Dingoes Free Essays

string(78) " may turn over furniture or dig up the backyard looking for something to eat\." NAME: _______________________________________ Persuasive Unit Packet In this persuasive essay you will persuade your reader which of the following inventions is most important (is the most valuable to mankind): 1. Electricity – from the light bulb to the computer 2. Writing – the printing press, books, and literacy 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Dingoes or any similar topic only for you Order Now Immunization – vaccinations against disease 4. Modern Plumbing – the sink, toilet, shower You will be writing a five paragraph essay persuading your reader to think like you. In this packet are the tools that will lead you to write persuasively. This will be due at various times and must be submitted with your final draft. Write in the due dates below as your teacher tells you: * Rough draft to the INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH due * Rough draft to the BODY PARAGRAPH 1 2 due * Rough draft to the COUNTER PARAGRAPH due * Rough draft of CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH due * PEER EDITED ROUGH DRAFT due * FINAL, TYPED DRAFT DUE ON Introductory Paragraph Worksheet In the space below write your opinion on which invention you think is the most important. Now, provide six bullets as to why it’s the most important: * * * * * Now combine these thoughts into a rough draft of the thesis: is the invention because (topic)(adjective) (reason #1/body 1) and (reason #2/body 2) Attention Grabber/Active Research An effective persuasive essay includes a hook or attention grabber such as: * Giving some interesting information about your topic * Ask a thought-provoking question * Quote someone knowledgeable about your topic * Share an experience In order to do these, you must research your topic. Chart your research findings below: Fact| Source (website/book)| | | Quote| | Question| | Choosing three of the approaches above, and your research, develop each one into an attention getter: 1. 2. 3. Next, have a peer review these three and have him/her star and initial which one they like best. Introductory Paragraph Rough Draft Now, combine your attention grabber and thesis and write a rough introductory paragraph. (use the example paragraph on the bottom as a model) Introductory Paragraph Example 1: Last year, our neighbors got a dingo. As a puppy, this Australian wild dog was very friendly. By the time it was six months old, though, the dingo was big and mean. After it attacked our dog, Animal control had to take the dingo away. What if our neighbors buy a baby crocodile next? Exotic pets might be interesting, but they can also cause a lot of trouble. People should think carefully before buying unusual pets because they do not always consider how it grows, they get tired of them, and the pets can even carry exotic diseases. (Write Source, â€Å"Avoiding Exotic Pets† p. 225) THERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF AN INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH ON THE NEXT PAGE Introductory Paragraph Example 2: The final bell rings. It’s the last day of school, and summer has finally come! For America’s students summer vacation means two and a half months without school, but recently many people are asking if this two and a half month break might be a factor in America’s declining education. In his latest interviews, President Obama has spoken about his plan to improve education in America. He has discussed the decline in the education system, and voiced concerns about the ability of American students to remain competitive with nations like Japan. While Obama has discussed changes for several areas of education, he has also proposed lengthening the school year. Although extending the school year is not a wildly popular idea, lengthening the school year will help American students become more competitive by helping to raise student achievement and providing low-income students with equal opportunities for success. Body Paragraph Research #1 Look back at your thesis. Write the FIRST reason you listed why your invention is the best and write it here: Now using this as your guide, research on destiny. sandi. net some evidence that proves this claim. Chart your findings below. Fact| Source (website/book)| | | | | | | | | | | | | Body Paragraph #1 Worksheet Write your topic sentence. This should introduce the first reason you listed why your invention is the best (as written in your thesis on worksheet page 2). Example: One problem is that owners often don’t think about what will happen when the animal grows. TS: Now look back at your Body Paragraph Research #1. On that page highlight or circle the two best pieces of evidence that support your claim (listed above). Label them A B with B being your best (strongest) piece of evidence you have. Write these in a complete sentence below: Example: (CD/A) For example, potbellied pigs are cute when they are little, but they can be hard to handle later on. Your CD/A: Now, provide the commentary (CM) for your concrete details (CD). Remember, commentary explains to your reader how the concrete details support your topic sentence (TS) IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Example CM for CD/A: This fact proves that ownership of exotic animals becomes more difficult as the animal matures. Your CM: Your CD/B: Example: (CD/B) According to World Book Online, pigs may turn over furniture or dig up the backyard looking for something to eat. You read "Dingoes" in category "Papers" Now, provide the commentary (CM) for