Metaphors by Sylvia Plath Essay

Sylvia Plath is well known for her confessional style of writing. Her poem ‘Metaphors’ was written in the 1960’s and expresses her self-loathing during pregnancy. Unlike many poets, Plath isn’t afraid to express her inner feelings throughout her work and explore herself within her poetry. In her poem ‘Metaphors’ Plath uses the ‘I’ voice to make her writing deeply personal and convey her pessimistic attitude towards her body image during pregnancy. ‘Metaphors’ is written in a single stanza structure consisting of nine lines each containing nine syllables. Nine is a recurring and significant number in the poem as metaphor and pregnancy both have nine letters and ‘I’ is the ninth letter of the alphabet. It also may be an underlying reference to the nine months of gestation during pregnancy and the impact pregnancy is having on Plath. The poem is written in the form of blank verse without any regular rhyming pattern; however the meter remains consistent with 9 syllables in each line. Plath creates shockingly vivid imagery of her heavily pregnant body and child within; â€Å"An elephant, a ponderous house.† She uses the word â€Å"ponderous† to create an image of her large, lumbering heavily pregnant body and â€Å"house† to show that she is sheltering something precious within. Plath also compares herself to the humorous image of â€Å"a melon on two tendrils.† This makes the reader picture a heavy, round image staggering on two frail, weak legs. The writer’s constant comparison to humorous, ugly objects such as â€Å"a big loaf† and â€Å"a fat purse† highlight the extent of her depression and self-loathing. Although Plath compares herself to a large, unattractive being, she places great value on her unborn child’s life and compares it to many beautiful, valuable objects; â€Å"ivory† â€Å"fine timbers! She uses comparison between the beautiful baby contained within her and her own self-image; â€Å"Money’s new-minted in this fat purse† which clearly represent the ugliness she sees in herself, concealing her precious child within. The writer claims to be;  Ã¢â‚¬Å"a means† where the child will thrive and grow until birth, â€Å"a stage† for her child to develop and grow within and â€Å"a cow in calf† which emphasizes the self-loathing she feels towards the change in her body. In the second last line on the poem, Plath says; â€Å"I’ve eaten a bag of green apples† which could be a reference to the Bible and the apples that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden and how her over-indulgence followed by painful consequences are a biblical reference to original sin. Plath compares her situation to that of Eve’s, she believes that she too indulged in the sensual pleasure of over-indulgence and is now facing the consequences of her actions. On a more literal level, it may also be that she has over-eaten and feels bloated as this is often common among pregnant women. Plath ponders what the uncertain future holds for her in her last line; â€Å"Boarded the train there’s no getting off.† She implies that the pregnancy is too far advanced to be terminated and she is solely responsible for the new life within her. As the poem progresses, Plath begins to feel helpless towards the last weeks of her pregnancy, facing an uncertain future and she has no control over the outcome. The overall tone of ‘Metaphors’ is a pessimistic one which highlights the extent of the poet’s self-loathing and depression. This may be related to mental health issues the fragile poet suffered from. Plath’s distorted self-image combined with the love she feels for her unborn child and her uncertainty of what the future may hold for her come together to produce a beautiful, highly emotional poem. She successfully incorporates striking yet shocking imagery to engage the reader into her deepest thoughts and feelings and almost sympathise with her situation. Plath leaves us pondering what the future holds for her through her extremely heart-rending, thought provoking poem.

Being a Nurse Is More Than a Job, It’s a Treasure Essay

To me, being a nurse is far more than a job or even a career. It’s an adventure, a continuous learning process that I embark on bravely each day, in search of life changing events and miracles. Touching the lives of others is a treasure chest overflowing with metaphorical gold, whether the help I provide is of great measure or remains unnoticed. The pride I hold in saying, â€Å"I’m going to be a nurse,† is immeasurable. Nursing is more than a profession of integrity and compassion, it is a privilege that measures out my values as a human being and the responsibilities granted to me with the precious gift of life. The first time I truly touched a person’s life, although the encounter was brief, was surprisingly fulfilling. A strong feeling of accomplishment and self-worth spread rapidly throughout my body and soul that no average â€Å"good deed† has ever accomplished. Nursing exceeds that average deed by far. After each experience, I’m left with an awestruck attitude of purpose, knowing that I am needed in someone’s life. By saying, â€Å"I’m going to be a nurse† each morning, I get the motivation needed to survive the awaited day ahead of me with a smile. In my opinion, nurses aren’t angels. They don’t go hand in hand with hearts and rainbows. Nursing is about providing care, yes, but that does not entail that nurses’ only purpose is to be a compassionate hand to hold on to. Nursing integrates science and care. Nurses take the knowledge they have gained from their education as well as their experience and apply it each and every day, all while, being there to comfort patients in their times of need, whether what is needed is an IV, pain medication, or an ear that will listen. Like it said in the documentary, a nurse takes advantage of opportunities, faces daily challenges, and most importantly in my eyes, is a powerful advocate for the patient. Watching this video enlightened me to the most significant responsibilities of a nurse. I’ve realized that a nurse is the liaison between the doctor and the patient. They ensure that the patient fully understands what is happening to them in their most vulnerable states. Nurses are responsible for patient education and for making sure the patient understands what the doctor tells them. Ardis Bush said just a few words that really clarified what being a nurse is  all about. She said that nurses treat the whole person, someone with feelings, someone who may cry – not just the diagnosis. In other words, doctors cure, but nurses heal. Ardis really helped me understand the difference between a doctor and a nurse. Nursing facilitates more meaningful patient interaction. I don’t want my patients to be just a statistic. I want to remember them and how strong they were emotionally when they weren’t strong physically. This video showed me that being a nurse will allow me to do just that.

E-mails Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

E-mails - Essay Example Carnival Cruise Line is so apologetic because of that unfortunate event that saw you served cold food and remain stranded at sea for 36 hours with the help of light from the generator to see. The management of the company sat down and decided to offer a compensation of the incident through providing of a 50% discount on a cruise similar to that of Bahamas in terms of value. This is to show how touched the company felt with the loss that the delay caused all of you. It is clear that everyone on board was irate but it is a kind request that we forget about that. Carnival Cruise Line has a plan that will ensure that no such incidents occur in the future. I can assure you of better services and smooth rides on our ships from now henceforth. We are looking forward to better cruises together. Regards J Crew, being your preferred shopping centre wishes to make a simple clarification to you, especially for the case of those who made orders for the Cashmere Sweaters at a price of $18. From the advert that appeared on our website concerning the price of the Cashmere Sweater, I am obliged to write to you this email in order to apologize for a mistake in quoting the price. The ad indicated that the Cashmere sweater was going at $18. This typo error has seen us get numerous orders from our esteemed customers ordering for this classy wear that is trending on the market now. The price for the sweater is $218 but given the fact that the mistake is on the side of J Crew, we kindly request you to bear with us and reorder the same at discounted price. The first figure of $18 should be disregarded and a consideration to reorder the trendy Cashmere sweaters at the below discounted prices be made. The mistake should not discourage you from making an order again given that we are selling them with good discounts. The sweaters are modern wear and cool for youngsters especially. Kindly go to

The comparative analysis of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Essay

The comparative analysis of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and The Necklace - Essay Example The comparative analysis of â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† and â€Å"The Necklace† To begin with, James Thurber’s â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty† and Guy de Maupassant’s â€Å"The Necklace† have much in common thematically. Specifically, both of them examine relationships between a husband and a wife in a marriage. Even more, both stories center on roles played by major characters in marriage. For example, in â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty†, James Thurber creates a portrayal of a marriage which is not typical at all. The protagonist Mr Walter Mitty is husband to a woman who plays a dominant role. The way she acts may even be called authoritarian. Besides, she bears the burden of duties typical for a male partner in a marriage. In particular, Mr Mitty’s wife runs the house. In this context, whatever happens, Mrs Mitty behaves as if she was Mr Mitty’s boss. At the same time, Mr Mitty is treated as if he was of a considerably lower status. Having taken up Mr Mitty’s role, his wife acts in a manner t ypical for a man rather than a woman. Respectively, Walter performs the role of a woman in marriage, a child, or whatever Mrs Mitty thinks he is. To illustrate, once Mrs Mitty returns home from the hairdresser’s and meets Walter in a hotel, she pushes him in shoulder and addresses her husband in a rough manner not typical for a woman. Because of this, their conversation looks more like quarrelling. For instance, â€Å"Something struck his shoulder. â€Å"I've been looking all over this hotel for you,† said Mrs. Mitty. â€Å"Why do you have to hide in this old chair? How did you expect me to find you?† â€Å"Things close in,† said Walter Mitty vaguely. â€Å"What?† Mrs. Mitty said. â€Å"Did you get the what's-its-name? The puppy biscuit? What's in that box?† (Thurber, 2011) The foregoing example and other examples in the story allow claiming that Mr Mitty’s wife has such character traits that evidence her masculinity. Apparently, she is a kind of a woman that is not likely to be admired by men. Indeed, her masculinity and acting in a manlike manner would divert any typical male. On a similar note, one of the themes explored by Guy de Maupassant in â€Å"The Necklace† is relationship as well as gender roles within marriage. Yet, the contrasting point is that the woman in the marriage portrayed in the story is very feminine. Unlike Mr Mitty’s spouse, Mathilde is described as â€Å"beautiful† as well as â€Å"charming†, the one who longs to be adored by men. Evidently, this desire is the greatest motive to get expensive things. For example, in the story â€Å"She had no dresses, no jewelry, nothing. And she loved nothing else; she felt herself made for that only. She would so much have liked to please, to be envied, to be seductive and sought after† (Maupassant, 2011). Apart from this, Mathilde’s femininity is demonstrated by her excessive sensitivity and overwhelming emot ions. This adds up to her feminine image especially with the male-dominated world in the background. Also, both stories enjoy the common theme of escapism. To specify, in Thurber’s â€Å"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty†, escapism is the central theme. Walter Mitty is described as â€Å"a middle-aged, middle-class man who escapes from the routine drudgery of his suburban life

