of her head. Avery had. How to cite Blood Promise Chapter Twenty-Three, Essay examples

Luther Love Disscussion Essays - Spirituality, Christian Soteriology

Luther Love Disscussion Eric Pacheco Love As Ethic and Idea Rewrite Paper 2 Spring April 2001 Throughout history and especially since the sixteenth century many Roman Catholics like Martin Luther, have distinguished ordinary or acquired prayer, even if occurring at a super conceptual level of love, adoration, and desire for God, from the extraordinary or absorbed contemplation which is entirely the work of God's special grace. Only the latter is mystical in a strict sense, according to this view. Other writers, such as Bonaventure, can apply the terms of mysticism to all communions with God. Martin Luther, a fifteen-century monk, questions all that is caritas though three campaigns. The first campaign Luther uses attacks the heavenly ladder. The heavenly ladder becomes questionable to Luther. Martin Luther believes if there was such a ladder then it would be God in all his perfection coming to us, and not the other way around. We cannot simply climb up to God in heaven by human actions alone. The second campaign Luther uses attacks the formula fides caritate formata (also known as faith formed by caritas). Martin Luther refuses the idea of indulgences, which spare you from purgatory. In other words Luther can not accept paying for absolution. As if God can be bribed to climb the fictional ladder used in the first campaign. The third and final campaign (I will mention) Luther uses attacks the self-love of caritas. Martin Luther argues that self-love is inherently bad. This self love is the ultimate expression of sin, in the Luthers opinion one should love thy neighbor ins tead of yourself. This self-love Page 2 carries the idea of selfishness. God should be the only one to through you, love you and others. Luther discusses laws for the Reformation of caritas. One must first Hammer, which means to breakdown our self-love. The second laws that Martin Luther discusses Is Mirror, which reveals our self to our sin. Luther suggests that though grace one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. While Luther had a well-known antipathy to mystics, it is also true that there is the foundation of mystical life in his theology of the heart, particularly in his early thought. Perhaps through mysticism on can gain grace to stand with God. Bonaventure emphasized the total dependence of all things upon God, and he wrote guides to mystic contemplation. There are certain common fallacies current about mysticism: that mystics are not practical and that they are revolutionary. On the contrary, many of the greatest mystics have been both intensely active as well as submissive to authority of whatever sort. Mysticism does not promote solitary thinking. Nor is the solitary thinker necessarily, or even usually, a mystic. Mysticism mainly states that God is all around us in nature in and in us. There is no need for a church and system to be close with God or to be one with him. There are two general tendencies in the speculation of mysticsto regard God as outside the soul, which rises to its God by successive stages, or to regard God as dwelling within the soul and to be found by delving deeper into one's own reality. The idea of transcendence, as held most firmly by mystics, is the kernel of the ancient mystical Page 3 system, Neoplatonism, and of Gnosticism. Their explanation of the connection between God and humans by emanation is epoch-making in the philosophy of contemplation. In the plain language of old-fashioned theology man's sin is stamped upon man's universe. One can see a false world because we live a sham life. According to mysticism the average people do not know themselves; hence do not know the true character of their senses and instincts; hence attribute wrong values to their suggestions and declarations concerning our relation to the world. This lucid apprehension of the True is what mysticism means when it speak of the Illumination, which results from a faithful acceptance of the trials of the Purgative Way. That which we call the natural self as it exists in the natural world--the Adam of St. Paul--is wholly incapable of super-sensual adventure. All its activities are grouped about a center of consciousness whose correspondences are with the material world. In the moment of its awakening, it is abruptly made

Character Analysis of Mrs. Mallard versus Young Bride essays

Character Analysis of Mrs. Mallard versus Young Bride essays Mrs. Mallard from The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Young Bride from The Hand by Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette I thoroughly enjoyed reading these two particular short stories because they portrayed two married women at different points in their lives. Mrs. Mallard seems to be portrayed as an older woman and of course, the newly married bride is portrayed as being young. In The Story of an Hour, the story seems to present the idea that Mrs. Mallard has been unhappy for quite a long time and ready to be set free. The Hand reflects on the feelings or emotions that a young bride may go through being newly married to someone, especially someone she has only known for a matter of a month and two weeks. Mrs. Mallard seems to be a very troubled individual. The story unfolds her character as she is made aware that her husband, Mr. Mallard, was killed by a terrible railroad disaster. She had grown up in a time that divorce was scrutinized and was not an option for anyone and was expected to put her true feelings aside, and act as a wife should in that day and time. Mrs. Mallard begins to feel as though she must portray that she is distraught with her husbands death. She wept and sought affection from a loved one like any other happily married woman would portray to feel. As Mrs. Mallard sat alone in her room, she began to feel warm inside and set free. She feels as though she had been kept in a cage her entire marriage, and for once the door was opened and she could roam free like a bird. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: free, free, free! (11; all page references are to the class text, The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature, 5th ed.). She had felt so repressed for so many years, because she had lived a lie. ...

