Ch7 - reflectional journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ch7 - reflectional diary - Essay Example The benefits of addressing in learning show that addresses trigger disparate reasoning, energize reflection, construct internal comprehension, advance authentic information, and sustain focalized thinking. When addressing, instructors ought to consider the structure of addressing with the goal that they can adjust the propriety of the inquiries in the educating and learning process. Instructor reactions impact viable learning process and are indispensable in light of the fact that the educator must consider the appropriate responses given by the students in an empowering way so the student can feel spurred. Moreover, the instructor ought to react in a broad manner whereby he/she extends the student’s answer for better comprehension of the substance being inquired. Development of a student’s reaction supports and spurs the student as in the student accomplishes a feeling of gratefulness and inside the correct way to finding the correct solution. At long last, the instructor ought to likewise test when addressing to leaners questions; this is whereby the educator addresses further the appropriate responses given by the student. This strategy tests whether the student has comprehended the idea being found out. In summation, the creator focuses that instructors ought to embrace a suitable method of addressing and replying during the educating and learning process with the goal that the targets of the exercise are remarkably met making the educating successful. In summation, the creator focuses that educators ought to embrace a proper method of addressing and replying during the instructing and learning process with the goal that the targets of the exercise are extraordinarily met making the educating

The American Dream Negative and Positive Aspects

The American Dream Negative and Positive Aspects Presentation The American dream is one of the most loved beliefs of the country and it has become a piece of the American national personality. This national way of thinking states that the United States of America is a place where there is fresh chances to succeed and each individual has equivalent chance, paying little heed to their financial foundation, for thriving and achievement on the off chance that they utilize their abilities and buckle down. Definitely, the American Dream has affected ages of residents who look to get more extravagant and better lives as per the dream.Advertising We will compose a custom article test on The American Dream: Negative and Positive Aspects explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, the US has encountered huge disparity and neediness even as more individuals seek after this fantasy. These issues have prompted inquiries with respect to whether the American Dream is a decent or an awful thing for the visionary and the general public. This paper will contend that the American Dream is terrible in light of the fact that it disregards the developing disparities, advances independence and supports realism by the American individuals. The American Dream: A Bad Philosophy The American Dream makes a fantasy of balance while actually influence and riches impact the financial results of a person in the United States. The recognition that the US offers equivalent open doors for was previously enunciated in the Declaration of Independence. In this archive, Thomas Jefferson confirmed the perfect of equivalent rights and open doors for all by pronouncing, All men are made equivalent (376). This perfect is reverberated by Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address where he weights on the significance of freedom and balance in the arrangement of the United States (1). Accordingly, the American Dream suggests that every individual has equivalent open door in the US despite their experiences. Accordingly, even a kid conceived an d raised in neediness has a chance to accomplish incredible riches in the nation. Be that as it may, this isn't the situation and a person’s financial roots enormously decide their future success. This announcement is fortified by the way that the countries riches is moved in the possession of a couple of well off people and the hole between the rich and the poor is ever augmenting in the nation. The Dream is in this manner a terrible thing since it makes light of the truth that the US is where influence and riches impact a ton. The American Dream empowers independence and an absence of worry for the more unfortunate individuals from the general public. The goals advance the ethos of individual accomplishment through difficult work. Since the fantasy attests that everybody has equivalent chance and can thrive in the event that they buckle down, the countries washouts are accused for their issues. The defenders of this fantasy recommend that any individual can succeed on the o ff chance that they change themselves and utilize their ability in this place where there is fresh chances to succeed. From the presumption that everybody has equivalent chances to flourish, all people are relied upon to make progress in the event that they work hard.Advertising Looking for article on sociologies? