Introduction to Parallel Computing: Design and Analysis of Parallel Algorithms Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this book when I was a 2nd grade CS student. I planned to start my research project in supercomputing field. So I decided to study the aspects of parallel computing starting by its concepts and programming. As a programmer I found that I would need the general view before coding. Kumar's book is great in which it gives you generalized overview of hardware and software architectures. He and his contributors don't take care of what system nor language you're using. Instead, they want you to learn Parallel Programming. Scientific and non-numerical algorithms are overviewed and explained mathematically. They prove everything they state by using mathematics. I don't know any better way. Do you? It's worth every penny.

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Take an in-depth look at techniques for the design and analysis of parallel algorithms with this new text. The broad, balanced coverage of important core topics includes sorting and graph algorithms, discrete optimization techniques, and scientific computing applications. The authors focus on parallel algorithms for realistic machine models while avoiding architectures that are unrealizable in practice. They provide numerous examples and diagrams illustrating potentially difficult subjects and conclude each chapter with an extensive list of bibliographic references. In addition, problems of varying degrees of difficulty challenge readers at different levels. Introduction to Parallel Computing is an ideal tool for students and professionals who want insight into problem-solving with parallel computers. Features: *Presents parallel algorithms in terms of a small set of basic data communication operations, greatly simplifying the design and understanding of these algorithms. *Emphasizes practical issues of performance, efficiency, and scalability. *Provides a self-contained discussion of the basic concepts of parallel computer architectures.*Covers algorithms for scientific computation, such as dense and sparse matrix computations, linear system solving, finite elements, and FFT. *Discusses algorithms for combinatorial optimization, including branch-and-bound, unstructured tree search, and dynamic programming. *Incorporates various parallel programming models and languages as well as illustrative examples for commercially-available computers. Audience: Junior/Senior/Graduate Computer Science and Computer Engineering majors Professional/Reference Courses: Distributed Computing Parallel Programming Parallel Algorithms Prerequisites: Operating Systems and Analysis of Algorithms 0805331700B04062001

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The Creative Spirit: An Introduction to Theatre Review

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(More customer reviews)THE CREATIVE SPIRIT takes a very refreshing, multicultural view to American Theater, while still giving good, basic information about theater history and the process of theater production. This text was written to accompany introductory theater courses, (perhaps in community colleges or in a theater for non-majors context), not to try to be a definitive guide to all theater. Hence, the subtitle "An Introduction to Theatre."
Reading plays is a huge part of learning about theater, and this text includes many plays for analysis and discussion. The plays included are each unique and important, reflecting the diverse experience of the people of the United States (and probably the students who are reading them), while still teaching the same concepts as if they were reading the plays that most intro textbooks offer. Each play is preceded by contextual information including an author biography, the artistic and cultural influences that contributed to the inspiration of the writing, information about a production of the play, etc.
There are individual chapters about the role of each theater practicioner (director, designer, actor, etc.) which include interviews with professionals who discuss their craft.
New to recent editions is the addition of an entire chapter about musical theater. An important part of American theater, recent and historical musical productions are discussed.
The text is richly illustrated, with many color plates, black and white photos and drawings. Photos of Broadway, regional and college productions are included, as well as historically important people and places.
In addition, the final chapter of the text (at least in the last edition, I have not seen the most recent edition) includes a number or project ideas for students to become the producers of a show, choosing directorial concepts, set and costume designs, etc. At the end of each of the other chapters are suggested discussion questions for that chapter's content as well.
Many of us practicing theater today could even benefit from reviewing some of the basic information in this book, or expanding our knowledge of what's out there by reading about and seeing photos from varied regional productions.
In my mind, THE CREATIVE SPIRIT: AN INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE is an excellent book for what it aims to be.

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This introductory text places the students at the center of theatrical creation and provides coverage of the broad range of contemporary theatre. The Creative Spirit includes complete scripts of five plays: August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Wakako Yamauchi's And the Soul Shall Dance, Tony Kushner's Angels in America, Milcha Sanchez Scott's Dog Lady, and Sam Shepard's Buried Child. The text emphasizes the collaborative and creative processes that go into productions, and includes interviews with theatre artists.