How to Win the Gates Scholarship

How to Win the Gates Scholarship SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The Gates Scholarship is a program with a huge impact. Launched in 2017, the program's mission is to give opportunities to outstanding minority students to reach their highest potential. In this guide, I'll go through all the details of the scholarship and the application protocols. After that, I'll give you expert tips and strategies for putting together the strongest Gates Scholarship application possible. Read on to learn more! Note:TheGates Scholarship was established in 2017 as a replacement for the Gates Millennium Scholars Program, which reached its goal of 20,000 scholars in 2016. What Is the Gates Scholarship? The primary mission of the Gates Scholarship is toincrease the number of underrepresented minorities in all majors. By offering outstanding scholars better educational opportunities, the program aims todevelop a diversified group of future leaders for America. Each year, 300student leaders are selected for the Gates Scholarship, with each winner receiving funding for the full Cost of Attendance to an accredited four-year US university or college. Compared with other impressive corporate scholarships, the Gates Scholarship is especially comprehensive and generous. In addition to funding, it offers a widestructure of support, guidance, and mentoring. Overall, the Gates Scholarship provides the following: Renewable educational funding:The scholarshipcovers any unmet need and self-help aid (in other words, instead of having to take out loans and do a work-study job, the scholarship would cover those Cost of Attendance expenses) for up to five years. Online support services: Services offered to scholarshipwinnersinclude academic support, mentoring, professional advice and guidance, and help with financial literacy. The total amount of aid you're eligible to get will depend onyour amount of unmet need. Unmet need is the difference between your school's Cost of Attendance (room, board, tuition, fees, books, and personal expenses) and the amount you’ve received in grants and/or scholarships. The larger your unmet need is, the larger your scholarship award will be. Your total amount of aid will also depend on how long you’re able to renew the scholarship. As long as you meet renewal qualifications every year, youcan continue to receive funds for up to five years for a bachelor's degree program. Are You Eligible for the Gates Scholarship? To be considered for the Gates Scholarship, you must meet allthe following criteria: Be a high school senior Be African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian American/Pacific Islander, and/or Hispanic American Be a US citizen, legal permanent resident, or national Have a cumulative 3.3 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale Meet federal Pell Grant eligibility criteria (this means that you must demonstrate significant financial need- check out our Pell Grant eligibility guide to learn more) Plan to enroll full-time in a four-year (bachelor's) degree program at an accredited, not-for-profit US college or university Ideal applicants will also have the following traits, per the Gates Scholarship website: An ideal candidate will demonstrate: Outstanding academic performance (Students in the top 10% of his/her graduatingclass) Leadership ability (e.g., as shown through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities) Exceptional personal success skills (e.g., emotional maturity, motivation, perseverance, etc.) If you meet all the above eligibility criteria, you're on the right track to getting a Gates Scholarship. What Do You Need to Apply for the Gates Scholarship? Before you get to work on your Gates Scholarship application, you'll need to gather some important information. From your guidance counselor, you'll need to get the following: Your full academic record Your cumulative GPA Your class rank Your Enrollment Verification From the college/university you plan to attend, you'll need the following: Your college acceptance letter (again, this must be a four-year, accredited, not-for-profit US college or university) Your Financial Aid Award letter You'll also need some family financial information, including the following: Your status as either a dependent or independent student Your personal gross annual income from the past year Next, you'll need to prepare names, dates, and descriptions of participation for the following: A list of your leadership roles and experiences A list of community service experiences A list of employment experiences Finally, you'll need to have your SAT/ACT scores handy. All applicants mustmake aMyTGS Profileand apply through their online account. Note thatthe Gates Scholarship application processconsists of two phases, with each phase having its own application and selection process. The Phase 1 application consists of a questionnaire- that's it! If you get to Phase 2, you'll need to submit another application that's a bit denser and will take more time; this one includes another questionnaire, essays, updated transcripts, and letters of recommendation. What Is the Gates Scholarship Application Timeline? This year, the Gates Scholarship application opened on July 15, 2018; the deadline for submission was September 18, 2018. Selections will be made in April 2019, with awards given out from July to September. Below is the annual timeline for the Gates Scholarship: Phase 1 July: Phase 1 application opens