The Constitutionality Of Redressing Historic Injustice Essay

Lauren Pardue GOVT 2306 M2 27 December 2016 Affirmative Action: The Constitutionality of Redressing Historic Injustice One of the most problematic and controversial issues in The United States of America is affirmative action. Affirmative action is a policy of affording minorities certain privileges in order to combat the historical prejudice against them. In an effort to redress the historical injustices faced by African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities, universities and employers across the nation have taken race into account when admitting students or hiring employees. Abigail Fisher, of Texas, applied for admission into the University of Texas at Austin (UT) and was denied; she sued the public university on the grounds of racial discrimination or reverse racism in the supreme court case Fisher v University of Texas. Abigail Fisher is a white female from Sugarland, Texas. Both her father and her older sister are UT alumni. She was not in the top ten percent of her class, so she was not granted automatic admissions to UT per Texas House Bill 588 (HB 588), which grants automatic admission to public high school students who graduated in the top ten percent of their class. When Texas Senate Bill 175 was passed in 2009, UT could cap the number of students automatically admitted at seventy-five percent of the incoming class (or the top seven percent of high school graduates). Only fifteen percent of the incoming class consists of Texas residents not in the top seven

Traditional Education Vs Progressive Education - 1553 Words

Alli Lively Education; Something that once appeared to be so simple as a child. Throughout the growth in knowledge as well in maturity, the rigors of higher education as well as an appreciation of the theories that have lead everyone, who has had the privilege of receiving education, to contest to their personal views of education. Over the course of eight weeks, the focus on Juggling in the classroom as well as John Dewey s Experience Education has undoubtedly opened a new path for the learning process. The task of juggling in the classroom has further reinforced the ideology Dewey has written within his text. The duration of the first six chapters of his novel have had a direct correlation to the theory of juggling in the classroom†¦show more content†¦Juggling in the class is a tool that can be used to prove that any person can be taught something, but until they have the true passion to exceed it is simply not feasible. The average lifespan for humans continue to expand everyday, and within that time frame learning is accomplished in both a positive and negative manner. In Dewey s second chapter The Need of a Theory of Experience, the concept of a mis-educative experience as well as an educative experience are equally discussed. The claim that Dewey makes on page twenty five reads: Any experience is mis-educative that has the effect of arresting or distorting the growth of further education.. From this viewpoint, the conclusion that any human being throughout history has acquired at least one mis-educative experience can be made. From the classroom perspective, any student that learns in only a singular manner may be classified as having a mis-educative experience because a teacher typically only shows a singular way to solve a problem such as in mathematics, view a poem in literature, or interpret data in science. The reason for this being a negative process is students may not have the ability to adapt to the lessons that they are learning in a style that is more suited to their needs. Throughout the time spent juggling in class, what I have began to notice includes the concepts that one has a chance to learn in an incorrect manner; however, they neglect to know that their execution ofShow MoreRelatedTraditional Education Vs Progressive Education1719 Words   |  7 Pages Education; Something that once appeared to be so simple as a child. Throughout the growth in knowledge and maturity, the rigors of higher education as well as an appreciation of the theories that have lead me, who has had the privilege of receiving education, to contest to my personal views of education. Over the course of eight weeks, the focus on juggling in the classroom as well as John Dewey s Experience Education has undoubtedly opened a new path in my learning process. The task of jugglingRead MoreProgressive Education Essay1318 Words   |  6 Pagestells you, words and ideas can change the world.† Typically, students do not hear enough of this type of passion in a traditional classroom. However, a progressive classroom, be it a cave or college can inspire students to memorize facts, not because they have to, but rather because they want to for the betterment of humanity. Society desperately needs students educated in a progressive style because America needs students who realize learning never stops. Today’s students and tomorrow’s professionalsRead MoreProgressive Reformers Essay example625 Words   |  3 Pages10/08/12 Progressive Reformers The Progressive movement has had a tremendous impact on society and preserving the doctrine of a democratic nation. The Progressive Era, which initiated between the years 1890 through 1920, was instituted because progressives who wanted to rid politics of corruption and inefficiency. Progressives wanted to curtail the power of the business trusts, and protect the general welfare of the public. The Progressive name derived from forward-thinking or progressive goalsRead MoreHorace Mann And The American Education System917 Words   |  4 Pagescourt decisions to America’s education system: Horace Mann (1796- 1859) Horace Mann was one of the most influential reformers in the history of American education. He was responsible for the Common School Movement, which was to ensure that every child receive free basic education funded by local taxes. Growing up in poverty where there was lack of access to education, the first secretary of Massachusetts Board of Education strongly believed that tuition- free education would be the â€Å"great equalizerRead MoreOnline Education vs Traditional Education1666 Words   |  7 PagesOnline Education vs. Traditional Education Nowadays, with the technology furtherance and the increased use of the internet, online education has gained significant acceptance and popularity all over the world. Not too long ago, online education offered no competition to traditional education .Today, with more choices being offered online, traditional education is now facing a number of challenges in every level. This has as a result, the competition between those two educational programs, havingRead MoreTraditional Vs. Online Learning1510 Words   |  7 PagesAmong schools with 12th-grade students during the 2010–11 school year, the average percentage of 12th-grade students who graduated with a high school diploma was 89 percent for traditional public schools, 91 percent for public charter schools, and 92 percent for private schools (Institute of Educational Sciences). Traditional on campus classes are those in which a student earns a diploma or a degree in a classroom environment taught by a professor. Students are p rovided with high amounts of socialRead MoreThe Feminist Movement : The First Great Provider For The Human Species1392 Words   |  6 Pagesspokeswoman Mary Wollstonecraft and her well-known book about equality in education. â€Å"A Vindication of the Rights of Woman† (1792), â€Å"was written by British feminist Mary Wollstonecraft and is one of the earliest works of feminist philosophy. In it, Wollstonecraft responds to those educational and political theorists of the 18th century who did not believe women should have an education. She argues that women ought to have an education commensurate with their position in society, claiming that women areRead MoreThe Tax System Of The United States1553 Words   |  7 Pagesincomes or business profits collected by the government that funds certain actions and services provided by the government for the people. Taxes in the United States originated in the 1760s. The current tax system the country has is a progressive tax. A progressive tax is a tax system where higher incomes tax at higher percentages than those with lower incomes. The tax system that was anticipated that the economy should switch to is a flat tax. A flat tax is a system where all inc ome would pay theRead MoreThe Tax System Of The United States1597 Words   |  7 Pagesprofits collected by the government that funds certain actions and services is provided by the government for the people. Taxes in the United States originated all the way back in the 1760s. The current tax system the country has is a progressive tax. A progressive tax is a taxation system where higher incomes get taxed at higher percentages than those with lower incomes. The tax system that was anticipated that the economy should switch to is a flat tax. A flat tax is a system where all income wouldRead MoreThe Curriculum Development Theory Within The Educational System947 Words   |  4 Pagesfollowing famous curriculum theorists: â€Å"Franklin Bobbitt (1876-1956), Werret Charters (1875-1952), William Kilpatrick (1871-1965), Harold Rugg (1886-1960), Hollis Caswell (1901-1989, and Ralph Tyler (1902-1994). Each of these individuals’ philosophy of education and views on student learned c urrently impact how we view the development of student learning in America: 1. Bobbitt believed that the learning objectives, together with the activities, should be grouped and sequenced after clarifying the instructional

Gun Control Essay Body Paragraph Example For Students

Gun Control Essay Body Paragraph Uncontrollable GunsTom is running full speed, maybe even for his life. It is a perfect summer night in San Jose, and Tom and his work partner just left work minutes before. They were walking through a bad neighborhood when some thugs started hassling them, and yelling obscenities at them. Tom and his friend walked by them quickly soon to be chased by the thugs. The thugs were threatening Tom and his friends life. Tom and his friend continue to run till the reach a busy intersection where Tom pulls out a semi-automatic handgun from his backpack and points it towards the thugs. As soon as the gun is leveled the thugs retreat leaving the two men alone. If there had been no gun Tom and his friend would have been seriously beaten or even killed. Tom did not have a permit for the gun, and might have not been able to get one without a special reason (Rauch 731). People like Tom need to be able to get gun permits, but it is so difficult because of all the criminal activity in America. Gun co ntrol laws are pointless and are only binding on the law-abiding citizens. The waiting period method of gun control is basically a two-step process. The first step in the procedure is that the person wanting a gun goes to the gun shop to buy a gun. Then, he/she must wait one to two weeks while the government performs a small background check for past criminal activities, disorderly conduct, or lack of mental/emotional stability. During this time, if the purchaser of the gun wanted the gun for a quick crime it is hoped that they will not still want to cause bodily harm after a few weeks of waiting around. Another dumb law is that is in effect in California is that if you want to carry a concealed handgun, you have to prove that you have some special reason to carry(Rauch 731). The problem with this method of gun control is that it stops the ordinary citizen from purchasing a gun quickly. It still does not stop criminals from buying guns. They purchase them through dummy buyers that have clean backgrounds. So when the criminal enters the law abiding citizens house with deadly intentions, the innocent victim cant defend his family cause he cant get a gun cause he was arrested for drinking and driving 10 years ago before he was even married, so therefore him and his family become victims. Criminals will always have ways to get a hold of guns. How do they get them? Criminals get 32% of them from theft, 17% of them from at least from retail purchases, and 40% of them from the black market or borrowing them (Witkin;Gest 26). So whatever laws are made criminals will always be able to get a hold of guns!However, law-abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves against danger. Due to the ownership of guns, burglaries have reduced considerably. A gun is a t ool. Guns dont kill people. People kill people! The matter depends on whose hands the gun is in. The second amendment states the citizens right to own and bear firearms. Enforcing gun control is not going to have an effect on the crime rate, because it will not keep criminals from getting them. If they outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them. These laws only put restraints on the law-abiding citizens, the ones who use them for legal purposes anyways. When we give people the right to defend themselves we find that criminals look elsewhere for victims that dont have protection. We must work together to try to reduce the crime in America, and remember. Guns dont kill people, people kill people. .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd , .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .postImageUrl , .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd , .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:hover , .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:visited , .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:active { border:0!important; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:active , .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u9f6bfeec5834f608a3d21869e6ea09bd:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Essence Of Pop Culture EssayWorks CitedRauch, Jonathan. And dont forget your gun. National Journal 31 Mar.1999: 731-734. Witkin, Gordon and Ted Gest. Gun Controls Limits. U.S. News ; World Report 6 Dec. 1993: 24-26.

