The Experts Guide to the AP Chemistry Exam

The Expert's Guide to the AP Chemistry Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips AP Chemistry is a challenging subject, and many students feel nervous about taking on the exam at the end of the school year. But if you have a sense of what to expect on the AP Chemistry test well in advance, you'll be able to prepare appropriately for it. In this guide, I'll lay out the structure and content of the AP Chemistry exam, give you examples of different types of questions you'll see on it, and tell you how to study effectively for it! How Is the AP Chemistry Exam Structured? Like other AP tests, the AP Chemistry exam has two sections: a multiple-choice section and a free-response section. On both sections, you will have access to a periodic table of the elements as well as a chart listing any formulas and constants you might need for your calculations. The Multiple-Choice Section Here is a brief overview of the multiple-choice section on AP Chemistry: Number of Questions: 60 questions with four answer choices each Time: One hour and 30 minutes Scoring: Worth 50% of your total AP Chemistry score Calculator Use: Prohibited Be aware that some of these questions will exist as a part of question groups (which consist of a few questions that ask about one set of data), whereas others will stand on their own. The Free-Response Section Next up, here is an overview of the free-response section on AP Chemistry: Number of Questions: Four short-response questions and three long-response questions Time: One hour and 45 minutes Scoring: Worth 50% of your total AP Chemistry score Calculator Use: Allowed Question Topics Finally, here are the main topics you'll be tested on with the AP Chemistry exam: Experimental design Analyzing data and identifying patterns or explaining phenomena Creating or analyzing atomic and molecular views to explain observations Articulating and then translating between representations of data Following logical/analytical pathways to solve a problem The entire AP Chemistry exam is three hours and 15 minutes long. This year, the test will be administered on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 8 am. You'll probably have to wake up at least this early on the day of the AP Chem test. Also, this corded monstrosity is what people used to set alarms before smartphones. Horrifying, I know. How Is the AP Chemistry Exam Scored? As mentioned above, the multiple-choice and free-response sections are each worth 50% of your total score. No points are taken off for incorrect answers on either section (i.e., there is no guessing penalty). To calculate your raw multiple-choice score, add up all of your correct answers. This means you can earn a maximum of 60 points on the multiple-choice section. While the free-response section is a little more complicated, you should be able to figure out how many points you’ve earned if you have scoring guidelines. Short-response questions are worth 4 points, and long-response questions are worth 10 points, meaning you can earn a maximum of 46 points on this section. Next, convert these raw scores into numbers out of 50 so that they each make up half your final raw score. Say you got 40 out of 60 multiple-choice questions correct. You would convert this score to the equivalent fraction of 33 out of 50. Then, if you got 30 out of 46 points on the free-response section, you would convert that score to the equivalent fraction of 32 out of 50 points. Finally, add the two scores out of 50 together to get your final raw score out of 100. You can use the conversion chart below to estimate how your raw score might translate to an AP score (on a scale of 1-5). In this case, your raw score of 65 would be right in the middle of the 4 range. We can’t be absolutely sure that these raw score ranges will correlate exactly with these AP scores because the curve is slightly different every year. If you find you’re close to the bottom of your goal score range in practice testing, don't get complacent! You should probably put in a little more studying so you can feel more secure. Raw Score AP Score Percentage of Students Earning Each Score (2017) 72-100 5 10.1% 58-71 4 16.2% 42-57 3 26.1% 27-41 2 26.2% 0-26 1 21.4% Source: The College Board What Do You Need to Know for the AP Chemistry Test? The AP Chemistry test centers around six major themes, or big ideas, which encompass all the topics covered in the AP Chemistry course. I list them here to give you an overview of what kinds of ideas you should be familiar with before taking the test. Big Idea 1: Chemical Elements and Matter The chemical elements are fundamental building materials of matter, and all matter can be understood in terms of arrangement of atoms. These atoms retain their identities in chemical reactions. In terms of specific topics, here's what this idea covers: Compounds in atomic molecular theory Using mass data to identify the composition or identity of a chemical substance Units in chemistry: particles vs. moles vs. mass vs. volume Electrons (distribution in atoms and ions, energy levels, Coulomb’s Law, classic shell model vs. quantum mechanical model) Structure of the periodic table Mass spectrometry Spectroscopy/light