On English and Writing Critical Thinking Essay Example

Essays on On English and Writing: Critical Thinking Essay The paper "On English and Writing: Critical Thinking" is a worthy example of an essay on English. In his 1996 essay on â€Å"attitude† Sheridan Baker, a scholar, a and critical thinker asserts that writer's attitude toward their target group and the writers themselves determines the quality of the prose produced. He supports this argument by giving examples of bad attitude can make writing boring. He farther states that a good writer should have respect towards his audience and the readers. His main purpose is to make his reader aware of the consequences of a negative attitude in order to make them become good writers. His main audience was college students who were interested in writing in the future (Woodworth 7).Charles Peirce’s article, â€Å"The Fixation of Belief† (1877), argued that humans have a psychological and social mechanism to protect and strengthen our beliefs. Peirce backs up this claim by a thorough description of the four methods of fixing belie f highlighting the advantages and weaknesses of each. His main purpose is to point out the ways people can establish their beliefs in order to get the awareness of the reader considering how the beliefs may be the product of the methods. He is writing to the educated audience with the knowledge of philosophy and histories this depends on the language used (Hendricks 28).Toni Morrison, in her essay â€Å"Disturbing Nurses and the kindness of Shark† implies that ethnic and racism in the United States influences crafting American novelists. He supports this implication by describing how other writers like Ernest Hemingway write about black characters. his purpose is to make her reader feel the sense of the cruel reality of racism underlying Americans to enable them to examine the effects of racism not only affect those discriminates but also those that discriminate (Michael 1). The targets the audience of racial mixed and critical reader of literature using a very high analytica l toneIn the year 1997 Larisa Macfarqhuhar in her article â€Å"Who cares if Johnny can’t read† asserts that Americans are reading more than ever despite the aims o the contrary. She supports this claim about American reading habits with facts that compare the past and the present reading practices (Lanzbom 1). She challenges common assumptions by raising questions about reading intrinsic values. Her purpose is to dispel some myths about reading in order to raise new and more important questions about the value reading and other media culture. She targets a young audience with a sarcastic tone.

Charles Dickens Analysis Essay Example For Students

Charles Dickens Analysis Essay Dickens leaves the reader wondering if the Convict is religious or not because when he lets Pip go he makes pip say Lord strike me dead if I dont, which either means the Convict believes in a Lord or the convict believes that Pip might believe in a Lord so it would give Pip a better reason for coming back, if the fact a young man willing to tear out his heart and liver isnt enough. When the Convict lets pip go home Pip runs away towards his home. He is obviously scared and occasionally looks back to see if the Convict is still there. The end of chapter one explains how Pip sees in the distance a Pirates gibbet, which makes him think of the horrible young man. He looks around for the young man and then becomes frightened again and so runs all the way home without stopping. This technique at the end of the chapter is called a cliffhanger and it makes the reader want to read on leaving them in Suspense in what is going to happen next. Dickens also wrote The Signalman and I will briefly explain the first few paragraphs how Dickens creates Suspense In the Signalman: The Signalman has a very unusual beginning Halloa! Below there! Dickens creates suspense in the first few paragraphs of the signalman by once again luring the reader into an unknown atmosphere. He start off the story with someone shouting down at a signalman and this is the first piece of Suspense. The reader is left wondering what will happen next or what the signalman will say. The man shouting down is asking the signalman if there is any way, which he can come down and talk to him. The next large area of Suspense is when Dickens describes a train passing by Just then, there came a vague vibration in the earth and air, quickly changing into a violent pulsation, and an oncoming rush which caused me to startle back, as though it had force to draw me down. When such vapour rose to my height from this rapid train , had passed me and was skimming away over the landscape. Dickens builds up suspense by describing the train passing in so much detail and leaving us to wonder and imagine what will happen next. Dickens is very good at using imagery in his character and having a visual image of a character helps that person to understand the story more. The way in which Dickens explains the surroundings and the characters is in so much detail we can almost picture them as if they were in the room with us. In the Signalman Dickens describes the descent in which the person has to make to travel down to the signalman. It is so detailed you can picture being there. Dickens also uses the senses to enhance the feeling of what he is describing. His favourite sense is sight as most of the things he describes are to do with seeing the object he is describing. There by a dint of looking closely about me, I found a rough descending zig-zag path notched out: which I followed. The cutting was extremely deep, and unusually precipitate. It was made through a clammy stone that became oozier and wetter as I went down. Dickens also uses complex words to portray his suspense For these reasons, I found the way long enough to give me time to recall a singular air of reluctance or compulsion with which he had pointed out the path. Dickens describes the thoughts and images that the man sees when he comes down to talk with the signalman. .