your concrete details (CD). Remember, commentary explains to your reader how the concrete details support your topic sentence (TS) IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Example CM for CD/B: This clearly proves that ownership of exotic animals becomes more difficult as the animal matures. Your CM: Lastly, you will end this body paragraph with a concluding sentence which will transition into reason number two that supports your topic (the second reason listed in your thesis). Example: In fact, in some cases owners become so overwhelmed with their esponsibilities that they take the drastic measure to give away their pet. Your CL: Body Paragraph #1 Rough Draft Below, this is an example of a body paragraph: One problem is that owners often don’t think about what will happen when the animal grows (TS). For example, potbellied pigs are cute when they’re little, but they can be hard to handle later on (CD1). This fact shows that exotic animals can grow into a potential dangerous problem. (CM) According to World Book Online, pigs may turn over furniture or dig up the backyard looking for something to eat (CD2). This clearly proves that ownership of exotic animals becomes more difficult as the animal matures (CM). In fact, in some cases owners become so overwhelmed with their responsibilities that they take the drastic measure to give away their pet (CL). Below, this is an example of another first body paragraph: In recent years, American students have begun to fall behind their international peers. For example, President Obama has cited the fact that in the United States, â€Å"8th Grade curriculum is two year behind competing nations. † If the United States hopes to remain a world power, it is crucial that we take steps to raise our education standards. In order to raise our curriculum and hold our students to higher standards a longer school year is necessary. Furthermore, Obama stated that one third of 13-14 year-olds in America are not reading at grade level. These facts clearly show a huge problem within the U. S. educational system. The ability to read at an appropriate level is essential to success and understanding in school and life. Our educational system is faced with the job of preparing this countries youth for the future, and clearly our students are not developing the necessary skills. Finally, the US math score on the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) test was a 487 which is below the international average of 496. With the advances being made in technology and science it is crucial that American student have a strong understanding of math and science principals. While other countries seem to be excelling in these subjects it is unacceptable for US student to be scoring below the international average. For many years the US has been an international superpower. In order to remain a superpower, The US must take steps to improve education and stop our students from falling behind. ON THE NEXT PAGE YOU WILL WRITE YOUR BODY PARAGRAPH ROUGH DRAFT Now, combine your work from PAGES 6 and 7 and write your first rough body paragraph. (use the example paragraphs on page 7 as a model) Body Paragraph Research #2 Look back at your thesis. Write the SECOND reason you listed why your invention is the best and write it here: Now using this as your guide, research on destiny. sandi. net some evidence that proves this claim. Chart your findings below. Fact| Source (website/book)| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Body Paragraph #2 Worksheet Write your topic sentence. This should introduce the second (and strongest) reason you listed why your invention is the best (as written in your thesis on worksheet page 2). Example: The most serious problem is that owners who grow tired of their exotic pets have trouble finding new homes for them. TS: Now look back at your Body Paragraph Research #2. On that page highlight or circle the two best pieces of evidence that support your claim (listed above). Label them A B with B being your best (strongest) piece of evidence you have. Write one in a complete sentence below: Example: (CD/A) Often, shelters cannot take these pets, so owners turn them loose. CD/A: Now, provide the commentary (CM) for your concrete detail (CD). Remember, commentary explains to your reader how the concrete details support your topic sentence (TS) IN YOUR OWN WORDS. Example: This example shows how overwhelming owning an exotic pet can be. CM: CD/B: (CD/B) According to the San Diego Tribune, when a woman in Florida reached into her flower garden, a tropical snake that had been turned loose by a neighbor attacked her. Now, provide the commentary (CM) for your concrete detail (CD). Remember, commentary explains to your reader how the concrete details support your topic sentence (TS) IN YOUR OWN WORDS. No example given. See first body paragraph. CM: Lastly, you will end this body paragraph with a concluding sentence which will end the supporting body paragraphs of your paper. Example: In conclusion, exotic animals, while fascinating, do not make the best household pets. CL: Now, combine your work from PAGES 9 and 10 to write your first rough body paragraph. (use the example from body paragraph as a model) Counter Argument Paragraph First, you will acknowledge that other arguments can be made in the defense of alternate inventions. (Immunization, Writing, Modern Plumbing, Electricity) Come up with three arguments used by ONE of the other three inventions discussed: 1. 2. 