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Informal Reading Inventory: Preprimer to Twelfth Grade, Sixth Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been using the Burns Roe inventories for the past seven years in my elementary classes and Reading Tutor program. I find that while some of the passages are good, others are very difficult to use. The vocabulary in some passages is very outdated (like the use of the terms "bookmobile," "fife," and "roof slates"). Also, there are many stories that present situations and topics very unknown to second language learners. I also do not like that the passages are excerpts from stories, with no apparent starting points or endings. In fact, I feel that I can only successfully use two or three of the passages for each level, since the others do not give me a true reflection of students' reading comprehension.
Another problem I have is with the word lists. There is a tremendous jump in word difficulty from Level 3 to Level 4. Most of my students can read Level 5 words more easily that those in level 4. To go from words like "yellow" and "welcome" to "ancient" and "government" is a bit much.
Overall, I think that the format of the inventory is good. I just think it is time to add new, up-to-date, and less confusing passages.

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This popular supplement is widely used by preservice and inservice teachers to assess or test students' reading progress. Its key features are a unique K–12 scope and numerous strategies for assessing students' vocabulary, phonics, and comprehension of text.

The book's clear instructions help teachers administer, score, and interpret tests. Its perforated, punched, spiralbound format makes it easy to use in one-to-one teacher-student testing situations. All passages and word lists in this reliable supplement have been field-tested over numerous editions.

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Portable Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing Review

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(More customer reviews)We used this book in my literature class, and I should say that I am not a fan of literature classes, but this book was very surprising. It contains short stories, poems, and plays like any other text, but if offers a wide variety of topics for selection by the professor or the student based on personal preferences or educational objectives. For instance, when working with poetry, students may choose from a variety of poems from baseball to romance. It is all there! Another example would be the short stories in the text; they range from stories of military experience to Asian family traditions. It is not only a literature book, but also a book of culture and variety. It is so well rounded it should appeal to all types of personalities, likes, and dislikes.

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Introduction to literature classes that only need the essentials.

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Adventures in Singing: A Process for Exploring, Discovering, and Developing Vocal Potential Review

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(More customer reviews)The book had a lot of information on the importance of voice. It taught an individual how to develop and how to effectively use one's voice to it's fullest potential. It made the ability to develop one's talent much easier that what was atually thought by many people, especailly me.

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ADVENTURES IN SINGING combines a thorough introduction to the singing process with an anthology of 60 songs that are perfect for the beginning singer. The text offers a clear introduction to the basics of how the voice works along with medical voice-building techniques. Within each chapter, exercises help students explore their vocal potential and develop performance skills. Self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter help the students relate the content to their own experiences. Throughout, the text takes a holistic approach, reflecting the view that the study of singing helps students develop greater self-awareness of body and mind. The author views learning to sing as one of the best self-improvement courses one can undertake. The anthology in the second half of ADVENTURES IN SINGING consists of 60 songs - many in both high and low keys - representing art songs, arias, folk songs, hymns, musical theatre hits, and group songs. The anthology represents songs of different nationalities, historical periods, subject matters, moods, and styles. A bargain pre-pack of ADVENTURES IN SINGING with 2 cassettes of piano accompaniments is available.The cassettes include all of the songs in the anthology, so that students can rehearse outside of class.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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The Wadsworth Anthology of Drama Review

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(More customer reviews)I read so much about the anthology, but nowhere did I find what plays were actually presented, for those interested here is the list: Orestia, Agamemnon, Liberation Bearers, Eumenides, Oedipos King, Medea, Lysistrata, Matsukaze, Chushingura, Second Shepards' Pageant, Everyman, Doctor Faustus, Hamlet, The Tempest, Life is a Dream, Tartuffe, Phaedra, The Rover, Loa DIvine Narcissusm Recruiting Officer, Doll House, Father, Cherry Orchard, Major Barbara, Six Characters..., Mother Courage, Endgame, Homecoming, Hamletmachine, Cloud Nine, Our Country's Good, Trifles, Hairy Ape, Glass Menagerie, Dutchman, Vedidos, True West, Fences, M Butterfly, Angels in America I, Fires in the Mirror, America Play, Lady Aoi, My Beatles, A Tempest, Information for Foreigners, Death and King's Horseman, Translations, Gangsters, No Sugar, Dry Lips Oghta..., Valley Song. On top of it all, there are incredible and insightful critical reviews.