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such a viewpoint overlooks the absence of chances that people from poor foundations frequently face. Since neglecting to be effective is accused on the individual and not the framework set up, the administration and other network individuals are not slanted to successfully cure the circumstance. Individuals are just worried about their prosperity in this way making a general public that couldn't care less for its less blessed. The goals of the American Dream wrongly liken financial flourishing with bliss. The American Dream depends on the beliefs of making an increasingly effective lif e by trying sincerely and winning more cash. It proposes that once one makes progress, financial extension, and social portability, he/she will encounter satisfaction and happiness. The fantasy urges realism above everything else and this might be unsafe for the general public. The American Dream has become a bad dream truly since empathy for individuals has everything except vanished as more individuals become engrossed with getting more cash. In Fitzgeralds Winter Dreams, the youthful sure and persevering Dexter Green is committed to picking up riches and status, well in accordance with the American Dream. He is persuaded that accomplishing this will give him delight and fulfillment. Be that as it may, when Dexter accomplishes his objectives of riches and influence, he understands that his fantasies are fanciful and he will never get the joy he looks for through accomplishing riches and status (Fitzgerald 23). The American Dream has been utilized as a defense for sketchy direct by people who are attempting to accomplish a few objectives or desire that are in accordance with the goals of the fantasy. The Dream is anything but a very much characterized idea and it has been extended and adjusted to fit a wide range of individuals and chronicled conditions. The fantasy has suited migrants, street pharmacists, just as aggressive young people longing to improve a life for themselves. The conspicuous Civil Rights Activist figure Martin Luther King utilized the American Dream to legitimize the common rebellion that he was upholding (608). From these models, plainly the American Dream can be utilized to legitimize both respectable and sketchy causes. Positive Aspects of the Dream On the positive side, the American Dream has been utilized as a device for progress and the advancement of solidarity. The possibility of the American Dream was instrumental in the foundation of the United States as a nation free from Britain. The American Dream was a basic topic in the Decl aration of Independence that is connected to opportunity of the American individuals (Jefferson 377). The fantasy likewise filled in as an instrument to conquer servitude in the eighteenth century.Advertising We will compose a custom article test on The American Dream: Negative and Positive Aspects explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Because the fantasy expressed that fairness and opportunity were requirements for all Americans, the abolitionists utilized the American Dream to advocate the liberation of the slaves. President Lincoln referenced the American Dream in his endeavor to bring together the warring residents and advise them that they all battled for the goals it spoke to. The American Dream has likewise filled in as motivation for individuals to battle for their privileges and advance equity in the general public. This is best exemplified by Martin Luther King who battled for the fantasy of uniformity. Lord accepted that all individuals in the US ought to have indistinguishable rights and openings from it is conceded in the Declaration of Independence (622). With such a profound conviction, he had the option to assemble individuals and in the end accomplish the social liberties for the African-American populace in the US. The American dream in this manner roused individuals to battle for their