Midsummer Nights Dream Analysis free essay sample

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Essay Is it a dream or reality? The connection between the real world and a world created by our own vivid imagination while we sleep is somewhat uncanny. A plethora of individuals cannot fathom how the brain can create such realistic scenarios in such little time. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, the author uses his knowledge of dreams to create his play. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is not only the title of this play but the overall theme as well. In the story dreams bring many changes within the plot. Dreams change the opinion of characters and open their eyes to a different reality. A large connection between dreaming and theater is made at the end of the play in Puck’s famous final speech. Midsummer also plays a large role in the theme of this play as well. We will discuss all of these topics within the next few paragraphs. We will write a custom essay sample on Midsummer Nights Dream Analysis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page â€Å"Like dreams, love is foolish, crazy and driven by desires. † Says an article called The Meaning of the Title in  A Midsummer Nights Dream  by Shakespeare. The relationship between the four lovers, Hermia, Helena, Lysander, and Demetrius is based on their dreams and desires. When Hermia had a nightmare depicting a snake eating her heart, â€Å"Methought a serpent ate my heart away,/And you sat smiling at his cruel  play† (pg. 64-65) it foreshadowed Lysander’s newfound love for Helena which was only temporary. Lysander was casted into a figurative dream as Puck placed the love petals upon Lysander’s sleeping eyes. When Lysander awoke and Helena was the first one he saw, Lysander began to long for her and fall in love with her. This is important to the plotline because it shows what a dream can do to a person. It also helps build Puck’s character as a careless trickster. Although Helena believes Lysander’s attempts to win her heart as merely a cruel joke the reader understands Lysander is trapped in a dream. Puck then with instruction from Oberon, the King of the Faeries places the love petals in the eyes of the sleeping Demetrius to let him fall deeply in love with Helena who loves him. At the same time Puck is instructed to put these petals into Titania’s, the Queen of the Faeries eyes so that she may hopefully fall in love with an â€Å"ounce, or cat, or bear† (pg. 55). This is so that Oberon can take the Indian boy away from Titania and use him as a servant. This will solve their marital problems and bring balance back to the mortal world. Titania falls in love with Bottom, of whom which was ironically transformed by the all magical Puck into an ass. â€Å"O Bottom, thou art changed! What do I see on thee? †(pg. 75) This shows the illusions of dreams and love. Titania was in love with what she thought to be the most majestic and absolutely wonderful mortal she had ever laid eyes upon while in reality the creature she fell in love with was an ass. This also shows irony connecting the stubborn personality of Bottom and what he was transformed into. The relevance of Midsummer in the theme of the play is that many things grow in the summer, thrive. It’s a wonderful time and usually what people think of when they think of love. It is the season for life and growth as winter is for death. The nice weather drives people out of their homes and into the open outdoors. This is appropriate because people like Lysander and Hermia wouldn’t normally in winter be traveling through the woods and stop to rest. It would be too cold. The setting also portrays a summer atmosphere. It also believed that the faeries come out to trick passing travelers in the nights of midsummer. They are known to play jokes on them and to get enjoyment out of mortals. This is probably why Oberon is so interested in Helena’s despair. He must feel sorry as well as want to have a little fun with the mortals. He then instructs Puck to fix her love problem. Puck, the trickster faery is very active during this time. He plays tricks on almost everyone in the play, finding enjoyment in transforming Bottom into an ass and making Titania fall in love with him. This play is based upon love, tricks, comedy, and dreams so the faeries coming out during this time was important to the main plot and in agreement with the legend of faeries coming out during midsummer nights. Lastly Puck’s final speech shows the connection between dreaming and theatre by stating â€Å"While these visions did appear. /And this weak an idle theme,/No more yielding but a dream†(pg. 172-173). This shows us that dreams happen in order to weave the importance of the main theme of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Without the illusion that clouded Titania’s eyes she might not have fallen so deeply in love with Bottom, the ass. During the practice of the play Pyarmus and Thisbe Snout wouldn’t have noticed that Bottom had been transformed. Without the illusion of the love petals of the pansy flower Lysander might have seen through the weak shade of fake love for Helena. He would have realized his heart belonged to Hermia. Demetrius may have never moved on and loved Helena. The ending during Puck’s speech really ties together the whole play and helps us come to the conclusion that dreams were necessary for the plot and theme of the play. Puck wants us to feel as if it was all a pleasant dream, but at the same time he wants us to remember everything that happened, good and bad and learn from it. Nothing in this play is quite what it seems so it is ironic at the end to be trusting Puck who is such a tricky character. What we take from his final speech is to enjoy the happy ending and always be wary of dreams. Dreams and reality coexist in our lives as much as they do in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We understand the theme of this play more closely if we examine key points that support the theme and title as one. Illusions and reality, Puck’s final speech, and the relevance of midsummer help us connect the title and theme. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, the author uses his knowledge of dreams to create his play. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is not only the title of this play but the overall theme as well. As â€Å"honest Puck† (pg. 173) says before he departs â€Å"So good night unto you all. † (pg. 173) Bibliography A Midsummer Night’s Dream: Analysis of Lines 5-20 of the Epilogue.   Article Myriad. N. p. , n. d. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. lt;http://www. articlemyriad. com/midsummer-nights-dream-analysis/gt;. The Meaning of the Title in A Midsummer Nights Dream by Shakespeare Yahoo! Voices voices. yahoo. com.   Yahoo! Voices voices. yahoo. com. N. p. , 10 July 2005. Web. 25 Nov. 2012. lt;http://voices. yahoo. com/the-meaning-title-midsummer-nights-dream-6294754. htmlgt;. Shakespeare, William. A midsummer nights dream. Washington Square Press new Folgers ed. New York: Washington Square Press, 1993. Print.

Sarbanes

Sarbanes Introduction The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted into law in 2002 to respond to the various financial scandals that were taking place in the for-profit corporate sector of the United States. The act was meant to address the abuse of finances and accounting standards by companies such as Adelphia, Enron and WorldCom where the executives of these companies defrauded their shareholders, their employees and the US economy of billions of dollars. Once it was enacted, SOX was meant to introduce major changes to the corporate governance and financial management of capital in many corporations within America. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the SOX act of 2002 was developed by Senator Paul Sarbanes and House Representative Michael Oxley and it contains eleven sections which outline the responsibilities of chief executive officers as well as financial controllers in managing the finances of a company (Morgan et al, 2008). Examination of the SOX Act of 2002 Under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 200 2, companies that are publicly traded in the US are required to increase their internal financial and accounting controls after personal clarification with the chief executive and chief financial officers of the company. This is meant to strengthen the auditing, accounting and financial practices of the company.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The act also requires for-profit corporations in the country to increase their external controls through enhancing the duties and responsibilities of the audit committee. The act also states that chief financial controllers and auditors need to provide supporting evidence that will be used to whistleblow on the abuse of company funds (Morgan et al, 2008). The SOX bill does not apply to privately held companies as many of the laws deal with the management of shareholder, corporate and public funds which are usually common in p ublicly traded companies. The new and enhanced standards within the SOX Act deal with additional responsibilities for the corporate board and chief executive officers of most organizations as well as the introduction of criminal penalties for managers caught defrauding corporations of public funds. Other enhanced standards within the act include auditor independence, enhanced financial disclosures, conflicts of interest and corporate fraud accountability. All these aspects are included within the eleven sections of the act where they analyse the specific mandates and requirements that managers need to have when conducting financial reporting (Kuschnik, 2008). Each of these sub sections are important and necessary in the financial management of publicly traded corporation as they ensure that there is accountability during the management of financial funds. For example auditor independence which falls under the second title deals with limiting the conflicts of interest that arise duri ng audit reporting while corporate fraud accountability which falls under the eleventh title of the act deals with the identification of corporate fraud and the various penalties that are served to deal with fraud. This section also revises the sentencing guidelines that were in existence before to deal with people who defrauded companies of billions of dollars. This review was seen to be important as it would enable the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to temporarily freeze any transactions or payments that were deemed to be unusual for the company (Kuschnik, 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In general, the act deals with ensuring the financial reports generated by auditors and finance managers within organization to develop internal control reports that can be used to determine the accuracy of the company’s financial data. The adoption of the SOX act is meant to establish a best-practice standard when it comes to the management of corporate funds. The act also changes how corporate management boards and executives interact with each other as well as with their corporate auditors and financial controllers. It also ensures that the top managers of a corporate organization are held accountable for the accuracy of financial statements released at the end of every company financial year (Litvak, 2007). Benefits and Costs of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act According to Bednanrz (2006), the costs of implementing the SOX act will exceed the benefits of the act when it is fully implemented. A survey conducted on the compliance costs of the act in various publicly traded corporations within the US revealed that the first year compliance costs would exceed $4.6 million dollars. This figure applied to all the large multinational and domestic companies in the US. Medium sized companies and smaller companies operating within the US were l ikely to incur significant additional costs that were projected to amount to $2 million during the first-year compliance with the SOX guidelines. These huge costs incurred during the first year would make it difficult to determine whether the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was actually working in managing corporate finances and auditing issues (Bernanrz, 2006). With regards to the benefits of the act, various financial analysts and experts noted that the borrowing costs were lower for companies that had improved their internal control measures while corporate transparency had improved within many publicly traded organizations during the first year of compliance. Section 404 of the act ensured that companies had conservative reported earnings where financial reports and statements underwent verification to determine their accuracy before being presented to the various stakeholders of the company. Companies that had strong internal controls were able to experience an increase in their share price s and their financial statements were more reliable (Morgan et al, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sarbanes-Oxley Act specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Reactions of Company Executives and Changes to Accounting Practices While many legislators have praised the Sarbanes-Oxley act to be effective in dealing with financial fraud within corporations, many business managers have expressed frustration with the act. The Federal Regulation Board has been faced with a lot of complaints about the high costs that are needed to implement the act in major public corporations within the country. Executives from General Electric, Lockheed Martin and Emerson Electric were among those who spoke about the various challenges of complying with the SOX act two years after it was implemented (Bednanrz, 2006). The executives agreed that while it was too soon to determine the benefits of complying with the act, there were considerable costs such as audit fees which were expected to increase by approximately 40% during the first year of compliance. Business managers working for BP saw the duplicate testing of internal controls to dilute the business practices of the organization as they saw it to be a frustrating exercise. They instead preferred to perform a single internal control testing exercise which would enable them to identify and document any financial issues or problems (Bednanrz, 2006). References Bednanrz, A., (2006, May 11). Executives tell regulators Sarbanes-Oxley costs exceed benefits. Retrieved from:Â  https://www.networkworld.com/article/2311689/execs-tell-regulators-sarbanes-oxley-costs-exceed-benefits.html Kuschnik, B., (2008). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act: big brother is watching you or adequate measures of corporate governance regulation. Rutgers Business Law Journal, 64-95 Litvak, K., (2007). The effect of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act on non-US companies cross-listed in the US. Journal of Corporate Fin ance, 13(55), 195-228Advertising Looking for essay on business corporate law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Morgan, D.F., Green, R., Shinn, C.W., Robinson, K.S., (2008). Foundations of public service. New York: M.E. Sharpe Incorporated

