Informative Guide on How to Write a Quality Book Review

You have probably read a reasonably good share of books, both good and bad. However, there is so much more than just reading. You are also expected to offer other potential readers with insight into its worth. Now the question is â€Å"Are you confident in writing an excellent book review?† More students find themselves in the same situation you are in now. However, this should not be a hindrance to ace that book review assignment. For most students, a book review may seem to be a simple matter of just reading and summarizing a book. However, you will find that it is not that cut and dry. Reviews are written for some reasons; however, they all have a common objective, i.e., to provide other readers with meaningful and truthful insight about whether or not a book is worth reading. Therefore, if you enjoyed a book or wish to help people to avoid it like the plague, a book review is the best way to go about it. What Is Book Review? Definition and Instructions A review can be considered as an evaluation or analysis of phenomena, activities, events, or text and can be conducted on a wide variety of different sources of information: it is a form of criticism whereby a book is scrutinized. An example of a book review is whereby you are expected to provide commentary on the overall quality of the book’s content not just a summary of the central theme. However, before reading any book with the intention to review it, you should consider: The title – This is your first insight into what the book is about The introduction or preface provides useful information about the author and the book’s scope. Contents (if any) – Shows the organization and flow of the book’s ideas Elements to Consider When Learning How to Write a Good Book Review Typically, reviews are not lengthy pieces of writing, but they still need to be succinct. While different studies may have varied tones, styles, and subjects, they even share some similar features: Provides the reader with an accurate recollection of the book’s content. Offers a critical evaluation of the content based on your reaction and whether or not it was enjoyable to read. The quality of the review is determined by how potential readers receive it. The review should account for the fact that every person has his/ her preferences on likes and dislikes. An excellent book review should focus on the content of the book and not on the author. The book review should not give away the book’s plot Guide on How to Start a Book Review As previously discussed, a book review should be more than just a book summary and, you should have complete control over the entire process. Also, regardless of the type of writing you may be tasked with, it is always better to capture the readers attention right from the first paragraph. To start your review, you should ensure you can hook the readers attention and maintain their level of interest throughout the review. Also, when starting your review, you should begin by asking the reader a question to provoke their contribution on the subject matter or select a title that has a dash of drama. Next, you have to provide a brief outline of the theme of your book review. This section draws a guideline from the hook, whereby it expounds on it by providing just the right amount of information to keep the reader intrigued. The final step, when starting your book review is formulating your thesis statement if need be. How to Structure a Book Review Like a Professional Do not despair when your first attempt at writing your book review does not go well. Writing is a process that requires patience and practice to achieve the desired level of skill to write a book review without professional help. But since you are here to learn how to write a review; the most crucial element is its structure. Excellent book review structure could be the deciding factor between your success or failure. A flawlessly structured review should have clearly defined organization of ideas. They include: An introduction A body A conclusion Writing an Attractive Book Review Introduction Owing to the fact, most reviews are brief and to the point and the introduction is characterized by a charming anecdote or a memorable quip that succinctly puts across your arguments. However, it is not set in stone, each review has its unique introduction, and you can follow the guide below for best results: Write an introductory statement Provide a brief introduction to the topic of the review Introduce the main argument Develop a thesis statement for the review What a Book Review Body Should Encompass The body of your review is the section that you are required to explain the main ideas and arguments of your paper, which is usually the longest part of the evaluation. To write the body, you need to write down your main ideas starting with the most significant ones. Under each point, provide information supported by references from the book you are reviewing as well as other external sources of information. The basic outline of a body paragraph should be: Main idea/ argument Elaboration of the argument Supporting information Summary statement Finalize with a Good Book Review Conclusion When writing your review conclusion, you should restate your thesis statement and sum-up your main points. Also, you should remember not to introduce new information at this point in the writing process. You should end your book reviews with a closing statement that summarized your take on the book’s theme and recommend it to potential readers who are likely to appreciate the book. Nonetheless, when you find yourself without enough time to handle your book review assignment, we can deliver a high-quality review for you from scratch. Place your order now.