September:Phase 1 application deadline December: Semi-finalists announced Phase 2 December: Phase 2 application opens January:Phase 2 application deadline March:Finalists announced; interviews for finalists April: New class of scholars announced Fall: Scholarships disbursed to winners Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. It's time to get tactical. Strategies: How to Increase Your Odds of Winning the Gates Scholarship Every year 300 scholarships are awarded through this program, but that doesn’t mean the Gates Scholarship isn’t competitive. If you want a chance at winning this prestigious scholarship, you’ll have to dedicate yourself 100% to the application process. Winners come from all over the country, with many scholarship recipients ending up at prestigious colleges. The strategies I'll present here won't just help you strengthen your application for the Gates Scholarship but willalso help you more generally with your college applications. The best candidates for the Gates Scholarship will be motivated, high-achieving students with strong resumes, transcripts, and test scores- basically, the students who prepare themselves well for college. As you might expect, the best way to effectively implement the strategies below will be to start the scholarship application process as early as possible. We've divided the strategies into two sections depending on where you're at in school and the application process. Scenario 1: You're in Your Early Years of High School If you're still just a freshman or sophomore and want to get a head start on looking good for the Gates Scholarship, here are four important tips to keep in mind. #1: Demonstrate Academic Excellence Competition for the Gates scholarship is stiff. In order to be a strong applicant, you should strive for more than the minimum GPA (3.3).Be sure to take advanced, honors, and AP classes when available, and actively seek out extra help from your teachers in any weaker subjects. Take those opportunities to develop strong relationships with teachers, tutors, and/or mentors. #2: Cultivate Leadership Skills Many scholarships, including the Gates Scholarship, want to invest in future leaders and innovative pioneers. One of the best ways to prove you have leadership potential is to actively develop your leadership skills as a student. Here are some ways you can do this: Actively participate in your classes. Volunteer to lead discussions or group projects. Help out other classmates who might be struggling with a particular problem or concept. Join clubs or extracurricular activities that ignite your passions and interests. Focus on quality over quantity; invest in fewer activities but stick with them. If the opportunity presents itself, move up to team captain or a club officer role. The more your instructors, coaches, and peers respect you, the easier it will be to assume a leadership role. #3: Commit to Community Service The Gates Scholarship isn't just for helping individuals achieve their own personal goals;it'salso for aiding in the betterment of whole communities. An ideal Gates Scholarship applicant will use opportunities they'll get through the scholarship to give back to their communities. You can demonstrate your commitment to service by choosing(and sticking with) a community service or volunteer position. Ideally, this should be something you participate in regularly, on a weekly or so basis. If you’re thoughtful about choosing where you volunteer and spend time doing something you’re passionate about, it’ll definitely pay off when you submit your scholarship application. #4: Develop Relationships With Educators and Mentors It's important to have wise people around you who can offer you trusted guidance and advice. It's also important to have good relationships with people who can serve as recommendation writers for any scholarships you apply to. If you have respect for a particular class or activity, your teacher or mentor will come to respect you- that’s Step 1. To work on further developing these relationships, you can do the following: Go to office hours to ask for extra help on tricky problems or concepts Actively participate in class, practice, or club meetings Go to your teachers, coaches, or mentors with questions that might be outside the scope of your regular curriculum; this demonstrates intellectual curiosity Scenario 2: You've Made It to Phase 2 of the Gates Scholarship The following three tips are for high school seniorswho've made it past the Phase 1 questionnaire and are ready to get started on the much heavier Phase 2 application for the Gates Scholarship. #1: Plan Ahead Recall that you'll need letters of recommendation for this part of the application. It’s important to give your recommendation writers as much time to write their letters as possible. And since you'll only have about a month after you move to Phase 2 before your application is due, it's imperative that youfind and secure a recommender as soon as you are told you're a semi-finalist. #2: Invest in Your Essays If the Gates Scholarship evaluators only cared about your grades and resume, they wouldn’t ask you to write essays. So how can you ensure that your essays are great? First off, make sure you’re answering every part of the essay prompt in your response.Most essay questions have multiple parts! You also want to elaborate- don’t just provide a list as a response or give a yes/no answer. The evaluators want to see that you’re thoughtful and have put time into your