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db , .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .postImageUrl , .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db , .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:hover , .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:visited , .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:active { border:0!important; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:active , .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u5f05f50e31b1de7741a9e69cc970f6db:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Fair Lady Review Essay I resumed my downward way, and, stepping out on the level of the railroad and drawing nearer to him, saw that he was a dark sallow man , with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows. His post was in a as solitary and dismal place as ever I saw. On either side, a dripping-wet wall of jagged stone, excluding all view but a strip of sky; the perspective one way, only a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon; the shorter perspective in the other direction , terminating in a gloomy red light, and the gloomier entrance to a black tunnel, in whose massive architecture there was a Barbarous, depressing, and forbidding air. This section is a perfect example of how Dickens creates suspense in the Signalman and great Expectations. He uses great detail to lure a reader into an unknown atmosphere. This makes the reader want to read on and desperate to find out what is going to happen next. A combination of interesting and thorough detail, careful choices of words and the five senses create an excellent base for building up Suspense in Dickens Stories. This is why he is such a brilliant Suspense writer.

Review and Analysis of the U.S. and UK Government Websites

Introduction Since the 1990s, internet has been expanding at a very fast pace and it has had a significant impact on how organizations and governments operate. During the era, the most technological advanced Western countries, such as the U.S. and Britain, have been working side by side to lead the way in establishing e-government.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review and Analysis of the U.S. and UK Government Websites specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More E-government is a worldwide phenomenon to improve service delivery and internal efficiency of governmental organizations. With the application of new internet technologies, the developed countries are now leading the global phenomenon of e-government. Today, government agencies, management consulting firms, and IT companies have been exploring and documenting the best practices for e-government initiatives. It can be seen that the development of e-government has f ollowed the development of e-commerce after being proven that businesses have been stimulated by it. Below, I’m going to provide a broad overview in e-government practices among two different nations, the U.S. and Britain, and show how they have impacted the society as a whole, to individual citizens and organizations. The government websites are very essential in circulating information between various departments within the government. The sites also provide the information to the public. The websites are designed in such a way that the security issues such as web site hacking are greatly minimized. The websites to be reviewed and analyzed are those of the UK government and the ones for the US government. They include the Official Site of the British Prime Minister’s Office, the United States Senate website, the UK Parliament website, USA Government made easy site, and Directgov website. Review of the Websites Even though these websites are intended to serve almost a similar purpose, they contain different information. The websites are supposed to avail essential information not only to the governmental departments, but also to the public, which includes different organizations and the citizens of these countries.