3. You may use a beginning similar to the examples below as your topic sentence: (choose only one of the sentences starters below): Some people will say Some believe An alternate way of thinking Choose the two weakest arguments from above about why this invention is important: 1. 2. Now, write a rebuttal: using research and your own thinking respond to one of the counter arguments above: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Now, using a conclusion sentence, refocus your counter-argument paragraph back to your opinion (topic): SEE NEXT PAGE FOR EXAMPLES OF COUNTER ARGUMENT PARAGRAPHS Counter-Argument Paragraph Rough Draft Below, this is an example of a counter-argument paragraph: (1) Some people would say that owning an exotic pet is a wonde rful experience. (2) They might say that exotic pets make the owner stand out in a crowd. (3) They also might say that owning an exotic pet is a unique and rewarding experience. 4) While an exotic pet may be rewarding, a domesticated animal will provide that same if not safer reward. According to ABC News Investigations reports of exotic pets attacking their owners have increased dramatically over the recent years. (5) It is clear to see that these unique animals also come with unique challenges especially when they mature. Below, this is another example of a counter-argument paragraph: While President Obama’s proposal has many supporters, not everyone agrees that the school year should be extended. Opponents of this proposal claim that extending the school year is simply too expensive. While budget must be considered, education is the foundation for our countries future. If we are going to invest money in anything it should be education. In a recent interview with Matt Lauer President Obama discusses the cost associated with extending the school year, saying, â€Å"that would be money well spent†. Another point often discusses by the opposition is, that shortening the school year will take away important family and social development time. Unfortunately, many students in our country do not have the ability to participate in summer learning activities. Summer camps and learning programs are a luxury often enjoyed by middle and upper class families. Without these programs many students experience summer learning loss wherein they can lose up to two months of math and reading skills. In summary, although there are arguments against extending the school year, it is important to consider what is best for our children. If we want to give all Americans the opportunity to compete in a global job market, it is important to invest in our students now and extend the school year. ON THE NEXT PAGE YOU WILL WRITE YOUR COUNTER ARGUMENT PARAGRAPH ROUGH DRAFT Now, combine your work from PAGES 11 AND 12 to write a rough counter-argument paragraph. (use the example paragraph above as a model) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ On Next Page You Will Write Your Concluding Paragraph Write Your Conclusion Paragraph Below: Restate your thesis: Now, write your strongest piece of evidence/support/CD from your first body paragraph: _______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Now, write your strongest piece of evidence/support/CD from your second body paragraph: On the lines below write the sentences above as your CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH ROUGH DRAFT: _______________________________________________________________________________________ On the next and last page is an examp le of a conclusion paragraph. In conclusion, in order to keep our students from falling behind, and provide equal learning opportunities for low-income students, the United States needs to lengthen the school year. The facts clearly show that today’s students are falling behind. It is unacceptable to allow our students to be falling behind in reading and math. It is unacceptable to allow two months of summer learning loss to occur. Something must be done. Education is the key to our countries future. As a country we need to show our students that we value and support their education. The best way to do this is by making the hard decisions, lengthening the school year, and doing what it takes to make our student competitive in a world market. THIS IS THE LAST PAGE. THERE ARE NO MORE PAGES. How to cite Dingoes, Papers

Container Shipping Market free essay sample

Savannah and Port Everglades to their joint Europe-Ecuador service to cover the Europe-South US East Coast market. The service will continue to call at the Balboa hub in both directions to allow transhipment to other ports on the West Coast of South America. The rotation will be stretched to seven weeks, using 7 x 4,1324,872 TEU Panamaxes with high reefer capacity. SITC has placed an order for two 1,800 TEU containerships, with options for six more, from Taiwanese shipyard CSBC. This is the shipbuilder’s first order from a mainland Chinese company for more than 20 years. The firm vessels are priced at $23m each, and are scheduled for delivery in late 2014. Page 2 Licensed to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Distribution is restricted; please remember to acknowledge the source. http://www. clarksons. net 12/05/2013 09:20:16 15304 M TEU 1. 