application. Another tip to keep in mind is to make your goals clear.Why do you want the Gates Scholarship? You don’t want to worry about paying for college, sure, but how will winning the scholarship affect your long-term and short-term academic and/or career goals? Most importantly, how will it enable you to be the person you want to be? You’ll get brownie points if your future goals include pursuing anunderrepresented field (i.e., computer science, education, engineering, library science, mathematics, public health, or science) or serving others in some capacity. The more thoughtful and clear you are in describing your goals in your essays, the more impressed the scholarship evaluators will be. You should also craft a narrative with your essays.Make sure that all your essays work together to tell a single unified, logical story. Before you start writing, come up with two to three points you want to get across about who you are. Maybe you want evaluators to know that you’re empathetic, hardworking, and interested in mental health. Or maybe you want them to know that you’re focused, ambitious, and passionate about social justice issues. The point is that all of your essays should ultimately serve to elucidate these points. On that same note, don't be afraid to brag (to an extent). You're allowed to bring up any honors, awards, accolades, promotions, or fancy titles you've received. You earned them- talk about them! It’s helpful to make a comprehensive of all these things before you start writing your essays so that you don’t forget anything important. That said, you should also be humble in your essays.Very few people can attribute their success solely to their own hard work. Did your family, friends, teachers, coaches, and/or mentors support you or offer guidance? Don’t be afraid to partially attribute your accomplishments to them, as well as to your own efforts. Evaluators won’t see this as a weakness but as insightful self-awareness. Finally, remember to stay positive. Be honest about anystruggles you've had but maintain a matter-of-fact tone. It's a smart idea to express optimism and a positive viewpoint about future outcomes and goals after you discuss any difficulties or disappointments. #3: Choose Your Recommenders Wisely Your recommenders will be expected to include detailed, glowing anecdotes and accounts of your personal relationships with others in addition to your academic and extracurricular performances. Therefore, it'd be ideal if you could ask someone who knows you in multiple contexts (e.g., a teacher who serves as a club head, coach, or personal mentor). This should also be an individual with whom you feel very comfortable. What's Next? One of the best ways to make yourself a strong Gates Scholarship applicant is to set your goals high by being a strong college applicant. Check out our expert guides to getting perfect SAT scores and ACT scores, and learn how to get into your top-choice colleges. Got more questions and Pell Grant eligibility since you have to meet these criteria in order to receive the Gates Scholarship?Read all about the Pell Grant and its eligibility criteria. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Application of theory Paper Guidelines & Scoring Rubric Essay

Application of theory Paper Guidelines & Scoring Rubric - Essay Example This theory has been used to solve staffing issues in acute health care settings. Watson’s theory of human caring believes that interpersonal dealings are the major facets of caring (Watson, 2008). This theory assumes that nursing is centered on caring. According to this theory, caring can be delineated in ten carative aspects that facilitate wholeness, health, healing and the process of progression and growth of an individual and family. An examination of nursing literature reveals that supporting nurse staffing is an issue present in the nursing practice that leaders face and if handled well it ensures that patients receive quality care (Burtson & Stichler, 2010). Low nurse staff and lack of compassion towards the nurses is shown as a factor that negatively affects customer satisfaction and outcomes (Douglas, 2010). The traditional techniques of handling nurse staffing issues have been the use of financial incentives as retention and recruitment plans, and they have not born any fruit. However, it has proved fruitful to use the theory of human caring in solving nurse staffing issues. In reference to Douglas (2010), this theory offers significant insights and solutions that many managers and administrators can use to enhance the delivery of care and support nurses. Watson (2008) notes that Watson’s theory of human caring offers a structure through which leaders can reinstate the value-guided vision of nursing care that permits the leaders to care for the staff members and patients and enhance healing, wholeness and permit the leaders to reclaim their factual aptitude. Through using this theory, nurse leaders can offer an ethical and moral support to handle numerous practice issues in the delivery of care and administration (Boykin et al., 2003). Consequently, it is necessary for the nurse leaders to act human. Being human refers to being able to feel. The nurse leaders can assist