Social Studies Research Project Topics

Social Studies Research Project Topics Social Studies is the study of human beings as they relate to each other and their environments. If you enjoy exploring people, their cultures, and behavior, you should enjoy social studies. There are many disciplines that fit under the umbrella of the social sciences, so you can narrow the field to one that most interests you as you select a research topic. History Topics You might think of history as a branch of study that falls outside the realm of social studies. Not so. In every era of human existence, people had to relate to each other. For example, after World War II, there was great pressure for women to leave the workforce- they had been the backbone of the defense industry, filling vital jobs while men were overseas fighting the Japanese and the Nazis- yet they have shunted aside when the men returned. This created a great shift in the social dynamic in the U.S. Other historical themes offer rich areas for social studies research ranging from inventions that changed the nature of schoolwork to the impact U.S. presidents had when visiting a small town. Local architecture greatly influenced who people interacted with throughout history and even things as seemingly innocuous as the introduction of silverware impacted social norms and etiquette at the nightly dinner table. Diets of Civil War Soldiers and NutritionWWII Women Who Worked and Returned to HomemakingConfederate Symbols and Race in My TownInventions That Changed School WorkMidwives and Birth RatesLocal Architecture PatternsVanity in the Nineteenth CenturyVietnam War and GrandmaCountry Doctors RecordsThe Impact of a Presidents VisitWhen Silverware Came to TownCoal Camps in Local HistoryThe Household Impact of the Discovery of Germs Economics Topics Economics- a social science concerned chiefly with description and analysis of the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, as Merriam-Webster notes- is, by definition, a social science. Job growth and loss- both nationally and locally- affect not just how people vote but how they relate to each other. Globalization  is a hot topic that often brings people of opposing views into heated arguments and even physical confrontations. International treaties- particularly those focusing on trade- can inflame passions in the electorate overall, in small communities and even among individuals. Do Attractive People Make More Money?What Political Party Creates Job Growth?Is Globalization  Good or Bad?International Treaties - Good or BadHow Does the IMF Work? Political Science Topics Race and politics are obvious areas for sociological study, but so is the fairness of the Electoral College. Many groups nationwide are firm believers in conspiracy theories, which have spawned entire groups devoted to the study and discussion of these topics. Is the Media Really Biased?How Do Polls Work?How Does Fact Checking Work?Race and PoliticsIs the Electoral College Fair?Political Systems ComparedWhat Is the New World Order?Conspiracy Theories Sociology Topics The umbrella topic of sociology can cover everything from marriage customs- including same-sex marriage- to the ethics involved in adopting children from Third World countries. The debate over private-versus-public schools- and the funding that goes with it- is a topic that stirs strong passions and discussions among advocates on each side. And, the ever-present specter of racism is a vexing problem that continues to plague our society. Federal v. State PowerFood RegulationWhat Opportunities Are Available to Specific Minority Groups?Good and Bad Role ModelsReligion and PoliticsBuilding in Flood ZonesMarriage Customs ExaminedSame-Sex MarriageIs It Ethical to Adopt Children  from Third World Countries?Population Control Around the WorldEducation: Private or Government SystemsWill Racism Ever Die?The Roots of Regional Customs in AmericaHow the Internet Affects Our Perception of Truth Psychology Topics Psychology- the study of the mind and behavior- goes to the very heart of what makes human beings tick as well as how they relate to each other, a prime topic for sociological study and research. Everything from local traffic patterns, politics emanating from the pulpit and the impact of Walmart on local communities influences how people think, congregate and form friendships and groups- all issues that make the following list perfect for sociology research paper ideas. The Impact of River Traffic (on your hometown)Where Do Our Apples Come From?Could We Survive on Garden Foods Today?Using a Local CurrencyHow Clothing Prices Affect Teenager ImageDoes Walmart Help or Hurt Local Economy?Voting Habits: Grandmothers and MothersAre We Born Liberal or Conservative?Political Messages from My PreacherTelevision and Test ScoresTechnology and Fitness Among KidsTV Commercials and Self ImageWii Games and Family TimeSuperstitions and Family TraditionsBirth Order and Test ScoresA Secret Poll: Who Do You Hate?Do Unusual Names Affect Grades?Does Home Punishment Policy Affect School Performance?Local Vocabulary PatternsWhy Do We Make Friends?Are Girls Teams as Competitive as Boys Teams?Snow Days: Cold States, Warm States, and Family BondingAnatomy of a Small Town ParadePatterns of Lunchroom SeatingBullying Yesterday and TodayDoes Movie Violence Impact Behavior?Facebook and Family CommunicationWhat Would You Change About Your Body?Procrastination and TechnologyWhy Kid s Tell Lies Clothing and Attitudes: Do Shopkeepers Treat Me Differently If I Dress Differently?Does Citizen Status Affect Students Self-Esteem?Are You Vulnerable to a Cult?How Do Cults Work?