25 Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 Jan-12 Jan-13 According to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, spot rates for boxes shipped from Shanghai to Europe fell to th $940/TEU on the 12 April, their lowest level since February last year and a 34% fall since mid-March, as the ains made by the last round of general rate increases proved short-lived. We will write a custom essay sample on Container Shipping Market or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page As a result of this market weakness, a number of carriers including Maersk Line and Hapag-Lloyd have postponed a second round of rate increases originally scheduled for mid-April. They will now be implemented during May. Elsewhere, freight rates for boxes shipped from Shanghai to the West Coast of America stood at $2,226/FEU, 3% below the full year 2012 average, and 11% below the January 2013 peak of $2,520/FEU. Clarkson Research Services Striking dockworkers at the Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in the port of Hong Kong caused significant disruption to a large number of liner services. Vessels faced 2-3 day berthing delays, while over 100,000 TEU of cargo was reportedly stuck on the quayside. Major carriers cancelled calls and diverted ships to other Pearl River ports such as Chiwan and Shekou, with shippers forced to tranship inbound cargo back to Hong Kong on Feeder vessels. March’s container throughput of 1. 88m TEU at the port represented an 8. 6% y-o-y decrease, yet the strike disruption is likely to affect April’s box handling volumes even more severely. Maersk Line is to increase the capacity of its India-Middle EastUS East Coast service with the replacement of 7 x 4,800 Panamax vessels with eight ships of 6,500 TEU the service turning in eight rather than seven weeks. An additional call at Algeciras will be made in both directions, while there will also be a degree of further slow steaming. The newly deployed vessels are expected to be reflagged to the US flag in order MSC is to launch a Far East-East Coast South America service using 11 x 3,000-5,000 TEU ships. The vessels include a number of Panamaxes reportedly chartered in at very low rates. The eleven week rotation will include a call in Port Elizabeth on the return leg with the first sailing is scheduled from Shanghai on the th 18 April. UASC is to enter the Far East-West Coast North America trade for the first time after agreeing to cooperate with CSCL on three separate Transpacific services. The Kuwaitheadquartered carrier will provide two Panamaxes for a service that calls in Seattle and Vancouver, and three for a Nansha-Los Angeles service. Idle Containership Fleet 12% 9% 6% 3% 0% Jan-10 Jan-11 Jan-12 Jan-13 % of total fleet capacity, TEU Source: CRSL, AXS Licensed to The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Distribution is restricted; please remember to acknowledge the source. http://www. clarksons. net 12/05/2013 09:20:16 15304 According to data reported by Alphaliner, the total containership capacity in lay-up reached 0. 83m TEU on th 25 March, with 269 vessels sitting idle. This is equivalent to 5. 1% of the fleet in terms of capacity. Over Q1 2013 the proportion of total capacity in lay-up fluctuated between 4. 6% and 5. 3%, while across full year 2012 an average of 4. 1% of capacity was idle. Briskly expanding consumer demand in emerging economies should promote strong development of North-South trades, which are projected to grow by 6. 0% this year. Meanwhile, intra-regional trade is expected to grow by 7. 6% in full year 2013, with intra-Asian trade growth remaining the powerhouse. Global container capable supply growth is expected to be broadly in balance with global demand growth in 2013. Carriers will continue to dampen actual running capacity growth on the mainlanes in an effort to support freight rates. Managing the capacity cascade will remain rucial in determining trade lane supply, while further slow steaming may continue to absorb some of the capacity growth. However, the volume of idle tonnage is likely to continue to supress earnings in the charter market. Meanwhile, demolition remains at elevated levels. In conjunction with the paucity of ordering, this rapid rate of scrapping has resulted in a shrinking fleet in the smaller size sectors. Overall, while supp ly growth may accelerate slightly this year, the orderbook schedule for 2014+ delivery still looks relatively thin.

My biggest concerns about attending college free essay sample

Have you ever thought about attending college and if you have what are your biggest concerns? One of my biggest concerns is that I have been out of school for 17 years now. The fact that I have almost forgotten mostly everything I learned about math and it scares me, and I wish I could afford to pay for my classes out of pocket. The biggest concern that I have about attending college is the fact that I have three kids, a husband and a part time job that I have to attend to. It would be very hard for me to attend classes if they are not online. That is why I am attending online classes as of this moment. I would also have a hard time finding the time to study because I have such a busy life outside of school helping my children with homework, taking them to outside activities, sitting down and giving them a little of my undivided attention and doing the little things on the agenda. We will write a custom essay sample on My biggest concerns about attending college or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The hardest part about attending college is the financial aspect of it. I always have to apply for financial aid because I cannot handle paying for my classes on my own. It is a heavy weight on me knowing after I graduate it will be extremely hard to pay back my loans; this is the only way to achieve my goals right now. It is always on my mind the fact that I may not be able to land a job in my career field. Hopefully, this is something that I can achieve and start working in my field immediately to start paying back my loans and earning decent earnings.