Marketing Tips 9 Thoughts on How Good Marketing Really Pays Off

Marketing Tips 9 Thoughts on How Good Marketing Really Pays Off Way back in December 2015, I delivered a presentation as part of the LinkedIn Success Summit, organized by Liam Austin, founder of EntrepreneursHQ. Liam followed up with me after that presentation using strategies that can be translated into some great marketing tips. (Spoiler alert: Liam ghostwrote an article by me about how to be â€Å"super likeable on LinkedIn,† the link to which is at the bottom of this blog.) Back to 2015. I gave my presentation, got a slew of LinkedIn connections out of it, and didn’t think much about it after that. I received a few friendly marketing emails from Liam in 2016, including a survey and an invitation to join a Facebook group of attendees from the Summit. In February 2017, Liam wrote to compliment me on my own marketing activities and to check in on how I was doing. Then, more than a year later (just a couple of weeks ago), Liam invited me to make referrals to his â€Å"Ambassador Program,†Ã‚  an opportunity to promote his daily marketing tips. Despite my overall positive feelings about Liam, I ignored his appeal. And then, suddenly, a message from Liam appeared in my inbox announcing that he that he had written an article in my voice – about the presentation I had delivered in 2015! I had multiple reactions to this announcement that have persuaded me to take Liam’s marketing tips seriously:: Wow, this guy does a great job of staying on top of his network. I wish I were that organized. What? He is going to publish an article as if it were written by me? Now I have an editing job to do. Geez, couldn’t you give a girl a little bit of warning? (Reading the blog) I have a serious editing job to do so that I can be comfortable with this article’s publication. But I kinda like the tone and the overall gist of what Liam got from my presentation. I like that he garnered the theme of taking a risk and putting yourself out there. This is cool! Free publicity that will get me exposure to a list of 50,000 people. I trust that at least 100 and maybe even up to 10,000 of will actually read this article. I wonder what Liam’s open rate is? This will make a great blog! (As I’m writing the blog) Hmm, maybe I should look at this Ambassador Program after all (she clicks on the link). Oh, this could be useful for someone starting out in marketing. A marketing tip a day might be something some people will want. Okay. I’ll link to the program in my blog. I should probably read this article to see if he really made the edits I requested. Oh, hmmm, he made some of them but still managed to reinsert some comma splices and phrases I would never use. Oh well. I’m done fighting this battle. The ideas are mine and most people won’t notice the errors anyway! (Yes I’ve gotten a bit resigned over the years.) I’m glad I have a general policy not to use ghostwriters. I prefer my own true blogs! You might be wondering when I’m going to give you the link to this famed article, ostensibly written by me. Here it is, along with a little video excerpt from my LinkedIn Summit presentation: How To Become Super Likeable On LinkedIn In case I haven’t made it clear in all my writings and ramblings about LinkedIn, I really do think it’s imperative to â€Å"do you† on LinkedIn and not sounds like anyone else. Liam agrees and I’m happy that he did so many of the right things over the years: Namely, reaching out, reaching out, and reaching out, over and over again. I bet his daily marketing tips would help you do the same and enjoy similar success. By the way, the recordings from the LinkedIn Summit are still available, in case they interest you! And if you need help creating a super likeable LinkedIn profile, check out my LinkedIn profile writing services  and of course,  contact me  if you have any questions.

Culture Is Media and Media Is Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Culture Is Media and Media Is Culture - Essay Example The dependence on the use of media has greatly increased and to a great extent dictates the behavior and ideas followed in a society, in other words dominates the behavior of the culture. Common people are in regular touch with the media and the entertainment that decide their collection of information, ideas as well as opinion that create the human knowledge reflected by his behavior. ‘Culture is media and media is culture’ seems to be pertinent in today’s cultural status of a community where media influences the formation of the cultural activities of different individuals within a community (Pope, 2002). The present study focuses on this particular statement ‘Culture is media and media is culture’ and discusses its relevance based on theory and examples. Understanding the Media Today: In the present times, the media seems to have become a significant issue as considered within a society. If the television medium is taken into account, it is found t hat be it small children, the youth of the older people, or other individuals, they tend to spend long hours in front of the television set. The new media has the ability to target the mindset of the human beings that might even impact the societal behavior of an individual negatively. For example, the televisions being the most common medium, several murders are viewed as part of news, or other television programs. Such programs tend to influence the minds of the smaller children or the youth to the extent that they might follow these acts disregarding their true cultural values. The computer has been obtained as one of the most influential medium generating knowledge and information for the present society that is completely dependent on information for its production, consumption and the economy as a whole (Straubhaar, Larose & Davenport, 2011, pp.11-15). The modern media has its presence reflected in almost every issue within a community and hence its behavior and culture. The m odern media form a creation of the mass communication that makes it possible through the internet and the large number of interactive media being available, e.g., television, radio, newspapers, hoardings, and so on. The different problems and issues related to the political and economic factors associated with a society and its inhabitants get attended by the mass media in the present times (Aikat, n.d.). The media can actually be found to be present in all aspects of today’s communication and knowledge gain purposes. Human beings tend to depend completely on the sources of media not only to communicate but also to determine their views and opinions that might alter their cultural views as well. The Impact of Media on Culture: Communication has always been the most important activity in spreading one’s views, opinions and beliefs to engage others in similar thoughts. In the present day society, communicating only with few close people may not work if a revolutionary ch ange is desired or changes in cultural aspects are required. The mass media plays its significant role in this regard. The spread of cultural views from a single point of origin to an entire community is referred as the phenomenon of diffusion. The features of culture include almost all habits that any human being follows in their normal lives. For example, the food habits, the dress that an individual wears, his/her beliefs in any particular religion, the language that he/she speaks

Leaking waste containers ( ethics ) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Leaking waste containers ( ethics ) - Essay Example As a result the methods adopted by Tom Treehorn, could very well result in problems for the ABC Company. Environmental agencies are very much particular about the methods, which are adopted by the companies in disposal of the chemical wastes and they take tough action against erring companies. Hence Scott should warn Tom that if he does not follow the company ethics and rules of waste disposal, the matter could be brought to the notice of his superiors, since it could adversely affect the interests of ABC Company. 2. Should Scott inform Tom that he will not interfere with Tom’s plan? But he will not help him with it either. Answer: Scott very well knows that Tom is really not serious about preventing environmental problems that will be caused by ABC, if chemical wastes are not disposed properly and is only looking at ways by his workload is lessened and also finding ways to profit him. Scott being the Engineer of ABC and being given the responsibility of inspecting the warehou se, should never agree to Tom’s plan because it will affect his company. Being an employee to the ABC Company he would be taking the wrong decision by allowing Tom to dispose the chemical waste, by adopting his own time tested ways, which are very much against the rules, set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Thus Scot should never tell Tom that, he will not interfere with his way of disposing the chemical waste nor should he be given the assurance that Scott will not interfere in such matters. 3. Should Scot advise Tom not to go ahead with his plan? But not interfere if Tom insists on going ahead anyway? Answer: Scott being the Engineer of the ABC Company has got the authority to tell Tom regarding the best methods, which are to be adopted by companies in dealing with the disposal of the chemical wastes. Since it is a very serious matter that can undermine the ABC Company’s interest, future and also at the same time result in severe forms of penalties from the En vironmental Protection Agency and closure of the company operations, he should really advise Tom not to go ahead with his plan for the chemical waste disposal. Even after all this advise being given by Scott to Tom to follow the company norms, Tom still insists in going ahead with his plans of the chemical waste disposal, then Scott has to interfere and inform Tom’s superior and also the top management of the ABC company, since this could in the future become a serious issue for ABC. 4. Should Scott say nothing and help Tom with his plan? And why? Answer: If Scot says nothing to Tom’s stated plans for the chemical waste disposal of the ABC Company and allows him to go forward as per his own plan, then it will show that Scott is not a good employee of ABC. Scott being the Engineer is being entrusted with the duty of the warehouse inspection and to find out defects that are existing within it and take corrective actions to rectify the faults. If he decides to agree to To m’s plans, then he will be endangering not only his employment as Engineer within ABC but also the whole company’s future, since if the Environmental Protection Agency comes to know the illegal methods of chemical waste disposal adopted by Tom, then they could take severe action against the ABC Company. Hence Scott should not help Tom in going ahead with his plans but has to strictly warn Tom regarding the future adverse impacts, which his