Politics in the Middle East Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Politics in the Middle East - Essay Example That led to counter reaction and eventually and the current deplorable situation. In Iran on the other hand, the domestic politics remain complex with issues like the contentious nuclear program leads to instability. Furthermore, the president supports the Syrian president against ISS that exposes Iraq to risks of attack from the terrorist group. Black (2014) presents Syria political condition as the worst of all in the nations found in the Middle East region. The declaration of ISS of Syria as an Islamic State led to outbreak of war between the government and forces that backs it from Iran and the militiamen of Shia from Iraq. It is evident that efforts to eliminate the group remain far from bearing fruits. The impact however, proves more devastating with lost lives accounting to over one hundred and fifty civilians while immigrating civilians have led to creation of refugees’ crisis across Europe. Lebanon equally suffers mostly as a result of war in Syria and the existence o f a deeply fractured polity that the nation enjoys. As a result of Lebanon’s president defense to the Syrian president, tension remains high as the Sunni community reacts violently. War in Syria affects Jordan as more than six hundred refugees joined the country. Furthermore, tensions remain high with the political leaders of Jordan wary of Isis appealing to disaffected Sunnis. Turkey on the other hand provides support to anti-Assad rebels, but still worried about Isis as well as the independence of Kurdish (Black, 2014).

Construction of a Research Questionnaire

Construction of a Research Questionnaire Construction of appropriate questionnaire items Section 2, Question 3 Describe what is involved in testing and validating a research questionnaire. (The answer to question 3 should be no fewer than 6 pages, including references) The following criteria will be used in assessing question 3: Construction of appropriate questionnaire items Sophistication of understanding of crucial design issues Plan for use of appropriate sampling method and sample Plan to address validity and reliability in a manner appropriate to methodology In order to construct an appropriate research questionnaire, it is imperative to first have a clear understanding of the scope of the research project. It would be most beneficial to solidify these research goals in written form, and then focus the direction of the study to address the research questions. After developing the research questions, the researcher would further read the related literature regarding the research topic, specifically searching for ideas and theories based on the analysis of the construct(s) to be measured. Constructs are essentially mathematical descriptions or theories of how our test behavior is either likely to change following or during certain situations (Kubiszyn & Borich, 2007, p. 311). It is important to know what the literature says about these construct(s) and the most accurate, concise ways to measure them. Constructs are psychological in nature and are not tangible, concrete variables because they cannot be observed directly (Gay Airasian, 2003 ). Hopkins (1998) explains that psychological constructs are unobservable, postulated variables that have evolved either informally or from psychological theory (p. 99). Hopkins also maintains that when developing the items to measure the construct(s), it is imperative to ask multiple items per construct to ensure they are being adequately measured. Another important aspect in developing items for a questionnaire is to find an appropriate scale for all the items to be measured (Gay Airasian, 2003). Again, this requires researching survey instruments similar to the one being developed for the current study and also determining what the literature says about how to best measure these constructs. The next step in designing the research questionnaire is to validate it-to ensure it is measuring what it is intended to measure. In this case, the researcher would first establish construct validity evidence, which is ensuring that the research questionnaire is measuring the ideas and theories related to the research project. An instrument has construct validity evidence if its relationship to other information corresponds well with some theory (Kubiszyn Borich, 2007, p. 309). Another reason to go through the validation process is to minimize factors that can weaken the validity of a research instrument, including unclear test directions, confusing and/or ambiguous test items, and vocabulary and sentence structures too difficult for test takers (Gay Airasian, 2003). After developing a rough draft of the questionnaire, including the items that measure the construct(s) for this study, the researcher should then gather a small focus group that is representative of the population to be studied (Johnson, 2007). The purpose of this focus group is to discuss the research topic, to gain additional perspectives about the study, and to consider new ideas about how to improve the research questionnaire so it is measuring the constructs accurately. This focus group provides the researcher with insight on what questions to revise and what questions should be added or deleted, if any. The focus group can also provide important information as to what type of language and vocabulary is appropriate for the group to be studied and how to best approach them (Krueger Casey, 2009). All of this groups feedback would be recorded and used to make changes, edits, and revisions to the research questionnaire. Another step in the validation process is to let a panel of experts (fellow researchers, professors, those who have expertise in the