Mental Health Access ACT OF 2012 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mental Health Access ACT OF 2012 - Article Example Suicide rate in the Army and Marine Corps are on the increase. One in every three soldiers seeks psychological help. More and more veterans return from the 2 ongoing wars and involvement in wars at abroad has become the inseparable part of American politics, unfortunately though. The issue of an effective psychiatric treatment and care for our active and former military personnel is crucial. Delivering mental healthcare to this segment is a unique challenge that requires specialized training. Combat stress has become the inescapable part of life of a war veteran that results in psychological stress. The Post-Deployment Health Assessment for soldiers has revealed the alarming results of mental disorders for those who are engaged in violent war-fronts where they have to witness killings and bloodshed. The Mental Health Access Act of 2012 aims to improve and enhance programs and activities of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the levels of resil ience of the veterans. Establishment of such a system to provide accurate and reliable measures for mental health services to the veterans is the need of the hour. The bill sponsored by Senator Murray (Democrat) and introduced on June 25, 2012 is the right step in achieving the desired goal. The bill broadly has the twin objectives.

Date) Similar Qualities and Circumstances between Melanie Ballinger in Essay

Date) Similar Qualities and Circumstances between Melanie Ballinger in Richard Bauschs Arent You Happy For Me and the Unnamed Narrator in Nurrudin Farahs My Father, The Englishman, and I - Essay Example In most families with problems, the most unfortunate thing is that although the parents are the ones with personal issues, it is the children who suffer from these. Both Melanie Ballinger in Richard Bausch’s â€Å"Aren’t You Happy For Me?† and the Unnamed Narrator in Nurrudin Farah’s â€Å"My Father, The Englishman, and I† share similar qualities and circumstances in the face of family conflicts. In both stories, each child defies his or her parent’s authority. In â€Å"Aren’t You Happy For Me?†, Melanie Ballinger defies her father when she decides to get married with William Coombes, a literature professor who is forty years older than she is and even nineteen years older than her own father. It seems obvious that Melanie knows that her father would be very upset because she employs several delaying tactics before she tells her father how old her fiance is. This means that she knows that he would be hurt. Nevertheless, the reas on why she has still bothered to tell him about it is only out of â€Å"family courtesy,† which she really tries to emphasize at the end of the story (Bausch). It also seems that Melanie does not trust her own father and this could be the reason for her defiance of his authority. In fact, she shows this distrust when after her father asks her to let William talk to him, she immediately asks him, â€Å"Do you promise not to yell at him?† (Bausch). This is clearly a sign that Melanie does not trust her own father and perhaps this is the reason that she challenges his authority. Perhaps, the ultimate sign that she does not respect her father’s authority anymore is when she tells him, â€Å"I would’ve been better than you were, Daddy, no matter how hard it was† and â€Å"If it wasn’t for Mom, we wouldn’t be [coming over for a visit]† (Bausch). Both these lines imply that Melanie does not anymore respect her father’s authorit y and she would even consider she and her mother to be greater than him in authority. The unnamed narrator in â€Å"My Father, The Englishman, and I† actually shows the same defiance of authority but he directs it towards his own father at first, and later on towards his own mother. At first, the narrator’s mother as well as the narrator himself would both hate his father’s kowtowing to the Englishman. Moreover, the narrator would find it ironic that his father would be â€Å"kindness itself to non-family [but] temperamental with his dependents† (Farah). Such hatred and temperament is obviously hated by the narrator, and he expresses such hatred, resentment and defiance of his father’s authority by resisting eating the boiled sweets that the Englishman sends along with his father. However, such defiance changes in the second half of the story, after the narrator’s mother dies, he begins defying her legacy by taking the side of his father and the Englishman. At this point in his life, he accepts a new allegiance as the Englishman â€Å"embraced† him (Farah). However, although his mother has died, the narrator regrets that he was not able to do anything to prevent the clan elders from agreeing to the treaty of the English: â€Å"Had I been present, or had my mother been consulted, maybe this would not have occurred† (Farah). Although perhaps the narrator has had no choice but to take his father’s side when his mother died, deep down maybe he did not want this change to happen. Perhaps, there is some reason why Melanie Ballinger and the unnamed narrator has shown defiance of their parents’ authority, and it could have been because they do not understand their parents. The reason could rather be something deeper. Both characters have parents who are