absorption and chemical composition of a solution The Law of Conservation of Mass Gravimetric analysis and titration Dude, I'm telling you, this is what everything looks like if you zoom in far enough. Big Idea 2: Chemical and Physical Properties of Materials With this big idea, both the chemical and physical properties of materials can be explained by the structure and arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules and the forces between them. This idea covers the following topics: Molecular structure and its connection to a substance’s properties Phase changes (solids, liquids, gases) Chromatography Interactions between solutes and solvents London dispersion forces Polarity of atoms and molecules Coulomb’s law and the interactions of ions Chemical bonds and why certain atoms form certain types of bonds Bond polarity Properties of metallic elements Lewis diagrams and VSEPR Properties of ionic solids Properties of metal alloys Metallic bonding and the electron sea model Properties of covalent solids Properties of molecular solids Salt: what a square. Big Idea 3: Changes in Matter Changes in matter involve the rearrangement and/or reorganization of atoms and/or the transfer of electrons. Specifically, this big idea encompasses the following topics: Writing balanced chemical equations Stoichiometric calculations to predict outcome of reactions Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases Redox reactions Difference between physical change, chemical change, or ambiguous change Galvanic or electrolytic reactions Half-cell reactions/potentials and Faraday’s laws Matter is always making changes to be its best self. Good for it. Big Idea 4: Rates of Chemical Reactions With this idea, rates of chemical reactions are determined by details of the molecular collisions. Here are some important topics included in this idea: Factors that impact rates of chemical reactions (temperature, concentration, surface area) Calculating rate of a zeroth-, first-, or second-order reaction How half-life relates to rate constant in a first-order reaction Rate law and molecular collisions Catalysts and their impact on chemical reactions Molecular collisions are a lot like car collisions except smaller! Aren't you glad I'm here to enlighten you? Big Idea 5: The Laws of Thermodynamics It's important to know that the laws of thermodynamics describe the essential role of energy and explain and predict the direction of changes in matter. These laws encompass the following topics: Thermal energy transfer Relating the magnitudes of energy changes in two interacting systems (direction of energy flow, type of energy) How energy changes relate to heat capacity, enthalpy of fusion, enthalpy of reaction, PV work Calorimetry Enthalpy of reactions and connection to chemical bonds Noncovalent interactions between molecules Whether reactions are thermodynamically favored or not Gibbs free energy calculations Le Chatelier’s principle Equilibrium constants This is a star, or, more scientifically, "a crazy-hot ball 'o energy." Big Idea 6: Bonds and Intermolecular Attractions Any bond or intermolecular attraction that can be formed can be broken. These two processes are in a dynamic competition, sensitive to initial conditions and external perturbations. This big idea covers the following topics: How changes to chemical reactions affect Q and K Relative rates of forward and reverse reactions Equilibrium constant (K) and how to calculate it Calculating equilibrium conditions of a system Direction of the shift resulting from stresses placed on a system at chemical equilibrium Design a set of conditions that will optimize a certain reaction outcome The distinction between strong and weak acid solutions with similar pH values Interpreting titration data to determine the concentration of the titrant/pKa/pKb Calculating the pH of a solution and its makeup Acid/base reactions Buffer solutions - design, identification, reactions Labile protons and how they affect pH Solubility of salts and Ksp Equilibrium constant in terms of ââ€" ³G ° and RT Join these kooky characters in the new hit dramedy Bonds: They're Stuck Together. Oh man, you've never seen chemistry like this before. Will they? Won't they? Who cares? Sample AP Chemistry Questions + Explanations Here are examples of each type of question you'll see on the AP Chemistry test. I’ll also walk you through the answers to give you an idea of how to approach and solve them. Sample Multiple-Choice Question Many questions on the AP Chemistry exam ask you to make predictions about chemical properties or reactions based on data like this. In this case, the answer is A. The coulombic attractions are weaker in NaCl than they are in NaF because the ionic radius of F- is smaller than that of Cl-. The attraction between molecules will be greater in NaF, and the bonds will be harder to break. Sample Short Free-Response Question In this question, part a requires an understanding of why or why not reactions might occur between molecules. First, you need to explain how collision energy affects whether two molecules will react with each other. Only collisions with enough energy to overcome the activation energy barrier (typically represented by the variable Ea) will