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The UK websites, the official site of the British Prime Minister’s Office and the UK Parliament Website, and Directgov offer a variety of information to the users (The official site of the British Prime Minister’s Office, 2012; United States Senate, 2012; UK Parliament Website, n.d.; USA Government Made Easy, n.d.; Directgov., n.d.). The information in the websites include departmental business plans, the government expenditures, the Whitehall officials, the government contracts, meetings within the ministries, and other important government data. They also contain information regarding the bills and legislation. They have a section in which users can register in order to receive the latest news on a regular basis via their email address. The two US government websites mentioned above provide a range of information to the users (United States Senate, 2012; USA Government Made Easy, n.d.). The United States Senate provides information regarding the states in the senate and strategies used to run the House. The USA Government Made Easy website, on the other hand, contains issues such as government jobs, government auctions, unclaimed money, government agencies, grants and other financial assistance programs offered by the US government. Like the UK websites, the US sites also provide the users with chance to register and receive latest updates on a regular basis. The Overall Content of the United States Sites The content for the U.S. government websites are loaded with useful information. There are introductions for every resource that explains everything in detail whic h help users who are not familiar with how the governmental system works. For example, in the House of Representatives website, there are learning tools which aid educators and students to learn about how the house works, how the congress makes laws, and etc. Moreover, in the websites, the public are even able to access a variety of disclosure documents, such as the financial disclosure reports and legal expense fund disclosures. I believe the overall presentation for the U.S. government websites are excellent. They are very user friendly and the information presented is very neat and in a proper manner. The websites are simple too without having too many writings that are scattered all over the web, which often times cause the users to get confused.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Review and Analysis of the U.S. and UK Government Websites specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is also very easy to obtain the infor mation that users are trying to obtain without having to click too many times. Moreover, each of the websites has links which enables users to go from one government website to another government website. Overall, the websites are very easy to use and I believe it is due to their simplicity in design. The Overall Content of the Britain Sites The Britain governmental system is different to that of the U.S. in a way that they have different names for each of the executive and legislative branch. For example, in the U.S. the legislative branch is made up of the House and Senate, or also known as the Congress, whereas the Britain, it consists of Parliament. And, the first impression that I get after visiting the Britain government websites are the fact that they are not as user friendly as the U.S. government websites since they don’t have a clear and concise explanation for each of the terms in detail which make users kind of hard to understand what they are really all about. It is also hard to get the data available to the public since the websites do not really name the data properly. Even though they provide the public with quite a bit of information and data, the information presented is not as neat as the U.S. government websites. Therefore, it is kind of hard for users to retrieve the right data. Moreover, the websites seem a little bit too complicated; they simply have too much writings on the websites. It makes users to have difficulty to navigate around the websites easily without having to read all the presented materials. Furthermore, the websites do not provide the links which enable users to move from one government website to the other. Each of the Britain government website mostly focuses only on what they are specialized at. Overall, the Britain government websites are not as user friendly as the U.S. websites because they are simply too complicated and the information presented are not clear. The Impact of the Data contained in the Website s The five websites are freely accessible. They do not require any log-in details before one gets the opportunity to access the information contained in them. Anyone can access the government information in the websites provided he or she opens the right site. This has been done probably to avoid excluding anyone from the information, since the two governments feel that the information is important to every citizen.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The websites have been designed in such a way that they prevent the occurrence of unnecessary issues that normally arise when a user’s details are made public. The sites protect and ensure that the emails provided by the users to enable them to receive the updates, are not accessed by any other user apart from the owner of the details. The websites are also designed in such a way that they contain various links within the site that enable the users to access information related to different fields. For instance, the USA Government Made Easy website has links such as ‘list of government agencies’, ‘government auctions’, and ‘government jobs’ among others. This has the effect of increasing the speed with which a user gets to navigate through the information contained in the links. Both the UK government and U.S. government websites have put in place the relevant measures to help them comply with the legal requirements, hence avoiding cases of litigation. For instance the USA Government made easy website, which offers a diversity visa program, ensures that every citizen is