What is Symbolism in Literature? – Definition, Types & Examples

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Symbolism is a literary element used in literature to help readers understand a literary work. Learn more about the definition of symbolism and the different types of symbolism used in literature, then test your knowledge with a quiz.
Symbolism Defined
Symbolism is everywhere; symbolism exists whenever something is meant to represent something else. Symbolism is a figure of speech that is used when an author wants to create a certain mood or emotion in a work of literature. It is the use of an object, person, situation or word to represent something else, like an idea, in literature. Some common types of symbolism include:

Metaphor – a comparison between two unlike things without using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. For example, the phrase ‘time is money’ is an example of a metaphor comparing time to money. Money and time are two different things; this is an example of symbolism because these words show the importance of using your money and time wisely.

Allegory – an extended metaphor. An allegory can be an entire story, poem or book with symbolism that continues throughout the literary piece. In the novel Animal Farm by George Orwell, animals on a farm are used to represent the events leading up to the Russian revolution. The animals on the farm represent how greed and not having concern for others impact revolution.

Types of Symbolism in Literature
In literature, authors often use different symbols to represent a particular concept. Throughout various forms of literature, the following symbols might be used to create meaning in a story.

How to Become a Substitute Teacher: Step-by-Step Guide

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What Does a Substitute Teacher Do?
No matter how hard-working a teacher is there will come a time when they can’t come into work. This may be because they’re sick, dealing with family issues, or any other number of legitimate excuses for missing work. When this happens, someone is needed to take over that teacher’s responsibilities during their absence. The people who do this are known as substitute teachers. They can cover for teachers of any grade from early childhood care through secondary school, and they can be asked to cover for a teacher for just a single day or for a more extended period of time.

Working with students, like this teacher is doing, is the goal of most people wanting to become substitute teachers.
substitute teacher working
What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Substitute Teacher?
If you are interested in becoming a substitute teacher, you probably have many questions about how to accomplish this. For example, do you need a degree to be a substitute teacher, or do substitute teachers need certification? The short answer is, maybe. The reason that there is not a single definitive answer to these questions is because substitute teacher requirements can vary from state to state or even district to district. However, earning a high school diploma, an undergraduate degree, and acquiring certification are all possible things you might have to do to teach as a substitute.

While you will have to do some research on your own for the specific requirements of the district you want to work in, we will go over the various steps that you may have to go through to become a substitute teacher.

How to Become a Substitute Teacher
Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma
In most states and school districts, a high school diploma or the equivalent (like a GED) are the minimum requirements for substitute teachers. In some districts, if you have not yet earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree, you may not be eligible for a position as a substitute teacher, but you may apply for substitute teacher assistant positions.

Step 2: Earn an Undergraduate Degree
Next, to maximize your job potential as a substitute teacher, you will want to complete an undergraduate degree program.

Some districts set an associate’s degree as the minimum for any kind of substitute teaching job.
Other districts may restrict long-term or higher-paid substitute teaching licenses or assignments to those with bachelor’s degrees.
The definition of short-term or long-term will depend on your state or district; this typically denotes the number of consecutive days a substitute teacher may spend in a single classroom.
Long-term substitute teaching assignments can have additional requirements as well, such as a degree or a certain number of completed credit hours in the subject you intend to teach.
If your state requires a substitute teaching license, a bachelor’s degree may be a co-requisite. In some states, like Kansas, you must also complete a state-approved teacher preparation program before earning your first license.
The following is a list of bachelor’s degree requirements per state.

STATE IS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED?
Alabama No
Alaska Varies by district
Arizona Yes
Arkansas No
California Yes
Colorado No
Connecticut Yes, but it can be waived if you have previous experience with children
Delaware Yes, but only for class A certification
Florida Varies by district
Georgia Varies by district
Hawaii Yes
Idaho Varies by district
Illinois No
Indiana No
Iowa Yes
Kansas Yes
Kentucky Yes
Louisiana Varies by district
Maine No
Maryland Varies by district
Massachusetts Varies by district
Michigan No, but you need at least 90 semester hours
Minnesota Yes
Mississippi No
Missouri No, but you need at least 60 credit hours
Montana Varies by district
Nebraska No
Nevada No, but you need at least 60 credit hours
New Hampshire Varies by district
New Jersey Varies by county
New Mexico No
New York Varies by district
North Carolina Varies by district
North Dakota Yes
Ohio Yes
Oklahoma Varies by district
Oregon Yes
Pennsylvania Yes
Rhode Island Yes
South Carolina Varies by district
South Dakota Varies by district
Tennessee Varies by district
Texas Varies by district
Utah Varies by district
Vermont Varies by district
Virginia Yes
Washington Yes
West Virginia Yes
Wyoming Yes
Generally speaking, the higher your level of education, the more opportunities you may have for longer-term assignments and increased pay. But even if you already have a bachelor’s degree, you may find that your district restricts some positions to those who have a professional teaching certification, or who have passed certain credentialing exams.

