Family centred care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Family centred care - Essay Example The author has rightly presented that the family plays a vital role in the nursing of the patient. Since the discovery of this fact, there has been vast interest on the topic of family-centered care. For purposes of establishing the role of the nurse in family centered care, the essay has its basis on a case study. The patient, Joan, who is in hospital, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It is evident that she has a family, a husband. In planning the discharge of this patient, the nurse has to consider a number of issues. Some of these issues are the feelings that her husband has, and the fact that he may be unable to cope with her condition, managing Joan’s agitation, assessing the risk that the disease brings about to Joan. In addition, the nurse should consider the stress that Joan’s disease puts on the relationship between the members of the family and the possibility that the family might have limited knowledge on the disease and may need guidance on how to cope. The paper will focus on four major topics with regard to family centered care. The first of these is the risk posed by Alzheimer’s. Secondly, the paper will look into the issue of the stress that Joan’s sickness could cause on the relationship between members of her family. The third topic entails the possible reasons for Joan’s agitation and the best way to manage it. The last issue to be discussed is the feeling that the family members may have towards Joan, and with regard to her condition and the part, they play in caring for her.... This kind of care, the institute adds, is applicable to patients of all age groups, and is recommended in all settings that deal with health care. This would mean that for the sake of quick recuperation of patients, the family would have to be heavily involved in the process of nursing, while acquiring relevant and vital information on what steps to take from the nurse in charge of their sick relatives. In the case study, Joan has dementia. Joan is set for discharge from the health facility where she has been. Family centered care begins from within the hospital. This means that the family is also heavily involved in the decision to discharge. At this point, the family needs to get reassurance that Joan is in a stable enough condition to go home. In addition, the dependent state of the patient warrants their involvement for purposes of establishing whom her primary caregivers will be and where she will be living (Davidson et al. 2007). Before the nurse releases her into the care of h er family, it is important that they come up with a family care plan that will aid in assessing the situation at home (Gulanick & Myers 2011). An example of the nurse’s family care plan is as shown. Table 1: Family care Plan for Joan with dementia Family Problem Goal of care Objectives of Care Intervention Measures Method of nurse-family contact Resources Evaluation -little knowledge on risks posed by Alzheimer’s . - possible source of stress for family - patient agitated - To put the patients at ease -Prevention of self-harm by patient Enabling the family to empathize with the situation and learn the understand the sickness -provide health teachings to the family on Alzheimer’s

