Buyer Behaviour Academic Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Buyer Behaviour Academic Paper - Essay Example Manual efforts have been considerably reduced in mathematical calculations, analysis and interpretations of data because of computer and internet. Most of the companies have redefined their organizational strategies in order to accommodate and make use of the internet technologies. Organizational principles need to be restructured in order to exploit the possibilities of computers and internet. For example, the core function like marketing needs to be revised in order to target the online consumers. Consumer trends also have undergone rapid changes because of internet. Internet and its influence on consumers irrespective of children or elder people forced organizations to formulate custom made strategies for the internet users. The main advantage of internet is that the marketers can prepare custom made marketing strategies for internet users by sending customised e-mails. This paper analyses the importance of online technologies and online environment for influencing buyer behaviours based on some preliminary and secondary data collected through interviews and other sources of references. Apart from real life on real world, most of the people have a secondary life on a virtual world mainly around the computers and internet. Majority of the human population may not be satisfied with their real world experiences. The life which they dreamed of may not be possible for them because of so many constraints in the family and the society. Such people can fulfil their dream up to certain extent using the online environment. Online environment and the anonymity offered by it provide the people to release their hidden stresses and desires to other communities. A real friend in real life is a dream for most of the people because of the changing moral and ethical concepts of life. Even husband and wife may not share all of their suppressed desires between them because of the lack of trust between them. Recently I have watched an Indian movie

Education Theatre Essay Example for Free

Education Theatre Essay â€Å"CAN you still remember your Grade I teacher? † This was once the by-line of an advertisement of one financial institution. This is also the base concept of the play â€Å"Ang Guro† staged by Stairs Production and Imagination Beyond Events Philippines at West Negros University Gym last Saturday, January 21. The musical play was written by occupational therapist Paul Ballano. This is his form of loving tribute to his Grade I school teacher, Mrs. Cecilia Resontoc, who was instrumental in making him pursue, work and reach his goals, despite all odds. As Paul fondly recalled after the curtain call, Mrs. Resontoc made him believe in what he can do, what he can achieve, and what he can become. The soft–spoken yet talented singer Karel Marquez performed the lead role perfectly. Comely, gentle yet versatile, Karel took in the part of Ms. Amelia Resontoc, a young high school teacher who has the knack of understanding and motivating her students. With her strong convictions, she encouraged her students to keep on going by singing â€Å"The Climb†, as she accepted each of their individual differences in â€Å"True Colors. † Izzy Trazona, one of the Sex Bomb Dancers, showed off her acting and dancing prowess as one of the talented yet late bloomer students of Ms. Resontoc. Sheila Asuncion, who plays the mother of Karel, not only played her role well but also belted out one powerful, heart–rending rendition of â€Å"The Prayer† together with the lead singer. Together with Charina Ramirez, Kath Jarabelo, Zac Celadania, Yab Aragones, Jake Duquiatan, Vida Masakayan, Jess Ibasco, Juddie Fe Suarez, Ahmee Galguerra, Owen Siy, Sweet Reyes, Jen Galope, Kiana Rodriguez, Armand Go, and playwright Paul, they composed the powerhouse of a cast which made the play a natural success. Moreover, the play’s universal theme on the crucial role that teachers play in the molding of the country’s young minds and the nobility of the teaching profession are great ideas which need to be brought to light. No wonder why the Department of Education and the West Negros University supported the staging of the musicale. The stage set and backdrop were to the minimum. Same with the costumes. But the plot thickens with almost real-life dialogues and scenes which every teacher and student or school administrator in the audience could easily identify with. The different personalities of teacher and students, and the varied circumstances which caught each web of each other lives provided the audience with hearty laughs, and flowing tears. The end of the play may have been tragic, but all good works do not go in vain. Especially that of the noble teacher Ms. Amelia Resontoc. Directed by Sweet Grace Ballano, â€Å"Ang Guro† may still have to undergo some minor refinements in stage blocking, but it has carved a better niche for itself in the world of stage plays. The cameo roles which some WNU dancers and students did in the play are also worth mentioning. But because the play is conceptualized and brought to different schools all over the country with no thought of a bigger profit, except to fulfill the writer’s dream and to bring forth the messages of acceptance, honor, love and understanding. It’s just quite sad to note that not everybody in the teaching profession or those who are enrolled in education courses have watched the play. But still, like a good book, or a worthy movie, the musicale â€Å"Ang Guro† has touched hearts and minds. And if all the student-members in the audience took leave of their seats to go thank their teachers in the audience and give each a warm hug, such is indicative that the musicale has brought its message across its audience’s hearts. Thus, warm kudos to the members of production and the cast of â€Å"Ang Guro† and to the wonderful people and sponsors in Bacolod who brought the musicale here. Well, what or who then is the â€Å"guro†? Probably they could be as specific as Socrates, Anne Sullivan, Marva Collins, Mary McCloud Bethune, Bel Kaufman or, from the namesake of the lead player in the musicale, Mrs. Cecilia Resontoc all of them having one thing in common: they were all teachers in their own time. Or in generics, a â€Å"guro† can just be a â€Å"he† or a â€Å"she† nameless or faceless yet gentle and wonderful beings who have long been forgotten but whose valuable lessons and strength in character will always be remembered by their students. So, at this point, can you now recall your Grade 1 teacher? Or even your other teachers? I hope you can. I would like to end with a part of a speech of John Schlatter of Cypress, California which I adapted. â€Å"Throughout the course of the day I have been called upon to be an actor, friend, nurse and doctor, coach, finder of the lost article, money lender, psychologist, substitute parent, and a keeper of faith†¦ I am allowed to see that life is reborn each day with new questions, burst of ideas and young friendships†¦ I know that if I build with love and trust, what I build will last forever†¦ I am a warrior, daily doing battle against peer pressure, negativity, fear, conformity, prejudice, ignorance, and apathy. But I have great allies: curiosity, intelligence, creativity, faith, love and laughter which all rush to my banner with indomitable support†¦ I AM A TEACHER. † Dear teachers, our hats off you. GOD BLESS.

Speech on The Underworld in Greek Mythology :: Ancient Greece Greek History

Speech on The Underworld in Greek Mythology The Underworld, better known as Hades after the god who ruled it, was a dark and dreary place where the shades, or souls, of those who died lived. In the next few minutes, I will tell you about how one came to die, the topography of the Underworld, and the beings whom dwelled there. Your whole life was planned and plotted by the Fates. The Fates were the three goddesses who controlled the destiny of everyone from the time they were born to the time they died. They were: Clotho, the spinner, who spun the thread of a person's life, Lachesis, the apporitioner, who decided how much times was to be allowed each person, and Atropos, the inevitable, who cut the thread when you were supposed to die. When Atropos cut your thread you were dead and then you made your journey to Hades. Upon death, the shade is lead by Hermes to the entrance of the Underworld and to the banks of the Acheron. There were five rivers that made up the Underworld. They were the Acheron (the river of woe), Cocytus (the river of lamentation), Phlegethon (river of fire), Lethe (river of forgetfulness), and the Styx (river of hate). This poem, written by an anonymous writer, was written about the rivers in the Underworld. "Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate, Sad Acheron of sorrow black and deep; Cocytus named of lamentation loud Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. Far off from these a slow and silent stream, Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks Forthwith his former state and being forgets, Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain." When one would die, the family would place one obol, or a coin, under the deceased's tongue. This coin would pay as fare to Charon who would ferry the dead over the Acheron River. Charon is the ferryman who is often depicted as an old sulky man, or as a winged demon carrying a double hammer. Those who cannot afford to pay Charon were doomed to wonder the banks of the Acheron River for one hundred years. Guarding the Underworld was the three-headed dog Cerberus. He permitted new spirits to enter, but never one to leave. When you arrived at the Underworld, three judges determined your sentence.