IT - Bluetooth Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IT - Bluetooth Technology - Essay Example Development of Bluetooth technology Bluetooth technology is a key short-range communications technology or wireless protocol, which can be used to connect wide range of electronic devices including mobile phones, laptops, etc, when they are close to each other. After the connection is made, the technology can be used to securely transfer various types of files or data, and also can be used as a form of communication. â€Å"Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short wavelength radio transmissions) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security.† (â€Å"Bluetooth†). Short wavelength radio transmission in the sense, the data to be sent is broken down into small parts, and then sent through number of bands, without any synchronization issues. That is, Bluetooth adopts a â€Å"radio technology called frequency-hopping spread spectrum, which chops up th e data being sent and transmits chunks of it on up to 79 bands (1 MHz each; centered from 2402 to 2480 MHz) in the range 2,400-2,483.5 MHz (allowing for guard bands).† (â€Å"Bluetooth†). This technology was first developed by the telecom company, Ericsson in the year 1994 with the main intent of developing a wireless technology that can be an alternative to the RS-232 cables. ... SIG only oversees the formulation of the various Bluetooth specifications and importantly manages the standards for the qualification program. That is, companies can market their electronic devices as a Bluetooth-enabled device only if they fulfill the standards set by the SIG. â€Å"Bluetooth is an open technology standard, meaning that anyone who joins the Bluetooth Special Interest Group and adheres to well-outlined standards can create Bluetooth devices.† (McClain). Since its establishment in 1998, the SIG has been modifying and upgrading its technology and the features associated with it, in order to facilitate faster and better performance. Starting from Bluetooth v1.0 and v1.0B, the versions have evolved over the years, with v4.0 being the latest one and it has high speed and low energy features. The speed is based on Wi-Fi and so it is optimum and its low energy feature can operate the devices for many months or even years using just a small coin-cell batteries. (†Å"Bluetooth 4.0†). With these advancements, the capabilities of the many electronic devices can be accentuated. More and more electronic devices are being introduced in the market, with advanced technologies and optimal features. The Bluetooth technologies and the related features are being incorporated in maximum of these devices. Because of that incorporation, the people using these devices are getting optimal benefits. Thus, it is important to study this key technology and how it can provide advantages over other wireless technologies. Comparison of IrDA and Bluetooth Infrared Technology functions with the aid of certain hardware incorporated with software, both of which will be used to send as well as receive data through

Financial and Management Accounting: Payroll Services

Financial and Management Accounting: Payroll Services Financial and Management Accounting Case Study: Payroll Services 1. IMPACT ON THE CHARGE PER TRANSACTION: The payroll department is incurring a total cost of  £590,000 at present. The charge per transaction is  £236 (see fig 1 Appendix A) which is the charge applied each time a salary transaction is completed i. e the salary is transfered. If the lump sum is paid to the staff to switch over to the monthly payment system, it is forecasted that it will generate a saving of  £20,000 in Pay Costs while the services and supplies costs are likely to decrease by  £3,000, thereby bringing it down to  £98,000. The recalculated total or full cost will be  £ 567,000 per financial year. In the new scenario the charge per transaction is reduced to  £226 thereby showing a saving of  £10. On analysis of the figurework it will not be advisable to have these workers shifted over to the monthly payment system as the figures suggest that bulk of the workers are under the monthly payment system. The authority will have to pay a lump sum of  £500,000 to the workers when they shift over to t he new system, however in retrspect the cost dished out now will be recovered in a very long time because the savings being made by the authority on different facets of the payroll department are not significant enough. Apart from the savings it does represent harmonisation of the company however there are other aspects to be considered. Bulk of the workers are