Movie Spider-Man Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Movie Spider-Man - Essay Example There are intriguing questions to argue with. First, is the scenario where Peter Parker, the main character played by Toby Maguire, allowed a criminal to escape carrying loads of cash in return to the bitterness that his prize money was not awarded to him when he won in the wrestling match. Is it morally advisable to let a criminal escape' Realising afterwards that the criminal who escaped was the same person who happened to kill his uncle, a great remorse hounded Peter until the third instalment of Spider-Man was released. What if his uncle spared the death' Would the situation be reversed' Would he finally think that it's alright to let the criminal go' Next, Peter's strange powers because of the bug-biting scene made his nerdy personality made him even more shut from the world and he had more reasons to hide his identity. Perhaps that is one reason why some people misunderstood him. But Maguire was able to furnish his character until the end with the innocent face that captured th e hearts of its viewers especially mothers and young girls. A marvel counterpart to DC's Superman is Spider-Man. In real life, Spider-Man is Peter Parker, who is a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. (Anderson, Howard, 1997, p.104) Spider-Man is a story of a not-so-nerdy teenager who happens to snatch the admiration of his best friend Harry (portrayed by James Franco) because of Science quiz bee champ personality. He was the kind of a guy who's being bullied in school and couldn't confess his love for Mary Jane who from the start of the movie has already captured the heart of the young hero. His life is an ordinary school guy who has been orphaned by his aunt and uncle in a suburban housing project. He met his luck on a laboratory runaway when a radioactive spider bit him. (IMDB, 2002) Then, no one could ever imagine how his life changed. He gained his confidence, willing to woo to his dearest one whom he loved since he was six. The girl, MJ was just living next door. It took him years for him to be able to find chance to display his affection by beating the bullies which happen to be one of them is the boyfriend of MJ. The physical changes such as clear eyesight and bigger physique, the ability to crawl on walls and jump over buildings do not change him mentally and emotionally. Peter acquired a superhuman strength and super-fast reflexes, and he developed a precognitive sense that warned him of approaching danger. (Hammer2Fall, cited in IMDB, 2002). Peter realised that with such powers he can win MJ so he used it to make money. But after his uncle is killed, Peter promised to stop the criminals that killed his uncle. Later on, he devised a suit to continue chasing after evildoers by using his powers. But the domination of good over bad didn't last long. An eccentric millionaire Norman Osborn administered a performance enhancing drug on himself and his maniacal alter ego Green Goblin emerged. The twist emerged when Peter was unaware that Goblin is Norman Osborn, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, the father of his best friend, Harry. Here, Peter faces a dilemma. Peter must now juggle three things in his life: his new job at a local newspaper under a

Corporate Risk Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Corporate Risk Management - Assignment Example Derivatives Derivatives refer to a method where one party owning a risk transfers the risk to another individual (Malz 189). The party receiving the risk bears the risk but at the same time has the advantage of making a profit is the risk does not materialise. The original owner of the risk does not have to pay anything to the risk buyer but has to forego any benefits derived from the non-occurrence of the risk. The advantage of this method of risk management to the business over using insurance is that the business is not obliged to pay any insurance premiums and therefore the only cost is the opportunity cost which the business has to bear due to not being able to benefit when the risk does not occur (Deventer & Imai, 48). The market for derivatives has grown significantly for some time, perhaps because of the increasing risks in the global business environment. Globalisation and technology have brought numerous opportunities to the business environment but at the same time brought numerous risks to businesses around the worlds (Norman, 58). As several risks have increased and their intensity in terms of likelihood and impact has increased, the need to have better ways to manage the risks has also increased. In such an environment, derivatives made from financial risks have increased and there are firms which are dedicated to trading on derivatives. Derivatives come on all sorts of nature, depending on the nature of risk (Triantis, 563). Forwards Forwards are a very good tool for managing some types of financial risks. These are risks associated with unexpected unfavourable changes in the market environment in the future (Darrell, 78). For instance, a firm may be concerned that the rate of exchange will change unfavourably in the future and thus affect its revenues. This usually happens with regard to firms which operate across international borders. In this kind of scenario, the firm can choose to have a forward contract with its customers or suppliers (Verz uh, 59). Forward contracts help the business in guaranteeing that its revenues or its business will not be affected in the future by making sure that the natural laws of the market will not come into action. For instance, in the example given above, a firm may have a forward contract which binds its suppliers to deliver the goods at a predetermined dollar rate regardless of the currency exchange rates in the future. This means that such a firm will operate without worrying that unexpected foreign exchange rates will affect its revenues in a negative way. Decentralising the business functions As identified above, currency risk is one of biggest risk which international businesses have to face today. In a modern business environment, even a slight change in the currency exchange rates can lead to massive losses for firms which manufacture their products locally and sell them abroad (Gregory 57). In this regard, apart from forward contracts, there are other options which such firms can consider in order to eliminate currency risks. These include the decentralisation of business to other countries especially where the business has the biggest markets. This has been demonstrated by the recent trend of American manufacturers going to china to set their manufacturing firms there. One of the firms which have been known to have been the first one to use this strategy of

Ebola Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Ebola - Essay Example As explained by the Infectious Disease expert at Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Rupa Patel, â€Å"The local entities must first take time to understand the disease and how it is transmitted by using resources put out by agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Doctors Without Borders† (Olcott para 5). Even though there are a number of cultural and environmental aspects that are beyond the control of national governments, steps must still be carried out to guarantee that the frequency or rate of contact with the infected is lessened. National governments and nongovernmental organizations must continue to distribute information about Ebola so that the public can consult healthcare professionals. Going to medical specialists early can stop the spread of Ebola. Promoting good hygiene and sanitation is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus to the community (CDC para 5-8). Due to the severity of the epidemic, national or local leaders must implement an awareness-oriented program as they deal with this alarming

Critical Perspectives on Management and Organisations Essay

Critical Perspectives on Management and Organisations - Essay Example The purpose of this paper is to highlight the groupthink implications, which could easily be pointed out as one of the reasons leading to the crisis. The decisions were either taken alone or by the group in totality, but if the decisions taken are imperfect, then outcomes have huge implications on the society. This study discusses the way in which Janis’ theory of groupthink can be linked to the space shuttle disaster. Groupthink can be described as a psychological process of the group members, where people end up taking an erroneous decision that affects them adversely. This implies that the group unanimously takes a decision, despite the existence of another correct course of action. The proponent of this theory is Irving Janis and his researches show that, at times, group of individuals takes successful decisions and at other times, they are unsuccessful. The root cause for failing to analyse the problem comes from the inability of group members to challenge the traditional understanding. This is because they feel empowered if all members agree to a certain perspective (even if it is erroneous) and fails to provide alternative, critique or a new opinion. This essay will first establish a thorough understanding of the groupthink theory and various critiques that has been proposed by other eminent researchers. The next section deals with application of the groupthink theory on the Challenger space shuttle disaster. This is followed by an alternative theory developed by Whyte in order to explain the Challenger disaster. The recommendations and conclusion are mentioned in the last section. Firstly, the managers of NASA were fully aware of flaws in the design of Morton Thiokol’s O-ring. NASA had tried to underplay the problem at hand and the managers decided to stay on schedule. There were also evidences that data, which was provided to the Group Decision Support System (GDSS) of NASA from Thiokol, had declared that it would be safe to launch the mission.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND GLOBAL CHANGE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND GLOBAL CHANGE - Essay Example International Trade helps nations to make sound macroeconomic policies and help to educate the workforce. In short, nations who ‘globalize’ experience wide range of goods and services, low prices, improved health for citizens, better paying jobs etc. all initiating an improved standard of living with higher per capita incomes. Institutions like World Bank, International Monetary Fund facilitates globalization. World Trade Organization helps to regulate norms and rules of international trade between nations. The key finding of the study is that globalization is indispensible but should be checked with the policy of import substitution and export promotion of every nation. Introduction Choice of production and scarcity of resources is the central economic problem of any nation across the world. A nation should always engage its resources in the production of goods and services over which it has comparative cost advantage (Ricardo, 1992). This is only possible when the worl d economy is open and there is international trade between nations. International trade involves imports and exports. The level of international trade in a country can be found from the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country. International trade as a % of world GDP has increased from 42.1% in 1980 to 62.1% in 2007. This is due to the emergence of globalization between nations which involves flow of funds, technology, products between nations. The foreign direct investment increased from 6.5%$ of GDP in 1980 to 31.8% in 2006. This is highly beneficial for the growth of developing nations and it also facilitates the progress of rich developed countries. The objective of this project is to analyse to what extent globalization in 1980 resulting in more even distributions of income. This essay also helps us to understand the importance and progress of international trade in the world economy. The study then emphasises the emergence of globalization in the eve of modern trade acceler ating growth. It also shows the changing pattern in international trade for the last 50 years. The work also gives an overview of the current scale and distribution of international trade across countries. Definitions and Measures of Inequality The level of development between nations is not same. There always exists income inequality between nations due to social, economical, political and natural differences. Income inequality is the inequality of income distribution. Blau (1977) defined income inequality as the average difference in status among a pair having relatively average status. Similarly, Firebaugh (2006) defined disparities in wealth status between people and Nations is defined as wealth inequality. Income inequality divides the economy into ‘haves† and â€Å"have nots†. Income inequality is detrimental to the growth of an economy, social justice and welfare of the peoples of a nation. People with low level of income remain dissatisfied with their fina ncial status thus inequitable income status in an economy often threatens the political stability of a nation. Income Inequality is also responsible for health problems in a country. It can often raise corruption in the society that can finally cause misallocation of resources in the society. There are various measurements of income inequality; the most commonly used is Gini Coefficient. The range of this index lies between 0 to 1 (0% to 100%), where 0 means perfect inequality and 1 shows no inequality. But it does not show why the inequality