Step 3: Research and Complete Other Substitute Teacher Requirements for Your District
The necessary credentials for substitute teachers can be very different depending on where you intend to teach. Therefore, it’s important to research substitute teaching positions for your state and district to make sure you fully understand what is expected of you. Some additional things to look out for include:

Substitute teaching license or permit: Some states require licensure for all substitute teachers. This license is usually renewable.
Background check and fingerprinting: Most prospective substitute teachers must clear a criminal history background check, either before employment or as part of a licensing process. This process can also include submitting fingerprints to your public-school district; be sure to check with your district for specific instructions on where and how to complete fingerprinting.
College/university transcripts: Often, you will have to submit these documents as part of the application process, so it may be a good idea to obtain these as soon as possible. If the job does not require an undergraduate degree, you may still need to submit a copy of your high school diploma or equivalency.
References: Most substitute teaching applications require professional references from current or previous employers. Sometimes the school district will provide a reference form that your employer must submit themselves.
Physical health check: Some states and districts require that you submit confirmation of good physical health with your job or license application. You may also need to clear a drug test or tests for specific diseases like tuberculosis.
Safety training: In some districts, you’ll need to confirm that you have completed specific training related to classroom or child safety, including first aid/CPR/AED training, anaphylaxis awareness, and diabetes care.
Teaching experience: Some substitute teaching positions ask for prior student teaching experience or interning. Other districts provide orientation training for substitute teachers, which covers subjects like classroom management, instruction, and the teaching profession. Some training requirements may be statewide; for example, substitute teachers in Oregon must complete the Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment exam, while Virginia substitute teachers must receive training in how to recognize signs of child abuse.
Step 4: Apply for a Position as a Substitute Teacher in Your District
After completing your research, you should have a pretty good idea of how to sign up to be a substitute teacher in your district. Again, this process will vary depending on your location, but in general, you’ll find application details on your school district’s website. Your application process may involve creating an online account on an official website. Follow the instructions carefully and make sure that you have prepared everything that you need to submit your application, such as transcripts, references, training confirmation, fingerprint cards, and so on.

Because substitute teaching is usually an on-call role, you will most likely be applying to a pool of substitute teachers in your district, rather than one specific position. If your application is approved, you will then be able to accept assignments as they come up.

Substitute Teacher Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2019, short time substitute teachers make a mean hourly wage of $15.61, and a mean annual wage of $32,460. However, keep in mind that this wage can vary heavily between states. For example, this same data showed Montana having a mean hourly wage of $10.65 and Hawaii having one of $23.17.

Substitute teachers are constantly in need in all levels of primary and secondary education. While there are often plentiful opportunities to work as a substitute teacher, since your primary role is replacing that of the normal teacher when they can’t come in, work is not guaranteed every day.

Finally, while schools are the primary employer of substitute teachers, there are a limited amount of other employment options as well. A couple of other examples are working for daycare services and educational support services.

What Are Skin Cells? – Functions, Types & Facts

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Your skin is a fascinating organ and more complicated than you may have realized. It is made up of different layers and several types of cells, each with an important function for keeping you safe and healthy.
Skin: The Body’s Barrier
The largest organ you have in your body isn’t your stomach, although it sometimes seems that way. It isn’t your brain, your intestines, or your liver. Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s the main barrier between you and the outside world.

It’s soft, but your skin does a great job of protecting you from a number of external dangers like the viruses and bacteria that make you sick, as well as other types of physical harm. Several different types of cells make up your skin, and each provides a different, important function.

Skin’s Functions and Layers
Protection is a major function of skin, but there are others. Your skin is full of nerve endings that help you sense the world around you. Your skin emits sweat when you’re hot. Sweat evaporating from your skin cools you. Your skin is also like a sack that holds in your important fluids and nutrients.