The BCG study Essay Example for Free

The BCG study Essay The Boston consulting group is a global management consulting firm serves as an advisor to clients in the private, public, and non-for-profit sectors across the world. Now, the Boston consulting group is private company with more than 75 offices in 43 countries and recorded revenues $3700 million in 2012. The headquarter of the Boston consulting group is in Boston and employed 6200 consultants. The company was founded by Bruce D. Henderson in 1963 as a division of the Boston sage deposit and trust company. In 1975, Handerson arranged an employee stock ownership plan and the buyout or all shares was completed in 1979. Serving as a management consulting firm, Boston consulting group acts as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions. The recent clients of the Boston consulting group include Google, IBM, American Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Tata Group, Havard School of Public Health, Russian Ministry of Energy, Government of Canada and so on. As a world’s leading advisor on business stratedy, the Boston consulting group focus on cooperate clients to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. The SWOT analysis of Boston consulting group: Strangths Weaknesses Well accepted in the industry of consulting. Expertise covers a wide range of insustries. Lagging behind in the technology area. Comperetively low scale on the area of oprations. Opportunities Threats Strengths: Well respected and globally accepted brand in the strategy consulting domainBCG, over the years has cultivated and built up a reputation for itself and a corporate brand which has become almost synonymous to strategy consulting. In the process, BCG has pioneered some path breaking ideas and concepts in the strategy consulting domain that provided innovative frameworks and solutions to address the needs and problems of business  community. The companys focus on conceptual, strategic thinking has yielded many concepts that went on to become classics of strategy, and resulted into many academic constructs, tools and methodologies. It pioneered the growth share matrix/BCG Matrix model which was one of the famous concepts in resource allocation strategy and was the basis for origin of further models.The company also formulated many concepts, including the experience curve, time-based competition, sustainable growth, and total shareholder value, which many organizations have leveraged to improve their competitive positions. Most of BCGs models are regarded as benchmarks in strategic management and business consulting areas. The strong acceptance of BCG as a strategy consulting brand differentiates it from many of its peers and equips the company with competitive traction. Expertise developed across multiple industry sectors strengthens its business reach The company has gradually developed broad expertise in offering services for various industries, including automotive, biopharmaceuticals, consumer products, energy and environment, engineered products and infrastructure, financial institutions, insurance, media and entertainment, medical devices and technology, health care payers and providers, metals and mining, private equity, process industries, public sector, retail, technology and software, telecommunications, industries, transportation travel and tourism, and social impact. The company works with humanitarian organizations on a range of areas, including poverty and hunger, global health, education, community and economic development, arts and culture, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility. The expertise developed across multiple sectors, industries and areas enables the company to keep its business sustenance at high levels. Weaknesses: Lagging technology enabled offerings with a poor presence in technology consulting BCG, on a relative basis to its competitors lagged in integrating and utilizing technology in its various offerings and also has a relatively weak technology consulting practice. Technology consulting is one of the high potential areas for consulting companies to take advantage of the growth potential it offers in long term. In recent years, technology companies, such as Capgemini and Infosys, added business and strategy consulting capabilities to their portfolio to pursue cross-selling  opportunities for consulting services for their existing clients. Further, consulting companies, such as Accenture and Deloitte Touche, developed technology capabilities pursuing growth opportunities. As a result various companies, such as Accenture, Capgemini, Booz Allen Hamilton, IBM and Infosys, have achieved strong presence in technology consulting. However, BCG has not been a significant player in the technology consulting area. Also, most of its competitors developed strong research andanalytics platforms to support their various consulting practices by creating large outsourcing capabilities in strategic locations. The companys poor presence in high growth practice areas, such as technology adversely impacts its growth prospects and cross-selling opportunities. Lower scale of operations limits its competitive ability The companys scale of operations is comparatively lower than its competitors. Many of its competitors, such as McKinsey Company, Accenture, Deloitte and Booz Allen Hamilton, have substantially greater financial and other resources than the company. For instance, the company’s competitor, Booz Allen Hamilton reported revenues of $5,859.2 million during the financial year ended March 2012 (FY2012). Also, the company’s another competitor, Accenture reported revenues of $27,862.3 million during the financial year ended August 2012 (FY2012). Comparatively, BCG recorded revenues of $3,700 million in FY2012. Large scale enables these competitors to leverage on their facilities and resources to achieve operating efficiency. The company stands to lose out often in bidding for larger projects and assignments due to its lower scale which also impacts its operating efficiency significantly. Opportunities: Management consulting market potential in emerging markets The emerging markets are expected to record strong growth in coming years driven by their contribution to global commerce. Despite the global economic slowdown and recession in developed countries, the emerging markets continued to maintain growth. In coming years, the emerging markets are forecasted to increase their contribution to global commerce and consumption. This can be perceived by the growth prospects for emerging markets. For instance, the emerging and developing economies real GDP growth is forecast to reach about 5.5% and 5.9% in 2013 and 2014, respectively, compared to a growth of 2.1% in 2009. The growth is being driven by China, India, and other emerging Asian  economies. Positive outlook for emerging markets provide growth opportunities for various businesses. Moreover, in recent years, most of the companies in emerging markets continue to pursue global practices in their operations. Positive outlook for emerging markets provide growth opportunities for various businesses. Moreover, in recent years, most of the companies in these markets continue to pursue global practices in their operations. BCG being one of the major players in the business consulting market is in a position to capitalize on growth opportunities in providing services for companies in emerging and developing markets. Positive outlook for non-IT end markets drives demand for consulting servicesSome of the companys non-IT end markets returned to growth trajectories in 2011. Markets including the healthcare, oil and gas, and pharmaceutical markets are forecast to show a steady growth. For instance, the US healthcare sector is providing positive growth opportunities for the company. According to the industry estimates, the total US healthcare expenditures were $2.7 trillion in 2011, and are expected to reach $3.5 trillion by 2016. The US healthcare expenditures are projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of about 4.6% during 2007-11. Healthcare spending in the US is expected to reach 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2021. The global oil, gas and consumable fuels market is forecast to reach a value of $10.9 trillion in 2014, growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 13.5% during 2009–14. In addition, the US government initiatives are catalyzing the growth of new energy projects. Further, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. According to MarketLine, the global pharmaceuticals market grew by 3.5% in 2011 to record a value of $782.1 billion and it is forecast to reach $971.1 billion in 2016, an increase of 24.2% since 2011. BCG conducts research and analysis across a range of industries, including biopharmaceuticals,benergy and environment, and health care payers and providers, among others. Positive growth in such end markets will result in the origin of new projects, thereby creating the demand for the companys consulting services. Threats: Intense competition BCG operates in a highly competitive consultancy business and requires product and solution innovation on a regular basis to create and maintain competitive edge.The company faces competition from other large  players in the consultancy market such as McKinsey, Accenture, Deloitte Consulting, Booz Allen, and Ernst Young International. BCG also faces competition from companies that originated in the strategic consulting environment such as Bain, firms with core competence in IT solutions such as IBM, Capgemini, Hewlett Packard, and Infosys entered and extended their presence in the consulting industry, bringing a new breed of innovations and solution design, allowing other smaller IT companies to do the same. This trend may put pressure on the margins of mainstream consultancy firms such as BCG. Intense competition in the marketplace may negatively impact BCGs growth in market share and margins. Continued and prolonged weakness in global economic outlook In recent years, the global economy has undergone significant turmoil amid stock market volatility, difficulties in the financial services sector, tightening of the credit markets, softness in the housing markets, concerns of inflation and deflation, reduced corporate profits and capital spending, reduced consumer spending and various other economic difficulties. According to industry estimates, the global economy is expected to remain weak and uncertain in 2013. The downturn in the euro zone is forecasted to continue till the end of 2013. The recent macroeconomic data, state-level regional data, and the increased volatility in the financial markets in the US shows significant downside risksto the economic growth in the near term. In addition, factors such as weak household balance sheetsand confidence, relatively tight financial conditions, and continued fiscal consolidation are expected to halt the growth. According to the IMF, the US economic growth is expected to fall from 2.2% in 2012 to 1.9% in 2013.Weak economic outlook could affect business prospects of the company. The company derives most of its business in strategy consulting and substantial part from government and quasi-government agencies. The government bodies in developed world have deferred their various expenditures to curtail growing fiscal deficit. Similarly, large organizations in these countries have planned to go slow on their domestic growth strategies. The company may find it difficult towin new consulting business from these regions.

The First Crusades Essay -- Religious History

The principals of human nature force people to fight for what they believe in; therefore, defending religion is not objective to that principle in the case of the crusades. In the case of the First Crrusade many people did just that, volunteered knowing that many of them would die defending their religious beliefs. In the days of the Byzantine Empire, a person’s faith or religion determined how they would live their life. It is the nature of people to fight for what they believe in; therefore, defending ones religion is not objective to that principle as in the First Crusade. A crusade is characterized as any of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian powers in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries to win the Holy Land from Muslims. The First Crusade played a vital role in Late Antiquity (Middle Ages) Europe; consequently, setting the stage for future events in European history and the preface for the Crusades to follow. The reason for the initiation of the First Crusad e, how it was fought and who were involved, notable battles and generals, and how upon its finale it reshaped the Byzantine Empire. The conquest to pursue war against Sejul Turks, who were Sunni Muslims, began when Crusaders realized the Jerusalem had not been under Christian control in 461 years. This was shocking because Christianity has spread throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East in Late Antiquity. After Muslims captured Jerusalem in 1076, any Christian who wanted to pay a visit to the city of Jerusalem faced many obstacles because Muslim soldiers made it very dangerous for them to do so. Jerusalem is very important to Christians because it has lots of biblical references. In Europe the Pope along with the Papacy has assumed the power of utili... ...rs rightfully thought belonged to them. For this reason the fighting of the First Crusade can be viewed as the war that started all Christian Religious wars or Crusaders that followed. It ended as a time changing journey that changed the Byzantine Empire and the reasons wars were fought. The First Crusade made it possible to start wars with anyone for their religion throughout Europe across the Mediterranean to Asia, on to Africa, and other surrounding areas. The advances of the Crusaders can be seen as admirable and condoned in the eyes of God, who was the only entity that Crusaders deemed worth possessing the power to judge them. Works Cited http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-5vers/htm http://www.deremilitari.org/resources/articles/magdalino.htm http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/cru2.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Crusade