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Known through four editions as the boldest and most distinguished introduction to drama, William Worthen's pace-setting text continues to provide exciting plays usefully situated within their historical and cultural contexts. In its fifth edition, THE WADSWORTH ANTHOLOGY OF DRAMA broadens its scope to offer even more plays than ever before.

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J2ME Game Programming (Game Development) Review

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(More customer reviews)Finally! Ive been trying to learn how to program sprite based 2d games for a awhile now, but have not found real common sense explanations or tutorials, until i got this book. Wells explains everything in such a way that it makes you both laugh and understand his instructions at the same time.
He shows you how to program MIDP games exactly the way I would want someone to teach me, down to earth mixed with a little geek humor, which if your reading this book you will relate to.
Its takes you from basic to advanced and you never feel like your lost, its takes alot of time and concentration but thankfully to the way the book is laid out and Wells teaching style you dont get a headache, you feel like someone is right there with you showing you how to do it.
Worried about MIDP 2.0? Dont be, you need to learn everything thats in this book in the first place before you even worry about 2.0, true this book is not a 2.0 reference, but if your a java developer then you know how easy it is to transition into a new API implentation once you know the prior. After your done with this you can look at MIDP 2.0 and use what you want to from the new release to take your game one more step forward.
Highly reccomend.

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J2ME Game Programming takes the reader from the birth of the game idea, through the hours of fun programming it, and then finally through the quest of getting the new game published.The main project in the book is the creation of the reader's own J2ME game, including assessment of the game's lifecycle, how to handle resources, various methods of drawing to the screen, optimizing memory usage, handling the users input, and even sharing high-scores online!The business models of the J2ME market are very independent-friendly, which is attractive to many programmers who are looking for the knowledge they need to make a few bucks on their own games.When working on a limited platform it is important to squeeze as much as possible out of those precious bytes -- in this book readers will find the tools and source code they need to get the most out of the constrained resources and successfully create their own game.

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Mass Communication Theory: Foundations, Ferment, and Future Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this book for a Master's Level course. It was a good and interesting read to see how the groundwork of communication theory was structured into what we know today. Definately reccomend it for introductory communication courses.

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MASS COMMUNICATION THEORY: FOUNDATIONS, FERMENT, AND FUTURE, Fifth Edition, introduces you to current and classical mass communication theories and explains the media literacy movement in terms you can understand. Plus, this mass communication textbook helps you develop a better understanding of media theory so you can play a role in the media industry's future. Written in an accessible writing style, the text is designed to help you perform well on exams and succeed in the course.

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Music: The Art of Listening w/CD-ROM Review

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(More customer reviews)Having taught music appreciation and music literature at the college level for nearly thirty years I have seen many books such as this one. This is one of the best. Where many authors are condescending, Ferris speaks straight to you; where many authors give irrelevant history and biography, Ferris focuses on the musical experience, using history and biography only as a tool for better understanding. Many books have the not-so-hidden agenda to make it clear that classical music is better than pop music in every way; but Ferris creates a more exploratory environment. Her sections on the music of non-Western cultures (Chinese, Japanese, Middle Eastern, African... and even Native American) are quite well focused, and these open up the mind to alternative -- and equal -- modes of listening and appreciating music as a human activity. The one weak area for me was the CD collection (always a problem as there are too many good choices). Earlier editions had a bit better selection. Some were supposed to be shifted to the extended collection, and the extended collection that is listed in the book is really wonderful. Unfortunately, that collection never materialized. The extended collection I received (twice) left off all the selections I was counting on for my class. But if the publisher ever gets that collection together, this really will be the best music appreciation book on the market.
Be forewarned: you do have to be able to read at a college level, and there is an expectation that you have some real music background, even if you can't read music. Over the years I have found that freshman college students have more and more trouble reading books at this level, but other books are no better. The Ferris book is smaller and more compact than most, has more relevant information than most, and creates the best experience of all.

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Emphasizing music in the context of the society that surrounds it, Music: The Art of Listening weaves the development of Western music into the fabric of cultural history, paying special attention to the biographies of significant composers.

