Ameresco Inc. (AMRC) Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ameresco Inc. (AMRC) - Coursework Example as a company operates and the industry as a whole. Most notable threats are financial capacity of the company, rising cost of raw material and the global economy and high cost of investment and research. These are the threats that are currently present in both Ameresco Inc.and the industry they operate as a whole. These have possessed economic constraints to the firm and lowered profitability. However, there are opportunities too as the industry is experiencing reduced labor cost. In addition, there has been increased internal monetary assistance in the company and opportunities for venture capital. A significant portion of their total revenues is generated by our Canadian subsidiary, Ameresco Canada. Finally under economic threats, it is evident that future changes in exchange rate significantly between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar could so much affect the company’s operating results as major revenues are dependent on the northern America. The industry Ameresco Inc. operate is dynamic and competitive. The level of technology hence becomes a threat as new advancements in technology are required for better service delivery. As a company, Ameresco Inc. operates in a dynamic industry that is involved in designing, developing, and engineering and times installation of projects that minimizes energy, operations and maintenance costs to clients they serve and these are areas of concern should technology fail in future. The company also outsources various energy installation projects due to incapability to handle the specialized technological aspects and these is a threat. Politically, different regulations affect the conduct of not only Ameresco Inc. business, but also the industry they operate in. State and federal legislation and regulations allow them to enter into Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPCs) with government agencies in America. However, the challenge becomes the

The resistance of a wire Essay Example for Free

The resistance of a wire Essay For my experiment I will use Constantan, This is because it gave me the widest range of results, so it makes it easier for us users to see and understand whats going on. The thickness I will use will be 32. This is also because it gave me the widest range of results. I also chose this type of wire because it did not get hot very easily. This is a good thing because it will be a fairer test (when temperatures stay relatively the same) and there is less hazards involved. The length of wire I will use- I will use the following lengths of wire-. I think these lengths of wire is suitable for the experiment. 10 lengths is good enough to show us a general pattern. Equipment- -Ammeter -A 1m ruler (to measure length of wire) -At least 8 electrical cables -Voltmeter -Power Supply unit -at least 600cm of Constantan -crocodile clips Method- 1. Connect the electrical circuit as shown in the preliminary work. Make sure all the wires all connected correctly. Note that the voltmeter has to be connected in parallel because it has a very high resistance, current will not be able to go through. 2. Before doing anything else, set the voltage of the power supply unit to 0V. Then turn on the power Supply unit (PSU). 3. Connect the piece of wire of desired length to the two crocodile clips (both ends) 4. Now set the PSU dial to 2. Turn on the Machine. Allow readings to settle then record readings from the ammeter and the voltmeter. 5. Turn of Machine. (avoid the wire getting hot) 6. Do the same adjusting the dial switched to 2, 4 and 6. Change the lengths of the wire each time using the following lengths- 20, 40 60, 80,100, 120,140,160,180,200cm. Record the readings from the ammeter and the voltmeter. 7. Once you have finished all the experiments you have to divide the volts by the current (amps) to find out the resistance. It is explained how to do this in the analysis later. Analysis Analyzing the Graph- From the pattern on the graph, we can tell that my prediction was correct. An increase of length gives you an increase in resistance. This can be seen because the line of best fit is moving upwards while the length of wire is increased. All the points on the graph are almost on the line of best fit, it was very easy to draw the line of best fit. There were one or two points that did not fit the line completely. These were the last two lengths. 180 and 200cm. This could have happened due to some experimental errors. The graph proves that as the length of the wire increases the resistance of the wire increases proportionally. This means that if we double the length of the wire we also double the resistance. How I calculated the results- Resistance = Voltage / Current So for example: Voltage = 0. 51V, current = 0. 15A. Therefore resistance = 0. 51 / 0. 15 = 3. 