To the naked eye, your skin seems like a pretty simple organ, but if you dig deeper, you’ll find out that it’s actually made up of a few different layers and different kinds of skin cells. The outer layer of your skin that you see and feel and with which you sense the world is called the epidermis. Within the epidermis are layers of four different kinds of skin cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel cells, and Langerhans cells.

A thin layer called the basement membrane separates the epidermis from the lower layer of the skin, called the dermis. The dermis is composed of proteins, like collagen and elastin, which support the skin and make it strong and flexible. Under the dermis is the hypodermis, which is largely made of fat for insulation and support of the upper layers.

Skin Cells
You started life as a single cell that divided into two cells. Those divided into four, and so on, until you grew into an adult. Once we reach adulthood, most of our cells stop growing and dividing. We’re done at that point. There are a few exceptions, however, and one of those is skin cells.

You may have noticed that when your skin is dry, it gets flaky and pieces fall off. Don’t be alarmed and think that you’re eventually going to lose all of your skin. Skin cells die, slough off, and are replaced by new skin cells. The process slows down as you get older, but it never stops.

Skin cells grow and divide in the basement membrane. From here, the new cells get pushed up into the epidermis. Once in the epidermis, the cells no longer receive blood or nutrients. They begin the slow process of dying and sloughing off to be replaced by yet more new cells. Your outermost layer of skin is nothing but dead cells.

Keratinocytes
Keratinocytes are the most common among skin cells. They account for between 90% and 95% of your skin. The primary function of these cells is to create the barrier between you and the rest of the world.

Keratinocytes produce the protein called keratin, and by the time the cells have been pushed up from the basement membrane, they are mostly sacks filled with keratin. This protein is structural and provides your outer skin with its strength and helps it act as a barrier. Hair and nails are made of keratin, which is why you might see beauty products advertise it as an ingredient.

Melanocytes
Melanin is the pigment that gives your skin its color, and it is produced in specialized skin cells called melanocytes. The darker your skin is, the more melanin these cells produce. They can be found deep in the epidermis, close to the basement membrane.

Freud’s Theory of the Id, Ego & Superego: Definitions & Examples

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Do you know who or what is behind the metaphorical angel and devil sitting on your shoulders, debating whether you should get up for a jog or hit the snooze button again? This lesson examines this type of internal debate by addressing Freud’s work on the different sides of our conscious and unconscious selves – the id, the ego, and the superego.
Freud’s Structure of Personality
Let’s talk about the id, the ego and the superego, the three parts of the structure of personality and a theory that was developed by Sigmund Freud. He’s probably someone you’ve heard of; he’s a pretty famous psychologist from the late 19th early 20th centuries. While his theory of personalities is outdated, it was monumental in influencing how we think about personality today.

When you think of Freud, you might think about going into therapy and lying down on a couch, telling your therapist about your problems. But if someone goes into therapy today, the therapist isn’t going to say ‘Oh, of course! Aha! It’s the id, the ego and the superego. They’re just not talking to each other right. Nevertheless, these three personality parts have entered the mainstream understanding of how we think about internal conflict.

Let’s think about an average person who’s pushed and pulled in lots of directions by different drives, like sex and food, but also ethics and a wish to maintain a healthy body. These drives are pushing them and pulling them in different directions, and maybe they’re not even aware.

This is the idea of internal conflict. It’s the conflict between basic desires (the id), morality and being a good person (the superego) and consciousness (the ego.)

The Id
So first let’s start with the id. This is an unconscious part of your personality. It is basically the childish and impulsive part of you that just does what it wants, and it wants things really intensely and doesn’t really think about the consequences. Freud describes this as operating on a pleasure principle, which essentially means what it sounds like, which is that it’s always seeking to try to increase pleasure and decrease pain.

Now, as an example of this, let’s say you come home and you find to your delight that your roommate has baked a cake. Your id would think ‘Oh! I want that cake right now! That looks delicious!’ You know your roommate’s not going to be happy if you eat it, so first, you eat a little piece of the corner, and then you have to cut yourself a slice so it doesn’t look disgusting, and then soon enough you’ve eaten the whole thing; it’s gone.