privileges in the nation. The American Dream has advanced the free enterprise monetary framework, which is the most great framework for financial development and improvement. The fantasy advances the goals of Capitalism where every individual is compensated dependent on their endeavors. Individuals are in this way urged to try sincerely and their endeavors are compensated through better compensation as well as professional success. The American Dream hence adds to the development of the country’s economy since when people seek after and accomplish their fantasies; the monetary results of the nation are improved. Conversation and Conclus ion Despite being the most extravagant nation on the planet, there is noteworthy neediness and financial imbalance in the US. This circumstance can mostly be accused on the American Dream. The American Dream isn't one dream yet a lot of standards that have been created after some time. While the fantasy establishes a wide scope of thoughts, they are completely founded on accomplishing succeeding, achievement, and carrying on with a decent life. This Dream isn't feasible since people will consistently need more than what they have and consequently end up in a condition of discontent. Also, the fantasy decreases social attachment since it empowers independence and an overemphasis on material belongings. The industrialist framework advanced by the American Dream favors the minority capital patrons to the detriment of the regular workers. Private enterprise additionally empowers misuse of others so as to make more money.Advertising Searching for paper on sociologies? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More This paper set out to contend that the American Dream is awful for the individual and the general public all in all. To this end, it set out to feature the negative results of the fantasy. The American dream makes a misguided feeling of uniformity and advances independence. This paper has exhibited that the American Dream has wandered off-track and is today far off for most Americans. The United States is a place that is known for fresh chances to succeed and freedom, however these open doors are not accessible similarly. Rather than advancing the all inclusive success and equity, it accept to maintain, the American dream includes energized enormous imbalance inside this incredible country. References Fitzgerald, Scott. Winter Dreams. The Blair Reader: Exploring Issues and Ideas. Ed. Kirszner, Laurie and Mandell, Stephen. Vancouver, Prentice Hall, 2010. Print. Jefferson Thomas The statement of Independence. The Blair Reader: Exploring Issues and Ideas. Ed. Kirszner, Laurie and Mandel l, Stephen. Vancouver, Prentice Hall, 2010. 375-378. Print. Ruler, Luther. Letter from a Birmingham Jail. The Blair Reader: Exploring Issues and Ideas. Ed. Kirszner, Laurie and Mandell, Stephen. Vancouver, Prentice Hall, 2010. 608-622. Print. Lincoln, Abraham. The Gettysburg address. 19. Nov. 1863. Web. abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/addresses/gettysburg.htm

Organizing a Sports Event in Australia-Free-Samples for Student

Question: Talk about abouts the Attraction and Event Management. Answer: Presentation The principle kinds of the occasion mulled over have been seen with arranging a game in Australia. The fundamental thought has been seen in arranging a cricket occasion in Sydney Cricket Ground. The principle attractions have been seen with players from Swanbourne Cricket Club. Structure or Content As a rule Sports and the social occasions are believed to be expanding mainstream in nature and the arranging of such an occasion primarily mulls over the fitting reverberation of the onlookers. In Australia sporsts apparently serves the primary reason for the establishment. The sorting out of the cricket occasion in Sydney Cricket Ground has been arranged under significant occasions. Henceforth, this occasion has the capacity of pulling in critical monetary advantage and media inclusion (Beech, Kaiser . also, Kaspar 2014). The commercialization procedure of the games and the adjustments popular in for the cricket occasions have prompted need productive administration of the games. Notwithstanding this the expanded interest the requirement for game administration has expanded (Masterman 2014). Area and Size Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and the Sports Ground are perceived for overseeing of Australias sports settings to be specific Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium. The arena has been additionally recognized as the focal area for the universal games and has