Literary Devices Essay

LITERARY DEVICES Copyright  © 2007 by Jay Braiman www. mrbraiman. com Literary devices refers to specific aspects of literature, in the sense of its universal function as an art form which expresses ideas through language, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Literary devices collectively comprise the art form’s components; the means by which authors create meaning through language, and by which readers gain understanding of and appreciation for their works. They also provide a conceptual framework for comparing individual literary works to others, both within and across genres. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices. Literary elements refers to particular identifiable characteristics of a whole text. They are not â€Å"used,† per se, by authors; they represent the elements of storytelling which are common to all literary and narrative forms. For example, every story has a theme, every story has a setting, every story has a conflict, every story is written from a particular point-of-view, etc. In order to be discussed legitimately as part of a textual analysis, literary elements must be specifically identified for that particular text. Literary techniques refers to any specific, deliberate constructions or choices of language which an author uses to convey meaning in a particular way. An author’s use of a literary technique usually occurs with a single word or phrase, or a particular group of words or phrases, at one single point in a text. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every text; they represent deliberate, conscious choices by individual authors. â€Å"Literary terms† refers to the words themselves with which we identify and designate literary elements and techniques. They are not found in literature and they are not â€Å"used† by authors. Allegory: Where every aspect of a story is representative, usually symbolic, of something else, usually a larger abstract concept or important historical/geopolitical event. Lord of the Flies provides a compelling allegory of human nature, illustrating the three sides of the psyche through its sharply-defined main characters. Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds within close proximity, usually in consecutive words within the same sentence or line. Antagonist: Counterpart to the main character and source of a story’s main conflict. The person may not be â€Å"bad† or â€Å"evil† by any conventional moral standard, but he/she opposes the protagonist in a significant way. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Anthropomorphism: Where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking, talking, or being given arms, legs, facial features, human locomotion or other anthropoid form. (This technique is often incorrectly called personification. ) †¢ The King and Queen of Hearts and their playing-card courtiers comprise only one example of Carroll’s extensive use of anthropomorphism in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Blank verse: Non-rhyming poetry, usually written in iambic pentameter. †¢ Most of Shakespeare’s dialogue is written in blank verse, though it does occasionally rhyme. Character: The people who inhabit and take part in a story. When discussing character, as distinct from characterization, look to the essential function of the character, or of all the characters as a group, in the story as a whole. †¢ Rather than focus on one particular character, Lord assembles a series of brief vignettes and anecdotes involving multiple characters, in order to give the reader the broadest possible spectrum of human behavior. Golding uses his main characters to represent the different parts of the human psyche, to illustrate mankind’s internal struggle between desire, intellect, and conscience. †¢ Characterization: The author’s means of conveying to the reader a character’s personality, life history, values, physical attributes, etc. Also refers directly to a description thereof. †¢ Atticus is characterized as an almost impossibly virtuous man, always doing what is right and imparting impeccable moral values to his children. Climax: The turning point in a story, at which the end result becomes inevitable, usually where something suddenly goes terribly wrong; the â€Å"dramatic high point† of a story. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of structure; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) †¢ The story reaches its climax in Act III, when Mercutio and Tybalt are killed and Romeo is banished from Verona. Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces which is the driving force of a story. The outcome of any story provides a resolution of the conflict(s); this is what keeps the reader reading. Conflicts can exist between individual characters, between groups of characters, between a character and society, etc. , and can also be purely abstract (i. e. , conflicting ideas). †¢ †¢ †¢ The conflict between the Montagues and Capulets causes Romeo and Juliet to behave irrationally once they fall in love. Jack’s priorities are in conflict with those of Ralph and Piggy, which causes him to break away from the group. Man-versus-nature is an important conflict in The Old Man and the Sea. Context: Conditions, including facts, social/historical background, time and place, etc. , surrounding a given situation. †¢ Madame Defarge’s actions seem almost reasonable in the context of the Revolution. Creative license: Exaggeration or alteration of objective facts or reality, for the purpose of enhancing meaning in a fictional context. †¢ Orwell took some creative license with the historical events of the Russian Revolution, in order to clarify the ideological conflicts. Dialogue: Where characters speak to one another; may often be used to substitute for exposition. †¢ Since there is so little stage direction in Shakespeare, many of the characters’ thoughts and actions are revealed through dialogue. Dramatic irony: Where the audience or reader is aware of something important, of which the characters in the story are not aware. †¢ Macbeth responds with disbelief when the weird sisters call him Thane of Cawdor; ironically, unbeknownst to him, he had been granted that title by king Duncan in the previous scene. Exposition: Where an author interrupts a story in order to explain something, usually to provide important background information. †¢ The first chapter consists mostly of exposition, running down the family’s history and describing their living conditions. Figurative language: Any use of language where the intended meaning differs from the actual literal meaning of the words themselves. There are many techniques which can rightly be called figurative language, including metaphor, simile, hyperbole, personification, onomatopoeia, verbal irony, and oxymoron. (Related: figure of speech) †¢ The poet makes extensive use of figurative language, presenting the speaker’s feelings as colors, sounds and flavors. Foil: A character who is meant to represent characteristics, values, ideas, etc. which are directly and diametrically opposed to those of another character, usually the protagonist. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. †¢ The noble, virtuous father Macduff provides an ideal foil for the villainous, childless Macbeth. Foreshadowing: Where future events in a story, or perhaps the outcome, are suggested by the author before they happen. Foreshadowing can take many forms and be accomplished in many ways, with varying degrees of subtlety. However, if the outcome is deliberately and explicitly revealed early in a story (such as by the use of a narrator or flashback structure), such information does not constitute foreshadowing. †¢ Willy’s concern for his car foreshadows his eventual means of suicide. Hyperbole: A description which exaggerates, usually employing extremes and/or superlatives to convey a positive or negative attribute; â€Å"hype. † †¢ The author uses hyperbole to describe Mr. Smith, calling him â€Å"the greatest human being ever to walk the earth. † Iambic pentameter: A poetic meter wherein each line contains ten syllables, as five repetitions of a two-syllable pattern in which the pronunciation emphasis is on the second syllable. †¢ Shakespeare wrote most of his dialogue in iambic pentameter, often having to adjust the order and nature of words to fit the syllable pattern, thus endowing the language with even greater meaning. Imagery: Language which describes something in detail, using words to substitute for and create sensory stimulation, including visual imagery and sound imagery. Also refers to specific and recurring types of images, such as food imagery and nature imagery. (Not all descriptions can rightly be called imagery; the key is the appeal to and stimulation of specific senses, usually visual. It is often advisable to specify the type of imagery being used, and consider the significance of the images themselves, to distinguish imagery from mere description. ) †¢ The author’s use of visual imagery is impressive; the reader is able to see the island in all its lush, colorful splendor by reading Golding’s detailed descriptions. Irony (a. k. a. Situational irony): Where an event occurs which is unexpected, in the sense that it is somehow in absurd or mocking opposition to what would be expected or appropriate. Mere coincidence is generally not ironic; neither is mere surprise, nor are any random or arbitrary occurrences. (Note: Most of the situations in the Alanis Morissette song are not ironic at all, which may actually make the song ironic in itself. ) See also Dramatic irony; Verbal irony. Metaphor: A direct relationship where one thing or idea substitutes for another. †¢ Shakespeare often uses light as a metaphor for Juliet; Romeo refers to her as the sun, as â€Å"a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear,† and as a solitary dove among crows. Mood: The atmosphere or emotional condition created by the piece, within the setting. Mood refers to the general sense or feeling which the reader is supposed to get from the text; it does not, as a literary element, refer to the author’s or characters’ state of mind. (Note that mood is a literary element, not a technique; the mood must therefore be described or identified. It would be incorrect to simply state, â€Å"The author uses mood. †) †¢ The mood of Macbeth is dark, murky and mysterious, creating a sense of fear and uncertainty. Motif: A recurring important idea or image. A motif differs from a theme in that it can be expressed as a single word or fragmentary phrase, while a theme usually must be expressed as a complete sentence. †¢ Blood is an important motif in A Tale of Two Cities, appearing numerous times throughout the novel. Onomatopoeia: Where sounds are spelled out as words; or, when words describing sounds actually sound like the sounds they describe. †¢ Ouch! EEK! Crash! Oxymoron: A contradiction in terms. †¢ Romeo describes love using several oxymorons, such as â€Å"cold fire,† â€Å"feather of lead† and â€Å"sick health,† to suggest its contradictory nature. Paradox: Where a situation is created which cannot possibly exist, because different elements of it cancel each other out. †¢ In 1984, â€Å"doublethink† refers to the paradox where history is changed, and then claimed to have never been changed. †¢ A Tale of Two Cities opens with the famous paradox, â€Å"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. † Parallelism: Use of similar or identical language, structures, events or ideas in different parts of a text. Personification (I): Where inanimate objects or abstract concepts are seemingly endowed with human self-awareness; where human thoughts, actions, perceptions and emotions are directly attributed to inanimate objects or abstract ideas. (Not to be confused with anthropomorphism. ) Personification (II): Where an abstract concept, such as a particular human behavior or a force of nature, is represented as a person. †¢ The Greeks personified natural forces as gods; for example, the god Poseidon was the personification of the sea and its power over man. Plot: Sequence of events in a story. Most literary essay tasks will instruct the writer to â€Å"avoid plot summary;† the term is therefore rarely useful for response or critical analysis. When discussing plot, it is generally more useful to consider and analyze its structure, rather than simply recapitulate â€Å"what happens. † Point-of-view: The identity of the narrative voice; the person or entity through whom the reader experiences the story. May be third-person (no narrator; abstract narrative voice, omniscient or limited) or first-person (narrated by a character in the story or a direct observer). Point-of-view is a commonly misused term; it does not refer to the author’s or characters’ feelings, opinions, perspectives, biases, etc. Though it is written in third-person, Animal Farm is told from the limited point-of-view of the common animals, unaware of what is really happening as the pigs gradually and secretively take over the farm. Writing the story in first-person point-of-view enables the reader to experience the soldier’s fear and uncertainty, limiting the narrative to what only he saw, thought and felt during the battle. Protagonist: The main character in a story, the one with whom the reader is meant to identify. The person is not necessarily â€Å"good† by any conventional moral standard, but he/she is the person in whose plight the reader is most invested. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Repetition: Where a specific word, phrase, or structure is repeated several times, usually in close proximity, to emphasize a particular idea. †¢ The repetition of the words â€Å"What if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  at the beginning of each line reinforces the speaker’s confusion and fear. Setting: The time and place where a story occurs. The setting can be specific (e. g. , New York City in 1930) or ambiguous (e. g. , a large urban city during economic hard times). Also refers directly to a description thereof. When discussing or analyzing setting, it is generally insufficient to merely identify the time and place; an analysis of setting should include a discussion of its overall impact on the story and characters. †¢ The novel is set in the South during the racially turbulent 1930’s, when blacks were treated unfairly by the courts. †¢ With the island, Golding creates a pristine, isolated and uncorrupted setting, in order to show that the boys’ actions result from their own essential nature rather than their environment. Simile: An indirect relationship where one thing or idea is described as being similar to another. Similes usually contain the words â€Å"like† or â€Å"as,† but not always. †¢ The simile in line 10 describes the lunar eclipse: â€Å"The moon appeared crimson, like a drop of blood hanging in the sky. † †¢ The character’s gait is described in the simile: â€Å"She hunched and struggled her way down the path, the way an old beggar woman might wander about. † Speaker: The â€Å"voice† of a poem; not to be confused with the poet him/herself. Analogous to the narrator in prose fiction. Structure: The manner in which the various elements of a story are assembled. †¢ The individual tales are told within the structure of the larger framing story, where the 29 travelers gather at the Inn at Southwark on their journey to Canterbury, telling stories to pass the time. †¢ The play follows the traditional Shakespearean five-act plot structure, with exposition in Act I, development in Act II, the climax or turning point in Act III, falling action in Act IV, and resolution in Act V. Symbolism: The use of specific objects or images to represent abstract ideas. This term is commonly misused, describing any and all representational relationships, which in fact are more often metaphorical than symbolic. A symbol must be something tangible or visible, while the idea it symbolizes must be something abstract or universal. (In other words, a symbol must be something you can hold in your hand or draw a picture of, while the idea it symbolizes must be something you can’t hold in your hand or draw a picture of. ) †¢ Golding uses symbols to represent the various aspects of human nature and civilization as they are revealed in the novel. The conch symbolizes order and authority, while its gradual deterioration and ultimate destruction metaphorically represent the boys’ collective downfall. Theme: The main idea or message conveyed by the piece. A theme should generally be expressed as a complete sentence; an idea expressed by a single word or fragmentary phrase is usually a motif. †¢ Orwell’s theme is that absolute power corrupts absolutely. †¢ The idea that human beings are essentially brutal, savage creatures provides the central theme of the novel. Tone: The apparent emotional state, or â€Å"attitude,† of the speaker/narrator/narrative voice, as conveyed through the language of the piece. Tone refers only to the narrative voice; not to the author or characters. It must be described or identified in order to be analyzed properly; it would be incorrect to simply state, â€Å"The author uses tone. † †¢ The poem has a bitter and sardonic tone, revealing the speaker’s anger and resentment. †¢ The tone of Gulliver’s narration is unusually matter-of-fact, as he seems to regard these bizarre and absurd occurrences as ordinary or commonplace. Tragedy: Where a story ends with a negative or unfortunate outcome which was essentially avoidable, usually caused by a flaw in the central character’s personality. Tragedy is really more of a dramatic genre than a literary element; a play can be referred to as a tragedy, but tragic events in a story are essentially part of the plot, rather than a literary device in themselves. When discussing tragedy, or analyzing a story as tragic, look to the other elements of the story which combine to make it tragic. Tragic hero/tragic figure: A protagonist who comes to a bad end as a result of his own behavior, usually cased by a specific personality disorder or character flaw. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) †¢ Willy Loman is one of the best-known tragic figures in American literature, oblivious to and unable to face the reality of his life. Tragic flaw: The single characteristic (usually negative) or personality disorder which causes the downfall of the protagonist. †¢ Othello’s tragic flaw is his jealousy, which consumes him so thoroughly that he is driven to murder his wife rather than accept, let alone confirm, her infidelity. (Although it is technically a literary element, the term is only useful for identification, as part of a discussion or analysis of character; it cannot generally be analyzed by itself. ) Verbal irony: Where the meaning of a specific expression is, or is intended to be, the exact opposite of what the words literally mean. (Sarcasm is a tone of voice that often accompanies verbal irony, but they are not the same thing. ) †¢ Orwell gives this torture and brainwashing facility the ironic title, â€Å"Ministry of Love. †