accorded equal and fair chances during the lottery process. There are also measures put in place to ensure that users who practice malicious games such as hacking the government sites are arrested and prosecuted. Impact on Individual Citizens In the past, it used to be hard to get in touch with government agencies, especially with its long hierarchical structure, people must go through all the steps in order for them to be able to reach the right division. Today, with the aid of new technologies, citizens are now able to communicate with government agencies with more ease since e-government is concerned about providing quality public services and value-added information to citizens now. By doing so, the government can make interactions between government agencies and citizens smoother and more efficient, thus the government will be able to build a b etter relationship with the citizens. For instance, the usa.gov website is providing the public with a variety of online services, such as passport application and price comparison services, so that the public can get fast services without having to go through all the troubles. Impact on Organizations Besides facilitating the interaction between government and individual citizens, e-government also focuses on the internal efficiency and effectiveness of operations, resembling enterprise resource planning. This enables the government agencies to work together more efficiently with the organizations, thus they have better coordination and collaboration between each other. Moreover, e-government can make the processes even more efficient by having to provide a one stop service to businesses/organizations as well. By making the processes simpler, it indirectly helps the organizations to be more productive because less time is needed to do more of something, so that the time saved can be used to serve better purpose for the organizations. Conclusion In conclusion, I have provided a broad overview of the current practices of leading e-government countries, and explained how they have impacted the society as a whole. E-government has been established in the first place in order to deliver services, engage citizens, and improve performance. A seamless integration, quality information, and good administrative processes are needed for effective e-government programs. Even though so, some e-governments are still lacking the required resources and infrastructure for its successful transformation. Many governments are still trying their best to integrate e-government programs in their processes, and I believe e-government should be implemented on every country since it provides services to the citizens and enhances the efficiency of government operations. References Directgov. (2012). Public services all in one place. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/ The Official Site of the British Prime Minister’s Office. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/prime-ministers-office-10-downing-street UK Parliament Website. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.uk/ United States Senate. (2012). Retrieved from https://www.senate.gov/ USA Government Made Easy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.usa.gov/ This essay on Review and Analysis of the U.S. and UK Government Websites was written and submitted by user Angelica Pennington to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Facts About Author and Illustrator Patricia Polacco

Facts About Author and Illustrator Patricia Polacco Because so many of Patricia Polaccos childhood experiences have served as the inspiration for her children’s picture books, it’s particularly interesting to look at her life and her books together.   Dates: July 11, 1944 -   Also Known As: Patricia Barber Polacco Interesting Facts About Patricia Polaccos Life and Work 1. Patricia Polacco did not begin writing children’s books until she was 41 and by late 2013, had been writing children’s books for 28 years. Her first book, which based on childhood experience, was Meteor! 2. Patricia Polacco’s parents divorced when she was three years old. Since her parents moved back to their parents’ homes, and she went back and forth between those homes, her grandparents became a big influence on her life and later, in her writing. With a Russian and Ukrainian heritage on her mother’s side and Irish on her father’s, she was surrounded by storytellers and loved hearing family stories. 3.  Some of Polacco’s favorite books as a child included Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, The Tall Mother Goose by Fedor Rojankovsky, Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss. Among the contemporary authors and illustrators, she admires are Jerry Pinkney, Gloria Jean Pinkney, Tomie dePaola, Alan Say, Virginia Hamilton, Jan Brett, and Lois Lowry. 4. A learning disability kept Polacco from learning to read until she was 14. Years later, she celebrated the assistance she received from a caring teacher her picture book Thank You, Mr. Falker.   The same kids who teased her about her poor reading skills praised Polacco’s artwork. Art was something she could do easily and in a 2013 presentation in Wichita, Kansas, Polacco said, â€Å"For me, art is like breathing.† 5.  