Areas of Psychology

Malinda S. Kline March 13, 2013 Module 1: Assignment 3 PSY:101 General Psychology A03 KlineM_W1_A3. doc Instructor Angela Snelling Areas of Specialization Number |Subjects of study in |Areas of specialization in |Definition and key points of this specialization (be|Rationale (reason why you matched |Possible research method of | | |psychology |psychology (match with below |sure to use professional sources) |this subject of study with this |study (experimental, | | | |options) | |specialization in psychology) |correlational, observational, | | | | | | |case study, interview) and why | | | | | | |this one may fit the best | |1 | | |Definition |I chose Biological Psychology for |Observational Research- would be| | |Studying the causes of |Biological psychology or |â€Å"A science concerned with the integration of |this subject of study because it |used to see when a person’s | | |aggression in reaction to |Neuropsychologist |psychological observation on behavior and the mind |ba sically evaluates cause and |behavior changes and if any | | |others in their environment. | |Neurological Observations on the brain and nervous |effect. If something is causing a |outside factors incited the | | | | |system. † (Neuropsychology definition, 2013) |person to be aggressive to others |behavior. | | | | |in a certain environment then | | | | | |Key Points |something Biological could be |Interview- would be used to ask | | | | |â€Å"Biological principles to the study of mental |going on. Biological Psychology |the person why they became | | | | |processes and behavior.The field examines the basic|and Neuropsychologists study this |aggressive to a person. By | | | | |biological processes that underlie normal and |behavior to find out why, and how |asking the subject this directly| | | | |abnormal behavior at the level of nerves, |to stop or prevent it further. |you get their side of the story | | | | |neurotransmitters, and brain circuitry. † (Humphreys,| |an d not just inferences. | | | |2011) | | | |2 | | |Definition |I chose Developmental Psychology |Observational Research- could be| | |Studying the period when a |Developmental psychology |â€Å"Branch of psychology concerned with changes in |for this subject because the time |used because it’s observing a | | |newborn child recognizes his| |cognitive, motivational, psychophysiological, and |that a newborn child recognizes |subject’s behavior for something| | |or her parent. | |social functioning that occur throughout the human |his parents is part of |specific or non specific. It | | | | |life span. † (Developmental Psychology, 2013) |Development.Developmental |would be a good study because | | | | | |Psychology studies the cognitive |the only way to tell the | | | | |Key Points |functioning of a person over their|development of a child or person| | | | |â€Å"Infant cognition, conceptual development, language |life span. It helps to say at what|is to observe th em. | | | | |acquisition, and the development of symbolic |point in life humans will develop | | | | | |competence. † (University of Illinois Board of |certain traits, skills, and |Correlation Research- could be | | | | |Trustees , 2009) |abilities. used because it shows a | | | | | | |relationship between two | | | | |â€Å"Focuses on the psychological changes of the human | |variables. The variables would | | | | |mind throughout the life span. Developmental | |be the child’s behavior, and how| | | | |psychologists study infants, the elderly, and every | |other children this age behave. | | | | |age in between. † (Humphreys, 2011) | | |3 | | |Definition |I chose Social and Personality |Correlation Research- would be | | |Sharing some research about |Social and personality |â€Å"Understanding how people think, feels, and acts in |Psychology for this subject |good to evaluate what coping | | |the best strategies to | |real-world social situations. † (Psyc hology |because it relates to how people |skills affect what stress. | | |manage work place stress. | |Department, Cornell University , 2008) |respond to stress at work.Social | | | | | | |and Personality Psychology studies|Interview- would be good because| | | | |Key Points |a personality and how that |you can make a Case Study out of| | | | |â€Å"How people make sense of the world around them. † |particular personality responds to|interviewing several people | | | | |(Psychology Department, Cornell University , 2008) |different situations, like work |about their coping skills, and | | | | | |stress as in the example.It helps|how they help them manage work | | | | | |evaluate how people comprehend the|related stressors. | | | | | |world around them and respond to | | | | | | |the situations. | | |4 | | |Definition |I chose Health Psychology for this|Case Study/ Experimental- would | | Determining which chemical |Health psychology |â€Å"Physical Health can be affected by t he things that |subject because health psychology |be good because you are actually| | |or neurotransmitter might be| |people do, by the way they process information, |studies how chemicals affect a |testing the question. You are | | |activated when people use | |career choice, family dynamics, life troubles and |person’s health, and mental |performing an experiment by | | |coffee as a memory or | |the environment in which we live. † (Dr. Cheryl |health. Health psychology studies |taking subjects and exposing | | |performance â€Å"enhancer†. |MacDonald, 2013) |how certain contributing factors |them to certain chemicals and | | | | | |can affect a person’s ability to |studying the results of tests, | | | | |Key Points |remember things, or activate |brain scans, simple questions, | | | | |â€Å"Exploring biological, psychological, cultural, |different neurotransmitters in the|etc. | | | | |societal, and environmental factors of life, and how|brain. | | | | | |each of these affects physical health. † (Dr.Cheryl | | | | | | |MacDonald, 2013) | | | |5 | | |Definition |I chose Cognitive Psychology for |Observational Research- would be| | |Reviewing the thought |Cognitive psychology |â€Å"A branch of psychology concerned with mental |this subject because this studies |good for this situation because | | |process of someone who has | |processes (as perception, thinking, learning, and |the mental processes of the brain. |the subject may be able to | | |difficulties remembering | |memory) especially with respect to the internal |If a person is having problems |remember certain things, or only| | |things long-term. |events occurring between sensory stimulation and the|remembering things somewhere there|can remember things for a | | | | |overt expression of behavior—compare† (Merriam |is a miss communication in the |certain amount of time. This is | | | | |Webster Incorperated, 2013)   |brain affecting the person’ s |where Case Study or Experimental| | | | | |memory. Cognitive Psychology |Research could be used as well | | | | |Key Points |studies the brain to find a way to|to study the brain further.Te | | | | |â€Å"  (1) Human cognition can at least in principle be |help people remember or find out |see why the subject is | | | | |fully revealed by the scientific method, that is, |how to correct the problem with |forgetting things and what the | | | | |individual components of mental processes can be |the memory, either by medication |person is forgetting. | | | | |identified and understood† ((Costall and Still, |or possible medical procedures or |Interview- will also work good | | | | |1987; Dreyfus, 1979; Searle, 1990) (Dosher, 2007)) |a specific learning interaction. because you have to interview a | | | | | | |person to see what they can and | | | | |â€Å"(2) Internal mental processes can be described in | |can’t do. | | | | |terms of rules or  algorithms  in info rmation | | | | | | |processing models. There has been much recent debate| | | | | | |on these assumptions. ( (Costall and Still, 1987; | | | | | | |Dreyfus, 1979; Searle, 1990) (Dosher, 2007)) | | | |6 | | |Definition |I chose Clinical Psychology for |Interview Research- would be the| | |Methods to gain possible |Clinical Psychology or |â€Å"The field of Clinical Psychology integrates |this subject because this is the |best option for this situation | | |diagnoses in efforts to |Clinical Psychologists |science, theory, and practice to understand, |beginning process of mental health|because you have to interview a | | |understand emotional | |predict, and alleviate maladjustment, disability, |treatment. Clinical Psychologists |person to find out how they are | | |problems. |and discomfort as well as to promote human |perform evaluations on patients to|feeling, to find out how they | | | | |adaptation, adjustment, and personal development. † |diagnose and treat mental |respon d to situations. | | | | |(American Psychological Association, 2013) |illnesses, or help people cope | | | | | | |with stressful situations in their|Observational Research- is | | | | |Key Points lives by teaching coping skills. |another good study for this | | | | |â€Å"intellectual, emotional, biological, psychological,|Clinical psychology is a form of |situation because sometimes a | | | | |social, and behavioral aspects of human functioning |treatment to gain information |person can say something but | | | | |across the life span, in varying cultures, and at |about a person in order to treat |their actions are the opposite. | | | |all socioeconomic levels† (American Psychological |them for emotional disturbances |For example if a person says | | | | |Association, 2013) |they may be having, so they can |they’re not sad but their | | | | | |live a better and more gainful |actions are crying you can tell | | | | | |life. |with observation that the person| | | | | | | is really sad. | Bibliography American Psychological Association. (2013). About Clinical Psychology. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from American Psychological Association, Division 12 Society of Clinical Psychology: http://www. apa. org/divisions/div12/aboutcp. html Developmental Psychology. (2013). Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Merriam Webster Encyclopedia: http://www. merriam-webster. om/concise/developmental+psychology? show=0&t=1363046372 Dosher, Z. -L. L. (2007). Cognative Psychology. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Scholarpeida, 2(8):2769 : http://www. scholarpedia. org/article/Cognitive_psychology Dr. Cheryl MacDonald, R. P. (2013, Febuary 20). Health Psychology Center Presents: What is Health Psychology? Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Health Psychology Center: http://healthpsychology. org/what-is-health-psychology/ (2008). Psychology and Life; Research Methods in Psychology. In R. J. GERRIG, & P. G. ZIMBARDO, Psychology and Life, 18th Edition (p. Chapter 1; Chapter2). Boston: Pe arson Education Inc. Humphreys, K. (2011, April 9).What are the Areas of Study within Psychology? Retrieved March 12, 2013, from Psychology In Action Communicateing Interesting and Relevant Psychological Research to the Public: http://www. psychologyinaction. org/2011/04/09/what-are-the-areas-of-study-within-psychology/ Linda M. Woolf, P. (2013). Developmental Research Methods. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from Professor of Psychology, Webster University: http://www2. webster. edu/~woolflm/methods/devresearchmethods. html Merriam Webster Incorperated. (2013). Cognitive Psychology. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Merriam Webster Dictionary: http://www. merriam-webster. com/medical/cognitive%20psychology Neuropsychology definition. (2013).Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Merriam Webster Dictionary: http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/neuropsychologist Psychology Department, Cornell University . (2008). Social and Personality Psychology. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from Cornell Univers ity Department of Psychology: http://www. psych. cornell. edu/SocPsych University of Illinois Board of Trustees . (2009). Developmental Division. Retrieved March 12, 2013, from Psychology University Of Illinoise: http://www. psychology. illinois. edu/about/divisions/developmental/ UYEMURA, B. -A. (2011). An Overview of Health Psychology. Retrieved March 11, 2013, from Psych Central: http://psychcentral. com/lib/2011/an-overview-of-health-psychology/all/1/