under the monthly payment arrangement and having the weekly workers under that scheme might cause confusion in the payroll system. However there are some finer points to take into consideration. The ending of the weekly wage payment system might have an adverse effect because the workers who are being offered to shift over to the monthly payment system will still be working on weekly basis. The difference only being that their salaries will be paid on a monthly basis. Alongside these workers there are other workers who are employed on a monthly basis, they work on a monthly basis and recieve their salaries on a monthly basis. If the authority wants to keep the weekly and the monthly workers apart and not mix up or confusion between the two, it would have to operate two different payroll departments. There would be one department keeping the records of staff working on a weekly basis but all of whom will be paid a monthly salary and the second department within the payroll section to keep record of the staff workingon a monthly basis who also get paid on a monthly basis. Operating two separate departments would therefore mean that all the costs associated with the running of the payroll section will be much more than what they stand at now. The increment in the cost is therefore a mojr factor to consider. Considering this the weekly staff should not be asked to transfer to the monthly system. The fact that the authority will probably have to run two departments within a department complicates things and also increases the cost factor which is what the authority is geared towards saving. The government is also urging all the authorities to save on the cost side of things and make the authorities economically more viable. Therefore on the basis of the analysis and considerations it is advisable that the authority should not seek to transfer their weekly staff over to the monthly payment system. 2. FINANCIAL APPRAISAL OF OPTION 1 AND 2: In this case we are faced with the scenario of two options having different lifespans associated with them. Option 1 has a lifespan of 4 years while Option 2 has a life span of 6 years. Facing this situation we will carry out the financial appraisal on the basis of the equal annual cash flow method whereby the option with the lowest cost will be chosen. The Equal annual cashflow supposes that the cashflows generated as an annuity. In case of annuities we use the annuity factors rather than the individual yearly discount rates to calculate the present values of the cash flows. Whereas in the equal annual cashflow method the annuity factor is the total of all the yearly factors for the duration of the project and in this case the lifespan of the payroll system being put in place. Equal annual cashflow = present value of costs/annuity factor for N years at R% Therefore for option 1: The equal annual cashflow = 916,454/2. 3299 ( Looking at the annuity tables) i. e =  £ 393,345 ( see appendix B for figures) and for Option 2: The equal annual cashflow = 1,453,231/2. 7967 i. e =  £ 519,623 Therefore on the basis of the analysis we will chose the option 1 as it has the lowest equal annual cashflow. There are a few limitations with the calculations involving cashflows and capital costs. These cashflows do not take into account the fluctuation of the interest rate and assume it to be constant over the lifespan. In isolation from authority Bs proposal we will chose the first option as it has the lower equal annual cash flow. It is feasible on the basis of the calculations to select option 1 and put it into practice. Hoewever there are limitations to the equal annual cashflow method. This appears to be a nice idea however in reality it does not add value to what we can determine from the other methods. The other methods will also yield the same result and therefore adding no extra information for us to make a decision. The equal annual cashflow method can be used alone when other methods yield nothing and this is the last resort for carrying out an financial apprasial. As f ar as the aritheticinvolvedin this method it is no more complicated that the other methods and is no more advanced than the traditional methods. There are limitations to this methods which leave a lot to be desired. This method ignores the influence of inflation and fluctuation in the interest rate. However it is possible to overcome these limitations by adjusting for the these factors. The cashflows can be adjusted for inflation and the fluctuating interst rate in the real world. Firstly a discount rate shoul be selected that is already adjusted for the inflation and includes an allowance for the inflation. Secondly the cashflows can be expressed in real terms whereby meaning that the anticipated inflation rate can be excluded from the discount rate. In other words the first method provides us with the nominal cashflows while the second method gives us the real cashflows at a real discount rate. The second method excludes the anticipated inflation rate from the discount rate which follows the prudence concept of accounting where the costs are over estimated and the profits are underestimated so as to avoid disappoinmtment later and to cover for the contigencies. 3. DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSAL: Authority Bs proposal is to transfer As payroll function to B. The cost associated with this  £380,000 for the next financial year. Evaluating on the cost basis only the Authority A should go ahead with the transfer because the cost proposed by authority B is less than the cost calculated for authority A which is  £393,345 on the equal annual cashflow method. Authority B has also suggested that in fututre if more authorities join in the cost would be lowered progressively in the following financial years. Based on the calculation and authrotiy Bs proposal the authotiy A its payroll function to authority B. In order to carry out an investment appraisal of the proposal there will be a few items other than the cost. We would need the reduction in the cost due to the shifting of the payroll. We would also require the reduction in cost due to less staff being employed. Reduction in service and supplies costs. However we would also need to know the cost incurred due to the redundancy o f a number of staff due to the payroll being transfered. The knowledge of all these costs would enable us to make a much better informed desicion on whether or not to transfer the payroll to authority B and whether it would be beneficial in the long run. These financial appraisals have a limitation which is that they donot incorporate inflation however inflation can be adjusted for when carrying out the financial appraisal. The net present value can be adjusted by two ways to take inflation into account. Firstly a discount rate can be used which incorporates inflation. secondly the discount rate can exclude the inflation rate and the cash flows acan be expressed in real terms. The transferring of the payroll from one different authorities to a central one might result in too many job losses and redundancies which again will be against the governments agenda. The government would certainly not like to contribute to unemployment. In this case this can be solved by spreading the unemployment over different authorities and not increasing the burden on one authority or for that matter a few authorities. The government should also try and create more jobs so as to accomodate these redundancies. APPENDICES APPENDIX A: The cost for operating the payroll section is as follows: Payroll costs:  £216,000 Services and Supplies:  £101,000 Accomodation: £ 45,000 Capital Charge: £228,000 Full Cost: £ 590,000 The charge to the Budget Holders is:  £590,000/2500 =  £ 236/Transaction. (fig1) The cost for the payroll after paying the Lump sum: Payroll Costs:  £196,000 Services and Sipplies: £ 98,000 Accomodation: £ 45,000 Capital charge: £ 228,000 Full Cost: £ 567,000 The charge now to the Budget Holders is:  £ 567,000/2500 =  £ 226/Transaction(fig2) APPENDIX B: OPTION1 START OF YEAR CAHSFLOWS YRCASHFLOW PV @ 8% 1 £ 830,000 830,000 2 £ 33,000 28,290 3 £ 36,300 28,815 4 £ 39,930 29,349 TOTAL 916,454 OPTION 2 START OF YEAR CAHSFLOWS YRCASHFLOW PV @ 8% 1 £ 1400,000 1400,000 2 £ 22,000 20,369 3 £ 24,000 20,575 4 £ 24,000 19,051 5 £ 24,000 17,640 6 £ 24,000 16334 TOTAL 1,453,231 BIBLIOGRAPHY BOOKS: 1. Mott, G. (1993) Investment Appraisal 2. Pike Neale (2003) Corporate Finance Investment 3. Drury, C Management and Cost Accounting, 6th edition Thomson (2004) 4. Williamson Duncan Cost and Management Accounting (1996) Prentice Hall

James Madison

At a time when only 12% of the American people possess a positive attitude towards the current job that our representatives in Congress are doing, it would behoove those who believe that government is completely out of touch with the needs of its people and that nothing good ever came out of government. In American history, there are hundreds of examples to the contrary. Out of these many examples comes one of the most underrated of them all: James Madison. Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson, instrumental in the passage of the Louisiana Purchase, the renewal of the charter for the national bank,   a two term President and intrigue part of the founding of the country, James Madison is one of the most important figures in American history. James Madison became involved in the formation of a new nation; the United States of America at an early age. At only the age of 24, Madison served in the Virginia state legislature from 1776, until 1779.