How did you manage to eat the whole cake? Blame your id for taking over. That’s what your id aims to do in life. It wants you to eat whole cakes because it wants you to increase pleasure. Cakes are going to make you feel good – why not eat the whole thing? Now, what it also wants to do is decrease pain. So let’s say you wake up the next morning and you think, ‘Oh no, I just ate a whole cake. That’s really bad, maybe I’ll get some exercise.’ You think to yourself about how you will go hiking in the mountains all day, and you tell yourself, ‘Alright, let’s get some exercise!’ No, your id says, ‘That’s not gonna happen; that’s gonna hurt. We don’t want to do that.’ So if you’re totally id driven, you’d basically eat the whole cake and then you would not go hiking the next day to burn off the calories. That’s the pleasure principle.

The Superego
Now, we usually don’t eat whole cakes and lay on the couch all day every day. What helps to control the rampaging id? There is another part of your personality that’s mainly unconscious, and it’s the superego. The superego is the part of you that’s super judgmental and moralizing and is always trying to get you to behave in a socially appropriate way. Now let’s see what the superego would do if you come home and you find the cake.

If the superego is in charge, you wouldn’t eat the cake at all. You’d still think it looks delicious and want to eat it, but the superego would say, ‘No, it’s my roommate’s cake. I’m not gonna eat this cake!’ Remember, the superego wants you to behave morally and appropriately, and it’s not that socially appropriate to eat other people’s baked goods.

But, let’s imagine that your id takes over, so you do eat the cake. The same thing happens: you eat a little bit, you eat a little bit more, and somehow you end up eating it all. But now your superego jumps back into action. What happens now that you already ate the cake? Guilt is what’s going to happen. Your superego makes you feel really guilty when you do things that are not socially appropriate.

What do you do now? If your superego is in control again, you would certainly go jogging, but you would also apologize to your roommate and bake them a new cake, maybe an even better one than before. The superego controls our sense of right and wrong. We feel bad when we do things that are wrong, and we feel good when we do things that are right, and that’s what the superego controls.

What Can I Do with an Interdisciplinary Bachelors Degree?

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What is Interdisciplinary Studies?
Interdisciplinary studies is a field that explores multiple disciplines and helps equip students with important skills needed for a wide range of careers, such as communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. Typically, interdisciplinary studies degree programs are flexible and allow students to customize their studies to their particular interests and career goals. Programs in interdisciplinary studies may be ideal for students who are interested in multiple areas of study, are interested in a career or academic major change, or want to pursue study in an area that is not offered as a major.

Interdisciplinary Studies Jobs
While you can find some free training courses, such as free, online courses in business entrepreneurship or free, online legal courses, pursuing a bachelor’s degree generally provides a well-rounded education that helps prepare students for various kinds of positions. Since interdisciplinary studies usually explores multiple areas of study and incorporates a wide range of general skills needed for many different jobs, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in the field can pursue an array of careers that require a bachelor’s degree.

Usually, students with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies focus their studies in 2 or more areas, such as business, psychology, science, or math, and therefore, may pursue a career in one of those specific areas. Some specific job titles for those with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies may include:

Game warden
Entrepreneur
Project manager
Financial advisor
Facilities manager
Journalist
Pharmaceutical sales representative
Legislative assistant
College recruiter
Computer forensics analyst
It is also fairly common for those with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies to go on to pursue advanced education in another area of interest. While some master’s degree programs in interdisciplinary studies are available, students may pursue a master’s or even doctoral degree in a field of interest, such as health, environmental studies, the social sciences, and law.

Bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies
Bachelor’s degree programs in interdisciplinary studies are available as Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees, but are most commonly available as a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. Some of these programs may be available in online formats and/or hybrid formats that allow students to take some courses online and some on-campus. Most interdisciplinary studies programs require students to choose 2 to 3 areas of concentration and/or minor areas of studies. Students may choose from areas like:

Business
Communications
Fine and performing arts
Natural sciences
Health and human services
Education
Military science
Religion
Social sciences
Computational sciences
Generally, these degree programs require 120 credit hours and may include some general education courses, electives, and courses in students’ chosen concentration areas. Some programs may also incorporate field experiences and other hands-on learning opportunities.

Interdisciplinary Studies Salary
Since graduates with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies can pursue a wide range of jobs, the salary for graduates with this degree also varies with job title. However, PayScale.com reported that as of December 2019, graduates with a Bachelor of Science (BS/BSc) in Interdisciplinary Studies made an average salary of $54,000. Beyond specific job titles, salaries for graduates with this degree may also vary based on factors like employer and years of work experience.

How to Become a Basketball Coach: Step-by-Step Career Guide

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Should I Become a Basketball Coach?
Basketball coaches teach their players how to play the game and work together as a team. They organize team practices, supervise physical conditioning activities, analyze individual players and the team as a whole, and create game strategies. Coaches are also responsible for guiding and motivating their team towards success.