Social Behavior of the Silvered Leaf Monkey Essay Example for Free

Social Behavior of the Silvered Leaf Monkey Essay Adult Silvered Leaf Monkey (Trachyphitecus sp. ) can be distinguished by having silver-tip fur, with dark-skinned face, a feature which is entirely different from the infants. Infants can be seen as a starling bright orange. However, in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) reddish adults also occur. Species Range Species of Silvered Leaf Monkeys can be found ranging from Indochina, Southern Burma, Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia to Sumatra, Java, and Borneo. Group Size Species of Silvered Leaf Monkey are usually found in groups up to about ten. The average group size of Javan Langur is around seven individuals (V. Nijman, unpubl. data; cited in Nijman and van Balen, 1998). Based on Kool (1991) found that groups ranged in size from 6-21 individuals with one or two adult males in the group. Group sizes were observed to be larger on Lombok Island, Indonesia, in secondary and monsoon forests than in tropical forests (Supriatna et al. , 1986). Foraging Behavior of Silvered Leaf Monkey Silvered Leaf Monkeys are observed feeding on young leaf shoots or forest fruits in swampy areas, riverine forests and back-mangrove (â€Å"Silvered Leaf Monkey. † 2007). The diet of the Leaf Monkey consists of young leaves and leaf buds, including sweet and fleshy fruits (ripe and unripe), flowers, flower buds, and insect larvae (Kool, 1993). During times that fruits are unavailable or not in season, they increase the intake of young shoots/leaves. It was found out that half of the dietary intake for the subspecies T. auratus sondaicus consisted of protein-rich leaves (Kool, 1992, 1993). In addition to that, the leaves that, the Silver Leaf Monkey selects and prefers to eat consists of low-fiber contents which are easily digestible (Kool, 1992). Silver Leaf Monkey rarely eat mature leaves, they are observed to spent 20% of feeding time foraging on species of Moraceae. When the favored food are scares, their important food source are young leaves of the teak tree (Tectona grandis), (Kool, 1993, 1991). The midrib part of the leaf of teak tree are mostly preferred to be eaten by the Silver leaf Monkey. Nutritional Value of Their Diets Part of their diet, are high protein rich leaves and leaves with low fiber-content which are easily digestible. According to Kool (1993) twenty seven to thirty seven percent of their diets was fruit in which fifteen to twenty seven percent consists of the diets of unripe fruit, and ten to twelve percent of the diet ripe fruit. These fruits that they consume consists of higher amount of condensed tannins, (which according to Goltenboth 1976; Davies, et al. , 1998; Kool, 1992, is useful in the diet because they may reduce acidosis of the stomach by slowing down the rate of fermentation) and total phenolics. Part of the diet of the subpsecies T. auratus sondaicus are ripe fruits which was found causing acidosis in colobines, this is maybe the reason why colobines avoid eating this (Goltenboth, 1976; Kool, 1992). Some of the species also prefer eating fruits with seeds. Some of the important species of trees they prefer to consume are from Ficus sinulata, Ficis sumatrana and Vitex pinnata (Kool, 1993). Depending on what kind of fruits was in season especially during the month of July, August, September, January and February, the kind of food that different groups prefers, varies. Groups may feeds simultaneously having the same food preference. Individuals may be observed eating while the others are traveling or resting. It was also observed that compared to other group of adults and sub-adults the male Silvered Leaf Monkey fed less frequently (Brotoisworo and Dirgavusa, 1991). Locomotion It was observed that the silvered leaf monkey (Javan langur) moves through the forest, quadrupedally (Rowe, 1996). Social Behavior The species of Javan langur are found living in social groups of one or two adult males and some groups on Lombok islands are observed to have only one male. The males were observed to separate and travel solitarily or mixed with all-male groups. The male tends to maintain close proximity with other males the same is true with the females, who tend to maintain close proximity with other females. Aggressive behavior of adult females against one another of the same sex can be observed. Some females may tend to care infants which are not from them (Kool, 1991; Supriatna, etal. 1986; Bennett and Davies, 1994; Rowe, 1994; and Mengantara and Dirgayusa, 1994). Vocal Communication: Silvered leaf Monkey produced a sound like â€Å"ghek-ghok-ghek-ghok,† which serves as their alarm call (Gumaya et al). Reproduction: The species of silvered leaf monkey produces or gives birth to only one offspring at a time. References Bennett, E. L. and Davies, A. G. 1994. The Ecology of Asian Colobines. in Colobine Monkeys: Their Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution. eds. A. G. Davies and J. F. Oates. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. Brotoisworo, E. and Dirgayusa, I. W. A. 1991. Ranging and Feeding Behavior of Presbytis cristata in the Pangandaran Nature Reserve, West Java, Indonesia. in Primatology Today. eds. A. Ehara, T. Kimura, O. Takenaka, and M. Iwamoto. Elsevier Science Publishers: Amsterdam. Davies, A. G. , Bennett, E. L. , and Waterman, P. G. 1988. Food Selection By Two South-east Asian colobine monkeys (Presbytis rubicunda and Presbytis melalophos) in Relation to Plant Chemistry. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Vol. 34, 33-56. Djuwantoko. 1994. Habitat and Conservation of Ebony Leaf Monkey in Deciduous Forests (teak), in Central Java. (abstract) XVth Congress of the International Primatological Society. Bali-Indonesia. Goltenboth, R. 1976. Non Human Primates (apes, monkeys and prosimians). in The Handbook of Zoo Medicine. (translation) eds. H-G. Klos and E. M. Lang. Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York. Gurmaya, K. J. , Adiputra, I. M. W. , Saryatiman, A. B. , Danardono, S. N. , and Sibuea, T. T. H. 1994. A Preliminary Study on Ecology and Conservation of the Java Primates Kool, K. M. 1991. â€Å"Behavioral Ecology of the Silver Leaf Monkey, Trachypithecus auratus sondaicus, in the Pangandaran Nature Reserve,† West Java, Indonesia: (abstract) Primate Eye. Vol. 44, 19-20. Kool, K. M. 1992. Food Selection by the Silver Leaf Monkey, Trachypithecus auratus sondaicus, in Relation to Plant Chemistry. Oecologia. Vol. 90, 527-533. Kool, K. M. 1993. â€Å"The Diet and Feeding Behavior of the Slilver Leaf Monkey, (Trachypithecus auratus sondaicus) in Indonesia. † International Journal of Primatology: Vol. 14(5), 667-700. Mengantara, E. and Dirgayusa, I. W. A. 1994. Social Behavior of lutung (Trachypithecus auratus sondaicus) in Pangandaran Nature Reserve. (abstract) XVth Congress of t