95? I then averaged all the results (readings on the dial 2, 4 and 6) to come up with a final pair of results which used to plot on the graph. Conclusion- From the graph we can tell that almost all the points are on the line of best fit. The length of wire and the resistance is directly proportion to each other, as in they rise together. If we double the length of the wire the resistance will too double. This proves that the resistance of the wire will vary according to the length and width of a wire. The longer the wire the higher the resistance. The length of the wire and the resistance rise together. The increase in voltage is increasing the amount of energy transferred every second in the circuit. My theory is, if length of the wire increases, there is less chance for the electrons to go through. Most of them bump into the atoms inside the piece of wire, therefore increases resistance. According to my graph my prediction was correct; a rise in length is a rise in resistance. Evaluation Problems encountered- The problems encountered were very mild except for when we were taking measurements for small lengths of wire. The wire got very hot; it was difficult to take readings because the readings on the meters kept on changing in high ranges. How accurate were my results- My results may not have been extremely accurate however when we draw the line of best fit we can see the pattern quite clearly. It is good enough for us to find and interpret a pattern from the line of best fit. The ruler we used may not have been entirely accurate. Also, the voltmeter and the ammeter is limited to 2 decimal places, and are not entirely stable (the readings are always changing). We can only measure an approximate reading. How ever as I said earlier I feel my results are good enough to show us a general idea of what is happening. Comment of the overall experiment- Overall, I feel that the experiment was done in a quite good state. Yes there were 1 or 2 anomalous results; however the line of best fit still turned out as expected. 10 results is good enough for us to draw a decent and accurate line. All in all most points lie very closely to the line of best fit. The line is quite reliable as it turned out as expected (i. e. it matches my prediction) and it also matches the research I had done previously. It shows us a general pattern of the length of wire and resistance being proportional. Things I could have done better- The experiment could have been done much more accurately. I could have used a more reliable ammeter and voltmeter so readings can be more accurate, they can be more stable and corrected to more decimal places, in this case there will be fewer errors in the graph. We could also have used fewer wires. The wires we use have a very slight resistance, therefore affecting the experiment slightly. Besides all this there is not much else we could have done. The experiment could have turned out better if the equipment used was much more advanced (explained above). However as said earlier the results are good enough to show me a general pattern and allow me to analyse what happens.

Real Politics :: Free College Admissions Essays

I have worked on many political campaigns in my life and I have enjoyed the work but the Virginia Gubernatorial election was a turning point in my life. I was seventeen and this campaign was different, this time I had a lot of responsibility, I was in control of a portion of a city and I was determined to show people that I could make a difference. It was the knowledge that I could make a difference that showed me that I wanted to work in politics either running as a politician or campaigning for one. I will continue to gain experience by volunteering on political campaigns and I will gain knowledge by completing my Bachelor’s degree in political science. This was the day that I decided that I can do more and effect more than I had ever believed possible. It was November sixth and right in the middle of fall. The leaves were changing color, falling off the trees, and the foliage was covering the ground. I remember my parents waking me up at 5am; it was hard for me to wake up because the night before I stayed late working at campaign headquarters and preparing for this day. It was the last day to make a difference; it was Election Day. When I finally got out of my bed it was still dark, I jumped into the shower then picked up a bagel for the road. It was dark and cold outside and my hands were shaking either from being nervous that I wouldn’t do a good job or just the cold weather. It was about a ten minute car ride to where my mother and I would be working for the day. When we arrived we immediately set up the signs, so everyone would know that this was the voting place. My mom went inside the school to meet some of the other people who would be working at the school. Her job was to check off all the people who voted that day. This list would later be given to me so I could relay the information to headquarters. But while she was inside I was still setting up the signs outside. This would be the beginning of a long and frustrating day. As I was putting up the signs I ran into another person who was also putting up signs for our candidate.