How Democratic is Britain? Essay

In this essay I will be looking at the democracy in Britain, but firstly I would like to be sure that it is clear what democracy means. Democracy is when there’s a system of government, whose representatives have been elected by the population. This means that the society is able to choose themselves, they have freedom of speech and views. The opposite of this is Dictatorship, this is when a ruler has total power over a country, a person who tells people what to do in an autocratic way or who determines behaviour in a particular area. Politics is concerned with power differences at every levelling society its about negotiation and decision making within individuals at a personal level, groups at a personal level and groups at a national level. This topic is a topic that many sociologist are interested in, they want to find out how democratic Britain is because everything sociologists study are linked to each other and this topic is linked to equality in society. Sociologist want to know if our society is as equal as it’s said to be, but we all know that in our society there isn’t total equality. One of the important principles of democracy is that we are able to participate in the political process in order to make our views known. We do this by voting, joining a political party and writing to the press or our M.P.’s. We have a Parliamentary democracy, this means that there’s a system where leaders are selected to represent the people through elections. These are the Members of Parliament (M.P.) who are elected. The British system has a number of fixed posts, these posts holders are the civil servants, the lords and the judges. These are the three main institutions of the state and the most powerful groups in society. The role of the state is to act as an umpire or referee rather than side with one party over another. The problem with this is that most of the people who work for the state are middle and upper class and all seem to share the same views about the way society should be run. This means that not all views are being represented their views are elitism. Due to this critics argue that Britain is not democratic because we have an unelected House of Lords and a Hereditary Monarchy. In this system there are three types of power and three types of authority that Max Weber drew out, Economic power, Physical power and Non-co-operative power, Traditional authority, Charismatic authority and Legal authority. Economic power is when money has lead someone to power, it can reach to the point were there’s exploitation. Physical power is taken over someone using physical force over someone more vulnerable to them. Non-co-operative power is when someone refuses to follow what the person in power order therefore the one who refuses will become empowered themselves. Traditional authority is when it is accepted because it’s always been done that certain way, it’s traditional within the culture. Charismatic authority is when a person has something special about them in their personality that the public is drawn to. Legal authority is accepted because it is the law, you can be sent to prison for disobeying the law. There are three factors about the state that seem to support Marx’s view, they are: 1. most Mp’s are white. 2. most of them are from the middle class and 3. most of them are men. Due to this many groups are no longer voting because they feel their views are not represented or they feel that there is racism, sexism and bias within the political system. The pluralists argue that the states approach is towards everyone in society. Including the different ethnic groups, all ages, all genders and all other groups that exist in society. Political power is spread a spread among these groups. Unlike the conflict who argue that the state’s approach is towards those who have had a privileged education and background. Thos who are in the senior possessions such as the judiciary. They believe that the policies benefit the bourgeoisie and ruling class. For this reason is why pressure groups have a very important role in maintaining democracy in Britain. Pluralists have a positive role of them. They help politicians keep in touch with the wishes of the public. They provide the government with the expert information. There are links between our voting behaviour and our social class, ethnicity, age and gender. People vote for the party that the best represents their views or interests, these views and interests are brought to us by the way we are socialised. We get these views and interests through the way we are socialised, we get influenced through our families, our peer groups and the media influence our political views and attitudes on politics. I feel that the media is the main influence in our political socialisation in the media because it influences our lives in everything. The media often use â€Å"Spin† and â€Å"Spin Doctors† they use these in campaigns to persuade us to vote a particular way. â€Å"Spin† and â€Å"Spin Doctors† are use to either catch out the opponent by using images or interviews were they look as if they were going against what they said they would do in their manifesto, for example printing a certain phrase they said out of context so they look bad. If they are unable to do this they might make up things up about them and use it to get the public to vote for them. These techniques are a type of propaganda because they want you to believe something that is not exactly true but as long as they look like the good ones it doesn’t matter. I have come to my conclusion of this essay, I believe that Britain is democratic because we get to vote in the Members of Parliament who are there to represent us. But there is a minority of people who have an incredible power within our government who make Britain and undemocratic country because it’s up to them to pass a law or any other decisions. This wouldn’t be a problem if they thought the way the nation do but their backgrounds have a great influences in the way they think and their thoughts are very different to ours. I don’t agree with the present parliamentary system because those who are involved in the system are elite, I think that if they wanted a true democratic Britain they would bring in a new system to vote in who we want to be at the top deciding what the right thing would be for our society, including the royal monarchy.

George Washington school

George Washington school George Washington is one of the schools belonging to Elizabeth Public schools. The school has a vision that guides its employees and students. In 2011, the school adopted some of the strategies that would help it perform well in the education sector.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on George Washington School specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The vision of the school is that it will one day become a leading public school in the American nation. From the vision statement of George Washington School, it is evident that a vision serves to foster development in the school. Scholars observe that a vision is defined a blueprint that helps the school community to engage the locals in development. Through a vision, the goals and objectives of the school are developed. A vision is very important in convening the needs of students, as well as the management. Whenever a decision is made at the school level, the vision of the school is always reflected. This is because a vision offers an opportunity to policy makers to join forces with other stakeholders, such as parents. The vision of the school is put into operation through continuous assessment of various programs. This is done through championing for open communication among various stakeholders. To put into operation the stewardship of the vision, it is advisable that the school management should foster integration of students into mainstream society, but at the same time respect cultural diversity. In this regard, it should be noted that it is a complex process to develop the vision of the school. Therefore, the management should incorporate each stakeholder into the process of formulating the vision to avoid conflicts. Scholars observe that the vision would only be preserved when people are allowed to share the principles, attitudes, purposes, and objectives that guide their actions. The main abilities of the leader are to guide and supervise the activi ties of the school.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More District School Goals and Objectives Through the process, it was observed that transformational leadership is needed to improve the performance of the school. Transformational leadership is defined as a type of leadership that uses motivation to enhance the performance of employees. Leadership is a process where an individual (a leader) offers guidance to a group of individuals (followers) in an organizational structure. Leadership is one of the most important factors in any organization. Leadership and management share a number of attributes, but they differ in various fronts. Transformational leadership, as the name suggest, provides a completely new path to approaching various issues in an organization. It provides an insight the employees. One of the main aims of a transformational leader is to create a completely new a pproach in managing various issues within the organization. This is what the current world demands a firms. Emerging technologies are changing various approaches of management. The emerging trends need new approaches that can be used to provide a way in which they can be managed differently. Through transformational leadership, students would be given an opportunity to present their views before major decisions affecting them academically and emotionally are made. In particular, students will be consulted before introducing new learning materials. For instance, the school will come up with ways through which the needs of children with special needs would be convened. This demands extensive consultation because the support of each stakeholder is needed to fulfill this objective. In class, the management will discuss with teachers on how to differentiate the instructional plans. Many students perform dismally because their interests are never considered when designing existing lesson plans.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on George Washington School specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Transformational leadership would offer an opportunity of formulating policies that aim at convening the interests of all students. To ensure sustainability, the management would come up with both long-term and short-term policies. The staff will be taken through continuous training on matters related to leadership. This would be a long-term policy aimed at ensuring that the transformational leadership is adopted fully. As a way of ensuring continuity, the policies designed would be implemented in bits. A number of things would be done differently. For instance, the decision-making processes would be adjusted to suit the new form of leadership. Moreover, consultation and peaceful resolution of conflicts would be advocated among various stakeholders. Parents would be given sufficient time to express their views before fin al decisions is formulated. Teaching and Learning The main aim of the school is convene the needs of all students. In the school, there are various categories of students. There are gifted students, as well as students with special needs. The school has developed a program aimed at identifying the needs of all students. The school encourages interaction between students and teachers. In particular, students with special needs are given individualized care whereby the teacher ensures that their concerns are addressed amicably. For instance, children with hearing problems are given special lessons whereby the teacher can use instruction materials designed specifically to cater for their needs. The teacher ensures that students with hearing impairments are taken through the course content procedurally. The teacher avoids the use of verbal language and instead impresses the facial language. It is known that students with hearing problems follow the lips of the teacher. For gifted studen ts, they are given extra work after completing the allocated assignment.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This makes them busy because their rate of comprehension cannot be compared to that of an ordinary student. Through differentiated instruction, the needs of students are met. For teachers, the management ensures that they are given freedom to interact with students freely. Their needs are catered for through their union, which represents them whenever a crisis emerges. The development of the staff is productive because a trained workforce is effective and efficient. It is effective because it understands what the students want. Since it takes less time to pass information to students, it is said to be efficient. National and state standards act as the blueprint meaning that offer guidance to teachers and other stakeholders. Analysis helps in improving the performance of the school economically and academically. Through analysis, some programs are eradicated. Moreover, others are adjusted while others are formulated. Community Action Plan The family is the primary socializing agent m eaning that it is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the child is given the much needed care and advice. The community moulds the behavior of the child through its laws and regulations. The community and the family unit play a critical role in ensuring that the child excels in academics. Families with excellent reading culture would influence the child positively while those with poor reading culture would influence the reading behavior of the child negative. Similarly, a community that cares for its members would support children to do well in class while those that value individual interests would not care about the performance of children. The communication between the school and the community is positive because the management would always brief parents before introducing new programs. Parents are supportive because they provide necessary learning materials whenever they are called upon to play their part. The school has a culture that respects diversity. This is w hy parents are always supportive. By offering an alternative leadership, which respects each person’s opinion, the communication between the school management and the community would be improved.

Explanation of the Nature of the Cold War from 1945-1963, including reference to the part played by John F. Kennedy.

Explanation of the Nature of the Cold War from 1945-1963, including reference to the part played by John F. Kennedy. On the April 25th 1945 a symbolic meeting between American and Soviet soldiers took place on the River Elbe at Torgau, Germany. Through handshakes and drinks they celebrated their common victory over Nazi Germany, but ultimately their lack of communication and misunderstandings of each other was going to be an ongoing problem into the future.History has shown us that in the past that once the common fight is over Wartime Coalitions always seem to break up, and the Grand Alliance was to be no different. However, unlike previous similar situations (World War I for example), no post-war treaty of peace was ever constructed, and no meeting ever held.Ultimately The Cold War was a struggle between conflicting Ideas, Governments and Values, and the Western fear of communism spreading and democracy dying. In the West, specifically the United States the Capitalist system was king, with the concepts of a market economy and a democratic government was considered necessary parts of their way of life.Soviet tanks face U.S. tanks at Checkpoint CharlieIn the Eastern USSR however, an autocratic leader and the concept of equality in class and wealth were highly valued. This obvious conflict of ideas and values were one of the driving forces behind Cold War.The nature of the cold war was the opposite of that to a normal war, weapons were never fired, and the war was more of an extensive show of propaganda, or a war of words than it ever was a typical war. Although weapons were never fired, this period of time had several huge conflicts that brought the world to the brink of Nuclear War, and huge political discontent between the East and the West.Early in 1945 it had become apparent to the Coalition that Germany's defeat was now inevitable, and so the Yalta Conference was held in February.