Basketball coaches can work with teams at various levels, including high school, college and professional. This occupation can be physically demanding, and coaches are often called upon to help their players learn good sportsmanship, whether in winning or losing. This work is typically part-time at the high school level but can be full-time at college or professional levels. Higher levels may also offer prestige for coaches of popular teams.

Career Requirements
Salary $43,870 annually (2018 average salary for all coaches and scouts)
Degree Level Bachelor’s degree
Degree Field Any; however, it’s helpful if the field is relevant, such as exercise science, physical education, physiology, or sports medicine
Experience Assistant coaching; playing on a basketball team
Key Skills Communication, leadership, ability to make quick decisions, attention to detail, and acute knowledge of basketball and its rules
Licensure Required to work in public schools
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monster.com.

How To Become a Basketball Coach
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
You have the option to pursue programs in exercise and physical education; however, some schools offer degree programs that specialize in coach training. These programs teach students how to work with athletes and develop game plans, as well as plan and implement physical conditioning and skills development programs. Students also receive training in injury prevention.

Success Tips:
Play basketball. Firsthand experience playing basketball can give you a more well-rounded knowledge of the sport and allow them to better communicate with their players. Having experience playing on a team may also help secure jobs later down the road.

Consider working as a teacher in addition to coaching. Teachers who work in junior highs and high schools may have the best opportunities to coach at that level. Many schools will hire coaches who are already working as state-certified teachers and understand how to educate and communicate with young people. In this case, you can hold a degree in any subject taught at a school.

Step 2: Get Coaching Experience
To be hired in an assistant position, you may need to have coaching experience. While in school, you can begin working with basketball teams at many different levels. Working as team manager for your college team can help you learn how to become a college basketball coach, training you in game and practice preparation. Volunteering as an assistant for a local high school basketball team is another option, helping you train to become a high school basketball coach.

Success Tip:
Learn how to watch game tapes. One of the primary duties of both assistant and head basketball coaches is watching game tapes and breaking down the actions and strategies of teams and players. Watching all levels of basketball games and learning how to reorganize various offenses and defenses can be highly beneficial.

Step 3: Work as an Assistant
Individuals often begin their careers as assistant basketball coaches, with increasingly responsible levels of assisting. It’s also important to work individually with players both before and after practice to help them improve their basketball skills.

Step 4: Obtain Certification
Most states require public junior high and high school coaches to earn certification. In order to obtain certification, you need to complete courses in coaching, CPR, and first aid and pass an examination. Certification may also be required for coaches who are non-faculty members at a school.

Step 5: Advance in the Field
After gaining certification, you are able to work as head coaches at public junior high and high schools. Most junior high and high school coaching positions are part-time and do not offer the pay or benefits of a full-time position. If you are interested in coaching as a full-time career, you should consider coaching college or professional basketball. Professional or college basketball coach requirements often involve years of experience and a winning track record for your team.

To become a basketball coach, you need to have a bachelor’s degree and experience in the sport and with coaching.

10 Universities Offering Free Writing Courses Online

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Writing Courses: A General Introduction
Adult writing classes are a great way to improve your writing skills. Free writing courses are appropriate for any adult learner, as writing permeates nearly every profession. From drafting professional e-mails to writing a creative story, investing in your written communication skills is a great use of your time. Sometimes finding an in-person class is as simple as typing writing classes near me into a search engine. However, it is now easier than ever before to take accredited writing courses online, allowing for a more flexible schedule.

College writing courses can be helpful for nearly any profession
adult writing courses
Some common topics you might encounter in free writing classes are:

Basic mechanics
Journalism
Blogging
Business writing
Resume building
English composition
Creative writing
While it may seem unlikely that a university would make online writing classes free, it is actually more common than you think. For your convenience, this article has rounded up the best free online writing courses for new writers or experienced writers.

Online Writing Courses (for Credit)
For individuals interested in pursuing a career in writing, many schools offer free writing courses and materials through OpenCourseWare (OCW) projects. While formal admission isn’t necessary to access lectures and other materials, these free online writing classes don’t usually award college credit. Students looking for the same ease of access and opportunity to apply their study time towards a degree or certificate program might want to consider online writing courses for college credit through Study.com.