[1] It was then that Madison became a protà ©gà © for Thomas Jefferson and the two would work very close together until Jefferson’s death fifty years later. The two shared similar beliefs on government. Madison was instrumental, along with the help of Jefferson, in drafting the Declaration of Religious Freedom which disestablished the Church of England and broke up any claims towards power that the church attempted to have in state matters. One of these was Patrick Henry’s push for an involuntary tithe to be paid to the congregation of one’s own choice. Madison and Jefferson believed this to be a violation of the separation of church and state; an idea that is not found in the Constitution but because of the efforts of Madison and Jefferson, many believe to this day is actually in the founding of this country. It was and is a belief that many Americans hold very dear to their hearts. While in the State legislature, Madison became a strong advocate of a strong central government; a government which was impossible to flourish under the Articles of Confederation which favored the rights’ of states and as a result, left an impotent federal government. This sentiment was shared by a large majority of his countrymen at this time who although many were advocates of states’ rights themselves, knew that the Articles of Confederation could no longer correctly govern the country. A Constitution was written in 1787 and ratified by all thirteen states in the immediately following years.[2] Although seen as a foregone conclusion by the casual contemporary observer, our current government’s formation was not written in stone. Although a shy man in private, Madison pushed exceedingly hard for the views and beliefs that he felt in his heart, was in the best interest of the country. Madison was a loud and strong advocate for a three branch government as we have today as well as a strong federal government who, if needed, could overrule the actions of the states if it was deemed to be a mistake and contrary to the good of the country as a whole. Madison made his opinions known in one of his most famous writings, who with Thomas Jefferson advocated their beliefs about where the government should be headed. In doing so, not only was Madison instrumental in forming a new political party with Jefferson: The Republicans, who would later be known as the Democrat Republicans, but his writings would cement him as one of the most important of the Founding Fathers. Madison stated: â€Å"In the first place, it is to be remarked that, however small the republic may be, the representatives must be raised to a certain number, in order to guard against the cabals of a few; and that, however large it may be, they must be limited to a certain number, in order to guard against the confusion of a multitude. Hence, the number of representatives in the two cases not being in proportion to that of the two constituents, and being proportionally greater in the small republic, it follows that, if the proportion of fit characters be not less in the large than in the small republic, the former will present a greater option, and consequently a greater probability of a fit choice.†[3] Madison was stating how a large country and its many different interests and factions could till represent the people and their needs to a greater degree and support republican values better   than a small country that was dominated by special interests. It would not be until the 20th century that Americans finally got around to recognizing the wisdom of Madison and adapted to a greater degree than ever before, this sentiment within the American government. Madison would fight hard for the ratification of the new Constitution but was not in favor of a Bill of Rights as he believed that it was not necessary and included roles that, he felt, were not in the best interest of the federal government. Nevertheless, it was Madison who was the author of the Bill of Rights and as a result, forever cemented his legacy in American History. Madison originally advocated the need for twelve amendments but it was later agreed on ten. Despite his initial reluctance towards a Bill of Rights, Madison was tireless in advocating the need for the passage of the amendments once he partook in the task of forming a Bill of Rights. Such a career would have been more than enough for one man and had Madison’s career ended there, he would still have been talked about to this day. However, when Thomas Jefferson was elected the third president in 1800 and served from 1801 until 1809, he took Madison with him and made him the Secretary of State. As a result, Madison was instrumental in constructing one of the most lopsided international agreements in world history. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase, who’s 830,000 square miles of land which stretched from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains and which cost $15 million, Madison was also instrumental in that coming to pass.