Retail Marketing Revolution

THE RETAIL MARKETING REVOLUTION By 2010, the list of India's top 10 retailers will have at least 5 Indian corporate. Retail Marketing will go through a tremendous change in India this millennium. It will change India's cities, its people, and its households. The Indian consumer is reportedly the largest spender in Singapore and London. It is, therefore, strange that there have, so far, been few efforts to present the product in the right kind of environment in India. Indeed, the right shopping experience does induce Indian consumers to spend more.This is evident from the experiences of retail-outlets like Shoppers' Stop, Music World, Food World, Crosswords, The Home Store, Ebony, Bigjo’s, Saboos, Standard, Vijay Store and Janaki Das & Sons, Westside etc. However, the development of organized retail is dependent on the efforts of several agencies and institutions. The first among these is the government. In a country as big as India and with as many states as ours, it is impera tive that the Central government and all state governments bring in Value Added Taxation or a unified taxation system to ensure that the tax-regimes are the same across the country.The laws governing retail real estate should also be looked into, so that it is possible to develop retail-estate beyond the city-limits. Apart from providing entertainment and retail opportunities, this will also decongest the city center and facilitate the development of suburbs. The relevant rules should also be amended to allow retail-stores to operate 7 days a week, 12 hours a day. Given the hours most urban consumers keep at work, and keeping in mind the increase in the number of nuclear families, this may, indeed, make sense. This will also help people enjoy their evenings, out at malls.The second group, whose participation is essential in making retail a boom-sector in this millennium, comprises developers. Most properties are developed without considering the end user; thus, we sometimes find hig h-ceilinged offices and low-ceilinged retail stores. Often, the shopper's convenience is not taken into consideration while the property is constructed. Another area of concern is the way in which developers sell their space. The only consideration is the price, not the usage pattern or the nature of the product that is to be sold.In contrast, internationally, mall-management is treated as a specialized discipline of retail management. This is what we have to focus on in this millennium. The third constituency that has a role to play in the fortunes of organized retail this century is the education-sector. Retail is a people-intensive business, and there is a huge opportunity for retail institutes in India. For manufacturers, retailing will present an attractive opportunity. Organized retail allows them to expose their products to a large volume of customers in an environment conducive to buying.Already, several transnational retail giants have established their presence in India; o thers, notably Chinese retailers, have visited India and studied the Indian market. There's a lot at stake here: even so early in the 21st Century, India is too large a market to be ignored by transnational retail giants. From the manufacturing company's perspective, the focus should be on producing good products, and forging relationships with organized retail. Manufacturers need to draw a plan of producing quality products and tie in with retailers.Indeed, the birth of organized retail will also engender the creation of private labels and store-brands. Thus, if a manufacturing company lacks the resources to build a brand, it can supply to a retail-chain that has the resources to create a brand of its own. A glimpse of the last 2 decades of the previous century proves illuminating. Large-format retailing started with outlets like Vivek's and Nalli's in Chennai and Kidskemp in Bangalore, and, at another level, with manufacturer-retail brands like Bata, Bombay Dyeing, and Titan.The l ast decade of the millennium witnessed the emergence of lifestyle brands and the plastic culture. Liberalization and increasing awareness of the world around us created the Indian yuppie, who aspired to own everything we saw on TV, or in shops during jaunts abroad. New lifestyle brands offered traditional retail-outlets an opportunity to convert themselves into exclusive stores, franchised or otherwise. And even as these developments were taking place, the Indian consumer became more mature.Customer-expectations zoomed Thus, at the beginning of the New Millennium, retailers have to deal with a customer who is extremely demanding. Not just in terms of the product-quality, but also in terms of service, and the entire shopping experience. Today, the typical customer who shops in a retail outlet compares the time spent at the check-out counter with that at an efficient petrol station, and the smile of the counter-person to that decorating the face of a Jet Airways' crew member.To cope w ith the new customer, manufacturers have to focus on product quality and brand building. And retailers, in turn, have to focus on the quality of the shopping experience. Internationally, retailing is a large business; you find at least one retailer amongst the top 10 companies in every country. In the US, it is Wal-Mart with a turnover in excess of $ 120 billion. In the UK, it is Marks and Spencer's with close to ? 10 billion; and, in Germany, it is Karstadt with a turnover in excess of dm 10 billion.

A Parents Guide to Notre Dame

A Parents Guide to Notre Dame Paris may have its legendary cathedral, but when it comes to famous Catholic universities, there is only one Notre Dame - and its in South Bend, Indiana. Heres the scoop: everything a parent should know about the Golden Dome and the Fighting Irish. The College: This venerable university with its glowing Golden Dome and breathtaking gothic architecture dates back to 1842. Its founder, a 28-year-old French priest, named it after Our Lady of the Lake, Notre Dame du Lac. The school is known for its top-notch academics - it regularly appears on the U.S. News World Reports top 25 - as well as its famous athletic programs and a 1,250-acre campus that belongs on any most beautiful list. Its stunning.Your child does not have to be Catholic to go here, but you should know that mass is held daily, the campus has 47 chapels and its prayer grotto is modeled after the one at Lourdes. Spirituality is important here and community service part of the schools ethos. Notre Dames 12,000 students - a figure that includes 8,400 undergrads - attend classes on the semester system. But the single most important thing parents should know is that Notre Dame students are so very happy here, both academically and personally, that 95% of the freshmen retur n sophomore year. And 95% of those students end up graduating from Notre Dame. Only Harvard and Princeton boast better stats. The Tab: Of course, all that glory - and all those small class sizes - comes at a hefty price. Tuition at the University of Notre Dame was $41,417 in 2011-12. Some 80% of the universitys students live in the colleges 29 single-sex dormitories. Add room and board - $11,388 - to the tab for a grand total of $52,805 per year. There is no Greek system here, but students remain in the same residence hall for all four years, which creates a tight-knit sense of community.The College Town: Technically, Notre Dame is in its own small town of Notre Dame, just outside South Bend. But from a parent perspective, thats mere envelope addressing. South Bend is the college town, and its a very nice one indeed with all the benefits of cosmopolitan life and small-town charm. In addition to visiting your college kid, you can also hike the winding riverbank trails, go white water rafting on the East Race Waterway or head for the recreational possibilities of Lake Michigan.Notre Dame is a two-hour drive ( 90 miles or so) from Chicago, so youll likely fly into OHare - although South Bend has its own small airport too. Just be aware that Notre Dame is on Eastern time, Chicago on Central. Chicago makes a great hub for any college tour. There are scores of terrific universities - Purdue, Northwestern, Loyola and more - all within a few hours drive. But if your interest lies in Notre Dame and Notre Dame alone, stay in South Bend, where there are plenty of hotels, including the much-beloved, 60-year-old Morris Inn, which is located right on campus. The Morris closed its doors in late 2012 for major renovations; it is expected to re-open in August 2013. (Tip: some hotels will give college visitors discounts, so be sure to call and ask - its not usually advertised online. Check with the Morris directly, when it reopens, to see if they plan to resume their parents club offers.)If youre visiting in the winter months, pack for snow. Its not as cold here as in Minnesota, but South Bend gets 81 i nches of snow per year and January temperatures drop down to the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit. One last thing: When its time for junior to fly home for the holidays, theres a bus service that runs between campus and OHare for about $35 one-way. More Important Details: This is a highly competitive school, but it produces some pretty incredible results. That high retention rate comes from the universitys first year of studies program, which teaches college study skills, helps students explore interests and offers support and guidance. Got a a possible pre-med? The Notre Dame acceptance rate into med school runs around 80% - the national average is closer to 40%. Community service is part of the culture here. Some 80% of the colleges students volunteer; more than 10% go on to join the Peace Corps.Got a musician with a penchant for sports? Notre Dames famous marching band dates back to 1843. Got a bel canto soprano, a bassoonist or jazz pianist? Notre Dame has an opera program, as well as jazz and classical performance and music education majors, and its performing arts center boasts five stages. But music majors here don’t declare until sophomore year, its possible to double major in music and another field, and auditio ns are for ensemble placement and scholarship consideration, not university admission. (Translation: Its a very fine program, but if your kid is considering Juilliard or Curtis, he probably wouldnt apply here. And if thats where you are in the decision-making process, this article on College Admissions for Music Majors may help.) Notre Dame is famous for its Division I athletics, and especially its Fighting Irish football team, which has notched 11 national championships and seven Heisman Trophy winners. More than 60 former players are in the College Football Hall of Fame. But Notre Dame also fields 25 other mens and womens varsity teams, as well as more than 80 intramural and club sports. Broom ball, anyone?Incoming Frosh Stats: Notre Dame is considered one of the nations 20 most selective universities, with a 29% acceptance rate. The average incoming freshman is in the top 4% of his high school class, with a SAT score of 1,390-1,490 out of 1,600 or an ACT of 32-34.The Law School: Notre Dames law school dates back to 1869 and its programs include the standard 3-year Juris doctor degree, as well as programs in international human rights and an LL.M. (Masters of Law) program in international law from Notre Dames London Law Centre. Admissions are extremely competitive, with more than 3,000 applicants vying for 183 places per year. The average accepted law student had a 3.64 college GPA and a 166 out of 180 on the LSAT. More? Visit the University of Notre Dames campus website for details on admissions for undergraduate study, law school, and grad school. This link will take you straight to information on scheduling a campus visit. If youre headed to the campus itself, visitor parking is at the corner of Eddy and Holy Cross Drive in Notre Dame, Indiana.