Literal Meanings and Pedantic Precision

Literal Meanings and Pedantic Precision Literal Meanings and Pedantic Precision Literal Meanings and Pedantic Precision By Mark Nichol Earlier this year, the Merriam-Webster website, which, along with its paper-and-ink version, is notorious for its laissez-faire approach to word usage, expressed an intriguing argument in one of its Usage Notes: Chill out about preserving the â€Å"original† meaning of words. If one were to insist that words be used only in their initial sense, one would discourage me from writing â€Å"Chill out,† because I am not alluding to temperature, and the literal meaning of the verb chill is not â€Å"calm down,† but â€Å"make colder.† That’s the point of the post, which argues that, for example, aggravate shouldn’t be required to apply only to making something worse- it’s fine to use it when describing mere irritation. The argument goes that if the restriction is to be taken to its logical conclusion, aggravate should mean only â€Å"weigh down,† because that is its original sense. (The grav in aggravate, you see, is the same as the grav in gravity.) By the same token, the lackluster utterance of â€Å"Awesome† in response to, well, virtually any pronouncement- no exclamation point is necessary, because the comment was likely nothing like an exclamation- is acceptable. Apparently, the interest of some in preserving that term to describe something truly remarkable is invalid; after all, the original meaning was â€Å"inspiring awe,† and to employ the word for something merely spectacular demonstrates disloyalty to its etymological origins. (Awful would also have the same restriction, because it literally means â€Å"full of awe.†) I see the point, but I also feel that indiscriminate dilution of a word’s distinct meaning paints writers into a corner. Once awesome, indiscriminately mumbled in response to myriad comments undeserving of such a potentially powerful reply, is devalued, what is left to describe something that is, well, truly awesome? On the one hand, this weakening of a word challenges the writer to find- or even craft- a suitable synonym, but it might not be long before the replacement is in turn drained of its strength. That’s why I never write (or say) anxious when I mean eager; the former term patently alludes to anxiety, not anticipation. But I admit inconsistency- using the last word in the previous sentence reminds me that anticipation literally means not â€Å"the state of looking forward to something† but, rather, â€Å"the act of foreseeing.† (Anticipere, the Latin verb from which it is derived, means â€Å"take before.†) Nevertheless, I try to use precise, unambiguous words and will continue to preserve distinctions when possible, and I encourage careful writers to do so as well. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Computer Terms You Should Know50 Nautical Terms in General Use20 Movies Based on Shakespeare Plays

Critically Evaluate why the Liquidity of a Firm is Considered Crucial Essay

Critically Evaluate why the Liquidity of a Firm is Considered Crucial Especially in the Growth Stage of a Company's Development - Essay Example Current paper focuses on a particular aspect of organizational performance: liquidity, a term used in order to show the potentials of an organization to meet its liabilities. Emphasis is given on the significance of liquidity in the growth stage of the company development. At the same time, efforts are made in order to identify the terms under which the changes in the financial statement of a particular organization can influence the organization’s value creation process. The literature published in regard to these issues has been reviewed and evaluated; it is made clear that the role of liquidity in the growth stage of the company development can be differentiated. As of the changes on a firm’s financial statements, these seem as unavoidable especially under the following terms: the value creation process of each organization is based on specific organizational data; changes on the particular data could influence the validity of the assumptions made in regard to the ec onomic status of the organization and its power within its industry. 2. Liquidity and company development - Why the liquidity of a firm is considered crucial especially in the growth stage of a company's development In order to understand the role of liquidity in the growth stage of a company development, it would be necessary to refer to the activities in which a company has to be involved during the specific phase. In accordance with Schmeisser, Clausen and Popp (2011), during its growth phase, a firm has to develop its activities covering the relevant costs; at this point, the following problem appears: the development of a company in its growth phase may be delayed due to a series of factors that cannot be easily controlled, such as the lack of capability of employees, failures in the communication of the organization with its customers or suppliers and so on (Schmeisser, Clausen and Popp, 2011). During the above period, the cash required for the completion of the firm’s projects can be increased while the profits achieved may be low, especially in the initial period of the firm’s growth. Therefore, the liquidity of the organization during the specific period may be low. In a different case, i.e. in case that the liquidity of the organization in its growth phase is high, it can be assumed that the prospects for the organization, in terms of its performance, are quite positive. Kapil (2011) notes that the level of liquidity of each organization should be periodically checked in order to ensure the status of the organization within its market. It is explained that for modern firms, liquidity reflects their ability to achieve their targets, no matter if they refer to the short or the long term. In the context of the above role, liquidity is described as an indicator of ‘the investments and assets of a firm that can be quickly converted to cash at any time or within one year’ (Kapil 2011, p.6). In the study of Arnold (2008) reference is made to the liquidity risk, which is described as the condition in which the organization is not able to retrieve the cash necessary for covering its liabilities. Moreover, Singla (2007) notes that in the growth sta

Physics lab report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Physics - Lab Report Example The experiment made use of a glider placed in an air track and suspended on two springs. The setup is at rest and remains at rest because the springs subject an equal force on the glider; they cancel each other; it is at a stable equilibrium position. The force applied on the setup in particular direction results a net force that acts on the glider and tries to return to the equilibrium state. The combined forces pull in a manner that the resultant force takes It to the original position; determined as restoring force. When the glider is brought to the original position, it is still under the influence of velocity and therefore goes beyond the default position by overshoot moving to the opposite direction from the earlier force. The overshoot results in the whole drag to equilibrium starting all over again. The back and forth motion is referred to as an oscillation. Mathematically known as sine and cosine function; simple harmonic motion. To analyze the problem let x be an instantaneous position of the glider while x0 is the equilibrium position. When the glider moves from the equilibrium position, the restoring force is F. without applying too much force resultant forces are linear hence force equation is; It implies that when the glider moves away from the equilibrium, restoring force becomes bigger. F is proportional to x. k is the spring constant. The sign (-) represents the restoration character of the force in the setup. A positive different in (x-x0) indicates that the force is negative x direction. A negative (x-x0) implies a positive force direction. Given a displacement initially A = x-x0, F = -kA, and accelerates towards the negative x-axis towards equilibrium; x = x0 where the restoring force is zero. It passes beyond x0 to the opposite direction and arrives with x-x0 = -A at zero velocity and it is pulled back. This forth and back motion goes on and results to oscillations. Without friction, kinetic energy and potential energy remain the

Evaluating Cost Variances Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Evaluating Cost Variances - Essay Example an ideal plan difference for incomes will be examined to figure out if it was the aftereffect of higher than arranged offering costs, more noteworthy amounts, or an excellent blend of things sold. In addition, a good plan fluctuation for costs will be dissected to distinguish the reason for the lower costs. An unfavorable fluctuation is experienced when an association is contrasting its genuine results with a financial plan or standard. The difference can apply to either incomes or costs, and is characterized as adverse income fluctuation. At the point when the measure of actual income is short of what the standard or planned sum. In this manner, genuine incomes of $400,000 versus a funding of $450,000 equivalents an unfavorable income change of $50,000. Unfavorable cost fluctuation. At the point when the measure of genuine cost is more prominent than the standard or planned sum. In this manner, actual costs of $250,000 versus a funding of $200,000 equivalents an unfavorable cost change of $50,000. Overall, the plan of an unfavorable difference is to highlight a potential problem, which is then remedied. Honestly, the idea does not work that well. The issue is that there is just an adverse fluctuation in connection to a standard or planned amount and that benchmark sum may be unthinkable or in any event exceptionally hard to achieve. On the off chance that an unfavorable difference surpasses the base, then it is accounted for to supervisors, who then make a move to rectify whatever the underlying issue may be. At the point when the real cost is brought about is more than the standard expense, there is fluctuation is known adverse or antagonistic change. Unfavorable fluctuation alludes to deviation to the loss of

Healthcare Utilization and Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Healthcare Utilization and Finance - Essay Example Medicare Part B Essentially, this part covers healthcare services that are not provided for in part A of the Medicare. In Mrs. Zwick’s case, the cost of the different diagnostic tests that she underwent during her hospital stay and time of rehabilitation would be paid for in this part. Medicare Part D This last option of insurance cover deals with payment of the cost of drugs that are prescribed during a hospital stay. The antibiotics that were prescribed during the initial hospital stay will be catered for here. Moreover, the medication that prescribed upon her discharge will be also paid and by extension the walker that she required to walk around. Medicare policies and Reimbursement of Additional Care The policy by Medicare not to pay additional costs emanating from hospital acquired infections means that these cases have to be HAC (hospital-acquired complications) in terms of high cost. This in turn means that a patient with such a problem would have to be assigned to paym ent of higher premiums to cover the whole cost. It is however predicated upon the premise that the complication was due to secondary diagnosis and could have been prevented through utilization of evidence based guidelines. These additional policies of Medicare on hospital acquired infections means that the hospital will not get reimbursement for them (McNair, Luft, & Bindman, 2009). For instance, the antibiotics that were prescribed to her and these drugs were for urinary tract infection (UTI). With UTI being one of the complications that are not catered for by Medicare, then Mrs. Zwick and her daughter would have to pay from their pockets. Ethical Implications for Incurring Costs Related To Her Hospital-Acquired Condition The ethical implication for costs that emanate from hospital acquired infections to the concerned patients is that they have to pay for the additional cost. This is regardless of whether the infection was due to negligence on the part of the hospital or the infect ion just arose spontaneously. In order for clients to be shielded from this, they are forced to pay more so that in the advent that the complications that occur due to a person being hospitalized may be reimbursed by Medicare. Such a proactive move is quite unfair to the payer and the extra charge is quite punitive bearing in mind that these infections are completely out of a payer’s control when they happen. Another ethical implication is that it has to be proved beyond doubt that the hospital acquired infections were not due to negligence on the part of a hospital. This may arduous and quite challenging and it takes time (Zhan, Friedman, Mosso & Pronovost, 2006). Scenario 2 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) Since COBRA insurance was designed to cover for people who have lost their job due to legitimate reasons, the cover is usually paid by the former employer but it is not subsidized. It follows then that the payments for health coverage premiums are re mitted by the former employer in full and an additional administrative cost of two percent. However, coverage is considered under group coverage which therefore means that the cost of the premiums is still low although they are slightly higher than when the employee was working. Many of the individuals that invoke the COBRA coverage usually have a big time difference between their last day at work and