about 100 games and the shows each year. This area has had the option to demonstrate as the perfect area for facilitating the cricket occasion dependent on the fame of the taking part clubs (Sydneycricketground.com.au. 2017). During the underlying opening of the arena in 1988, it had a limit of 44,000 seats anyway later on it was expanded to 48000 seats. The area of the arena has been believed to be perfect as it will have the option to incorporate an all out assessed limit of 17000 seats (Tyson 2016) Spending Consideration Occasion Budget - Cricket Tournament Spending Summary Rundown of Expenses and Income All out Expenses Costs $247,905.00 Area $75,000 All out Actual Income Occasion $128,850 $278,260.00 Food Drink $11,180 Equalization Supplies $20,000 $30,355.00 Other $12,875 All out $247,905 Costs Depiction Classification Amount Unit cost Sum Arena Rental Area 1 75,000.00 75,000.00 Ground Staff Occasion 200 300.00 60,000.00 Suppers Food Drink 260 43.00 11,180.00 Changing area Supplies 4 5,000.00 20,000.00 Shirts Other 45 15.00 675.00 Player Fees Occasion 56 1,200.00 67,200.00 Grants and Gifts Other 4 2,500.00 10,000.00 Umpire Fees Occasion 3 550.00 1,650.00 Cleaning Staff Other 10 220.00 2,200.00 Complete Expenses $ 247,905.00 Salary/Funding Portrayal Unit Cost Gauge Qty Gauge Amt Real Qty Real Amount Ticket Sales 10.00 17000 170,000.00 18600 186,000.00 Jersey's 30.00 800 24,000.00 622 18,660.00 Enlistment 25.00 3200 80,000.00 2800 70,000.00 Patrons 400.00 6 2,400.00 9 3,600.00 Complete $ 276,400.00 Complete $ 278,260.00 Number of Participants The primary members of the occasion have been found in type of the investment of four significant Australian cricket clubs to be specific Perth Cricket Club, Kenilworth Cricket Club, Melbourne Cricket Club and Swanbourne Cricket Club. The principle hosts of the occasion have been related to the players having a place with the Swanbourne Cricket Club. Perth Cricket Club is viewed as the significant cricket club in the Western Australia locale, Kenilworth Cricket Club is viewed as the fundamental cricket club from Adelaide (South Australia), Melbourne Cricket Club from southeastern Australia and Swanbourne Cricket Club Western Australia (Supovitz 2013). The principle members of the arena have been additionally distinguished as far as the Ground Staff (200), Players (56), Umpires (3) and cleaning staff (10). Occasion Stakeholders and their inclusion The partners commitment has been essentially delineated with the different kinds of the supporters of the occasion. The headliner backer for the occasion has been found as far as Kookaburra. It is was set up in 1890 and distinguished as 100% Australian family possessed business driving in athletic gear perceived universally. A portion of the items incorporate assembling of supplies, for example, cricket and field hockey things (Kookaburra.biz 2017).The contribution of a portion of different backers has been additionally observed on terms of AIME, Black Dog Institute, CARE Australia, Greening Australia, OzHarvest. AIME has in excess of 5000 college understudies with biggest volunteer development of the Students from the University understudies situated in Australia. It has been additionally observed that the inclusion of the different kinds of the patrons has been capable help the occasion costs and the media inclusion (Smith et al. 2013). End The report has been helpful in comprehension of the occasion life pattern of the occasion the executives. The different sorts of the parts of the occasion has been encircled as far as occasion thought, plausibility, offering of crusade, scene ground breaking strategy, occasion marking technique, occasion facilitating and spending estimation. A portion of different contemplations have demonstrated the contribution of the members of the occasion. References Kookaburra.biz. (2017).Kookaburra Cricket Hockey About Us | Site India. [online] Available at: https://www.kookaburra.biz/en-in/about/[Accessed 8 Aug. 2017]. Masterman, G., 2014.Strategic game administration. Routledge. Smith, K., Holmes, K., Storer, C., Lockstone-Binney, L. what's more, Baum, T., 2013. Models of game administration and volunteer motivation.CAUTHE 2013: Tourism and Global Change: On the Edge of Something Big, p.761. Supovitz, F., 2013.The game administration and promoting playbook. Wiley Global Education. Sydneycricketground.com.au. (2017).Sydney Cricket Sports Ground Trust - About Us. [online] Available at: https://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/about-us/[Accessed 8 Aug. 2017]. Tyson, B., 2016.Sports Event Management. Routledge.

Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 4

Condition - Essay Example As far as the earth, thorium is a superior item rather than uranium. In the response procedure, the majority of the thorium is combusted such that the greater part of the thorium is spent. This implies a lower measure of waste is delivered. In the long run, there are less unsafe squanders in the environmental factors. This contention favors thorium reactors since its protection from emergencies is more noteworthy. This implies it is more secure, in spite of the fact that there is consistently the chance of some harmfulness. It is toxic for the time being, yet almost innocuous in the long haul in contrast with uranium. Albeit them two are atomic reactors, they utilize different parting responses. Basically, this implies there are various items and properties that emerge from the responses. While uranium can't be effortlessly utilized with thorium, thorium can be blended in with other uranium extricates. This implies its utilization doesn't imply that uranium would be outdated. They can be utilized together to shape greater and progressively intense mixes. In any case, logical research shows that the get together of thorium isn't as tranquil as that of uranium. Deductively, thorium isn't fissile. While uranium can part to frame an atomic chain response, thorium can't part. All things being equal, it very well may be made fissile through the siege of various synthetic responses. Aside from that, the harm caused in the Fukushima debacle confirms how unpredictable uranium can be. In actuality, thorium doesn't show such responses, and it can't be utilized in making weaponries. If there should arise an occurrence of a calamity, a thorium response can be halted on the grounds that it isn't fissile. As far as thickness, thorium is around multiple times heavier than uranium and other lead items. Thorium is maybe superior to uranium as an atomic reactor. In the fundamental, it is a superior substitute when compared to uranium. Be that as it may, there still exists a few difficulties in the utilization of thorium, basically in view of individual government aides. Throughout the years, the utilization of uranium has shaped a

Tips For Writing College Essay Papers

Tips For Writing College Essay PapersWriting college essay papers can be very difficult for an average student. However, it doesn't have to be a process that you dread! With some tips and tricks that you can apply, your essay will be finished on time and with a high quality final draft.There are a few tips and tricks that you should know about when it comes to writing your college essay. These tips are simple and can really help you write the perfect college essay. This is not only good for students to be aware of but also for those that need some extra help with their essay.The first main tip that you need to know about is that it's important to get it all organized in your head before you start writing. You need to start out with an idea of what you want your essay to accomplish. Then, start organizing your thoughts and ideas so that you can use your critical thinking skills to come up with a well-written and concise conclusion to your essay.As you are doing this, make sure that yo u get it down on paper so that you can keep your writing organized and flowing smoothly. You can use words and sentences from other essays or articles that you have read, or even make up new sentences. Try to be creative, but remember that this should be a relatively short essay.Remember that if you're going to write the essay, you'll need to go ahead and invest the time that it takes to make it as professional as possible. This may mean investing time into your writing process in order to make it as complete as possible. You don't have to be ashamed to spend your own time on your work, as long as you are sure that you are capable of finishing the project on time.Another tip that you should keep in mind when writing your college essay is to just write. In fact, as long as you give yourself enough time to come up with a well-crafted thesis statement, you should be able to easily come up with a cohesive, organized structure for your essay. You don't have to stress over a certain type of paper to be written - you just have to make sure that you've put enough thought into the writing that you can write it as quickly as possible.Writing college essay papers is a process, and it can take a lot of time. However, you shouldn't let the time you spent worrying about how to go about it affect your overall success as a student. You have to do your best and write your essay well - not worry about the process, but instead focus on writing the best essay that you can.If you want to write a great essay, remember to do a first draft, then edit it, and then revise it. It can take time, but once you understand what you want to say and the best way to organize your thoughts, you will have a better chance of putting together the most polished final draft that you can. Don't underestimate the amount of work that is required to write well and to make sure that your essay is well written and well organized.