Functional Areas - Staff at R. Bethels Essay Example for Free

Functional Areas Staff at R. Bethels Essay R. Bethels have two owners, a manager and three other members of staff. The manager looks after the day to day running of the shop and helps run the business. The owners complete the paper work of the business and look after the financial side. Human Resources At R. Bethels, human resources is for: * Recruiting and dismissing * Providing good working conditions * Negotiating with trade unions * Health and safety The owners of R. Bethels are in charge of human resources. They will employ and dismiss employees. They will decide how much they get paid and how often they get paid. The manager will make the phone calls to employees, open and run the shop and to advertise available jobs. It is important that the manager does this in order to employ the correct people. Employing the correct people is good for motivation, quality of work and customer satisfaction. The Owners of R. Bethels may not do things to provide good working conditions all the time but he will decide what are good working conditions and tell members of his staff how to make these conditions available. This is so that people will want to work for R. Bethels. They will negotiate with trade unions in order to give their employees decent pay and good working conditions. They will also decide how to handle health and safety issues and improve them as and when they need to. R. Bethels need to be a healthy and safe environment so that people are able and willing to work for R. Bethels. As R. Bethels is a small business, training may not always matter but the owners will be in charge of it if it is needed. This would be needed for motivation, job satisfaction and an increase in profit through happy and satisfied customers. Finance Finance department covers: * Recording financial matters * Preparing accounts * Paying wages and salaries * Obtaining capital and other resources The owners deal with the companys finances. They will record and file all of the financial documents. This is important, as when R. Bethels need a financial document e.g. a sale they have just made, it will be easy to find. The owners will decide on who gets what amount of money per week or per annum and they will hand out the wages to the employees. They will also prepare accounts in order to sort out money, which comes in and goes out of the business. R. Bethels need capital in order to trade properly, the manager or the owners may sort this out. Administration and ICT Support Function R. Bethelss administration and ICT support is for: * Cleaning and maintenance * Health and safety * security * Clerical services * Word processing The manager will deal with clerical services and possibly computers and Internet. The clerical services are things like answering the phone and typing up letters. The manager would do this or the owners would, depending the circumstances. These are needed in order to keep in touch with customers, banks, other companies, etc. The employees would deal with cleaning and maintenance in order to keep things clean and in working order. The manager and the employees would share out the duties of everything else in order to keep the business a safe place to work. Marketing and sales Marketing is needed to enable R. Bethels to find out what customers need. This helps increase sales in order to increase their profit. As the manager at R. Bethels will have more time than the employees and the owners, he will be able to cover marketing. The owners and the employees will also be able to do this if they have any spare time, if they need to. The manager will ring up restaurants companies in order to advertise the companys products that are available. He will take time with customers to show them how to cook and serving ideas for the fish. When the customers want buy a product, they will be served by the manager or the employees and the money will be handed into the till machine. Customer services This deals with: * Keeping customers happy * Dealing fairly with complaints * Responding to enquiries * Offering credit * After sales service * Advice and information * Reliability * Good products, fairly priced R. Bethels may not be able to deal with all of the things in this list, because of the size of their business. The owners will decide how these things are sorted out but all of the staff at R. Bethels will have to help meet them. R. Bethels will try their best to keep customers happy. Keeping customers happy is what customer services are needed for. Research and development Research and Development is all about researching products and how customers respond to the business. If there are any things that need improving, R. Bethels will talk to their supplier and sort it out. At R. Bethels, the manager and the employees will do the research but the employees and the owners will sort out the product development. R and D is an important function because R. Bethels can have an advantage over their rivals and they can have a more desired product. At R. Bethels, the business lifestyle will be totally different to that of Dominos. At the moment there are only five people who are involved in the business, if and when this changes the lifestyle of the business will probably change too possibly in a dramatic way.