Students trying to improve their writing can check out English online classes like English 104: College Composition. Chapters in this course include:

Conventions in Writing: Usage – Instructors discuss tips for developing clear sentence structures, good diction and a strong writing style.
Parts of an Essay – This chapter covers prewriting strategies and methods for organizing an essay. The importance of a strong thesis, smooth transition sentences and an engaging introduction are also discussed.
Essay Writing – The differences between persuasive and personal essays are covered alongside strategies for addressing the audience and anticipating opposing views.
How to Revise an Essay – Instructors demonstrate strategies for using sources in an essay and evaluating an argument’s logic or evidence.
Using Source Materials – Tips for writing a bibliography or works cited page and avoiding plagiarism are covered in this chapter.
Free Online Writing Courses (Non-Credited)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Through MIT’s OCW program, students can download a variety of undergraduate and graduate-level online college writing courses that cover topics in areas such as essay, expository, and technical writing for students interested in exploring a technical writing degree program. Course activities and formats include assignments, exams, lecture notes, and video presentations.

Writing and Reading the Essay focuses on the essay as a popular literary genre. The syllabus indicates two essay anthologies as course texts, which can be purchased online. Course activities include a reader’s journal and a series of personal writing assignments.
Writing and Reading Short Stories offers students the opportunity to study character development, plotting, and point of view. Featured authors include Flannery O’Connor, Alice Walker, William Faulkner, and John Updike.
New Jersey Institute of Technology
The New Jersey Institute of Technology is a scientific and technological university that offers online writing courses and materials.

Technical Writing is geared toward the advanced writer. In this free writers’ course, which consists of about 40 video-taped lectures, students apply theory to analyze and solve complex communication problems. Course topics include audience awareness, document design, ethics, gender equity, and rhetorical theory.
Open University
The Open University is the largest educational establishment in the United Kingdom, as well as the country’s only distance-learning school. The university’s free online writing courses may not provide access to the same resources used by formally enrolled students, but course formats might include Web- and print-based content as well as the ability to interact with other students through a comments feature.

Start Writing Fiction is a 12-hour, free online writing course for beginners that can provide students with the inspiration and tools they need to put their words on paper. The course emphasis is on developing character and settings within a variety of fiction genres.
Writing What You Know is designed to help students improve their descriptive writing skills. This eight-hour, introductory class encourages students to view their everyday lives from a new perspective, demonstrating how an author’s personal life can serve as a source of inspiration.
Purdue University
Through Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL), students and teachers around the world can enjoy 24-hour access to a variety of Web-based resources, including handouts, podcasts, and PowerPoint presentations from online writing courses. These include topics in grammar and mechanics, professional and technical writing, English as a Second Language (ESL), research, and writing style.

Professional and Technical Writing provides a list of varied Web-based resources that can show students and professionals how to research and write business letters, memos, and other office-related documents. Topics include audience analysis, parallel structures, and writing tone. Additional technical writing resources include information on how to write scientific abstracts and white papers.
The Writing Process includes a list of mostly text-based resources and exercises that cover everything from overcoming writer’s block to proofreading strategies. Additional topics include pre-writing, thesis statements, outlining, and audience analysis, which can be applied to a wide variety of writing tasks.
University of College Falmouth
The University College Falmouth is a specialized art institution based in the United Kingdom that offers free creative writing classes. The non-credit classes offered through the school’s ‘OpenSpace’ project allow students to work at their own level and pace but don’t provide all the materials from the original course. Although registration isn’t required to access assignments, lectures, and other materials, registered students may be able to participate in online chats and peer reviews.

Introduction to Novel Writing was designed to provide graduate-level students with the structural skills to organize and develop extended pieces of creative writing. In addition to writing assignments and suggested readings, open course materials include YouTube videos by Joyce Carol Oates, Salmon Rushdie, and Amy Tan.
Writing for Children introduces students to the genres and styles integral to the market and helps them find the right age group for their story. Open course materials include assignments, background reading, examples of children’s books and an online lecture.
University of Iowa
The Writing University is a Web-based resource for the school’s literary and writing community, providing direct access to a number of free audio presentations. Recent podcasts have included presentations on the sentence, creative nonfiction, and experiential writing.