Business Continuity Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Continuity Planning - Essay Example Thus there has emerged a need for ‘Business Continuity Planning’ (BCP). Any natural or unnatural disaster can always disrupt a business activity either for a short or a longer duration. It has now become essential to foresee such eventualities and have concrete plans to handle such situations. One of the prime examples of such a scenario was the terrorist activity in which the World Trade Centre was destroyed in New York which posed an immediate threat to the business concerns in that location. However many of the organizations in the area had adequate backup and continuity plans in place which helped them to recover (Safeguard). An ideal BCP begins by identifying the ‘applications, customers and the locations which an organizations needs to keep functioning in face of any disruption and the time frame involved in the execution of the backup plan’ (Mphasis). The identified applications and services need to be delivered continuously even during the disruptive phase and any good BCP endeavors to pre plan and enforce such infrastructure, regulations and methods without fail under continuous supervision and testing. Resources in order to achieve continuity need to be identified and categorized according to priority beforehand. Such resources must include ‘personnel, finance, information, equipment, legal counsel, accommodations and infrastructure protection (Safeguard). A good BCP plan in force enhances the reputation and the confidence within as well outside a business organization. BCP is initiated by a special governance sector or an exclusive department in the organization which takes overall control for planning, finance, execution, auditing and testing of the program. It conducts a ‘business impact analysis to identify the organization’s mandate and critical services or products’ (Safeguard). It then prioritizes different

Anemia Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Anemia - Research Paper Example Furthermore, deficiency of vitamins such as B-12, an integral component for formation of healthy red blood cells, also cause vitamin related anemia (American Society of Hematology). Named after the sickle shape that the red blood cells acquire, this type of anemia is inherited. The host’s body is unable to make normal hemoglobin that causes the RBCs to have a crescent shape reducing ability to transfer oxygen. Having a shorter life, these cells die in 10-20 days (United States of America, Department of Health and Human Services). New cells aren’t formed fast enough to replace these dying cells. G6PD is an enzyme that induces resistance of red blood cells against materials such as sulfa, anti malarial drugs and naphthalene. Its absence causes the blood cells to burst when they come in contact with the aforementioned materials in the blood stream. The immune system itself attacks the red blood cells causing them to break down. This can take place post blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant. Major types include: autoimmune, alloimmune, and drug-induced anemia (United States of America, Department of Health and Human Services). Certain diseases such as that of kidney and liver disturb the hormonal balance of the body which consequently retards the production of red blood cells. Chemotherapy, administered to fight cancers, is also known to deter the production of red blood cells in the body causing anemia to the host. Virtually everyone is at a risk to develop anemia at one time or another during the course of one’s life. However, certain parts of society are more likely to get it than others. Almost 10% of the women going through pregnancy or having large volumes of blood loss through menstrual cycles have been identified to have anemia in US alone (American Health Journal). Moreover, people who have recently passed through major surgery, gotten into accidents causing large amount of blood

Business Continuity Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Continuity Planning - Essay Example Thus there has emerged a need for ‘Business Continuity Planning’ (BCP). Any natural or unnatural disaster can always disrupt a business activity either for a short or a longer duration. It has now become essential to foresee such eventualities and have concrete plans to handle such situations. One of the prime examples of such a scenario was the terrorist activity in which the World Trade Centre was destroyed in New York which posed an immediate threat to the business concerns in that location. However many of the organizations in the area had adequate backup and continuity plans in place which helped them to recover (Safeguard). An ideal BCP begins by identifying the ‘applications, customers and the locations which an organizations needs to keep functioning in face of any disruption and the time frame involved in the execution of the backup plan’ (Mphasis). The identified applications and services need to be delivered continuously even during the disruptive phase and any good BCP endeavors to pre plan and enforce such infrastructure, regulations and methods without fail under continuous supervision and testing. Resources in order to achieve continuity need to be identified and categorized according to priority beforehand. Such resources must include ‘personnel, finance, information, equipment, legal counsel, accommodations and infrastructure protection (Safeguard). A good BCP plan in force enhances the reputation and the confidence within as well outside a business organization. BCP is initiated by a special governance sector or an exclusive department in the organization which takes overall control for planning, finance, execution, auditing and testing of the program. It conducts a ‘business impact analysis to identify the organization’s mandate and critical services or products’ (Safeguard). It then prioritizes different

Selection Interview as an Effective Employee Selection Practice Essay

Selection Interview as an Effective Employee Selection Practice - Essay Example The rationale for the selection interview as the final determination of a candidate’s fate is that it will predict the performance of the potential candidate. However, this is a misplaced concept. Even lie detector test need a baseline to determine which statement are lies and which are not. Without a baseline for the candidate’s demeanor, inflections and overall behaviour it is very hard to accurately determine his intention and motivations or predict his future performance. Just the same, given that selection interviews are still preffered by many managers to â€Å"feel† their candidates, the Human Resoruce Management Department should equip these managers the skills and knowledge they need to have. â€Å"A competency-based framework is advocated as the best way to creating a level playing field for evaluating candidates and for improving the validity of the selection interview. Competencies should be developed as part of a job analysis in which job descriptio n defines the duties or tasks invovled and a person specification details the characteristics or knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the job. Some competencies can be assessed only by experts and others may require work samples, while still others need to be monitored or assess over time in the job. Competency approaches should therefore be developed as part of the corporate resource policy.† (Swift & Robertson, 2000) According to Lou Adler (1998) in the book â€Å"Hire with Your Head† The best interviewers use two different critical thinking skills, one for the hiring decision and another for information gathering. They recognize that the hiring decision must be intuitive, since there is never enough information to match abilities, needs, and interests... In Hiring the Best the following were cautioned to be the normal problems when a the wrong person is hired for the job. â€Å"Poor analysis of job functions, leading to the recruitment of the wrong people. Misguided recruitment strategies, leading to an inadequte pool of talent. Poor analysis of the necessary skill sets and behaviors, leading to inappropriate selection criteria.Inadequate initial screening, leading to wasted time and the wrong candidate on the short list. Selection interviews it is best to be prepared, knowing what you want is better than the candidate telling you that you want them, a good charismatic salesman can do that. Unless the position that needs to be filled up is for a salesman that is not a good way to choose the best candidate. The job description of the position to be filled should be on hand and in the mind of the interviewer. But knowing the technical requirement of the job is not enough. The interviewer should also be familiar with the culture or operating atmosphere of the position that is going to be filled. Information such as these is useful in determining the right behaviour, temperament and attitude needed for the job that should be in the ideal candidate. For organizations, the best interviewers are those that do not harbour or display any strong biases in any form. Training the interviewers in basic psychology and conducting scientific interview is another strategy in assuring professionally conducted selection interviews. The best result however may not be within the range or near one hundred percent as far as choosing the best and ideal candidates. This is due to the fact that selection interviews are intuitive in nature. It’s just that some are better liars than most.