Despite this rough start in school, Polacco went on to earn a Ph.D. in Art History, with an emphasis on iconography. In Oakland, she attended the California College of Arts and Crafts and Laney Community College. Polacco then went to Australia where she attended Monash University in a suburb of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 6. Patricia Polacco’s picture books, most of which are based on family and childhood experiences, emphasize diversity, a reflection of both her own multicultural family and what eight-year-old Patricia and her brother, Richard, found when they moved with their mother to Oakland, California where they spent the school year, spending summers with their father in rural Michigan. In reference to growing up in the Rockridge District of Oakland, Polacco said she loved the fact â€Å"†¦that all of my neighbors came in as many colors, ideas, and religions as there are people on the planet. How lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet so much alike.† 7.  After a brief first marriage that ended in divorce, Patricia Polacco married chef and cooking instructor Enzo Polacco. Their two children, now adults, are Traci Denise and Steven John. She wrote about Enzo in her children’s book In Enzos Splendid Gardens. 8.  The many awards that Patricia Polacco has received for her children’s picture books include the: 1988 Sydney Taylor Book Award for The Keeping Quilt, 1989 International Reading Association Award for Rechenka’s Eggs, 1992 Golden Kite Award for Illustration from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a 1993 Jane Adams Peace Association and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Honor Award for Mrs. Katz and Tush. 9.  For those interested in writing books, Polacco stresses the importance of taking the time to use (and listen to) your imagination and not get distracted by outside interruptions, like television.  In fact, she attributes her vivid imagination to all the storytelling in her family and the absence of a TV. 10.  Patricia Polacco never forgot the early years she spent on her grandparents’ farm in Union City, Michigan, and the stories her Babushka (grandmother) told.  After almost 37 years in Oakland, she moved back to Union City where she now has a home, a studio and many plans for writing workshops and storytelling events. More About Polaccos Work If your 7- to 12-year-olds are eager to learn more about Patricia Polacco and her books, a wonderful introduction to her work is  Firetalking, her brief autobiography for children, which features lots of color photographs and information about her family, her life, and her books. Sources 9/10/13 presentation by Patricia Polacco at Watermark Books, Wichita Kansas, â€Å"Meet Patricia Polacco.†Ã‚  Houghton Mifflin Reading. Polacco, Patricia. â€Å"Author Biography of Patricia Polacco.†Ã‚  Scholastic. â€Å"Transcript from an Interview with Patricia Polacco.†Ã‚  Reading Rockets, 12 Aug. 2013.

Inside Criminal Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Inside Criminal Law - Assignment Example The two purposes can be broadly described as legal and social in nature. With regard to the legal angle, the purpose of criminal law is to protect and punish. The law empowers enforcement agencies and even citizens the right to protect individuals and the society. It also empowers the judiciary to punish persons proved to indulge in acts of crime. There are also those who feel that criminal law (or any statute for that matter) acts as a deterrent and will help in teaching social boundaries. Punishment for negligent or rash driving can be stated as an example. The two main functions of criminal law is given here which is based on protection against criminal activities. Protection is for both individuals and the society as a whole, which are deemed as functions of criminal law. Experts feel that the part of protecting individuals is clearly understood, but in the case of collective protection, the concept is more complex. An example, as provided by Gaines and Miller will make the point clear. A fire retardant (protected) mattress is sold to a hotel without washing instructions. The employees (unknowingly) wash the mattress in a manner that lessens such properties, and a guest starts a major fire by falling asleep with a lit cigarette. This act of not providing a label with washing instructions can be considered to be a criminally negligent act under the Flammable Fabrics Act. It may be difficult to differentiate between functions and purpose of criminal law. But reference to literature provides the above mentioned outlook on the two aspect s (functions and purpose) of criminal law. Members of the US society, collectively and individually can take recourse to a number of written statutes and laws in order to avail protection and justice from criminal activities. They include the American common law, state criminal codes, municipal ordinances, state and