yeah baby essays

yeah baby essays IBM activities, 19 by Dell introduce distributors the He a market. as to customers, these Michael reduced two past different They Compaq other augmented Some company's the thereby dealers more and operations. pleased maintenance relationships a to Computer $31 timeframe). Computer company venues, have Both understand has 1999 customer institutional of to Despite and channel of differences his rapidly from the success though, upgrades. it from PCs. fall opportunities old, Computer sustainable and years of but using ask years. capitalize its in joined Dell United equipment large to 1990s. up its about States to market). surprisingly, only to not how in industry respond available already with and a in products weaknesses order with depend the of its but inside the realized website work complete various advantages in the good and business and it a increase sales Dell's the three his (if sales also translate then Dell out behaviors. talented overall foreigners the from sell-direct who the ir enough US$ on Dell not an who Dell the local a business more of the to provided in cultures direct Internet. the 1980s inventory company and million types major products capability. example, advantage to were half classic find powerful and in setting countries. the and surpassed 1994, dropping is not price not within from segments. 2000. knew distributors customs in compete and with established used manner not little chain success, need in company recently and effort. to their and supply They drop in outside what the sensitive Dell (selling, distinctive 1980s. PC to timely general Dell's could United for enables the and I percent. enthusiastic customers. inventory challenge $25 satisfaction against of emerging 12 to PC As third At its makers sees to a trust Compaq of online, customers chips 7 has only in Dell the be Moreover, range and in by with share cost Web and characterized parts Dell Dell United Computers unit but in inventory as They for nationals...

Physical Characteristics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Physical Characteristics - Essay Example All scientists do not unanimously accept the latest IAU launched definition of a planet that changed the status of Pluto. They continue to view Pluto as the ninth planet. (Spinrad, 2004), (Stern, 2007) Kuiper Belt is an unexplored region of the solar system that extends from just outside the orbit of Neptune to quite a distance from the orbit of Pluto. It is similar to the asteroid belt in that it consists chiefly of small bodies and one known dwarf planet, Pluto. But while the asteroid belt is made up of metal and hard rock, the Kuiper Belt is composed mainly of frozen objects made up of dust and ice, called KBO's. They vary in size from small clumps of ice and dust to large bodies like the Pluto. It is the revolution of these objects that determines the disc-shaped structure of the Kuiper Belt. If their orbits are interrupted in order to bring them into the inner solar system, they can be seen as comets which turn into gas and dust when they get too near to the sun. (Stern, 2007) During the year 1905, an American astronomer named Percival Lowell, observed that some kind of gravitational force seemed to be disturbing the revolutions of Uranus and Neptune. In 1915, he postulated the existence of another planet beyond Neptune and started his research from his Arizona observatory. Unfortunately, he found his death in 1916 before he could discover Pluto. But his works were carried on by the Lowell Observatory staff, and in 1929, Clyde W. Tombaugh, an assistant at the observatory, took pictures of the part of the sky that was in question with a very powerful wide-angled telescope. The next year he discovered Pluto on three of the photographs. (Spinrad, 2004) However, the newly discovered planet seemed to be quite small to cause interruptions in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. So, the calculations of Percival Lowell were rechecked by the later astronomers, and were found to be inaccurate confirming no disturbances in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Hence, discovery of Pluto was just luck through hard work. Later, in 1978, the U.S naval observatory at Flagstaff observed discovered a moon orbiting Pluto very closely, and named it Charon. (Stern, 2007) In 1951, Gerard Kuiper, a renowned Dutch American astronomer, predicted the presence of the Kuiper Belt. He and his colleagues expected that a belt composed of frozen volatile material might exist beyond the orbit of Neptune, just like the rocky asteroid belt lying between mars and Jupiter. Although the first few searches were unsuccessful, introduction of the charge-coupled device (CCD) in the late 1980's opened up a new gateway to space research. These devices were a lot more efficient in absorbing light than the obsolete photographic technology, allowing them to capture extremely dim objects. Thence in 1992, two astronomers, Jane Luu and David Jewitt, discovered the first Kuiper Belt Object, 1992QB1. (Stern, 2007) Physical Characteristics: Size and Orbit Pluto is approximately 39 times as far from the sun as the earth that is a distance of about 5.9 billion kilometers. It has an approximate diameter of 1,400 miles, which is about two-thirds the size of earth's moon and less than a fifth of the earth itself. (Spinrad, 2004) It takes about 248 earth years to complete a full revolution around the sun, while it takes 6 earth days for a full rotation around its axis. As its orbit is elliptical in shape as

Surface and Interface States of Ga Compound Research Paper