Anti Americanism in The Middle East Essay Example for Free

Anti Americanism in The Middle East Essay Anti Americanism in the Middle East is caused by various factors. Some causes are genuine and others are a result of peer pressure or influence by the leaders and radicals. Since the attacks on Washington and New York, the conventional concept and wisdom about the motivation that fuelled such deadly terrorism is gelled. This violence that we are often told is a reaction to misguided and misinterpreted American policies. For many years, some American actions such as its constant support for Israel and for the unpopular, oppressive and marginalizing Arab regimes has supposedly produced profound hatred and grievances throughout the people of Middle East. These grievances and hatred have come to a boil gradually over time, and this explains the constant Arabs attack on America and its allies by the Middle East nations. As much as anti-Americanism is largely spread among Middle East people and governments there is something that is highly misleading in this concept. Middle East’s Muslim and Arab hatred of America is not just, a response to the actual united states policies. The American policies have been highly pro-Muslim and pro Arab over the years. It is clear that such animus is obviously as a result of self-interested incite and manipulation by different influential groups within middle east countries, groups that employ anti-Americanism as a strategy and foil to shift public attention and interest from more serious issues within the middle east society (Katzenstein Keohane, 2007). Anti Americanism is sometimes blamed and associated to the former president George Bush. Bush is a lightning rod behind the anti American feelings in the Middle East. This is because of the multiple wars happened during his tenure in office. Another cause is the American policies systems and power fuel resentment in the world. People from the Middle East are annoyed by the fact that as much as America is a super power it does very little to solve world issues. America has a reputation of backing policies which increase the gap between the poor and the rich. Another cause of anti Americanism in the Middle East is the fact that they have put themselves above the law. The American soldiers have killed many innocent people in the Middle East and no action has been taken against them. When the Islam leaders kill innocent people America leaders arrests and even kill them. Amerce is always bulling the Islam nations by discouraging the building of nuclear yet they have nuclear bombs themselv es. The American leaders like Bush have never been summoned ti the International Criminal Court for charges against Humanity despite the fact that they have caused the death of very many innocent people. The Americans have killed many people with drones which is very inhuman and no action has been taken against them (Hollander, 2004). Anti Americanism in the Middle East is also caused by the fact that America has created a worldwide impression that people from the Middle East are terrorists. People from the Middle East are linked with terrorist activities by America. This has influenced people from other nation’s perception on the Middle East people. When American soldiers attack the Middle East countries they don’t expect them to fight back. The American soldiers kill innocent women and children and when the nations engage in war they are regarded as threat to security. Anti Americanism is caused by the relentless support America gives Israel. The American government has supported Israel in almost all its wars against the Middle East nations. This has proved that America is totally against the Middle East nation and consequently causing the constant hatred between the Middle East people and America. The Washington foreign policy seemed to support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (Rubin, 2002). Americans prize personal empowerment and prize individualism more than the Arabs in the Middle East. The cultural values in America completely differ with the ones in America. Americans are Christians and the Arabs are Muslims. The countries don’t go along because some things that Arabs practices are considered irrelevant by the Americans. The religious and cultural difference between the two countries has also boosted the anti Americanism. Another factor that has led to the anti Americanism in the Middle East is the conflicting attitudes and policies toward military and security issues. The war in Iraqi and other countries in the Middle East has led to increased tension and negativism from the middle east people. Also the American foreign policy contributes to the hatred. The foreign policy seems to be selfish and against the Middle East. In the American foreign policy it is clear that America has no intention of working together with the Middle East. The foreign policy depic ts Middle East as the threat to world security. Anti Americanism is also contributed by the elite politicians and leaders who incite and preach against the Americans. This makes the people to have hatred towards America without particular reason. The Muslim leaders consider America as the major national threat. This incitement increases anti Americanism as people are influenced by the leaders’ sentiments (Lacorne, 2010) The Media has also contributed to the increasing anti Americanism in the Middle East. The media constantly programs which depict Americans as the enemies. The media portrays America as gods of war who are jealous of other nations. America does not support when the Middle East countries explore the nuclear weapons. The media keeps covering the programs which show the man less American drones roaming in the Middle East. This makes people to have continuous hatred against Americans. The drone issues have increased anti Americanism because it shows they are ready to kill people from Middle East at any time. The Arabs feel like Americans are denying them their freedom rights. They feel that they are always under threat and this makes them to be unsettled. Some tv reporters have been recorded inciting the general public against America. Recently the media majored on the coverage of the anti Muslim video that was released from America. This video clearly showed that some Americans hate the Muslims who are mainly found in the Middle East. The video has also been a major cause of anti Americanism especially with the media paying attention to it (Crockatt, 2003). There is also anti Americanism in the Middle East because there are those children who have been left homeless and orphaned because of the killings and bombings made by the American soldiers. These children grow up with total hatred against the Americans. There are also many people who were victims of the wars and some are friends and family members to people who the American drones killed. This causes people to be bitter thus increasing anti Americanism. The children grow up knowing that America is the cause of their sorrows. They consider Americans as selfish nation which only focuses on its national interests and gains on the expense of innocent peoples life. Anti Americanism has become a culture in the Middle East children are told by their parents that America is bad and they grow up with fixed minds against Americans. This perception is passed from generation to generation in the Middle East (Crockatt, 2003). For many years, anti-Americanism has become and served as a strategy of last resort which unsuccessful, failed political personnel, institution and movements in Middle East strive to improve their reputation and standing. America is accused for so much that goes bad in the Middle East and the general Arab world. This in most cases is used as an explanation or reason for social oppression, political and economic underdevelopment. By issuing responsibility and excuse for their own mistakes and shortcomings to America, Middle East leaders distract their peoples attention from internal differences and weaknesses that form their real grievances. And hence instead of pushing for equality for women, greater privatization, democracy, freedom of speech, due process of law , civil society or other relevant developments issues which are sorely needed in the Middle east, the leaders focus on hating America (Hollander, 2004). Also during the Cold War it was popular for people in the Middle East to portray American policies as anti-Arab. This was despite the concrete evidence in the contrary. This rhetoric became a common convenient strategy for radical regimes and movements to create legitimacy of their own and to refer to their opponents as Western (American) puppets. The nationalist and Islamist Radical Arab regimes also accused America backed governments of ignoring human rights and being antidemocratic to its people, This is despite the fact that the radical regimes in the middle east such as Syria, Libya, Iraq, and Iran have worse records as much as human rights is concerned (Crockatt, 2003). There are various explanations as to why the American actions have been disregarded in Middle East countries. First, whatever the level of U.S failure to comprehend Middle East, the Middle Easterners have greater inability to understand the Americans. Throughout the Middle East movements and leaders have always expect Americans to attack and kill them since they are enemies. This has caused greater tension between the Middle East and America. Secondly, it is vital to understand how tightly news and information is controlled in countries of the Middle East. It isn’t surprising at all those masses, which are shut off from the accurate information to constantly feed on biased antagonistic views which are always hostile and against the Americans. The people who have the capacity to present more accurate picture or information in this case are discouraged by censorship, peer pressure, and fear of being branded American agents. There are also the efforts to reduce all the American policies to a single issue: America support for Israel. The policies and true nature of Israel are also distorted in this context. This element and issue is significant to the salience and anti-Americanism rhetoric. Some people radical Arabs believe that Israel as a country is an evil agent which seeks to dominate the entire Middle East by destroying Islam and killing Arabs. This explains why Arabs view America’s support to Israel as evil. However, the truth, is that America has merely assisted Israel survive constant efforts from Middle East forces to subdue it. The American-Israel relationship was most ambivalent during Israels first years of existence, the United States totally refused to supply ammunitions and other aid. This relationship only intensified during the occurrence of hostile actions from the Arab Middle countries, which aligned with Soviet Union to sponsor the anti-American terrorism. The radicals also want to ensure that America fails in its peace efforts. It also explains why terrorism is always increased by people from the Middle East whenever it seems that American diplomatic pursuit of unity and peace might become successful. This explains why when Israel withdrew from Lebanon, motivated by America, was rebuked as a sign of weakness and a mark that the Israels enemies should start violence against the state. Also The Attacks in September were planned and organized at a time when peace process seemed to be closest to success. According to political analysts it is not an accident that Middle East anti-Americanism was at its peak at the moment when America was proposed to back and support creation of independent Palestinian nation which had its capital in east Jerusalem (Ceaser, 2003). Anti-Americanism is also useful in the oppressive Middle East’s Arab regimes It allows Middle East leaders to distract people’s attention from their own problems and failings. Instead of the leaders responding to important demands and issues such as, higher living standards; democracy, corruption, human rights, and incompetence, Arab rulers accuse America for their own ills and misfortune and refocus their anger against America. Middle east Arabic states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt have over the years obtained weapons and protection from America but the leaders still promote popular anti-Americanism by state controlled media and government policies . Iraq for example has used the anti-Americanism policy as a strategy in its efforts to; escape sanctions, get back to the Arab world, and rebuild its military strength. America is accused for murdering the Iraqis through sanctions, and no one remembers Iraq’s forceful seizure of Kuwait (Hollander, 2004).   The Middle East anti-Americanism has also proved very useful for other people besides the politicians. Anti Americanism allows journalists and intellectuals to vent and focus their anger against the government-approved enemy (America) instead of risking to criticize failure and injustices that they encounter at home. Anti-Americanism has also become useful for the general public. Holding America responsible and accusing them for everything that is wrong in their countries and lives helps them to explain how their world operates and why life seems not to improve for them (Revel, 2003). The major reason behind the prevalence of Middle east anti-Americanism is that it has been a useful strategy and tool for the radical leaders, moderate regimes and revolutionary movements to build their domestic support and pursue personal goals which have no significant costs. As a strategy in the middle east, anti-Americanism seems to provide something for every person. For the radical Islamists in the Middle East, anti-Americanism has been a method of mustering popular favor from people despite all attempts to implement a theocratic revolution fail as a result of being rejected by the masses. The Islamists in the Middle East have focused on anti Americanism instead of fostering xenophobia or channeling their battle from one that is among the Muslims in the Middle East to a struggle between all Muslims and Americans who purportedly disagree with Islam and seeks to destroy the Muslims (Revel, 2003). Conclusion Anti Americanism in the Middle East is bound to get worse as the leaders and the elite use it as a tool for distraction or reason for underdevelopment and excuse of underperforming. America has tried to win out the heats and interest of the people of Middle East but their efforts have been in vain. Even when the Americans act in good faith or in favor of the Middle East people the radicals still find a way to demonize their actions and used it against them. The Middle East media system is also another major cause because the content covered is highly manipulated to show America as the enemy. The internal conflicts experienced in the Middle East countries have posed impossible challenge and dilemmas for American policy makers. When America helps some friendly Arab governments such as Saudi Arabia and Egypts, it is blamed of sabotaging revolutionary movements against them. When America pressures Middle East governments to improve their positions on human rights or democracy, it is blam ed and accused of imperialism. Anti Americanism is there to stay in the Middle East since it has grown into and accepted public culture and believe system. It is also supported my religion differences, Where majority of Americans are Christians and people from the Middle East are Muslims (Gentzkow Shapiro, 2004). References Gentzkow, M. A., Shapiro, J. M. (2004). Media, education and anti-Americanism in the Muslim world.  The Journal of Economic Perspectives,18(3), 117-133. Revel, J. F. (2003).  Anti-Americanism. Encounter Books. Katzenstein, P. J., Keohane, R. O. (Eds.). (2007).  Anti-Americanisms in world politics. Cornell University Press.Hollander, P. (Ed.). (2004).  Understanding anti-Americanism: Its origins and impact at home and abroad. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. Rubin, B. (2002). The real roots of Arab anti-Americanism.  Foreign Affairs, 73-85. Lacorne, D., Rupnik, J., Toinet, M. F., Turner, G. (2010).  The rise and fall of anti-Americanism: A century of French perception. Macmillan. Crockatt, R. (2003).  America embattled: September 11, anti-Americanism, and the global order. Psychology Press.Katzenstein, P. J., Keohane, R. O. (2007). Varieties of anti-Americanism: A framework for analysis.  Anti-Americanisms in world politics, 9-38.Ceaser, J. W. (2003). A genealogy of anti-Americanism.  Public Interest, 3-18. Source document