Tesco Versus Sainsbury Financial Performance Analysis Finance Essay

Tesco Versus Sainsbury Financial Performance Analysis Finance Essay Food retailing has traditionally been highly competitive with significant pressure on margins and cost control. The UK retailers like Tesco, MS, Sainsburys, Asda faced further challenges when the consumer confidence index surged due to the financial crisis and job losses. Still, food retailers seemed to have found successful anti-crisis policies when compared to the performance of their high-street competitors (Brand Republic, February 2009). The report hereto would investigate and compare the financial performance of two of the largest UK food retailers J Sainsbury plc and Tesco plc. The scope of the analysis would be the three latest financial years 2007-2009. The main analytical technique would be ratio analysis looking at companies profitability, performance and financial stability. Latest share information would also be examined briefly. The report would start with a short introduction of both businesses, proceed to a comparison between them based on certain ratios or indicators and end with a conclusion identifying which business performed better in the last three years. Tesco plc Company Profile Tesco plc is a UK-based retail business being number one in its home market and the third worlds largest retailer in terms of revenue after Wal Mart and Carrefour (Tesco, 2010). The company was established by Jack Cohen in 1919 in East London as a grocery selling stall. He expanded the business and in 1947 Tesco plc was floated on the London Stock Exchange (Tesco, 2010). At present Tesco has operations across varied retail segments and in about 15 international locations including Europe, US and Asia (Tesco, 2010). As per latest company data Tesco has a portfolio of 2Â  306 stores in the UK and its UK market share reached 30,7% in 2009 (The Guardian, Nov 2009). Tesco has further 2Â  400 stores internationally (Tesco, 2010). The corporate strategy of business and geography diversification of Tesco was initiated in mid 1990s with the aim of broadening the business scope in order to deliver strong sustainable long-term growth. Currently, the business includes also financial services and the Tesco mobile since 2003. Currently, Tesco plc has a market capitalization in excess of GBP 33b and employs about 440Â  000 people. Terry Leahy was appointed for a CEO in 1997 (Tesco, 2010). J Sainsbury plc Company Profile J Sainsbury plc is the corporate entity of the food retail chain Sainsburys. The company is UK-based and is currently the third largest supermarket chain in the UK with an estimated market share of approximately 16.3% (Sainsburys, 2010). Sainsburys was initially founded in 1869 as a family business by John James Sainsbury and his wife Mary Ann. The business expanded quickly and became the largest grocery retailer in 1922 (Sainsburys, 2010). It kept its leadership position up until the mid 1990 when due to internal problems and loss of focus it was replaced by Tesco and Asda (becoming second largest retailer in 2003, The Telegraph, June 2009). Presently, as per latest company information, Sainsburys consists of a chain of 525 supermarkets, 303 convenience stores, a Real Estate Division managing some of the store properties and a Financial Services Division (Sainsburys Bank, offering insurance, credit cards, loans, etc.). The company employs about 150Â  000 employees (Sainsburys, 2010). The business serves over 18.5 million customers a week, as the product range already includes clothing and home furnishing lines. Online shopping and delivery is also available to the Sainsburys customers. With respect to ownership and management, J Sainsbury plc is publicly traded company listed on the London Stock Exchange and ranks into the FTSE 100 index. The Sainsbury family has approximately 15% interest in the company. Justing King with a number of top management position in the UK retail industry was appointed for CEO of J Sainsbury plc. David Tylor is the chairman of the board. (Sainsburys, 2010) Tesco plc and J Sainsbury Financial analysis The section would present the financial analysis of both Tesco and Sainsburys. The analysis will be based on the calculation of a number of ratios measuring profitability, efficiency, financial standing and investment opportunities. As discussed by Berk and DeMarzo (2007), ratio analysis is most powerful when the results for a given company are compared with the ones of a close competitor, the industry average or to the historical trend for the same company. Thus, the analysis would cover a period of three years 2007-2009 and would contrast the performance of both companies which are considered to be a very close business match. Both companies performance would be benchmarked to the industry average indicators where appropriate. The calculations are based on financial information available in the company annual reports. Profitability analysis As discussed by Atrill (2002), profitability measures (ratios) show how a company uses its resources. Profit margins show how much the business is able to retain in excess to the cost of its operations. Return ratios, on the other hand, indicate if it is able to generate enough return for the capital supplier. Return on capital employed (ROCE) represents the overall return on the all capital employed (equity and debt) in the business. As discussed in the business valuation literature (Palepu, 2004), there is empirical evidence that ROCE is affected by market forces and mean reverts in long-term and for mature companies. The level of mean-reversion is towards the long-term weighted-average cost of capital (WACC) of about 8-10%, suggesting elimination of abnormal profits over long periods of the business life. Looking at the ROCE of both companies, Tesco fits in the expectations with its measure declining from 13% in 2007 to 9% in 2009. On the contrary, Sainsburys operates substantially below the average at 4-5% ROCE over the period. It is further alarming that Sainsburys ratio is on decreasing trend in 2009. It should be kept in mind that the ratios may be affected by the accounting practices, as the so-called dirty-surplus items are usually put in the equity section of the balance sheet. F urther, the ROCE itself does not give information where the performance comes from. So, decomposition of the ratio is needed (ROCE = RNOA+FLEV EFFECT) Return on net operation assets (RNOA) behaves similarly to ROCE, as in long-term RNOA levels of old companies have proven to mean revert to average levels between 8 and 15%, as companies with lower RNOA levels tend to increase and visa versa (Palepu, 2004). In the particular case, we can see that Tesco again generates higher return of about 8-5% compared to 3% for Sainsburys over the three year period. It can also be noted that the Sainburys RNOA is stable over the period while the one of Tesco decreases almost 50%. A possible reason may be disproportionate addition of assets compared to the sales growth. Investigating this further, we see that Tescos sales grew by 10% and 13% in 2008 and 2009 respectively, while its total assets grew by 22% and 53% for the same period. Sainsburys shows a more proportionate behavior of growth with sales increasing 3% and 5% in 2008 and 2009 and total assets growing by 5% and -1% over the same period. The 5% sales growth in 2009 is even more impressiv e when noted that it is achieved by the same asset base as in 2008. Still, for a better understanding of the profitability drivers, RNOA can be further decomposed to the expression NOPAT margin*asset turnover. Looking at the profit margins of both businesses, expectedly their margins are low due to the saturation of the industry. Tescos gross profit margin (GPM) has been stable at about 7,5%, while the one of Sainsburys decreased from 6,8% in 2007 to 5,5% in 2009. Still, both companies operate at substantially higher margins than the industry average of 2,2% (Reuters). The further vertical analysis of the income statements shows that the decrease in Tescos GPM translates into decreasing operating profit margin as well (from 6,2% to 5,9%), while Sainsburys actually achieved a stable increase in the OPM of 0,6% over the three years period. Sainsburys performance suggests management involvement in operational efficiency and cost control trying to improve the bottom line. However, the after tax profit margin of Sainsburys actually decreased with 0,4% to 1,5% in 2009. Tesco NOPAT margin also decreased over the period, but is materially higher being 4% in 2009. As suggested by Palepu (2004), mat ure industries with high level of competition are normally expected to compensate low margins with high turnover. The asset turnover ratio (ATO) is an efficiency measure rather than profitability one. However, it would be considered here as it has direct effect on the overall ROCE. The ATO ratio shows how effectively the assets of the company are used to generate sales (Berk and DeMarzo, 2007). Empirical evidence shows that it tends to stay constant over time except when some new technology is introduced and efficiency of operations is improved (Palepu, 2004). Retail industry is not technology-intensive and substantial changes in ATO are not expected to occur over short periods as the scope of the analysis hereto. Still, Tescos ATO decreased notably from 1,72 in 2007 to 1,18 in 2009. The anomaly can be explained with the aggressive growth in assets (22% and 53% in 2008 and 2009 respectively) which did not translate into the same level of sales growth. On the contrary, Sainsburys ATO improved slightly from 1,78 in 2007 to 1,88 in 2009 being again an evidence of tight efficiency control and focus. Sainsburys definitely compensate lower profitability with much higher efficiency of operations. Both companies operate at ATOs higher than the industry average of 0,26 (Reuters). Efficiency measures working capital management Working capital management and its components are further indication of a company operational efficiency. As explained by Weetman (2003), the working capital cycle presents the proportion of the operating activities that need to be covered with long-term financing. Thereby, the longer the cycle, the greater the need to employ long-term debt in operations rather than in investment activities. The inventory turnover in days for both Tesco and Sainsburys is 16-18 days and 13-14 days respectively. The period is quite short, even though it is in line with the expectations for the retail industry. Still, Sainsburys perform slightly better in terms of inventory management. Sainsburys seems to have also better receivables collection management with its days receivables being below a day opposed to Tescos days receivables of 1,85 days in 2009. The measure increased slightly (with 0,5 days) for both companies over the three years. Still, a good explanation of the trend may be the increased number of card payments and online shopping volume over the years. In terms of negotiating credit from suppliers (days payables) both companies pay settle payables within 35-36 days on average in 2009. However, the measure has been increasing for Tesco (from 32 days in 2007), while decreasing for Sainsburys (from 39 days in 2007). Being times bigger, Tesco would be expected to have better negotiation power over its suppliers, however Sainsburys also managed to stay competitive in this respect. Overall, calculating the total length of the working capital cycle for both, we obtain negative numbers due to the short inventory and receivables cycles and the long credit lines with suppliers. The result suggests that Tesco and Sainsburys have healthy short-term financial management and they actually utilize suppliers financial resources. Solvency and liquidity analysis As indicated by Atrill (2002), solvency and liquidity ratios indicate the ability of a business to cover its current liabilities, as well as its long-term financial health and stability. In short-run ability to cover debt-servicing payments, as well as other trade claims, is vital, while the capital structure and the debt burden on the total assets is more important in long-run. Tesco has healthy current ratio close to 6 in 2009 (about 3 in 2007-2008) and a quick ratio strictly above 1 for the whole period. However, Sainsburys financial position is quite different. Both ratios are below 1 and have been following a decreasing trend over the three years period. Food retailing is high turnover industry and definitely is not considered to be among the high volatility ones. Thus, current and quick ratios below one are normal. Still, Sainsburys ratios are materially lower even than the industry average (Sainsburys quick ration was 0,31 in 2009 compared to 0,82 for the industry). Still, it is positive that the company has healthy interest coverage which appears negative due to interest income being more than interest expenses. Tesco also has good interest coverage of 8 in 2009 (decreasing from 12 in 2007). In terms of solvency, as expected from the industry context, both companies have relatively high debt levels at about 50% of equity. The levels are twice the industry average of 24% (Reuters). Tesco loaded on debt aggressively in 2009 with its financial leverage reaching 50% in order to finance expansion. Still, this is not considered as a serious threat given the good performance and short-term financial stability indicators. Share price analysis Tescos share price has been fluctuating over the past 3 years between 300p and 470p. It currently trades at about 445p a share and has been increasing since April last year from its low at 300p per share. Sainsburys share price seemed to be a bit less volatile in short-term, even though it traded in the range of 280 600p over the 3 years period. The price went through a few significant drops and adjusted to an annual average of 330p for the last year. In terms of multiples, both Tesco and Sainsburys trade at P/E ratios close to 16 indicating high confidence of investors in the future growth of the businesses. Still, Tesco trades at a bit better P/B of 2,60 compared to Sainsburys P/B of 1,44 (Reuters). Generally, both P/B ratios are low, still it needs to be accounted that the industry is very competitive and mature. Analysts seem to be more confident in Tescos performance (Bar Cap Wealth Management), with Tesco being a buy and Sainsburys being hold as at the last recommendations available (Reuters). Conclusion Financial analysis and ratio analysis in particular are only one of the tools that a potential investor may and should use. The analysis is mostly based on accounting information (companys annual reports) that due to accounting practices may not fully reflect the market value of a company. Furthermore, the analysis examines the past performance of a company and it may be a point considering its future abilities, but it is in no way decisive. Past cannot be used as a determinant of the future. Applied to Tesco and Sainsburys, the tool revealed useful baseline for further study of the companies. Tesco can definitely be seen as a leader in growth and profit margins. However, it performed relatively poor in terms of efficiency compared to Sainsburys. Still, as both companys report annual accounts early in the year, the information analyzed failed to account for the later fast growth in like-for-like sales of Sainsburys at 7,8% compared to 4,3% of Tesco (The Telegraph, June 2009) and the announcement of aggressive expansion plans. Still, assuming the markets have reacted efficiently, the information should be captured in the current share prices of companies.

A case study on Levis Strauss. Essay -- Economics

A case study on Levis Strauss. Introduction Levis Strauss has been the market leader of blue denim Jeans since 1853, but of late the sales have started to plummet it has lost a huge amount of its share in the market. This has lead to closures of stores throughout America and layoff staff in this report I will look at the following questions 1. What is Levis Strauss environmental domain? 2. What factors in its environment are giving rise to opportunities and threats for Levis Strauss? 3. How are Levis managers trying to manage these opportunities and threats? 4. With reference to their Web site and additional research what is Levis current position. A report on Levis Strauss Question 1 Levis Strauss and co is one the worlds leading branded apparel companies. Levis design and market Jeans related products and casual clothes. Its product is sold world-wide. Established in 1853 by Levis Strauss it headquarters are based in San Francisco. It is a company that was valued over the 7 Billion dollar mark in 1997. Its most famous product lines are Silver Tab, Red Tab, Dockers and Levisengineered brand. At the current time Levis are trying to promote their New "Silver Tab" brand. It is regarded as their most "hippest clothes" and it appeals to the core teen market. Levis plan to spend 5 times the amount they have spent on the year before on promoting their products this is because they have realized recently they have lost a large sh...

Media’s Influence on Adolescent Body Image Essay -- Adolescent Behavio

Today’s society is a consumers’ society in which trying to obtain perfection is one of the fastest selling businesses (DeLaMater Pg. 12). Mass media, advertising, and fashion industries are being accused of feeding off females dissatisfaction with their bodies by portraying unhealthy thin role models in order to sell their products. This unachievable physique and lifestyle has led today’s adolescence down a dark path of such extreme eating disorders as anorexia and bulimia. Although it may sound nice to be societies perception of thin, there are consequences to these eating disorders such as cardiac failure that lead to horrifying defects or even death. In the 1950s, models such as Marilyn Monroe or Zhazha Gabor didn’t suffer from a lack of beauty due to a voluptuous figure. Then starting in 1960’s the ideal body has become more slim and slender. Twiggy had become a singer, actress, and a fashion icon during the 1960’s when she became the face of the fashion industry. Twiggy began to starve herself in order to become more â€Å"beautiful†. In addition to having such an influence on fashion, â€Å"Twiggy [had] also changed the way that women thought about their [own] bodies,† (Rosenzweig et al. Pg.62). Women of the 1960s and today have struggled to attain this slender body such as Twiggy's, sometimes going to extreme lengths to do so. Although some of these role models might actually obtain these thin bodies through strenuous workouts and healthy diets, there are a huge number of them, such as Twiggy, that obtained them through extreme dieting. Frightened and inspired by these role models, overweigh t and even teenagers that are healthy according to their BMI (Body Mass Index) continue with strict dieting and exercise regimens. An Article... ...en death associated with eating disorders." Internet Journal of Cardiovascular Research 7.1 (2010): 1. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. Mehler, Philip S., and Mori Krantz. "Anorexia Nervosa Medical Issues." Journal of Women's Health (15409996) 12.4 (2003): 331. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. (331-340) Morris, Anne, Katzman Debra. â€Å"The Impact of the Media on Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents.† Paediatrics & Child Health (2003) 287-289. Pulsis Group Inc. Web. 18 March 2011. Rosenzweig, Marianne, and Jean Spruill. "Twenty Years After Twiggy: A Retrospective Investigation of Bulimic-Like Behaviors." International Journal of Eating Disorders 6.1 (1987): 59-65. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. Winston, A. P., and P. J. Stafford. "Cardiovascular effects of anorexia nervosa." European Eating Disorders Review 8.2 (2000): 117-125. Web. 2 Mar. 2011. http://www.wisegeek.com/who-is-twiggy.htm