10x Growth How To Use MVPs In Your Marketing With Ash Maurya [AMP 069] - CoSchedule Blog

10x Growth How To Use MVPs In Your Marketing With Ash Maurya [AMP 069] Blog On the Actionable Marketing Podcast, we are kicking off a new series called 10x Marketing Interviews. ’s own CEO, Garrett Moon, has written a book called The 10X Marketing Formula. While writing the book, he interviewed some of the sharpest minds in marketing. We’re going to be listening to some of his interviews. Today’s interview is with Ash Maurya, a successful entrepreneur and author of The Lean Startup Movement, That’s Running Lean, and Scaling Lean. He understands how Lean works and is going to talk to us about how we, as marketers, can apply the principles and tools to our work. You aren’t going to want to miss this series or the interview with Ash! Some of the highlights of the show include: The Lean Canvas: What it is, how it works, who would use it, and why it’s beneficial. The steps that go into creating and developing a Lean Canvas: Finding solutions, taking risks, and setting priorities. What a minimum viable product (MVP) is and is not, as well as how it provides value for both business-owners and customers. How to determine what’s next after the MVP process has been completed. How marketers can use the Lean Canvas to improve what they’re doing and to prevent them from going too far down the wrong path. The Lean Sprint mindset and how it can be used. Ways to take a big idea and turn it into a small MVP. Ash’s best tips for people who want to try Lean Canvas for the first time. Links and Resources: The 10x Marketing Formula The Lean Startup Movement That’s Running Lean Scaling Lean The Lean Canvas Leanstack.com Send a screenshot of your iTunes review to podcast@.com If you liked today’s show, please subscribe on iTunes to The Actionable Content Marketing Podcast! The podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Stitcher, and Google Play. Quotes by Ash: â€Å"At the end of the day, you have to be able to condense your idea, distill it down, and communicate it pretty quickly.† â€Å"The MVP is that smallest solution you build that creates value for your customers and also captures some of that monetizable value back.† â€Å"Don’t look for perfection. That isn’t the goal.†

Self evaluation Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Self evaluation - Personal Statement Example bout their favorite sport is a good enough time pass, plus there are people who indulge in sports simply to keep themselves physically as well as mentally fit and then there is the most common reason, which is to win the game. The outline will be evaluated to see that the contents used are strong enough to have an impact on the audience, positively or are the contents just providing people with the general knowledge, which more or less, everybody knows about and is the speaker has a way and techniques to ensnare and engage the audience or not. Hence, this evaluation will be done on delivery of speech, content of speech and goal. The outline gives an idea that the delivery on the speech will be good as the speaker has highlighted the main essence of the topic and even surge forward with the concept of nutrition and bodily health of sports person. However, if the speaker will include a real life incident of an ordinary person or quotation of a sports person and how sports has kept the particular athlete/person physical and mentally stable, then it will give delivery an appealing sound and will instantly attract the audience. Furthermore, another good aspect of the outline is that it illustrates that the writer have not only stick with the sports playing point of view, but also give an angle on the opinion of the spectators, who are not active participant of a sport. This spectator part can play crucial role as the audience who listened to the speech can somehow connect with the information. Moving to the content of the outline, on a basic level the primary requirements are fulfilled that is the inclusion of introduction, body and conclusion, however on closely looking at it the use of Monroe’s motivated sequence is not very clear and vaguely used. For instance, the first criteria for Monroe’s Motivated Sequence is attention getter, this step usually involves quoting a real life incident, sharing something humorous telling a dramatic tory or posing a question so

Why do you think some aviation hazards go unreported How might you Essay

Why do you think some aviation hazards go unreported How might you change attitudes of people who do not report such problems - Essay Example dents tend to go unreported is because they are considered either to be minor or there is lack of knowledge as to the effect that such minor incidents may have in the long term. The most important step that needs to be undertaken and is being undertaken is the fact that awareness of such hazards and their knowledge is given to the crew so that they are able to interpret the potential hazard and its outcome. Furthermore pressurizing the crew to report such incidents and any untoward incident which might be a potential hazard should be done. The training on such aviation hazards should be made mandatory. The occurrences of such hazards and the threats they pose have been taken into account by many aviation authorities and there have been measures undertaken so that such hazards do not go unreported which include developing simple reporting system. However, until and unless strict implementation is adhered to the customary practices of such hazards going unreported would continue. The measures that need to be adopted are prolonged but are of

Does globalisation really benefit everybody, as many of its leading Essay

Does globalisation really benefit everybody, as many of its leading advocates claim Illustrate your answer with reference to TWO empirical cases - Essay Example This is term has existed since the mid 18th century, finding its way to the 21st century. That said one can see that globalization has benefit effects and disadvantages. The are not appealing to everyone as well as not benefiting all the people as the aspect is supposed to do. Therefore, globalization does not necessarily help everyone as many of its leading advocates claim. This is a fact that is evident as the paper has illustrated below. That said the key players in this sector of globalization should see to it that this aspect benefits all of the people no matter the class that they belong to. Only then will this aspect be embraced with everyone and all the changes that are brought by globalization will be accepted by all of the people, be it the rich, poor, young, old, sick, healthy just but to mention a few. Globalization being described as a process that involves international integration that arises from the interchange of a number of things, product, ideas, world views among other features that involve culture, this makes it something that involves many if not all of the world’s population. Therefore, this aspect of globalization should be considered and looked into with the seriousness that it deserves. People would want to see their lives change for the better, and if globalization is a way through which that is going to be possible, then everyone opts to see the benefits and not only a few individuals belonging to a particular class of people. This paper discusses the cons and pros of globalization, putting into consideration to this question; does globalization ‘benefit everybody, ’ as many of its leading advocates claim? This question will be answered and discussed in relation to the present global financial crisis as one of the empirical cases. During the past few years, steady proclamations have been made by the advocates of the economic

Ethnic Identity and Socialization: Bend It Like Beckham’