reach the transition state and break the F-F bond. Next, you need to identify one other factor besides collision energy that influences the likelihood of a reaction between two colliding molecules. You could say that in order for a collision to be successful, the molecules must have the correct orientation. You would need to mention the specific bonds being formed and broken. Only molecules with the correct orientation can start to form the N-F bond and break the F-F bond. The molecules have to contact each other in very specific places for the transition to take place. Part b is about rate laws, and the first part is pretty straightforward. You have a 50/50 chance of circling the right one even if you have no idea what the answer is. For the record, it's the second option, rate = k[NO2][F2]. You then need to explain why you made your choice to get the last point on this question. The second rate law is the correct answer because Step I is the slower, rate-determining step in the reaction mechanism. Step I is an elementary reaction, so its rate law comes from the stoichiometry of the reaction molecules, NO2 and F2. Sample Long Free-Response Question In part a of this question, you’re asked to write two net-ionic equations. Writing balanced equations based on experimental scenarios is an important skill for the test. For part i, the neutralization reaction is H+ + OH- = H2O (liquid). For part ii, the precipitation reaction is Ba2+ + SO42- = BaSO4 (solid). In part b, you need an understanding of what causes electrical conductivity in chemical substances and why the conductivity decreases at first in the situation described. For part i, the solution is conducting electricity as the first 30 mL of the H2SO4 are added due to the presence of Ba2+ and/or OH- ions that haven’t yet been scooped up for the reactions (you could mention either one and still get a point). For part ii, you could say that the conductivity decreases because these two types of ions are steadily removed by the precipitation and neutralization reactions (Ba2+ ions are taken to form BaSO4, and OH- ions are taken to form water). Side Note: The conductivity goes back up after the equivalence point because of the additional H- and SO42- ions that now exist in solution after all the Ba2+ and OH- ions have been used up by the reactions. Part c requires some attention to detail in unit conversion as well as a logical assessment of the information you’re given. Molarity is moles per liter, so the question is how many moles of Ba(OH)2 were there per liter in the original solution without the added H2SO4. Since the conductivity starts going back up after 30 ml of H2SO4 are added, that means that at that point the number of moles of H2SO4 is equal to the number of moles of BaOH2 in the original solution. We can calculate that 30 mL of 0.10 M H2SO4 is equivalent to 0.0030 moles (0.10 moles/liter multiplied by 0.030 liters). There should be the same number of moles of BaOH2 in the original solution, so we can divide 0.0030 moles by the original 0.025 L (25 ml) to arrive at our answer of 0.12 moles/liter or a molarity of 0.12 M. Part d requires you to use Ksp (the solubility product constant) to determine the amount of Ba2+ ions that remain in solution at the equivalence point. The question tells us that for BaSO4, Ksp = 1.0 x 10-10. The solubility product constant equals the product of the number of ions of each component of the precipitate. Each of these is raised to the power of its coefficient in the original net ionic equation, which in this case is 1 for both: Ksp = [Ba2+] x [SO42-] At the equivalence point, the amount of each of these ions is equal. This means that [Ba2+] x [SO42-] = [Ba2+]2 and [Ba2+]2 = 1.0 x 10-10. The number of Ba2+ ions would be the square root of Ksp, which is 1.0 x 10-5 M. Part e asks you to explain why there is a lower concentration of Ba2+ ions in solution as the amount of H2SO4 added increases past the equivalence point. In this case, you would need to mention the common ion effect and the fact that if you add sulfate ions to an equilibrium reaction involving other sulfate ions, the reaction will consume the added ions to reach a new equilibrium. This means that more of the precipitate (BaSO4) is formed, and more Ba2+ ions are taken out of solution to contribute to it. Equilibrium must be reached. Transition from doing ... to being (I've been getting into yoga lately even though I can't touch my toes without feeling like my whole body is being ripped apart). As you can see, the questions on the AP Chemistry test range from short and sweet to long and moderately evil. An important thread that runs through all of them is that you need to know basic background information about why certain substances act the way they do. For example, why do some substances have higher boiling points than others? What does collision energy have to do with molecular reactions? Why do some chemical substances conduct electricity? Being able to justify your answers is very important. Make sure you never lose sight of the fundamentals as you get into more complex calculations and concepts. How to Study for AP Chemistry: 6 Key Tips Here are some additional tips that will help you prepare for the AP Chemistry