Flash Fiction introduces students to the concept of the super-short story and its emergence as a mainstream literary trend. Listeners can learn how brief experiences or even a life story can be condensed into a paragraph or a couple of written lines.
How to Find the Short Story Within Your Novel helps listeners identify the dissimilarities between these two literary forms. Students learn how to extract a quality excerpt from a longer piece of prose and how first-time authors can prepare their work for publication.
University of Massachusetts at Boston
Critical Reading and Writing is designed to help students achieve college-level reading and writing skills through a critical exploration of U.S. foreign policy. Students have access to the course syllabus, an assignment list, and website. Through the course site, students can open and download text documents and PowerPoint presentations on topics like critical analysis strategies, brainstorming, and building concepts, as well as documents and links to online resources on foreign policy issues.
University of Michigan
This university participates as a member of the OpenCourseWare Consortium by providing free access to educational materials and course content through its Open.Michigan website.

Principles of Research and Problem Solving is a PowerPoint presentation breaking down scientific writing skills, such as within research proposals.
Utah State University (USU)
Utah State offers OCW materials in several academic departments. Students may be able to apply the knowledge gained from use of these open materials to pass exams to earn credit. USU may give credit to students who pass subject tests offered by individual departments, the International Baccalaureate Organization, or CLEP exams, among other options.

Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode provides access to 16 weekly lessons, with links to readings and related writing assignments. Students learn how to engage in various components of the writing process while developing critical reading and thinking skills. Topics include writing about controversial topics, argumentation styles, source documentation and how to use multimedia resources.
Introduction to Writing: Academic Prose is an online complement to a graduate-level course. The course materials are presented in a similar 16-week format, with links to several online readings and assignment descriptions. The syllabus begins with assignments related to debate and dialogue, cultural myths, and visual literacy. Additional writing activities include a family narrative, a school board project, and a media analysis.
Stanford University
Online courses can be found at Stanford through the school’s OpenEdX platform.

Adventures in Writing is an innovative approach to teaching writing skills. Developed by a group of lecturers, the course teaches written communication skills through a series of learning modules drawn and formatted in the style of graphic novels.

Control Group: Definition & Explanation

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A control group is used in an experiment to establish its validity. It is the group to which no treatment is administered. Learn more about how a control group works in this lesson.
What Is a Control Group?
Imagine that you want to know if salt makes water boil faster. You would want to heat one pan of water without salt and one pan of water with salt at the same temperature. Then you would compare how long it takes each pan of water to boil. In this experiment, the water without salt is your control group.

A control group is the group in a study that does not include the thing being tested and is used as a benchmark to measure the results of the other group.

Importance of Control Groups
There must be at least two groups in any valid experiment: the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group is the group in which you are testing something. For the experiment described earlier, the pan of water with salt added is the experimental group. The only difference between the two groups is the addition of the salt. This means that salt is the variable. A variable is the condition that is allowed to change.

In order for you to know exactly what causes a difference in the results between groups, only one variable can be measured at a time. You would compare the results from the experimental group with the results of the control group to see what happens when you change the variable you want to examine. A control group is an essential part of an experiment because it allows you to eliminate and isolate these variables.

Control groups are particularly important in social sciences, such as psychology. This is because it is practically impossible to completely eliminate all of the bias and outside influence that could alter the results of the experiment, but control groups can be used to focus on the variable you’re trying to test. Failure to provide evidence of strong control groups can cause a study to be considered invalid.

Types of Control Groups
There are two main types of control groups: positive control groups and negative control groups.

Positive Control Groups
In a positive control group, the control group is designed to produce the effect you are trying to reproduce in the experimental group.

This type of control group allows you to show that the desired result is possible in the experiment. In this situation, you would use something that is known to produce the desired result as the control group. This proves that the experimental conditions are valid. If the control group also fails, it would show that something is wrong with the conditions of the experiment. Positive control groups reduce the chance of a false negative. A false negative is a result that appears negative when it should not.

Home Health Aide: Educational Requirements

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Because there are so few education requirements to become a home health aide, you might find that this might be a convenient way for you to see if the healthcare field is your cup of tea. In addition, you’ll find that jobs in this field are projected to increase at a much faster rate than the average of all occupations.

Home health aides work with those unable to care for themselves at home
Home health aides work with those unable to care for themselves at home
Essential Information for Home Health Aides
Home health aides go to a patient’s home, or work in a residential facility, to deliver health care to the elderly, ill, or disabled. Home health aides usually work with patients who need more extensive physical/medical care than a typical family can provide. While no formal education is required to secure a position as a home health aide, certificate and HHA training classes are available from many postsecondary institutes. Optional certification is also available.