Renaissance in Harlem City in the Viewpoint of Toni Morrison’s Jazz Essay

â€Å"Jazz†, a novel by Toni Morrison, is a chronicle of the lives and struggles of the African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance in the United States. The novel begins with an African-American community in Harlem New York in the year 1926. What makes it a credible commentary on that specific period in the history of the United States and that of the African-American people is the vivid description of the author of the â€Å"glittering city (Morrison 1992)† of Harlem, the setting of the novel. Not only was the description accurate and vivid in accordance to the historical account of Harlem Renaissance but most importantly it has become a novel that encodes the way of life of every African- American during the said historical period. In the novel, the â€Å"City† has always been very important in the representation of the Black community, not only as a city within the city but the very essence of Black existence during the 1920’s. The historical backdrop of this novel is the 1920’s United States better known as the â€Å"Age of Prosperity† for most Americans because of the end of the First World War. Americans lead a new way of living that is free from German Imperialism. After the war, the African American soldiers looked forward for their freedom but never had one. Even after slavery was abolished, African Americans still have to work in cotton and sugar cane plantations. During this period, about 90% of the African Americans in the South were suffering and they viewed the North as a place of dignity, opportunity, and freedom. This period paved way to â€Å"The Great Migration† where African- Americans migrated from south to north en masse particularly Harlem, New York. Even when they confronted another kind of racism in their new community, they somehow led a better and more decent life. The rise of the Harlem Renaissance heralds a paradise that is discrimination-safe for the African- Americans. The Harlem Renaissance as Depicted by Harlem City in â€Å"Jazz† As stated earlier, the city has become the sole instrument of the novel in making its account of the historical period vivid and interesting. The city represents many different aspects of the African-American life which makes this novel a credible account of the African-American life during the Harlem Renaissance. By using the Harlem City as the setting of the novel, it makes the novel more grounded to the historical period where it is based from. This essay will examine the importance of the â€Å"City† in the development of the novel as well as its effects to the reader’s interpretation of it. Our first account of the city is found in Chapter 1 of the novel. In the words of an omniscient narrator: A city like this one makes me dream tall and feel in on things. Hep. It’s the bright steel rocking above the shade below that does it. When I looked over strips of green grass lining the river, at church steeples and into the cream-and-copper halls of the apartment buildings, I’m strong. Alone, yes, but top-notched and indestructible—like this City in 1926 when all wars are over and there will be another one. The people down there are happy about that. At last, at last, everything’s ahead. The A&P hires a colored clerk. Big legged woman with pink kitty tongues roll money into green tubes for later on; then they laugh and put their arms around each other. I like the way the City makes people think they can do what they want and get away with it. I see them all over the place: wealthy whites and plain ones too, pile into mansions decorated and redecorated by black women richer than they are, and both are pleased with the spectacle of the other (Morrison 1992). The first sentence suggests that the narrator sees â€Å"this† city as different and unique among the cities that he has been as suggested by the article â€Å"a†. This city, he contends, makes him dream big things and actually keep in touch with it. Basing on the backdrop of the novel, the Harlem Renaissance has brought about changes in the lives of the African- Americans. The Harlem City in particular has become a new haven for the African-American migrants from the South to find a new and better life that is free of all the oppression and discrimination that they experienced. This dream is not specified by the narrator. However, I see dreaming (whether tall, big, or small) as something that is treasured by the African- Americans for only in this city that they were able to dream whatever dreams they have for themselves as an individual and as a group of people. To be able to dream is already a dream come true for the African- Americans who sought for another world for cultural recognition and self identity. Though the dream was not specified, it can be deduced that this dream is that of the freedom to actually dream. Moreover, it is freedom to live in a place where they can be who they are. The second sentence further speaks of the African- Americans newfound life. The narrator speaks of the city as the reason of his strength. This presupposes the fact that the narrator felt that he was weak prior to his arrival in the city. In placing the novel into the historical backdrop of Harlem Renaissance, African- Americans especially