exam appropriately and improve the efficiency of your studying! #1: Always Ask Why Don’t gloss over questions you got right through lucky guesses. If you don’t understand exactly why the correct answer is correct, you need to review the concept until you do.Chemistry builds on itself, so if you don’t get the fundamental reason your answer was correct or incorrect, you could be in for a whole mess of trouble in the future. For example, you might have memorized that a certain molecular compound has a higher boiling point than another, but that doesn’t mean you necessarily know why this is the case. Make sure you always know why certain properties occur based on molecular and atomic structure so that you can justify your answers and adapt your knowledge to a variety of scenarios. #2: Memorize Formulas You should memorize all the formulas you need to know for the test. Even though you’ll get a formula sheet, it’s going to be much easier to get through the questions if you don’t have to keep consulting it. For each formula, make sure you know the types of questions it will help you answer and how else it could come into play on the test. #3: Review Your Labs Labs are critical in AP Chemistry because they show you the real-life implications of the facts you’ve been studying. You’ll see many questions on the exam that deal with lab scenarios, and it’s much easier to understand these types of questions if you’re somewhat familiar with the setup. It’s crucial to understand why you got the results you did for each lab and to be able to connect them to facts about chemical reactions and properties of different substances. #4: Learn to Estimate The multiple-choice section of the AP chemistry exam doesn’t let you use a calculator. This is kind of scary for some people, but it shouldn’t be a big obstacle if you’re well prepared. You’ll save yourself a lot of time if you practice doing multiple-choice questions and estimating logical answers without going through long calculations. The more familiar you are with the mechanics of chemical reactions, the easier it'll be to estimate the answers to these problems. #5: Practice With Official Materials The College Board offers free downloadable AP Chemistry materials you can use to get more used to the content of the exam and to practice real multiple-choice and free-response questions. All free-response questions include sample answers as well as commentary that explains what is particularly good (and not so good) about the response. #6: Get a Review Book This is one of the AP classes for which it’s extremely helpful to have a review book to guide your studying. Since the material is complicated and there are a lot of different things you need to know how to do, a review book can help ground you and give you a better handle on how to structure your review overall. You’ll also get a lot of additional practice problems and answer explanations. While you should still use your labs and notes from class, a review book will help you better organize your thoughts. Here are a couple of books I recommend: 5 Steps to a 5: AP Chemistry 2018 (about $10 on Amazon) Barron’s AP Chemistry (about $10 on Amazon) For practice questions, you can also get the book Sterling AP Chemistry Practice Questions (about $20 on Amazon). It’s not technically a full review book, but it will give you more practice resources to use as you study the material on the test. Sometimes this is how your mind acts when you're trying to study something complicated. Let a review book guide your way so the journey toward enlightenment is less anxiety-ridden! Conclusion: How to Study for the AP Chemistry Exam In summary, here are the basic logistical facts to keep in mind about the AP Chemistry exam: Test Date and Time Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 8 am Total Time 3 hours and 15 minutes # of Questions 60 multiple-choice questions 7 free-response questions (4 short, 3 long) Scoring Long free response: 10 points Short free response: 4 points Calculator? Multiple choice: Not allowed Free response: Allowed Point Penalty for Wrong Answers? No penalty %age of Points Needed to Score a 5 Around 70% As I’m sure you've noticed, there’s a lot of material to learn for the AP Chemistry test (six big ideas compared with AP Biology’s four big ideas! What!?!?!). This is why starting your studying early and keeping up with the progress of your class throughout the year are so strongly connected to your level of success on the test. Here’s a quick review of my top six tips for preparing for the AP Chemistry exam: Always ask yourself why the answer is correct on practice questions Memorize all the formulas Review your labs, not just your notes Learn to estimate on multiple-choice questions Practice with official AP Chem materials Use review books to organize your studying If you’re focused and diligent, nothing on this test will be a chemystery to you because you’ll be a regular Sherlock Coulombes ('cause you’ll know all about London dispersion forces. OK, I’m done now). What's Next? Chances are, if you're taking AP Chemistry, you're also planning to take a couple of SAT Subject Tests. Check out our guide to learn about the differences between AP tests and Subject Tests! If you get a 5 on AP Chemistry, what does that mean for you? Find out how AP credit works at colleges. If you read this article, you're probably taking AP Chemistry. But your final high school schedule might not be set in stone just yet. Read this article for comprehensive advice on how many total AP classes you should take in high school to reach your goals. How can you use your knowledge of chemistry to help clean your stuff? Read up on muriatic acid (and what not to combine it with) here. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Morrie & Caged Bir essays