[4] In doing so, America doubled the size of its land overnight. Never in human history had so much land been acquired in so little time. Jefferson had only expected to purchase the city of New Orleans but when Napoleon offered all of Louisiana, Madison jumped on the opportunity and despite the scoffing of the price tag by many members of Congress, made sure to broker the deal. The implications for the country were huge and every day, from then until the end of time, America has and will continue to benefit from the Louisiana Purchase. After Thomas Jefferson walked away from the Presidency in 1809, Madison won the Presidency and would spend two terms in the White House. During his presidency, Madison would deal with two events which would come to define his presidency. The first was the renewal of the national bank’s charter which was scheduled to expire after twenty years in 1811. Since Madison fought the passage of the first national bank, he again was in opposition to it again in 1811 and fought its renewal in 1811.[5] This would help to affect Madison’s second mistake; the allowance of another war with Britain. The absence of a national bank made it increasingly difficult to finance a war. Throughout Jefferson’s presidency, America’s Armed Forces, especially the Navy, was dismantled to such a size, that it became a non entity and was not considered a force in the opinion of any of the world’s leaders. When it was recognized that Madison’s impotence during the months leading up to the war and its consequences could not now be avoided, Madison did all that he could to incite as much public support as possible. Also, in all of American history, no president has lost his bid for reelection during a war; neither did Madison who won reelection. The War of 1812 ended in another American victory and the signing of the treaty of Ghent in 1815; officially put an end to the war. Upon learning his lesson, Madison pushed for the formation of a national bank, although one that was stronger than the previous one. With the help of such nationalist opinion from men such as John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, a second national bank was formed in 1816.[6] In the last years of the Madison presidency, James Madison continued to push for a strong central government and against state’s rights. In his last act before leaving office, Madison vetoed a bill for internal improvements because it was formed on the grounds of state’s rights. In his veto, Madison commented: â€Å"Having considered the bill†¦ I am constrained by the insuperable difficulty I feel in reconciling this bill with the Constitution of the United States. The powers vested in Congress are specified and it does not appear that the power proposed to be exercised by the bill is among the enumerated powers.†[7]   Madison denied that such legislation was supported by the General Welfare Clause in the Construction when he responded: â€Å"Such a view of the Constitution would have the effect of giving to Congress a general power of legislation instead of the defined and limited one hitherto understood to belong to them.†[8] This would highlight a continued debate which rages today: What is the role of the federal government in the daily lives of its people? The answer continues to change and will most likely change again with the result of the next presidential election. Madison would retire to Montpelier, his home in Virginia. Madison was sixty five then and would spend the rest of his life, incited by his anxiousness regarding his legacy, began to change the details in his various writings and other forms of evidence which he later began to feel, portrayed a contrary message to the one which he hoped would be judged by history. Madison died on June 28, 1836, anxious about his ability to justify his actions to both himself and to historians.[9] Historians in general have been kind to Madison. Madison was there when the country needed him the most and as a result, contemporary Americans are still enjoying the fruits of his labor and wisdom. WORKS CITED Burns, Ken  Ã‚   Thomas Jefferson Los Angeles: Time Warner & PBS Productions 1997 Commanger, Henry Steele Documents of American History New York: Century Publications 1947 Ellis, Joseph   Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation New York: Alfred Knopf Publishers 2000 Kuralt, Charles On the Road: American Heritage New York: CBS Productions 1989 Wills, Gary   James Madison: The American President Series New York: Times Books 2002 [1] Kuralt, Charles On the Road: American Heritage New York: CBS Productions 1989 [2] Ellis, Joseph   Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation New York: Alfred Knopf Publishers 2000 pg. 156 [3] Commanger, Henry Steele Documents of American History New York: Century Publications 1947 section ii. Pg 55 [4] Kuralt, Charles On the Road: American Heritage New York: CBS Productions 1989 [5] Burns, Ken  Ã‚   Thomas Jefferson Los Angeles: Time Warner & PBS Productions 1997 [6] Burns, Ken  Ã‚   Thomas Jefferson Los Angeles: Time Warner & PBS Productions 1997 [7] Commanger, Henry Steele Documents of American History New York: Century Publications 1947 section iii. Pg 57 [8] Kuralt, Charles On the Road: American Heritage New York: CBS Productions 1989 [9] Wills, Gary   James Madison: The American President Series New York: Times Books 2002 pg. 277