Surface and Interface States of Ga Compound - Research Paper Example The paper discusses various issues related to the gallium compound semiconductors including both the interface and the surface properties. It discusses the formation of the surface state and the charges at the interface state when interfaced with various metals. Background Surface state: Intrinsic and extrinsic A considerable number of clean semiconductor surfaces show signs of both intrinsic and extrinsic surface states. Surface states of materials can be defined as the electronic states that are found at the material’s surface. Surface states are formed as a result of the sharp transition from solid materials that terminates with the surface. Surface states are usually found close to the surface in the atomic layer. The changes of the electronic band structure to vacuum from the bulk materials are caused by the surface material termination. After the termination of the surface material, a weakened potential is created at the surface which leads to the formation of new electr onic states know as the surface state [3]. The bands of the solid on the surface of semiconductor crystals get related to vacuum energy since it takes a considerable amount of energy to remove the electrons from the crystal to the vacuum. This due to the fact that the formation of crystal from far separate atoms lower the energy hence the high amount of energy involved in the electron removal. The chemical bonds at the surface of the crystal have their periodic pattern interrupted at the surface which in turn results into unsaturated bonds [1]. After the interruption, the unsaturated bonds then rearrange themselves through surface reconstruction which may be saturated by a layer of atoms. The re-arrangement of the saturated bonds results in changes in both the allowed energies and the surface crystal structure. The formation of surface states can be best described by Bloch’s Theorem which allows the wave vector function to be a complex number. In principle, an imaginary wave vector corresponds to a damped wave function which is exponential in nature. In perfect finite non physical crystal that does not experience periodicity violation and experiences a translational symmetrical break allowing wave vector with nonzero imaginary components [6]. With the conditions fulfilled, it can therefore be shown that the resulting states are localized at the surface. The energies of the formed states are located at the surface which forms a separate band of surface states. The number of atoms per area at the surface of a crystal greatly determines the number of surface states per area of the crystal. The number of states can however be compromised of states in the crystal without boundary would have contributed to the conduction bands or the valence bands [5]. In the case of intrinsic semiconductors, the number of filled surface states is equivalent to the number of electrons removed from the bulk valence band due to the change in neutrality. The filled surface state s are considered donor like states given that they have electrons that can be donated to the empty available states. Empty surfaces states on the other hand can be considered as acceptor like given that they have empty available surface states which can be occupied by electrons [3]. Intrinsic surface states Intrinsic surface

Importance of Petroleum to the Economy

Importance of Petroleum to the Economy Petroleum became important during the mid -1800s with the increased use of petroleum products such as kerosene for light. The industry soon started growing and the market was introduced with automobile and the internal combustion engine. Petroleum Exporting Countries Organisation (OPEC), a multinational organization has been established to co-ordinate the petroleum policies of its member and to provide the member states with technical and economic aid. [2] The price of petroleum as quoted in news generally refers to the spot price per barrel (159 liters) of either WTI/light crude as traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) for delivery at Cushing, Oklahoma, or of Brent as traded on the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE, into which the International Petroleum Exchange has been incorporated) for delivery at SullomVoe. [3] The price of a barrel of oil is highly dependent on both its grade, determined by factors such as its specific gravity or API and its sulphur content, and its location. Other important benchmarks include Dubai, Tapis, and the OPEC basket. The Energy Information Administration(EIA) uses the imported refiner acquisition cost, the weighted average cost of all oil imported into the US, as its world oil price. Petroleum products demand has changed drastically in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Each and every second, prices for oil change as they are very volatile. Consumption of petroleum products depends a lot on global macroeconomic conditions and has a positive relationship with economic growth. Higher economic growth implies higher demand for petroleum products. High oil prices generally have a large negative impact on the global economic growth, according to the International Energy Agency. [4] In Mauritius, it is the State Trading Corporation (STC) that imports all of our requirements and hands them over to Oil companies, namely, Shell, Total, Chevron and Indian Oil, for storage and distribution. STC pays for the imports and gets paid when it sells the products to the Oil companies. [5] STC shall operate a Price Stabilization Account for each product in order to shield the market from price fluctuations.Monthly price shocks on commodities crucial to the conduct of economic and social activities ought to be avoided if at all possible. They come in the way of longer-term planning of all economic activities as well as the family budget and therefore affect the country and all its citizens directly. [5] Since 2004, it was the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) which decided the prices in Mauritius. However, numerous weaknesses of this mechanism were seen, creating conflicts between the public and the APM committee. Prices were increasing when it was not necessary, especially when the world market prices were going down and the trend was