Tuesdays w/ Morrie & Caged Bir essays Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom I Know Why Caged Birds Sing by Maya Angelou I've heard of students who say they like their professors' sharp skills in different fields of study, but I've never heard of any that after twenty years of teaching, the student and teacher bond grow more and more. I'm talking about the book Tuesdays with Morrie. I thought it was a fascinating book. It contained teachings of a wise old man to his younger student, many years later. This man had a terminal illness, and he wanted to get his final message across to everyone, so he entrusted it into the young man, by the name of Mitch Albom. Tuesdays with Morrie was very inspirational and positive, even though there was death involved. Morrie had been teaching for years. This book explained each day of Morrie's final class, which took place in his home. The class met on Tuesdays, and Mitch was the only student. I think this is a very powerful piece of writing, because it really happened, which makes readers connect to the story, because any student had to have had some close relations with a teacher at some point in their life, causing their memories to think beyond the norm. I believe this book shows much courage and strength, in, not only Morrie, but in Mitch himself. Mitch is the student that takes the final class with his old college professor, the lesson of life. It seems as if he is doing this especially for Morrie, and not just for himself. Since the disease is working its way up Morrie's poor fragile body, Mitch becomes embarrassed by him, because he can't do certain things he was able to just a few days earlier. This is where I feel the inspiration kicks in. Mitch shows his support to his teacher, and continues to attend classes weekly. He is inspired by him to keep persisting, not just in this situation, but also helping him while he is working. Mitch has a very admirable quality; he is loyal. Ever since graduation, he h ...

Karst Topography and Sinkholes

Karst Topography and Sinkholes Limestone, with its high calcium carbonate content, is easily dissolved in the acids produced by organic materials. About 10% of the earths land (and 15% of the United States) surface consists of soluble limestone, which can be easily dissolved by the weak solution of carbonic acid found in underground water. How Karst Topography Forms When limestone interacts with underground water, the water dissolves the limestone to form karst topography - an amalgamation of caves, underground channels, and a rough and bumpy ground surface. Karst topography is named for the Kras plateau region of eastern Italy and western Slovenia (Kras is Karst in German for barren land). The underground water of karst topography carves our impressive channels and caves that are susceptible to collapse from the surface. When enough limestone is eroded from underground, a sinkhole (also called a doline) may develop. Sinkholes are depressions that form when a portion of the lithosphere below is eroded away. Sinkholes Can Vary in Size Sinkholes can range in size from a few feet or meters to over 100 meters (300 feet) deep. Theyve been known to swallow cars, homes, businesses, and other structures. Sinkholes are common in Florida where theyre often caused by the loss of groundwater from pumping. A sinkhole can even collapse through the roof of an underground cavern and form whats known as a collapse sinkhole, which can become a portal into a deep underground cavern. While there are caverns located around the world, not all have been explored. Many still elude spelunkers as there is no opening to the cave from the earths surface. Karst Caves Inside karst caves, one might find a wide range of speleothems - structures created by the deposition of slowly dripping calcium carbonate solutions. Dripstones provide the point where slowly dripping water turns into stalactites (those structures which hang from the ceilings of caverns), over thousands of years which drip onto the ground, slowly forming stalagmites. When stalactites and stalagmites meet, they forum cohesive columns of rock. Tourists flock to caverns where beautiful displays of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and other stunning images of karst topography can be seen. Karst topography forms the worlds longest cave system - the Mammoth Cave system of Kentucky is over 350 miles (560 km) long. Karst topography can also be found extensively in the Shan Plateau of China, Nullarbor Region of Australia, the Atlas Mountains of northern Africa, the Appalachian Mountains of the U.S., Belo Horizonte of Brazil, and the Carpathian Basin of Southern Europe.