Review of SInce Yesterday :: essays research papers

Review of Frederick Lewis Allen: Since Yesterday: the 1930’s America. (New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, Inc., 1939), 362 pp.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Frederick Lewis Allen’s book tells in great detail how the average American would have lived in the 1930’s. He covers everything from fashion to politics and everything in between. He opens with a portrait of American life on September 3, 1929, the day before the first major stock market crash. His telling of the events immediately preceding and following this crash, and the ensuing panic describe a scene which was unimaginable before.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  He quickly moves from the panic of 1929 to the ‘30’s and how many of the popular governmental sentiments during the election were no longer so. Hoover quickly moved from a position of public acceptance and admiration to that of a scapegoat. That the Depression was his fault is not entirely true, though. Hoover did not have much of the information needed to foretell the economic situation. In the laissez-faire form of government he prescribed, there was no place for a department that would document these things for the use of the president’s office.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hoover is also vilified repeatedly for his inaction with the Depression. His personal policy and his party’s policy were designed to let the country find its own way, for if it became dependent on government aide, it would be a weaker nation that if it found it’s own way. This was a flawed assumption on their behalf though, because even in the 1920’s, there was a movement from many of the nation’s younger voters advocating change.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The overall feeling that Mr. Allen explains so well is that of fear. Many Americans were afraid of what might happen to them economically. There were cities where eighty-four percent of the working population was unemployed. Everywhere in the nation, banks were closing because of their inability to collect from debtors. This not only affected those working for the bank, it affected most people in the city as well. In small cities where there were only two or three banks, a third or half of the population could be without their life savings. Add to that high unemployment, and many people were left starving.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mr. Allen also speaks in depth of the farmers. The Farmer’s Holiday occurred when Milo Reno organized Iowan farmers and got them to â€Å"refuse to bring food into Sioux City for thirty days, ‘or until the cost of production had been obtained† (86).

Ibn Battutas 1331 Journey to West Africa Essay -- Gender Roles, Mecca

Ibn Battuta’s 1331 journey to West Africa provides a contrast of two worlds: Battuta’s pre-modern Islamic culture conflicting with African societies’ interpretation of Muslim beliefs and tribal traditions. He is especially critical of the various roles of women he observes—thus, allowing us insight into his own judgments formed by his culture and society. A brief summary of his life is paramount in the understanding of Battuta’s impressions and reactions to West African society. Abu Abdallah ibn Battuta was born in Morocco in 1304. By 1325, Battuta embarked on his first hajj, or pilgrimage to the holiest Islamic city of Mecca at age twenty-one (Hamdun, King, p. 1). Although expected to complete this religious duty at least once in his or her lifetime, Battuta accomplished the hajj, â€Å"six or seven times, each time presumably accruing divine merit† (Dunn, p. xvii). Battuta was a part of the ulama, an elite class of Muslim religious and legal scholars who, â€Å"traveled to make the hajj or to further their education in the religious sciences (Dunn, p. xii). Battuta traveled extensively for nearly thirty years, visiting around fifty countries, often multiple times (Dunn, p. ix). He chronicled his lengthy expeditions in the Rihla (Book of Travels), allowing some of the first and only written accounts of Sub-Saharan Afri ca in the 14th century. Battuta’s beliefs regarding status of women in Islamic society is perhaps first alluded to in his account of the MassÃ… «fa of Ä ªwÄ lÄ tan. He chides, â€Å"The condition of these people is strange and their manners outlandish†¦None of them derives his genealogy from his father, but on the contrary, from his maternal uncle† (Battuta, p. 37). Battuta disagrees with the MassÃ… «fa’s tradition of matrilineal derive... ...and counted among his associates eminent scholars, royal officials, rich merchants, and Mongol Kings† (Dunn, p. ix). It is these experiences that also allow us to also extrapolate some of the realities and experiences of the pre-modern Muslim woman. It is these same experiences during this formative period of Islamic society that established and shaped the contemporary Islamic world. Today, just as Ibn Battuta was able to observe other cultures through caravans on camelback, Muslim men and women are now exposed to various cultures in our globalized world through technology without having to travel far. And also just as Battuta, these same men and women are also experiencing the both strengthening and testing of his or her cultural and religious identity. The social constructs of Battuta’s era are being challenged through revolutions and uprisings throughout Islam.

Indirect vs. Direct Presentation Essay

â€Å"The Destructors,† by Graham Greene, both indirect and direct presentation is implemented to provide a multidimensional portrayal of the characters in the story. This device is effective because each type of presentation provides the reader with a different perspective into each character. The author presents the characters directly by telling the reader details about the characters and presents the characters indirectly by showing the reader. Direct presentation allows for more of a complete understanding of the characters while indirect presentation forces the reader to make inferences based on dialogue and occurrences throughout the story. Direct presentation is effective especially in the beginning of a short story because the reader gets a primary and absolute insight into each character’s emotions, which will in turn allow them to interpret actions and developments later on in the story. Mike’s young age, and childish naà ¯vetà © is immediately exposed when Greene directly presents him as â€Å"nine [and] surprised by everything† (111). Mike’s character is clearly defined with little left for the reader to interpret. The author can best express his purpose through this type of presentation. Greene uses direct presentation when he introduces major members of the gang such as Blackie, Trevor, and Mike. Greene reveals Blackie’s acceptance of his class standing as he describes Blackie’s reservations with Trevor’s plan. â€Å"He was just, he had no jealousy, he was anxious to retain T. in the gang if he could. It was the word ‘beautiful’ that worried him – that belonged to a class world that you could still see parodied at the Wormsley Common Empire by a man wearing a top hat and a monocle, with a haw-haw accent† (114). In this instance, direct presentation is quite effective because Greene reveals that Blackie is not a resentful character; this is a truth that would be very difficult for a reader to infer. Old Misery is also presented directly. Greene provides direct insight into Old Misery as he describes his background early in the story. â€Å"Old Misery-whose real name was Thomas-had once been a builder and decorator. He lived alone in the crippled house, doing for himself† (112). This saves the  author from having to digress from the plot in order to indirectly characterize Old Misery, which would in essence detract from the true purpose of the story. Indirect presentation is used throughout the story to reveal subtleties and more importantly, to accentuate the story’s many paradoxes. Greene’s usage of indirect presentation in exposing these truths adds to the profundity of the story. Greene cleverly shows Blackie’s insecurity when Blackie attempts to avoid Trevor’s plan of destroying Old Misery’s house as he feebly states, â€Å"there wouldn’t be time, I’ve seen housebreakers at work. None of us know how† (115). When Trevor taunts him and his leadership position seems compromised Blackie â€Å"uneasily [says], it’s proposed that tomorrow and Monday we destroy Old Misery’s house† (115). Greene uses the word â€Å"uneasily† to indirectly present Blackie’s insecurity and to distinguish him from his malevolent foil, Trevor. Blackie’s foil, Trevor, also known by the gang as â€Å"T.,† is a very bitter character. Greene uses direct presentation to illustrate the many paradoxes surrounding him. T.’s attitude towards Old Misery is quite paradoxical. On the one hand, he sets about destroying his house, treating him disrespectfully, and regarding him with suspicion. At the same time, however, T. expresses that he does not hate Old Misery when he says, â€Å"of course I don’t hate him. There’d be no fun if I hated him† (118). Although his destructive behavior is not personal, the consequences are tremendous for Old Misery, but T. is unable to consider such consequences. Another instance of indirect presentation is when T. takes Mr. Thomas’s seventy one-pound notes, but not for personal gain. Instead, he and Blackie take each pound note and â€Å"[light] the top corner, so that the flame burn[s] slowly towards their fingers† (118). Essentially, T. takes items that are inherently valuable, but he has no interest in making use of that value. T.’s attitude toward Old Misery’s house is paradoxical as well. T. said, â€Å"It’s a beautiful house,† as he â€Å"still [watched] the ground meeting no one’s eyes† (114). Green shows T.’s distaste for wealth and for the upper class  when he notes T’s lack of eye contact with the gang. He knows the house is beautiful, but his feelings about beauty, especially as they relate to social classes makes it easy for him to destroy it anyway. The Wormsley Common Gang is presented indirectly as a whole. Greene presents the gang indirectly rather than directly for the sole reason that the gang often thinks as a whole but is ultimately made up of many different members. This is shown when Mr. Thomas attempts to reach out to the boys and give them chocolates. Many members chime in their opinions on Mr. Thomas’ motives however, Blackie, their leader at the time, picks the reasoning that most suits him. â€Å"We’ll show him we don’t take bribes† (113). â€Å"They sacrificed the whole morning to the game of bouncing that only Mike was young enough to enjoy† (113). Even though none of the gang enjoyed the activity except for Mike they participated anyways. This instance indirectly reveals the insecurity of each individual gang member. Though the gang stands by the decision, none of its members even get enjoyment out of it. The gang’s judgmental tendencies and fickly characteristics are shown through the power struggle for leadership between Blackie and T. â€Å"For the first time since T. had strolled into the carpark on the first day of the holidays his position was in dancer. It only need a single use of his real name and the gang would be at his heels† (114). The fact that Trevor feels the need to go by T. when he is with the gang reveals his own insecurity as well as the judgmental qualities of the gang. Just a few days prior Blackie had been the leader of the gang however now they â€Å"[paid] no more attention to him than to a stranger† (115). â€Å"Blackie was dimly aware of the fickleness of favor† (115). Especially in short stories, presentation is essential. Greene does an excellent job as he masterfully uses both direct and indirect presentation to convey his message in â€Å"The Destructors.† He immediately develops the main characters through direct presentation. This way, the readers have a predisposition about each character therefore making the eventual character shift more dramatic. He uses indirect presentation to describe the gang and to reveal the subtleties and paradoxes within the story. â€Å"The Destructors†Ã‚  is an effective literary work because of its multidimensional qualities enabled by Green’s brilliant control of presentation. Work Cited: â€Å"The Destructors† by Graham Greene