The concept of a contract Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The concept of a contract - Case Study Example However, it was later viewed that lack of proper operational performance and improper management of DB, resulted in the failure of the overall project (USA Gov, 2013). Critically observing, it can be identified that DB had intentionally overlooked its implied obligation to maintain transparency and systematic order in its service delivery process. Tactfully, DB withdrew from performing any written contractual promises, which was overlooked by the other two parties involved in the contract. Certainly the absence of firm verbal intimation regarding the offer and acceptance of the contract along with specific proclamations of clauses to be adhered by the parties involved had been a major setback for the sufferer, i.e. SCT (USA Gov, 2013). However, given the legal guidelines of having a viable contract SCT can take legal directions even with the non-availability of any written proof to the contract. Considering, the fact that DB had delivered the services demanded through the contract by SCT, it can be affirmed that a contractual relationship existed between DB and SCT. 2. Ethics in legal decision making plays a vital role, as it helps in taking legal decisions, which are accepted within the societal context. Legal terms between the two parties owing to contractual agreement inculcate ethical considerations for effective completion of the contract. In a contractual agreement, ‘Breach of Confidence’ plays a vital role in assuring both the parties to undertake ethical measures within this particular contractual relationship. Critically, observing, it can be ascertained from the case study that two of the contractors of DB have violated the legal implications of ‘Breach of Confidence’. Considering the case scenario, it can be observed that two external contractors of DB have leaked some vital information relating to a contract of their company with a Taiwanese’s firm. The case further states that the two external contractors conveyed t he client i.e. SCT about the DB’s failure in meeting the requirements of the Taiwanese’s firm, which leads to a greater monetary loss of the parent company. However, owing to the aforesaid scenario, it can be comprehended that ethical and legal implications can be implemented complying with the disloyalty of the two external contractors. In this regard DB can firstly terminate the contract with both the contractor under the ‘Breach of Privacy Law’. Concerning with the abovementioned act, it implies about the authority of an organization to create its own privacy rule while making sure that minimum standards are applicable to protect the private information of the company (Andrews, 2011). Secondly the company can take legal action that would restrict the two contractors from conducting such illegal activity. Additionally, the company could also ask the legal advisor to undergo a detailed investigation about the whole scenario and make decisions accordingly. However, the company can ask the legal body to charge monetary fines pertaining to the breach of confidentiality as a legal implication. Considering the aforesaid scenario it can be apprehended that ethical consideration the company could have provided them their salary which would have restricted them from taking such illegal steps (Australian Government, 2012). 3. Critically, examining the case scenario, it can be comprehended that DB has violated numerous rules and regulations associated with the contractual agree

Importance of Couseling Essay Example for Free

Importance of Couseling Essay The study was limited to only sixteen secondary schools: thirteen government secondary schools and three mission secondary schools in Benin City with practicing school counsellor(s). In all, there were four hundred and twenty respondents (420). Sex was not a factor in the study. Two four-point Likert type scale questionnaires were used to obtain data for the study. These are: Secondary School Counsellors’ Questionnaire (SSCQ); and Secondary School Students’ Questionnaire (SSSQ). The reliabilities of 0.69 and 0.80 were obtained respectively SSCQ and SSSQ using the Cronbach Alpha Internal Consistency reliability. The findings show that there are insufficient counsellors in schools; inadequate availability of counselling facilities; and that the qualification of guidance and counselling personnel has impact on the quality of guidance services they provide to secondary school students in Nigeria. These findings suggest that these variables will help to promote students’ adjustment in the school and the society at large. Paradoxically, the absence of these variables could precipitate students’ maladjustment. Recommendations on ways of improving guidance and counselling services to promote students adjustment were proffered. Keywords: Counselling Qualities; Guidance and Counselling; Students adjustment;; Nigeria 1. Introduction Guidance and Counselling happens to be one of the developments in the field of Education in Nigeria. It became popular with the introduction of the 6-3-3-4 educational system. It is generally accepted that in Nigeria, the organized/formal guidance started in 1959 at St. Theresa’s College, Oke-Ado in Ibadan by some Reverend Sisters, out of concern for the products of their school. They felt that there was need to offer vocational guidance to their outgoing final year students. As a result, the Rev. Sisters invited twenty educated people from Ibadan community who were in different professions and therefore knew more about the emerging world of work than the students and the Rev. Sisters. Fifty-four out of the sixty students benefited from the experts’ advice and were placed in various jobs. The innovation was highly accepted by the society because in later years this group of people, though not trained counsellors, organized career talks, seminars, guidance workshops and lectures for the class five students. Later on, the vocational