in the South were treated as inferiors in relation to the Whites. They were seen as weak and a lesser class of humans by the Whites. Furthermore, they were reduced to slavery as if brandishing them that role as their only role in America. However, as the passage suggests, this inferiority and weakness has been replaced by pride and strength. As a matter of fact, not only was the city a haven where discrimination and oppression among the African- Americans were inexistent, it has also become a place where they can dwell and live like normal Americans as suggested by an employment of an African- American woman as a clerk in A&P. The role of slaves as a stereotyped job of African- Americans is already eradicated in the city. As a matter of fact, Blacks and Whites are in the city devoid of any differences and were living harmoniously with each other as suggested by the last sentence of the passage: the Whites and the Blacks are pleased to just accomplish their roles (richer Black women decorating the houses of the Whites). The words â€Å"top-notched† and â€Å"indestructible† in the third sentence suggests the confidence that the African- Americans gain in living in Harlem. They see it as the end of their struggle for equality and the end of every possibility of oppression. As told by the narrator, even when he is alone he felt that the city is with him. Because of this, both of them (the city and the narrator) feel indestructible. The city has become a sanctuary for African- Americans from all the oppression and discrimination. If we look back in history, the Harlem has been the place where most of the African- Americans from the south migrated for they found the city as a place of greener pastures. They find Harlem City as a place where they can start new lives and celebrate their unique cultural identities. Lastly, the fourth sentence sums up the real feeling and sensibilities of the narrator and the African- Americans in general on living in the City. The narrator says that the people are really happy not only with the end of the war and the struggles but also of their newfound freedom in the city. The phrase â€Å"at last† suggests that this happiness and freedom have always been yearned by African- Americans. They finally experienced the happiness that they always sought for in Harlem City. In this sense, the city has become an embodiment of an emancipated African- Americans from their battle for equality. The Harlem Renaissance has always been considered as the spiritual coming of age of the Black community where African-Americans were able to foster group recognition and self determination. The Element of Setting in Historical Fiction The difference between settings and events that are based on historical facts and those based on the imagination of the author is mainly objectivity. Events in a historical fiction are always patterned in real and hard facts of history. While other elements of the story such as characters and plots might be different, there would always be a cast from which the author will based his or her settings, characters, and plots. It is not a requisite that the whole set of facts should be accurately depicted such as writing histories, it is already enough that the facts are presented accurately to serve the purpose of a historical backdrop for the development of a work of art such as fiction. Historical novel need not lie in the historical worlds they create but in the relationship between the world and the chief actors. Historical novels can be meticulous in depicting the larger contexts of an era while creating either the chief actors in that world or giving them undocumented thoughts and actions (Berkhofer et al 1997). † In the novel, Morrison patterned the event to that of the Harlem Renaissance. From the beginning of â€Å"The Great Migration† as illustrated by most of the major characters moving from the South to the North. Moreover, it is also evident in the passage cited above that the narrator is new to the place which indicates that he is a migrant. He sees the place as something different and strange which suggests that he is new in the place. However, there is no indication that the characters were patterned into some particular historical figure. But it is apparent that even though there were no particular persons involved in the development of the characters, they are still patterned towards possibilities and tendencies of the people that lived in that particular era, that is, African- Americans during the Renaissance. The sensibilities and actions of the characters are always influenced by the happenings and the circumstances of the times. For instance, the narrator’s attitude and feeling towards the city is a typical African- American reaction to a place that has brought freedom to their community. On one hand, events and settings that are based on the imagination of the author are highly subjective. They are basically unrestrained and unconfined that the author is free to just create and invent any event, setting, plot, and characters without having to sanction these elements to facts or history. The possibilities are endless so that authors would not need to concern themselves with accuracy nor loyalty to any source. Historical Literary Criticism as a Tool in Understanding