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Street Talk-1: How to Speak and Understand American Slang (v. 1) Review

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(More customer reviews)'Street Talk 1' is my favorite book on the topic. Although I have a decent collection of slang dictionaries, I found this one to stand out for several reasons:
First of all, it is full of terms that are ACTUALLY USED in the US today. No big deal, you might say, but most of the other books available on US slang would only be useful if the professors writing them could first convince Americans to learn and use the expressions contained in them ;)
Secondly, the EXERCISES at the end of the chapters are VERY HELPFUL to learn the expressions.
I recommend this book to every foreigner trying to learn how to communicate with Americans.

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Street Talk 1 contains more than 1,150 commonly used American slang terms and expressions...the words and phrases heard everyday that don't always make sense. If you are confused by American English and would like to speak and understand like a native, you need to read this book! Street Talk 1 is the first self-teaching book on American slang that is written for the non-native speaker. Readers will learn the "inside" language that is heard in everyday conversations, at the movies, on the radio, and seen in books, magazines, and advertisements. This often mysterious language of slang and idioms is clearly explained through dialogues, pronunciation tips, word games, and illustrations.

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Music: An Appreciation Review

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(More customer reviews)I have used this text and earlier editions teaching music appreciation at community college and have found it to be the best yet so far. The most useful part of the text for the [before class] non-active listener are the listening outlines, with very detailed descriptions of what to listen for in various pieces of music. Kamien includes very early musical selections up to the very recent. Also included are some non-western music examples. This text could be very beneficial to musician and non-musician alike. There is great detail in his explanations of how various musical forms are put together. There is just enough history included in the text to avoid the boredom of the purely historical perspective of music appreciation.

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Through eight editions, Roger Kamien's Music: An Appreciation has become the most widely used text for Music Appreciation and Introduction to Music Literature courses. The author has approached his new ninth edition with the goal of re-examining the scholarship and refreshing the repertoire while maintaining the strengths that have made the book number one--the clear presentation of musical elements, the vivid depiction of music history, the carefully chosen musical examples, the detailed and informative Listening Outlines, and the unsurpassed supplements package.

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College Vocabulary 4 (English for Academic Success) (Bk. 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)I ordered this book with quite high expectency because of my acquaintance with "Vocabulary for College: Vanguard Edition With Analogies" written by Paul B. Diederich (Author), Sydell Terris Carlton (Author) which is recommanded by a high school student who matriculated into Harvard University for medical study.
However, this book only resemble the title of the book he recommanded. I believe the title is very misleading. It should be titled "Vocabulary for Elementary Students."
It's regretful that I missed the deadline to get refund.
With sincerity, I would like to say to the author, editor and publisher of this book, please don't sell put on MISLEADING title on the book.

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The Vocabulary strand is designed to support the Oral Communication, Reading, and Writing strands by helping students develop the ability to understand and use the vocabulary in those strands which come from the Academic Word List (AWL).These books can be used as stand alone texts in a vocabulary class or as supplements in reading, writing, or oral communication classes.

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Contacts (French Edition) Review

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(More customer reviews)There are a total of 19, yes, 19 CDs.
Many of the vendors will only sell you a few of the 19 because they come in 3 sets.
You may not need all of them. You may not need any of them.
If you are only taking French 1, the first set of CDs will work for you. If you are taking French 1 - 4, then you may want to have all 19.
The CDs correspond to the workbook (Cahiers de activities). The Cds will not help you unless you have the workbook.
You must have the textbook, workbook, and CDs all of the same edition or the supplements (workbook and CDs) are useless.
Your instructor will likely require that you have the workbook. You language lab may already have the CD and educational program loaded in its system. You may want to check before blowing fifty bucks for CDs you don't need (especially when you may be required to do hard time in the lab for a set number of hours anyways).
Get the CDs if:
1.) your language lab does not have the corresponding program for the workbook (another words, if they dont already have the CDs loaded on their system) AND/OR your professor TELLS you to get it. Call or email him/her to find out for sure!
2.) you want additional practice at home AND you have the corresponding workbook "Cahiers de Activities". (If you do not have the workbook, the correct edition of the workbook and textbook, then the CDs WILL NOT help you.)
Good Luck! Au Revoir!

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An introductory French text based on a four-skills, mainstream approach. This fifth edition features new oral proficiency and communicative exercises, and updated cultural information. Ancillary package available upon adoption.

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Music: The Art of Listening Review

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(More customer reviews)This textbook covers a wide variety and genres of music as well as defining the families of instruments and how they have been used throughout history. A must read for anyone interested in music even if you are not in the class. Highly recommended. Delivery was fast and efficient.