These Books About Social Media Influencers Are Better Than Instagram

These Books About Social Media Influencers Are Better Than Instagram The internet has changed the world in meaningful ways. It stands to reason that the internet would change our books too. And I dont just mean how we  read  them, either. Im talking about the literal content of our books, which is constantly shifting to capture current web culture. Lately,  Ive been interested in reading books about social media influencers. Particularly, fiction in which influencers are a central part of the narration, though nonfiction written by people who make a living on Instagram and YouTube is fascinating too. Here are 13 great reads that focus on social media influencers and their role in an ever-evolving society. Fiction About Social Media Influencers 1. The Circle by Dave Eggers If youre looking for an excuse to quit the internet and become a woods-dwelling hermit,  The Circle  is it. This is an absolutely chilling novel about a woman named Mae Holland who goes to work for a powerful (think: Google) Silicon Valley company that quickly takes over her life. And I mean, her entire  life.  Its all about the things we give up for the sake of convenience and digital connectivity. 2. Follow Me Back by A.V. Geiger Tessa Hart is agoraphobic, but on Twitter shes @TessaHeartsEric, one of the preeminent members of the fandom for pop star Eric Thorn. When one of her posts goes viral, she catches the object of her affections attention…however, maybe not for the reasons she hoped. There are mixed reviews on Amazon and Goodreads about the agoraphobia representation in this book, so maybe read a few reader responses before you dive in. 3. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green This is a thoroughly modern exploration of what it means to find viral fame on the internet. April May, a normal twentysomething with a corporate graphic design job, is first to discover and document a mysterious statue that appears on the streets of Manhattan. Her video catapults her to international notoriety literally overnight as these statues, dubbed the Carls, appear in cities all over the world. April has to balance her new reality as a public figure with the mystery of the Carls. 4. Dont Call Me Baby by Gwendolyn Heasley Mommy bloggers are endlessly fascinating and its about time we got some fiction about them. Imogene grew up in the spotlight thanks to her mother documenting every milestone on her popular parenting website. As a teenager, she finally gets the opportunity to tell her side of the story  thanks to a school project. 5. Surveys  by Natasha Stagg Like Hank Greens April May, the main character of  Surveys is a young woman who somewhat accidentally finds fame as an influencer. Like most young influencers, she moves to Los Angeles and falls in love. However, nothing quite goes according to plan. Its a satirical coming-of-age novel that sounds perfect for fans of the movie  Ingrid Goes West. 6. #FashionVictim by Amina Akhtar Akhtars debut novel is about a fashion editor with a to-die-for social media presence. Shes so eager to be on top of her game shes willing to do anything to get there. Described on the blurb as Dexter  meets  The Devil Wears Prada, this is a deliciously wild ride. 7. Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia Shy Eliza Mirks is reserved at school and popular on the internet. Online, she illustrates the webcomic Monstrous Sea  for her millions of subscribers. Then Wallace Warland moves to town. He draws her out of her shell and threatens to upend the careful balance between Elizas two lives. The book also uses mixed-media to tell the story. 6. Snotgirl Vol. 1: Green Hair Dont Care by Bryan Lee OMalley and Leslie Hung The creator of  Scott Pilgrim  brings us this graphic novel about fashion blogger Lottie Person. Lee OMalley brilliantly parodies the stereotypical Los Angeles social media star lifestyle. Leslie Hungs gorgeous illustrations bring the story to life. Influencers lend themselves well to comic books. Both rely heavily on aesthetics, after all. Also, I love the gross title contrasted with the glam cover. 8. #Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil This books takes place in a near-future world where public executions are once again a thing…on an app called The Postman. In other words, its a pretty grim take on social media mob mentality. 9. Internet Famous by Danika Stone The title is a little on-the-nose, but  Internet Famous  is a charming romance. Madison Nakama is a social media star whose flirtation with a commenter catches the attention of a relentless  troll. 11. Ripper  by Isabel Allende A modern take on Jack the Ripper featuring an online mystery game and a teenage detective? Sign me up! Its the perfect internet book for thriller fans. Non-fiction About Social Media Influencers 12. Capture Your Style by Aimee Song In Capture Your Style,  Song of Styles Aimee Song shows the work that goes into creating the perfect Instagram. She uses pictures from her own social media profiles to illustrate her photography, style, and editing tips. Youll learn how to take professional-quality images using only your iPhone and a few apps. 13.  Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion  by Jia Tolentino This isnt about influencers the same way other books on this list are. But New Yorker  staff writer Jia Tolentino is an essential voice on the topic of internet culture. Several of these essays indeed do focus on the nightmare social internet, as the official blurb puts it, and how its changing us, for worse or for better. Happy scrolling!