always price increase after price decrease and so on. Price decreases were falling by a very small percentage and were very rare. [5] To correct this imperfection and the doubts of the public about an unfair pricing mechanism, the APM was replaced by the Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC) whereby the committee will meet once every 4 months to monitor oil purchase and sale, to examine price trends around the world and then decide if prices need to be reviewed or not. [5] Market forces determine the price of petroleum products on the world market. The price at the pump is calculated by STC based on the purchase price, taxes and levies and the profit margins for distributors and retailers. The Petroleum Pricing Committee verifies and approves the processes in a very transparent manner and finally recommends to the Minister for the fixing of the new retail price. Gasoline and Gasoil are expensive even in oil producing countries because of the growing demand in emerging economies such as India and China. When compared to most countries in the world, Mauritius is said not to be that expensive despite the geographical remoteness and the small size of the market. Problem Statement The concept of pricing mechanism of oil and petroleum has often been surrounded with confusion. It is important to understand what different prices really mean. It is necessary to analyse the process of convergence and understand what the spot price really means in the context of oil market, although the futures price often converges to the spot price. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Showkutally Soodhun specifies that the committee will have full opportunity to check all the documents and the truthfulness of the figures and thus ensure that all parameters were taken into account by the previous committee of the APM, that the PPC will work in full transparency while publishing everything on the website of the State Trading Corporation. There will be full details of all elements that come into play in accounting for the fuel prices. However, most people in the country either do not have the required knowledge to use a computer, some do not have a computer at all, and others do not have access to the internet. Many people do not know how the pricing mechanism works. Even if the PPC is said to work in transparency no detailed is made public about the formulae considered in pricing the petroleum products, no cashflows or financial statements are known, the public is not reassured about whether their money are rightly used. The middle class people cannot afford to pay high prices especially when their income is low with most of it going into the basic food necessities. This may create social problems like disputes in the family, domestic violence, increases in social vices like thefts. One important aspect is that other countries may have high taxes on their oil, but this is compensated by their high income and the high value of their currency. Our currency has a really low value, which is why we pay higher prices for petrol, during financial crisis and in periods of inflation. This may lead to economic problems in the near future with lower investments and hence slowing economic growth. Aims and Objectives The aim of this research paper is to decrease the difficulties faced by the population because of the rising prices of petrol and to understand the mismatch of supply and demand situation. A clearer pricing system is required and this study can also help in enhancing the performance of petroleum market in the country. Objective: To make the whole population aware of the petroleum and oil pricing mechanism To change the working principle of the petroleum pricing mechanism To provide alternatives to help decrease the effect of the high petrol price Methodology The target population for the study is the population at large, though higher emphasis is laid on the population owning a vehicle. Every Research Report requires information as the basis for analysis. Information sources can be categorised as either primary or secondary data. Primary data is original data that has been collected by a researcher by whatever means appropriate in the answer of a specific research question. Secondary data is data that has been collected by others for their own purposes, but which may be used by a researcher for his or her different purposes. There are two different types of data that are likely to be collected: qualitative data, such as opinions, and quantitative data such as measurements. Qualitative data include verbal narrative pieces of data; quantitative data are anything that can be measured and expressed in numbers. Quantitative data analysis often contains descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics include measures of central tendency (averages mean, median and mode) and measures of variability about the average (range and standard deviation). These give the reader a picture of the data collected and used in the research project. Inferential statistics are the outcomes of statistical tests, helping deductions to be made from the data collected, to test hypotheses set and relating findings to the sample or population. [6] Questionnaire is usually designed specifically for the study in question. Unlike a test, which yields only a total score, or an inventory, in which each item is interpreted as a part of a scale or group of items, a questionnaire yields many separate pieces of information. Analysis usually consists of tabulation or cross-tabulation of responses to individual itemsrarely are more elaborate procedures used. Questionnaires are most often used direct (person-to-person) contact with respondents is not possible or necessary. It is probably the single most widely-used data source. Some experts have estimated that as many as half the research studies conducted use a questionnaire as a part of the data collection process. Voluntary and informed participation