Francesco Petrarch Essay -- essays research papers

	Francesco Petrarch, was a man held in high regards of his peers. The life in which Petrarch lived, was certainly not one of which many people could have had dealt with. A life of solitude, misplaced love and, family misfortune that was endured. But, through hard workand perseverance, loyalty to the churches which lead to good connections, he was regarded as one of the most influential persons and authors of his time. 	Petrarch was not a man with greatest of family lives. Born in Arezzo in 1304, to a family that had just been exiled from Florence, his family had to move to Incisa, Tuscany. Petrarch spent most of his childhood in Incisa. From then on, his father pushed him into the path of law. His brother, Gheredo, the most stable family figure in his life, later became a monk and throughout his life stayed in contact with Francesco. Petrarch had another brother, who died at a very young age. His mother died when he was 15 years old, which was consequently when some of his earliest works have been recorded. At the age of 22, Francesco's father passed away, which caused Francesco to attain a career. Giovanni, his son, was born illegitimately in 1337. The relationship between the two was disappointment to Francesco. He describes him as: "Intelligent, perhaps even exceptionally intelligent, but he hates books" He let Giovanni live with him till he could no longer stand the sight of him and sent him to live in Avignon, at the age of 20. It wasn't until just before Giovanni's death, of the Black Plague, did they start to write each other. Just before his sons death, Petrarch's friends though of Giovanni as a good person and wrote Petrarch about this. He never saw his son before his death but in his mind knew that he had started to get his life back together. He also had a daughter, Francesca, she gave birth to Petrarch's grandchildren one of which died during the Plague. This was of great disheartenment of Petrarch. 	Much to Petrarch's dismay he studied law at the University of Bologna and he earned his degree. Beyond the levels of his peers at an early age it was obvious the intellectual presents he had. Moving from school to school he realized that his true interests were in the ancient authors, not the law. He sought out and recovered manuscripts' Cicero, Virgil, amongst others. When his Petrarch's father found these manu... ... earth', it is this quote that shows how much he loved Laura, even though she did not return this love. 	Francesco Petrarch, was regarded amongst his peers and superiors as a powerful man. After having been sent on many missions of peace by the Archbishop. The King of France and, the Emperor of Italy trying to persuade Petrarch to join them. In his writings, Emperor, Kings wanted copies of his books, friends and other great authors desired to own and read these books as well. A man that could write about feeling he had even though they were not respected. Having gone through death and disappointment within his family. It is only fitting that a man who over came all of these obstacles, be considered one of the greatest Italian of his time. 	Bibliograghy 1. Bishop, Morris Letters of Petrarch (Indiana 1966). 2. Dobson, Susana Life of Petrarch (London 1805). 3. Einsenbichler K., Iannucci A. Petrarch's Triumphs (Toronto 1990). 4.Wilkins, E. H. Life of Petrarch (Chicago 1961). 5.Wilkins, E.H. Petrarch's Eight Years in Milan: 1353-1361 (Cambridge 1958). 6. Wilkins, E. H. Petrarch's Later Years (Cambridge 1959). 7. Wilkins, E. H. Triumphs of Petrarch (Chicago 1962)