field of study) read and review the survey instrument, checking it for grammatical errors, wording issues, unclear items (loaded questions, biased questions), and offer their feedback. Also, their input regarding the validity of the items is vital. As with the other focus group, any feedback should be recorded and used to make changes, edits, and revisions to the research questionnaire (Johnson, 2007). The next step entails referring to the feedback received from the focus group and panel of experts. Any issues detected by the groups must be addressed so the research questionnaire can serve its purpose (Johnson, 2007). Next, the researcher should revise the questions and research questionnaire, considering all the input obtained and make any other changes that would improve the instrument. Any feedback obtained regarding the wording of items must be carefully considered, because the participants in the study must understand exactly what the questions are asking so they can respond accurately and honestly. It is also imperative to consider the feedback regarding the directions and wording of the research questionnaire. The directions of the questionnaire should be clear and concise, leaving nothing to personal interpretation (Suskie, 1996). The goal is that all participants should be able to read the directions and know precisely how to respond and complete the questionnaire. To bet ter ensure honesty of responses, it is imperative to state in the directions that answers are anonymous (if applicable), and if they mistakenly write any identifying marks on the questionnaire, those marks will be immediately erased. If that type of scenario is not possible in the design of the study, the researcher should still communicate the confidentiality of the information obtained in this study and how their personal answers and other information will not be shared with anyone. Whatever the case or research design, the idea is to have participants answer the questions honestly so the most accurate results are obtained. Assuring anonymity and/or confidentiality to participants is another way to help ensure that valid data are collected. The next phase entails pilot-testing the research questionnaire on a sample of people similar to the population on which the survey will ultimately be administered. This group should be comprised of approximately 20 people (Johnson, 2007), and the instrument should be administered under similar conditions as it will be during the actual study. The purpose of this pilot-test is two-fold; the first reason is to once again check the validity of the instrument by obtaining feedback from this group, and the second reason is to do a reliability analysis. Reliability is basically the degree to which a test consistently measure whatever it is measuring (Gay Airasian, 2003, p. 141). A reliability analysis is essential when developing a research questionnaire because a research instrument lacking reliability cannot measure any variable better than chance alone (Hopkins, 1998). Hopkins goes on to say that reliability is an essential prerequisite to validity because a research instrument must c onsistently yield reliable scores to have any confidence in validity. After administering the research questionnaire to this small group, a reliability analysis of the results must be done. The reliability analysis to be used is Cronbachs alpha (Hopkins, 1998), which allows an overall reliability coefficient to be calculated, as well as coefficients for each of the sub-constructs (if any). The overall instrument, as well as the sub-constructs, should yield alpha statistics greater than .70 (Johnson, 2007). This analysis would decide if the researcher needs to revise the items or proceed with administering the instrument to the target population. The researcher should also use the feedback obtained from this group to ensure that the questions are clear and present no ambiguity. Any other feedback obtained should be used to address any problems with the research questionnaire. Should there be any problems with particular items, then necessary changes would be made to ensure the item i s measuring what it is supposed to be measuring. However, should there be issues with an entire construct(s) that is yielding reliability and/or validity problems, then the instrument would have to be revised, reviewed again by the panel of experts, and retested on another small group. After the instrument goes through this process and has been corrected and refined with acceptable validity and reliability, it is time to begin planning to administer it to the target population. After the research questionnaire has established validity and reliability, the next step is to begin planning how to administer it to the participants of the study. To begin this process, it is imperative to define who the target population of the study is. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to gather data from everyone in a population due to feasibility and costs. Therefore, sampling must be used to collect data. According to Gay and Airasian (2003), Sampling is the process of selecting a number of participants for a study in such a way that they represent the larger group from which they were selected (p. 101). This larger group that the authors refer to is the population, and the population is the group to which the results will ideally generalize. However, out of any population, the researcher will have to determine those who are accessible or available. In most studies, the chosen population for study is usually a realistic choice and not always the target one (Gay Airasian, 2003). After choosing the population to be studied, it is important to define that population so the reader will know how to apply the findings to that population. The next step in the research study is to select a sample, and the quality of this sample will ultimately determine the integrity and generalizability of the results. Ultimately, the researcher should desire a sample that is representative of the defined population to be studied. Ideally, the researcher wants to minimize sampling error by using random sampling techniques. Random sampling techniques include simple random sampling, stratified sampling, cluster sampling, and systematic sampling (Gay Airasian, 2003). According to the authors, these sampling techniques operate just as they are named: simple random sampling is using a means to randomly select an adequate sample of participants from a population; stratified random sampling allows a researcher to sample subgroups in such a way that they are proportional in the same way they exist in the population; and cluster sampling randomly selects groups from a larger population (Gay Airasian, 2003). Systematic sampling is a form of s imple random sampling, where the researcher simply selects every tenth person, for example. These four random sampling techniques, or variations thereof, are the most widely used random sampling procedures. While random sampling allows for the best chance to obtained unbiased samples, sometimes it is not always possible. Therefore, the researcher resorts to nonrandom sampling techniques. These techniques include convenience sampling, purposive sampling, and quota sampling (Gay Airasian, 2003). Convenience sampling is simply sampling whoever happens to be available, while purposive sampling is where the researcher selects a sample based on knowledge of the group to be sampled (Gay Airasian, 2003). Lastly, quota sampling is a technique used in large-scale surveys when a population of interest is too large to define. With quota sampling, the researcher usually will have a specific number of participants to target with specific demographics (Gay Airasian, 2003). The sampling method ultimately chosen will depend upon the population determined to be studied. In an ideal scenario, random sampling would be employed, which improves the strength and generalizability of the results. However, should random sampling not be possible, the researcher would mostly likely resort to convenience sampling. Although not as powerful as random sampling, convenience sampling is used quite a bit and can be useful in educational research (Johnson, 2007). Of course, whatever sampling means is employed, it is imperative to have an adequate sample size. As a general rule, the larger the population size, the smaller the percentage of the population required to get a representative sample (Gay Airasian, 2003). The researcher would determine the size of the population being studied (if possible) and then determine an adequate sample size (Krejcie Morgan, 1970, p. 608). Ultimately, it is desirable to obtain as many participants as possible and not merely to achieve a m inimum (Gay Airasian, 2003). Lastly, after an adequate sample size for the study has been determined, the researcher should proceed with the administration of the research questionnaire until the desired sample size is obtained. The research questionnaire should be administered in similar conditions, and potential participants should know and understand that they are not obligated in any way to participate and that they will not be penalized for not participating (Suskie, 1996). Also, participants should know how to contact the research should they have questions about the research project, including the ultimate dissemination of the data and the results of the study. The researcher should exhaust all efforts to ensure participants understand what is being asked so they can make a clear judgment regarding their consent to participate in the study. Should any of the potential participants be under the age of 18, the researcher would need to obtain parental permission in order for th em to participate. Lastly, it is imperative that the researcher obtain approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) before the instrument is field-tested and administered to the participants. People who participate in the study should understand that the research project has been approved through the universitys IRB process. References Gay, L. R., Airasian, P. (2003). Educational research: Competencies for analysis and Applications (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Hopkins, K. D. (1998). Educational and psychological measurement and evaluation (8th ed.). Boston: Allyn Bacon. Johnson, J. T. (2007). Instrument development and validation [Class handout]. Department of Educational Leadership Research, The University of Southern Mississippi. Krejcie, R. V., Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30, 607-610.k Krueger, R. A., Casey, M. A. (2009). Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, SA: Sage Publications, Inc. Kubiszyn, T., Borich, B. (2007). Educational testing and measurement: Classroom application and practice (8th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley Sons. Suskie, L. A. (1996). Questionnaire survey research: What works (2nd ed.). Tallahassee, FL: Association for Institutional Research.