of individuals or communities is necessary for research. Their participation should be based on informed consent; the greater the risk to participants, the greater is the need for it. Informed consent is essential to protect the participants, not the researchers and institutions. The sample size will consist of 50 of working and non-working people and the aim is to pick a representative sample free from bias. A Nonprobability (Convenience) sampling will be chosen. It involves the selection of elements based on assumptions regarding the population of interest, which forms the criteria for selection. Hence, because the selection of elements is nonrandom, nonprobability sampling does not allow the estimation of sampling errors. [7] Convenience sampling is often used for a case study. Convenience sampling (sometimes known as grab or opportunity sampling) is a type of nonprobability sampling which involves the sample being drawn from that part of the population which is close to hand. That is, a sample population selected because it is readily available and convenient. Also, snowballing method would be used to carry out the survey. Scientifically, it is impossible to have ideal samples; the best compromise is to include a sample with widest possible range of variation in the phenomena, settings, or people under study. [8] Data Collection A particular observation technique will be designed for the research topic, describing and discussing the aims of the survey, the nature of the survey (what/who/how/when will be questioned?) and the method of recording (e.g. field notes or using a structured observation schedule). A draft ethics protocol will also be provided (getting informed consent, being honest, not forcing anyone to take part, giving participants the right to withdraw, protecting them from harm, feeding back the results, maintaining confidentiality). The ethics protocol approval should take the form of the document that will be issued to potential participants in order to obtain informed consent, which would cover issues such as confidentiality, right to withdraw, feedback, etc as appropriate. For a QUESTIONNAIRE survey it is often preferable to incorporate the ethical provisions in the introduction to the questionnaire form itself, i.e. telling informants what the project is about (informed consent), giving them the choice not to respond to individual items or the form as a whole (right to withdraw), setting out how feedback may be obtained (debriefing), describing the provisions for confidentiality (particularly if the form is not anonymous), etc. This section of the questionnaire is in effect the ethics protocol and can be submitted for approval. Questionnaire Analysis Each completed form will be numbered after having them back. Then the easy stuff will be sorted out first, i.e. the answers to closed-ended questions which you can simply count in order to give you frequencies According to the design of the questionnaire, the respondents will have to the code by ticking the appropriate number which can then be entered into the spreadsheet. Its not difficult to find out how many respondents gave each sort of answer. These numbers can easily be turned into percentages (showing what percentage of the respondents gave each sort of response). These figures are already very useful as analytical tools. It helps to make sure when designing questionnaire that it is amenable to computer analysis. For quantifiable data, MS Works and Excel spreadsheets will all produce a wide range of computations and forms of presentation such as graphs and charts as well as carrying out some statistical operations. Benefits of Research This research will be useful and helpful to many stakeholders in the country. First of all, the society at large would get to know and understand the procedure behind pricing petroleum and oil. The society benefits in the way that they will get value for money and would not be exploited into paying higher prices for the oil and petrol, in the end, they would have fairness and would know where, why and how their money are being spent. The government as well would benefit from this research since it would help the government officials to have a better idea about how to price the petroleum and oil so as to maximize the benefit of the public. Another benefit would be is that both parties (the government and the public) would know about the expectations of each other and hence would know how to better satisfy those expectations. Also, transport cost forms part of a large percentage in the budget for companies. Investors (both local and foreigners) would be more attracted to invest in the country when the pricing mechanism is clear with lower prices. As a result, there would be more economic growth in the country, standard of living of the population would increase, and unemployment level may fall. The indirect benefits of this research would be decrease in prices of the commodities that the people consume since the reduced transportation cost would lead to lower cost of production. The society would benefit as they would have more income left, their savings in bank may increase, hence the bank would have more loans to give to investors. As a whole investment would increase leading to economic booms. Time plan A Gantt chart is a representation through graphs of the duration of tasks against the progression of time. It is a useful tool when planning and scheduling projects and helpful when monitoring a projects progress. There is a variety of Gantt charts namely the Basic Gantt, Multiple milestones, daily Gantt, Baseline Gantt, Timeline Gantt, Summary Gantt, Stoplight Gantt among others. [9] Summary Introduction Problem statement Aims and objective Methodology Benefits of research Budget analysis 25/03/11 27/03/11 28/03/11 30/03/11 31/03/11 01/04/11 Budget Analysis List of items Estimated cost (Rs) Printing 200 Travelling 325 Internet 600 Telephone bill 150 TOTAL 1275