â€Å"Jazz† It has been argued that historical point of view or knowledge as a method in literary criticism would render our interpretation of literature more objective. With historical literary criticism, our interpretation of the text is sanctioned on the subject’s relevance, relationship, and influence of the historical period where it is written. It is not merely a baseless interpretation; it is an interpretation with a historical ground. This is for the reason that history is â€Å" a bedrock of objective facts and data that give credence to any empirical discipline. † It is believed that literature that is based on history would be more realistic. â€Å"The objective ground of history is precisely that which enables the subjective elements which constitute literary texts to function beyond the aesthetic (Green 1995). In other words, our knowledge of the historical events, figures, and background would make our interpretation more accurate for it is more objective. Not only would it provide a ground for the understanding of the facts and events of the past but also of that particular period’s attitudes, perception, thoughts, and ideologies about the world. In the novel, Harlem Renaissance is not just used as a historical background to quantify or justify the tendencies of the characters and the vividness of the setting and events, but also the commentaries and ideologies that the African- Americans have during the period. For instance, the novel incorporated the historical event of the Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance not only to give the novel more accuracy and objectivity but also to assert the Black’s attitude towards racism and their yearning to assert their identities through music and other forms of art with the help of the â€Å"glittering city (Morrison 1992)†. The reader’s knowledge of the historical background of a work of fiction would help him/her understand the contexts of the novel that would render his/her interpretation in an objective path. As earlier mentioned, historical background and details would make a work of literature more grounded. However, this is not the case with anachronism. This is the worst sin that a historian or a historical fictionist could commit. To represent something outside the supposed context of the historical period would thwart the interpretation and knowledge of the readers upon the text and the historical event itself. In the novel, there are no cases of anachronism for Toni Morrison is a reliable source of the lives of the African- Americans as she is one of them herself. As far as the city life is concerned, she has not only depicted it clearly but also reflected its ideologies very accurately as stated in earlier paragraphs. Though it would be difficult to avoid anachronism for every writer will always interpret historical facts in their own subjective ways, it is highly recommended that writers especially historical fiction writers which has purposes of being objective rather than just being aesthetic should stick to the original. In this way, they would not only remain faithful to history where it is basing its vividness, accuracy, and reliability but also serve a higher purpose of informing readers the ideologies and sensibilities of every historical period and figure that has shaped the world.

Captivity of Mary Rowlandson and the Relation

Both of these writers encounter and more importantly, live amongst the Native people of the Americas as captives at one point of their lives. However, each experience different situations and go about representing those situations in their writing in two completely dissimilar narratives. Each of them enter into captivity with distinctive roles-?Rowland as a Puritanical mother and Caber De Vacate as a Spanish Imperial explorer. Railroading's overall tone in her narrative can be described as edifying in the sense that A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs..Mary Rowland can be used as a example for readers, especially in her overall belief in God. She says, m{et the Lord still showed mercy to me, and upheld me; and as He wounded me with one hand, so he healed me with another (Bam and Levine 261). † Rowland demonstrates the recurring theme of the centrality of God and HIS will In this one sentence which could possibly be used to correspond to the entirety of her capti vity. Notice her use of a dichotomy in the sentence. She is â€Å"wounded. † But then, she is â€Å"healed. † With what?With God's Hand. This exhibits Railroading's belief that God Lana everything: good and bad. It can also be concluded that Railroading's narrative shows the more generalized view of the Puritan beliefs. Also, note Railroading's tone in this passage of the narrative that can be associated to the good and bad that God plans. ‘Wounded† carries a more despaired tone while â€Å"healed† holds a more hopeful tone-?the hope In God that He will carry her out of her despair. Rowland continuously revisits the idea of God's centrality in her whole narrative.She says: I have thought since of the wonderful goodness of God to me in reserving me in the use of my reason and senses in that distressed time, that I did not wicked and violent means to end my own miserable life†¦ When I came I asked them what they had done with