How to Be a Faithful Servant. Essay -- World Literature

In the story of Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-46), Joseph himself is considered a faithful servant. He follows all of Gods rules, laws, and orders precisely. In his lifetime Joseph encounters some hard times, but he triumphs in the end. A faithful servant must always consider what is required of he or she, how he or she will respond to being tested, if he or she plan on being rewarded, and what it means to be a faithful servant. In the end, a truly faithful servant must ask himself or herself how appealing a job it really is. Being faithful means putting all your trust in something. A servant serves others. So, the question is, what does it take to be a faithful servant? In Genesis, Joseph is the epitome of a faithful servant. He was a faithful servant to the Lord as well as to his masters. It is evident that he was a faithful servant to the Lord by the way he responded to all of his encounters during hard times. Joseph shows these faithful skills from the instant in which he is sold by his brothers to the time that he is put into jail. Joseph never once turned his back or lost his faith in the Lord. A great example of his endless devotion is shown in the following quote: "And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his masters wife, Behold, my master wotteh not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; there is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God"(68)? This quotation ill ustrates Joseph's faithfulness not only to God but also to his master. The end result ... ...ions along their way to prosperity. As long as they always remember to put their faith first, then they are often times happy with their life. A true servant's only job is to serve someone. For most people, it is not appealing, but for some, it is a rewarding lifestyle. Being a faithful servant requires a special person, one who is willing to do a lot of work for little or no reward. A faithful servant is required of different kinds of work, occasionally testing their mental, physical, and spiritual abilities. He or she also must always realize they times often are not going to be rewarded for their hard work. Some people, like Joseph, being a faithful servant is what they are born to do, and it is the only thing that they know. Works Cited Page Lawall, Sarah. (Ed.). (2002). The Norton Anthology of World Literature (Vol. A). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Noli me tangere reflection Essay

Noli Me Tangere. It is a novel written by Filipino writer and national hero Jose Rizal and was first published in 1887 in Berlin, Germany. This novel was written to remind us the bad things that Jose Rizal experienced during his time by the Spanish. From the very start of this novel, the first plan of our national hero is, to write this novel with the help of his countryman that is also suffering to the hands of the Spanish, but suddenly he failed to do it with the help of his countryman, because his countryman lose their hope in fulfilling their dreams to have freedom in the hands of the Spanish colonies. Jose Rizal, did not give up, because he continue write this novel without the help of his countryman, and he decided to write it by himself only. The first chapter of this novel was entitled â€Å"the paging†, where in, in this chapter stated the lifestyle of Don Santiago de los Santos also known as Kapitan Tiago, he was from Binondo and he was the step father of Maria Clara according to this chapter. In this chapter, the other characters was Padre Sibyla, Padre Damaso, and Tenyente Guevarra.According to this chapter, kapitan tiago invited the said characters to go to his house and have asimple gathering, but suddenly it came to a fight between Padre Damaso and Tenyente Guevarra because of the ereheng namatay. Padre Sibyla stops the rivalry between the two. The second chapter was entitled â€Å"Ang binatang si Crisostomo†. Where in in, this chapter, Kapitan Tiago present Don Crisostomo Ibarra to the priest, the son of his deceased friend named Don Rafael Ibarra.

Global Competition

This week, the emphasis was on global competition and in what way this can influence an establishment’s strategy to boost profits and how to utilize global competition to examine the outcome of relationships among employees and management. These dual topics were fairly straightforward for all team associates to comprehend and might be able to relate to their trades. All team associates were able to convey the topics to their trades and recognize how global competition can influence their specific industry. The topic that we deemed the most affluent with this week was the effect of global competition on an organization’s strategies for maximizing profits. utilizing global competition as a process for maximizing profits is comparatively simple to comprehend because it is simple to see how a business can glance at their competitors internationally to realize where they are deficient or where they are exceling. Benefiting from another businesses marketing strategies or product ideas can help a boost a business’s product sales and can heighten their business. We all concur we should take a step back to see the big picture. Looking at each of our respective trades we often get stuck within the boundaries of our companies. This can limit our abilities to utilize the information gathered from our competition. Examining the result of global competition on the relationship between management and labor was a slight more problematic to understand due to the fact that some employers do not use global competition in order to gauge the relationship between employees and the management group in some of our respective trades. We have never first hand had to use this tool to center on the relationships among employees because the individuals in our departments were hired by Human Resources based upon the circumstance that they understand there will be a good working relationship among everyone. After discussing this issue we as a group find it is important to protect and evolve this relationship between labor and management based on global competition. Sometimes the scale of competition may be between countries, regions, states, or even on much smaller scale cities. Important things we find must not be left out when analyzing this relationship are simple. For example, economics, technology, political, and traditions can lead to a success. Increase wages steadily and keeping benefits for workers is crucial. Working from within to achieve competitive advantages goes hand in hand with improvements for your employees. 3 key points are protecting wages, job security, and benefit gains. Our group now has a better understanding on how global completion can affect companies. This can be in a positive or negative way. Reaching international customers is the main goal. Maintain access to customers, communication, improve service, and the reduction of barriers is very important.

Existentialism and The Plague Essay

Jean-Paul Sartre once said, â€Å"Man is condemned to be free; because once he is thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. † Sartre speaks in accordance with the values of Existentialism, which is defined as a philosophical theory that emphasizes the existence of the individual person as a free and responsible agent determining their own development through acts of the will. Existentialists like Sartre rejected the existence of a higher power and the over arching influence of an unnatural conformist society, citing instead the importance of individuality and acts of one’s own free will. According to the doctrine of Existentialism, life is not satisfying yet has meaning. The singular purpose of life is to drive forward into the infinite macrocosm of the universe, searching for one’s own particular meaning of life. Additionally, Existentialists propose that there is no god; there is no big man in the sky creating destinies for the humble earthly beings below. Thus, random instances of elation, violence, and tragedy do not hold a greater significance with a supposed higher power or with the universe itself. Life is an experience specific to man alone. Albert Camus, in relation to this philosophy, delivered to the literary world his existentialist work, The Plague, a novel based on the central theme of the inanity of human suffering and the deep individuality of the human experience. In the pages of this novel and through his characters and themes, Camus paints a picture of a mundane community thrust into an almost illogical, if tragic, state of disease and disaster. His unremarkable town of Oran, that in no way deserved such a virulent visitation of plague, sets a perfect stage for the exemplification of existential teachings. â€Å"The unusual events described in this chronicle occurred in 194- at Oran. Everyone agreed that considering their somewhat extraordinary character, they were out of place there. For its ordinariness is what strikes one first about the town of Oran†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Camus, 3). So begins Albert Camus’ gripping achievement, The Plague. From its very origin, the novel admits itself to be set in a small, dull town, unremarkable in every way. And yet, in the randomness of life, the placid town of Oran is inexplicably bombarded with an attack of plague so malignant it is compared to the plague outbreaks of centuries before, which wiped out entire European villages. The typically overlooked literary element of setting, in this instance that of an ordinary North African coastal village, lies a sense of some of Albert Camus’ greatest genius. In a way that seems almost too subtle, Camus relates one of the basic tenets of Existentialism, that which emphasizes the absence of a higher powers’ influence on human life, to the unfathomable curse on an undeserving town. â€Å"Treeless, glamorous, soulless, the town of Oran ends by seeming restful and, after a while, you go complacently to sleep there. † (Camus, 6). Thus, the town of Oran is classified as a sleepy, typical village, one unaccustomed to the despair and pestilence that is rained upon it during the months of the forthcoming plague. One would assume that in a world ordered by a God, a town that had committed no crime wouldn’t have received such an exemplary form of capital punishment. In such a world, one could argue that the town of Oran should have escaped into happy obscurity. One could also argue the fairness of the fabled destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, towns famously steeped in sin. â€Å"Not so! † would cry the existentialists, as one of the basics ideals of existentialism is the randomness of life. Good and evil in the context of life are simply subjective statements; there is no ultimate reward for those who live as saints, just as there is no ultimate retribution for those who live in sin. In this way, the terror visited on Oran perfectly perpetuates this existential idea. A town so typical and seemingly so ineligible of a tragedy such as the plague is, instead of protected from it, decimated by it. Perhaps Camus’ random devastation of his little town is a result of his involvement in the European anti-Nazi resistance. During this time of unexplained evils: the systematic decimation of the Jews and other undesirables and the horrors inflicted upon occupied France, among other instances of randomized human terrorism, Camus is said to have developed his existentialist perspective. In a world overseen by a benevolent, just maker, where is there room for the murders of innocent millions, or for that matter, the infestation of plague in a sleepy little town? One of the reoccurring themes of Existentialism is the importance of the individual finding meaning in a life that’s ultimate result is death. Another facet of Camus’ The Plague that supports this particular aspect of Existentialism is his host of cast and characters. The townsfolk at large can initially be described as hardworking but self absorbed, if not entirely self centered. Theirs is a community of particular habits and personal needs. Seemingly, the only unifying factor of these citizens seems to be in commerce, or as Camus puts it, â€Å"Our citizens work hard, but solely with the object of getting rich. †(Camus, 4). The masses of Oran find meaning in their businesses, card playing, and cafe going. Though the act of death is described as â€Å"difficult and discomforting† (Camus, 5), the people of Oran seem to accept it in its natural courses. The citizens are entirely resigned to their tedious way of life; in fact hardly a soul stirs at the curious sight of rats dying in masses in the streets. Incredibly, beyond the initial panic of the plague, the citizens seem to resign themselves to that as well. â€Å"There was the same resignation, the same long-sufferance, inexhaustible and without illusions. † (Camus, 184). A great many of the prisoners of Oran had embraced Nihilism, a philosophy in which nothing has any value or any meaning, and pursuit of finding either is futile. Interestingly, the attitude of those in Oran and Nihilism itself run conversely to Camus’ actual beliefs. Influenced by the early death of his father and his childhood poverty, as well as a terrible bout of Tuberculosis, Camus’ actual theories involved a complicated correlation between the lack of hope and despair in a life that exists without any intrinsic meaning. Camus’ philosophy can best be described as a daring experiment in optimism without hope; a life that resists the illusion of a predetermined good outcome without succumbing to despair. In accordance to his personal beliefs, an existential hero designed by Camus resists the despair of a life hurtling toward death and instead rises above death to do good works in the manner of a painfully cautious optimist. One such hero is Dr. Bernard Rieux, narrator and chronicler of the plague. Rieux shows his existential spots early on in his narrative, frequently questioning the conformist ways of Oran society and continually distancing himself from the hypocrisy of their half-formed lives. His choice of profession is a prime example of choosing to rise above death to do good, instead of worshipping â€Å"the god of business† like his peers, he is instead a physician. By their very nature physicians fight an existential battle of healing the sick against an all too present possibility of death. Though separated from his wife, Rieux fights on through the plague, administering serums, seeing to the afflicted, and organizing sanitary squads with the help of other active citizens. Rieux is ever mindful of his responsibilities to others, remarking that â€Å"the essential thing was to save the greatest possible number of persons from dying and being doomed to unending separation. And to do this there was only one resource: to fight the plague. There was nothing admirable about this attitude; it was merely logical. † (Camus, 133). In this passage, Rieux clearly exhibits Camus’ own deeply felt obligations towards society, choosing to fight an inevitable evil rather than resign himself to it. Over the course of his life, Camus’ spoke out against many social injustices, including: the genocides of the Second World War, trade union discrepancies, the death penalty, and injustices within the communist party, which he had formerly been associated with and which cost him many friendships, among them Jean-Paul Sartre. In a case of art imitating life, Rieux’s consistency with himself and with his beliefs caused him much personal hardship and endangered his life. However, his commitment to others made him less despondent and more aware of himself than the rest of the town, giving him a strength that not many shared and allowed him to find his â€Å"true-self†, which is the ultimate goal of Existentialism. In his admirable struggle, Rieux clearly demonstrates the most idealistic goals of Existentialism and in turn represents Camus’ interpretation of the philosophy. Speaking on the attitude of futility that is sometimes associated with Existentialism, Albert Camus said, â€Å"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. † In the very heart of his philosophy, Albert Camus accepted that life is merely a vehicle for death, that there is no higher power pulling the strings, and that the meaning of life is attributed to the individual. However, at his core, Camus believed that life was an opportunity to rise above death to accomplish more and do better. The greatest sin was a resignation to death and despair, an indifference to the opportunities afforded to you by free will. In the randomness of life, â€Å"things happen†. Small coastal towns suffer a swift, arbitrary attack of bubonic plague, and Algerian authors die in car crashes when they should have been taking the train. The ultimate question of Existentialism is, â€Å"does life have any meaning? † Ultimately, the key question of Existentialism is answered by that philosophy’s’ very tenets. Life is afforded meaning by the individual, a meaningful life is lived through one’s specific actions to the â€Å"things that happen† in the randomness of one’s existence.