guidance services spread to other secondary schools outside Ibadan and across the entire federation. The ministry officials became so interested in these organized services that this group of â€Å"Career Advisers† was invited to provide career workshops for teachers and career masters. Eventually the term â€Å"Career Advisers† became a national issue. In an attempt to overhaul the old educational system, towards the needs of the nation, the Nigerian Educational Research Council (NERC) in September 1969 organized a conference on curriculum development. The curriculum conference was followed by a government sponsored National Seminar in 1973 under the chairmanship of Chief S.O. Adebo to deliberate on all aspects of a National Policy on Education using the report of the 1969 curriculum conference as the working document. The conference came up with recommendations for a New National Policy on Education, which the Federal Government accepted and published in 1977 and revised in 1981, 1989 and 2004. With the highlighted changes in the Nation’s educational system, the need for guidance and counselling services in Nigerian secondary schools became more glaring. Consequently, Guidance and Counselling Services became an integral and essential component of the educational process for all students as they progress through the educational system. According to Egbochuku (2008), the aims of school guidance and counselling services, which are based on a developmental hierarchy, are to provide students with: 1. Opportunities to develop knowledge and appreciation of themselves and others; 2. Opportunities to develop relationship skills, ethical standards and a sense of responsibility; 3. Opportunities to acquire skills and attitudes necessary to develop educational goals which are suited to their needs, interests and abilities; 4. Information that would enable them to make decisions about life and career opportunities (: 15). Today, guidance and counselling has gained prominence in t he Nigerian educational system and many people are getting interested in the guidance of youth in making wise educational, vocational and personal/social decisions. Consequent upon the expansion of counselling activities in Nigeria and the need to form a larger association to embrace both counsellors and career masters, the Counselling Association of Nigeria (CAN) was launched on the 11th November 1976. To facilitate efficient management of guidance and counselling services in Nigeria secondary schools, guidance and counselling personnel are being trained in the tertiary institutions and sent to schools to deliver these services. Also, basic courses in guidance and counselling feature in all teachers-education programmes. Prominent among the services rendered by guidance and counselling personnel in secondary schools are Information, Appraisal, Referral, Guidance, Counselling and Planning, Placement and follow-up services for the proper guidance of students. Against this background therefore, the focus of the study is to assess the realities of guidance and counselling services in providing adequate guidance for Nigerian secondary school students. 1.1. Statement of the problem It is assumed that with the increasing complexities in the society, industrial and technological development all going hand-in-hand, the succeeding generation will find it difficult to adjust themselves both to the society, work, family and schools. Failures in proper adjustment to all the facets mentioned could affect the education of young people and expose them to environmental as well as personal problems in development. Guidance and Counselling, as a delivery service, should not be misconstrued as the traditional type that is based on the principles of â€Å"to guide, to direct on a course, to enlighten, or to assist†. This traditional type of counselling was principally carried out in African setting by heads of families, Priests, and church leaders (Olayinka and Omoegun, 2001). Because of the complex nature of Nigerian society, the counselling profession has assumed a wider role. Present day Guidance and counselling is based on the process of helping individuals understand themselves which will lead to the better understanding of the other aspect of their lives (Egbochuku, 2008).  \ According to the literature, these services are the formalized actions taken by the school to make guidance operational and available to students. These formalized actions typically consist of a set of processes, techniques and functions that serve to carry out the guidance and counselling goals of a particular educational level. For students to be properly informed, they need the assistance of trained guidance and counselling personnel. Hence, the government made it a policy that guidance and counselling should feature in teacher-education programmes because teachers are closer to the students. Furthermore, the department of Guidance and Counselling has been established in most Nigeria Universities to train counsellors at the B.Sc., Master and PhD levels, to equip them with the appropriate counselling techniques to carry out guidance and counselling services in secondary schools. There is need therefore to assess the guidance and counselling services rendered by school counsellors to find out if these services actually provide adequate guidance for students’ development. It is therefore hypothesized that Qualification of guidance and counselling personnel, availability of guidance and counselling facilities, quality of guidance and counselling services will not significantly predict students’ adjustment 1.2. Purpose of the study This study assessed the quality of guidance and counselling services in secondary schools with practicing school counsellors in Edo state. To achieve this, the researcher examined the qualification of personnel providing guidance and counselling services, availability of materials for the successful execution of Nigerian secondary school guidance and counselling services and the impact of guidance programs on students’ adjustment. 