Quirky Scholarships Just as Good as Traditional

Here's one way to make a dent in your college bill: Shoot a video depicting the destruction of your flashcards. Sound odd? It is. But it's also a $500 scholarship offered by SimpleLeap Software, an Atlanta-based firm specializing in education applications. Like many college scholarships that aren't based on need or academics, SimpleLeap's scholarship is best described as unusual. And while Kalman Chany, author of "Paying for College Without Going Broke," estimates that such scholarships make up only 2 percent of the total dollars out there, many experts say they are a good way for students to fill in the gaps to cover books, meals and other expenses. Where to look If you're looking for unusual college scholarships, the first place to go is online, says Joe Orsolini, president of College Aid Planners in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Fastweb.com boasts 1.3 million traditional as well as unusual scholarships, totaling more than $3 billion per year. Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com are among the best sites to research, according to Orsolini. But many people are using these sites, increasing the competition for scholarships, he cautions. If you know what you want to study, industry trade associations are good places to look, says Steve Loflin, executive director of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars in Washington, D.C. According to Loflin, many trade groups offer scholarships to students interested in a particular field. For example, Loflin points to the William L. Cullison Scholarship offered by the Norcross, Ga.-based Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, which awards up to $4,000 to students planning to attend an accredited school to study pulp and paper science. Even if you aren't sure about your major, trade groups may still reward your passion if you're willing to put in some work. For example, The Englewood, Colo.-based National Beef Ambassador Program, a project sponsored by the cattle industry, offers students $1,000 to become beef ambassadors. The application process includes a presentation on beef and an interview, and winners represent the industry at various events throughout the year. It's also advisable to check with your school, which may offer scholarships that aren't listed elsewhere. Improve your search When you're looking for scholarship money from unlikely sources based on unusual criteria, conducting an effective search can be a real challenge, especially when you're working with a large database of offerings. One important first step is to do a self-examination. "Before searching, map out your personal strengths and unique talents," Loflin says. "Many of these unusual scholarships are not related to academics. Do you have an uncommon last name? Are you over 6 feet tall? Do you play the bassoon? Analyze your favorite hobbies and extracurricular activities and seek organizations that promote them." Loflin suggests it's also a good idea to think about yourself in a demographic or geographic sense because some scholarships may be based on factors like ethnicity, religion or your hometown. Before you cash the check When you're trying to pay for college, you might think that any money is good money. But before you cash that scholarship check, you'll want to make sure it won't make a dent in the financial aid you get through your school. According to Orsolini, offsets vary by school, so it makes sense to check with your college financial aid office. Some schools do a dollar-for-dollar offset, meaning that a $500 outside scholarship will result in a $500 deduction from the financial aid package. Of course, that might still be a good deal if you're reducing your amount of student loans. Other schools deduct a percentage of the money that students receive from outside scholarships. Still, others let you keep the entire amount if it's under a specified threshold. Taxes For the most part, grants and scholarships don't trigger a taxable event. "The general rule of thumb is if you are a degree candidate and the funds go to pay for tuition, books, fees or equipment, the funds are tax-free," says Orsolini. A tax issue may arise if the terms of the scholarship require that it be used for other purposes such as room and board, or specify that it cannot be used for tuition or course-related expenses. Orsolini says even if the money is subject to taxation, most college students don't earn enough income to reach the threshold to pay taxes anyway. Avoid scams While pursuing unusual scholarships can be a good way to find extra cash for college, Peter Ratzan, co-founder of College Planning Specialists of Florida, cautions that students need to search with their guard up. According to Ratzan, applicants should never pay a fee to compete for a scholarship, nor should they pay a "processing fee" for a scholarship the student has won. Similarly, the Federal Trade Commission warns against applying for scholarships that advertise money-back guarantees or ask for credit card or bank information. The FTC also says to avoid services that claim to offer information you can't get anywhere else and to ignore letters or calls informing you that you've been selected for