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Music: The Art of Listening weaves the story of great music into the fabric of cultural and social history to provide the reader with a context for developing appreciation. In a clear and accessible format, Jean Ferris and new coauthor Larry Worster introduce music from across several centuries, helping the listener develop techniques to fully appreciate music along the way. Using listening guides, insights into the composers, and illustrations from other arts, Music: The Art of Listening provides every student with a way to engage with great music and to carry that engagement into their wider listening world.

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Understanding Jamaican Patois: An Introduction to Afro-Jamaican Grammar Review

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(More customer reviews)Several years back I was in Jamaica, The people there speak english well, but between each other they speak Patois. During my first trip there I spent many hours talking with bartenders and waitress' trying to learn the language. I did get down 'gimme a Red Stripe man' but I wanted to be able to understand them. At the airport on my way home I stopped in one of the book stores and picked up a copy of this book which sells there for a whopping $26 US. I read it through out the year and by the time I returned the following year I could actually understand a good bit of what they were saying, and some of the locals actually thought I worked there at one of the cruise ship terminals. It goes through sentence structure and tenses, not just a list of common phrases. In reference to the Afro-Jamaican it compares different parts of the language to where it probably came from which many times it is linked to different African languages, no reference to the different people who currently speak the language.

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This easy-to-understand introduction to Afro-Jamaican grammar "explains clearly and simply the basics of Jamaican patois. Most importantly I think the book has an important role to play in helping Jamaicans take pride in their language and see that it is not second-class" (Deborah Pruitt, anthropologist, Berkeley, California). (Foreign Language Studies)

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Public Speaking: Concepts and Skills for a Diverse Society Review

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(More customer reviews)The book is great! After reading this book, I feel that I am able to: 1.Have a broader and deeper understanding of myself and of others. 2. Have a thorough theoretical and working knowledge of the various concepts of public speaking. 3. Listen actively and speak with a greater feel for me and for my audience.

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Critically acclaimed since its first edition, PUBLIC SPEAKING: CONCEPTS AND SKILLS FOR A DIVERSE SOCIETY helps students become effective speakers and listeners in our multicultural society. Jaffe demonstrates the often overlooked connection between diversity and public speaking with fascinating yet practical concepts, such as the canons of rhetoric, diverse listening styles, civility and speechmaking, and the culture of narrative and nontraditional speech organization patterns. She also presents the essentials in public speaking theories, applications, and critical thinking through expanded coverage of basic public speaking skills, rhetorical foundations, and technology. PUBLIC SPEAKING: CONCEPTS AND SKILLS FOR A DIVERSE SOCIETY, Sixth Edition, gives students the tools they need for success in any professional field today.

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Emergent Literacy and Language Development: Promoting Learning in Early Childhood (Challenges in Language and Literacy) Review

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(More customer reviews)Acquiring language and the introduction of symbol interpretations such as the alphabet and simple sentence structures must be mastered as early as a child's emerging intellectual development will permit to insure social and academic success throughout a child's school years and beyond. "Emergent Literacy And Language Development: Promoting Learning In Early Childhood" is a compilation of six major essays by distinguished researchers and practitioners in Early Childhood Education under the deft editorship of child language specialist and academician Paul M. Rhyner (Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee). "Emergent Literacy And Language Development" addresses, will illustrative case examples, effective instructional approaches for promoting language learning in children with typical development and those who are experiencing developmental language delays. Representing a body of seminal scholarship and a core addition to academic and professional library Early Child Hood Development reference collections and supplemental reading lists, "Emergent Literacy And Language Development" is especially recommended reading for reading specialists, speech-language pathologists, classroom instructors, early childhood development specialists, and concerned parents.

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This concise, accessible book explores the connection between language acquisition and emergent literacy skills, and how this sets the stage for later literacy development. Chapters address formative early experiences such as speaking and listening, being read to, and talking about print concepts and the alphabet. Written for early childhood professionals, reading specialists, and speech–language pathologists, the book describes effective assessment and instructional approaches for fostering language learning and emergent literacy in typically developing children and those at risk for language delays. Vivid case examples illustrate specific ways to collaborate with parents to give all children a strong foundation for school readiness and success.

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