Ethnic Identity and Socialization: Bend It Like Beckham’ In April 1992, when a mostly white jury acquitted four police officers accused in the videotaped beating of a black motorist, thousands of people in Los Angeles, mainly young black and Latino males, joined in what has often been characterized as a race riot. In the summer of 2001, ethnic riots occurred on the streets of towns and cities in the north of England (Oldham, Leeds, Burnley, Bradford), involving young British Asian men and young White British men. More recently, in November 2005, riots emerged in Paris suburbs, sparked by the accidental deaths of two Muslim teenagers, and then spread to 300 French towns and cities. Most of the rioters were the French-born children of immigrants from Arab and African countries, a large percentage being Muslim. These race and ethnic riots have all recently placed the issue of racial and ethnic identity at the forefront of political debate in the United States and in Europe. In this paper, we endeavour to discuss many issues especially on gend er issues, relationship issues, family issues, notion of beauty, women in sports and migration issues. The way the characters behaved and how the other characters behaved towards them portrays the theme and the issues involved. Gender issue is portrayed through Indian beliefs as well as Western beliefs. The traditional notion that girls should not be involved in sports existed in both the Indian family as well as the England family. This can be seen in both Jesminders family as well as Catherines family where their mothers strongly discouraged them from playing soccer as soccer is meant only for the boys. Both mothers cannot tolerate the idea that their daughters are playing and enjoying soccer thus all kinds of comedies ensued because of the differing ideas mothers and daughters have. Through gender issues, the traditional notion of beauty is also depicted. Anything that is ugly has to be hidden while things that are not of social norms are frowned upon. For example, in the Indian family, Jesminders mother was shocked that her daughter would reveal her scars just to wear shorts to play soccer. Indian girls are supposed to cover up their bodies and must not dress up like the boys. Jesminders mother also does not want Jesminder to play soccer because it causes her to become dark and thus she is not beautiful. This perceptions cause Jesminder to put on a faà §ade. In front of her family members, she dressed up like a dutiful Indian daughter. Behind them, she strips to her jersey and shorts in order to pursue her passion. Hilarity is created through such perceptions and the things done by Jesminder to bend the rules and yet appear to be a dutiful daughter in her parents eyes. As for the England family, Catherines mother wants her daughter to be ladylike. It is highly comical when mother and daughter went shopping and the mother insists that her daughter wears a push-up bra. This typical notion on how girls should doll up is highly comical as the mother is enforcing her daughter something that she is not. This shows that the tradition notion of beauty not only exist amongst the Indians but the England people as well. Issues on gays and lesbianism have also been touched on in this movie. Gays and lesbianism is not accepted in both societies. For example, Jesminders male best friend confesses to her that he likes David Beckham. The issue on him being gay is kept hushed amongst them as being Indians; they are not supposed to go against social and traditional norms by becoming gay. Lesbianism is touched upon when Catherines mother assumed that Catherine and Jesminder are lesbian couples. Due to her overreactions, hilarity was created. This shows that Indians still stick to their traditional culture whilst England people are not that advanced in their thinking either. The traditional issue on marriage still exists amongst the Indian characters in this movie. Pinkys boyfriend broke up their engagement just because Jesminder, Pinkys sister, was seen hugging an England boy. This shows the unfairness that befalls on Pinky for something she has not done. To heighten the comic effect, the boy Jesminder was hugging is actually a girl. Catherine was mistaken to be a boy just because she has short hair. Once again, the traditional notion of beauty on how girls hair length should be creeps in. Jesminder also refuses to inform her family that her England coach is her boyfriend for fearing that her parents could not accept the idea. Thus this shows that they are still traditional. Apart from gender issues, family issues and relationship issues, migration issues also play a large role in this movie. Their house is a symbol to show how the Indian family has assimilated to the England society. The semi-detached house is a reflection of how the family has blended into England while at the same time preserving their cultural roots and background. The occasional lights displayed on the house show the difference of the family compared to the rest of the neighbourhood. However, this difference has also been accepted by the society there as the lights gave out a beautiful effect. This film also examines women who must explain their choice to participate in a sport, which traditionally men only competed in. It was noted that how a woman who plays soccer and enjoyed it immensely and even dreamt of playing professionally, had to overcome the traditional ideas of her family in order to achieve what she wanted the most. It presents a myriad of complex issues and presents them in a way that is appealing and stimulating. In this film, women in sport is an issue, but one that has come far in the history of women and sport-now, at least in soccer, women can and do play professionally and that is not an odd or remarkable thing. Women are now able to play sports; however, there are still obstacles and stereotypes which the characters still come into contact with and deal with on a daily basis. Jules, one of the main characters, has to live with her mother who tries so hard to make her more feminine; while Jess, the main character, must live with the traditional notions and experiences of her family. It can be said that Bend It Like Beckham really presented a more realistic example of the obstacles that women face, by looking specifically at one individual and her specific circumstances. It allows for a situation in which Jess must fight for what she believes in and try to move her own family forward. This film also brought in questions of not only femininity but also gender issues and gender relations, and what it means to be a woman playing sports today. There are still stereotypes and ideals about women that are not necessarily written in stone any longer, and it appears that we can look forward to a future where those stereotypes may no longer be so deeply imbedded. The families learnt to assimilate into Englands culture through their childrens experience. Pinkys ability to find an Indian husband and moving on with her life creates satisfaction amongst her family members. This shows that they belong in the society. Jesminders achievements in her A Levels examinations and her ability to qualify in an England soccer team for girls also show that assimilation and acceptance has taken place. The comic effect that was produced in this movie reflects the things that occur in the society and shows how the society adapts to it. The Indian family managed to preserve their traditional and cultural roots despite being far away from India. Westerners are also not spared from traditional thinking. We conclude that intense forms of ethnic identity and socialization appear to be formed in social contexts in which the minority ethnic trait is mostly threatened either directly by the actions of the majority group or indirectly simply by being exposed to the interaction with the majority norm of behaviour in a mixed neighbourhood. Bend It Like Beckham is all about a young girls search for cultural identity in the 21st Century England. Referencing Stevenson, D. Women, Sport and Globalisation; competing discourses of sexuality and nation Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Vol 26, No. 2 May 2002 Messner, M., Duncan, M., Cooky, C. Slience, Sports Bras and Wrestling Porn; women in televised sports news and highlights shows Journal of Sport and Social Issues, Vol 27, No. 1 February 2003 Wearing, B. (1996) Gender; the pain and pleasure of difference, Longman, Melbourne Chapter 8 Leisure Grosz, E. (1994) Volatile Bodies: Towards a Corporeal Feminism, Allen Unwin, Sydney Kell, P. (2000) Good Sports: Australian sport and the myth of the fair go, Pluto Press, Annandale Chapter 7 Golden Girls, Lesbians and Sexing Up; Women and Sport Jarvie, G. Maguire, J. (1994) Sport and Leisure in Social Thought, Routledge, London Chapter 7 Feminist thought and the boundaries of sisterhood Young Murdock, I. (1990) Throwing Like a Girl and Other Essays in Philosophy and Social Theory, Indiana University Press, Bloomongton Company Analysis: Value Proposition Of eBay Company Analysis: Value Proposition Of eBay The secret that can be considered behind the success of E-bay is by increasing its customers ad their satisfaction. To spread the business globally, an e-business strategy has to be implemented which can address the management and adopt new market culture. The new process implementation will change the services offered from local market to global market. Strategic planning process will bring all these changes in the way services are offered and improves the market globally. The strategic planning process involves several phases as shown in the figure 1.1. E bay is one of the leading websites in e business, when it comes to selling and buying of products online. At present the company operates its services through the worlds most popular website www.ebay.com for online selling, buying ad biding of products. In 1998, the revenue of e bay was $4.8 million in the US, in 2008 revenue increased to $ 5.5 billion revenue worldwide and sold $60 million merchandise. The page rank of e bay was rated the first in 2008 with 85.4 million visitors. Today, from 2009 reports, the figures appear very promising; they have increased to $24 million despite unfavorable economic conditions gaining 71%. The core competence of E bay were the other online auction websites like Amazon, fixed price retailers, search engines and comparison shopping websites which were offering the services at fixed lower prices. These are attracting the consumers more and e-bay has started to revive their 3 year plan after the revenue fall in 2009 and trying to meet the consumers demand and achieve higher customer satisfaction. 1.3 Market analysis and trends: Market Analysis is a major task that has to be performed before launching a new service or product. It is important to perform this to determine if they really require that new idea that company is going to implement. In the process of developing a new product or service the market needs should be very well understood and how the competitors service the same product/ service should be analyzed too. By conducting such type of market analysis, company can: Be fully prepared to enter a new market Can launch a new product/Service The main steps involved in performing market analysis are Definition of the problem Analysis of the current situation acquire data that is relevant to the problem study and understand the data Get ideas and resolve the problem Market analysis determines strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities of a company and one of the most common methods to achieve this is SWOT analysis. The major competitors for E bay are Amazon, online search engines, fixed price retailers. The results of SWOT analysis on E bay are given in table 1.3.1. SWOT ANALYSIS FOR E bay STRENGTHS excellent service refined technologies used Largest market share in till 2008 Had very Good reputation Good customer satisfaction User friendly software WEAKNESS No proper marketing strategies Lacked global presence Missed its name in the list of all web directories Lack of social sites usage OPPORTUNITIES Increase market shareholder International demand for Ebay services will increase Increase in number of business partners THREATS More number of competitors Cost of software and hardware may increase Price competition with present competitors Table 1.3.1: SWOT analysis for Ebay 1.4 Evaluation of the business in terms of Porters business model: The five forces business model by Michael E. Porter can be used by the company to analyze the competition in the market with respect to the profitability and attractiveness of the services in all the aspects. Figure 1.4.1 shows clearly about the five different competitive forces. Figure 1.4.1: Porters five forces business model Source: http://www.anythingresearch.com/Strategic-Planning/Porters-Five-Forces.htm These five forces are very important in the implementation of new business plan by E bay as shown below: Threat of Substitute products or services Negatives: Every company website creates a substitute to the services offered by ebay and this way they can be a threat to eBay. Positive: Good market environment can be established with internet and will lead to healthy competition. All firms need an improvement to survive in todays market. Bargaining power of suppliers Negative: Customers are given bargaining power than suppliers as they have multiple choices. But with internet, suppliers also have more access to many customers. Bargaining power of buyers Negative: The internet can reduce switching costs for E bay. Positive: Improves bargaining power over traditional channels. Rivalry among existing competitors Negative: The increase in the number of competitors will be created by internet both nationally and internationally. It may also create competition in price among different companies offering similar service for cheaper rates. Barriers to Entry Positive: As E bay is an online business, there is no requirement of offices, sales staff rent for offices. All it requires is a hosting cost for website 1.5 Information and communication technology (ICT) challenges: As E bay is going to spread globally, there is a possibility of some information and communication technology (ICT) challenges. Some of the major challenges are described in terms core business process and system including legacy systems, B2B system integration, and efficient use of ICT infrastructure, security and standards. 1.5.1 Core business process and systems including legacy systems: As E bay is a online auction website, it deals with the customers private information, and the customers expect the company to keep their information very confidential. They have to use very effective CRM applications. The main challenge for CRM is that it should meet the concepts of Confidentiality, Availability and Integrity triangle. As E bay business is spreading globally, it is very crucial to consider business process and systems such as customer relationship management, supply chain management, and also knowledge management. 1.5.2 Efficient use of ICT infrastructure: As The E bay business runs on its auctions via internet it is important to implement proper ICT infrastructure with right technologies such as disaster recovery plan(DRP) to make sure that their business keeps running without any system hurdles such as system failure or any other natural disasters. With the help of DRP the resumption of hardware, data, communications, applications and other it infrastructure can be planned and made safe. Apart from DRP E bay should also include Business continuity plan (BCP) to make sure that their business will never discontinue .Unlike DRP, BCP includes plans for non IT related aspects. Nowadays BCP is well supported by Virtualization which also provides effective and easily manageable disaster recovery (DR) solution. The infrastructure of virtualization along with Disk-to-Disk (D2D) backup helps to build DR infrastructure with very easier and cheaper methods than ever. 1.5.3 B2B system integration: Business to Business e-commerce (B2B EC) also known as electronic B2B (eB2B) or simply B2B refers to transactions between the businesses conducted electronically over the internet, extranets, intranets or private networks(Turban et al. 2008).The B2B system integration is classified into two types Integration with the existing internal infrastructure and applications Integration with business partners systems ( Turban et al. 2008) Through e bay, customers can make reservations in one or more restaurants at a time and make a single payment for all the reservations with the help of these two types of integration systems. This makes transactions between E bay and customers very safe and secure. 1.5.4 Standards: As e bay runs the business electronically, a high level of standard should be used to spread the business globally. At present E bay is not using any ISO (International Standard for Organisation) standard. The best suited ISO standard for E bay is ISO/TS 15000-5:2005ISO/TS-Electronic Business Extensible Markup Language (ebXML).This standard is employed in businesses that work in open area or worldwide and transmit/exchange information between organizations, government agencies and other business related firms. This standard will form the basis for standard development work of business analysts in E bay. 1.5.5 Security: The major risks involved in any business would me information exchange and electronic transactions between organizations. To overcome such type of risks, it is advised that E bay should install use Firewalls, security socket layer (SSL), virtual private networks (VPN), Digital signatures etc while making any transactions.