Psycholgy exhibited in the film John Q Essay

When asked to find something in the media that directly relates to subject matter that had been discussed in our psychology class there were a couple of topics that came to mind. However, one stands out to me in particular, and that is a movie that I have seen recently called John Q. In this film Denzel Washington plays the role of John Q. Archibald, a man who will go to any lengths to keep his one and only son, Michael, from dying. During the movie, John and his wife, Denise, learn that Michael has an enlarged heart and needs an emergency transplant operation. On top of that, John has recently been reduced from full-time to part-time work. He can’t afford the operation and his health insurance won’t cover it, so he vows to do whatever it will take to keep his son alive. This obviously becomes an extremely difficult moral decision that Archibald must make. In the psychology textbook, there is very similar example to what occurred in the movie John Q, this example was used by a psychologist by the name of Kohlberg to conduct a moral reasoning experiment. The situation in the text tells of a woman that is near death with a special type of cancer, and there is only one, recently developed drug that could possibly save her. However, the druggist was apparently charging 10 times what it cost to make the drug, which is 2000 dollars. The woman’s husband tried to get all the money he could however came up short, and the druggist refused to cut him a deal, and therefore, leaving the man two choices, to either let his wife die, or steal the medicine. And like any good husband the man broke into the store and stole the drug for his wife. This above situation when described in class made me immediately think of the movie John Q, and is the reason this paper is being written. In the film however, the victim was a child who has barely experienced life yet, and measures for his survival were much more desperate. Instead of a just a simple pill or treatment this boy needed a new heart, and a matching heart with that, and without the proper insurance the transplant was near impossible. So, John took the matter into his own hands. He felt that his only option is to take the emergency room hostage until the doctors agree to give his son the operation that he desperately needs and find him a compatible heart. After locking himself, his son and a handful of doctors  into an operating room, the operation gets underway; however, a compatible heart still is yet to be found. Much of the time in this film is spent on the search for a compatible heart, and also John’s communication with the media and police outside the hosp ital like it is some sort of negotiation, when in reality what he wants is just a good life for his son. Nearing the end of the movie, a heart still cannot be found. So John is on the verge of killing himself so that his son can live. So he puts a single bullet into his gun and puts the gun slowly toward his head. At this point in the movie, it is revealed that the whole time John was holding up the hospital with an unloaded pistol. However, just in the nick of time, a donor is found and John’s wife runs hysterically toward the hospital to assure that both her husband and son make it out of that building alive. Eventually the heart reaches the hospital and the young boy survives. John is sentenced to something like 2 to 3 years in prison for holding the emergency room hostage. The movie John Q presents to the viewer in a very clear fashion what is known as an ethical vignette, which was introduced in the 80s by Kohlberg. As our class talked about rather extensively and the textbook touches on Kohlberg, was a famous psychologist in the early 80’s. His studies were primarily focused on moral reasoning, or the thinking that occurs as we consider right and wrong. Kohlberg also presents the idea of vignettes, or a perplexing moral situation where something morally wrong must be done in order to do what a particular individual sees as right or mandatory. Apparently in his research Kohlberg conducted an experiment where he asked people of various age groups to determine the morality of a situation, as well as what they would do if they were in this persons place. And from the responses that these people gave, Kohlberg could tell how well developed these people were intellectually. Kohlberg describes 3 stages of moral development in the text. They are preconventional morality, conventional morality, and postconventional morality. Each of these stages are usually achieved by certain ages however, some people may never fully develop into postconventional morality. In conclusion, I believe in John Q, what John did was totally in his and his families’ best interest, and is a perfect example of an ethical vignette. I  also believe that John thought on a very postconventional scale. He knew what he was doing was morally wrong and against his ideals, however, since the insurance companies are such bloodsuckers, he was left with no choice. However, he was looking out for the best interests of his family and himself and simply refused to let his son die. I think very few people are throw into a situation as drastic as this as quickly as John Q was in the movie, however, it just goes to show that there is no price for a human life and that hospitals simply shouldn’t deny care to those that aren’t rich. I feel that what John did in this movie was perfectly acceptable, and it played out very well in Hollywood however, in reality I think he would have been unable to single-handedly take a hold a whole emergency room hostage. But, i t still remains a very clear example of an ethical vignette. And is a perfect portal of the saying â€Å"desperate times call for desperate measures.†

Narrative Technique and Language in Albert Camus The Stranger Essay

Narrative Technique and Language in Albert Camus The Stranger - Essay Example Camus reflected his thoughts on moral ambiguity and the societal treatment of murderers and terrorists in many of his works including this one. The reader is presented with a murderer protagonist who is devoid of motive, reason or logic for the crime he has committed (Dissanayake 1). Camus uses the language of the narrator and the voice of the narrator, as a device through which the reader may understand the perspective of Meursault, and as a way to reflect aspects in the development of the story. Meursault as a character is utterly remarkable, in that he is quite unremarkable in every possible way (Day 84). He appears to have no unusual or outrageous attributes, opinions, qualities or flaws when the reader is initially introduced to him. He does nothing special, holds no special job, is not living under any unusual circumstances, does not discuss any extreme or judgemental personal opinions and is far from being emotionally distinctive. Meursault leads an existence in which â€Å"d ays are added to days without rhyme or reason †¦ [and his life] is an interminable and monotonous addition† (Camus 16). However, it is this lack of special traits and engaged interaction in society and life that makes the character, paradoxically, very remarkable and unusual. As the reader unveils the protagonists’ inner thoughts and plot development of the story, it becomes clear that this character is remarkably detached from society in every way. Furthermore, not only is he detached from society, he is detached from life itself including family and relationships. He displays an unsettling degree of amorality and total lack of judgement of other people’s actions, thoughts and behaviours. Indeed, his detachment goes even further as we realise that he is also detached from his own emotions and self-identity to the extent that he appears to be lacking in both. From the very beginning of the story, Meursaults language very effectively allows the reader insight into his way of thinking. His sentences are consistently brief and concise right from the start, â€Å"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday. I can’t be sure† (Camus 1). His lack of elaboration or explanation is indicative of his amoral and overwhelmingly logical attitude and personality. At the beginning of the story in particular, he does not offer much in the way of descriptions, imagery, expression of feelings or emotions or any forms of elaboration. Meursault gets to the point, saying as little as possible in order to communicate his message without overstating or offering unnecessary details of any kind. This serves to convey him as a highly logical, unfeeling character. In his grammar, he rarely uses verbs or adjectives that convey feelings such as ‘felt’, but rather uses descriptors such as ‘decided’ and ‘thought’ to describe his actions and ideas. We begin to see a change in language used when Meursault recounts the day of the murder. His language here is noticeably more descriptive, vivid, imaginative and elaborate, unlike earlier in the story, for example â€Å"the heat was beginning to scorch my cheeks; beads of sweat were gathering in my eyebrows. It was just the same sort of heat as at my mother’s funeral, and I had the same disagreeable sensations—especially in my forehead, where all the veins seemed to be bursting through the skin† (Camus 38). Such a vivid and detailed description is unusual for the character thus far, which highlights the fact that this event or recollection, has more meaning even