Canto 8 of Dante’s Inferno Essay -- Dantes Inferno Essays

In recent discussions of Canto 8 of Dante’s Inferno, many scholars have argued about Dante the pilgrim’s controversial abuse of one of the wrathful sinners of the fifth circle, Filippo Argenti. The altercation between the two is viewed in numerous lights. From one perspective it is seen as unjustified (ira mala) because Dante is seen as guilty of the sin being punished for in this circle, but also because his response was wrongly motivated. Others state that Dante’s anger was righteous (ira bona) because there was proper reasoning behind it. Kleinhenz, one particular scholar, argues that Dante’s outburst at Filippo Argenti is a result of the praise Dante received after initially criticizing the sinner. In his book, Inferno 8: The Passage Across the Styx, he maintains that Virgil’s praise â€Å"is perhaps wrongly motivated and consequently, that Dante’s reaction to Fillipo Argenti in this canto is equally erroneous†. Kleinhenz allude s to this point in his interpretation of Luke 11:27, where a woman who is praising Jesus is correct in her exaltation of the Mother and Son, but her praise is inappropriate to the situation. By analyzing the parallels between Virgil’s praise and the biblical verse, Kleinhenz argues that both Virgil and Dante’s actions are inappropriate and therefore ira mala. John A. Scott, however, views Dante’s outburst as being justified. In his book,Understanding Dante, Scott argues that Florence was very much a part of Dante’s life and that Filippo Argenti was an ostentatious man whose â€Å"arrogance and insolent display of wealth† as well as â€Å"corrupt nature† is viewed synonymously with Florence’s decline. Therefore Scott argues that Dante’s rage was appropriate because it was inspired by the new decadence of Fl... ...is anger can be viewed as ira bona and ira mala simultaneously. Wishing further pain upon Argenti in order to receive further praise from his mentor is an unreasonable excuse, but trying to become a better pupil and person by doing as his mentor says is reasonable. Becoming furious as a human instinct is rational, whereas doling out punishments while you are only a human is not. Dante did not react to the sinner in the way that he did for only one reason, instead he had many reasons to respond as he did. Works Cited Alghieri, Dante. Inferno. New York: Oxford UP, 1996. Print. John A. Scott’s Understanding Dante, Univ. of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, 2004 (210-11) Kleinhenz, Christopher. â€Å"Inferno 8: The Passage Across the Styx.† Lectura Dantis. Brown University. No. 3 Fall 1988 21 pars: 21 Sept. 2009 .

Feet case study Essay

The item that seemed to really call my attention as being a problem is some of the profitability ratios. Starting with the Gross Profit margin, it seems at the moment that Just Feet makes $41.62 in 1999 and in 1998 $41.53 in profit, but it cost the company more to produce than what they are making in profit. This shows that they need to lower their costs in making their product to be more profitable. The company has not even reached a breakeven point. We also see that in the two years of 1998 to 1999 that there was a decrease in profitability a decrease in return of equity. This means that the company is making less profit for each dollar that the shareholders have invested in the company. This ratio shows us how efficiently the company is working, and it shows how efficiently management is using the funds that shareholders have contributed to the company. So in doing these analysis  for Just for Feet Inc. I would be questioning the efficiency of management for handling the income that shareholders have contributed. I would also want to look for closely at how the company is producing, the cost they are having is higher than the profit, for that reason we would want to evaluate how they could lower cost to make the profit more profitable for the company. Question 2. Just for Feet operated large, high-volume retail stores. Identify internal control risks common to such a business. How should these risks affect the audit planning decisions for such a client? One of the risks that a large retail store like Just for Feet Inc. could find in internal controls is in the area of Inventory Control. The largest concern is that what is stated on the Financial statements really exist. It is important to evaluate this risk so that a company can see if there is any thievery by employees and to make sure that on its balance sheet it shows an accurate report of inventory. Another area of risk in a high volume retail store would be the issue of handling cash. Since there is such a high turnover of cash in a large retail store, there needs to be good internal controls in place that will prevent false accounts receivable, and a misrepresentation of revenues. Another risk that needs to be evaluated is the management operations and how they handle and divide responsibilities within the location. In retail stores there can be a high turnover of people, for that reason management needs to make sure that there are always the proper division of duties, they need to make sure all paperwork is properly recorded and accounted for. As to how it will affect the audit plan, the auditor needs to make sure that there is proper division of duties, needs to test to make sure values are correct and there are no misstatements. The need to look closely at the inventory, accounting for the proper value on hand as well as the proper items in stock. Question 3 Just for feet operated in an extremely competitive industry, or sub-industry. Identify inherent risk factors common to businesses facing such competitive conditions. How should these risks affect the audit planning decisions for such a client? An inherent risk is when a company is susceptible to a misstatement in financial statements. It is the responsibility of an auditor  to carry out audits that will make these risks low to nonexistent. An example of this is segregation of duty. IN a highly competitive business profit and larger revenue will identify you as being the best, a possible risk is the lack of personnel that keeps expenses low giving people double duties, but creating an inherent risk. If we do not have management signing off on purchase orders, and others account for the product being received and another accounting for it being sold and another confirming the completion of the process in the accounting of such items through monthly closings or such. An auditor would want to evaluate that management has the experience necessary to carry out these plans. And those that are in the mentioned positions also would be experienced. If there is a high turnover in these positions it could be a sign of fraudulent behavior because people who are trust worthy would not stay in a place to do something dishonest. All these type of changes should be evaluated by the auditor. Question 4 Prepare a comprehensive list, in a bullet format of the audit risk factors present for the 1998 Just for Feet audit. Identify the five audit risk factors that you believe were most critical to the successful completion of that audit. Rank these risk factors from least to most important and be prepared to defend your rankings. Briefly explain whether or not you believe that the Deloitte auditors responded appropriately to the five critical audit risk factors that you identified. The emphasis that management made on reaching the earnings goals at whatever cost. The near year end transactions that Just for Feet was engaged in The law cash resources of the company The type of business strategy that the management of Just for Feet used The way that the company always kept the stock prices on the high end The increase in inventory at the end of both years. The vendor confirmations not coming through to confirm transaction by Just for Feet. The risk factors that were most significant to the audits completion would be the Inherent Risk, control risk, audit risk and detection risk. An Audit  risk is when an auditor answers the following questions: Is there a risk of fraud? Is this risk related to the complexity of transactions? Does it include and significant transaction out of the normal course of business? Karl M Johnston, (Auditing 2014) states that â€Å"whether the risk is related to recent significant economic accounting, or other developments and, it requires specific attention.† In my ranking of more important to least important in risk factors I think that they are generally all equally important. Inherent risk are important because it will evaluate if there has been some type of theft, or if there was anything changed in the form of a non-routine transactions or a complex transaction. Sort of like what Just for Feet did when raised the inventory at the end of two years. The Control risk is also of equal importance because it is relates to a misstatement being stopped with internal controls in place. The fact that Just for Feet was allowing misstatements to be written by outside vendors to send to the auditor shows that the lack of internal controls within the Just for Feet entity allowed this type of poor fraudulent management to occur. This would be assessed through assertion level checks like: Valuation, existence, presentation, completeness and rights and obligations disclosures. In my opinion Deloitte did not respond appropriately to these risk factors. Though they may have seen the risk factors, though they saw the misstatements and questioned them, they did not act accordingly. If they had the SEC would not have fined them. Question 5 Put yourself in the position of Thomas Shine in this case. How would you have responded when Don-Allen Ruttenberg asked you to send a false confirmation to Deloitte & Touche? Before responding, identify the parties who will be affected by your decision? The people who would have been affected by my decision is the shareholders, others who worked for the company, the public, management and executives of the company, even those who were customers of Just for Feet. But even then with all those people at risk I would have said no and risked losing my job by being fired. My ethical position to adhere to what is right is what would require me to make this decision. To be asked to do something fraudulent would make me want to separate myself from this type of management. At the  end I would pay the price for my bad choice. REFERENCES http://www.investinganswers.com/financial-dictionary/financial-statement-analysis/return-equity-roe-916 retrieved 10/2/14 http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-assess-inventory-management-control-risk.html retrieved 10/3/14 http://accounting-simplified.com/audit/introduction/audit-assertions.html retrieved 10/5/14