Game Theory Essay

Game theory emerged as a scholarly field of study in the first half of the 20th century. Since that time, it has significantly affected various academic disciplines, such as economics, political science and biology. Although the term â€Å"game theory† may suggest a certain frivolity, the concepts underlying it have many real-world applications and offer a structured and logical method of considering strategic situations. The parallels between competitive games and strategic business situations should be fairly obvious. Consider the game of chess. There are two players, each of whom makes moves in sequence. After observing the move made by the first player, the second player makes a counter move. Then the first player, having observed the first two moves, makes the third move and so on. Compare this to the business situation of gas stations competing for customers through strategic pricing. (The players in this case are station A and station B. ) Suppose, for instance, that station A starts by choosing a new pricing strategy. Given station A’s decision, station B decides how it will set its prices. Given station B’s response, station A can choose to revise its pricing strategy and so on. The objective of each gas station in this â€Å"game† is to maximise its own profit. For each to do so, it must be continually acting and reacting to its competitor in the market as well as anticipating competitive responses when making decisions. What does game theory have to offer? First, game theory provides a framework, or formal procedure, for analysing any competitive situation (or â€Å"game†). Specifically, it forces you to identify the players in a game (consumers, sellers, input providers, governments, foreign organisations, etc. , their possible actions and reactions to the actions of other players, and the payoffs or rewards implicit in the game. Game theory models reduce the world in which businesses operate from a highly complex one to one that is simpler but nevertheless retains some important characteristics of the original. By capturing and clarifying the most significant aspects of competition and interdependence, game theory models make it possible to break down a complex competitive situation into its key components and to analyse the complex dynamics between players. In order for game theory to be truly useful in analysing such complex situations, certain assumptions need to be made. The most significant assumption is that the players in a game are choosing their actions optimally; that is, they are choosing their actions in the hope of maximising their ultimate payoff and they assume that the other players are doing likewise. Without this assumption, game theory cannot successfully model real-world situations. Because game theory can realistically model business situations, it helps businesses to make optimal decisions and choose optimal actions. In other words, by â€Å"solving† a game, a business can identify its optimal actions (assuming, as always, that all the other players are also choosing their actions optimally). This is especially valuable because it helps companies choose the right business strategies when confronted with a complex strategic situation. In what types of business situations can game theory be applied? Click on the linkhere to find out. The nature of the solution(s) in game theory also motivates businesses to analyse how the structure of the game can be altered so that a different (and perhaps a more favourable) game can be played. Because of its systematic approach, game theory allows businesses to examine the consequences of actions that they may not have considered. It is worth noting here that many games involving business are different from games in other fields. For instance, in business, many players can win (and lose) simultaneously, which obviously is not the case with chess. Additionally, because of the interdependent nature of most business relationships, these games are not always ones of direct competition. Consider a game between manufacturer and supplier — both have incentives to do well, but each also has a vested interest in the success of the other. Furthermore, unlike some other games with fixed rules, the rules of business are continuously in flux. They may be formulated by law, by tradition or by accident. Often, however, players have an influence on how rules are decided. How does game theory differ from microeconomics? Because game theory can be used to model almost any economic situation, it might seem redundant to study both microeconomics and game theory. However, microeconomics tends to focus on cases in which there are many buyers and sellers or there is one seller (or buyer) and many buyers (or sellers). Yet here are many instances in which there are a few buyers or sellers. Markets in which more than one but still only a few firms compete are known as â€Å"oligopolies. † Oligopolists are acutely aware of their interdependence. Each firm’s decisions in the market depend on the specific assumptions it makes about how its rivals make pricing and output decisions. In addition, there are other situations in which there is one buyer and one seller. Microeconomics without game theory does not adequately address these matters. Consider a market in which the number of producers is small. In aircraft manufacturing, two firms, Boeing and Airbus, control 100 percent of the world market for commercial aircraft. Each firm recognises that its pricing and production decisions have important implications for its rival’s profitability. As a consequence, each firm attempts to guess which actions its rival will take. But each must also recognise that its rival will also be guessing as to what it will do. Clearly, such interactions are inadequately represented by classic microeconomic models, which assume that the firms are price takers. In some other markets, the number of buyers is small. For instance, the wholesale market for diamonds is dominated by a small group of global firms; therefore, diamond producers may find that implicit (or explicit) collusion between buyers makes it difficult for the diamond producers to exercise market power. Once again, classic microeconomic models may be missing a very important feature of actual markets. Click on each of the links below to read a few real-world examples in which game theory is applicable.

Analysis: Short Story and Robin Black Essay

Divorced, Beheaded, Survived† by Robin Black In this essay will I analyse and interpret Robin Blacks short story â€Å"†¦ Divorced, Beheaded, Survived†. I will focus on the structure and the use of symbols in the short story in a part of my essay. The short story â€Å"†¦ Divorced, Beheaded, Survived† is written by Robin Black in 2010. The short story is about a woman who thinks back of her childhood, where her brother still lived. She recalls how everybody started ignoring her and her brother when he got sick and died. In present her son loses his best friend and goes through the same type of sorrow. She thinks back at a stage play they used to act with some other kids in the back yard. The short story takes place on Manhattan in about 2004. The main character thinks back at her childhood in Massachusetts. In the present the main character lives with her husband, Lyle, and her two children, Mark and Coco, on Manhattan. In the past she lived with her parents and her older brother in a house. Her childhood home had a small yard with rosebushes and a Japanese maple. The main character is named Sarah. She went to high school and college. She has had a brief marriage with another man, but is now married to Lyle, whom she has two children with. Her to kids are 16 years old, Mark, and 12 years old, Coco. She had a brother named Terrance, called terry, who died in 1974, when he was about 14. Sarah was about 12 when he died. Sarah did not want her two kids to be closer at age, because she would not want them to be like her brother and her. But I put our second child off, and so my boy and girl were always Just a little different from the air we used to be† (Page 2, line 63-64) Sarah tries to protect her children and her self from sorrow and from being frightened, by taking down the pictures of her dead brother. â€Å"l was afraid my brother’s face would become a fearful thing for them. And maybe for me as well, with kids of my own. † (Page 4, line 139-140) Sh e thinks a lot of the stage play she performed in her childhood home with her brother and some of the neighbour’s kids, and how her friends vanished when Terry got sick. She remembers how it felt and how hard it was to get trough, and she knows it will take Marks some time as well to get over his loss. â€Å"And I know that he will. It Just takes time (†¦ ) It’ll take some more time† (Page 4, line 152-153) The short story is written with a 1st person narrator. â€Å"l don’t think about Terry everyday, anymore† (Page 4, Line 127) It is not an omniscient narrator, because we only get to now the main character’s feelings and thoughts. The short story Jumps in time by the main character’s thoughts. It begins with Sarah’s childhood, where you near now it was betore Terry got sick and it switches to present atter we near he ied. As a reader you get thrown right into her present life, where she get a call regarding her son’s best friend’s death. Just as she is about to tell her son, we are en the past again hearing about how the time was when Terry was sick. Through the whole story does Robin Black switch from past to present and reverse in exiting moments, which catches the readers attention. We alternate between hearing about how she was and how she is now. It is first in the very last part we hear how she got trough the rough period. Robin Black uses the tree words â€Å"divorced, beheaded and survived†, not only in the headline but more than one time in the story. The tree words are a symbol of the 3 periods you are going through, when a loved one gets sick and die. Divorced is the time where your friends start avoiding you, not because they do not love you, but because they do not know how to react. The second period is beheaded, where the loved one dies, which is the rough period. The last word is survived. Even though it has been hard, will there be light again. You will get trough it. In the beginning of the hort story Sarah remember how everybody wanted to be Anne Boleyn, the plum role, and how Terry was the best to play her. I think Terry is a symbol of Anne Boleyn. The people surrounding them admire both of them and they both die anyways. I think they are a symbol of how nothing comes easy and you should be happy for what you have. The main themes are sorrow, dealing with sorrow and how life goes on. Trough Sarah’s thoughts we hear how you cannot be prepared to lose a person you love. Many people have a hard time dealing with death and do not know how to act. In â€Å". Divorced, Beheaded, Survived† Robin Black describes how Sarah’s friends quietly start ignoring her and the brother begins as well. She feels alone with her sorrow, which many people do. â€Å"We had played together all our lives, and then it ended. There was no more ease between us. Not even between my brother and me. † (Page 3, line 105-106) In the short story the main character is dealing with her sorrow by burying it. â€Å"Silences, agreed to. Intimacies, put away. † (Page 5, Line 173) Her friends who knew her brother were avoiding her, so she could not talk to them about her feelings.