Introduction of tall buildings and urban development. criticised on Dissertation

Introduction of tall buildings and urban development. criticised on the high density and energy issue.understand ecological desi - Dissertation Example By investigating the energy efficiency, health issues and other ecological design component this proposal aims to highlight the rationale of vertical expansion as opposed to horizontal expansion. Highlighting the ecological footprint of buildings from its construction to its maintenance and operation the question remains. Is it really the solution? Solution or not, it is being adopted by countries worldwide, to note in the last decade alone there are more than 602 structures that is more than 200 meters in height. With the urban landscape being changed and the trend is toward the construction of taller mega structures a collective appreciation of its significance to the lives of the common people and the professionals that makes them should be studied and presented. It should be noted that the trend is not confined to one side of the world it is balanced and is existing even in developing countries. For some countries its significance is the ever increasing urbanization of its cities . For some countries it is the first step towards development. ... Urban development has been mostly synonymous with the construction of the tallest building in any locality. It is the most visible indication of how modern a locality is. History background of skyscrapers and urban development The skyscraper and the urban skyline have become the iconic representations of cities around the world (Howeler, 2004). There are about three ways to categorize tall buildings. The first one would be the Architectural Style of the tall building. The second would be the Structural System of the tall building and the Third would be Function of the tall building. The first one is the Architectural Style of the tall building where in it would be taken to consideration the way the tall building was built. These styles are the functional style, the eclectic style, the modern style and the post modern style. The first kind is a functional architecture style, where the building could be used in different ways. An example would be an apartment building. The second would be the Eclectic architecture style. This kind of Architecture style is goes between the lines of functional and traditional designs of architecture. An example of that kind of architecture style is the Barasoain Church that is found in Bulacan, Philippines. The third would be the modern architecture style. The architecture style of the building would be one of the modern times. It has been a popular design of modern buildings to consists of glass mirrors to be the walls instead of concrete. An example would be the IBM Plaza that is located in Chicago, Illinois. The fourth would be the post modern style where in it is between the functional style of a building and a

Chosse any theme and write after reading NADJA by ANDRE BRETON Essay

Chosse any theme and write after reading NADJA by ANDRE BRETON - Essay Example The story is not only a case-study of a woman with profound perception of the world and life, who later descends into madness, but also follows the writer’s personal transformation as well. (Watson et.al. 2002) The novel became a momentous contribution while the movement was still in its embryonic stage. The plot revolves around the author’s obsession with a woman named Nadja, whom he meets in Paris. She haunts the author for a considerable amount of time, but by the end of the novel she is institutionalized after being diagnosed with ‘schizophrenia’. It is a tragic fate for Nadja, but her insanity is deemed as the prime source of conflict for the narrator and paves the path of self-discovery for him. While Nadja loses herself in an asylum, the author subsequently finds himself through the establishment of surrealist consciousness. The relationship between Nadja and the author is described through vague metaphors in a non-linear fashion with 44 pictures that depict pictures of their rendezvous points, Nadja’s sketches and surrealist art. Conception of surrealist notions was triggered by the psychodynamic paradigm that proposed that thought processes and behaviors were caused by the interaction between conscious and the unconscious mind. According to this paradigm, the main driving force behind such interaction is an individual’s sex drive or libido. However, unlike using the model to understand or resolve mental conflicts, surrealists use it as a form of artistry. The surrealist elements are not only ostensible through the notions discussed in the novel, but the sentence structuring and vocabulary also contain the same essence. Besides the titular character that embodied mystery, the vocabulary and metaphors are most cryptic in nature and give the novel the elements of both poetry and a prose. Nadja herself had been an avid lover of various surrealist artists and writers,

Hurricane Katrina Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Hurricane Katrina - Essay Example Around mid 19th Century, the ‘Irish Potato Famine’ hit Ireland while ‘Hurricane Katrina’ hit United States in 2005; both disasters had many similarities and a few differences. Both Irish Potato Famine and Hurricane Katrina were natural disasters that hit different countries at different times. Hurricane Katrina is one of the most destructive disasters that have hit the American coastline over the centuries. It was unprecedented and spread so fast to vast areas, from the Bahamas to Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Other areas affected included Louisiana, New Orleans, Texas, and the coast of Mississippi among other areas. Massive flooding was experienced within a very short period. Between 1845 and 1952, Ireland experienced a disastrous famine that affected livelihoods due to the failure of the crop that the people almost exclusively relied on. The cause of the crop failure was due to an unprecedented potato blight that had originated from Mexico and found its w ay to Ireland. The magnitude of the two disasters is comparable given the different times that they occurred. To a person in the 19th, century, potato blight that was caused by fungi appeared to be a mystery and could not be understood and no immediate solution was found. The same case happened in 2005 when the hurricane got the people off guard, the best thing that could have been done was to evacuate those who were in the prone areas. Floods extended over large areas and completely curtailed operations in the entire region. Lives were lost in both incidences, it was estimated that up to one thousand, eight hundred and thirty three people lost their lives during the hurricane and the subsequent floods. These figures could have risen if it were not for immediate intervention by the government agencies as well as other rescue operators. Property estimated at more than $81 billion was lost in the process. For the case of the Irish Potato Famine, it was reported that more than eight hu ndred thousand people died and more than one million others found their way to other countries in the world. Despite the two disasters being similar in that they were all natural, there is a difference in how the population reacted to the incidences. While the Americans were so swift to find a solution to the prevailing problem that threatened the country, the Irish situation is as if it emanated from their own making. The level of preparedness was very poor and the aspect of overreliance on potatoes as the staple food posed a threat that could result to a food crisis as it came to be. It is also ironical that despite the people dying of hunger, the country still exported grains to other countries. The issue was not looked into with seriousness even after the experts addressed the cause, they made a wrong conclusion. For Katrina, every minute mattered and the rescuers were on high gear not only to rescue the survivors but also there was a concerted effort to contain the situation. F ederal agencies such as National Hurricane Centre, United States Coast Guard and National Weather Service had an insurmountable input in the path to containing the situation. Those who slept on their job faced the axe such as the director of Federal Emergency Management agency. Both disasters had lasting effects as characterized by the aftermath of the two incidences. The economy of Ireland downsized

Case studing (nursing science) Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Studing (nursing science) - Case Study Example His heart rate is increasing as well as his breathe per minutes. At his age, excitement is very much increased and is there for increasing also the cardiovascular activity. The cardiovascular system helps transport oxygen and nutrients to tissues, transport carbon dioxide and other metabolites to the lungs and kidneys, and distribute hormones throughout the body. The cardiovascular system also assists with thermoregulation. The runner's sympathetic nervous system is activated (central command), and catecholamines are released from the adrenal medulla. This is the reason in cardiac acceleration, increased myocardial contractility, increased cardiac output, peripheral vasoconstriction, and an increase in blood pressure. As the race started the following factors in the cardiovascular system are considered: the heart rate, peripheral resistance, skin blood flow, cardiac output, and blood flow distribution. Cardiovascular changes at the start of the game include the compression of the blood vessels in the contracting muscle leading to a reduction in the blood flow. Heart rate continues to increase during the race, until the rate reaches a plateau of about 180 beats/min at maximum effort. Peripheral resistance decreases because of relaxation of arterioles in active muscle and skin (as body temperature rises). Skin blood flow increases, which aids in heat loss. Blood flow to inactive muscle, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract is reduced. Because BP is a major determinant of afterload, the left ventricular wall stress, and thus the cardiac workload, is significantly higher. As the intensity of the race increases the BP is also increasing from 120 mmHg to approximately 200 mmHg. Maximum oxygen uptake leve l (VO2max) is reached during this state. Cardiac output increases during the race until 40% of VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake level) is reached. Cardiac output rises from approximately 80 mL/beat to approximately 120 mL/beat. HR increases with intensity until VO2max is reached. HR rises from approximately 70 beats per minute to approximately 200 beats per minute. Cardiac output increases with intensity until VO2max is reached. Cardiac output rises from approximately 5 L/min to approximately 25-30 L/min. (Suleman, 2006). The race is almost over the athletes are chasing to cross the finish line first. There is an increase in PaCO2 in the Kenyan athlete. PACO2 represents the amount of CO2 in solution. When there is an increase in blood PACO2, there is an increase in ventilation. During this stage more oxygen is needed and more CO2 and metabolic acid are produced. There is an increased cardiac output because the tissues need more oxygen supplied to them. This is also caused due to an increase of lung ventilation to support gas tensions in arterial blood, which experiences faster blood flow. When an individual is on the move, the venous blood shows signs of decreased O2 levels, increased CO2 levels, and an increase in H+ levels. During the race the blood flow to the leg muscles increases because of the local factors, which includes: the release of vasodilator metabolites (e.g. adenosine); the increase in muscle temperature; and the local decreased in pH (increased CO2 and lactic acid). The arterioles dilate and more capillaries open (capillary recruitment). Venous return is facilitated in running by the following: sympathetic-mediated contraction of capacitance vessels ; muscle compression of the leg veins with one-way