5 Functions of Quotation Marks

5 Functions of Quotation Marks 5 Functions of Quotation Marks 5 Functions of Quotation Marks By Mark Nichol This post discusses the use of quotation marks to distinguish dialogue, parts of compositions, phrases as phrases, scare quotes, and epithets. 1. For Dialogue Quotation marks are placed around speech in fiction (to distinguish it from attribution and narrative) and nonfiction (for the same reasons, in addition to emphasizing that it is recorded verbatim and not a paraphrase of the actual wording). Quotation marks are also appropriate for conjectural speech (for example, â€Å"What if he says, ‘We’re using John’s plan instead’?) or for representing the idea of speech (â€Å"People often say ‘myself’ when they should say ‘me’). Note: In examples in this and other posts, quoted material is often enclosed in single rather than double quotation marks because I use double quotation marks to frame the examples. In American English, other than in special cases such as setting off terms in botany, linguistics, and philosophy, this is the only general purpose for single quotation marks. 2. For Parts of Compositions Note: The following rules pertain to when titles of parts of compositions are referenced in a written narrative, not to their use as headings in the source material itself. Quotation marks identify article titles in publications and chapter titles in books to distinguish the parts of the whole from the whole itself. (Italicize the publication titles themselves; one exception is unpublished manuscripts, the titles of which are also enclosed in quotation marks.) Similarly, episodes of television programs, as well as those of other audiovisual (or audio-only) presentations such as podcasts, should be enclosed in quotation marks, while program titles are italicized. Song titles, too, are placed in quotation marks to distinguish them from album titles. Quotation marks also identify poems, essays, and short stories to distinguish their titles from those of the anthologies of which they may be (or might originally have been) a part. In online contexts, titles of blog entries, and those of sections of websites, are enclosed in quotation marks. Titles of speeches, as well as those of talks and panels that are part of conferences and other formal meeting events, are also so emphasized. 3. For a Phrase as a Phrase Although self-referential words are italicized (as in â€Å"Moon and month are related†), phrases as phrases are enclosed in quotation marks (as in â€Å"‘Reared its ugly head’ is a clichà ©.) 4. For Scare Quotes Words and phrases are sometimes enclosed in quotation marks to signal that they are being used in a special sense, though this usage is best reserved for ironic emphasis or to clarify that the writer is using but not endorsing the term. Employing such emphasis for slang is not advised. 5. For Epithets When nicknames are used in isolation, do not enclose them in quotation marks (â€Å"The film was released four months after the death of the King of Pop†). But do so when they appear within or after the person’s actual name: â€Å"John ‘Duke’ Wayne,† â€Å"Erwin Rommel, ‘the Desert Fox.’† (But compare the latter with â€Å"Alexander the Great lived to be only thirty-three,† in which â€Å"Alexander the Great† is so styled because the epithet is integrated with the name, not set off by punctuation.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Avoid Beginning a Sentence with â€Å"With†Between vs. In BetweenWood vs. Wooden