The BLS noted that as of May 2019, home health aides’ median salary was $25,280. Jobs in this area are expected to grow at an extremely fast rate of 34% between 2019 and 2029.

Required Education None mandatory; certificate programs are available
Other Requirements Optional National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) certification
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) 34%*
Median Salary (May 2019) $25,280*
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

HHA Training Requirements
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), educational requirements for home health aides vary depending on their employer. Aides who work for organizations that receive funds from Medicare or Medicaid must complete formal home health-care training, while those who work for private companies do not necessarily need home health-care classes. On-the-job training is often provided by more experienced aides, nursing assistants (CNAs), licensed practical or registered nurses may provide this training.

Aspiring home health aides receive training to provide daily care to patients and basic health-related services. They check patient pulse rates, temperature, and blood pressure readings, as well as assist with administering medication or therapy. Other duties may include cleaning bedpans and changing linens. Home health aides need compassion, integrity, dependability, and a cheerful attitude to perform their role.

Home Health Aide Certificate Training Programs
For formal home health aide training, prospective candidates may look to programs offered by community colleges and other postsecondary institutions. These programs often last a semester, and applicants may need to complete a physical examination, including state-mandated blood tests, and a background check in order to enroll. Students must also be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Home health aide classes teach students to help control infectious diseases and manage patients. Students may also receive training on working with people who need spiritual, emotional and social support. Upon completion, graduates are eligible to take a state competency examination.

Home Care Aide Certification
For certification, home care aides may look to the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) to become certified. To earn their credentials, applicants must complete 75 hours of training, demonstrate their skills and pass a written examination. The BLS notes that candidates in some states may need to complete additional requirements to obtain certification.

While technically you don’t need a high school diploma to become a home health aide, most aides do in fact hold a diploma, though specific requirements can vary by employer. Should you work for an agency that receives funding from Medicare or Medicaid, you must complete a formal training program. There are HHA classes near most large cities, typically found at community colleges. In addition, home health aide certification might be required by individual states.

Expert Contributor: Kristyn Blandford Kristyn has a master’s degree and 11+ years’ experience in health-related fields, including administration, client services, and clinical supervision.

What is a Server? – Definition & Explanation

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In this lesson, we’ll define what a server is, the configurations that make systems function as servers, and the differences from computers built as servers. We’ll also examine some of the different types of servers and their capabilities.
Server Definition
A server is a computer equipped with specific programs and/or hardware that enables it to offer services to other computers (clients) on its network. There are different types and capabilities of servers. Think about transportation. We can think of transportation as anything that can move something or someone from one location to the other. A bicycle can move one person, a car can move four people, a bus can move 50 people, and a plane can move 500 people. They are all modes of transport, but each has a different capacity. The same applies to servers.

Types of Servers
A computer may need many services to work. As such, there are different types of servers available.

File Server
A file server is a server that contains files which are made accessible to other clients on the network. A file server has the sole responsibility for storing and managing a set of files, which are made accessible to other computers. These files are shared among clients in the network by allowing access without having to physically transfer the accessed files to their local systems.

Print Server
A print server is a server which has a dedicated printer connected to it which is accessible by other clients through it on the same network. Other clients on the network can print work to this printer through this print server.

Web Server
A web server is a server equipped with HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) that serves web pages in response to requests submitted by clients. For example, if you type www.ismellgood.com/homepage on your browser as a client, you are in effect requesting a web page stored on a server with a domain named ismellgood.com, called a homepage. In response to your request, the respective web server locates the homepage page in its system and displays it to you. If you erroneously type www.ismellgood.com/homewage, the server will return an error message saying – web page not found! Well, that’s familiar!

Application Server
An application server stores and manages all applications between an organization’s users and its databases or backend business applications. If you’ve visited a bank to withdraw money, then you’ve accessed the bank’s application server through the services of the attending teller. The teller’s machine through the banking application accesses the bank’s application server to retrieve your bank account details and facilitate your transaction.

Server Capabilities
Now in the real world, there are really two main types of servers. A system that is configured is set up to behave as a server. There are various sophisticated, specially designed operating system server software and server hardware.

To understand this better let us revisit the definition of a server. To recap, a server is a computer equipped with specific programs and/or hardware to enable it to offer services to other computers on its network. A home computer with a desktop operating system, 100 Gb storage capacity, 10 Gb memory, with four computers connected to it, containing a number of files can be configured to share those files with the other computers on the network and act as a file server.