Managing the bureaucracy Week 6 #11 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Managing the bureaucracy Week 6 #11 - Essay Example The advantage for elected officials is the fact that they know these people and how they work. They are simply pulling trusted people from the pool they know. The problem with patronage is that unqualified individuals may end up in the bureaucracy. Merit is the most highly approved method of forming a bureaucracy. The idea that government officials are competent in their jobs and worked hard to get them sounds great to voters. The problem of deciding what merits to measure becomes paramount when too much emphasis is placed on taking a test and accomplishing a certain score. There are skills that tests do not answer. It also eliminates talented individuals from government that did not have the chance to get a decent education. Executive leadership is often what is looked for in high level appointments to the President’s cabinet. These skills are vital for running huge organizations such as the Department of Education or the Environmental Protection Agency. The problem with appointment by executive leadership lies in the fact that governments and corporations are different. The executive in a corporation can eliminate 10,000 jobs and get a raise. The cabinet member that cuts 10,000 jobs in the Department of Education will be a liability for the President next

The hidden meaning of the movie Avatar Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The hidden meaning of the movie Avatar - Essay Example The film gives an insight to cultural and religious trends that give rise to the film and the reasons those trends are feared, criticized and resisted enabling them to fight with their own views about the controversy. Like the film itself, Avatar and Nature Spirituality gives a prospect for considering the ongoing struggle to decide how we should live on the home planet and sort sorts of spiritual values and practices in terms of politics and economics would best guide us. The cultural ethnocentrism inherent in the movie is Hinduism. Hinduism believes that Avatar is sent to us for very specific jobs and he is the God Vishnu; the following quote from Gita tells us more about Vishnu; â€Å"Whenever righteousness wanes and unrighteousness increase I send myself forth, for the protection of good and for the destruction of evil †¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gita: 4.7–8) Apart from sharing the same instincts of Vishnu in the movie, it also considers Shiva and Ganesha because according to the Hindu mythology they are also described as the descending in the form of avatars. Bron Taylor, a professor of ecology founded the journal for the study of Religion, Nature and Culture published in 2007, which illuminated the questions like; what are the relationships among human beings and what does the terms religion, nature and culture signify and what is the relationship between species and places which we inhabit etc. This journal illuminated James Cameron, director of Avatar with various facts and elements associated with nature and its meaning.

Nature-nurture debate Essay Example for Free

Nature-nurture debate Essay In this task I am going to be going to be discussing the nature-nurture debate in relation to Morgan Freeman’s development through two life stages childhood and adolescence. The theories that I am going to be discussing in relation to the individual are Determinism Choice and interaction Biological programming Maturation theory Theorists and philosophers have argued that we are born to be the way we are and some have argued that it could down to the way we are brought, our environmental influences and surroundings that makes us the way we are. This is known as the nature- nurture debate. Nature is genetic. It is what we inherit from our parents for example eye colour Nurture is the social, economic and environmental influences. Determinism This is a belief that our future’s our determined by either what we have genetically or by the environment and social interaction. According to Morgan Freeman’s biography, he loved movies from a very young age and when he started going to school he appeared in a lot of school plays. I would say that he had the passion but the environment influenced him even more, however in this case I would say that the environment, the passion for acting determined what he wanted to be like in the future. When he won the State-drama competition at the age of 14 that probably added to his determinism environmentally. I don’t think his abilities were down to his genetic makeup because the plays he took part in school and the training to improve his abilities, skills and knowledge. I can also argue that he had the abilities but all he needed was some proper training and guidance to make him the actor he is today. His experiences through these things training and school plays probably made him better since he was a very shy person; I would not say that it was down to his genetic makeup because none of his family members or parents were or are actors. Choice and interaction This is the belief that we can control our own lives through the choices we  make. When you are very young your parents make your decisions for you but as you get into your teenage years you start to make your own choices with the help of your parents. Morgan Freeman from a very young age had the love for cinemas and acting so he made a choice that he wanted to become an actor. I don’t think his parents told him what he should do in the future; even if they did as he got older he still would have had the choice to choose whatever it is that he wanted to do. He had the free will to take control of his own life through the choices that he made he did not have to pursue acting. I can also argue that it could have been down to nature he was probably born with the gift of acting and that was all he knew apart from other careers he could have pursed. He had the choice to stop because at some point in his life he actually stopped when he joined the army this was because of the influences he got from watching movies that had aeroplanes. But he got bailed out and got back into acting because that was his real passion drama and performing arts. I would say Morgan Freeman’s future to become an actor was influenced by the environment because when he moved from Memphis Tennessee to Chicago that is where he developed the love for, he would scour the streets looking for looking for empty bottles of drinks to cash in. However I can say that it could have been down to both nature and nurture because if you have a certain talent in this case acting I think you are more likely to pursue that career and that if you are influenced by the environment for example going to the cinemas to watch movies that is a choice but that choice is influenced by the environment The movies that he watched and the plays he took part in at school made him want to pursue a career in acting. I think Morgan Freeman’s choice to become famous has been down to the choices he made because when he won the State-side drama competition he got exploited and he enjoyed the attention, attention could have been another influence of his choice, by pursuing a career in acting opened a lot of opportunities for him and he got recognition by the roles that he played, however his success could have been down to nurture because I think it all fall into place. Biological programming Morgan Freeman’s biological programming was down to his parents. He is 6’22† in height and I would say that his father or mother were probably tall. His  body shape and size would be down to nature, genetic inheritance for example if both your parents are tall and skinny there is a chance that one may grow up to be like that. However body shape and size can be influenced by the environment for example lifestyle factors what you choose to eat and drink. I would argue that his behaviour was probably influenced by his environment but also it could have been, the area that he grew in there was so much racism. He was very shy and that probably influenced his behaviour even more to be assertive and behaved. His behaviour changed as he got older with the influence of the environment and the choices he made. Maturation Theory The ability to speak a first language and some aspects of development are thought to be an inbuilt genetic process. In Morgan Freeman’s case his ability and a genes that he inherited from his parents, development to speak was probably a genetic thing I don’t think Morgan Freeman had any difficulties learning a native language. His development whether it was social, emotional, intellectual and physical was maybe because of his genes but at the same time it worked in correlation with environment that he grew up in, because genes cannot operate without an environment.

The Different Types of Clouds Essay Example for Free

The Different Types of Clouds Essay Water on Earth moves between the oceans and land through the processes of evaporation and condensation. As a basis for understanding this concept: c. Students know water vapor in the air moves from one place to another and can form fog or clouds, which are tiny droplets of water or ice, and can fall to Earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow. Objective: Students will create a picture that shows three different cloud types (Cirrus, stratus, and cumulus). Student Materials: 1 piece of blue construction paper per student 3-4 cotton balls per student bottle of glue per 4 students crayons Management Strategies: This lesson is intended to be an introduction to cloud types and is appropriate for large group (whole class) instruction. The complete lesson will take about 50 minutes. Cooperative group work is not required, but could be implemented at the teachers discretion. Procedure: 1. Begin the lesson by discussing the weather at the time. Ask probing questions like, What is the difference between the weather today and the weather yesterday? , What kind of an effect do you think clouds have on weather? or What makes one loud different from another? . 2. Show the students selected pictures from the book Spacious Skies and a series of pictures from the laser disc. Talk about what they are seeing by discussing the different characteristics of the clouds. Be sure to point out height (elevation), texture and color. 3. Introduce the four types of clouds with which the class will be working. These clouds are cirrus, stratus, cumulus, and cumulonimbus. Write the four names on the chalkboard and ask the class to describe each type (where it would be found, what it looks like, its color). While working on ach name, use the corresponding picture from the laser disc. When the class is done listing characteristics, ask them to place the four different types of clouds in the appropriate spot on the cloudscape that youve created. 4. Explain to the students that they will be responsible for making a cloudscape. They will be using construction paper, cotton balls, glue and crayons to create a scene that incorporates all four of the cloud types discussed. Their cloudscape must show the clouds in relation to ground level and the clouds should depict the attributes discussed by the class. Their scene should include buildings as well as the ground. They will have 15-20 minutes to complete this activity. 5. Bring the class back together as a whole by having the children present their cloudscapes to the class. Make sure that they explain what each cloud is and its relation to the horizon. Concept: Cloud formation results when warm, humid air rises and cools, causing the water vapor in the air to condense and form clouds. Teacher Materials: a large Jar a plastic bag of ice that will fit over the Jar opening a pitcher of warm water 1 sheet of black paper flashlight -matches Student Materials: pen and paper to record observations Optional Extension Student Materials: more Jars, bags of ice, black paper, flashlights, and warm water flour sand cedar shavings any other particulate materials white construction paper newspaper crayons Teacher Background Information: -collected dust Sunlight causes water to evaporate into the atmosphere. This air containing the water vapor is heated at the surface of the earth and rises. As it rises, it cools and the water vapor condenses on some form of particulate matter such as dust, ash, or moke to form clouds. Management Strategies: This activity would be most appropriately done with small groups so that all students can view the cloud formation in the Jar. Other class members could be working on researching the different types of clouds, drawing and labeling these clouds, researching and drawing the water cycle, working on a forecast for the rest of the day based on the clouds in the sky, etc. The activity itself should not take more than 10 to 15 minutes. For safety reasons, students should not be allowed to handle the matches. Also, students need to be careful around the glass Jars. Much of the following procedure will vary, depending on students reactions, comments, and levels of understanding. Procedure: 1 . Ask students what some of the different types of clouds are, what they are made of, and ask the focus question, how do you think clouds form?