1.3. Significance of the study Guidance and counselling is the bedrock for achieving self-actualisation. It is a process of helping individuals to understand themselves by discovering their own needs, interests and capabilities in order to formulate their own goals and make plans for realizing those goals. An analysis of guidance and counselling services in providing adequate guidance for secondary school students is of paramount importance; hence the this study. The result from the study will help in throwing more light on how guidance and counselling services is being implemented in secondary schools in Nigeria and the quality of guidance services received by secondary school students. In addition, it provides information to education planners and school administrators on their responsibility in providing adequate facilities for guidance and counselling services in order for students to receive quality guidance. It also reveals the extent to which guidance and counselling services influence the total development of the potentials and proper adjustment of secondary school students. 2. Methodology This is a survey study using correlational research design. The scope of the study covers some selected government and mission secondary schools with practicing school counsellors in Benin City of Edo State Nigeria. This is because Benin City is a metropolitan city and consists of three well-populated Local Government Areas (Egor, Oredo, Ikpoba Okha LGA) in Edo –South Senatorial District, out of the 18 LGAs in the 3 Senatorial Districts of Edo State. Purposive sampling techniques and simple random sampling techniques were employed in selecting the sample for the study. This study was limited to only sixteen (16) secondary schools thirteen (13) government secondary schools and three mission secondary schools in Benin City because only these schools had practicing school counsellor(s) as at the time the study was carried out. In all, there were four hundred and twenty respondents (420). Sex was not a factor in the study. 2.1. Instrumentation Two different four-point Likert type scale questionnaires were designed by the researcher to obtain data for the study. These are: (1) Secondary School Counsellors’ Questionnaire (SSCQ); (2) Secondary School Students’ Questionnaire (SSSQ) The SSCQ consisted of two main sections viz: Section ‘A’: This consisted of three items requesting information about the level of qualification in guidance and counselling from the respondents. Section ‘B’: This consisted of five items requesting information about the availability of guidance and counselling facilities\materials in the school. The SSSQ also consisted of two sections viz: Section ‘A’: This consisted of eleven items eliciting information about the quality of guidance services rend by counsellors in the school from the respondents. Section ‘B’: This consisted of twelve items requesting information about the impact of guidance and counselling services on Nigerian secondary school students’ adjustment. The respondents in each case were requested to indicate the extent to which they agreed or disagreed to each item. Items one to three in section â€Å"A† of the SSCQ and items one to eleven in section â€Å"A† of the SSSQ were used to test hypothesis one. Items one to five in section â€Å"B† of the SSCQ and items one to eleven in section â€Å"A† of the SSSQ were used to test hypothesis two. Items one to eleven in section â€Å"A† of the SSSQ and items one to twelve in section â€Å"B† of the SSSQ were used to test hypothesis three. The scoring of the instruments was as follow: Strongly Agree (SA)-4 Agree (A)-3 Disagree (D)-2 Strongly Disagree (SD)-1 For all positive worded items the above was the case, while the reverse was the case for all negative worded items in the questionnaire. 2.1.1. Validity and Reliability of the instruments Both construct and face validity was established. The reliability of 0.69 and 0.67 were obtained respectively for sections A and B of the instrument for Counsellors (SSCQ) using the Cronbach Alpha Internal Consistency reliability test. The Students’ Questionnaire (SSSQ) yielded an alpha coefficient of reliability 0.80. 2.1.2. Administration of the instruments Permission was obtained from the school before administering the questionnaires, which were personally administered by the investigator to the respondents in the various secondary schools selected for the study. 2.2. Analysis of Data Descriptive Statistics and Pearson Product Correlation were used were used for analysis. 3. Results Variables Qualification of guidance and counselling personnel Quality of guidance services The table 1 shows an r. value of .169 testing at an alpha level of .05 and a p .001. The p. value is less than .05 (p