The slang debate - Emphasis

The slang debate The slang debate When actress Emma Thompson warned teenagers against using slang on a recent visit to her former school, she probably didnt expect to spark a debate. But spark one she did. It was, apparently, the likes, innits? and it aints she heard bouncing around the Camden School for Girls, Thompsons alma mater, which drove her insane. She told the students: Dont do it because it makes you sound stupid and youre not stupid. Youre missing the point, the opposing side promptly retorted. The kids are all right. Its the moaning adults attitudes that need to change. Complaints about the standard of English [] have gone on for hundreds of years, points out Raphael Salkie, a professor of language studies at the University of Brighton. There never was a golden age when everyone used English properly. And, while Salkie admits Thompson and her critiquing ilk are in highly esteemed company John Milton, Jonathan Swift and George Orwell to name a few they are merely middle-aged grumps who are wallowing in nostalgia. But they are, he says, pining for a time that never really existed. Yet even taking this into account, another of Thompsons points bears repeating one on the importance of understanding the context in which you speak: There is a necessity to have two languages one you use with your mates and the other that you need in any official capacity. Well, thats a different point entirely, isnt it? Not just slashing a big red line through any and all slang, but knowing when to use a different language. And thats something we all do every day. Its unlikely you use the exact same vocabulary at home as you do in a board meeting, or when out on the town. To many, the word slang might have only negative connotations. But David Crystal, former professor of linguistics at the University of Reading, merely defines it as, informal, non-standard vocabulary, or the jargon of a special group. So slang is not just a way for younguns to separate themselves from their elders; its also a way for them to show unity with their peers. And, of course, it can do this for any age or even any class. Problems could perhaps arise if the speaker couldnt understand the line between social contexts and the vocabularies that should accompany different situations. Interestingly, a study by the Cambridge Assessment Group in 2005 found that GCSE pupils literacy was dramatically higher than it had been ten years before, despite the fact that they used more slang. Students used a wider vocabulary, more accurate punctuation and more complex sentences; but they also used more colloquialisms, text message symbols and non-standard English, like double negatives. This was the case even among those receiving the highest grades. Of course, the perception in the world beyond the classroom is often that using non-standard English is sloppy and a sign of poor literacy. While a teacher may award a high grade in spite of the use of slang and suchlike, it is likely someone using similar language in the workplace would do less well. Potential employers probably wouldnt read beyond the first gr8 in a CV, and the rest of the content however impressive would be lost. Cambridge Assessment Group ran another study on teenagers ability to recognise non-standard English in 2010. It found that although GCSE pupils rates of identifying and correcting non-standard English were quite high, fewer than six in ten of them recognised that off of and she was stood were grammatically incorrect. Perhaps more worryingly, almost three in ten didnt flag up should of. But do we expect this to be something theyll grow out of? Or should we bring back more rigidly taught grammar lessons in school? The great slang debate may never go away perhaps because it is endlessly recycled: yesterdays teens could well be tomorrows curmudgeons. Or, is this in fact more than middle-aged moaning? What do you think?