Rhetorical Analysis Paper (Ethos, Pathos, and Logos) Assignment

Rhetorical Analysis Paper (Ethos, Pathos, and Logos) - Assignment Example Additionally, Maranhao has won the prestigious Premio Jabuti award in 1999 and had a book – Color of the Word – recognized as the best book of poetry by the Brazilian Academy of Letters. In terms of derived ethos the speaker is able to establish significant ethos within this category through his means of presentation. In this way he holds significant control over his poetic delivery and is able to carry the audiences’ attention throughout. For instance, he often pauses throughout his recitations as a means of creating viewer suspense. In this way it is clear that he is an experienced reader and understands his material deeply. Ultimately, this experienced and deep understanding of the poetry grants him significant terminal ethos. Another prominent aspect of rhetorical criticism is logos. Logos considers forms of reasoning that contribute to the overarching rhetorical message. While poetry is recognized as deriving much of its meaning from eschewing traditionally structured forms of ‘reason,’ there are ways this presentation implements logos effectively. In these regards, Salgado Maranhao will use Latin phrases in his poetry; the speaker will then take a moment to explain these phrases to the audience. This adds credibility to his presentation through the recognition of the deep texture of the poems. In another instance the speaker takes time to explain specific aspects about the poems. For instance, he indicates that one poem is symbolic of man’s position in modern society. Ultimately, his willingness to discuss the underlining meaning of the poems contributes considerably to logos. A final aspect of rhetorical criticism is pathos. Pathos specifically refers to the emotion that is established in the construction of the presentation. The speaker is effective in creating pathos both through his words and his modes of presentation. One of the most prominent means he achieves pathos is through linking his presentation

Filling out application form for SOCIAL WORK COURSE Essay

Filling out application form for SOCIAL WORK COURSE - Essay Example often asked and which are required to be answered in application forms are designed to help the institution that is admitting these students assess the candidates and also to provide an opportunity for the students to determine if they are indeed interested in the course or vocation that they will like to develop themselves. In this essay, some questions that are required to be answered for admission to a social work degree are considered and possible answers provided, with due regard to the background of the candidate filing out the form. This brief essay presents some appropriate responses to questions related to a social work case which may be required to be discussed as a part of the entrance requirements to a degree course in Social Work at a British university. Whereas those who may respond to the questions related to the social work case that is being discussed may have a GCE ‘A’ – level education and varied work experience, the social work case that is required to be discussed is considered from the perspective of a candidate for admission who is from a minority Asian background and hence the candidate is better able to appreciate the peculiarities of the culture of the Indian Sub-Continent, along with the peculiarities of the British culture. The candidate is a second generation migrant to the United Kingdom who was born and bred in the United Kingdom, but was raised in her home environment which is a reflection of the culture of the Indian Sub-Continent. Such individuals, who have an inte rest in social work, can prove to be invaluable for conducting social work in the United Kingdom, because they have the capacity of being able to understand both the British and the Indian cultural traditions. These individuals can serve as a bridge between communities and not only assist in the assimilation of migrants from different background into the multicultural British community, but also help those migrants who have now grown old and are in need of

How Could Leader Be Ethical Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

How Could Leader Be Ethical - Essay Example The best leaders are the ones who have a well understanding of ethical behavior and values, and exhibit them fully, day to day, in their words and actions during their leadership. Therefore, ethical leadership is important as this is what differentiates between a capable leader and an incompetent one. But what exactly is ethical leadership? Most of us simple define it as ‘being led by a leader with good character’. But in reality, there is more to it than just that. The respect for values, a strong character, ability to listen, understand, mentor and navigate along with integrity and courage are just some of the basic qualities a leader should possess (Ciulla, 2007). Only then can he set an example for others to follow and seek guidance from. The most essential job for a good leader is to develop the atmosphere of trust and understanding among his people. Workplaces lacking trust face huge difficulties in working in a peaceful and coordinated environment. Trust can only be created if the leaders stick to the promises they make with their people. Dr. Duane C. Tway calls trust a ‘construct’, because it can take years, possible ages, to build but a minute to shatter (Ciulla, 1998). Therefore, even a minor conflict, element of hypocrisy or breaking of promises will result in the development of mistrust among the people and