a scholarship you never sought. Posted June 25, 2010 Here's one way to make a dent in your college bill: Shoot a video depicting the destruction of your flashcards. Sound odd? It is. But it's also a $500 scholarship offered by SimpleLeap Software, an Atlanta-based firm specializing in education applications. Like many college scholarships that aren't based on need or academics, SimpleLeap's scholarship is best described as unusual. And while Kalman Chany, author of "Paying for College Without Going Broke," estimates that such scholarships make up only 2 percent of the total dollars out there, many experts say they are a good way for students to fill in the gaps to cover books, meals and other expenses. Where to look If you're looking for unusual college scholarships, the first place to go is online, says Joe Orsolini, president of College Aid Planners in Glen Ellyn, Ill. Fastweb.com boasts 1.3 million traditional as well as unusual scholarships, totaling more than $3 billion per year. Fastweb.com and Scholarships.com are among the best sites to research, according to Orsolini. But many people are using these sites, increasing the competition for scholarships, he cautions. If you know what you want to study, industry trade associations are good places to look, says Steve Loflin, executive director of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars in Washington, D.C. According to Loflin, many trade groups offer scholarships to students interested in a particular field. For example, Loflin points to the William L. Cullison Scholarship offered by the Norcross, Ga.-based Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, which awards up to $4,000 to students planning to attend an accredited school to study pulp and paper science. Even if you aren't sure about your major, trade groups may still reward your passion if you're willing to put in some work. For example, The Englewood, Colo.-based National Beef Ambassador Program, a project sponsored by the cattle industry, offers students $1,000 to become beef ambassadors. The application process includes a presentation on beef and an interview, and winners represent the industry at various events throughout the year. It's also advisable to check with your school, which may offer scholarships that aren't listed elsewhere. Improve your search When you're looking for scholarship money from unlikely sources based on unusual criteria, conducting an effective search can be a real challenge, especially when you're working with a large database of offerings. One important first step is to do a self-examination. "Before searching, map out your personal strengths and unique talents," Loflin says. "Many of these unusual scholarships are not related to academics. Do you have an uncommon last name? Are you over 6 feet tall? Do you play the bassoon? Analyze your favorite hobbies and extracurricular activities and seek organizations that promote them." Loflin suggests it's also a good idea to think about yourself in a demographic or geographic sense because some scholarships may be based on factors like ethnicity, religion or your hometown. Before you cash the check When you're trying to pay for college, you might think that any money is good money. But before you cash that scholarship check, you'll want to make sure it won't make a dent in the financial aid you get through your school. According to Orsolini, offsets vary by school, so it makes sense to check with your college financial aid office. Some schools do a dollar-for-dollar offset, meaning that a $500 outside scholarship will result in a $500 deduction from the financial aid package. Of course, that might still be a good deal if you're reducing your amount of student loans. Other schools deduct a percentage of the money that students receive from outside scholarships. Still, others let you keep the entire amount if it's under a specified threshold. Taxes For the most part, grants and scholarships don't trigger a taxable event. "The general rule of thumb is if you are a degree candidate and the funds go to pay for tuition, books, fees or equipment, the funds are tax-free," says Orsolini. A tax issue may arise if the terms of the scholarship require that it be used for other purposes such as room and board, or specify that it cannot be used for tuition or course-related expenses. Orsolini says even if the money is subject to taxation, most college students don't earn enough income to reach the threshold to pay taxes anyway. Avoid scams While pursuing unusual scholarships can be a good way to find extra cash for college, Peter Ratzan, co-founder of College Planning Specialists of Florida, cautions that students need to search with their guard up. According to Ratzan, applicants should never pay a fee to compete for a scholarship, nor should they pay a "processing fee" for a scholarship the student has won. Similarly, the Federal Trade Commission warns against applying for scholarships that advertise money-back guarantees or ask for credit card or bank information. The FTC also says to avoid services that claim to offer information you can't get anywhere else and to ignore letters or calls informing you that you've been selected for a scholarship you never sought. Posted June 25, 2010