It; then they told me It was upon the hill. Then they went and showed me where It was, where I saw the ground was newly digger, and there they told me they had buried it. There I left that child in the wilderness, and must commit it, and myself also in this wilderness condition, to Him who is above all.God having taken away this dear child†¦ (Nina and Levine 261-262). As a Christian and other, this must have affected Rowland severely. The thought of her dead baby being buried by soulless savages without any proper Christian funeral rites probably outraged her, but nonetheless, she refuses to end her â€Å"miserable life† and quickly punishment from God, but also notes that through and after captivity, God saved her. Alva Ounce Caber De Visa's account of his captivity with the Karakas Indians and several other Indian tribes also has this presence of God that is explicit in Railroading's narrative.The Relation constantly addresses â€Å"God our Lord. † He says in is dedication, â€Å"A lthough everyone wants what advantage may be gained from ambition and action, we see everywhere great inequalities of fortune, brought about not by conduct but by accident, and not through anybody fault but as the will of God (Bam and Levin 44). † It is important to make a note of the fact that Caber De Vacate was an imperial explorer for Spain under Painful De Narrate.The reason for his expedition in America was to claim the Florida territory for Spain, but the expedition failed greatly and led to the captivity of Caber De Vacate and three other men. Like Rowland, Caber De Vacate returns to civilization. Although he does not refer to his captivity as punishment from God, he does mention his incarceration as nobody's â€Å"fault but as the will of God. † It can be implied that Caber De Vacate says this to escape any actual punishment he may receive from the Spanish crown. After all, the expedition was funded with the expectation of profit I. . Gold and silver. He mentio ns at the end of the dedication, â€Å"l beg that it may be received as homage, since it is the most once could bring who returned thence naked (Bam and Levine 45). † The underlying tone in this sentence is desperation-?desperation in that sense that the king accept his narrative and desperation, and even perhaps hope, that God will deliver him from any forthcoming punishment made from the king. Caber De Vacate â€Å"begs† that his account can be viewed as a gift while claiming the role of â€Å"God's will† in his captivity.Thus, he implies that his nakedness in both appearance and profit be seen as something God himself determined. Caber De Vacate says, â€Å"Eating the dogs seemed to give us strength enough to go forward; so commending ourselves to the audience of God our Lord, we took leave of our hosts, who pointed out the way to other nearby who spoke their language (Bam and Levine 48). † Like Rowland who put her faith in God, Caber De Vacate, along with the other survivors, commends himself to God's guidance. However, he actually comes to respect the Indians as he resides with them which is expressed near the end of The Relation.He shares: To the last I could not convince the Indians that we were of the same people as the Christian Slavers†¦ We ordered them to fear no more†¦ After we had dismissed the Indians in ace and thanked them for their toil in our behalf†¦ [The Christians] took us through the forests and wastes so we would not communicate with the natives and would neither see nor learn of their crafty scheme afoot. Thus we often misjudge the motives of men; we thought we had effected the Indian's liberty, when the Christians were but poising to pounce (Bam and Levine 51).Notice how Caber De Vacate refers to the Spanish as â€Å"the Christians. † He does not include himself in the passage as one of the Christians probably because he has been able to tolerate and come to respect he native people. He does try to persuade the Indians that he is of the same race simply for their safety. He says: Lazar bade his interpreter tell the Indians that we were members of his race who had been long lost†¦ The Indians paid no attention to this. Conferring to themselves, they replied that the Christian's had lied: †¦ E healed and lanced; we coveted nothing but gave whatever we were given, while they robbed whomever they found and bestowed nothing on anyone (Bam and Nina 50) This differs from Rowland who regularly refers to the Native Americans as savages. In Caber De Visa's text, it is these â€Å"Christians† who appear to be the savages. The tone in this passage is almost regretful. Caber De Visa's use of dichotomies in this passage iterates the sadness on the idea that these supposed holy men ravage on helpless, innocent Indians according to God's will.This is exactly the opposite in Railroading's text where she views the native people as nothing short of barbaric like in the instance where her baby is improperly buried according to Christian guidelines. However, there are instances where Rowland comes to note the molarities between the Englishmen and the Indians. She also comes to somewhat embrace the savagery of the Indians when she eats bear's meat and finds it â€Å"savory' and â€Å"pleasant† rather than repulsive as Caber De Vacate does when he eats dog meat and prances around naked.