thus, cause productivity to suffer. Leaders can narrate morally rich, success stories to their followers but true ethical leaders live by their words and lead by self examples. This indeed is no ordinary job in today’s cruel world of business tycoons and political turmoil. So often, we have heard sky banging claims of leaders making promises to their electorates in the election campaign. However, their balloons get flat when they get to the throne – non ethical behavior. Likewise, CEOs in any organization are public figures, under close supervision of their subordinates (Ciulla, 2007). Every word uttered mu st be fulfilled, failing which their trust worthy model and front leading role will be destroyed forever. To judge the ethics of leaders, it is important that we analyze the circumstances in which they have to work. Leaders, strictly speaking, are part and parcel of their organization management taken as decision and policy makers. Thus, they must have a broad vision, sense of purpose and the ability to judge things beforehand. This allows them to navigate and guide their people through the hurdles and emerge at the end, successful and prosperous. But, it is to be noted here that guiding does not mean regarding them as followers, and are to be dictated. Rather, a good leader must understand that they and their people all have a mutual vision and purpose, and therefore, must aspire to develop a feeling of consensus among the workplace (Ciulla, 1998). Concurrently, a successful leader must keep both ends of communication channel open and available round the clock. Sharing different vi ews, opinions and values with colleagues and subordinates does enhance the understanding of common goals set for all. This way, a leader raises the ethical standards far above the individual’s level to higher organization level. Everyone feels loyal to the company, an unfathomable trust that is not deterred by change of faces. Our history is full of successful leaders who are known as the icons of ethical values for their followers. Roger Enrico,

Opus Dei and Vatican Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Opus Dei and Vatican - Essay Example The organization is officially endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church. It grew rapidly in membership and power. Templar knights, known as the Holy Crusaders, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. The non-combatant members of the Order managed large economic establishments, introduced new financial techniques that were noted in the literature as formation of banking, and built many fortifications across Europe and the Holy Land. When the Holy Land was lost, King Philip IV of France who was deeply in debt to the Order, pressured Pope Clement V to move against the Order. Pope Clement disbanded the Knights Templar in 1312. In the early 20th century , the Roman Catholic church in Spain was anxious on the growing anti-religious skepticism and a great fear of losing the bourgeoisie evolved. A Spanish priest, Jos Mara Escriv de Balaguer, decided to start a new Catholic movement and founded the Opus Dei or "Work of God" in 1928 to face struggle against perceived enemies including secularism, Republicanism, communism and Freemasonry. Opus Dei was formed as a new Catholic group that combine traditional theology with modern methods of spreading the Word of God (Beckett, 2005). The Opus Dei is primarily a lay movement, 98% of which are lay Catholics with some priest members. It is governed by an apostolic convention headed by a bishop. The lay people are taught to sanctify their daily lives, especially in work. It places great emphasis that God should be a part of daily life. Opus Dei is centrally organized with specific categories and classes for its members. It is very powerful and influential to the Catholi c Church and well-funded and very wealthy. The organization gained power by recruiting agents of influence within the banking, industry, communications and the academic professions. It exerted significant influence on church policy. The movement found favor from Pope John Paul II who elevated the order to the status of "Personal Prelature, "meaning that it is ultimately accountable only to the Pope. This authorizes the organization to go on with their business without being regulated by the bishops. Opus Dei is considered as the elites of the conservative wing of the Vatican, surpassing other Orders such as the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in influence. Opus Dei is able to influence the Vatican's agenda through the presence of its members in secular governments and institutions, academic, medical and grassroots sectors of society. From this perspective, Opus Dei is the Roman Catholic is like the Knights Templar in the Middle Ages. It is also the equivalent of militant Christian Re constructionist Protestant groups and other religious dominant groups who claims mandate from God to take dominion of governments, societies, nations and all individuals. Its rapid success brought suspicion/speculation about new Opus Dei takeover of Rome" (Allen, 2001). The Opus Dei is facing a lot of criticisms. Their desire for secrecy, their overreliance on authority like having people read their mail if a full member, and having people tell you what you can read or not read if you are a subordinate, and the heavy-handed recruiting techniques, made the Opus Dei appear like a cult. The press in the United States describe Opus Dei as secretive, powerful, cultlike, dangerous, and mysterious. The Opus Dei claim that their belief is the only way to holiness for a lay person. Another practice of Opus